To Affirm Biblical Anthropology and Denounce Racism as an Anti-Gospel Belief

WHEREAS, Biblical anthropology reveals that all people are created in the same image of God, one human race no matter what our outward distinctions might be (Gen. 1:26–27; 9:6; cf. Acts 17:25–26), giving every human inherent value (Psalm 139:13–14); and

WHEREAS, In Jesus, God became man and so identifies fully with every human (Matt. 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–38) and His mission of redemption is for all of humankind (Heb. 2:17) and verifies the value of every person in the eyes of God (John 3:16–17); and

WHEREAS, The apostle Peter said, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34–35); and

WHEREAS, James says, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:8–9); and

WHEREAS, Contrary to biblical anthropology, there are ideologies that determine a person’s worth or value by genetics, biological characteristics, or cultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, Critical theory, aphilosophical view derived from the Enlightenment and Marxism, frames humanity’s existence and outlook in terms of oppression and victimization, liberation and unfettered libertinism as most lately manifest in Critical Race Theory (CRT); and

WHEREAS, Racism has existed and still exists in many forms in this sinful, broken world; and

WHEREAS, Christ’s Church is “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” who celebrate around the throne of the Lamb (Rev. 7:9); and

WHEREAS, The Church exists to call the world to repent of sin, including racial and ethnic division and discrimination, and to proclaim that Christ Himself is our peace and all are reconciled to God and one another through the cross (Eph. 2:14–16); and

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention has addressed racism in many of its forms in the following resolutions:

• 1971 Resolution 9-32, “To Encourage Christian Action to Combat Racism” (1971 Proceedings, 198);

• 1973 Res. 9-22, “To Continue Efforts to Combat Racism” (1973 Proceedings, 206);

• 1977 Res 10-18A, “To Make Every Effort to Eliminate Racism” (1977 Proceedings, 204);

• 1979 Res 4-11, “To Reaffirm Efforts to Combat Racism” (1979 Proceedings, 129);

• 1981 Res 8-07, “To Oppose Racism and Violence” (1981 Proceedings, 204–5);

• 1983 Res 3-09, “To Clarify Position on Anti-Semitism” (1983 Proceedings, 157);

• 1992 Res. 3-03, “To Combat All Racism” (1992 Proceedings, 113–14); and

• 1995 Res 2-05A, “To Commend for Study the CTCR Document Racism and the Church” (1995 Proceedings, 112); and

WHEREAS, The 1992 Res. 3-03 states that racism is contrary to God’s Word and a sin against Him(1992 Proceedings, 113–14) and Bylaw 2.3.1 (a) states: “It shall be the policy of the Synod to decline membership to congregations whose constitutions deny membership or other congregational privileges to any Christian because of race or ethnic origin” (Bylaw 2.3.1 [a]); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Missouri District affirm the biblical anthropology of the God-given value and dignity of every person;

and be it further

Resolved, That the district encourage and assist the members of our district congregations, pastors, teachers, professors, congregations, and Synod to faithfully learn, witness, and teach the Christian faith, especially the doctrine of biblical anthropology for the sake of the Gospel; and be it further

Resolved, That we commend the schools, universities, and seminaries of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) for their faithful witness to God’s design and intent for human life, and Concordia Publishing House (CPH) and the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) for providing teaching materials; and be it further

Resolved, That the district continue to denounce every form of racism, racial division, or separation as antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and be it further

Resolved, That the congregations of the district be watchful and sober-minded regarding the idol of racism as a scheme of the devil intended to bring further suffering and division to the world and to hinder the Gospel; and be it further

Resolved, That we call on the CTCR and the two seminaries to study critical theory, including CRT, and create content that highlights the differences between biblical anthropology and critical theory to help our people to be vigilant in the face of pervasive cultural error; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage the schools, universities, and seminaries of the Synod to be on guard against the encroachment of any theories in their classrooms, curricula, and co- curricular activities that are contrary to biblical anthropology as taught in the Scriptures and in the Lutheran Confessions; and be it further

Resolved, That we earnestly pray, both for those who advocate racist ideologies and those who are there by deceived, that they may see their error through the light of the Gospel, repent of this sin, and come to know the peace and love of Christ through redeemed fellowship in the one kingdom of God, established out of every nation, from all tribes and peoples, and languages; and be it finally

Resolved, That we pray for the many victims of racism, both within our Church and those in our world, and that the Church work to bring the healing power of the Gospel into their lives, and so join together in proclaiming Christ as the Savior for all.