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JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Florida elected pro-gay rights presidential candidate Barack Obama, helping him win the White House, even while resoundingly rejecting “gay marriage” by adopting the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment with a 62 percent super majority. In these two developments we have both the danger and promise of the future for those of us concerned about biblical morality in public policy.
Many in the secular news media seem perplexed that our state would narrowly elect Obama while also handily approving the marriage amendment. I believe this seemingly diametrical situation actually demonstrates that many people voted for Obama for reasons apart from his policy positions and that conservative moral public policy positions can win in the marketplace of ideas when a winsome case is made, even against outright lies and distortions—and being outspent by 3-1!
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I join with many conservative leaders in our country who rightly celebrate the fact that our nation has broken a historic racial barrier in electing Barack Obama. The importance of this result cannot be overestimated. Truly, it is a very good thing that being black in America can no longer be seen as an impediment to leading our nation.
I’m reminded of the racial importance of the election when I think about a truly vile voice message received in our office the day before the election from a man who spewed some of the most racist comments I’ve ever heard, directing his sinful thoughts at the prospect of an Obama presidency. We’ve come a long way in this country on the issue of race, but this voice message reminded how much further yet we have to go.
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Obama’s election is indeed a fulfillment of Martin Luther King’s dream of a day when persons would not be judged by the color of their skin. Tragically, it is only a partial fulfillment of King’s dream because there is so much for which Obama stands that must cause Bible-believing Christians to question the content of our new president’s character.
Christians and other Americans—perhaps even some who voted for Obama—who are concerned about the right-to-life, the family, and other moral concerns need to brace themselves for the most sustained assault on traditional values our nation has ever witnessed. Specifically for Southern Baptists both here in Florida and across the nation, in light of our commitment to biblical truth and the moral and public policy implications of biblical truth, we will have no choice but to bring our biblical convictions to bear on these matters.
The adoption of the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment—as well as approval of similar marriage amendments in Arizona and especially in California—is a hopeful sign and helps point the way forward. The marriage amendment in Florida was embraced by a diversity of races and political preferences, demonstrating the wide support that exists among Americans for common-sense moral principles. These principles apply to other critical moral issues of our day and must be if we are to resist the coming onslaught to traditional values in public policy resulting from the election of Obama and strengthened liberal majorities in Congress.
These themes were sounded by Mat Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, in an interview about the adoption of the marriage amendment. Staver told me the election of Obama and approval of the marriage amendment showed “…we need to rebuild the conservative movement over the next four years so that we have a revolution in America that rebuilds these conservative values because the majority of the American people are not philosophically in line with Barack Obama and they do not share his values.”
Clayton Cloer, pastor of First Baptist Church of Central Florida and leader of the effort mobilize pastors for the marriage amendment, also sees optimism in the success of the marriage amendment. It’s adoption, he said, “… tells me that I think there’s great hope for our state to continue to keep traditional values and to be more open to the spiritual things of God. Because any time you affirm marriage you affirm morality. You affirm that which you believe is valuable in your culture as a moral decision to marry. So, I’m just very encouraged for our state.”
There can be no doubt that the marriage amendment would not have passed in Florida apart from the labors of Florida Baptists. The resolution offered at the 2004 Florida Baptist State Convention by Jay Dennis, pastor of First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, triggered the movement that resulted in the marriage amendment citizens’ initiative. Throughout the four-year effort, Florida Baptists played key roles.
Any who doubt the importance of Florida Baptists should consider the comments of John Stemberger, chairman of Yes2Marriage.
org: “There’s no question in my mind as the organizer that without Florida Baptist churches this would not have happened. Period.”
Indeed, the marriage amendment shows us what’s possible when Florida Baptists are committed to bringing their biblical convictions to bear in the public marketplace of ideas. In the midst of a Democratic Obama Administration—and Florida’s Republican governor who too often is at odds or apathetic about the moral issues of deepest concern to Florida Baptists—now is the time for Southern Baptists across the nation and here in the Sunshine State to fully embrace the obligations of our citizenship—both nationally and spiritually—and make our voices heard about the critical issues of the day.