Baptist Blogosphere Fighting

Baptist blogs are revolutionizing our world. They are opening up lines of communication like never before. In the past it was done via the local or state level Baptist newspaper.

I have on my desk a copy of the book, “A Texas Baptist Power Struggle”. It is a most telling book about the S.A. Hayden and B.H. Carroll controversy of the late 1800’s. In the dust cover of the book it describes the events that lead up to the controversy:

“Samuel Augustus Hayden, almost destroyed the newly organized Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) before it could take root. In the final decades of the nineteenth century, Hayden caused such unrest among Texas Baptist  that after a failed attempt to take over the BGCT, he was expelled from the state body. In turn, he created a rival organization, the Baptist Missionary Association (BMA), which continued to fight perceived oppression by the BGCT.

While trying to take over the BGCT, Hayden, through his newspaper, accused his enemies of embezzlement, heresy, arson, and strong-arm tactics. Hayden’s high-profile opponents included some of the most powerful and well-known Baptist in Texas: George Washington Truett, Benajah Harvey Carroll, and James Britton Cranfill.  Through their newspapers they asserted that Hayden was insane, a liar, and a heretic.”

This book by Joseph E. Early, Jr. , is a most interesting read. It seems to mirror our present time via the blogosphere. There are some individuals who are like Hayden, vicious and tenious as a bull dog with their teeth on a pair of boots, not willing to back down no matter what. As these individuals tear at the leather that has held us together as Baptist, it only causes much hurt to the Gospel of our Lord.

In the Hayden/ Carroll controversy, it hurt mission giving and ministry all over the state of Texas. I personally believe the same is happening today. The “power” struggles are hurting us. The name calling and hurtful words are not bouncing off, they are painful and causing much pain to the body of Christ.

As many already know, the blogosphere stuff has spilled onto the convention floor. And it appears that it will not end this year. There seems to be groups forming to bring more division to the 2008 convention. As I have been reading the Early book, I am amazed at how we may be repeating history.

I long for the days of unity among Baptist in Texas. We have already had a split with the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention being formed. I pray we don’t split again. If history is repeated, then we might have as many as five state conventions like we did in the 1800’s. 

Have we forgotten the Biblical mandate to treat others as we would want to be treated?

It’s just my opinion.

Cowboy Joke

A Cowboy And Church

One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were very worn and ragged. In his hand he carried a worn out old hat and an equally worn out Bible. The Church he entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and accessories.As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him. They were all appalled at his appearance and did not attempt to hide it. The preacher gave a long sermon about hellfire and brimstone and a stern lecture on how much money the church needed to do God’s work.As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor. “Before you come back in here again, have a talk with God and ask him what He thinks would be appropriate attire for worship.” The old cowboy assured the preacher he would.
The next Sunday, he showed up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots, and hat. Once again he was completely shunned and ignored.The preacher approached the man and said, “I thought I asked you to speak to God before you came back to our church.”

“I did,” replied the old cowboy.

“If you spoke to God, what did he tell you the proper attire should be for worshiping in here?” asked the preacher.

“Well, sir, God told me that He didn’t have a clue what I should wear. He says He’s never been in this church!

That’s gotta hurt!

Christian Civility

Been thinking about Christian civility.  Have been reading some blogs by some of my Baptist Christian brothers and sisters, that seem to have an absence of civility in general and Christian civility in particular.

It is great that we can respectfully disagree on different subject matters. But it needs to be done with love and humility.  I know within my own congregation there must be a multitude of opinions on all kinds of subjects. Of course we Baptist joke about putting three members on a committee and coming up with 10 different viewpoints! Of course that is the Baptist way, we disagree and then we disagree some more.

It is when we get ugly about it in defeat that takes us down the wrong path. As a pastor I don’t always get what I think I want, but I don’t go off half cocked and hacked about it and threaten to do whatever. Don’t get me wrong there are some pastors who tend to do that, they don’t get what they want, so they start another church and call it church planting.

I am just concerned that civility is a thing of the past in most of our conversations in America of late.  Especially with the political season fast upon us, it is already heating up. At the same time, I would rather have discussion than just rubber stamping everything we do as a state or country.

I want discussion in Baptist life too, but let’s do it with civility and Christian love. I am friends with pastors from all the theological spectrums of life. Some are more liberal and some are more fundamentalist/conservative, than I would classify myself.  Yet we can have healthy discussion and still love each other.

We only have one chance to make a good first impression on our lost world, let’s do it right.

Sandbox mentality

As kids we fought over areas of the sandbox. When someone else wanted to play in “our” sandbox we got upset and desired to push the others out. It was a tit for tat kind of thing and it still goes on today.

Have been reading some of the blogs from those who are upset with the results of the BGCT convention vote. Some, not all, seem to be calling for several things: one wants churches to withhold funds and only send in what in necessary to have a seat as messengers to the convention next year, some seem to have a boycott mentality and others are wanting churches to pull out all together.

If I didn’t get what I wanted I would not pull out. I would support whoever is in leadership and trust God with the results. I would pray for the leadership and not judge too quickly. Sure hold feet to the fire, but do so in Christian love.

Those who lost sound spiteful and in some degrees hateful. It is not Christlike. I am concerned that some  pastors are reacting in ways they deplore when congregations do the same.  Gee, isn’t there a verse in the Bible about doing unto others as you would have them do unto you? Or do we just ignore that one and throw rocks anyway?

Sure it is ok to be upset, but get over it and move on. Instead pray for the leadership. Pray that God would use them in mighty and powerful ways. 

S0me almost sound secular in the comments they make. Some have said, “We have a mandate, cause it was so close.” I can almost hear, “We want a recount!” Pleeease, we don’t need the secular worlds mindset in our convention.

I know I ramble on, but dang it all, we gotta treat each other like Christ wants us to. “Be kind one to another, tender-hearted forgiving one another, even as Christ has forgiven us.” Eph. 4:32

We don’t have time to ruin the cause of Christ any more than we already have with our infighting. Folks the average Joe and Jane in the pew doesn’t give a rats rear end about all this “Preacher” fight stuff. They wanna do missions, lead people to Christ, see the churches grow and leave the “preacher stuff” outside.

It’s just my opinion.

BGCT Convention stuff

Just thought I would share a little of my observations on the recent convention in Amarillo.  I enjoyed it for probably different reason that some would suppose. While there I saw some people I haven’t seen in a long, long time. Seeing as I am from Amarillo it would stand to reason that I might meet some old friends.

Two people that I saw were very influental in bringing me to the Savior and in my spiritual growth. One was the Minister of Education at the church I attended and the other was the Youth Minister at the same church. Both I have left a very positive impact on my life. It was so good to see them and remember the past.

As for the convention itself. I came with expectations of much fighting and wailing and gnashing of teeth. I think there was more saber rattling in the halls than on the floor. I can understand some who felt they weren’t heard because of procedural situations beyond anyone’s control. I think the convention spoke very clearly that they didn’t want to hear the “ugliness” that would have come from discussing the “no confidence” motion. Had they been discussed the tone of the convention would have changed dramatically.

Dr. Howard Batson’s sermon was awesome. I was in tears most of the time.  It was a powerful sermon we all needed to hear.

Rick Warren was good, but in my humble opinion a little too dogmatic at times. But he did challenge us and we needed that.

Personally I think the convention mode of meeting in different places may be getting old. The young people can’t and don’t show up and so the convention is run by a few. I would like to see it done with mulitiple sites throughout the state, with a satelite hook-up between each. That way more can pariticipate without much travel. And more can vote on important issues.

Just traveling to Amarillo from Abilene, cost me $100.00 in gas. That does not include meals along the way. I think for young people with very little money, the travel is a huge drawback.

The future of the convention is the young people and yet the only ones who can and are able to come are the older with lots of time available or the preachers who come to vote and visit. Yeah, I saw lots in the halls visiting, don’t blame them, it is the only time we see each other.

Anyway, I enjoyed the convention. Those who didn’t get what they wanted need to be like the lady who was vocally against the church’s new building program. She spoke out often and loudly against it at business meetings. When the church voted in favor of the building program, she was the first one to give to the fund. That is the attitude many of us ought to have.

Anyway it’s just my opinion.