Three prominent Southern Baptists took public—and differing—positions on President Trump’s executive order that restricts immigration from seven Muslim countries, suspends entrance of all refugees for 120 days, and prevents all Syrian refugees from entering the United States indefinitely. Commentary from Russell Moore and Ed Stetzer was published in the Washington Post, and Ronnie Floyd spoke out on his blog.
Moore, president of the ERLC, wrote a letter Jan. 30 to the president referencing the Resolution on Refugee Ministry passed by messengers to the 2016 Southern Baptist Convention in St. Louis. “Scripture calls for and expects God’s people to minister to the sojourner. Southern Baptist churches throughout the United States lead the way in carrying out this calling.”
He also expressed concern for the safety of Southern Baptist missionaries who “are among the many Americans living in majority-Muslim countries to carry out the biblical call to love their neighbors.” Moore called on the president to reaffirm his administration’s “commitment to religious freedom” and “adjust the Executive Order as necessary.”
In his Jan. 26 op-ed, Stetzer, the Billy Graham Distinguished Chair at Wheaton College, agreed with the need for a greater focus on national security however, he said, “I’m concerned that the president is operating on generated fear rather than facts. We need a better way.”
Stetzer’s better way is to “reject false facts,” “recapture a vision of what it means that all are made in God’s image,” and to “fight for those without a voice.”
Floyd, pastor of Cross Church, cautioned at RonnieFloyd.com, “If we do not look at it biblically, we enter into dialogue without authority and clarity.” He advised: Love the refugee, fix the immigration system, and pray diligently.
Referencing the 2016 resolution he cited, “…one line in this resolution that realized the biblical responsibility of government: ‘RESOLVED, That we call on the governing authorities to implement the strictest security measures possible in the refugee screening and selection process, guarding against anyone intent on doing harm…’”
Floyd noted, “This line was included in the resolution because as followers of Christ, we must understand the tension that occurs because our government has a responsibility it is mandated to fulfill.”