For the last fifteen years, I’ve had the privilege of pastoring a Southern Baptist congregation in Montgomery County, Maryland. During that time, I’ve developed close relationships with our local association (the Montgomery Baptist Association) and state convention (the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware), but not so much with SBC national. In fact, I’ve only been to one SBC annual meeting. I’ve not been eager to go to another.
These days, the Southern Baptist Convention is best known for its arguing, divisiveness, poor handling of sexual abuse and misconduct scandals, and flirtation with partisan politics. And it’s also often associated (usually unfairly, but sometimes with merit) with racism and sexism.
I should also add that the SBC is hobbled by a confusing, antiquated organizational structure not exactly known for its transparency or its ability to pivot to deal effectively with new challenges or developments.
Not surprisingly, the Southern Baptist Convention is in decline. It remains the largest “Protestant” denomination in the United States, but indications are that will change in the years ahead.
I have a good friend who attended the last SBC annual meeting. This was the one that (in)famously booted retired Pastor Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church from the SBC because of their ordination of women pastors (including a female co-pastor). My friend lamented the poor spirit of anger and divisiveness that permeated the assembly.
So that I’m not misunderstood, I believe in the Bible. I believe the Bible should be interpreted according to the actual (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek) text and the intent of the author(s) who wrote it — the ultimate Author, of course, being the Holy Spirit. I deplore any hermeneutic approach that distorts the Bible to make it say what people with agendas want it to say.
But how we should understand the Scriptures is not the focus of this blog post. Nor am I going to climb into the weeds on the controversial issues that will rock this annual meeting — perhaps the biggest being an amendment that will automatically ban SBC churches that ordain women pastors, even associate pastors.
I’m a theological conservative, and I believe we have to take the Bible seriously and respond to it obediently, even the parts that don’t fit the modernist or postmodernist cultural zeitgeist.
However, those of us who are Bible-centered, theological conservatives need to stop seeing every disagreement as tantamount to heresy, apostasy, or a rejection of the faith. Good, decent, honorable men and women of strong faith can approach the Bible seriously and yet honestly see things differently.
I’m not saying truth is relative, but I am saying that you and I don’t have a monopoly on truth. Our relationship with the truth is relative. We, therefore, must be humble. Are there some proverbial hills we must and should die on? Of course. But not every disagreement rises to that level.
You see, I am a Baptist who takes priesthood of the believer and local church autonomy seriously. And I can’t help but feel that a denominational national body which was supposed to be about empowering churches to cooperate together for the Great Commission has veered into publicizing our internal debates and making us look more like the world we’re supposed to be evangelizing and helping.
Jesus says we are to be known by our love. Are SBC national gatherings these days known for their love?
The truth is…
I’m weary.
I’m mentally and emotionally tired of all the arguing, the posturing, the fighting, and more that goes on between Christians — publicly! — when it comes to theological and political differences.
Yes, I understand that debates need to happen. Differences sometimes need to be resolved. And things need to be worked out. I get it. But what happened to the spirit of God’s words to His people via the prophet Isaiah: “Come, let us reason together”?
As I look around, Christians and non-Christians alike seem to have lost both the desire and the capacity to care about others and truly listen to them. We only care about how we feel and what we believe. And heaven help anyone who stands in our way.
The SBC national gatherings are now more about arguing and fighting than about evangelism, missions, or serving those in need. Yes, the latter things still happen, which is why I’ve not yet called for our church to separate from the SBC. The SBC still does a lot of good, but…
The good is being swallowed up by the bad.
And I weary of it.
I will pray for those men and women gathered in Indianapolis this week to hash out the business of the Southern Baptist Convention. I pray Jesus will be lifted up, but I fear that what most observers will take away from the national gathering won’t be the worship of Jesus but a clash of egos and agendas. And a bunch of strong-willed, opinionated SBC “Messengers” who would rather speak at each other than listen to one another.
It saddens and wearies me. And, so, while I will pray for the SBC annual meeting, I’m glad I am not a part of it. I just want to be about the work God has for me in the wonderful church and community He has called me to serve.
For more of my writing, check out…
I am torn between sadness and disgust. There is much I would like to say if I had the time and energy, but I will limit my comments.
1. Why did they allow a man who is totally immoral, who tried to overthrow the government, who constantly preaches vengeance and who holds no official position in our government to speak via video? They allowed him to say he’s on the side of the Baptists and that Democrats are opposed to religion.
2. So members of the First Baptist Church of Alexandria, believe that women pastors are just as good as men pastors. Is that so evil as to make it impossible for us to have fellowship with them, to share in missions and other Godly works?
I’m a Baptist, but I don’t want to be called a Southern Baptist, even though I appreciate much of what they do. Their arrogance is adding to their membership decline.