Go On Without Me

In the last week or so I have gotten into minor discussions on blogs about the SBC. One was on probably the most influential of blogs Pastor Wade Burleson's blog (http://kerussocharis.blogspot.com/) and this week on the newest and a growing power SBC Outpost (http://sbcoutpost.com/) Both of these blogs are leaders in a group who see themselves as attempting to reform the Convention and rescue it from others who are attempting to "narrow the parameters of those who can be a part of the Convention.

In the current controversy of the SBC there are several issues. I am not going to attempt to deal with them because they have been dealt with ad nauseum. No person's mind is going to be changed. No one is going to switch sides in this controversy. It is an increasingly bitter argument among those who claim to believe in the inerrancy of the Scriptures. They basically center around the discussion of "What is the Baptist Identity?" Does it include Private Prayer Language? Is the authority to baptize reserved only for a Baptist church? There are others.

There are others. But what began 2 years ago as discussion and conflicting views of the Convention has flared into an "Us versus Them" grudge match worthy of the WWE and seemingly as full of 'roid rage.

Both sides have their share of blow hards. Both sides have reasonable arguments. Both sides are playing for keeps and at stake is the leadership of the SBC.

Both sides have inflicted pain on the other side. Page Patterson, President of Southwestern Baptist theological Seminary has been vilified as Machiavellian by some and sainted by others. Wade Burleson, Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, Oklahoma, has experienced the same kind of conflicting opinions. I have no doubt they both carry the scars.

I began this blog partly to express an opinion on the convention. I began as a supporter of the Reformers. I wrote about supporting Dr. Frank Page for President of the Convention rather than the candidates of those who had started the Conservative Resurgence in the Convention. I agreed then, and still do support some of their goals. The SBC has always had a tent wide enough for many differing opinions on which the Baptist Faith and Message is silent.

But I have started see a "Take no prisoners" mentality gain hold among the reformers. Public censure has taken the place of private challenges. There is a place for public censure. Paul publicly took Peter to task for his cowardice when he left the Gentile believers to only hang with Jewish believers. Paul did publicly condemn the return to the world by Demas. But it was personal with names mentioned. That is now being replaced by "inside sources" by the reformers and "guilt by association" with the conservative stalwarts.

Church arguments have always been particularly nasty. Most pastors have a story of a business meeting gone bad. I am fearful that this one is going in that direction. But it won't be taking me along.

I'm off the discussion. I'm not reading the blogs anymore. I'll go to our local association meetings and vote my conscience. I'll continue to serve on the Committee on Order of Business for the Florida Baptist Convention. I'll be at the SBC Convention next year in Indianapolis. But I'm tired of the arguing. I'm tired of getting worked up over so little.

Neither side will miss me. I never was really involved. But it will go on without me.