The flagship blog of SBC Traditionalists, SBC Today, announced a few days ago that “for the forseeable future” they would take a “hiatus.” I guess that means they gave up the ghost, although with one short post since the announcement a light pulse is felt. May it be hereby noted that this was done on the eve of Reformation Day. Someone ought point that out and I’m happy to oblige.
The news was noted in no less than Baptist News Global where Bob Allen had an informative article. At least one additional popular site for Baptists made note, also.
Frankly, I hated to see it partly because of nostalgia, SBCT has been around for a long time in blog-years. Also, I can think of several reasons that another reinvention or reiteration of the blog would be good for us all.
- I hate to see a good brand wasted, and SBCT was a good brand. Folks knew about it and some in the last few years would even admit to reading it. I followed it closely.
- I’d hate to see the field left open to the Calvinists. If my reformed brethren and sistren have demonstrated anything it is that they need some checks, the Holy Spirit not getting through on a few occasions.
- There are some issues that need public airing in the SBC and even SBCV might not touch some of them.
- There’s the Traditional Statement, somebody ought to do something with it rather than just let it sit to collect another online signature or two. Only 18 months ago, there was a call by Trads to amend the Baptist Faith and Message. No one else had the boldness to even tiptoe up to that even though there are areas where the BFM is outdated.
- There should be at least some degree of examination of all the social justice language in the SBC without doing so with your hair on fire. Unfortunately, the old SBCT was too infused with “woke,” “SJW,” and tinfoil hat stuff in this area. The SBC of 2018 is sounding like the old CBF of 1998. Maybe this could be sensibly analyzed.
- The blog was a source of concrete ideas worthy of serious consideration. Rick Patrick had ideas on the Cooperative Program. I disagreed with most of them but they were legitimate ideas. No one else was sticking their neck out on this and someone needs to put some ideas on the table unless we just want to watch the slow decline continue.
- The blog had articles that sometimes made me mad. Not a bad thing to have around, actually, not that my state-of-mind means anything to anyone other than my wonderful wife and aloof cat.
It shouldn’t be too difficult for someone to crank this up again, unless the age of blogs is past and we can all talk about what our favorite Halloween candy is on Twitter.
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I was emailed and told to “leave us alone.” Bro, no one gives me orders, not even my wife. She only makes suggestions, all of which I accept with alacrity.
[But take this in good humor]
