Since 2006 when I started blogging, I’ve read a continual battery of degrading things about our convention and many of her leaders. The wearisome drone of belittlement, impugning, accusation, and maligning has, at times, stirred me to comment with ire and disgust. Other times I’ve written posts to encourage us to “grieve not the Holy Spirit” with our maiming of the brethren. Sometimes I’ve responded to complete strangers on blogs to encourage them not to give up on the SBC because of a few who continually drip, drip, drip words of dissension and division. (I’ve been so blessed by the development of friendships with these folks. One a missionary, another a seminary student, and more.) Over time, I stopped frequenting offending blogs and ignored commenters who sought only to engage in goading.
Recently I read of one troubled blogger who wished complete and utter destruction upon our convention–an imploding that would leave us in a rubble of humiliation. His heartbreaking desire was that then we might find a remnant of humility that could match the heart of God’s desire to use us without impurity of self. While I understand the frustration he feels and the bitterness he harbors, I do not believe his wishes is in keeping with the heart of God.
He felt as if he owned scarlet letters of his individual belief and circumstance. His “red letters” were polar opposites to ones with which I’ve been branded as a Southern Baptist. We are all labeled something and given our scarlet letters, I’m afraid. But I’m not angry, bitter, or praying down fire and brimstone upon our convention as some, like he, are doing. I cannot believe our convention is worthless or totally without purpose in this world of the lost and dying.
While there are some within our SB family who’ve only experienced or harbored the dregs of all that they dislike about Southern Baptists, some of us savor and revel in another representation. Truly, there are things we can all be saddened by within our convention, but our convention is not made up of all the worst of our faith. Our churches, our missionary endeavors, our seminaries and schools, hospitals, children’s homes, Disaster Relief, Hunger Funds, etc. are made up of the best of our faith. For this I am grateful. Very grateful. Whether there is 16 million or 9 million, we are still a body of believers who, for the most part, strive to serve our Savior as He has called us to serve Him. We are faithful to our call upon our lives to “present ourselves as a living sacrifice” to go…into all the world “to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”, to make disciples, teaching them to observes ALL things that He has commanded.
I am praying that hearts be given new life with the removal of bitterness and grudges and anger. May it be replaced with only goodness and peace and joy today and tomorrow. selahV
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I feel the same way about numerous blogs. It’s one thing to offer constructive critism and quite another to throw stones just to throw stones. I personally don’t agree 100% with everything the SBC comes out with, and there are quite a few areas that could be changed or improved, but the only way to make change is to stay involved and not tick off each other. In a big organization, there will always be waste, people wanting power and control, and hundreds of other things that have little or nothing to do with doing the work of God. Once we realize that we don’t all have to look alike, think alike, or believe exactly alike, then we can quit bickering and carry out the Great Commission. There are a lot more things that bind us than seperate us. The SBC is just a collection of individual churches who pool their resources to further God’s Kingdom. May we do a better job of that.
John: “The SBC is just a collection of individual churches who pool their resources to further God’s Kingdom. May we do a better job of that.” I think that is what the majority of Christians are doing in their respective churches. I also think that is what the majority of pastors are doing in their respective churches. That’s the beauty of our convention. And though a few loose spokes are squeaking, it doesn’t mean we must discard the wheel. Thanks for your input. selahV
selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR…
Selah V; I join with you in your prayer. Although at present, I’m out of the
convention, I have served several SBC Churches. No missionary program can
touch that of the SBC. May The Lord nnite them on a common basis, but not at
at the expense of essential doctrines as The Doctrines of Grace.
Dr. Paul, it is funny you should mention the Doctrines of Grace as that is where we all seem to fall short — in giving grace and mercy to each other.
2 Corinthians 2: 5-11 says “5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”
I ALWAYS think of this passage of scripture when I am reminded of folks who say we out to all be destroyed so we might gain humility. I dont feel mercy and grace where those thoughts are. I don’t feel like they are places who truly want us all to be better examples of Christ, but instead feel as if they are all shouting in their loudest voices that they are better than the rest of us poor sinners. Those thoughts speak of bitterness and lack of forgiveness to me and I do try to stay away from blogs or sites like that. . Like SelahV says, it is a few squeaky spokes getting attention but there is so much good going on as well. I wish we’d read about the good as often.
Have a blessed weekend!!
Sallie
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Dear Sister Sallie,
I agree with you wholeheartedly. A Forgiving spirit and love go hand in hand.
Our Lord said, ”By this shall all men know you are my disciples if you show
love one to another.” And we can’t love, without forgiving each other. Since Christ has forgiven me, I am to forgive you [Ephesians 4;32].
If one is caustic, bitter, unforgiving, He is out of fellowship with the Lord.
Please check out my blogs listed under
freegracherpreacher @blogspot.com
and give me your imput. I need to learn to do it right, and in a manner, to glorify our Lord.
In His Grace,
Brother Paul Foltz DD
I agree with Sallie. The verse that came to mind for me was Luke 18:11
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
I find it easier to point out other’s problems than acknowledge my own sin. God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Dr. Foltz, thanks for joining me in prayer. I have often wondered about the “unity” that folks seem so determined must exist within the convention. Firstly, we are already united in Christ–one spirit. The conscience of man follows after his own way all too often and leaves Jesus behind, wreaking havoc over predetermined “essentials”. One person’s essential is another person’s non-essential. My concern is not over this or that, but the heart and spirit in which we enjoin one another in discussing such essentials and non-essentials. If, in fact, the Doctrines of Grace is the essential of the SBC, where does that leave the person within the SBC who does not cling to the DoG, but Jesus himself as their essential? Some have said that there is a conspiracy afoot to oust all those who hold to the Doctrines of Grace. However, I have read repeatedly from those who are not Calvinists, that they have no desire to oust Calvinists, or reformed thinking folks. Instead, I read the opposite, that we must all be reformed or we are not SBC because of Sandy Creek, etc. And any time a conference is held to give an interpretation of what DoG means, fire and brimstone have nothing on the bloggers as they tap and twitter and text opinions of what is said. Also, all too often I read where we should get back to disciplining church members and disassociating ourselves from those whom leadership determines inadequate behavior, then I read those same folks lauding brethren who use perverted ideas and vulgarity in pulpits for their “numbers” being increased due to their progressive techniques and fresh approaches to ministry. This is quite confusing to a pew-sitting grandma who’s taught (for nearly 33 years) the principles Paul presented to us in Ephesians, 1 & 2 Corinthians and Jesus taught during His time on earth. Confusing indeed. selahV
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John, me too. well said. selahV
selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR…
Selah V;
God is not the author of confusion, Man is.
Dr. Foltz, I couldn’t agree more. My point exactly. selahV
selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR…
Having been fired from a church, when as the moderator said, “We could find no reason to fire you (I think they had me followed), but we fired you anyway,” and then being unable to find a church for 12 yrs. or even a regular job (I found out what regard society has for Baptist ministers today), I can well undestand why believers can become bitter. One son of a minister who was fired tried to set the church on fire!!!! But what we have to bear is as nothing compared to what our Lord and Savior had to bear for us. Such trials are in the will of God; they are afflictons. When our Lord has finished accomplishing His will in those sufferings, then He promises that He will afflict us no more. There are people who want to rip the SBC apart. If they succeed, it will bring about the down fall of the biggest mission force in history. True, many do not hold the full theology that I hold. However, even some who hold the same doctrines are not to be mentioned in the same breath with those teachings that I hold dear. I have lived long enough to see bad representatives of everything I hold dear. I my self have at times been a bad representative of what I believe. Salvation is a matter of Sovereign Mercy (where I don’t get what I deserve) and Sovereign Grace (where I get what I don’t deserve – salvation). If God has been so kind to me, forgiven me, picked me after each fall, then I can do no less about others, especially if they show any signs of remorse. If they do not, I am still bound to try and act like a Chistian. Having spent two years doing research on I Cors.13 and writing a Greek honors paper on that pericope (12:31b-14:1a) and having done a Doctor of Ministry Project on “Christian Love and Race Relations” in which I preached 10 sermons on that chapter, I can tell you I am amazed at the love of God and how it works in healing wounded and damaged, sin-sick souls. If the Lord does that for lost sinners, when he saves them, Will He not do even more for His children in their failures like David? I have now been a believer for 51 yrs, and I have been sickened many times by the failures of others and, worst of all, by my own failures. But I have also experienced times of renewal, times of refreshing. One of these days I expect the ultimate, the eternal renewal which will never end. In the meanwhile, I pray for those who despitefully use and abuse me. Indeed, I pray for a world-wide Great Awakening for our generation and for a thousand generations to come. I am sure none of us would have thought much of Paul and Barnabas, if we had witnessed them pitching a fit of rage (which is what the Greek indicates and which Paul said love does not do in I Cors.13). Paul said it well, Christ Jesus came to save sinners, “of whom I am chief.” Having been an atheist, a fool who said there is no God, a nut who said to his sister, “Take your old namby pamby religion and go jump out the window with it,” I am just thankful that one day the Lord Jesus took away a burden I did not know I had and I cried tears of joy for the first time in my life (Dec.7,1957). That night when I was converted, I saw Jesus (in a vision or hallucination) standing, facing me about 15 feet in front of me. His hand was raised like he was knocking at a door. My only desire then was to get away. To make a long story short, on my way home, something changed my mind (I had intended to tell no one) and it led to my calling on the Lord to forgive me of my sins (I think Jesus opened my heart like He did Lydia’s). Tht is why I want two scriptures inscribed on my tombstone, Rev.3:20 and Acts 16:14. Forgiveness is not an easy thing! It does not come cheap! Some one pays for forgiveness. If Jesus paid such a terrible price for my forgiveness, then, out of gratitude, I can resolve to endure any thing (that doesn’t guarantee that I will but at least I can surely try). Living the Christian Life reminds me of what it was like to hoe a long row of cotton all growed up with grass and weeds. The only way you can get it done is to stick with it. Suffering is a part of the game, and I don’t mean light stuff either. I have no doubt that it will be worth it all. When I was a child, I saw God change a hell on earth into a heaven on earth. It took me years to realize the impact that must have had on my enraged, post-traumatic stress syndrome caused by the loss of both parents through divorce. God can and does heal, and He uses every body in the process – even if they don’t want to be used. I remember seeing a couple take a child who was in a really bad case of grief from being abused. They use to walk the floor at night, holding him while he screamed in rage and anguish. They got the child raised, and he had a fairly decent life. I know of stories like that. What can happen for children can happen for God’s spiritual adoptees who have been or might be damaged by others. He will provide for their needs. So let us not give up. II Cors.2:14. Let us be thankful for the privilege of being the people in whom He suffers.
Dr. James Willinghams last blog post..A preternatural and invisible hand
Selah: Those that hold to the Doctrines of Grace also hold to Christ alone. Solus Christus.
SelahV,
Thanks for your post. We need more positive blog articles about the incredible ministry taking place every day in the SBC.
Should anyone wonder what good things are happening in the SBC, all they need to do is check out our IMB, NAMB, seminaries, and read Baptist Press. Or they could just attend most any of over 40,000 Southern Baptist churches.
It also helps to approach with a positive, expectant, humble attitude; instead of sitting in the seat of the scornful. I praise God for what the SBC has meant to me through the years. And what it continues to mean.
David R. Brumbelow
David B: It’s difficult for me personally to be positive(I would say I’m more hopeful) after some exclusions I’ve witnessed in the last three years.. I want to be positive, but that is easy when you are not the one being shoved out.
Dr. Willingham;
Early in my ministry I was asked to leave my position as associate Pastor, for
teaching the doctrines of grace. for 8 years I sat on a pew , disallusioned and
hurt. But it was a healing and a growing process. Ilearned you can’t make any
one believe what you believe; It takes the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to the
hearts and minds of others. Everything we know comes by Revelation.
Dr. Willingham, I understand completely and relate well to the majority of all you’ve written. Been through the firing, my children’s lives being turned upside down due to the travesty their minister father endured. I was abandoned by my mother at age 3, abused by a stepmother for the next 14 years of my life, and if not for the absolute love of SB Christians in East Hartford, Connecticut, and the sovereign grace of God, I have no doubt I’d have died in the sin I was living at the time. Paul had nothing on me. Having lost my own children, one within his first 24 hours and the other in his 33rd year, I know the sufficiency of God’s grace and the peace that passes all understanding. Christ is my heartbeat. He is my breath. He is my portion. And He blesses me beyond measure each and every day. I deserve nothing and He gives and gives and gives of Himself to me. I feel you are a kindred brother and am pleased you came along and posted your comment here. May Christ be glorified with your words. selahV
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Debbie, I know that many who hold to the Doctrines of Grace also hold to Christ alone. I never said otherwise. selahV
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David, thanks. You know me. I love those positive stories. And you are right. I read such good news stories about the ministry of so many faithful Christians in our Baptist papers, on Commission’s website, and witness many many great things within our SB churches. That is not to say I haven’t witnessed other faiths just as faithful in manifesting loving acts of Christ. It encourages me and stirs me on toward more good works each time I’m inspired by others. Sometimes when I am weary, I am lifted up by some other’s story, or action. What a great Savior we have! selahV
selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR…
Dr. Foltz, In my husband’s ministry, as an associate pastor, he was also asked to leave but for no other reason than “it’s political”. To this day we are still scratching our heads. People are asked to leave and resign for less than you or my husband were asked to leave–simply because they weren’t a good fit, (after many years of serving without one complaint) . In a world of carnality and human self-sufficiency, we will always have this–not all baptized folks are regenerated folks. That is why the Sovereign Lord is so important to those of us who rest in Him. No matter what the world may do (even the church world), we have a Savior that will never ever forsake us. He is our rock, our refuge, our stay and our hope. He and He alone. People will always disappoint us. To keep our minds and heart fixed on those who disappoint will lead to nothing noble in our service to God or men. [Acts 24:16] These are some of the weights we must put aside in order to run the race with patience. When we are at peace with God, no turmoil in the world or church can shake us. selahV
selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR…
selah V; ”When we are at peace with God no turmoil in the world or church can
shake us.” Amen and Amen. I can also add in our individual lives, having lost my wife. God is in full control. He knows and He cares.
”God understands your sorrow, He sees the falling tears.”
Selahv The Bible says, Phils.1:29, “it is given unto you, not only to believe, but also to suffer.” We are all in this together, whether we know it or not. Your attitude seems excellent as does Dr. Foltz’s. It is in the pressure that carbon is transformed into diamond. What a painful way to be made anew and useful.
Dr. James Willinghams last blog post..A preternatural and invisible hand
Dear Dr. Foltz: Your loss is noted, and we feel for you. The losses we face in life, who can know and understand them but our Lord and Savior alone. God grant you the sense of His presence. In the loss of my mother, two half sisters, and a step father in 1972, the one thing that struck me was that I felt some one was standing at my shoulder and I would even turn to look. Some weeks before I awoke one morning in our seminary apt. and the Lord Jesus was there, invisibly, spiritually, more real than any other experience I have had in my life up until now. I cried tears of joy like the night of my conversion. The sense of that presence that morning lasted for a solid half-hour, while I was getting ready to go to class. The presence at my shoulder during that loss was of the same nature. Later I would dream of standing in a group of people talking to Jesus. We were telling Him about such losses, an He was telling us how He saw them. What He said, I have no idea. However, we were laughing, a happy healthy laughing like we had heard the only thing that could make up for such a grief. Do I still weep? Now and then. But I am persuaded that one glimpse of our Lord’s dear face, all sorrows will erase. So is it with being fired, deprived of both parents, being raised in tough circumstances (my grandparents were sharecroppers in Ark.), and many distresses in the ministry. All of which are often off-set by blessings of the Lord. He has His way of making up for these miseries by great mercies. SelahV has already begun to find this out. One of these days we shall come to the perfect joy of Heaven. Then all the losses will be more than rewarded.
Dr. James Willinghams last blog post..A preternatural and invisible hand
Dr. Foltz and Dr. Willingham, I love the fact that so much of the heartache, pain and loss in my life has returned to me the blessing of comforting another in similar circumstances. And if not for the mercy and sympathy and love of my Heavenly Father, I could not be the least bit useful. I could take all my pain and become bitter and ungrateful, but I choose to yield all my pain to Him and let Him do what He will with it all. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement), Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Cor. 1:3,4. I was so comforted with the story of Job after my son died. And with his death, I was blessed beyond measure by the comforting Spirit of God. Jesus be praised for all eternity for His sacrifice for me. I owe him so much. selahV
selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR…
If, in fact, the Doctrines of Grace is the essential of the SBC, where does that leave the person within the SBC who does not cling to the DoG, but Jesus himself as their essential?
Selah: I felt I had to point out that reformed cling to Christ alone too from this comment that you wrote.
I wonder where all the “unity people” were when Dr. Klouda, Dr. McKissic, and Wade Burleson were practically forced out. I know I am confused, I hear unity coming from those such as yourself, but where were you and others who suddenly write about unity three years ago? There were many crying out that these people should have the exit door opened to them.
Dr. Willingham, Oh how I understand that holy laughter! It comes directly from our Lord. What we see as devastating, He sees as opportunity to glorify the Father. I, too, had many touches from God following the death of my son. Once He literally cradled me and the warmth of His embrace was none I’d ever known. His living presence is beyond my ability to ever express. I can easily imagine the “transfiguration” and standing with Jesus and His disciples. It’s good to be alive in Christ. selahV
selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR…
Debbie, stop it. selahV
selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR…
DR WILLINGHAM, SELAHV; I thankyou both for your words of
encouragement and sympathy.
DEBBIE; 3 years ago, I had no computer, didn’t know what a blog was, didn’t know what happened in the SBC. HAD I THEN, I WOULD HAVE PLED AS I DO NOW FOR UNITY., AND TOLERANCE.
Selah: Since you have mentioned people such as myself who are attempting to deal and dialogue about obvious problems in the SBC, I feel a voice from those you are referring to to bring balance to what you have written here. I just don’t think wanting good people not to be excluded because they are a woman, or interpret scripture differently to be “of a few who continually drip, drip, drip words of dissension and division.”
Debbie: Since Dr. Foltz has weighed in with his answer to your accusatory challenge, and since your “attempt at dialoging” with me is exactly as you’ve done since the first time I ever attempted to dialogue with you, I simply refer you to the last sentence of the first paragraph of this post with one caveat: My post is not crying out for unity. My post is praying for an end to the bitterness and anger and a Holy Spirit filling of peace, joy, goodness and kindness. My post is offering up the many positives I see in our convention. Your “balance” is offering up anything negative you can possibly dig up from the past. May God richly bless you with peace and contentment. selahV
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Selah: I’m still wondering where the call for peace unity and all things wonderful was when it came to those wanting to rid the Convention of Dr. McKissic, Dr. Klouda or Wade. Of course they are out of their positions now.
Yeah SelahV, because we all know that Wade was just a poor soul who got trampled on by the big bad bullies of the SBC. Mr. innocent always gets picked on. And we know its not fair for a president to let go someone who when he feels they don’t meet the theological requirements to be a professor.
Yes, a female professor is a theological issue, nothing more. When you have a comp president you have the comp implications. Don’t blame Patterson for following through with his beliefs. If you are going to blame someone blame the people who hired him. Patterson acted according to his theological convictions, as we all should. It doesnt matter whether or not you disagree.
Matt Svobodas last blog post..Signs and Miracles in the Gospel of John
Matt: Wade, Dr. McKissic and Sherri Klouda were bullied in my opinion. And SelahV was in those who called for two of the three’s dismissals. Thus this post is somewhat puzzling to me.
To Debbie, SelahV, and Matt: I have 10 emails of your postings. What seems fogotten is that the situations like the forcing out of those mentioned have been going on ever since the church was established. I call your attention to the Corinthian church, to Paul and Barnabas and their squabble over John Mark, James and John and wanting to be on Jesus’ right hand and left hand in the kingdom. Sadly, we are still possessed of a fallen nature even as we are being saved. The spirit and the flesh war one against theother. My ordaining pastor told me how one minister of the largest church in one state in which he pastored did his best to destroy him and his ministry with out cause. My pastor was not bitter or even perturbed; he just seem to understand it and did not waste his energy in ager over it. My grandfather’s forgiveness of the man who caused us to lose the farm Grandpa share-cropped sort of dumbfounded me as I was not a Christian at the time. There will always be those who get hurt by other Christians. Believers are not immune to doing evil things t others any more than they are immune to having evil done to them. The point is that God ha all of these things in His plan, and His plan is to make them work for our good and Hi glory. The whole point of I Cors.13:4-8a is to get believers to begin to behave in the way presecribed or, rather, described. Love’s behaviors are awe inspiring and painfully so. The epitome of such is Jesus on the cross suffering forour sins. No one said this would be easy, but you can learn a lot from those who have suffered and have come through to a place of trust in the Lord’s making use of such things. I once wrote a prospectus for a doctoral dissertation at an Ivy League university (Columbia) on the subject, The Baptists and Salvery. I had stumbled over one of the greatest primary sources on Blacks at that time (1971), namely, the Baptist Church Records. It was amazing to me to see how great some of those African American Christians were in slavery. Even the slave holders had to, at times, admit te wonder of those dear people. In a number of cases, for example, the Whites would purchase or set free Black men to be Baptist ministers. In one case, a white church in Va. circa 1790s called an African American to serve as their pastor. My memory says he served more than 10 yrs. The conduct of these people set a high, even sometimes the highest, standard of the Christian Faith. I am humbled by what I read. That there were failures is to be expected; that there were so many great successes is a matter of amazement to me. I could say more, but my counsel is to keep plugging away, regardless of the discouragements. One fellow, a DOM, who tried to get me fired, years later requested a resume to give to churches. I sent him one. Ther is no use getting bitter, though for a while you feel wild with grief and anger. When I feel really bad, I go kick a tree. The tree doesn’t seem to mind, and the only thing hurt is my foot. Eventually, God works His great solace in our souls. No matter how bad the row of cotton is growed up with bad preachers who throw their weight around and do harm to others, you finish your course by simply keeping at it, regardless of the difficulties. Just keep plugging. One da you reach the end of the row, the end of life’s journey, and then the only thing tha will matter is the Lord’s commendation or censure. Debbie, don’t get so bent out of shape about the evils of others. My wife often says, “Well, I am glad, I don’t have to answer for that.” The people who do such things will have to give an account one of these days. Let us just pray that they wake up before it is too late. Let us also pray for those who have been so badly used. One thing I have is a fear lest I should be guilty of such things. I am not any better than those who have done such things . I have failed in other ways. Let us pray for a visitation of God in our churches, institutions, and, indeed, the whole earth. The prayer for a Third Great Awakening – I mean one of the magnitude of the First and Second Awakenings – is always in seasn until it be accomplished though that might be beyond our life times. I found a statement in one Spurgeon’s sermons about that very issue this weekend. Let us put such people – along with ourselves – in the hands of the One who alone can bring resolution and consummation that will fully satisfy. Gold bless.
Dr. James Willinghams last blog post..A preternatural and invisible hand
To Debbie, SelahV, and Matt: I have 10 emails of your postings. What seems fogotten is that the situations like the forcing out of those mentioned have been going on ever since the church was established. I call your attention to the Corinthian church, to Paul and Barnabas and their squabble over John Mark, James and John and wanting to be on Jesus’ right hand and left hand in the kingdom. Sadly, we are still possessed of a fallen nature even as we are being saved. The spirit and the flesh war one against the other. My ordaining pastor told me how one minister of the largest church in one state in which he pastored did his best to destroy him and his ministry with out cause. My pastor was not bitter or even perturbed; he just seem to understand it and did not waste his energy in anger over it. My grandfather’s forgiveness of the man who caused us to lose the farm Grandpa share-cropped sort of dumbfounded me as I was not a Christian at the time. There will always be those who get hurt by other Christians. Believers are not immune to doing evil things to others any more than they are immune to having evil done to them. The point is that God has all of these things in His plan, and His plan is to make them work for our good and His glory. The whole point of I Cors.13:4-8a is to get believers to begin to behave in the way presecribed or, rather, described. Love’s behaviors are awe inspiring and painfully so. The epitome of such is Jesus on the cross suffering for our sins. No one said this would be easy, but you can learn a lot from those who have suffered and have come through to a place of trust in the Lord’s making use of such things. I once wrote a prospectus for a doctoral dissertation at an Ivy League university (Columbia) on the subject, The Baptists and Slavery. I had stumbled over one of the greatest primary sources on Blacks at that time (1971), namely, the Baptist Church Records. It was amazing to me to see how great some of those African American Christians were in slavery. Even the slave holders had to, at times, admit the wonder of those dear people. In a number of cases, for example, the Whites would purchase or set free Black men to be Baptist ministers. In one case, a white church in Va. circa 1790s called an African American to serve as their pastor. My memory says he served more than 10 yrs. The conduct of these people set a high, even sometimes the highest, standard of the Christian Faith. I am humbled by what I read. That there were failures is to be expected; that there were so many great successes is a matter of amazement to me. I could say more, but my counsel is to keep plugging away, regardless of the discouragements. One fellow, a DOM, who tried to get me fired, years later requested a resume to give to churches. I sent him one. Ther is no use getting bitter, though for a while you feel wild with grief and anger. When I feel really bad, I go kick a tree. The tree doesn’t seem to mind, and the only thing hurt is my foot. Eventually, God works His great solace in our souls. No matter how bad the row of cotton is growed up with bad preachers who throw their weight around and do harm to others, you finish your course by simply keeping at it, regardless of the difficulties. Just keep plugging. One day you reach the end of the row, the end of life’s journey, and then the only thing that will matter is the Lord’s commendation or censure. Debbie, don’t get so bent out of shape about the evils of others. My wife often says, “Well, I am glad, I don’t have to answer for that.” The people who do such things will have to give an account one of these days. Let us just pray that they wake up before it is too late. Let us also pray for those who have been so badly used. One thing I have is a fear lest I should be guilty of such things. I am not any better than those who have done such things . I have failed in other ways. Let us pray for a visitation of God in our churches, institutions, and, indeed, the whole earth. The prayer for a Third Great Awakening – I mean one of the magnitude of the First and Second Awakenings – is always in season until it be accomplished though that might be beyond our life times. I found a statement in one of Spurgeon’s sermons about that very issue this weekend. Let us put such people – along with ourselves – in the hands of the One who alone can bring resolution and consummation that will fully satisfy. Gold bless.
Dr. James Willinghams last blog post..A preternatural and invisible hand
Debbie, May God richly bless you with a clean heart and mind and fill you with peace and contentment. selahV
selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR…
Debbie,
You might to stop and realize what you are doing. Your opinion may be wrong. Wade was not bullied. He was and is the bully. Dr. K and DM were not done wrong. That song is old and wrong.
selahV,
Your best post yet and your best display of grace yet! You are appreciated.
Tim Gs last blog post..The Future of the SBC Part 2
Tim, thanks. When I post on the SBC, I always try to write of her goodness. I am eternally grateful for the benefits I’ve received as a member of the SBC. And like Dr. Willingham said above, we will always have some who are stinkers (my paraphrasing) in any religious fellowship. God will work in spite of the stinkers. He is Sovereign, after all. Praying all is well with you and your wife. selahV
selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR…
Thanks! We are great! We are just adjusting to the boys growing older and knowing that college is right around the corner.! Makes the SBC junk seem sooooo miner.
Tim Gs last blog post..The Future of the SBC Part 2
Tim, oooowee. I have a grandson graduating from highschool this May. He’ll be going to community college for a couple of years. So glad he’s decided to do that before challenging the big bad world of OSU for a civil engineering degree. That way he can stay involved in church here. I’ll be praying for those boys. You had quite a scare this past year. Praying Knoxville gets revived in that Awakening that Dr. Willingham is praying for. selahV
selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR…
Tim: I find it very dangerous to know that you think Wade was the bully and Dr. Klouda and Dr. McKissic were not done wrong. It may be a sign of more to come. That’s discomforting to say the least.
Debbie, this post is not about Dr. McKissic, Wade Burleson, or Dr. Klouda. I respectfully ask you to refrain from goading others to engage in your bitter campaign. selahV
Tim, please do me a huge favor and do not respond to Ms. Kaufman’s goading. This post is written to pray for hearts to be cleansed from the bitterness and anger and contempt of Christian brethren. It is to uplift the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and to point out the best of the SBC while setting aside the worst. thank you in advance. selahV
selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR…
You got it! And I fully agree!
Tim Gs last blog post..The Future of the SBC Part 2
Selah: Discussion is not goading. I am being honest and asking serious questions here. It’s too bad that discussions are being terminated everywhere. There is no bitterness among those pointing out the wrong in the SBC. It’s standing for what is right. Tell me Selah, who did Christ shut up, who did Christ exclude?
Simply I don’t believe there will be peace and unity when those who see things differently than you are kept from serving in the SBC. When we as Christian brothers and sisters embrace the differences and not try to shut them out, your prayers will be answered. If a person feels peace and unity while others are being shoved out, I have to question that.
Debbie, serious questions? Like “where were the calls for peace and all things wonderful three years ago”? Well if you go to SelahV Today and peruse my posts, I’m sure you will find many many posts that point out the positive side of life (mostly about how wonderful my Savior is to me). While others were posting non-stop on the things you hunger for, I was writing about dandelions, honeybees, my grandchildren, my garden, dealing with grief over the loss of my 33 year-old son, coping with the drama of my husband’s heart attack that dramatically changed our lifestyle, and, uh….oh yeah, talking to fenceposts.
Don’t know about “discussions being terminated everywhere”, I don’t get out much. I stick close to home for the most part these days. I’ve even been remiss in posting my two posts a month for Tony here at Voices. I’m so happy to hear “there is no bitterness among those pointing out the wrong in the SBC”, however, this post that I’ve written is about pointing out the RIGHT in the SBC. Do you have anything positive to offer, Debbie? Anything at all? selahV
selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR…
Dr. Paul
I’ll go to your blog today!!
Have a blessed week!
Sallie
Sallies last blog post..Chance to get $25 from Vision Forum…