I've been struggling lately with how to deal in my own mind with church politics, baptist wars, and things of similar nature. For a lot of people this stuff is old hat, and they're ready to move on. But I'm just recently learning about it as a second semester student at
Truett, and I don't know how to deal with it. Part of me wants to say, "screw it," and then move on and do my own thing and my own ministry, but then part of me can't let it go. That second part, that part that can't let it go, is there for the most part because of my love for the church. I long to see the day when all denominations can work together for a common cause - the cause of the gospel, and I look forward to the day when the Church will stand with one voice to proclaim, "Jesus is Lord." And furthermore, I look ahead to the day when we don't just
say "Jesus is Lord," but we live out that belief in community with one another. That's not to say that denominations won't exist, but it is to say that denominational groups can work together.
That being said, this is why the
SBC frustrates me to no end. This is why statements like "voodoo ecumenism" drive me insane (read
this post for further explanation). Now, I don't have a problem with being conservative. In fact, I would say that it's necessary for growth that there be a tension between 'conservative' and 'liberal' within the church. Disagreement on how to follow Jesus can be very helpful. Disagreement helps us to think outside of ourselves. Disagreement helps us to see another point of view. Disagreement forces us to dig deeper and deeper into the meaning of true discipleship. BUT, when disagreement causes us to shove others away, when disagreement causes us to excommunicate a brother or sister outside of our community without regard to redemption and love, then we have gone too far. And whether you like it or not, that's exactly what the
SBC has done. They have demonized even moderate baptists as "liberals" and kicked them out. They have fired professors and theologians who, even though they are thoroughly baptist, do not hold to the exact beliefs that the
SBC holds. Apparently, the "liberals" aren't good enough to carry the gospel along with them. I'm not saying that everyone who sits on the "liberal" side of the fence is innocent, but I am saying that they have been wronged.
Now, I believe that Jesus calls us to pursue peace with everything we have. In the previous post on this issue,
'Voodoo Ecumenism,' I had a friend comment and say that it's not the right time for a movement to unite baptists. I responded by saying that maybe he was right, maybe the issues are too fresh in people's minds. Well, after thinking about my response, I recant. No,
now is always the right time to pursue peace. Whether we disagree doctrinally or not, Jesus calls us to the cross. That means that we have to die to ourselves and our own agendas and pursue the cause of Christ. We
have to cooperate with the Church body in order to pursue such peace. We
have to be reconciled to one another. There is no excuse for labeling one another. There is no excuse for demonizing an effort of cooperation. Such action is inherently antithetical to the gospel.
Dr.
Hulitt Gloer, in
As You Go... An Honest Look at the First Followers of Jesus,
says it better than I would ever be able to:
... no relationship exists that cannot be reconciled in and by the power of the love of Christ. This love binds people of the most diverse backgrounds into a new community in which they become one. It unites people with widely varying views and lifestyles and, therefore, becomes an incarnation in the world of the reconciling love of Christ.
As disciples we must ask ourselves if we are open to those who may be different from us - socially, racially, economically, politically, even religiously. Would people with as diverse views as those reflected by Simon [the zealot] and Matthew [the tax collector] find room in our fellowship? What about those situations where we find ourselves disagreeing over doctrinal matters? Do we rush ahead in our zeal to exclude those with whom we disagree? Are we open to discovering the authenticity of their relationship to Christ and their commitment to Christ's lordship? Are we willing to allow our relationships to be controlled by the love of Christ?
With everything I have, I think that God calls us to pursue peace within baptist life and beyond. That's why it makes me sick to my stomach that we can describe with all accuracy the recent baptist conflicts as 'war.' The issues that were fought over were hardly worth such harsh actions and terminology. And the fact that Paige Patterson himself
says that he would do it all over again despite the hurt that it has caused people on both sides makes me sick to my stomach. That's why I will continue to search for peace and reconciliation, even with as small a voice as I have.
I have no idea what that guy in the picture is saying, but I do know that I'm going to go skiing this weekend with my wife and some good friends, Joey and Ashley Armstrong. We're headed to Sipapu, New Mexico, near Taos, Red River, and Angel Fire. It's supposed to snow today before we leave, and when we get there the weather's going to be sunny and beautiful - almost perfect ski conditions, some might say. We leave tomorrow at 6 am, ski Sunday and Monday, and drive back on Tuesday. I couldn't ask for a better time to go skiing. There's not a whole lot of things that can beat going to the mountains, especially in such amazing conditions. So, I'll be back to the blogworld on Wednesday with some pictures and a report. Until next time...
