SBC=>ENCOUNTERS

Dr. Paige Patterson, Muslim in our Midst, and More Controversy by hariette petersen

In my sabbatical from most all things controversial in the SBC, I've happened across a few blogpost titles about Dr. Patterson allowing a Muslim to enroll at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  I had not once considered reading them until yesterday.  Planned on doing that today, but still had not gotten around to it.

I've really tired of the beating and finger-pointing and posturing and simply had no desire to peek into the pages of the latest attack on Paige Patterson.  I've even kinda adopted the same feelings as he shared a few years ago when he was asked to be part of another controversial SBC matter.

When I first read the flying reports about the man I affectionately refer to as Dr. P., I sat back and scratched my head a bit.  However, knowing what little I know about Dr. P., I deeply trusted that he must have an eternal purpose in mind for the situation.  Lord knows the hoary headed old fella is tired of the battles in the convention; he's said so himself when he was dealing with all those young and restless yuppies (my descriptor), wanting to change the name of the convention to Great Commission Baptists/link. (Irony of ironies that the same who wanted to be known as "Great Commission Baptists" now seek to block a non-believer from hearing indepth teaching about the commission itself, isn't it?)

Until reading Peter Lumpkins' post today I didn't know that it be "the man from Enid" who had his knickers in a knot over the situation.  For me, given the source of what Peter describes as "the dumbfounding outrage against Patterson himself for desiring to practice what God knows we all need to practice more—connecting one-on-one evangelistically", I am not surprised there is yet one more attempt to take down the old man in Dallas.  I do wonder if the man north of me enjoys stirring the waters of controversy regarding the honorable Dr. Patterson, though.  I wonder if he has never quite been able to free himself from the chains of ire he has held for Dr. P for nigh onto a decade of my life.

More than the fact that a president of one of our seminaries has dared to allow a professing unbeliever in the midst of we baptized, white-robed and righteous Baptists, it makes me wonder if perhaps doctrine is more an issue with the naysayers than the actual audacity of the white-haired saint in Texas. After all, Dr. P believes we should share the gospel message to all, believing that whosoever believes on the name of Jesus, confesses his sin and turns from his wicked ways will actually receive eternal life provided by the shed blood offering for all who trust in Him.  Jesus.   The cross. The blood. The propitiation. The justification.  The sanctification. And eventually, the glorification.

Is Dr. P's critic more inclined to believe it's already a done deal?  that this Muslim has already been predestined to his lot in life and therefore his presence at our holy of holy seminaries puts both in jeopardy?  That the Word he studies will just come back void, anyway?  Could this Muslim possibly taint the propriety of our seminary's campus? Could he defile the seats upon which he sits in various classrooms?  Could the air he expels in class somehow infect the masses of good men studying how to share the gospel in its wholeness and entirety?  Is SWBTS in jeopardy of being destroyed because we've allowed some "Trojan Horse" into the camp?

I don't think so.  It's no more sinful to allow this unbeliever to study the depths of faith in God than it is to invite a Muslim to our churches to hear the gospel preached and the Bible taught in our Bible studies each week.  I well remember the day I assured a Muslim lady it would be perfectly okay to bring her little Muslim boy to our VBS and equally as proper for her to sit with him in class to help interpret what the teachers were telling him about Jesus each day.  Was I wrong, too?  God knows.

[Another writer weighs in on Paige Patterson's decision to allow Muslim to attend a Christian seminary...HERE]

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When We Are Weary

A SIMPLE GOSPEL by Hariette Petersen

Sometimes I think we complicate the simple.  There are so many writings to interpret, so many doctrines to argue, so many people to engage, so many apologies to present.  Hermeneutics is a very complicated thing-- especially to a person like me.  I find the theological arguments and apologies and interpretations of preachers, professors and doctors and Christian leaders to be confounding.  Often I find them beyond perplexing.  Seems the more people try to explain the obvious, the less obvious it becomes.  The more questions they answer, the more questions are posed and the less answers are given. Don't you agree?

Yesterday, I encountered a circumstance that I felt worth sharing with my readers at SelahV Today.  It's my main blog where I write about all kinds of stuff: devotional, slice of life, and opinions.  Since Tony Kummer switched off my SelahV Today blog from the feed of SBC Voices, it hasn't gotten the views from my Southern Baptist brethren it once garnered from SBC Voices.  And, well, I really do think it is a worthwhile read for my fellow Southern Baptist brothers and sisters-- as well as this blog, SBC Encounters.  Therefore, today...

I thought I'd share one particular post with you here as well as to my devotional, slice-of-life reading audience at SelahV Today.  I think you'll find A Simple Gospel, presented by a six-year-old worth your time to read.  It's short...got pictures and all.  And you know the old saying, a pictures's worth a thousand words-- well, I've posted two.  selahV

Southern Baptists and Invitations

Southern Baptists are well known for the invitations they give to people to accept Christ when a sermon is over.  Some people have ridiculed Billy Graham for his invitations and the "Just As I Am song" at the end of his messages in huge stadiums with thousands of people.  Some new Southern Baptists challenge the idea of altar calls and invitations to receive Christ in worship services.  In fact, some actually say invitations are not Biblical.  Yet, when Peter preached the gospel, thousands were added to the church that day.  It is clear that once a person hears the gospel, they have opportunity to accept the message and be saved.  It doesn't say that "all" who heard the message accepted it, and were added to the church.  It just counted the thousands who were added to the church.

Ever wonder what would have happened to us and the gospel if Peter had chosen to go back to fishing?  If Paul had ignored the voice of God and said, "imprisonment for the gospel is too hard"?  If someone had not shared the gospel with you?  I do.

Sometimes I think about what I do to effect the spread of the gospel.  For well over half my adult life, I've been a Christian.  In that period, I have repeatedly testified to the amazing grace of Christ and His saving power.  The greatest joy in my life was when God allowed me to be a part in the process of the salvation of others.  While I did nothing to save anyone, God used me in sharing who Jesus is, what He did, and what God promises when we believe in His only begotten Son.  As I look back on my life as a Christian, a minister's wife, a mother, and teacher, I cannot help but praise God for the people who were most instrumental in me coming to know Him and his love.

I am extremely grateful for the verse, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28.  You see, it's because someone loved God and invited me to church that I first learned that I was lost and condemned.  I was told that Jesus died to attone for the sin in my life, for the rebellion I had against a Holy God.  It was made clear to me that if I confessed that sin and believed solely on Christ, then He was "faithful and just to cleanse me from all unrighteousness".  After learning this, I did confess.  I was baptized.  I was taught and discipled through Sunday School, preaching, Discipleship Training, Spiritual Growth classes, WMU, and prayer meetings. It is not always easy to grow in Christ.  But in comparison to Christ's sufferings, mine were minimal.  One verse among many that stands out in my mind is 2 Timothy 1:12.

"I know Whom I have believed and persuaded that He is able to keep that which I committed to Him against that day."

From those classes, I began to teach and lead others. And just as I had been invited to church, and then to receive Christ, God worked in me to invite others to church.  He gave me a desire to encourage others in their walk with Christ: God keeps us. He is our refuge and strength.  God is faithful.  God is trustworthy in the most horrendous, tortuous times of our lives.

Had I not first been invited to church, and then loved within that church, I can only imagine where I'd be today.  Believe me; it is not a good scenario to consider. It's amazing what one invitation can do in a person's life.  Perhaps someone you know, is like I was.  Just waiting for the invitation.  Watch the video below to see an illustration.

Puzzling Ideas and Views of ANTI-Traditionalists

I have tried to refrain from commenting on the blogs since the SBC 2012 Convention.  I've even refrained from reading several blogs I use to frequent.  I've all but stopped writing on this blog and others that I maintain.  It seems my spirit wars with my flesh and often my flesh wins the battle.  Which is proof-positive that even after we are saved, and the Lord regenerates us, our will still seeks it's own way as the Apostle Paul so aptly described in Romans 7:15.  An unyielded will grieves the Spirit as we choose our way instead of God's.

Indeed, just the other day as I read the tag-team sparring match between two Anti-Traditionalists disputing Traditionalist, Dr. Braxton Hunter's,* views on a Christian's life and response to the gospel, as "a can of worms", I found myself jumping into the comment stream and posting this:

"These tag-team questions remind me of when the pharisees kept asking Jesus, but, but, but….if a man had 5 wives on earth who are they married to in heaven? geesh. Sometime I think it’s not a can of worms being opened, it’s your brains falling out of your heads. A person has the free will to open the door receive Jesus, and ask Him to come in, and they decide they really want what God is offering–total cleansing from their filth and disobedience and rebellion. So God not only forgives them, He comes inside them and creates an entirely new creature. Then Paul tells them that we battle the flesh and the spirit within the rest of our days until the day of completion. What is so complicated?" selahV

Naughty, naughty me--not a shining moment.  I got so rattled with the persistent goading questions which could never be answered satisfactorily by a Traditonalist, no matter what is written in reply.  So, in my reckless abandon to my own will, I succumbed to the flesh of my past and posted the unseemly "brains" analogy, albeit descriptive, of the thinking patterns of the Anti-Traditionalists in said conversation.  When a Presbyterian reposted my comment and added his admonishment: "Nice. Not.", I first wickedly chuckled.  Then I saw the error of my choice of verbiage and once again, recomitted myself to reading more than writing.

Unfortunately, some of the Anti-Traditionalists have left me wondering if there is anything I could ever say that might pass muster and scrutiny for value, worth, or theological correctness.  While some of the articles in the Traditional Statement and the authors of posts at SBC Today have found agreement with some non-Traditionalists, even those points of agreement are short-lived in the comment streams as Anti-traditionalists begin voicing their disdain upon SBC pastors, SBC theologians, and Seminary professors.

One Anti-Traditionalist posted on his blog that pastors who had signed the Traditional Statement were "forced" or "pressured" to do so.  "Forced."  I know some of those pastors and they were not forced, nor coerced.** When Dr. Tom Ascol is confronted with his assertion and asked for links, he replied:

"I don't know of any links that are available about the pressure that has been applied to some to sign the statement. I was not told this in confidence. I hope those who experienced it will be willing at some point to speak for themselves. If the issue can be depoliticized that is much more likely to happen."  Tom Ascol

Along with Dr. Ascol's alleged assertion, a few statements that have me scratching my head are as follows:

One Anti-traditionalist responds to a question made by a Traditionalist regarding John Calvin's practices "Where was the life changing Gospel, friend?":

(Anti-Traditionalist):  "And that will forever be your problem. The gospel isn’t about “life change,” it’s about Christ dying as a sacrifice for our sins."

To that teensey exchange, I must query the Anti-Trad, "WHAT?  "The gospel isn't about "life change, ["?????] it's about Christ dying as a sacrifice for our sins."

While I agree to the latter portion of that statement, I'm sorry friends, but what in the world is the gospel message if not Christ also dying to save us from our sins, forgive us of our sins, and create a new heart within us, seal us, abide in us, edify us, correct us, convict us, gift us, and indeed, change us from enemies of Christ to ambassadors of Christ, righteous and holy acceptable in His sight?

Is the gospel inanimate? without life or power?  For what purpose is the need for God's only Son to die an excruciating and humiliating death if not to save us and "change" us, so our sins of scarlet will be as white as snow?  If that is not a life change, what is it?

How can dead be made alive without a life-change? If there is no light, no salt where is the gospel in the reborn?  Why must the only sinless man ever to walk upon this earth be made sin wherein he had no sin, bear ALL the sin of mankind if the gospel does nothing to change the life of those for whom He died?

"Come, all ye weary and heavy laden [by law, works, oppression, and duty], take My yoke upon you, and I will give you rest."  Weariness is changed to being comforted.  Unrighteousness changes to righteousness.  Darkness is changed to light. The gospel is power.  Power to save, cleanse, and change sinful man.  It's the power to redeem, to justify, sanctify, and continue to work in man to change him more and more each day.

Just yesterday, one Anti-Traditionalist writes in response to a commenter who questions John Calvin's theology by his practices.  Lydia, a non-calvinist writes:

"Calvin had believers who disagreed with him imprisoned and tortured. And when a professing believer does such things, we should question every word from his pen.”

Patrick says on June 29, 2012 at 1:39 pm:

"While I’m not surprised that such drivel is posited from here, my mind is blown by the complaints raised against Calvin. Particularly given the beliefs of those raising the complaints. Do you not see that it was Luther and Calvin who actually understood the difference between law and gospel….the very thing you’re complaining about? Clearly not." Patrick, a Calvinist

So Lydia responds at June 29, 2012 at 2:07 pm:

"Do you not realize that Luther wrote about how depraved Wittenburg was AFTER the entire episode of the Reformation… all they went through… and Luther lamented the people were actually worse! Where was the life changing Gospel, friend?

You forget that Luther just wanted to “reform” the Catholic church. The Theses are all about the indulgences being sold. Seriously, how could they really understand the difference when they both went along with “compelling” belief even to the point of imprisoning/torturing people…. which you call “drivel”? Do you not see the cognative dissonance in that?"

Then Max, a Traditionalist, defends the life-changing Gospel at 4:38 pm with Scripture:

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Cor 5:17)

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Rom 6:4)

“Put on your new nature, created to be like God–truly righteous and holy.” (Eph 4:24)

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.” (Gal 2:20)

etc."

And now I sit here wondering.  Is there really any comment or any conversation anyone can offer to bridge the divide between Traditionalists and Anti-Traditionalists?  Even when the Trad-Statement agrees in part with teachings of reformed theology, the Trad is accused of making a fuss over nothing.  Shane Dodson, an anti-Traditionalist writes:

"The Gospel isn’t “Jesus loves everyone and died for everyone.”

Please cite book/chapter/verse in which the apostles preached such a Gospel.

The Gospel is that sin has been atoned for by Jesus Christ.

“Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” – 1 Tim 1:15

Christians should preach the Gospel in the manner after the apostles…not denominational tradition."  Shane Dodson (Anti-Traditionalist)

Christians, my readers, friends, brothers and sisters, I believe the Gospel preached by SBC Traditionalists is "in the manner after the apostles".  However, I admit, I do not make my assertions based on my understanding of Calvin, Arminius, Anthropology, the Council of Orange, or the men in Geneva centuries ago.  I have a tough time with semantics and the complication of a simple message from Jesus.  So, I follow Jesus, and abide in Him and trust His words, none other-- which, in the scheme of things, makes my words, and those of others, pale in significance, don't you think?  selahV 

*(Braxton Hunter, PhD, Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics at Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary in Newburgh, Indiana, and former President of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists)

**TO THOSE PASTORS who Tom Ascol alleges felt "pressured or forced to sign" the Traditional Statement on Soteriology:  How awful for you!  I'm sure this could be quickly resolved if you simply contact the site and remove your names from the list.