Weight of the Garner Motion

Why the BF&M must be a minimum rather than a maximum.

"Baptists cherish and defend religious liberty, and deny the right of any secular or religious authority to impose a confession of faith upon a church or body of churches. We honor the principles of soul competency and the priesthood of believers, affirming together both our liberty in Christ and our accountability to each other under the Word of God.
Baptist churches, associations, and general bodies have adopted confessions of faith as a witness to the world, and as instruments of doctrinal accountability. We are not embarrassed to state before the world that these are doctrines we hold precious and as essential to the Baptist tradition of faith and practice. " Taken from the preamble of the Baptist Faith and Message, 2000

Here we have it, a document of doctrinal accountability. The idea of accountability is that we maintain a sense of integrity and use methods to insure integrity. Accounting principles are used by auditors to assure integrity in books. The BF&M is used to assure integrity in doctrine. Surely at least the trustees of our institutions should display doctrinal integrity with our confessions.
It has been called a confession. As young Baptist I was taught that confession meant at least to agree. When we speak of confession of sin it has two elements, to admit and to agree. When sin is confessed we admit that we have sinned and we agree with God that it is sin. When a person confesses a statement of faith they admit the doctrine is true and they agree with the doctrine. A confessional statement is an agreement of doctrine.

The Garner motion approved at this years SBC states, “…nevertheless we further acknowledge that it is the only consensus statement of doctrinal beliefs approved by the Southern Baptist Convention…” Imperative to understanding this statement is the word consensus. Merriam Webster’s online dictionary lists two definitions for the word consensus. 1. General agreement:UNANIMITY and 2. group solidarity in sentiment and belief. Using these definitions we have approved a document, a consensus document, and a document that is a document of group solidarity in sentiment and belief and is therefore a minimum.

This post is not arguing the issue of whether the document should be used as a maximum when dealing with convention matters. I am only arguing here that it must be used as a minimum for our trustees.

Are there issues in the BF&M that do not require agreement? That is a matter for the convention to decide, not an individual. I believe the convention has decided with the adoption of the Garner motion. A consensus statement of doctrinal belief.

Have Faith in God

1 Peter 1:6-9
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
NASU

Faith tested by fire results in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Faith that is proven by the testing of fire is an authentic faith that proves to be centered in the object of Jesus Christ. Even though He is not seen He is loved and is the object of Christian faith. If He is the object of Christian faith, the Christian then believes that Jesus Christ will again take action. How is Jesus revealed? He is revealed when we discover the truth found in His Word. He is revealed when we take that Word to the prayer closet and He gives us assurance that it will come to pass. He is revealed when we have the eyes to see His continual work and presence in our lives.

Faith not only has an object, it has objectivity. The Word says that our faith will result in praise and glory and honor at the Revelation of Jesus Christ. In his book Don’t Just Stand There Have Faith, Ron Dunn points out that the objectivity of our faith is to get God’s will done on earth not our will done in heaven. The reason for our faith is not for us at all. The reason for our faith is for Jesus to be revealed among men. The reason for our faith is that His great name will be known. The reason for our faith is glory, honor, and revelation.

This revelation is a little bit like the bond servant, who at the end of his prescribed time of service, would have his ear punched through with an awl marking him as a servant to his master. The testimony was not about the servant, it was about his master. The master was so good to the slave that he agreed to serve him willingly.

Oh, and what about the results of faith? The results are joy inexpressible and full of glory flanked by salvation of our souls. Perhaps we believers whose faces look as if we have spent all night drinking from the dill pickle jar, would do well to move our eyes from ourselves and fix them upon the hope in Christ Jesus. Perhaps we should take Ron’s advice and seek to get God’s will done on earth rather than our will done in heaven. What was that the great catechism said, “The chief end of man is to know God and enjoy Him forever?” This is becoming a servant of Jesus who serves willingly.

Ruling Pastors

Would our Baptist forefathers agree with the current definitions of what it means for Jesus to be the head of the church? On a fairly consistent basis I hear the cry go out that the CEO model being used in churches today is not Scriptural and is non Baptist. I recently ran across an article by John Gill concerning the responsibilities of the pastor where he weighs in on the subject. John Gill was a deep thinker and extensive writer who garners respect particularly among Baptist of the reformed tradition.

4b. Secondly, another part of the work of pastors, is to rule the church they take the oversight of; the same word in the Greek language which signifies to feed, signifies to rule also (see Matthew 2:6); and kings are sometimes called shepherds; as Cyrus and others; so Agamemnon, in Homer[19], is called, poimen lawn, "the shepherd of the people". The church of Christ is a kingdom; it is frequently called so in the New Testament; Christ is King of it, set as King of Zion by his divine Father, and is owned as King of saints by his church and people; and ministers of the word, and pastors of churches, are "over them in the Lord;" they are under Christ, and subject to him, but are over the churches by his appointment; hence they are represented as guides, governors, and rulers, as before observed; and obedience to them is required; "Obey them that have the rule over you," (Heb. 13:17). And their pre-eminence in the church appears,

4b1. In giving the lead in divine worship, they go before the congregation in acts of divine service, in public prayer and thanksgiving, and in the ministry of the word (Rev. 4:9, 10, 5:14), and this they do in an authoritative way; they are the mouth of the people to God, and present their prayers and thanksgivings as representing them; and they are the mouth of God to the people, and speak in his name, and are ambassadors in Christ’s stead.

4b2. In presiding at church meetings; where they have the conducting of all affairs with order and decency, directing in all acts of discipline, according to the word of God; putting up the votes of the church, giving admonitions, and passing censures, as they may be necessary, by the agreement and consent of the church.

4b3. In receiving and rejecting members; the keys of the kingdom of heaven, the gospel church, as usually understood, are committed to them, to open and shut the doors of the church according to its direction; for though the power of admission and rejection of members is originally in the church, it is executively in the pastors, in the name of the church.

4b4. In taking care of the whole discipline of the church of God, that it is observed, and that the rules respecting it are put into execution; which they are to explain, enforce, and see that they are attended to; they are to show to the house, the church of God, "the form of the house, and the fashion of it;" the nature of it, as to matter, form, power, and order; "and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof;" the rules respecting the reception of members, and the excommunication of them; "and all the ordinances, and all the laws thereof," even everything Christ has commanded and appointed to be observed (Ezek. 43:10, 11). Now the rule and government of pastors of churches is not to be exercised in an arbitrary way; they are not to rule with force and cruelty, as the shepherds of Israel are complained of; they are not to lord it over God’s heritage; they have not dominion over their faith, nor the command of their practice at their wills; they cannot oblige them to receive a doctrine, nor to follow a practice, that is of their own or of human invention: but they are to govern according to the word of God, and the laws and rules which Christ, as King and Head of the church, has given: and when they rule according to these, they may be said to rule well, and should be respected and obeyed, and counted worthy of honour. And this ruling, as well as feeding, should be with knowledge and understanding, in a wise, prudent, and discreet manner; as David, who fed the people of Israel according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with the skilfulness of his hands. I proceed to answer,[1]

What say ye in response to John Gill?

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[1] Taken from: A Body of PRACTICAL Divinity

Book 2—Chapter 3

Of the Officers of a Church, Particularly Pastors

On the blogger reformation of the SBC

A few weeks ago, as our church was considering the adoption of a new structure for our organization, one of our older members asked the most important question of all questions that were asked about the changes. He asked, “What makes us think that these changes will win any more people to Jesus?” The answers to his question became the driving force that led to the adoption of our new structure and schedule. We believe this change will enable us to become more missional in our programs winning more people to Christ.
I have asked myself the same question concerning the crusade now being fought in cyberspace to bring reformation to the SBC, “if the reformers are successful, will it cause the SBC to win any more people to Jesus?” My answer is based on an assumption of what drives discord within our ranks believing that discord is a hindrance to the evangelistic efforts of our beloved convention. Without judging the justness of the cause, a surface observation reveals that attention given to the fight at hand takes away from ministry removing warriors from the battlefield without to the battlefield within.
In order to understand why the victories sought by the blogging reformers will not bring a more evangelistic fervor to the SBC, let us understand what divides us and prompts us to quarrel with one another. There is first the theological, second the methodological, and third, the political. The primary thrust of the debate is rooted in theology so let us begin our discussion on that point.
Confessions of faith are simultaneously polarizing and unifying. They unify those in agreement and polarize those that are not in agreement. The absence of statements serve the same purpose. The tighter the boundaries are drawn, the fewer there are who can agree. Wider boundaries are also exclusive. We have experienced that in our own convention. When those with wider boundaries are in control, they by default exclude those who have convictions about the parameters compromising the gospel and therefore choose not to fellowship and participate. Baptists are Baptists because they agree on certain doctrines meaning we agree on certain interpretations of Scripture. Theological debate will always be both polarizing and unifying. If the blogger reformation is successful, some will leave the convention over theological reasons. Will the victory then allow the energy being spent on winning by either side be channeled toward evangelism? If history repeats itself, this is not likely.
The second issue we fuss about is methodology. If the blogger reformation is successful, there remains a battle to be fought over methodology. The BF&M is primarily a theological document. If the reformation is successful and if the two seminary presidents that are out of favor with the coalition are replaced and if the trustees are replaced on the mission boards to their liking and if the leader of the ERLC either repents which is highly unlikely or is replaced, what will be the methodological test? The current debate over a method used to witness to Muslim’s is but the tip of the ice berg. Imagine a trustee board of a seminary or mission board who had no say so over the methodology espoused by their professors or missionaries? How would such an environment be received by the SBC? Again we would divide over methodology. One camp that will divide over methodology is the reformed camp. Already there are cries against methodologies used by some SBC churches by the reformed camp that already feels alienated.
The third area is in the realm of the political. The reformers would have us to believe many in the so called status quo camp are merely exercising politics for the sake of politics. While there may be a few on both sides of the issues who just like to play politics, it seems to me that both sides, and all sides for that matter, are genuinely acting out of convictions. Even so the politics will serve to unite those of like mind together while polarizing them from the other camps.

So what must happen for us to win more people to Jesus? We must turn our focus to vision and join together for the sake of the Gospel. If the BF&M serves as our values statement and the great commission our mission statement, the next step is to establish a compelling vision to accomplish our task. Imagine the possibilities if the elder statesmen of our convention could invest their energies into building a positive vision among our younger leaders that would compel them to stay in the SBC for a vision. Imagine the possibilities if our elder statesmen could embrace the kind of vision that Bobby Welch sought to inspire or the vision that Frank Page is seeking to inspire? What if our elder statesmen again began to encourage our younger leaders to fight for souls rather than fighting in the political arena? Could a joint effort in evangelistic efforts serve to temper our political battles?

Being from Texas, I wonder why we have slipped evangelistically. We now have conventions representing both approaches yet fail to keep up with the population. I have a feeling it is because we miss men like Carlos McCleod who consistently motivated Texas Baptist to charge hell with, not a water pistol, but a fountain flowing deep and wide with the message of the Gospel. This post is really not a diatribe against the blogger reformation. Some of their efforts may be much needed while others may not. What this post is about is a solution to our evangelistic stupor and my belief that the blogger reformation will do nothing to curb the slide. It could, in the end, encourage a further slide.

Where have all the prophets gone

Sometimes I wonder if I simply arrived too late in ministry in the SBC. It seems as though a generation of anointed leaders have disappeared without replacement in our convention. Maybe God has raised them up and I have yet to meet the new voices He is sending forth. Who were the previous voices God sent out? Men like Vance Havener, Ron Dunn, Manly Beasley, Junior Hill, and Bill Stafford. Yes I know the latter two continue to preach but the previous three we miss dearly. Occasionally I run on to a Manly Beasley tape I don’t have and Ron Dunn’s work continues to be available through his family. While I am appreciative of their continuing contributions, I long for the man of God who can speak to us and our generation as they did to their generation. I am amazed at the number of preachers I encounter who were so influenced by Beasley and Dunn. Thank God for His servants.

Caught in the Act!

As the morning breaks over Texas, once again Southern Baptists are rising to the occasion to serve others. The SBC disaster relief ministry is kicking into gear in response to the recent flooding in our state. As they engage the community of Texas they anticipate replacing sheetrock, removing mud from structures, and spraying the structures to kill mold. It is a day to thank God for the heart of compassion He has given to Southern Baptist.

A Book Worthy of Your Reading Time

A Book Worthy of Your Reading Time

As my vacation and time in school draw to a close, I find myself completing my reading of the latest publication authored by Dr. Gary Bredfeldt who is a professor of leadership and church ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The book is called Great Leader Great Teacher and issues a needed challenge to pastors, ministers of education, Sunday school teachers as well as other lay teachers, ministerial students, and teachers in higher education. Dr. Bredfeldt issues a biblical reminder to each of us in the areas of teaching and leadership. It is the scholarship and passion for Christ that encourage me about the quality and spirituality of our Southern Baptist Seminaries.