Last night SBC President J.D. Greear brought this message to the Executive Committee meeting in Nashville. It’s well worth watching in its entirety, but here are a few key excerpts in case you don’t have time for the full message. More coverage is available at Baptist Press.
Key moments:
3:40
Greear said he had no desire to see us change our doctrine or change our mission. “We are not, at our core, a political activism group. We love our country, but God has not called us to save America; he’s called us to build the church and spread the gospel.”
5:30
The change we do need: our culture. The Pharisees said they believed in the sufficiency of the Scriptures, but they demanded uniformity in word and deed beyond what the Scripture required, equating “the traditions of men with the commands of God.” It’s not that their traditions were bad, or that they were devoid of wisdom. It’s that they equated their traditions and their wisdom with the authority of God himself and so laid on men’s shoulders heavy burdens.
Jesus said that the Pharisees focused on the more minute parts of the law while ignoring the weighty parts. They strained at a gnat, he said, and swallowed a camel. What’s that look like today? Let me state clearly: CRT is an important discussion, and I’m all for robust theological discussion about it. For something as important as “what biblical justice looks like,” we need careful, robust discussion. But we should mourn when closet racists and neo-Confederates feel more at home in our churches than do many people of color.
And, to be sure, for the vast majority of our churches, that’s not true. And if it’s not true of yours, praise God. But I have received the emails and phone calls from people in our churches who do fit that description. The reality is that if we in the SBC had shown as much sorrow for the painful legacy that racism and discrimination has left in our country as we have passion to decry CRT, we probably wouldn’t be in this mess. It’s not that clarity about the dangers of CRT is not important; it is. It’s that, as Jesus said, we’ve ignored some of the weightier parts of the law–justice, and mercy, and compassion.
9:58
Brothers and sisters, in the 1980’s, we repudiated the leaven of the liberals, a leaven that threatened to poison the gospel. Are we now going to repudiate the leaven of the Pharisees, which can choke out the gospel just as easily?
Most of you know that almost immediately after I began to lead our Convention, the character assainations, false accusations, innuendos, and exaggerations began… I’m not as worried about how it affects me personally. I worry for our future. Because I talk with next gen leaders as well as Latino and African-American brothers who watch these things and do not feel at home in our Convention. What a tragedy if we squandered our gospel and Great Commission legacy because of our unwillingness to be a Gospel Above All people.
14:57
Southern Baptists in large part are ready to walk into the future. But we are spending a lot of time tolerating those who would rip us apart… Brothers, let’s just call it: These things are demonic.
The wisdom that comes from above, James says, is “…first… peaceable, filled with the fruits of the Spirit, gentle, compliant, full of mercy, unwavering and without pretence.
“But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice.” (James 3:17, 14–16)
We know this: When Satan can’t destroy the church from without, he capitalizes on the sin within…
The problem is that many of our divisions are based on 90% misunderstandings, distortions and often enough outright lies. And this has grieved me more than you can imagine. And not mainly for me. I won’t be President in a few months. I’m mainly grieved for many of our entity leaders, and some of you, who have been slandered and lied about.
This is not what I expected us to be spending our time on, and it is not what I ever wanted. Every lie weakens our resolve in getting the gospel to the nations; and every moment I engage in a silly argument or spend time debunking untruths is a moment I am not focused on the GC.
I think we need an attitude like George W Bush called for in 2001: “We make no distinction in those committing terrorism and those who harbor them.”
21:40
Story of John Piper’s book endorsement: “Piper wrote back, “On the contrary, you should be very encouraged. Many all around the world are praying that at this very moment, which Satan means for hindering the Mission of the King to the nations, God will use for strategic advance. Your book will be well-timed. May God grant thousands to grasp this, and madden the evil one by turning his tactical ripple against the kingdom into a tidal wave of completion.”
24:30
Three Commitments going into Nashville 2021 Annual Meeting:
- I will be committed to being a Great Commission Baptist.
- I will be committed to being a Gospel Above All leader
- Finally, tonight, I commit to being a man of truth and integrity.
He was bringing the heat last night.
Sounds like a suitcase sermon to me. You know, the one where the preacher is about to leave and he brings his suitcase to the pulpit and says, “I got some things to tell y’all.” Excellent sermon by a good man and a good president.
Excellent sermon! And long overdue to address where we are at. Also very telling but not surprising when Patterson’s cronies on social media immediately began lashing out at it this morning. “A kicked dog yelps”. But sadly I am afraid a great sermon from a good man will fall on deaf ears at the EC.
Yes. Good and prophetic sermon from a good man.
I posted this on another forum earlier this morning before seeing this post.
“ Let me just say here to all of us… If any of us… No matter which tribe/side/group/whatever we identify with in the Southern Baptist controversies… If any of us listened to or read the text of JD’s message last night ? and were not personally convicted but instead are cheerleading what is perceived to be his dressing down the “other side”…? or validating “your side”…. I think , no am confident, JD would agree with me that we missed the point entirely and are at minimum unintentionally part of the problem and at worst actually part of the problem.”
2/2
One thing I would’ve liked to have added to his needed “the pharisees need repudiating and they ought repent” message would have been “here are a few places I have been in need of this message myself and here is how I repented.”
A little more pubiic self reflection to add illustration to his prophetic call might have been helpful.
I deeply appreciated his message and was challenged concerning where much of my own energies (emotional and rhetorical) lie in regards to these issues juxaposed with the level of my energies to the gospel above all.
The struggle is real against Disagreements and distractions. I know I personally have some repenting and rearranging to do.
You think he is a phgarisee?
Y’all keep changing the forum settings to discriminate against people like me who use voice to text and/or have fat fingers so they can’t go back and make corrections later. Lol.
Seriously now, I did not say he was a Pharisee (or phgarisee, as you typed it) what I said was that all of us including those of us on this forum would do well to self examine first rather than seek to point fingers or seek vidication using that very appropriate and convicting message.
I assume JD, like all of us, is not sinless and pure in this or any other matter – nor do I think he would suggest himself to be.
I’d say he said what needed to be said and did it well. Strong and forceful with no room to doubt what he was saying, yet you could tell he was loving and grieving. I am so glad I and my husband voted for him in 2018. I loved every word he said.
He confronted those who lie and deceive.
Watching responses on Twitter makes it clear who thought he was talking about them.
I recently wrote a story about NAMB that has been well discussed here and I appreciate the pro and con discussion. I received word last night that in the Q&A session with Dr. Ezell, a gentleman stood up and took issue with my character. He stated I had lost my job in the transition from the HMB to NAMB which is absolutely not true. He alleged I was being vindictive with my story. I was not terminated but took the very generous buyout package and a decade later received a standing ovation from the NAMB trustees and Dr. Ezell for a series I wrote on the agency’s church planting in Atlanta. Interesting that this individual did not criticize the content of my story but sought to demean my character. Thank you for allowing me to correct his “bless his heart” accusation.
Joe, I am so sorry for the persecution you faced for telling both sides of that story faithfully and accurately. In our present environment, with its secrecy and lack of transparency, recriminations are sadly quite common. Thank you for telling the truth and trusting the people.
Thank you. It took 3 months of research, interviews and Zoom to gather an objective account. I could have included far more information but i feel i gave both sides fair treatment. What bothers me is that I never got a sense from NAMB that it truly understands the seriousness of what is happening out there. And I still do not understand why, after a decade, it is unwilling to report the numbers of planters in each state and in what cities they are serving. I also do not understand why Dr Ezell cancelled our interview to answer a dozen questions he had been sent in advance
Here is a link to Joe’s article, for any interested in reading it.
https://baptistnews.com/article/state-conventions-beyond-the-south-question-sbc-north-american-mission-boards-spending-and-accountability-for-church-planting/#.YDUvcehKiUk
There seems to be a culture of slander at the EC right now.
Joe, you did a great job on your recent story about NAMB. I’ve taught the history of SBC missions for years, and I’ve written about it, also. It was fair to all.
I thought it was an excellent article, overall fair. Might have leaned a teeny bit towards the state conventions but I used it here because no one has given such extensive look at the matters. Lot of deep weeds stuff. Folks just pick sides these days. Facts don’t matter.
Joe Westbury, as some on this thread can attest for they were involved in either the scandalization of my name or the defense of my name;
What happened to you, I am sad to personally testify, is not uncommon when a person does not compromise the truth within an SBC entity or especially a state convention entity.
JD really did a great job with courage and clarity. Thankful for his leadership.
I appreciate JD. I have known him for many years and call him a friend. Yet, even if he were not a friend and I had never met him, I thank the Lord for his message to the EC. I pray it fell upon Holy Spirit awoken ears and hearts.
We get words not action from SBC leadership. Real courage is making real change. SBC leadership should be leading the members in a new direction from its roots and 20th century operation/viewpoint. As an example where is the black/brown/women comments on this site? Change is hard . Dr. Greear is preaching to the SBC insider crowd, what is he putting at risk? This is not speaking truth to power, the power is in the pews.
Greear doesn’t need to lead people to comment on this site. He seems from my few times interacting with the people from Summit that he’s doing a fine job in his pews. One of the first people I met who attended summit was an African American friend. His website shows he’s worked towards diversity in leadership, and I had an awesome time at an outreach event in our area getting to know people in our community by hosting a cricket match which was a great time and my first experience with those interesting bats and pitches. And knowing the hearts of people who have worked with him and their desire for diversity and a multi-ethnic church, I think Mr. Greear is probably as much action as talk.
“I think Mr. Greear is probably as much action as talk.”
Kimberly Koonts, you are right. JD has never been one to talk and not act. He has never, to my knowledge, been afflicted by the disease of laziness like far too many other Southern Baptist Pastors. Even when he was a student at SEBTS where I met him, he was a hustler and hard worker to see things done for the Kingdom. Frankly, I would venture to say, he is far more action than talk. The evidence of that is the great number of people who hate or envy him for what he as done.
If you listened to the address, you should already know what he has “put at risk.” Unless, of course, you do not believe him and think he is lying about it.
My point was and continues to be that I thank the Lord for his message to the EC. I do pray it fell upon Holy Spirit awoken ears and hearts.
As to “speaking truth to power,” who do you think put those people in their positions? It was the people in Southern Baptist pews who put them there.
Those among us who serve in administrative or trustee positions are representative of or accountable to the people in the pews. Therefore, when JD or any other person addresses a board, agency, or institution within the SBC, he is speaking to the power, the power in the pews.
How many SBC members know who the President of the SBC is? How many know the entity heads? The SBC organization is not designed for or wants transparency or real accountability. How will SBC members ever change if they are not aware of their own racism that is in their culture of their society and church? If we do not other tools available to change our society we are risking nothing.. Where is the diversity at the leadership level at the SBC? What lenses are decisions filtered though at the leadership level? Do not worry about the weak KKK., worry about effective change in leadership Stand your ground on CRT as an effective tool for example. Do not make it a scapegoat..
I think we are addressing two different subjects. I am addressing the address of the Convention President to the EC. You seem to be addressing the subject of racism within the SBC.
All I can do is state, I am aware there is racism within the SBC. I have long before it was popular committed to its elimination within the SBC. I also know that JD has taken the same position.
The only answer I have for your first question is that as many Southern Baptist church members know who the president is depends on how well their pastor informs them and how much they get personally involved. It might surprise you that there are many who know who the President of the SBC is.
“Closet racist & neo confederates feel more at home than people of color”. Who was that directed at? Was SBTS with Boyce, Broadus, Manley & the rest still given relevance. What could be more neo confederate? This is not a national monument Washington/Lincoln issue this is a private matter within the SBC, easy call. Do not change history, change our perception it regarding SBC. Vast majority of SBC totally unaware & do not care about CRT. They trust their leadership for years, trust the members with the truth of history. They know the truth of the Gospel.
“Closet racists &neo confederates feel more at home than people of color.” Who was that directed at.”
Well, I think you would have had your answer had you quoted his statement in its entirety.
What he stated is, “We should mourn when closet racists and neo-confederates feel more at home than people of color.”
Obviously the “we” represents Southern Baptists. It seems to me he was directing the statement to we Southern Baptists.
Frankly, I think it is a good statement. Do you think it a good statement?
Do you, Steve Newhouse, think we should mourn when closet racists and neo-confederates feel more at home than people of color in the SBC?
CB, I left out the “we mourn” part to save space. My point was this is the SBC President, a leader, him & other leaders can promote change on the neo Confederate tribute at a leading seminary, which is not even a tough call. I was a Trumper/conservative to the core. I struggle now to now reveal my change in heart as I do not want to cause friction with my church family. SBC members are not closet racist or neo Confederate supporters any more than the general public at large. I reject the notion that closet racist/neo confederates are comfortable or a force in most SBC churches. People need to be made aware of their inherit racism that culture has made seem normal. Dr. Greear is leader of the “we”, start with a symbolic break with the past. Move on from there.
Steve Newhouse, I voted for Donald Trump. I am in no way ashamed to state that fact. I voted for him because the platform he ran on and promoted is more in adherence to a biblical worldview than the platform of the current POTUS. The platform of the current POTUS is that of a neo-pagan. Anyone who denies that is avoiding reality on purpose or they do not understand what constitutes a biblical worldview. It really is that simple.
At the same time, it is impossible to, with a straight face, declare that Trump was or is a godly man. He is not. I do pray for his soul as I do the current POTUS. Neither are in any measure of the concept are godly men.
I do disagree with you based upon simple fact that there are many racists within the SBC. They are in the pews and many are in leadership.
At the same time I will declare that not all Southern Baptists are racists. That’s simply not true. In addition, although there are racists among us, it is also just as true that Southern Baptists have made greater efforts to deal with racism among us than we are credited in culture or even among some within our own ranks.
Yes, there is still work to be done. I do not believe that to make some superficial effort to eradicate or whitewash our history is an answer. I think our only home is for local church leaders to come to grips with the truth of the Great Commission and live as children of God in an alien culture.
CB! To borrow a phrase, that is right as rain!
As one who left the SBC in the 1980’s before getting kicked out, I resent being referred to as one who was poisoning the Gospel. I believe the Good New of Jesus Christ as much as any of the Pharisees who drove out moderates like my husband and I, as former SBC missionaries.
It appears that the Pharisees of the ’80’s are getting a taste of what it feels like to be considered among those who are poisoning the Gospel, as the new Pharisees see things. I understand they are talking about busing in children to the Convention this year, same as was done in 1988. Nothing but brain-washing and mis-using children, as I see it. Such were the tactics more than 30 yrs ago.
“Be sure your sins will find you out.” The primary sin in this case being the annihilation of the “priesthood of believers.”
Fact…JDG affirmed along with the seminary presidents that CRT was incompatible with the BFM. Why did he not address his decision? Throwing out names as “neo-confederacy” is divisive. Using a 156 year old vocabulary one might ask who are the “neo-carpet baggers”?
So here is what I would suggest if you don’t believe what JD said about neo-confederates and people of color in the SBC. Go to 50 Southern Baptist churches in my state, Mississippi, over the next few months. First, count the confederate flag bumper stickers in the parking lot. Then, go inside the church and count the non-white people. Compare those two numbers. You’re not going to see a huge number of either, but I bet the confederate flags would win.
Been to many churches and never seen one confederate flag bumper sticker on cars representing neo-confederacy in parking lots.
I’m glad to hear that. Certainly not my experience, but I’m glad you haven’t. I stand by what I said though.
I guess it depends on personal experiences. I have visited many churches and seen confederate flags and bumper stickers on cars in the parking lot. I have even seen a guy in church wearing a confederate flag bomber jacket.
Once I had to tell a family whose relative was in a coffin in a church I served that they could not drape the coffin with a confederate flag. It got touchy for a couple of moments, to the extent, that when a threat was made toward me, I had no choice but to say, “That will not turn out very well for you and your two brothers here today if you make an effort to lay a hand on me. I am not your normal preacher type.”
That’s a true story and can be easily verified.
Do you believe this family and one individual were representative of the aggregate church membership values?
The message was not pointed at 50 churches in MS but the SBC leadership audience. JDG should be asked for specific evidence he has supporting those allegations.