Alvin Reid Has a Problem
Alvin Reid, Professor of Evangelism at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, has a problem. This is an excellent article putting the recent issue regarding Mark Driscoll in historical context. Take a moment and read his article. Here is his conclusion:
Finally, I have a problem with my convention. I am a Southern Baptist. I have blogged before on why I am a Southern Baptist. But I have a problem with my convention, when we seem more intent on witch hunts than on contextualizing the gospel in our time, when we love to pick at each other’s differences than unite for the sake of the gospel, when we are more concerned about our total receipts than we are the lostness of our nation, when we continually confuse personal preferences with unchanging truth, and when we castigate younger men who love Jesus and His truth for simply doing what we taught them to do: study and honor the Word (when they come to different conclusions than some of us on secondary issues, they scratch their heads at the response they get). I was a supporter of the conservative resurgence before it was cool. But the resurgence I supported did not include a Pharisaical legalism that expects conformity in nonessentials. I supported a resurgence to stand on the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture, one that now has led me and many others to see the need for a Great Commission Resurgence to be built on the foundation laid by the conservative resurgence. I am tired of talking good younger men off the ledge from leaving the SBC.
Tags: Alvin Reid, Baptist Press, Mark Driscoll, SBC, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
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February 13, 2009 at 10:51 am
You should be the editor of the BP to make sure stuff (horsecrap) like that does not get published. Even though I am a mix between multiple Baptist sectors (SBC and BBF) it is stuff like this that lessons my desire to serve along side with those of us who have baptism nailed down theologically and increases my desire to serve guys who are all about proclaiming the Gospel (Keller, Driscoll, Chandler, etc…)
In the words of Matt Chandler from the meeting in Jacksonville speaking for a whole generation, “You almost lost me.” (And this time you may have)
February 13, 2009 at 11:13 am
wow, that is an amazing, bold conclusion by reid. i hope it opens many eyes.
February 13, 2009 at 11:16 am
[...] Mr Reid notes a problem with the SBC. [...]
February 13, 2009 at 11:42 am
Good comments by Alvin Reid. This was the clarion call of the “reform” movement or whatever you want to call it that came together in the blogs a few years ago. I was pretty active in that because I saw the dangers. It was amazing to me, however, how many people did not have the courage to say anything when the issue was ppl and baptism among missionaries with the IMB. I once asked a prominent Calvinist SBCer why he did not speak out against the IMB policies on private prayer language. He said that it was because he didn’t personally agree with it. I told him that was not the point. It is a non-essential that is left alone by the BFM. As long as someone keeps it private and they are not pushing it on others or making it a mark of spiritual maturity or spirit baptism, is it really worth dividing over? Can’t we agree to disagree on some things? I also told him that I was not a 5 point Calvinist but that I would defend tooth and nail his right to co-exist with others in the SBC who did not agree with him. We shouldn’t all have to be Calvinists, but we also should not limit their participation or run them off. It is not worth dividing over.
If we could see all of this as a matter of principle and not just stand up when our particular issue was addressed, we’d be a lot better off.
February 13, 2009 at 11:54 am
Timmy
Thanks for posting this. In November I left my Southern Baptist Church to be the teaching pastor of a non-denominational church (with Reformed roots) in the Philadelphia area. It’s the first time I have ever been a part of a non-Southern Baptist church.
I did not leave because I was bitter about the SBC but the fact that I was treated a bit like a less loved step child did not help. The church in Wichita, KS that I pastored for nine years was one of the fastest growing and top giving churches in the Kansas/Nebraska convention. But because I am reformed some of the leadership in our Association treated me with suspicion and in some cases contempt.
I would have been happy to remain at the church in Wichita for the duration of my ministry. It is a wonderful church. God called us to Philadelphia. That is why we left. But it was not hard to leave the SBC for the very things that you have been warning about.
Keep up the good work.
todd
February 13, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Tolerated but not accepted are we who hold to the doctrines of grace. WE DON’T CONDEMN OTHERS WHO DON’T BELIEVE IN THE DOCTRINES, SO why SHOULD THEY CONDEMN US, AND HOLD US IN CONTEMPT/ I WAS ONCE A FREE WILLER, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD TO SHOW ME THE DOCTRINES OF GRACE, IN THE WORD. I HAVE NEVER READ ANYTHING BY JOHN CALVIN.
February 13, 2009 at 5:27 pm
I left the SBC seven years ago and have not regretted it one bit. Once you are outside of the convention you begin to see things much more objectively, you realize how unbiblical the convention structure has become and how ridiculous the infighting has become.
February 14, 2009 at 12:10 am
Oh if Southern would also show such leadership and not remain so silent.