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Friday, July 01, 2005

Does it have to be Doctrine OR Mission??

It seems the Gauntlet is about to be thrown down in the SBC over the question of theology and its role in SBC life. The internet monk seems to be suggesting that the SBC has really never had any theology, and has been pastor led, with no time for theology. For the last 50 years of its history I agree, what theology we have had has merely been that God exists, he loves you, and your parents and pastor will tell you the rest. Go... Go quickly only with this knowledge and save others. This has been the battle cry of the SBC the last 50 yrs and this year was no different. However, there is a small but growing minority of people in the SBC just like Paul of Tarsus, who believe in doctrine first, to hold us together, and this will lead to stronger missions. The Seminaries of the SBC have the Great Commission as their mantra, interestingly, as demonstrated by the Convention this year we have no interest in discipling people. WIN them is what we are told. How to have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, through as discipling relationship... apparently not our concern. Let the pastors answer the tough questions, because we cant, we have been too lazy. With our, all missions no doctrine philosophy, we have become a denomination of congregants, who cant even answer the most basic of questions about our faith, and we refer to what our parents taught us, or our pastor. Interesting isnt it that the very thing we faught for in the Reformation... Sola Scriptura and preisthood of the believer, we have given up by saying the pastor can think about God for us. Sounds Roman Catholic doesnt it. No, I think a new doctrinal push in the SBC will be great, make us better missionaries, possibly change our reputation as the know nothing denomination and keep us from losing our members hand over fist to the cults. This will only come though, if we can get changes in the congregations' mindsets that they dont have to read their Bibles. Only when the members have a doctrine of any kind that they can defend, will we get a true missional movement that will make disciples of the nations

3 Comments:

At 1:01 PM, Blogger JTapp said...

I guess I disagree or just moreover have no idea where you're coming from.
The Baptist Faith and Message has clearly spelled out theology and doctrine as it relates to the SBC. The changes in such message have been debated and clearly spelled out to congregations, IMHO.

As far as the "mission" goes, NAMB and IMB missionaries have to sign off on the Baptist Faith and Message, that they've read it and list any qualms they have. They also have to spell out theology, which is put through an intense screening process to make sure there aren't any heretics going out under the SBC banner. We're probably the most scrutinizing evangelical missions agency in the world from that standpoint.

Granted, there are some professors who say this is not enough, and that we need better required seminary training for those going onto the field. They've proposed changes in the 30-hour seminary for career positions to include real meat classes, and not just electives, to make sure people going out have gotten the most out of their 30 hours.

Is this what you're referring to?

 
At 1:10 PM, Blogger Refmergant said...

You need to read the article on the internet monk's website that i have linked then comment... then we can talk

 
At 5:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

not everything is a personal attack

 

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