The Baptist Faith and Message
Adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention May 9, 1963
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XVII. Religious Liberty
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it
free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are
contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and
state should be separate. The state owes to every church
protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual
ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group
or denomination should be favored by the state more than
others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the
duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all
things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church
should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work.
The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for
the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose
penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has
no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of
religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian
ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered
access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form
and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without
interference by the civil power.
Gen. 1:27; 2:7;
Matt. 6:6-7, 24;
16:26; 22:21;
John 8:36; Acts
4:19-20; Rom. 6:1-2;
13:1-7; Gal.
5:1, 13; Phil.
3:20; 1 Tim. 2:1-2;
James 4:12; 1
Peter 2:12-17; 3:11-17;
4:12-19.
