We’re off to see the Wizard: Attending the 2008 SBC Annual Meeting
Topic: Denominations| Written by: Benjamin Cole|I have often joked that the Southern Baptist Convention is a quasi-religious incarnation of the enduring children’s tale by L. Frank Baum, known to most of us through MGM’s classic “The Wizard of Oz.” Pastors and laymen from the hinterlands of Kansas make their way through a whirlwind of travel to find themselves thrust into a world of make believe, where Munchkins cower at the green-gassed apparitions of the Western Wicked Witch. Where the brainless and heartless and cowardly converge along a golden road to visit the Emerald City and bow before the Great and Powerful Wizard, if ever oh ever a wiz there was.
When I was in seminary, a group of friends and I spent an evening typecasting our own version of the SBC using the characters of the Wizard of Oz. There was the heartless and increasingly immobile tin man who wishes to cut down every tree of the forest in a massive programme of anti-global warming deforestation, the dimwitted and overstuffed scarecrow, and the cowardly lion who preens with verdant robes and picks fights he cannot finish and fancies himself a courageous king of the jungle.
The role of Dorothy was a tossup between the lead character and another prominent part of the broom-riding kind. The munchkins, of course, are all those happy little Southern Baptists who are card carrying members of the lollipop guild and whose loyalty to the Great and Powerful Wizard is quite pitiable. If they only knew the wizard was a charlatan equipped with little smoke and few mirrors they would probably defect. Nobody, however, seems willing to break their little hearts and tell them the truth.
But all of that aside, I have come to realize that the Southern Baptist Convention is much like the Wizard of Oz and his Emerald City not because of the similarities to be found between the fictional characters and the real life personalities and caricatures that keep most of us snickering under our breath, but because the metanarrative is frighteningly familiar.
The whole thing is an illusion. It is an institution that exists in isolation from reality. Behind the curtain of the Southern Baptist Zion is nothing of substance. But for a few days every June thousands of people enter the technicolor world of Oz and pretend as if what they are doing will actually make a difference back in Kansas. For fifteen annual sessions now, I have journeyed to the land myself thinking that Oz was reality. For fourteen of those sessions I think I was hallucinating in a field of poppies.
Which gets me to the main point of my hesitance about the longterm viability of this thing we call the Southern Baptist Convention, at least in its present form. At the end of the tale, Dorothy and Toto go back to Kansas. They know they cannot stay in Oz forever. It was fun while it lasted, but there are chores to be done and family to be loved back in the wheat fields.
On the other hand, you have the professionals who live in Oz. These are the men who lead our convention week to week, day to day. Most of them don’t live in reality anymore. They live in this fairy tale where the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission shapes events in Washington D.C. They enjoy a world where theological education at a Southern Baptist seminary actually equips you for leadership in the local church. They have gotten fat — literally and metaphorically — on the feasts and festivals of Cooperative Program supported luxuries.
The rest of us go home to reality. But they just keep living the dream.
Which is why they are utterly impotent to do anything to address the malaise that now has swept over the convention. And it’s why more and more of Southern Baptists are choosing to stay in Kansas with each passing year.
June 9th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Watched Johnny Hunt today and it seemed that he was saying, “We have been leading you for many years now and everything is a huge mess so get busy and fix it by doing what God would have you do, and by the way, we still want to be the leaders.”
June 9th, 2008 at 7:07 am
I attended my first convention in 1980 and my last in 1990. It was a surreal time. Such preening, and faux friendship, and competitive networking. The big-dollar preachers and their Armani-clad wives with big hair, the simpler rural layfolk, the pompous platform personalities. I walked out listening to Jerry Vines tell us about Billy and Betty Baptist, and I’ve never been back.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Den,
I know Dr. Hunt is popular but I never considered him one of the leaders. My take on his message was that only God could fix our problem and that goes for all SB’s - high profile to pew sitter.
How do you see him as one of the SBC leaders? I am thinking of agency leadership…
June 9th, 2008 at 8:15 am
When I saw that Johnny Hunt was “preachin’” at the P’s C meeting, I decided not to go. I figure I’ve successfully avoided campaign speeches on TV for the whole year, and no use breaking the string now.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Was this malaise article by BSC or Jimmy Carter?
June 9th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Joe:
President Carter tossed in the towel on the SBC almost a decade ago. For different reasons, of course.
Any way you slice it, it is not morning in the SBC.
BSC
June 9th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Great analogy. The only thing to change are the roles of the witch and dorothy…women aren’t allowed to serve in leadership roles.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Brilliant!
June 9th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Camel:
Don’t worry. Women have very prominent roles in some sectors of SBC life. Well, at least one woman.
BSC
June 9th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Ben,
Your critics may be many but your insightful analogy cannot be overstated in its accuracy. You will be blogging in Indy. I will be about the work here in OK always looking forward to your brash pen - er, uh, keyboard.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Camel Rider and BSC,
I think a reasonable case can be made for viewing Dorothy a solitary representative of a group: women in the SBC. We thought if we went to see the wizard, if we dressed up like the wizard wanted, if we did what the wizard said, we would be allowed a place in Oz. But, the wizard was a fraud and Oz was unwelcoming. (Those munchkins bite, too!)
The funny thing is, the only “liberated” and independent thinker in the Oz story is the wicked witch of the West. It all makes sense, of course. Men looking for their proper place in the SBC are brave leaders of the conservative resurgence. But, women who do the same are witches infecting the SBC with their devilish agenda. Go figure.
I just hope I can still preach the Gospel and make disciples after becoming a melted, greenish puddle on the floor…
-Emily
June 9th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Ben,
How dare speak this way?
Don’t you realize that you are fast becoming labeled a “Liberal”. Is not a liberal any person who rejects, disputes with, or just simply to ignorant to recognise the absolute authority of the “Shepherds” who are now in charge? Have not the “now well weeded out” herd of “Sheep” spoken for several years now? Baa, baa, baa….. in agreement????
I used to think that the phrase Liberal applied mainly to those who did not agree with all scripture or preferred to reinterpret it so that Abortion, the Gay life, Virgin birth, Jesus was really just a good con man, etc; It has become a label for any who hesitate to shout “amen” for any decisions and opinions coming down from those now in control.
So, again I say, How dare you?
June 9th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Ernst Kasemann once told the true story about the year a series of terrible storms and floods hit the coast of Holland. One particular morning a storm blew in from the sea and threatened a series of coastal villages. One of the villages, the village in his story, was filled with religious people who believed profoundly in following all of God’s commandments.
As the winds and waves grew stronger, the dykes protecting the town began to leak. Soon they were in danger of collapsing. Immediate action would be necessary to avoid a disaster. The police urged the local pastor to mobilize his congregation to help.
But that particular morning happened to be a Sunday morning. It was the Sabbath, when God’s people were to turn from their work to worship, preaching, the study of Scripture, and prayer. The pastor was torn. If he called the people to repair the dykes and sandbag the leaks, his people would be profaning the Sabbath. But if he chose to honor the commandment, his entire flock might be destroyed. Finally he couldn’t bear the stress, and he called an emergency meeting of the church council.
The Dutch men of faith were resolute. The most important issue here, they said, is God’s will. If God wills, He can perform a miracle. He can still the wind and calm the waves. Our duty is to obey the commandment, even if it means death. It is Sunday morning. We will not rebuild the dykes. It is time for church.
The pastor was frantic. But didn’t Jesus occasionally break the commandment about the Sabbath, and didn’t he say that the Sabbath was made for man, and not the other way around? At which point an older member of the council stood up: “I’ve always been troubled, pastor, by something I’ve never said publicly. Now, I have to say it. I have always had the suspicion that our Lord Jesus was just a bit of a liberal.”
June 9th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Ben,
When are you going to write an article on ten “Best things about the SBC”…..otherwise you seem to be a shill for the CBF crowd or at best irrelevant!
Now Go back to your Cave….bat boy.
From the Southern Baptist Geneva
Robert I Masters
June 9th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Well Ben, I’ve always loved your imagination and the great ability you have to express it in prose. It is a humorous fantasy comparison.
The only problem I see is - it’s just too true.
Looking forward to the rest of the story.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
A brilliant piece, I must say. If only the irrelevant batboys of sbc toady could come up with something like this!
Looking forward to reports of your time on the yellow brick road.
June 9th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I am ashamed that you would rather critise than pray for the convention and it’s leaders (and for yourself). Apparently, you believe that our future is in your hands (and others like you) and not God’s.
June 9th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Mr. Masters,
If Ben is Bat Boy, then I guess that makes you the wooly vampire bat…
Are you “sustained” yet?
June 9th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
10 Best things about the SBC
1. It is not Geneva in 1571
2. We do not burn those at the stake who disagree with us or even heretics. Thankfully it is against the civil law now.
3. We have no magistrates
4. We do not baptize babies…yet
5. We do not have sacraments…yet
7. A few of us still believe in the Holy Priesthood
8. A few of us still believe there is no clergy/laity distinction and that all believers have anointing. (1 John)
9. That we are not Presbyterians…yet even though some are neo presbyterians
10. Some of us still believe in the right to dissent and would be hiding out with other Ana-Baptists if it were the 1500’s in Geneva.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Ben-
You are two posts behind. The real Bat Boy would never allow this to happen.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Yeah, Ben. What Marty said. Catch up, will ya?
Otherwise, excellent commentary. I’ve come to realize that you are correct in what you are saying. We continue on with what we are doing under the illusion that it is important. The future will prove otherwise, it seems.
June 9th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Liz:
That’s exactly what the kings said to the prophets, every last one of them. Look it up.
June 9th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Liz..
I read your post here twice. And I also scanned your blogg site.
But I think you are very confused when you make the statement “that our future is in your hands (and others like you) and not in God’s.
In no place have I read any statement from Ben that could imply such thinking.
Rather, it seems to to be the other way around; meaning that there are many in positions of high authority in SBC who are convinced that they are the true and only sources of knowledge of God’s will.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
So, Kerygma, you are comparing Ben to a prophet of God?
If we believe in prayer, over the power of a blog, we should be on our knees praying for our Christian leaders They are not pagans, but members of the body.
And, Elizajane, just as you defend Ben, I have never heard one of the people frequently ridiculed on this blog say “they are the true and only sources of knowledge of God’s will.” This is what this blog promotes, though.
I just think it is very sad. When I have attended a church that did not reflect my beliefs, I left, I did not try to tear it apart.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
What did we think we would get?
Southern Baptists now have in the SBC what is gotten when sentimentality firmly attaches itself to something which, at its best, is nothing more than a tool–in the SBC’s case, a religious non-profit organization (here, large, complicated, and with lots of money) the sole purpose of which is to aid your local church in accomplishing well its Great Commission responsibilities.
The very existence of the SBC, its agencies, their staff’s positions, and its annual meetings cannot at all be justified unless at least a majority of affiliating local congregations are faithfully on-mission with God daily seeking the world’s redemption (and we know that isn’t so in 2008; job one of SBC employees: make sure it’s so–also ensures job security).
The 90% of our congregations now plateaued or declining having their spiritual health restored and returning to ministry evangelism—-and increasing a demand for use of the resources and resource people our CP contributions already are paying for-—will bring the bellyaching and backbiting among us to a screeching halt (as we won’t have time for the shenanigans of some of those most frequently blogged about here; souls are at stake). Otherwise, the tail is wagging the dog.
This week, I’m afraid, we’ll watch more dog-wagging, instead of tail-wagging, yet again.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
No, I’m actually not comparing Ben to a prophet of God, but from what I know of him, he certainly qualifies. My point was to challenge your implication that anyone who criticizes seated religious power is somehow attacking the Lord.
June 9th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Liz, I believe that you are a person who becomes very frustrated whenever you are disagreed with.
June 9th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Liz, that’s easy to do when you are just leaving one church for another. Are you suggesting that anyone that has problems with the status quo in the SBC should just leave? If so, would you recommend the convention send back the millions that have been contributed by those not in agreement so we could start new co-operations?
June 9th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
My disagreement is with the manner in which criticisms on very public blogs have become an embarrassment to the followers of Christ and a bad witness to the unchurched.
And Bill, are you suggesting being an Indian giver? Did they give begrudgingly when they gave all those millions? Are you giving begrudgingly now? Is that what it is about, control of the CP monies?
June 10th, 2008 at 12:39 am
..”just remain silent and send in your monies anyway”!!!!
June 10th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Liz,
Your use of the term “Indian Giver” is “an embarrassment to the followers of Christ and a bad witness to the unchurched.” “Indian Giver” is universally known as a racially derogatory term. It would be nice if you would refrain from such language in the future.
Thanks in advance.
June 10th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Liz:
Consider this possibility…..are your posts embarrassing followers of Jesus Christ? I’m a Christian, they sure embarrass me.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Interesting analogy. The one place that it falls apart for me is that all the Oz personalities in Dorothy’s dream in Oz have a real-life counterpart back in Kansas. Whether it’s the wicked witch, the brainless, uncourageous or heartless traveling companions (who do, by the way, prove that they in fact do have brains, courage and a big heart by the end) or the wizard himself (who also admits to being a phony), Dorothy knows them all from her small circle back home.
Likewise, all the SBC “leaders” came from somewhere. Whether we put them on a pedestal, or they put themselves there, I don’t know. In the Kingdom of God there’s just one King, one Lamb who died for all, and the rest are citizens. Do you think it’s helpful to criticize other citizens? Like Liz, I think we need to spend more time on our knees and less time thinking about how to make caricatures of other citizens in our Kingdom.
June 10th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
“Likewise, all the SBC “leaders” came from somewhere. Whether we put them on a pedestal, or they put themselves there, I don’t know. In the Kingdom of God there’s just one King, one Lamb who died for all, and the rest are citizens. Do you think it’s helpful to criticize other citizens? Like Liz, I think we need to spend more time on our knees and less time thinking about how to make caricatures of other citizens in our Kingdom.”
Katie, good points. Our leaders need to read your comment. They need to know that they are just citizens and it is ok to disagree with them without fear of reprisals. They thought of themselves as kings who one dares not disagree with or they will be punished. There are quite a few examples of that over the last 30 years.
Perhaps they will start believing in the Holy Priesthood once again. May it be so.