SBC Issues

In recent years there has been a growing tension between SBC reformed and non-reformed schools of thought. The conflict is (I believe) a result of a few from each "camp" who have been less than wise in the ways they have interacted with their brethren. The resulting inflammatory responses have grown until even the wise among us (on both sides) have entered into the conflict. This has been needed and is beneficial and will hopefully lead to cooler heads prevailing.

The fray centers around the few (ie the unwise) and their power struggles. Both sides want to have influence in the largest protestant denom in the USA and are willing to be manipulative, mean spirited, and divisive to gain or retain it. Let me be very clear, the operating term is "the few". Most reformed Southern Baptists are not willing to cause division or be manipulative to gain this influence. Likewise, most non-reformed Southern Baptists are also unwilling to be inflammatory and mean spirited. The problem is that when those who are willing to be ungodly (on both sides) do or say offensive things, those who refuse to engage in said behavior associate that behavior with the theology of the "other side". This causes a distrust. Instead of saying, "That pastor sinned by refusing to work with and minister to people with a different belief and systematically forced the non-reformed members and staff out of his church", It's said, "Reformed pastors won't work with anyone unless they're reformed and cause division by ridding themselves of those who don't hold their belief". Likewise, reformed people generalize the instances they've seen a reformed pastor become blacklisted by search teams and deacons receiving "warnings" about the danger of calling pastors who believe in the doctrines of grace. The result? Reformed think the non-reformed are out to get them and the non-reformed think the reformed want to selfishly divide churches. Neither of these things are true most of the time! The result is that we are starting to treat each other as if it was true most of the time. THIS CAN END UP DESTROYING US SOUTHERN BAPTISTS! Satan is clearly in this.

I am a reformed SBC minister and have never worked in or been a member of a primarily reformed SBC church. We can minister together, reformed and non. I've done it for years! We have to do away with suspicion and distrust and serve God together. When a brother behaves badly (whether reformed or non) we should all (reformed or non) rebuke him for his sin not his doctrinal stance. There is a place for healthy debate on these doctrines and its acceptable to want others to adopt your view. It's not acceptable to demonize the view you disagree with just because you've seen some who hold to it committing sin. Let's prove to the world we are Christ's by how we love each other! Let's lovingly debate this like brothers.