The Southern Baptist Convention on Tuesday did something that would have been unthinkable just a few short years ago.

It urged Christians in a resolution to stop displaying the Confederate battle flag, saying it is a “symbol of hatred, bigotry and racism.”

That’s a big deal from the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, especially considering it was founded in a split with northern Baptists over slavery. The denomination has a checkered past when it comes to race relations, which makes the resolution about the Confederate battle flag all the more important.

The vote followed an earlier address by Convention President Ronnie Floyd, a white pastor who has made racial unity a priority of his presidency. He told the audience in St. Louis, “I believe the issue of racism is from Satan and his demonic forces of hell. It is an assault on the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” The Associated Press reported.

It will be interesting to see how the resolution from the Convention will be received in Mississippi, where the state flag still carries the emblem. SBC resolutions are not binding on individual churches or members, but they are an expression of the opinions of the delegates who represent SBC churches.

We’ve said before that changing the state flag is best for Mississippi. We’ve not been alone. The calls to change the flag have grown increasingly louder.

Changing the state’s flag will not prevent individuals from flying the Confederate flag on private property. Changing the flag will in no way diminish the positive aspects of the state’s history. But changing the flag will help the state move beyond its painful past.

From a Christian perspective, the issue should be a no-brainer. Christians should seek to unify the church, not divide it, and a symbol that divides the church shouldn’t stand. The SBC resolution should help more Mississippians see that the state flag should be changed.

We’re grateful to those at the Convention who had the courage to vote in favor of unity over heritage.