Yes, I just used the cliched line from Apollo 13. It’s a good cliche: it states the situation without sounding panicked. That’s where we are right now as the Southern Baptist Convention: we have a problem and we need state the situation without panicking but still looking into it.
The problem is this: after we have roasted, toasted, and flamed one another since back in September over a name-change proposal to hopefully break from our past, especially the times we have embarrassingly embraced racism, we just blew that whole plan. All of the hope of moving past that issue originating from our Convention President in Marietta, all of the drive to change that perception of us coming out of the Executive Committee, meeting in Nashville, has been trainwrecked in Washington D.C.
How so?
We, as Southern Baptists, have spoken through our agency that is charged with speaking about ethical and political issues and spoken very badly about the current issue of racism and its relation to the Trayvon Martin case in Florida. Rather than endorsing an effort to see this case properly investigated, rightly adjudicated, and justice to be handled in accordance with the law, we spoke harshly about the racial issues that are lurking behind the shooting, the government response since the shooting, and the public outcry that has followed those two events. We did not speak of the need to find healing and reach a point where the racial identity of either party is not a factor in decision to prosecute or not; rather we decided to lob rhetorical bombs about politics.
This has us in the midst of a problem. I do not know how many of you look at the “Blogroll” above the posts on the main page here at SBCVoices.com, but one filler into that “Blogroll” is the Google Search Results for “Southern Baptist Convention.” Those results show us not what we say about ourselves but what others say about us. For about a day last week, many of those results were about the Lumpkins/Liberty issue. Then they shifted.
The results shifted to show blog posts and editorials about how the Southern Baptist response to Trayvon Martin’s death reveals that we are still just as racist as we were in Augusta in 1845. The editorials were harsh, but the comments sections make anything ever said here look like a playground tussle–we spoke, people listened, and they responded.
What we have done in how we spoke is drive a wedge between people and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s a bigger wedge than our name has ever been, and it’s one that will likely be hard to remove even as we become Great Commission Baptists this June. It’s a bigger wedge than can be easily removed by electing any one person to the Presidency of the SBC.
Now, one could debate exactly which points in our speaking were right and which ones were wrong, but I would bring this to mind. When my father taught me to drive, he frequently said “Son, you can be right. You can be dead right.” His point was this: on the road, it may be your turn or your right-of-way, but if the other car hits you, being right does not change the physics and you can be dead. Even if some of the remarks we have made are right regarding the facts and the politics that have played out since February, I’m afraid we are head for being “dead right.” What’s dead, or at least dying, is our ability to reach the people of this country with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Which has to be more important than standing firm on those statements. The time will come that a court outcome will decide what happens in this case–and that’s another matter. We are supposed to be first and foremost about making disciples of all nations, not driving certain nations away to score political points. Yet that is what we have accomplished, whatever our intention has been.
We need to correct our statements with clear expression not that we are sorry someone was bothered but with clear expression that we should not have said it. We need to realize that what we have said was taken as racially divisive by reasonable people who were not looking to find fault, but it was there anyway. (I recognize that some people would find racism in anything–those fault-finders might be overlooked. However, many of the voices I have seen and heard are not that type of person.) We need to speak clearly, without reservation or double-speak, that we do not agree with judging anyone based on race.
Otherwise, our credibility with God’s Word is at risk. Certainly our credibility on ethics and politics is threatened: despite our protests to the contrary, our objections to certain policies will be pigeon-holed as coming from a group of racists. While the latter is of secondary importance, it is still important. The former, though, is the real reason we exist, is it not?
We need to speak again. Clearly and less divisively.
Some of you, though, will say that “we” didn’t speak, but given our organizational system, “we” did. The head of the Southern Baptist entity that speaks for the Southern Baptist Convention spoke for you. He spoke on your behalf, and his words are speaking for you. That’s the way this works: we elect trustees who select an individual to speak for the whole of the Convention. So, when Richard Land speaks as the ERLC President, he speaks for us.
We want people to listen to us, but right now what we said has not furthered the cause of Christ. Instead, it has added one more salvo in the long-simmering racial tensions in our country. Is that what we want?
It is not what most of us really want, I would not think. I think most of us want this shooting, as with any other loss of human life, investigated, examined, and considered properly in the light of the law. Life is precious: all life from conception to natural death is a gift from God. Any loss of life is to be avoided when possible, any taking of life needs careful accountability. If George Zimmerman was truly at the threat of his life, then he should be released. If Trayvon Martin was truly murdered, his killer should face justice. Yet we cannot solve that question or address its implications on radio shows and blogs: we have an open court system that will address it.
I do not know the right way forward for this. We are so predominantly white in the Southern Baptist Convention that it is far too easy to get exhausted over these issues. We may feel like we should have done enough to put the racist label away, but times like this it is apparent that we have not. What we do each time this wound gets reopened will determine whether the end result is a scar or healing. I’d like to see healing some day.
This is the article that should be used in BP, ABP, The Christian Century, The Tennessean, and The Huffington Post.
Maybe someone will pick it up and give it national exposure.
Anyway, thanks for having the where-with-all to post it. Well done.
Right on. The purpose of the ERLC voice is clearly defined by their website: “Our Mission: To awaken, inform, energize, equip, and mobilize Christians to be the catalysts for the Biblically-based transformation of their families, churches, communities, and the nation.” Clearly Dr. Land has stepped beyond this mission. I am praying for the trustees as they deal with this matter. Here is the letter they offered yesterday: http://erlc.com/article/statement-from-erlc-trustee-executive-committee/
Read Next To Last Paragraph – Third Line Down , ” he Chairman has appointed an ad hoc committee to INVESTIGATE the ALLEGATIONS OF PLAGIARISM —-” The rest they give Land a giant pass for his record .
You are right. It seems that the issue is really much larger than just plagiarism. I hope the committee will consider not only the plagiarism but also the lack of wisdom, insensitivity, and departure from ERLC’s mission. Land’s past record is honorable but doesn’t erase damage that has been done. My hope is that the SBC (specifically ERLC) family will deal with this promptly through the accountability that is in place and if not it must go to the broader convention family. I do not pretend to know all there is to know on the issue but I trust our brothers and sisters in the Lord to do what is best.
“We therefore disclaim and repudiate any suggestion that Dr. Land, the ERLC, or the Southern Baptist Convention harbors racism in any form” (Statement from ERLC trustee Executive Committee).
Seriously? I believe that this statement will fare even worse than Dr. Land’s non-apology.
John Wallace – I agree . This is “lip service” typical of the way they pass off problems with statements and resolutions and think the statements are cure-alls .
John Wallace and Jack Wolford,
This is not a “lip service” statement. The very fact that this statement was issued means Richard Land is in serious jeopardy at this moment with the BoT of the ERLC.
cb scott – That’s your opinion . The statement means only what it says . Do you have proof otherwise with your “connections” ? Othgerwise the statement stands on its own without an interpreter such as yourself.
In other words, we need to pick our battles wisely. To this I agree wholeheartedly. In picking our battles wisely, when we fight, we need to fight to build up rather than tear down. I also agree wholeheartedly.
Good article, Doug.
To illustrate, I don’t agree that we are no less racist than we were in 1845. However, that depends on what method you use to quantify racism. When people approach racism defensively rather than graciously it doesn’t matter how we want to count our sins. White folks started it way back when, but it’s perpetuated by anyone who doesn’t seek others’ best good before their own:
“You’re racist because you don’t give me the opportunity I need.”
“You’re racist because you have to make me uncomfortable by talking about race all the time. I stopped being a racist a long time ago so you should shut up about it.”
“You’re racist because you are self-absorbed. I’ll show you by outperforming you and putting you in your place.”
“You’re racist because you are greedy. You need to give some of your money to me.”
“You’re racist because you won’t let me have what I rightfully earned. You can be rich too when you can be good like me and learn to earn and manage your money well instead of trying to take my money.”
“You’re racist because you think you’re better than everyone else. Well, I’m better than you are because I can make this observation.”
Let’s try something new: let’s try out-serving each other.
“I see you have a need that I can meet. Don’t worry about re-paying me with anything, just let me share with you the gifts that God has provided to me for this purpose.”
“Thank you for your gift. I didn’t expect it and didn’t even ask for it. It was truly a blessing from God and I thank Him for you.”
What do we have to lose? Distrust. What do we have to gain? Unity in Christ.
By definition – ad hoc is a business term applied to question ONE item. In this case it’s “plagarism” – the rest Land gets a giant pass on .
To the assumption that this will hurt our witness to our nation, I think that a reminder is in order. Our nation is not going to won to Christ by what happens or Washington or what appears in the media. As Followers of Christ we have been given the individual mandate to “Go into all the world and make disciples”. If as individuals believers we are doing this and not living a life of contrary to The Word of God, we will have a better chance of winning or neighbors, our country and our world with the Gospel. Certainly it is okay to be upset with our Southern Baptist Leaders when speak without thinking. However, if that is all we do the enemy has won. I would encourage my brothers and sisters to focus on the task at hand.
If it was impossible to hurt our witness with our actions, the Bible wouldn’t often warn us not to hurt our witness with our actions. Instead, the Bible tells us to put our witness first, even if it means renouncing our “rights” and suffering things that we don’t deserve.
“I would encourage my brothers and sisters to focus on the task at hand.”
Ummm … like Land should have been?
[10:1] “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. [2] But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. [3] To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. [4] When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. [5] A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
…
[27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
(John 101-5, 27 ESV)
I take solace in that promise every day. I have to. His sheep must hear His voice in my words or they will go find Him. But, even when I am wrong, even when I am not the shepherd I must be, and even in light of this…
[24] For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
(Romans 2:24 ESV)
…His sheep (whether they are in the pen or not) will seek Him out and find Him because they are His.
Shame on us (non-Baptists included) when we are the reason people blaspheme the name of God. But even through that, His sheep hear His voice, they will flee from strangers. It will certainly cause those who are not His sheep to follow a different master – but they simply see this as another in a long string of excuses. Yet I am confident that this latest controversy can not cause even one sheep to be forever lost. Oh, it may be cause for some sheep to wander a while in the wilderness, but that may well be for their and our own good – for us both to have an opportunity once again to be realize our salvation in Christ, not Congress.
I’m not trying to make light of this – it is serious, and we should ALWAYS call Christians to account for things like this. That said however, people don’t need this current controversy to cast aspersions on Christianity. People have always and forever will hate God, and the world will use ANYTHING at it’s disposal to prove that. Things like this serve to arm the enemy, and we should never seek to do that!
But we can thank God that the enemy will never possess the only weapon who matters.
[54] When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
[55] “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
[56] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:54-57 ESV)
[4] For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. [5] Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
(1 John 5:4-5 ESV)
Last year, I wrote a post here and quoted Shakespeare in saying that a rose by any other name is still a rose.
A denomination (yes, I said it) by any other name is still the SBC because we need a heart change.
I don’t think that Richard Land is necessarily a racist. I don’t think that most Southern Baptists are racists either. But, I do think that our problem goes much deeper. It is why we see the Trayvon Martin case the way we do, why we don’t give or sacrifice or live as salt and light. It is why we started the SBC in the first place in 1845 and it is why we endorsed the Civil War, Segregation, and many other divisions in our nation. What we care most about is us and our way of life and protecting our way of life to the bitter end. We get angry when we see Sharpton and Jackson and others when things like this happen. It doesn’t make sense to get angry because they have no power over us. But, we get angry because they are a perceived threat to our position.
In my opinion, Land did not react out of racism. He reacted out of wanting to defend his own political position, power, and way of life in America. Until we realize that having a nice lifestyle is the motivating factor for most Southern Baptists, we will keep doing things like this, just in different ways.
A name change won’t change that. Again, we need a heart change so we can take up our cross, die daily, and love sacrificially without trying to protect ourselves constantly. It will always be “us vs. them” in that case.
“””In my opinion, Land did not react out of racism. He reacted out of wanting to defend his own political position, power, and way of life in America.””
Am I to assume you spoke with Dr. Land about his motives. I do not think it shows any kind of grace I’m familiar with to attribute knowledge of another’s motives, unless that person has made such clear.
Also, I don’t think it is particularly charitable to defend a person against one awful motive by substituting another awful motive.
I think it is quite possible Dr. Land simply made a mistake. We certainly have a right to judge his statements for what they are, and many are doing just that.
But, I don’t see how one can attribute any particular motive unless one has spoken directly with Dr. Land.
These types of issues seem to bring out the broad brushes of bloggers who seem to have identified precisely the problem in the heart of Southern Baptists.
I don’t like it when SBC leaders speak for Southern Baptists in broad brush terms, and I don’t like it when bloggers do it.
“””Until we realize that having a nice lifestyle is the motivating factor for most Southern Baptists, we will keep doing things like this, just in different ways. “””
I do not know how one could possibly have surveyed “most Southern Baptists” to lay such a charge at their feet. My experience is exactly the opposite. Nearly every Southern Baptist I know is either: 1) poor to modest in lifestyle; 3) worked very hard to get where they are and are very, very generous with what God has blessed them with.
In fact, it has taken me almost 36 years in ministry before I ever received a livable wage. I will readily admit I have a “nice” lifestyle now; but, if you would have asked me 30 years ago when I didn’t have two dimes in my pocket, I would have said the same thing.