ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptists blasted the contraceptive mandate included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, and voiced their support of religious liberty in a resolution during the annual meeting of the Missouri Baptist Convention Oct. 31 here.
According to the resolution submitted by David Kruger, pastor of First Baptist Church, Linn, ObamaCare “destroys the separation between church and state, violates our religious liberties, demands people violate the tenets of their faith, violates their consciences, and punishes people of faith for making decisions in accordance with their faith as protected by the Constitution.”
The “contraception mandate” requires religious institutions like Southwest Baptist University, Hannibal-LaGrange University, the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home and other religious institutions and Christian business owners to provide insurance coverage for contraception and – more importantly – abortion-causing drugs to their employees.
“Governmental tampering with freedoms so fundamental to the life of our nation sets a dangerous precedent for the future, making one shudder to think what lies ahead,” the resolution read.
The resolution, which passed unanimously, finished thus:
“The messengers call on President Obama to instruct the Department of Health and Human Services to withdraw its requirement that religious organizations and people of faith be required to comply with the contraceptive mandate under threat of punishment of law.
“…The messengers understand that the battle lines are drawn, and that we will remain faithful to God’s sovereignty over all parts of our culture, and be prayerfully vigilant in upholding religious freedom for future generations.”
Messengers also voiced their support of Christian citizenship, with a resolution submitted by Justin Mosher, pastor of Fifth Street Baptist Church in Hannibal.
Government is ordained by God, who holds societies accountable to His standards of righteousness, the resolution read. “Jesus taught that Christians are the salt of the earth and light of the world.”
The resolution encouraged all to become educated about all the issues and candidates’ platforms, asked churches to get involved in educating their congregations, and exhorted all Chrsitians of age “to exercise his or her God-given responsibility and Christian duty to engage in the political life of our nation by voting in every election.”
Regardless of the outcome of the election, the resolution also challenged believers to “respectfully [communicate] to their elected officials their concerns regarding public policy” and urged all Christians to “obey the laws of the United States and to continue to support our local, state and national governments with taxes.”
Finally, it asked Christians to prayerfully consider running for public offices on all levels.