‘The Patriot’ is a great flick, isn’t it?!? The hero doesn’t want to go to war because he knows the horrors all around and the depravity that will surface from within, yet he is forced to fight to protect his family, home and friends.

For some, they may feel like they have nowhere else to go (as far as denominational life goes). I’m at the point where, although the denomination is necessary for my livelihood (requiring ecclesiastical endorsement), I’m ready to “move.” In college, on one end, I was labeled as a “Bible worshiper” / “Bibliolater” because of my adherence to inerrancy, a “fool” for believing in a literal creation, and a “hard-liner” because of my position regarding abortion. That was at an SBC university. Then, on the other end, in seminary, despite the fact that I earned an MDiv in Evangelism/Missions and the PhD in Evangelism, I was often assailed as a “Follower of John Calvin,” a “Baptizing Presbyterian,” and a “Hyper-Calvinist” because I affirm the doctrines of grace. It wasn’t as mean-spirited as what I faced in college, but it was still discouraging. Despite leading the churches I’ve pastored to be evangelistic, starting outreach programs, encouraging tract distribution, etc., etc., I’ve faced uphill battles because “successful leaders” in the SBC like Adrian Rogers, Jack Graham, Johnny Hunt, Jerry Vines, et al, have made false claims and spouted inaccurate history. During a “new” pastorate, not having even been there but a couple of months, there were people passing out “Predestined for Hell? Absolutely Not!” pamphlets along with offers of Vance’s ‘The Other Side of Calvinism’ to any members who would read it. Meanwhile, I was leading the church to organize its first adult mission trip in nearly three decades. My oh my. No, I’m tired of the SBC infighting, especially when it comes to this issue. I don’t think the denomination is worth fighting over, quite frankly.

Bill, I didn’t think you were advocating war, I was just simply stating how I felt about what is taking place in Florida and elsewhere.

I find it interesting that the Church at Rome has been brought up during a discussion about the abuse of power within the Florida Baptist Convention… I have said so many times over the years (and taken some strong criticism for saying it) that there are some strong similarities between the conduct of the Leaders of the Florida Baptist Convention and the Roman Church.

John Sullivan and Cecil Seagle are not acting very… well… not acting very “Baptist”. Where is their respect for the autonomy, freedom, and rights of every Baptist Church, Believer, and Pastor? Are their edicts and actions now to be considered above question? Do they no longer have any respect for our Baptist Confession of Faith?

XIV. Cooperation

Christ’s people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner.

The Florida Baptist Convention is NOT a Church! It has NO authority and NO right to interfere with the work of a local church, inject the opinions of its leadership into local church matters, or attempt to call for the discipline of local church pastors who do not agree with them. All of this one could expect from the authoritative leadership of other denominations but never from the Executive Director of a Baptist state convention!

This is an unbearable offence to Baptist principles and polity, and Baptists of all theological opinions should see the ultimate danger of this kind of conduct. Which begs the question: where is the governing “State Board of Missions” in all of this? Should not they be the ones who step up and say to John Sullivan and Cecil Seagle (who are their employees) that they have gone too far and overstepped their authority?

Grace to all,

James: I hope you know that I don’t advocate war either: just using the Revolution as a metaphor. Wars are ugly business. People die. But like the main character played by Mel Gibson in The Patriot, sometimes war has a way of drawing unwilling people into conflict . . . people who just wanted to be left alone. Obviously, I’m no longer in the USA, but I still have a lot of dear friends and supporting churches in Florida.

I don’t want to go to war either, and I’m not sure any army would have me anyway ;0)

If they mean to have war, I think I’ll go join up with another army. I don’t want to fight with fellow SBCers on this issue. I want my life to be spent fighting *for* the Kingdom. In the end, the Fundamentalists will find themselves much like the French did after they murdered and expelled the Huguenots… lacking vast numbers of their citizens who brought stability, support, hard work, and piety to the land. France was sent into a tailspin that ended eventually in the morally bankrupt revolution.

These do more harm than good. They only serve to distract the body of Christ from it’s true purpose – to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

I am deeply saddened by this move by the FBC. It’s troubling to our family as we head back to our church in OKC. We just recently got a new pastor, Tom Lambert from Mississippi. I don’t know how he feels concerning this issue but my husband and I feel that it is important to find out. (I hope this link works.)

http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/954430/leader_ready_to_serve_as_senior_pastor/index.html?source=r_technology