Your Voice

Denominational discourse and the future of the SBC

by Jason K. Allen
President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

With the arrival of the internet and in particular blogging and social media, … there’s an imbalance of loss when public accusations are made. The one who leads a public ministry has everything to lose, while an anonymous blogger has nothing to lose.

This new reality is causing chaos in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). False accusations are circulated online daily. Ironically, some of these instigators aren’t even Southern Baptist. Nonetheless, they malign SBC ministries and sully the reputations of those who lead them. And for Southern Baptists, our cooperative work is being threatened.

Complicating matters is whether or not one should respond to a false accusation. It is simply a catch-22. The larger the ministry platform one has, the greater the dilemma. Whichever way you choose to respond, you lose. There is no upside. 

If you choose to respond, you give oxygen to the story. You’ll draw more attention to the false claim and protract its news cycle. You’ll extend both the range and the duration of its reach. You’ll generate more clicks for the website, which is often exactly what the accuser is after anyway.

Additionally, responding (and all that response might entail) takes time, and that’s time most Christian leaders don’t have to waste. Even worse, to respond can be dirty. As Adrian Rogers warned, “You can’t wrestle with a skunk and come out smelling like a rose.”

Yet, if you don’t respond, onlookers may conclude the article is accurate. People may interpret your silence as a tacit admission of guilt. What is more, the lie may continue to be repeated. And, as Adolf Hitler famously reflected, “If you tell a big enough lie, and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.”

Credible sources?

In recent days, I experienced such an attack. It’s not the first, and it won’t be the last. Inexplicably, an anonymous website published an anonymous article that cited anonymous sources. From start to finish, the article was a complete lie. … Its intent was to slander me, to impugn me and to do me harm.

Thankfully, the accusations were relatively benign. The blogger wasn’t accusing me of scandalous behavior or immoral activity. Thus, the substance of the accusations didn’t alarm me much. Rather, the fact that the accusations were so patently untrue did. Thus, I chose not to ignore this one. I chose to engage the article head-on.

I demanded this person produce evidence or retract the article and publicly repent. After 24 hours of pressure, the article was retracted and something of an apology was issued. It was a small, qualified victory in a larger struggle the SBC seems to be losing. …

For inquirers, the best way to express concerns, especially if you don’t personally know the leader, is by writing that person a letter. 

A letter arrives with a certain degree of formality, which prompts a response. A letter has a name associated with it, a return address and, hopefully, a cogent statement of the question or concern.

If you write a letter to a ministry leader, especially a Southern Baptist leader, I’m confident you’ll receive an answer from them or their office. If not, you’ll have a legitimate complaint and perhaps legitimate cause to escalate by writing the entity’s trustee chairman or even drawing public attention to the matter.

In summary, questions are always in bounds. Accusations are always out of bounds. Honest inquirers should be treated with respect. Direct questions should receive direct answers. False accusations should be dismissed, and those who traffic in such should be called out.

The SBC’s organizing principle is that our churches can accomplish more collectively than we can individually. Within the boundaries of the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, we choose to partner for missions, evangelism, theological education and the like.

Trust under assault

The SBC’s linchpin is mutual trust, which is built upon shared convictions and shared mission. When false accusations abound, that mutual trust is weakened. 

No organization can long survive, much less thrive, if that trust is daily under assault. Southern Baptists are a great people, but if we are able to maintain doctrinal accountability while rejecting false accusations, we’ll be even greater.

As the famous saying goes, “A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth can get its boots on.” 

If the Southern Baptist Convention is to endure, we’re going to have to get our boots on more quickly. (BP)

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Letter to the Editor

Jennifer Davis Rash’s “My Rashionale” column in the Jan. 9 issue of TAB about prioritizing concerns for 2020 helps us set the tone for this new year.

In this one article, Rash accomplishes TAB’s three-fold mission/purpose. 

It lets readers know the TAB staff understands the plethora of issues that are dear to the hearts of TAB readers. 

It encourages Christ-followers to focus on being obedient to God’s commands and to be witnesses for Him wherever we find ourselves. 

It also is an encouragement for Christ-followers to prayerfully consider how through the extraordinary empowerment of the Holy Spirit, their spiritual gift (or gifts), combined with their talents, abilities, experiences, personalities and circumstances, have prepared and equipped them to serve the Lord. 

And finally, it is encouragement to continue loving God and people as you serve!

Shirley Crowder
Birmingham, Ala.

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As long as I’m with [God], I’m right where I belong.

Shaq Hardy
Student pastor and former foster child

God loves people because of who God is, not because of who we are. … God’s grace is not a grandfatherly display of “niceness,” for it cost the exorbitant price of Calvary. … Grace is free only because the Giver Himself has borne the cost. … Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more. … And grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us less. … We do not have to achieve but merely follow. [Jesus] has already earned for us the costly victory of God’s acceptance.

Philip Yancey
“What’s So Amazing About Grace?”

If you’ve never gone on a missions trip, don’t put it off and then one day look back with regret … go! It will cost you money and you won’t get paid, but I promise you it will be one of the most fulfilling experiences of your life. You will be blessed as you bless those you’ve gone to help.                

Bill King
Associational missions director, Tuskegee Lee Baptist Association

To those in whom the Spirit resides, God has given great gifts: gifts of teaching, proclaiming, discernment, faith, service and so much more. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do the good things He has ordained for us to do and shows us the unique part we have in the body of Christ. But God has also made us to need each other. We don’t have to walk alone; we don’t have to try to figure out what gifts we have and how to use them on our own. We have each other, brothers and sisters in Christ who encourage us in Kingdom work. We help each other see how our gifts complement each other and how we can best work together to spread the gospel. What a precious gift from above!

Selah Ulmer
WMU.com/blog

[Combating anti-Semitism] begins with each of us in our various communities speaking to the need of this.

Chairman Tony Perkins
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Like an arrow seeking a chink in a warrior’s armor, doubt always aims for the Christian’s feelings as a prime target for attack. Whenever you have established a faith position before God, it is first and foremost a conviction of the will. Never allow doubt to steal your faith because you don’t like how faith feels — faith is driving the train, not your feelings.

David Jeremiah
Pastor, author, radio host

When we can perform to the best of our ability, we give glory to Him. So I take that mindset with me every day.

Michael Smith
LSU football player

Leaders help plant the seeds for children who grow into adults called to full-time or short-term missions by engaging children in meaningful activities that promote learning in a wide variety of ways and styles. Leaders take time to see each activity, each learning opportunity and each recipe as a chance for a child to feel God tugging at his or her heart. Great leaders invest time and effort into learning activities that involve movement, a few messes and motivation to understand one’s place in the Great Commission.

Heather Keller
Children’s Ministry Consultant, National WMU

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From the Twitterverse

@NationalWMU

When you do something that matters to someone else, you can feel the satisfaction from the positive impact. You know you are making a difference. How are you making a difference?

@DiscoverHGBC

“Be killing sin or it will be killing you.” — John Owen, “The Mortification of Sin.” This is the epic personal struggle that every Christian ought to be in but so few actually really are. @pastorclint

@MichaelCatt

They say, “Measure twice, cut once.” If it’s true in carpentry, it might also apply to social media. “Ready, shoot, aim.” Too many are on the attack before we know the facts or the real enemy. Be quick to hear, slow to speak.

@EdLitton

James 5:9: “Brothers, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!”

@kristenpadilla

“Work, then, my daughter, in the field you see God calling you to work in, and don’t trouble or weary your spirit over what is said to you but carry on courageously. Fear and serve God selflessly, and then don’t be bothered by what people say, except to have compassion for them.” — Catherine of Siena writing to Daniela da Orvieto in 1378 yet still speaking a good word to all us women called to gospel ministry.

@bubbasims

Social media has amplified the fringes of SBC life. If we don’t get a grip and stop believing everything we see on Twitter it could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

@Ameen_HGA

If your Christianity constantly needs to find a cultural enemy to battle with in order to thrive and keep you engaged, then Christanity might actually not be what you have at all.