In my previous post, I mentioned in passing that one important and telling event at the SBC was cheering that the damned are damned. I recently came across the following post by Baptist Blogger that illustrates some of the problems in the SBC today by contrasting the resolution on alcohol with the Nationalistic fervor present at the convention:
What frustrated me is not that the resolution mischaracterized the position of those who acknowledge the whole counsel of God in formulating their position on alcohol. Neither was I upset that the convention messengers, having just elected Frank Page on a platform of ending the narrowing trends, chose to adopt a very narrow and poorly worded resolution. What angered me was that a reasonable discussion about the nature and extent of Christian liberty in the Gospel seems impossible among brethren who affirm the inerrancy of biblical authority. We do not seem to understand what Christian liberty is all about, and we certainly do not seem willing to recognize or appropriate the scriptural latitude for the sake of fellowship and peace. When presented with an option to affirm Christian liberty in the Gospel, four-fifths of the messengers raised there ballots to refuse a hearing.
The incredulity I was experiencing at that moment was compounded within the next hour. I stood at the back of the convention floor listening to Condoleeza Rice, a woman who drinks alcohol and approves of abortion and was praised and prayed for as a true Christian sister by the SBC President. Every time Condi struck a note of political liberty or patriotic freedom, the crowd thundered in applause and rose to their feet in ovation upon ovations.
The Southern Baptist Convention has relegated Christian liberty in Christ to confessional oblivion and those who are willing to engage seriously in a discussion of its meaning and limit are characterized as an ungodly, immoral, unholy, and impure bunch of bootleggers peddling liquid licentiousness. Yet when the stars and stripes are waved, or “God Bless America” is sung, tears roll down cheeks and hands are lifted high.
We are, it seems, no different that the German Church at the close of the Weimar Republic. Nationalism is our religion. The Gospel is now emptied of its power to set the captives free. This disturbs me more than the resolution itself. In fact, I could have stomached two years of the runner-up much easier than to stand in the convention hall and watch my fellow messengers rise to their feet when the death of Al-Zarquawi is announced. A soul is sent to hell, and we do not grieve. We cheer.
Read the rest of the post here.
Wow! Now that’s a discussion I could get into. I take a lot of heat for my retisence towards nationalism, and people know to expect a moderate/liberal approach to the subject from me! (Not that I’m liberal, just that, as I’m sure you know, everything’s relative.) That’s bold to come from Baptist Blogger. Kudos!
Isn’t it funny that we’re labled “liberal” if we disagree with the position nationalism holds today? It’s all part of the rhetoric.
I was also surprised to see that post on Baptist Blogger’s site, from other things I’ve read from him. He has a large readership,so bravo to him for posting that.