The Continuing Saga...IMB, SBC, and the place of politics

Well it's been quite awhile since I've written anything. I think a lot and I talk a lot but sometimes it's hard for me to articulate what I'm thinking into written words. Not to mention that I have ADD of the brain (sorry for the political incorrectness) and I have trouble staying on one topic long enough to say anything of value. Nevertheless I thought I would struggle through that so that I could get down in writing what I'm thinking in regards to the ongoing saga of the IMB Trustees. That way it could be recorded in posterity or whatever.

For starters, as is obvious from my previous post, I am opposed to the recent decisions of the IMB trustees. I think it is completely unnecessary to eliminate potential missionary candidates based on non-essentials such as the use of a private prayer language or based on unscriptural requirements such as the need for "properly administered" baptism. Additionally I think that they overstepped the authority they have been given and interfered with decisions that the Bible seems to give solely to the local church. Unfortunately the controversy over these issues is now being lost in the fray of church politics at its worst.

Wade Burleson, a fellow Oklahoman and IMB trustee, has been outspoken of his opposition to these new policies and it has gotten him in no small amount of trouble. He has been gracious in his criticism and humble in his approach towards other trustees with whom he disagrees. Nevertheless his character and integrity have been baselessly attacked. He has been accused in very general terms of slander and gossip and now the majority of trustees have asked that the SBC remove him as a trustee at their June meeting.

At this point I am at a loss. I think that the actions of the trustees are deplorable and inexcusable. What is sad is that it is only indicative of a larger problem. I may disagree with many of Wade's views about the past purging of liberals and moderates from the convention. I may think him to be way off base in some of his presuppositions, but I could certainly never make a disparaging remark against his character and I must wholeheartedly agree that there is a powerful element within the SBC that seeks to remove all that dissent from their interpretation of Scripture. The truly discouraging part is that I don't know that anything can be done about it. We gave them carte blanche and trusted them to retake control of the convention several decades ago and now they sit firmly entrenched, unwilling to allow for any dissent or even the presence of a minority opinion.

Some people expressed hoped that Wade will be exonerated at the convention, that the vote to remove him will be unsuccessful. Perhaps I sell many Baptists short but I must disagree. I think we listened to "crusading conservatives" say just do what we tell you, we're the good guys for so long that we now accept it without any question. First it was a fight against the nature of Scripture, now it is a fight against the interpretation of it. I think that many, if not most, messengers to the convention will just affirm whatever those in power tell them to affirm.

I guess what I am hoping for is that someone with the gravitas to cause people to listen will stand up and decry what is going on. Certainly there is no shortage of prophets in our midst, I just think most of them are on extended sabbatical or have come to enjoy the lifestyle that power brings. I hope that's not the case but I fear it is. Maybe someone like Jimmy Draper or Morris Chapman will stand up and tell the trustees that they've gone too far. Is that too much to ask for?

I suppose that the dilemma for me is what to do in light of this. I have been a Southern Baptist my whole life and I think there's a reason for that. My heart is broken for what is becoming on our convention and part of me wants to just throw in the towel and walk away. Unfortunately I have this problem of being fiercely loyal and I have a hard time giving up. I guess for now I'll just wait and watch and pray. Maybe this is the downward part of the cycle of cleansing and renewal that God desires to do in us. Or maybe it's just church politics at its worst.