I believe we are at a crossroads in the SBC. I believe there are those such as Wright, Mohler, Akin, Ezell, and others who are trying to refashion the SBC into their own image: reformed, culturally cool, and more inviting to young people. I believe they are only interested in getting what they want irregardless of SBC polity and procedure. I believe if they get their way, the SBC will die and a Reformed Baptist organization will replace it.
I do not want the SBC as we know it, to die. I believe they got a little taste of victory through GCR and now they want more. The GCRTF was the first shot across the bow to see if they could get their agenda passed. The appointment of a Reformed pastor from Kentucky to be the NAMB president who has gutted NAMB in order to turn it into an Acts 29 clone, was the second shot across the bow. They have succeeded in implementing these two steps without much push-back from the "rank and file."
Now we have the third shot across the bow from Bryant Wright in appointing a presidential committee (who is funding this?) to study a possible name change for our convention.
What is happening is the basic dismantling of the SBC piece-by-piece in order to reform it into something different.
This is not a time for polite debate of the merits of each indivual move. This is a time for sounding an alarm. What we need today are watchmen (Ez. 3:17), not debate.
We do not like to hear from watchmen (Jer. 6:17), but the time has come to sound the alarm. It is time to stand up and fight for the Southern Baptist Convention. Where are the watchmen?
Monday, October 3, 2011
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
7 comments:
This is kind of sad, really. Nobody is wanting to do away with the SBC as we know it. Or if there are those people, I've not met them. I do strongly believe, however, the SBC needs to change it's name. I say that as a Yankee, full disclosure.
Good to hear from you again Les. I'd begun to think you'd been raptured :) while the rest of us were still struggling along.
The GCR has led to a reduction in funding from NAMB...in some ways a bad thing...letting staff go...but in others a good thing...forcing us to grow up as a convention and set our own agenda. I am undecided about the name change...I have never led a lost person to faith in the Southern Baptist Convention...always to Jesus Christ. I think the name change is a red herring...but am unsure of where the pressure is coming from.
Anyway, keep watching. I am planning on being in New Orleans next June (my wife is on the Committee on Committees!)
Les:
When I was in a SBC seminary - under the tutellege of Drs. Patterson & Akin - I learned that the SBC had a unique pyramid design amongst denominations. That the local church, composed of born again, baptized believers (the "rank and file" as you call them), is at the TOP of the pyramid and that everything else was beneath, with the SBC Executives and agencies at the bottom. Now, it seems, that the the pyramid has been turned over and we are having agendas thrust upon local churches from other places -- not agends rising up from churches/believers.
It seems that the "rank and file's" dollars are desperately wanted to continue to operate, but only the input from a few at the top of the new pyramid. This is frightening. I think it is what was fought aginst in the 70's by the conservatives. Then again maybe we were just duped for our votes. -- Heath Lloyd
thinker,
What is sad is that you can't see the forest for the trees.
If the Reformed movement continues to pursue this course, they will split the SBC wide open.
Steve,
Nice to hear from you. I've been spending most of my time trying to find a job. Still looking for a fulltime job.
I had decided not to blog anymore but I could not stand by and let these guys do away with the SBC without trying to fight it.
If I have some money next June, I hope to go to New Orleans for the one day they vote on this name change business to vote against it.
Heath,
You are absolutely right. These guys are going to destroy our convention. It's time to stand up and sound the alarm.
Les
Let me say, I love the SBC. I think the SBC does a wonderful job with overseas missions. I think the SBC has done a wonderful job of regaining it's conservative roots, and has a fairly solid orthodoxy. But I do believe the SBC does need to be shaken up. I do not particularly want to see a split within the Convention. But if the convention were to split, I would hope it would be for the right reason.
thinker,
Sorry for my inappropriate remark about your name. I deleted the comment.
Les
Les,
Glad you're back. I've missed your point of view.
I hear that our local Association voted to send a letter to the EC protesting any name change. At least the rank and file aren't totally asleep this time around.
Short of withholding CP funds to say enough is enough, I'm not confident anything we do will work.
Again, welcome back. You've been missed.
Ron in OK
Post a Comment