I’ve been keeping an eye on what’s going on with Southern Baptists through the blogs of their leaders and through their news sources. However, most interesting has been the Missional Baptist Blog. Several of my friends regularly comment on that blog and at times it’s very encouraging. There are (and always have been) some really great Baptist ministers out there.
There’s a new controversy brewing in Southern Baptist land. The International Mission Board (IMB) has tightened up its restrictions on missionaries in two areas-baptism and tongues. Marty Duren has provided a list of IMB board members to contact along with a very good set of guidelines for contacting them. He is one of the really good guys in Baptist life. His insights are very helpful. This entry from Steve McCoy is also very good.
The point that I would like to make concerning this controversy is that Southern Baptists should expect more of the same. How can you believe that Fundamentalists will get along? That’s the nature of Fundamentalists. They seek to define Christianity in narrower and narrower terms. The nature of their mindset is to exclude folks. They rejoice in finding others who aren’t worthy. Those who don’t believe in exactly the same way that they do. Fundamentalists are at their core ideological exclusivists.
Let me warn you. Things will get worse. Paige Patterson has been critical of Calvinists. Are they next? Will “real Baptists” be forced to use the HCSB Bible?
Remember this sign? It was the Danieltown Baptist Church’s sign several months ago. The “pastor” Rev. Creighton Lovelace explained why he put up the sign. Muslims don’t worship Christ as the son of God. “I don’t hate Muslims, I don’t hate Islamic people. I just hate the false doctrine.”
Hatred of false doctrine can lead to some pretty awful things!
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