The American Baptist Dilemma
On September 8, 2005, the Pacific Southwest region of the American Baptist Convention recommended that its churches stop giving money to the American Baptist Convention by December 31, 2005. This was not a surprise, but the news still rocked the ABC. It is never good to have a split. The rumor mill is spinning, and many believe that this was just the start of a major split. The West Virginia region is looking to do the same, and I just spoke to a Pastor in Ohio who told me that several churches in Ohio are looking to break away.
All of the religious news organizations state that the reason for the split is over the topic of homosexuality. The convention states that there has been several resolutions adopted by the convention that defines homosexuality as a sin; and they are right. The ABC has adopted this position at their annual meeting. However, the churches splitting say that these resolutions are meaningless unless they are enforced; and they are right. To say that you disapprove of something, but do nothing to stop it is useless.
The way I see it, the problem isn't the issue of homosexuality. The problem is much deeper. The problem is the lack of honesty and integrity of the current leadership of the ABC. The current leadership of the American Baptist Convention are not in line with the historic principles of the church. Because of this, they find themselves trying to serve a church that his socially and theologically different than themselves. This forces them to pass resolutions and make statements that pacify the local church, but goes against their own convictions. This places them in a dilemma. They believe the local church is wrong, but they are called to serve the local church. So what do they do? They pass statements to please the local church, but have no intentions of following the statements they pass. Their hope is that the local church will be satisfied with what they say, until they have the chance to change their minds.
This is the way Christian liberals have functioned for years. Christian liberals find a place in academia. They declare the concept of academic freedom to defend their heresy. Over the years, they influence young ministers to think like them. After years of this, local congregations begin to change their views on social issues and historic theological distinctives. Do you really believe the Wesley brothers, who were the founders of the Methodist movement, would approve of their denominations stances today? If you do, you obviously haven't read anything that they wrote. Do you believe that Martin Luther would be pleased with the theological and moral stances of the Lutheran church in America? If you do, you have never read Luther, or you don't know what ELCA teaches at their seminaries. Do you believe that the old Congregational church leaders would support what the United Church of Christ believes and supports? If you do, you have no understanding of the incredible Biblical history of the Congregationalists.
It takes years and years of plotting and training to change a denominations views. The theological left has been very successful in several denominations. The denominations that I named above are entrenched in Protestant liberal thinking. However, they haven't been all that successful in the Baptist church. Certainly, some Baptist churches and denominations have lost their Biblical integrity, but for the most part Baptists have fought against Protestant Liberal thought.
I am a proud graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has a statement of faith called the "Abstract of Principles". ( If you would like to read this articles of faith go to www.sbts.edu.) This statement of faith is very strong and Biblical. It is required that all professors sign it and teach according to it if they wish to be employed at the seminary. When I was a student, I had teachers that not only did not teach according to it, but they spoke against it in their classrooms. The seminary has changed much since I was a student. I am certain that not one professor is speaking against the seminary's statement of faith in the classroom today. This is the way it should be.
So why were professors, who were totally against the historic principles and doctrines of a seminary, allowed to teach at the seminary? This was the question that many Southern Baptists asked for years, and it was the question that finally reformed the seminary. The answer is simple, for many liberal academics, agenda is much more important than integrity. You sign a paper you totally disagree with so that you can change its principles later or ignore it all together.
The ABC needs a leadership change. The views of their leadership is out of line with the local church they are called to serve. If the leadership of the convention had any integrity they would realize this and step aside. However, the agenda to change the minds of the local church is much more important to them than to serve the local church. If any ABC pastors happen to read this blog, I also recommend that you stop giving your money to your national convention. How could you let your members tithes go and support things they are totally opposed to? The leadership of the ABC has forgotten who they are called to serve. There is no accountability to the local church. There is only accountability to the cause of social change. They have long forgotten who pays their bills, and it is time they are reminded.
All of the religious news organizations state that the reason for the split is over the topic of homosexuality. The convention states that there has been several resolutions adopted by the convention that defines homosexuality as a sin; and they are right. The ABC has adopted this position at their annual meeting. However, the churches splitting say that these resolutions are meaningless unless they are enforced; and they are right. To say that you disapprove of something, but do nothing to stop it is useless.
The way I see it, the problem isn't the issue of homosexuality. The problem is much deeper. The problem is the lack of honesty and integrity of the current leadership of the ABC. The current leadership of the American Baptist Convention are not in line with the historic principles of the church. Because of this, they find themselves trying to serve a church that his socially and theologically different than themselves. This forces them to pass resolutions and make statements that pacify the local church, but goes against their own convictions. This places them in a dilemma. They believe the local church is wrong, but they are called to serve the local church. So what do they do? They pass statements to please the local church, but have no intentions of following the statements they pass. Their hope is that the local church will be satisfied with what they say, until they have the chance to change their minds.
This is the way Christian liberals have functioned for years. Christian liberals find a place in academia. They declare the concept of academic freedom to defend their heresy. Over the years, they influence young ministers to think like them. After years of this, local congregations begin to change their views on social issues and historic theological distinctives. Do you really believe the Wesley brothers, who were the founders of the Methodist movement, would approve of their denominations stances today? If you do, you obviously haven't read anything that they wrote. Do you believe that Martin Luther would be pleased with the theological and moral stances of the Lutheran church in America? If you do, you have never read Luther, or you don't know what ELCA teaches at their seminaries. Do you believe that the old Congregational church leaders would support what the United Church of Christ believes and supports? If you do, you have no understanding of the incredible Biblical history of the Congregationalists.
It takes years and years of plotting and training to change a denominations views. The theological left has been very successful in several denominations. The denominations that I named above are entrenched in Protestant liberal thinking. However, they haven't been all that successful in the Baptist church. Certainly, some Baptist churches and denominations have lost their Biblical integrity, but for the most part Baptists have fought against Protestant Liberal thought.
I am a proud graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has a statement of faith called the "Abstract of Principles". ( If you would like to read this articles of faith go to www.sbts.edu.) This statement of faith is very strong and Biblical. It is required that all professors sign it and teach according to it if they wish to be employed at the seminary. When I was a student, I had teachers that not only did not teach according to it, but they spoke against it in their classrooms. The seminary has changed much since I was a student. I am certain that not one professor is speaking against the seminary's statement of faith in the classroom today. This is the way it should be.
So why were professors, who were totally against the historic principles and doctrines of a seminary, allowed to teach at the seminary? This was the question that many Southern Baptists asked for years, and it was the question that finally reformed the seminary. The answer is simple, for many liberal academics, agenda is much more important than integrity. You sign a paper you totally disagree with so that you can change its principles later or ignore it all together.
The ABC needs a leadership change. The views of their leadership is out of line with the local church they are called to serve. If the leadership of the convention had any integrity they would realize this and step aside. However, the agenda to change the minds of the local church is much more important to them than to serve the local church. If any ABC pastors happen to read this blog, I also recommend that you stop giving your money to your national convention. How could you let your members tithes go and support things they are totally opposed to? The leadership of the ABC has forgotten who they are called to serve. There is no accountability to the local church. There is only accountability to the cause of social change. They have long forgotten who pays their bills, and it is time they are reminded.
posted by Foundes Community Church @ 6:57 AM
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