The Next Southern Baptist Convention President
It is common knowledge that Johnny Hunt will be nominated as President of the Southern Baptist Convention this year in North Carolina. I love Johnny Hunt. He is a passionate pastor. He has been successful at every church he has ever served. Johnny Hunt has a heart for pastors and young people. His ministry is far reaching and Kingdom minded. However, I do have a question, "Is he the right man for the job?"
My biggest concern with Johnny Hunt is theological. Johnny Hunt doesn't just dislike Calvinist. He seems to have a red hot hatred for it. I heard his sermon at last years Pastor's conference in Nashville where he railed against Calvinism. I have also heard him say other things that makes me wonder if he even understands what Calvinism really is. Johnny Hunt is an outstanding preacher. He is a great pastor. He is a joy to listen too. However, do I want a man that doesn't understand, and has a disdain for historic Baptist doctrine?
Baptists have always argued. We fight about everything and anything. We disagree about all sorts of issues. The one thing that keeps us together is our zeal for missions. The SBC is a missions organization. It is not a denomination. Thus, two people from different theological perspectives can sit with each other under the Baptist banner.
In the past, we have had Presidents with all sorts of different theologies. We have had Dispensationalists, Covenentalists, Post-millenialists, Calvinists, Revivalists, and the list goes on. We have had Presidents who are Pastors, Preachers, Evangelists, and denominational leaders. We have had Presidents who were Liberal, Moderate, and Conservative. Because of our size and missiology, we have survived major fights about everything. However, some of our fights have caused great change in our Convention. The last great fight was over the Authority of the Bible. The Bible believing Baptists won. I do not believe that was our last fight. I hope calvinism will not be our next.
Will Johnny Hunt declare war on Calvinism when he is elected president? I don't think so. I believe Johnny Hunt is zealous and passionate about the things he believes. I also believe that leading Calvinists in our convention will help buffer the intensity that Hunt brings to the table.
Will Johnny Hunt be a good president? Probably. He has a passion for the things that really matter. If I had Johnny Hunt's ear, I would recommend that he study his Baptist history and heritage. Johnny Hunt should honor such men as J.P. Boyce, John Broadus, and Basil Manly. These founding Southern Baptists deserve their theology to be understood not denigrated. Johnny has every right to disagree with the Founders of our Convention. However, he should not let his disagreement cast a dark shadow over the great achievements of the men.
My biggest concern with Johnny Hunt is theological. Johnny Hunt doesn't just dislike Calvinist. He seems to have a red hot hatred for it. I heard his sermon at last years Pastor's conference in Nashville where he railed against Calvinism. I have also heard him say other things that makes me wonder if he even understands what Calvinism really is. Johnny Hunt is an outstanding preacher. He is a great pastor. He is a joy to listen too. However, do I want a man that doesn't understand, and has a disdain for historic Baptist doctrine?
Baptists have always argued. We fight about everything and anything. We disagree about all sorts of issues. The one thing that keeps us together is our zeal for missions. The SBC is a missions organization. It is not a denomination. Thus, two people from different theological perspectives can sit with each other under the Baptist banner.
In the past, we have had Presidents with all sorts of different theologies. We have had Dispensationalists, Covenentalists, Post-millenialists, Calvinists, Revivalists, and the list goes on. We have had Presidents who are Pastors, Preachers, Evangelists, and denominational leaders. We have had Presidents who were Liberal, Moderate, and Conservative. Because of our size and missiology, we have survived major fights about everything. However, some of our fights have caused great change in our Convention. The last great fight was over the Authority of the Bible. The Bible believing Baptists won. I do not believe that was our last fight. I hope calvinism will not be our next.
Will Johnny Hunt declare war on Calvinism when he is elected president? I don't think so. I believe Johnny Hunt is zealous and passionate about the things he believes. I also believe that leading Calvinists in our convention will help buffer the intensity that Hunt brings to the table.
Will Johnny Hunt be a good president? Probably. He has a passion for the things that really matter. If I had Johnny Hunt's ear, I would recommend that he study his Baptist history and heritage. Johnny Hunt should honor such men as J.P. Boyce, John Broadus, and Basil Manly. These founding Southern Baptists deserve their theology to be understood not denigrated. Johnny has every right to disagree with the Founders of our Convention. However, he should not let his disagreement cast a dark shadow over the great achievements of the men.
posted by Foundes Community Church @ 12:56 PM
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