I do not say this lightly.
Shots have been fired… not the first ones…
over the past 40 years, shots have been fired from time to time to test the water in the Southern Baptist Convention. Are Southern Baptists ready for warfare?
I do believe there has been a season of grace given to the Southern Baptist Convention. Where nearly every denomination in the western world has been overcome by attempts to weaken the church, by the grace of God, Southern Baptists have been able to fight off the liberal attack against the inerrancy of Scripture. One that was was real warfare. The issue that is currently upon the SBC, is for the sufficiency of Scripture.
For the past 3 – 5 years there have been rumblings about the growing practice of ordaining women pastors in SBC churches. Two years ago a battleship entered the waters with Beth Moore as the captain.
Even though Beth Moore recently announced that she would no longer participate as an SBC, she really has done much to beat a war drumb to motivate an entire fleet to war. The battle has really heated up.
This past weekend, Saddleback Church, arguably one of the most influential churches pastored by one of the most popular pastors in the past 30 years, Rick Warren, ordained 3 women pastors.
I have long held Rick Warren and Saddleback church with caution. Even though I’ve read books by Rick Warren there has been reason to have a high-level caution about anything coming from him. I have tried to give grace that I would want.
I can no longer be so timid. I must publicly enter the field with my battle boots on. I’ve told my fellow elders at Eastside for several years now that this issue will likely be the issue that will eventually split the SBC.
Not every issue is a hill to die on, but this issue is.
This is both an issue of the inerrancy of Scripture and the sufficiency of Scripture. For decades now, what happens at Saddleback happens at neck-break speed in many places.
I’m sure this will divide friends, state conventions, associations, and fellowships. The benefit will be clarity. There is nowhere to hide on this issue now.
the Baptist Faith and Message – 2000
“While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”
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