Avoiding Evil

If you are just now reading this series of posts this is Part IV. Please go back and read Part I, Part II, and Part III before continuing.

So what exactly is the “Controversy” in the SBC? Some would say it is a political battle for power. Others would claim that it is a spiritual battle for truth. Then again some might say it is a mixture of both. Of course you also have the fourth category of people who have no clue what is going on but they just want something to complain about.

Since 1979 when this all began the conservative Southern Baptists have argued that the controversy has always been theological in nature. I agree that something had to be done about the spread of liberal theology and higher critiscm. Having teachers in our seminaries and leaders in our convention who do not believe that Jesus is deity and who also discredit the virgin birth and the resurrection was a disgrace to southern Baptists and I must give props to the fundamentalists for recognizing the downward spiral of truth sinking down the drain in the SBC. Now it is 24 years into the “controversy” and when you look at the differences between the SBC and the CBF it is clear to see the evidence that this still remains to be a spiritual battle. It is clear that the SBC would most likely look exactly like the CBF is now had the conservative resurgence never occurred and to me that is a scary thought. I certainly am not saying that the conservatives are perfect by any means, but I think that the 12 years of CBF’s existence has proven beyond any doubt that theological liberalism is alive and well in the old “moderate” leadership of the SBC.

“CBF talks a lot about “missions and ministry.” Yet, the question needs to be asked: “What exactly does ‘missions and ministry’ mean in the context of the liberalism that permeates every area of CBF?” More specifically, with CBF’s low view of the seriousness of sin, its lack of emphasis on repentance of sin, and its self-declared deficiency in evangelistic zeal, what does “missions and ministry” mean?

Theological liberalism, by its very nature, nurtures doubt rather than faith and skepticism rather than confidence regarding God’s Holy Word. Equally significant, theological liberalism does not produce a commitment to evangelism and personal soul winning, but rather, produces a commitment to “religious pluralism,” where all “sincerely held” religious beliefs are exalted to equal standing with biblical Christianity for the “truth” which they reveal.

To the degree that CBF/Mainstream leaders, churches and individuals have embraced theological liberalism, their commitment to evangelism has diminished.” (MBLA) And yet isn’t the evangelism the driving force of the church, missions, and ministry? Shouldn’t we be in the business of fulfilling the great commission? These types of spiritual and theological issues that we have discussed throughout this series of posts is what the battle in the SBC has ultimately been about.

Isn’t it more than just a spiritual issue, was there a political battle for power involved? Yes I believe so, but not just on one side, but both sides are guilty of this very thing. I am amazed at the number of CBF moderates who grill the SBC for their shrewd political tactics and yet they are guilty of the same. I also recognize the fact that had none of these political battles taken place, there would have been no chance for the conservative southern Baptists to make any changes or advances towards truth in our denomination. If we chose not to get involved in the politics then we would basically be giving everything up and tossing the battle for truth aside because there is no questions that the moderates would use politics for their own agendas. I am really not saying that either side is justified in their actions, but I want you to recognize that if you want to lynch the fundamentalists for their shrewd political tactics you better bring enough rope for the CBF too.

I am aware that this is no black and white issue by any means. Neither side is perfect which can be expected, since there is not a denomination in the world that can claim that title and never will be. I think people expect far to much from denominations full of people prone to the same human mistakes as everyone else. When we place all our faith in man we will be disappointed every time, nothing will change that. I can certainly see why people have issues with each side but from my perspective I am in the pursuit of truth, not political truth but theological truth and I think the fundamentalist side is certainly on that same pursuit. Now have they used unethical tactics to get where they are at, maybe or maybe not that depends. Was there another way of doing things for the fundamentalists? Maybe, but then again maybe not. At this point I am far more prone to follow a group of people who seek biblical truth and who attempt to apply that truth not only in their denomination but also in their lives even if they have messed up in the way they handled it than I am to follow a group of people who embrace unbiblical methods and lifestyles and choose not to remove those things in their denomination or their lives. I find myself in a struggle to remove the bad and embrace the good in my life. I find myself seeking the truth of God and allowing scripture to change my life instead of allowing my life to influence what I believe about scripture. I do not always get to that point by completely biblical means and I mess up a lot, but that does not change my focus nor my goal and this is the position I see the fundamentalist side of the SBC in. Perfect? Nope. On the right path? I certainly believe so!

The battle has now spread to our state conventions. “And just as there were competing visions for the future of the SBC, there are two very different and competing visions for the future of the Southern Baptist state conventions and for the 41,000 churches that make up the SBC. One vision says: The Southern Baptist Convention, with its commitments to missions, evangelism, moral purity and theological integrity, best reflects who we are, what we believe and where we want to go as a convention and as a church. The other says: The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (and increasingly, the “new BGCT”), with its commitment to unrestrained “freedom,” undefined “diversity” and unlimited theological tolerance, best reflects who we are, what we believe and where we want to take our churches and our state convention.” (MBLA)

As I have mentioned before this battle has already taken place in the Missouri Baptist Convention. The conservatives have resumed power and the moderate/liberals have broken away and formed their own convention in Missouri. It is interesting to me that when the battle was raging there were thousands of people there who were interested in what was going on and wanting to be involved. Now that the battle is over not that many people show up or show interested at all. Some just don’t agree with the politics or some of the things that have gone on. Some are disgusted with the business dealing with the 5 agencies that changed their charters in order to become self electing boards. Some just like to be in the heat and when nothing is going on they have no interest. And all of them sound like a bunch of immature, spoiled brats who didn’t get their way so they are simply going to quit. What ever happen to people who were willing to stand up for what they believe regardless of circumstances? What happened to the people who are willing to stand for what is right in the face of what they consider wrong? What ever happen to the people who would stick around to understand why things are the way they are? Instead the new policy is to run away when there is conflict or when you disagree. In fact I go to seminary with several people that have that attitude. They are upset at what is going on so they could care less about the convention. Instead of sticking with it and standing up for what they believe is right they simply throw in the towel and thumb their nose at the heathens in the SBC who are not spiritual enough because they make mistakes. This is our next generation of leaders… and the thought makes me shudder!

Pressed

P.S. These are real issues that have been going on in our convention for quite some time and it does affect a lot of people. However, some people get the idea in their heads that we are so caught up in spiritual, theological, and political battles that we don’t have time for real ministry in a real world with real people and that couldn’t be further from the truth. To assume or think that is simply a ludicrous idea. Maybe it seems that way because of the amount of time spent discussing the controversy which all seems to be filled with negative issues, but there are good things as well such as missions, ministry, evangelism, worship, fellowship, and so on. I do believe that the battle for truth enhances our ministry and evangelism. Some people also have the strange idea that the SBC, its agencies, and its churches claim to be the ‘final authority’ when it comes to these issues and that is simply untrue as well. I would say that scripture is the final authority of truth and our pursuit of that truth will lead us to meet more needs and will guide us to be about the Fathers business.

NOTE: I must give credit where credit is due! Most of this information is from the Missouri Baptist Laymen’s Association. They have given me written permission to simply copy and paste the information but I have chosen to re-write some of it in my own words as I understand it.