Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary has no formal ties to the SBC, but has always had an informal relationship with our convention. In my younger days, before the changes brought by the CR at our six official seminaries, many pastors encouraged young men called to the ministry to go MABTS for theological education because it was solidly conservative. The former president there had a rule that those involved with the school were not to criticize the SBC or the CP.
The current president, Mike Spradlin, has taken a different tack, choosing to spread divisive lies meant to tear down our convention. The CBN was born at MABTS and it has become its headquarters.
Evidently, this Saturday MABTS is showing a movie that scrapes the bottom of the barrel – accusing our SBC seminaries of Marxism among other tinfoil-hat style accusations.
I was surprised when I was told by a friend, and then read in BP the source of this movie. It is the pastor of an independent charismatic church about 3 miles from my church here in Sioux City. I am well-aware of the Cornerstone World Outreach and Cary Gordon, having served in the same community for 16 years.
There is no way that anything Cary Gordon puts out should be trusted by Southern Baptists or shown in any seminary that serves a Gospel-faithful people.
Cary has odd (to say the least) views of the Gospel that do not line up with what we believe, or with basic orthodoxy. He is autocratic. Those who choose to leave Cornerstone are shunned, often completely dividing families. Those who stay are not allowed any contact with those who left. One family I know must have two different holiday observances – those who stayed and those who left. The church is highly political. Cary runs the church with an iron hand, ruling not only the church but the lives of the people in the church. He rejects any form of congregationalism. I could go on and on with stories, but suffice it to say that Cornerstone is ecclesiologically, theologically, and ethically suspect and should not be trusted by biblically faithful people.
Why on earth would any Baptist seminary be promoting Cary Gordon as an authority on anything, much less what is going on in Baptist seminaries?
MABTS was once a good school. I considered strongly going there for a graduate degree. Now, it has chosen a course of division and dishonesty.
They have every right to do so, but if they do, Southern Baptists should take certain steps.
- First and foremost, our EC should refuse to allow MABTS any booth space in the exhibition hall in Anaheim and at subsequent conventions until they apologize and reverse course.
- State conventions could do the same, refusing to platform MABTS.
- Pastors should encourage their students not to attend the school, since it has become a haven for lies and division in the convention.
The best course of action would be for Mike Spradlin to change course and cancel the movie. Perhaps he will see wisdom and do this.
