It was reported last week that two of the largest non-Southern Baptists groups will be “unitying for greater impact”, particularly on social issues. Now let’s remember what groups were talking about. First, there is the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) comprised of moderate to liberal, former Southern Baptists that split from the SBC in the early ’90s because of the SBC’s conservative leadership. Second, there is the American Baptist Association, which has had on-going debates about the authority of Scripture and homosexuality. Needless to say, these are the “other” Baptists, as the article calls them.
In unitying, they intend to “to speak and work together to create an authentic and genuine prophetic Baptist voice in these complex times.” One of their initial projects will be to form a “national Islamic-Baptist dialogue to improve relations with Muslims.” One of their main organizers, Bill Underwood, president of Mercer University in Atlanta, said, “We really haven’t seen this kind of unity in Baptist life since the early 19th century.”
Unfortunately, these two groups continue to buy into the false assumption that true unity comes at cost of “matters of theology,” as Underwood stated. True “unity” and “common ground” are found in sound doctrine and not at the cost of it.
Aaron, I’m still trying to process your post. I can’t tell if you’re advocating for further education “if the possibility is present” or just putting it out there for discussion. Given some our private conversations, i.e. not on this blog, I think it’s the latter. Either way, it’s still appropriate to discuss.
I have to say it’s a topic I often revisit given my situation. I think I could make that “if” a positive one. Just look at my circumstances. Financially, my family could afford it. We’re already here in Lville, so we wouldn’t be relocating. I already have good study habits from my undergrad; thus, it would make for a smooth transition allowing me to complete the program faster. The only downside is the sacrifice of time and emotion my family would have to make. And I don’t down play how big a sacrifice that is, especially for my wife and girls. Do I, therefore, meet the qualification of “if the possiblity is present?”
Now I want to make one distinction before I continue. My decision is whether or not to do an MDiv., not the Ph.D. And I do believe the MDiv. is more essential to a pastor’s education than the Ph.D. Thus, I would highly encourage a pastor to do an MDiv., maybe even make that “if” a reality. There’s more that could be said, but I’ll leave it there.
But if we’re speaking generally, I have to say formal education merely for the sake of formal education, even for a pastor, may not be the wisest decision. Keith may be getting at what is most important in a pastor’s education, and that is the tools for learning. I don’t think I could be an effective elder if I weren’t equipped with the proper tools. (Some of this harkens back to Dorothy Sayers’ The Lost Tools of Learning). And I wouldn’t have those tools were it not for Boyce or some equivalent education/training. Okay, one may be exposed to certain works and theological categories in his formal education he may not have otherwise. Nevertheless, that exposure is no substitute for the rigorous study a pastor is called to in his sermon preparation.
Okay, okay, first we had LeBron James and Darfur and now we have David Robinson and Max Lucado. Consider it a tribute to the NBA Finals. There’s a story about how Robinson is now leading a men’s ministry every Thursday morning at 6am at Max Lucado’s church. Interesting.
Even more interesting, in my opinion, is when a sports writer visited the goliath of a church that is Oak Hills in San Antonio–18-acres, multiple campuses, technologically savvy, etc–he walked away impressed but unsettled:
When I walked into the Worship Room, which seats about 7,000, there was a band rehearsing. A real band. Electric guitars, drummer, singers, dancers. Also, I noticed the chairs were stadium-style, plastic, with the flip down seat rests. Just like the ones at the Rose Garden Arena and the AT&T Center.
It raises an important question when it comes to religion… Does size matter? Because seeing all that was great, but it sort of made me feel like taking a simple walk at The Grotto.
I don’t know Canzano, who wrote this post, but I gather he’s unchurched. Furthermore, I think that there are many unchurched who look at a church like Oak Hills and are equally impressed but are looking for something that gets closer to the heart of the Gospel–whether they know it or not.
Tomorrow: Kobe Bryant and John Calvin . . . (just kidding!).
If you had to make a list of the things a confessional evangelical could and maybe should appreciate about Catholicism, what would they be? It is an intriguing question, and this is the question Carl Trueman seeks to answer in this month’s issue of The Wages of Spin over at Ref21. You can find his article here, and I recommend reading it. But let me give you the highlights.
1. Quality Christian Writing
2. A Shared Creedal Tradition of Trinitarianism
3. Great Christian Theologians
4. Common Cause On Moral Issues
5. Church Loyalty
I think this is a very helpful list. Brothers, do you see anything here you would disagree with, add, or highlight? Any nuance you want to make, Keith, about our shared trinitarian confession?
I think it was a few weeks ago when Brad W. reminded us that we, as Christians, share the mind of Christ. There are so many implications of this. One of these I encountered from re-reading Bonhoeffer’s Life Together. For anyone who has ever had a difficult time having an honest conversation with another Christian, this quote is for you (and me!):
The basis upon which Christians can speak to one another is that each knows the other as a sinner, who, with all his human dignity, is lonely and lost if he is not given help. This is not to make him contemptible nor to disparage him in any way. On the contrary, it is to accord him the one real dignity that man has, namely, that though he is a sinner, he can share in God’s grace and glory and be God’s child. This recognition gives to our brotherly speech the freedom and candor that it needs. We speak to one another on the basis of the help we both need. We admonish one another to go the way that Christ bids us go . . . Why should we be afraid of one another, since both of us have only God to fear? Why should we think that our brother will not understand us, when we both understood very well what was mean when somebody spoke God’s comfort or God’s admonition to us, perhaps in words that were halting and unskilled? Or do we really think there is a single person in this world who does not need either encouragement or admonition? Why, then, had God bestowed Christian brotherhood upon us?
Everyone needs encouragement and admonition. As Christians, we are supposed to know that. We are supposed to put ourselves in relationships where such events take place.
Why will any hold their manhood cheap? Some will who were not with us this past Wednesday evening as we voted in — unanimously — our new/old statement of faith. Men (and women) will come after us and listen to the stories of how God has moved in 3ABC and brought us to a point of health and unity in His spirit that we could affirm our faith in a robust summary of the truths of Christ and His gospel handed down through the ages. It was a beautiful event (apart from Greg forgetting what church he was in) that marks the conclusion of reworking the foundations of our church for another generation. As Henry V said so eloquently (through the fine pen of Shakespeare), men will listen to the stories and fall silent as we, the happy few, recount what God has done. This past Sunday as I sat waiting to teach the church history section of membership Matters, I looked through the history printed for the church’s centennial in 1994. I was amazed to reflect on what has happened at 3ABC and on God’s faithfulness to us since I came here in 1999. So many that were here then have died or are kept at home by age and illness. We have been spared as a church, we have been given souls to care for on their road to heaven, and we have been given the gospel of Jesus Christ, once for all delivered to the saints, to treasure and sustain us till we too cross the river.
I wasn’t an elder a year ago when Greg, Keith, Aaron, and Bruce where thinking through Greg’s question. But here’s how I would begin. (Let me paint with broad strokes.)
First, I would assess the current landscape. I would do a cursory reading of contemporary confessions for both like-minded and not so like-minded churches, particularly within Baptist circles. This gives me a good idea of what conservative evangelicals and Baptists of today find essential for church membership. I want to know how 3ABC would be in conformity and contrast with the larger evangelical world. (To be honest, in the little bit that I did this I can say it is relatively bleak. Churches seem to give comparatively more time and thought into “purpose” or “mission” statements than doctrine. At least that’s the way it is on paper.)
Second, I would gather historically Baptist confessions and begin a similar process as mentioned prior. This again helps me gauge where, upon first my first inclination, I think 3ABC would likely conform or contrast Baptists that preceeded us.
Thus far I haven’t answered your question. I’ve only said where I would begin. Let me use a different word picture to answer – the church “doors.” Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians for all centuries can affirm the Nicene Creed. So we aren’t going to leave the doors that open. I can fast forward through church history to Baptist history and probably up to a certain point. I don’t have to examine every creed or confession because I start with the fact I’m Baptist. That alone excludes tons of people. Now here’s where I have to oil the hinges and start swinging the doors every so slowly. Through conversations and study I have to determine exactly how closed they will be among baptistic Christians. This is also where I re-evaluate where Baptists may have gotten things wrong or were too closed.
Hopefully that’s a helpful start and partially answers your question. I don’t think you want us to sift through every article and say who’s “in” and who’s “out.” Related to this question, why not write one from scratch?
