Religious Freedom for Me But Not for Thee?

A conflict is brewing at the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) over how the country's largest protestant denomination will approach religious freedom. The SBC's International Mission Board (IMB) and Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) are both facing criticism for signing onto an amicus brief that supported the rights of a Muslim group in New Jersey to build a place of worship. But more lurks underneath the surface.

IMB president David Platt dealt with the controversy over the brief by apologizing for the “distraction” last week. And yet the brief was entirely consistent with the SBC's position on religious liberty. On this issue, ERLC president Russell Moore does not have any flexibility: Unlike the IMB, the ERLC's main focus is the political principle of religious freedom.