A Letter to Young ABC Pastors
Our mutual appreciation, respect, and Christian love for one another notwithstanding, what needs to be said about ABCUSA needs to be said.
Will the 59% majority of delegates who lost the vote in North Shore Association (NJ) to censure a church that had gone Welcoming & Affirming keep other association churches from becoming W&A? No. The practical reality is because of that vote North Shore is a Welcoming & Affirming Association.
Will the “smooth things over” amendment adopted the day after the Minister’s Council rejected biblical teaching dissuade any area from selecting a Senator whose lifestyle violates the plain interpretation of New Testament teaching? No. This amendment appears to be a standard political ploy to calm criticism of the Minister’s Council. “Well, after all, we did do something.”
Will the General Secretary’s words at the Denver Biennial (‘05) serve to call Welcoming & Affirming churches to repentance concerning their rejection of the teaching of the New Testament? No.
Will the vote of ABC West Virginia delegates to remain in ABCUSA have an impact on ABCUSA that will cause it to forthrightly expect ABC churches to follow the unembellished teaching of the New Testament re: non-natural sexual behavior? No. It is more likely to embolden those who endorse such sin to believe that Bible believing churches will stick around, and send money, no matter how far off course the denomination goes.
If denominational leadership wishes to endorse the sin that has so disrupted our ABC, so be it, but let’s at least see them honorably admit it. They can’t have it both ways. “Oh, we’re not denying the Bible, both beliefs are legitimate even though diametrically opposed. Can’t we just act as if what the Bible literally says doesn’t matter? After all we’re just reinterpreting it for our modern times because the unembellished interpretation is so outside the box when compared to up to date thinking.”
Sorrowfully, the actions of North Shore Association, the Minister’s Council, the Office of the General Secretary, and the delegates to the West Virginia Baptist Convention seem to speak far louder than the “simple” majority of American Baptists nationwide who want all our churches to be obedient to God’s Word.
My young friends, you, and young pastors like yourself, can turn the tide, but you have to step up and speak up, and, if necessary, get up (and leave). I would urge you, at the very least, to leave the Minister’s Council as an unambiguous statement of your belief in biblical integrity.
Don’t miss your opportunity to try to reform our denomination. If you do, I think you’ll regret it down the road. Let me repeat, it’s that important. Don’t miss your opportunity to try to reform our denomination. If you do, I think you’ll regret it down the road.
Blessings in Jesus, your friend,
Dr. K
Will the 59% majority of delegates who lost the vote in North Shore Association (NJ) to censure a church that had gone Welcoming & Affirming keep other association churches from becoming W&A? No. The practical reality is because of that vote North Shore is a Welcoming & Affirming Association.
Will the “smooth things over” amendment adopted the day after the Minister’s Council rejected biblical teaching dissuade any area from selecting a Senator whose lifestyle violates the plain interpretation of New Testament teaching? No. This amendment appears to be a standard political ploy to calm criticism of the Minister’s Council. “Well, after all, we did do something.”
Will the General Secretary’s words at the Denver Biennial (‘05) serve to call Welcoming & Affirming churches to repentance concerning their rejection of the teaching of the New Testament? No.
Will the vote of ABC West Virginia delegates to remain in ABCUSA have an impact on ABCUSA that will cause it to forthrightly expect ABC churches to follow the unembellished teaching of the New Testament re: non-natural sexual behavior? No. It is more likely to embolden those who endorse such sin to believe that Bible believing churches will stick around, and send money, no matter how far off course the denomination goes.
If denominational leadership wishes to endorse the sin that has so disrupted our ABC, so be it, but let’s at least see them honorably admit it. They can’t have it both ways. “Oh, we’re not denying the Bible, both beliefs are legitimate even though diametrically opposed. Can’t we just act as if what the Bible literally says doesn’t matter? After all we’re just reinterpreting it for our modern times because the unembellished interpretation is so outside the box when compared to up to date thinking.”
Sorrowfully, the actions of North Shore Association, the Minister’s Council, the Office of the General Secretary, and the delegates to the West Virginia Baptist Convention seem to speak far louder than the “simple” majority of American Baptists nationwide who want all our churches to be obedient to God’s Word.
My young friends, you, and young pastors like yourself, can turn the tide, but you have to step up and speak up, and, if necessary, get up (and leave). I would urge you, at the very least, to leave the Minister’s Council as an unambiguous statement of your belief in biblical integrity.
Don’t miss your opportunity to try to reform our denomination. If you do, I think you’ll regret it down the road. Let me repeat, it’s that important. Don’t miss your opportunity to try to reform our denomination. If you do, I think you’ll regret it down the road.
Blessings in Jesus, your friend,
Dr. K
posted by St. Louis K at 1:18 PM
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