Don't get 'too cozy' with culture, Floyd urges Southern Baptists

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Rev. Ronnie Floyd cautioned Southern Baptists not to get too cozy with the culture during his president's address Tuesday morning at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting.

"You cannot caress or cuddle with the culture and simultaneously stand on Jesus' word and name," he said.

Floyd quoted Billy Graham, late pastor and former SBC president W.A. Criswell, Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan and Dietrich Bonhoeffer during his half-hour talk to the 4,870 attendees, who are called messengers.

“The alarm clock is going off in our nation and the world. This is not the time to push the snooze button,” said Floyd, pastor of the multi-campus Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas. “Now is the time to lead.”

Floyd called for another "Great Awakening" in Christianity and the need he sees for Baptists to set aside internal squabbling and focus on carrying the message of Christianity into their communities, regions and the world.

Floyd also mentioned same-sex marriage. On Wednesday afternoon, he will lead a panel on “The Supreme Court and Same-Sex Marriage: Preparing Our Churches.”

Christians have an obligation “to love our neighbors and extend respect to all people, even those who disagree with us,” Floyd said. He went on to say, “As a minister of the Gospel, I will not officiate over any same-sex unions or same-sex marriage ceremonies. I completely refuse.”

On Tuesday afternoon, messengers will vote on nine nonbinding resolutions expressing the mind of the denomination. Topics include racial reconciliation, the definition of marriage, the sanctity of human life, pornography and persecution.

Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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