SBCOutpost

I have written before of the comment made directly to me by Judge Pressler when I suggested the SBC may want to let the CBF issue go and continue supporting the BWA while in Spain a number of years ago. In response he said, “Todd, you do not know what they have done to some of us.” Vindictive ethics in the SBC is not new and often rears its head in peculiar ways.

Many wonder what the aims of SBCOutpost may be. Since we collaborate rather than follow a pre-determined script, this could be answered variously. My hope is reform. I, for one, am finding it increasingly interesting that there are those who want to accuse Ben Cole of vindictive posts against Paige Patterson. These same people seem to find it well within bounds that a well orchestrated move to silence Wade Burleson simply falls under the banner of, “he did not abide by the IMB rules of conduct.” Forget that these new rules were put in place specifically “for” Wade Burleson. I seem to recall a Daniel who continued to pray in spite of the King’s manipulated edict he should cease and desist. Daniel landed in a den of lions.

What really grieves me is the simpleton approach that would think this move in Springfield just “came up.” No, a well orchestrated pre-meeting move must have been in the works. Spiked by the vindictive pen of Jerry Corbaley who did not approach Wade personally about his being “wounded” by Wade’s blog. In fact, it is clear by his actions reported on Wade’s blog that he would not in any way speak with Wade. His actions do not deserve censure though they clearly illustrate the harboring of ill will and his 153 page tome e-mail to all IMB trustees surely provoked the move.

Today, Wade posts on his response to the question of how the IMB might avoid any further public distraction surrounding him when asked by the “ad hoc” committee appointed to work out a reconciliation. . He offered to resign. He offered to shut down his blog. Rather than get what they want, a majority of Trustees approved a vindictive measure. Now, I suspect most did not know what this move would mean. Obviously many did not know this could have “gone away.” Instead, we Southern Baptists need vindictive public spectacles. Russle Dilday anyone?

Then to learn today sources note the real reason Dr. Land may not endorse Huckabee for President of the United States dates back some 25 years when Huckabee would not sign on to the CR and rat out his “liberal” friends just adds to the systemic need for reform.

I laughed when reading on another blog were this to have happened 25 years ago when others held the reigns of power they would have supported the move. How soon we forget.

Reform. Yes, if some were to wonder why do I participate in SBC Outpost it is reform. For I taught my grown daughters there is no room for vindictive ethics. I certainly do not want my future grandchildren to grow up knowing we stood by and did not call for the ethic of Jesus above the ethic of vindication.

The SBC Executive Committee gathered for a totally impromptu, unplanned, and unscripted exercise of spiritual solidarity this past week in Nashville, TN. Unbeknownst to anybody, especially Paige and Dorothy Patterson, the Great Commission Council invited the First Couple to the ExComm platform for a season of prayer and hands-laying-on. Our hidden cameras captured the session of solidarity, and SBCOutpost is pleased to show the kind of reciprocal commitment, charitable collaboration, and harmonious fraternity enjoyed by a caucus of our seminary presidents.

One of the basic questions facing Southern Baptists concerns how we determine those with whom we will cooperate. In a day gone by cooperation may have inferred consensus. That is, a diverse group gathers and determines on what basis they will agree to work. Some consider the only way competing groups may meld is to force compromise. The basic issue then becomes what is the core for cooperation. At this point in a given group the dominant members assert their will and note cooperation will occur on their terms. Now dominant may not be solely a matter of numbers. We have all been in groups where dominant meant personality rather than, “we have the numbers.”

What happens when diverse groups come together for the cause of the Gospel? Good conversation partners illustrate the difficulty we face when practically working through our positions. By good conversation partners we mean those who take the time to listen rather than plan what to say while the other person is talking - or in the “blog” world of commenting, “typing.” We also mean conversation partners willing to consider their own position with humility. I found Sam Storms’ article regarding the conversation partners who participated in, “Together for the Gospel,” a worthwhile read. (HT:WB)

Much may be made of what makes us Baptists. (No dear critic, we did not forget our “Baptist Distinctives.”) Greater time should be spent with what makes us Christian. We may stand confident we are Baptist Christians, but when Baptist Christians, Southern Baptist Christians, begin sounding as “gatekeepers” to the Kingdom of God we have moved away from the center to the fringe. You will need to read the entire article to grasp the value of the following quote (A caution to “quote miners” - be sure to practice good hermeneutics.),

Jesus himself made it clear that the cup represented or pointed to or in some sense embodied “the forgiveness of sins” that would come from the saving efficacy of his atoning death (Matthew 26:28). In 1 Corinthians 11:26 Paul echoed this truth by telling us that every time we celebrate the Lord’s Table we “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” In other words, the Eucharist is a dramatic, visible, vocal enactment of the gospel itself. It stirs our hearts to meditate on Christ’s redemptive work and is designed to stimulate the mind to reflect on the significance of all that he achieved on behalf of those for whom he died.

My question, then, is this: How can we claim to be “together” or “united” for the sake of the gospel and turn away a brother or sister from the very expression and proclamation of that gospel that is so central to the life and testimony of the church? What does this prohibition say to the world around us? What must they think of our professed “togetherness” or “unity” when the elements of the Eucharist would be withheld from a brother such as Ligon Duncan?