REGARDING THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT

The FBF believes that all attempts for church union as represented by the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches, the 1982 "America for Jesus" rallies, the Bill Gaither Praise Gatherings, and all accommodations with the Roman Catholic Church are satanic in origin and objectives, and calls upon all regenerate believers to separate from this apostasy that is condemned by the Word of God. It also warns believers to beware of the dual ecumenical strategy: the official formal merger attempts, as well as the more subtle informal method which ecumenical advocates are now terming "spiritual ecumenism," examples of such "spiritual" ecumenism being small joint prayer groups among members of various apostate denominations, informal "cell" Bible study units which are ecumenically slanted, ecumenically sponsored "marriage encounter" seminars, the use of ecumenically based "music," and ecumenically sponsored joint Bible translation committees.

REGARDING THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION

The FBF recognizes as dangerous the growing rapprochement between fundamental independent Baptists and groups such as the Southern Baptist Convention through pulpit exchanges, speaking together in evangelistic conclaves, having Southern Baptists to speak at schools and colleges that profess to be fundamental; and believes that since the Southern Baptist Convention is filled with neo-orthodoxy and liberalism in its theological seminaries and colleges and that all movements within the Convention over "the battle for the Bible" are sham conflicts as long as those in the Convention continue to support the enemy with their gifts through the Cooperative Baptist Program. We call, therefore, upon fundamental Baptists to shun association with this group which daily goes deeper into the apostasy. While we commend the brethren within the SBC for their stand on the inerrancy of the Bible, we suggest that the solution is separation from those who do not believe in the inerrancy of the Bible.

REGARDING THE 1984 POLITICAL ELECTIONS

This Fellowship urges fundamental believers in America to take advantage of the "free" voting rights in political elections by going to the polls and voting. Likewise, we urge that they vote for those candidates whose political and social philosophy are according to biblical principles.

REGARDING LIBERATION THEOLOGY

The FBF identifies with the oppressed and downtrodden of the world, but rejects the so-called "Liberation Theology" as operating in a thought world totally opposed to Biblical Christianity. The FBF believes that the term "Liberation Theology" is a deceptive term, not being "theology" in any proper sense of the word, but in reality nothing less than communistic Marxism under the guise of religious terminology and that its real purpose is use by the communist system to deceive and exploit the masses that they might be fomenters of violence in order to overthrow the existing religious, sociological, and political structures, and enslave the masses under a communistic system.

REGARDING LIBERATION THEOLOGY (continued)

The FBF exposes the World Council of Churches for its promotion of this "Liberation Theology" and its collaboration with Marxist revolutionaries. It also exposes the Latin American Mission, an EFMA and IFMA affiliated mission agency, for its sympathetic entertainment of this insidious theology. It urges all Bible-believing Christians, indigenous churches and missionary organizations, particularly within the Latin American countries, to become aware of the purposes of this vicious theology and to expose its Marxist foundation.

REGARDING MUSIC

The FBF recognizes the important place that music plays in the worship, fellowship and instruction of God's saints. It also realizes the influential power that music exercises for evil or for good. It recognizes that in order to properly fulfill these functions the melody, harmony and rhythm should complement the words and therefore views with dismay the deteriorating quality in so-called "sacred" music through the influence of contemporary nightclub dance band sounds that are sensual and worldly in nature, "fleshly-oriented," and based on diluted jargon that not only indicate a lack of reverence and respect for a holy God, but also disregard for the conventional traditions of grammatical speech.

The FBF rejects as unscriptural and unwholesome that type of music which imitates the sound of the world while claiming to be a song of the Word, where the emphasis is placed on sensual entertainment rather than spiritual edification. It also warns against the use of that type of music where the same lyrics are equally adaptable with little or no change to a sensual nightclub atmosphere, a secular choral appearance and a religious activity.

It strongly warns against an ecumenically based music that can be utilized with little or no adaptation by ecumenists, charismatics, worldly compromising New Evangelicals and Fundamentalist churches alike, noting that such ecumenical music is now infiltrating and penetrating some of the new hymnals that are being published for use in regular church services as well as songbooks for use in Christian day schools and views with great concern the increasing use of such music within the orbit of true Fundamentalist circles.

In view of these alarming trends, the FBF encourages all believers, churches and fundamentalist institutions to exercise great discernment in the choice, performance and performers of all music; and particularly urges that Christian families and local churches keep a Biblical standard of music in their homes and all church activities and that we use music that is Biblical in content, edifying in message, and glorifying to God in intent.

REGARDING INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE HARASSMENT OF CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS

The FBF unites in decrying the outrageous action of the Internal Revenue Service in continually harassing Christian schools and organizations and violating their First Amendment rights through its own fiat decrees.

REGARDING BIBLICAL SEPARATION

The FBF rejects the concept of secondary separation or degrees of separation. There are no degrees of obedience to the Word of God.

The FBF reaffirms its belief that the foundation of separation in the Bible is the holiness of God. God's holiness demands separation from false gods, or ecclesiastical separation (Lev. 19:2,4; II Cor. 6:14-7:1). It also produces an imitation of God's holiness in the believer's life, or personal separation (II Cor. 7:1; I Peter 1:15,16; I Thess. 4:3,7; I John 3:2). Scripture commands the separation of Christians from brethren in Christ who are disobedient to its teachings (II Thess. 2:15; 3:6,14,15).

Though we must separate from some in fellowship and service, we are commanded to do so in an attitude of love, compassion, and brotherly kindness (Eph. 4:14,15; Phil. 3:17-19; II Thess 3:14,15).

REGARDING THE A.C.E.

The FBF views with alarm the compromise of the A.C.E. school program through their affiliation with charismatics, New Evangelicals, and other non-separatist groups in their regional rallies; it views with further alarm the deteriorating compromise and inconsistency of the A.C.E. headquarters in permitting heretical non-trinitarian cultic groups such as the United Pentecostal denomination to qualify for the A.C.E. program when this group proclaims such unbiblical doctrines as the denial of the Trinity, baptismal regeneration, and speaking in tongues as the initial evidence of salvation; while claiming that A.C.E. "will not enter into contract with any organization" other than a "local incorporated Bible-believing New Testament Church."

It cites as an example of this compromise the removal of the word "Trinity" from all future new A.C.E. curriculum material under the guise that in the future the A.C.E. program will use only "Biblical terminology" in its curriculum, leaving it to "pastors to identify" such "terminology and definitions" like "Godhead to their people." It also cites the appearance of the A.C.E. president at a building dedication service of an A.C.E. school building within the United Pentecostal Church on December 14, 1980, in Nashville, Tennessee.

REGARDING THE SCRIPTURES

The FBF affirms that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments (66 canonical books), is the verbally and plenarily inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God in the autographs.

We reject the books known as the Apocrypha as the inspired Word of God.

We condemn paraphrases such as The Living Bible and Good News for Modern Man and the products of unbelieving and liberal scholarship such as the Revised Standard Version and the New English Bible.

We deplore the rash of new versions which add to or delete from the Word of God, such as the New International Version, with special reference to those so-called "revisions" which by footnote additions undermine the text.

We recognize the unique and special place of the Authorized King James Version, providentially preserved by God in the English-speaking world.

We reject as heretical the concept that any translation of the Bible is given by inspiration, which has in our generation fostered a cult. We believe firmly that inspiration ceased upon the closure of the canon of Scripture in the original auto graphs. We likewise reject the practice of exalting any version or translation to the position held uniquely by the original writings.

REGARDING THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT, THE APOSTATE ONE WORLD ECUMENICAL CHURCH MOVEMENT AND THE CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL TO EACH OTHER

The FBF exposes the modern-day charismatic movement as a counterfeit of true Biblical Christianity and as the catalytic agent for a one-world church of anti-christ and condemns this movement for its subjective experience-centered emphasis rather than an objective Scripture-centered foundation.

It cites as a specific instance of this ecumenical fusing the recent Pentecostal World Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, where a professor from the radical left-wing apostate Union Theological Seminary in New York City was a main speaker and the statement by charismatic Lutheran Pastor Larry Christenson that "from the beginning the charismatic renewal has had a strong ecumenical thrust" with an "obligation of unity" hovering over this movement.

The FBF also exposes the Roman Catholic charismatic renewal as an intricate part of this ecumenical conspiracy and religious apostasy since one of its leading spokesmen, Kevin Ranaghan, openly admits in the current June 1982 issue of Charisma magazine that "The (Catholic charismatic) renewal has been the channel of the most significant grassroots ecumenical movement to date"; and since he also freely indicates that as a result of the Catholic charismatic renewal, Catholics involved in this movement have been "awakened to the richness of the mass, the sacraments and a new under standing of the place of Mary and the saints"; and since he declares in other recent articles that for the Catholic charismatic renewal Pope John Paul II is a "true prophet" and "God's authentic spokesman" and that the voice of the Pope is the present Word of God for this age; since this same Pope John Paul II exalts the Virgin Mary, making the Marian cult a cornerstone of his papacy, praying before her image and kissing her statue and openly stating that he places all his actions "in the hands of Mary" and thus his plea for world evangelization to "Christ" MUST BE interpreted in this light; and since Mr. Ranaghan declares in another article that "the church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church and that SHE (the Roman Catholic Church) possesses in UNIQUE FULLNESS BOTH THE REVELATION AND THE MEANS OF SALVATION" and that the experience of Catholic charismatics MUST be placed "in this context" as listed above and in the "company of Mary and the saints." The FBF condemns these movements, recognizing that the ecumenical pilgrimage is a journey back to the positions, practices and beliefs of the pagan Roman harlot. It exhorts all who designate themselves as Bible-believing Christians to recognize the true nature of the charismatic movement and the ecumenical thrust behind it and to voice their protest concerning it.

REGARDING THE NATURE OF HISTORIC FUNDAMENTALISM

The FBF repudiates the positions of those who refer to "historic" Fundamentalism and who wish to claim identity with it merely by stating their belief in "five" fundamentals. The FBF rejects this claim of pseudo-fundamentalists as being valid since there are vast numbers within the confines of the National Council of Churches, the World Council of Churches and the National Association of Evangelicals who, while giving lip service to these "five" fundamentals, knowingly continue to support the apostate denominational program and modernistic liberal machinery because they are unwilling to be Scripturally obedient and place their membership outside the ecumenical camp. It declares that a true Fundamentalist is militant in his posture, not only giving lip service to belief in verbal inspiration, but also willing to obey and defend its truths against the attacks of Satan. It urges all true believers within the confines of such groups to sever all connections with these apostate denominations and to align themselves with a New Testament Fundamentalist church, and further urges those who wish to be identified with historic Fundamentalism to repudiate this pseudo-fundamentalist position.

REGARDING DEALING WITH THE GOVERNMENT

The FBF realizes that the future most likely holds more and more confrontation with local, state, and federal government agencies and that Fundamentalists must approach these confrontations with prayerful preparation. On the one hand, we must obey the Scriptural command, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God" (Romans 13:1). On the other hand, we realize that there comes a time when government may step outside its proper boundary and present a dilemma for God's men, and that then we must say with the apostles, "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).

We view with great concern, however, the so-called "theology of resistance" which involves physical resistance to authorities when it comes to protecting one's church or school. We believe Fundamentalists should endeavor to change laws that encroach upon their religious liberty, then go to court to seek constitutional rulings on their plight, and failing those remedies, that they should peacefully go to jail, if necessary, rather than disobey the Scriptures.

REGARDING THE JERRY FALWELL MINISTRIES

The FBF affirms that the Jerry Falwell ministries are New Evangelical and do not represent historic Fundamentalism. Falwell's book The Fundamentalist Phenomenon exhibits this by calling for a unification of Fundamentalists and New Evangelicals and rebuking Biblical separatists by using such inflammatory terms as "ultra-separatist" and "lunatic fringe." It is further confirmed by the conclusions of New Evangelicals Clark Pinnock and George Marsden that Dr. Falwell is a fellow New Evangelical.

REGARDING THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL OF 1984

The FBF recognizes that Civil Rights has become both a god and a war cry to the courts and in the Congress, and that these entities are systematically destroying personal and religious freedom in our beloved America in the name of civil rights legislation and court order.

We further acknowledge that the liberal media cooperates with them by conspiring to give the public a blackout on information about proposed civil rights legislation which would be met by outspoken public opposition if known to freedom-loving people.

The FBF, therefore, declares its vehement opposition to the Civil Rights Bill of 1984 (S 2568) currently being considered by the U.S. Senate, because it extends the federal powers of control into every church, school and business in America by redefining the meaning of federal financial assistance. This act would redefine federal assistance in such an all-inclusive manner as to make every institution, no matter how small, no matter how religious, the recipient of federal aid and thus, answerable to every federal guideline guarding the sexes, the races, the aged and the handicapped against discrimination. Churches and Christian schools who receive police or fire protection, or who otherwise receive any service or payment through another party receiving federal funds, would themselves be judged as federally funded and could not exercise their religious beliefs which are in denial of someone's civil rights. For them to do so would be to forfeit all tax exemption and other benefits construed by the government as being their prerogative to withhold as punishment.

We further urge all people everywhere who regard religious and personal freedom to be essential to the American dream, to telephone their U. S. Senators immediately, urging them to vote against S. 2568 as being the most overreaching and deleterious piece of legislation ever yet devised to place the federal government in control of all private institutions including our churches.

REGARDING MARANATHA BAPTIST BIBLE COLLEGE

The Fundamental Baptist Fellowship wishes to express appreciation to Maranatha Baptist Bible College for its part in making the Fellowship's 1984 annual meeting a success.

Maranatha Baptist Bible College's president, Dr. Arno Q. Weniger, Jr., the chancellor, Dr. B. Myron Cedarholm, and their staff are to be commended for their hard work and fine hospitality.

These resolutions respectfully submitted by the Resolutions Committee,

Homer Massey, Chairman
Frank Bumpus
B. Myron Cedarholm
Fred Moritz
James Singleton
J. B. Williams