About the only thing that was “hot” about the Southern Baptist Convention
meeting in Phoenix last week was the Arizona weather. There were no arguments,
no controversies, no strong challenges to reports or committee motions and almost
no strident words.
About the only thing that was “hot” about the Southern Baptist Convention
meeting in Phoenix last week was the Arizona weather. There were no arguments,
no controversies, no strong challenges to reports or committee motions and almost
no strident words.
The most positive initiative to come from the convention was the emphasis on
family, or in the new denominational parlance, kingdom families. Messengers
were challenged to sign a pledge to follow seven guidelines to strengthen their
families, and most did. Undoubtedly churches will be urged to have members sign
the same pledge.
As would be expected when addressing marriage from a biblical perspective,
messengers again spoke strongly about the issue of homosexuality. As program
personalities held high the biblical standard of marriage as one man and one
woman for life, obviously, homosexuality is viewed as something entirely contrary
to that principle. The subject was mentioned several times in sermons and addresses
and in a resolution. A resolution, a report and sermons called for churches
to present ministries to homosexuals, and the ministries are primarily to help
people leave or resist homosexual lifestyles.
Interestingly, as the convention spoke clearly on the subject, parts of Canada
were moving toward accepting same sex unions, a cable channel announced a program
in which the leads are four homosexual characters and another channel announced
a homosexual version of “The Bachelor.” Homosexual intimacies are
depicted more and more on television, even on major networks. The words from
the convention were appropriate.
Another major action by messengers was severely cutting the funds that the
Southern Baptist Convention gives to the Baptist World Alliance. The convention
had forwarded $425,000 a year to the world Baptist organization, but cut that
to only $300,000. The convention had for decades provided the major part of
the Baptist World Alliances operating budget.
This editor hopes messengers next year will reinstate the $425,000 allocation
to the Baptist World Alliance. True, there are Baptist groups related to the
body that are considered more liberal in certain theological issues than the
stances the Southern Baptist Convention has taken over the last 25 years. Still,
the Baptist World Alliance money does not go to support these others groups,
but to facilitate fellowship among all Baptists of the world.
Having been to more than one meeting of the Baptist World Alliance, this editor
has deep appreciation for what the organization means to struggling Baptist
groups around the world. Hopefully, these struggling groups will not see the
Southern Baptist Conventions action as one that could be termed “The
Ugly American” or do things my way or else. The gracious action toward
these brothers and sisters in Christ and who bear the name Baptists would be
to provide the money without demanding absolute control.
Also, this editor is thankful for the initiative to strengthen family by upholding
biblical principles. But, if the vast majority of the help is directed almost
solely to what is called the nuclear family, we are not going to speak to vast
numbers of Americans. Certainly, all material speaking to marriage must start
with the ideal of one man, one woman for life. But, millions of people are in
less than ideal situations and they desperately need help in having a Christ-honoring
marriage. How does a household of a widowed grandmother, a daughter who is a
mother of two whose husband walked out on her honor God and receive His nurture
amidst less than the ideal?
Certainly Jesus was not upholding a standard concerning marriage when he remained
celibate. But, it was Gods will for Jesus not to be the head of a nuclear
family and his mother was widowed at a relatively early age. That certainly
was not evil on their part. It was part of Gods plan for Jesus, and, apparently
for his mother, Mary. But they still did not live in an ideal nuclear family
as adults.
The initiative on family is a welcome start. Hopefully, the years ahead will
see more and more helpful material and training available to all Americans.
Ed Young was president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1993 to 1994.
When the dynamic pastor gave his greeting to messengers, he said, and I paraphrase
as closely as I can, “We have settled the theological issues. Now, lets
get back to the tasks of evangelism and missions.”
Certainly, that must now be a clarion call for all Southern Baptists, nationally
and locally. Every indication is that we must focus tightly on winning our communities,
our nation and the world, or the declines and stagnation we have seen could
continue and even increase. No one wants that.
To refocus on evangelism and missions, we must first experience a profound
spiritual awakening. If we are open to God showering Baptists with a spiritual
awakening, we certainly will need to be about it with the intensity of the controversy
we have experienced during the last 25 years. Perhaps, then God will grant us
a genuine, soul-stirring revival.
(Additional thoughts on new scientific discoveries that was to appear this