Southern Baptists of Texas Repudiate Promotion of the Prosperity Gospel

Concerns about Beth Moore, another Texas Southern Baptist, did not start with her more recent outspokenness regarding preaching on Sunday mornings. In fact, one of the primary concerns about Moore has been her public association with prosperity teachers like Joyce Meyer and the Osteens.

Given this background, the passing of Resolution 6 by the Southern Baptists of Texas can’t help but be seen as pushback against these prominent Texas Baptists and their promotion of prosperity gospel teachers.

Specifically, take notice of these portions of the resolution:

RESOLVED, that pastors, as commanded by Scripture, should not entertain the teaching or promotion of the prosperity gospel or its teachers in their churches and communities, that they should publicly and courageously oppose teachers of the prosperity gospel as occasion requires (Galatians 1:6-9; Titus 1:9; 2:1; Jude 3)

RESOLVED, that we should ask the Lord to search our hearts and ensure that we have no fellowship that involves the “violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word” (BF&M 2000, Article XIV)

It is plain to see that Texas Baptists intended to do more with this resolution than simply denounce the prosperity gospel in general. They also want to make it clear that pastors have a responsibility to guard their people from such false teaching.

Well done, Texas.

As we look to faithfully steward the conservative identity of the SBC in the years to come, resolutions such as this are a model for what ordinary, local Southern Baptists can accomplish through our state conventions.