Archive for the 'Southern Baptist Convention' Category
A Step Forward For Religious Liberty
Last Thursday in the Rose Garden on the White House lawn, on the very same day as the National Day of Prayer, President Donald J. Trump signed the Presidential Executive Order, “Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty.” You can read this brief Presidential Executive Order here.
On the 107th day of his presidency, the President and his administration did more to promote religious freedom than the previous administration did in eight years. This step is a step in the right direction.
This is a Step Forward for Religious Liberty
This is a step forward for religious liberty in America. While some may be disappointed that it does not do more and go farther, please understand, at least it is a forward step. Usually, nothing is done easily or rapidly in Washington, DC. Leading people in a massive organization, government, corporation, or even church is a process.
This is a step forward in the right direction for preserving and forwarding one of our greatest freedoms, religious liberty. The President was more than clear in his speech in the Rose Garden that religious freedom comes from God, and is not granted to us by the government.
The overreach of government regarding religious liberty issues has not just been apparent, but accelerating. It has been a major and growing issue, concern, and threat for all people of faith. Therefore, I am more than hopeful that what occurred last Thursday will not be the end, but a new point of beginning for our future as a nation. At the very least, it is a reversal in our immediate past trajectory regarding the freedom of religion.
Why It Was a Personal Joy to Be Present in the Rose Garden
While in the Rose Garden experiencing this moment in American history, I was overwhelmed with personal gratitude. Why?
At one point a few years ago, I became a target because I took a stand for a biblical and Christian worldview about various moral issues. As I did then and always will in the future, I teach and lead our people to see moral issues through the lens and the authority of the Holy Scripture. That experience was a difficult and learning time for me personally and professionally.
It was also a personal joy because in the fall of 2014, I was invited to speak at a major rally in support of five pastors in Houston, Texas, whose sermons were subpoenaed by the Mayor of Houston. As I spoke that night to over 6,000 people present and to a live simulcast, it was a significant moment in my life. This overreach of government was apparent and demonstrated its acceleration in America. Since then, the acceleration has continued. I do hope these five pastors and others who have been targeted are encouraged by what occurred on Thursday.
This Presidential Executive Order is in clear support of religious liberty. It says, “It shall be the policy of the executive branch to vigorously enforce Federal law’s robust protections for religious freedom.”
While some prognosticate about whether this is needed, I want to assure you, it is. Whether a pastor knew about or felt influenced by the Johnson Amendment is not the issue. The issue is having the freedom to articulate the claims of Scripture in the pulpits in America without fear or intimidation. This is America, where freedom is celebrated. Therefore, this Executive Order is welcome.
The Next Step
I am more than hopeful that what happened on Thursday was the first step of many that will forward religious freedom to every American for decades to come. Prohibiting the free exercise of religion in any way is always an overreach of government and is against on what our country was founded.
The Constitution does make this provision so that every American can live out their faith wherever they are without wondering if they will be penalized for it. Whether you are in business or healthcare, in the military or pastoring a church, in education or in retirement, the free exercise of your religion should always be permitted. Yes, even to the atheist who does not believe there is a God.
The next step I pray will be another step forward for religious liberty in America.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
*******
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, Immediate Past President of the Southern Baptist Convention, founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry, and host of the Ronnie Floyd on Life and Leadership Today podcast.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Pray Personally and Participate Cooperatively in Thursday’s National Day of Prayer for America
The National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 4. Miraculously and sovereignly, in 1952, by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, the National Day of Prayer began. Signed into law by President Harry S. Truman, this national call to pray for America takes place on the first Thursday of each May.
The National Day of Prayer mobilizes unified, public prayer for America. Praying for our nation needs to to become a major movement in our nation daily. United with others, we stand together publicly to pray for our nation.
It is incumbent on each of us who have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ the Lord, to lead the way personally and cooperatively. Therefore, please consider these actions.
Pray Personally for America on the National Day of Prayer
The Scriptures call upon us to pray for our nation and the leaders in our nation. Wherever you are located geographically, you can pray personally. We do not need to be spiritually asleep on this day, but alive and actively calling out to the Father for our nation.
You can also determine specific ways to pray for our nation. There are endless ways to pray for America, so ask the Spirit to reveal to you personally how you should pray. Also consider praying for America in these ways:
- Confess and repent of the sins of America
- Unity in America
- President Donald Trump
- Vice-President Mike Pence
- Protection and provision for the families of President Trump and Vice-President Pence
- Cabinet of the President
- Congressional members
- Military personnel
- Law enforcement and all first responders
- Churches and their pastors
- Schools and their leaders
- Spiritual revival in the Church
- Spiritual awakening in America
- Acceleration and completion of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ
These are just suggestions. You can create your own list of ways to pray for America.
Participate Cooperatively in the National Day of Prayer
Praying together in a unified and public way for America is very important to build up your own faith, but it is also important to do so as a testimony before others. Therefore, participate cooperatively this Thursday to pray with other Christ-followers for America.
Thousands of public gatherings will take place on Thursday across America. If you do not know where to go in your community, search here.
If there is not a gathering near you, create one and register with the National Day of Prayer. It is very important to participate with others cooperatively.
Quite honestly, I am surprised at how many spiritual leaders in churches, including pastors, do not participate in a National Day of Prayer experience. Of all years in our nation, we need to stand unified as the body of Christ, calling out together cooperatively, for the sake of our nation.
America needs to experience the next great move of God in this world. I pray our generation will not die before seeing and experiencing the next Great Spiritual Awakening in America.
Yes, the greatest need in the Church in America today is spiritual revival, the manifest presence of God upon His people. Furthermore, the greatest need in America is the next Great Spiritual Awakening.
Pray Personally and Cooperate Collectively
Pray personally and cooperate collectively in some way on Thursday, May 4, on the National Day of Prayer.
I will participate in unified public prayer for America this year in Washington, DC. I have the privilege to assist in this national service being held in Statuary Hall of the United State Capitol Building on Thursday, May 4, from 7:30-9:00 p.m. EST. You can stream this national service of prayer in this significant location through: http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org
Now is the Time to Lead and Pray for America,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
*******
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry, and host of the Ronnie Floyd on Life and Leadership Today podcast.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.