Resolutions

by Joe Thorn on September 23, 2005

We passed a resolution on teen smoking at our last Convention, and others on the education of our children, the federal judiciary and even the Disney boycott (it’s over in case anyone wasn’t paying attention). I have never written up a resolution before, but I thought I would take a stab at one that has been entirely overlooked since our beginning in 1845. We have made dozens of resolutions encouraging abstinence from alcohol (not moderation), discouraging smoking, and illegal drug use often times pointing to the health problems related to such habits. But I couldn’t find one resolution on gluttony in the past 160 years. So, I just threw this together as an example. How about something like this:

ON GLUTTONY AND SELF CONTROL

WHEREAS, One third of all American adults (well over 60 million) are obese; and

WHEREAS, 16% of American children (9 million) are overweight, and the percentage continues to increase (the numbers have tripled since 1980); and

WHEREAS, Obesity is now recognized as a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack; and

WHEREAS, Gluttony is one of the causes of obesity; and

WHEREAS, The Bible condemns gluttony as a serious sin akin to drunkenness; and

WHEREAS, Gluttony is the abuse of God’s gift of food to us; and

WHEREAS, Gluttony is the opposite of self control, a fruit of the Spirit; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina, June 13-14, 2006, decry the lack of self control, and over-indulgence in eating throughout our culture and our churches; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we promote moderation in all of our eating, giving thanks to God.

Relevant Links

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/04facts/obesity.htm

http://www.nal.usda.gov/foodstamp/Topics/health_stats.html

http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Proverbs+23%3A20-21

This is not a resolution against big people. The point here is not size, but self control/health. I wrote this because 1) I am troubled by the absence of a resolution confronting a sin that is clearly being indulged in our Convention and 2) I would like to see other meaningful resolutions passed, and think some of you Southern Baptists should put them together. What do you think the SBC should address: doctrinally, ethically, biblically? The deadline for resolutions is April 15th. Here’s the link.

BTW, resolutons don’t have to be benign or boring. Jonathan Edwards lived by 70 of them. His resolution #20: “Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.”

About Joe Thorn

I am the Lead Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in Saint Charles, IL, and author of Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself. Jen is my wife, and Katherine, Elias, Madeline and Kilian are my kids.

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  • http://espressoroastblog.com David Price

    I love it…you should definitely submit that. :-)

  • http://adamfeldman.typepad.com adam

    wow… wow… wow…

    amen.

    let me just say this, though: its sad that the sbc has created “ethical” and “social” resolutions in the past, superceding the role of the autonomous church. this resolution (though it be a fine example) should probably never have to be written–along with countless others that sbcers have written and passed at national conventions. the production and passing of these ethical/social resolutions does not point to the decay of our society…………

  • http://www.stevekmccoy.com/ Steve McCoy

    add: RESOLVE, that every SBC church should watch Super-Size Me

    That should help. :) Love your thoughts on this, Joe. Funny how we pick and choose our vices.

  • http://tomcottar.blogspot.com tom

    Right on, my brutha. I would attend the SBC *just* to be a part of that one…
    And in keeping with Robert’s Rules of Order, I second the motion to amend in the addition of adding the mandatory viewing of Super-Size Me…

    (sorry…it just slipped out)

  • http://bgenis.blogspot.com Bob

    How ’bout sloth? Or gossip? Or laziness? Or envy, jealousy, backbiting, usury, working on the Sabbath?

    Just a second, let me get out my Talmud and I’ll have about 4,000 of ‘em for you.

  • http://gideonshorn.blogspot.com Rick Marshall

    Although I agree with your beliefs on gluttony and self control as sins I don’t understand why the SBC feels the need to pass resolutions in general. If the topics are sins, such as gluttony, we should be going directly to the Bible, not the SBC, for our guidance. And if the topics are the SBC trying to marginalize the effect of cultural creep into the church, then we run the risk of turning the Christian life into one of following a set of rules rather than being in a love relationship with Jesus Christ.

  • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

    Resolutions are designed, as I understand them, to draw attention to current events and issues related to our Convention, while showing a unified perspective or response. Is there “sin in the camp?” Well, let’s confess it honestly and seek to do what’s right. Is there injustice in the world, let’s speak to it. This is not about going to the SBC for direction, but the SBC (that’s all of us) responding to something together.

    Resolutions are good – or they can be good. For example, I would like to have seen something on the genocide in Darfur this year. The problem is that we pass resolutions that are pointless (link). And the SBC has done a poor job of explaining and showing why such unified statements mean something.

    Resolutions often get press – what would you like the world to know about the SBC?

    In the end, I say let’s do ‘em right or leave them in the past. Can we stop congratulating everyone in them, and use them for something worthwhile?

  • http://joelrainey.blogspot.com Joel

    Joe,

    Good one! You gonna submit that one to the resolutions committee next year in Greensboro?

  • http://www.psonnets.org/ Michael Rew

    Wouldn’t such a resolution forbid the typical Southern Baptist Church potluck?

  • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

    I plan on submitting a resolution, but not this one. I will throw it up here when it’s done.

  • Phil in CA

    I love it!!! Is there a way that you can update this to actually go so far as to *exclude* those who are overweight from all ministry? I mean, this would entail including a new line item for “height:______ and weight:______ ” on SBC ministry applications. Also, if the new resolution extends to spouses of candidates (as it does for divorce, for example) then you’d also have to include “spouse’s height:______ and weight:______”.

    I can hear it now, “Honey, I can’t get ordained because you’re too fat.”

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  • http://www.thejaggededge.blogspot.com Mark

    Joe,

    As an insulin-dependant diabetic, could you add “diabetes” next to coronary heart disease? I truly believe obesity leads to Type 2 diabetes in adults. Otherwise, this (resolution) should be presented and voted on.
    Thanks and take care,

    Mark

  • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

    It has been funny. Some people think I am joking, and others think I am submitting this resolution. Ultimately, I am serious. I think moderation is an important virtue that the church has lost sight of. As if abstinence from God’s gifts (generally unbiblical) and over-indulgence are the only options. It is frustrating to see the hypocrisy of those who condmen alcohol – not drunkeness – and then given themselves, or our Convention a pass. I am not presenting this res’, though I would vote for it. I am hoping some of our younger churches will begin submitting resolutions that say something meaningful.

  • http://jmoorhead.blogspot.com Jonathan Moorhead

    Joe, I hope you don’t mind that I posted your article in full on my blog. Of course I linked to your site giving you props. Good work man.

  • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

    Thanks for the plug man. I appreciate it.

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  • http://www.thideology.blogspot.com Chip

    I’m sorry, but “we’ve never done it this way before.”

  • http://parentingwithpurpose.net/ Mrs. Austin

    What about too much caffiene in coffee?
    This is coming from the flip side…we were at a church that was bothered if people chose NOT to drink.
    link

  • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

    I am not sure exactly what your point is, and how it relates to this post. Please feel free to make it clear. Thanks for stopping by.

  • http://www.churchofthegoodshepherd.info Shane Anderson

    Amen!

    I hope this isn’t a joke, because I would love to see this kind of real biblical issue addressed…

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