It is with bated breath I have been waiting for an uproar from the Baptist denomination regarding the present popularity (it seems) of what is called “same sex marriage laws” with the possibility of these same sex couples being able to adopt and bring up children.

I do not believe it is the Church’s role to condemn or criticise what the unbelieving world does, but I do believe the Church is called to make a stand against laws and practices which are totally opposed to the Biblical standards and practices which we as members have been taught to believe in. The famous line quoted in churches we have been in for so many years has been: “Evil flourishes when good men do nothing.”

So I am asking, through this column, is there anybody in the Baptist leadership with courage enough to stand up and be bold enough to tell the world what New Zealand Baptists believe about same sex marriage in our communities?

My personal belief is that if we have nothing we can stand for, we might as well call ourselves “Christian clubs” where anything goes, rather than churches which are a people called out of the world to serve a holy, righteous God.

If we have nothing we can stand for, I for one want no part of such a lukewarm system of beliefs and would make haste to leave the Baptist Church and became part of the thousands of people who have left churches over the past 20 years.

– Ian Ford
Beachlands, Auckland