Righteous Intransigence, Regardless of Results

Bull-headed, obstinate, headstrong. Synonyms of intransigent, these words are generally communicated with a negative connotation. Intransigent is defined by Mirriam Webster as: “Characterized by refusal to compromise or to abandon an often extreme position or attitude: UNCOMPROMISING.” In certain regards, however, this stubborn, uncompromising attitude is not only good, but it is our duty. For example, we must be intransigent in holding to the scriptures as our sole infallible rule of faith. When it comes to the fight against modern-day child sacrifice, compromising with our culture of death is not merely a foolish move strategically, but it is a stench in God’s nostrils. Intransigence on matters like these should be praised and imitated, and that is why I am telling this story.

My colleagues and I were in Branson, MO, assisting local abolitionists who were working hard to teach and promote abolitionism at the statewide Baptist convention. The goal was to pass an abolitionist resolution on abortion that was consistent with God’s Word, calling the state legislature to only enact just, righteous, and God-fearing legislation on abortion, and to repent of their previous pro-life compromise and approval of legalized, regulated child sacrifice.

Instead of accepting the Missouri Baptists for the Abolition of Abortion Resolution, the resolutions committee accepted a resolution from the Christian Life Commission that praised the very compromise that abolitionists, with the Missouri Baptists for the Abolition of Abortion Resolution, were calling the legislature to repent of.

The Missouri Baptist messengers accepted the CLC’s resolution. When it came time to adopt or kill this resolution, the abolitionists put forward an amendment to change the committee’s language that celebrated pro-life legislation – legislation that compromises with our culture of death. Long story short: the convention reacted in pride, repulsed at the thought that they might have something to repent of, and voted down the abolitionist amendment to their resolution.

As the instructions regarding the vote were given, I sat in the crowd and noticed twomen who were in front of me. Both were abolitionists who had invested months of time and a lot of resources into the efforts that were just shut down. I wondered what was going through their minds. They were about to vote on the abortion resolution the committee had put forward. The abolitionist’s resolution had pressured the convention to move closer to a consistently biblical position, and as a result, the convention was about to vote on the strongest pro-life [still not biblical] resolution that MO Baptists had ever seen. The final language included some strong, biblical language, but it also praised and celebrated compromise with child sacrifice.

Tears came to my eyes as I watched these two men vote in the vast minority, against the compromised resolution. They could have called a celebration of a monumental moment, celebrating what just happened and taking credit because they were the reason the convention took a stronger stance than any previous year. But these men were not interested in decorating the manure pile of compromise with iniquity, the regulation of abortion. They were not attracted by throwing perfume bombs on the stench of child sacrifice that rises to God’s nostrils. Instead, they were calling the convention to repentance. Repentance of approving of and compromise with child sacrifice through pro-life legislation.

Previously, I’ve seen men face defeat in a battle like this then work to spin what happened as a victory at some level. It’s understandable, I mean, no one likes losing. But these men cared more about what God thought of them than their own reputations among men. They concerned themselves first and foremost with standing on the Word of God, even when their brothers, sisters, and friends took their position as an insult, and forced them to stand alone in a room full of professing Christians.

I exhort each of you reading this to be wise in choosing the men and women you look up to. Worldly wisdom presents many reasons we should honor and look up to people: accolades, fame, accomplishments, age, perceived success, etc. But what was evident in these men was something we should all model and work to teach the next generation of Christians to practice. These men were resolute and refused to abandon the teachings of God’s Word and go along with the multitude in that room. We should point each other to examples like these, and look up to those who refuse to compromise with iniquity, regardless of the results. We likewise must hold fast to a biblical position even when it means standing against the hundreds of professing Christians around us. Our lives as children of God must be marked with righteous intransigence, whatever sacrifices we may face as a result. Through misunderstandings, slander, and misrepresentations, may we always fear God and honor Him above any man.