Religious Journey

Our religious journeys are scary and inspiring, exciting and nerve racking.
For me, over half a century in the ministry has been all that and more.
The pages on this site grew out of my journey.
I hope they will be meaningful to you.
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The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn
that grows brighter and brighter until full day.
(Proverbs 4:18 ESV)



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Confessions of a Minister                         Baptists

Devotions for Caregivers                          Biographical Sketch

100 Devotions for New Christians                     Intentional Interim Ministry

Ephesians: The Mystery of His Will                    Tobacco Farming in the 1950s

The First Hundred Days                          Traditional Interim Ministry

Gray Matters: 100 Devotions for the Aging                  Women in Ministry

Interfaith Meditations

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Roberts' Basics for Baptists

So Much to be Thankful For                      Catalog of Materials






Baptists in the Early 21st Century



Any of several reasons may bring an individual to consider the basics of Baptist beliefs. This web page attempts to introduce those beliefs. The topic is huge and complex, and this is only an abbreviated overview.

Introduction: Getting Oriented to This Discussion
A.           The Baptist Faith and Message: Differences in 1963 and 2000
B.           Baptist Terms
C.           Baptist Organizations
D.           What's the Big Deal?

Going Forward


Introduction: Getting Oriented to This Discussion


The opinions that follow are just that: opinions. These are the views and conclusions of one man, no more, no less. These thoughts are offered as a testimony, to be received according to the reader's discretion. Every individual is wise to do her/his own research, form independent conclusions, and share with others in Christlikeness.


This web page is about current and former Southern Baptists. It is not about independent Baptists, American Convention Baptists, or Baptists of any other group.


Disagreement is a regrettable fact of life, and that fact is no less true in religion. All major denominations have experienced upheaval in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Therefore, any realistic understanding of Baptist life today must comprehend the identities of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) and the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), and the relationship between these two groups.


Comparing the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message statement with that of 2000 provides the most obvious and verifiable evidence about this relationship. (See section A.)

Realistic understanding also must include some reasonable familiarity with Baptist terms (section B) and Baptist organizations (section C).


Each person must choose, either consciously or by default, about issues at stake. These issues are identified in "What's the Big Deal?" (section D).


The SBC is a nationwide Baptist convention. In the 1980s those who consider themselves conservatives took over the SBC. Those who felt disenfranchised founded the CBF, which is a missions sending organization. CBF is not a denomination.




A.  The Baptist Faith and Message: Differences in 1963 and 2000


These two web pages contain the exact content of the 1963 statement and the 2000 statement, respectively:   http://www.midwaybc.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/baptist-faith-message-1963.pdf   and   http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/bfm2000.asp     

The 1963 statement reflects SBC Baptist beliefs prior to the 1980s. The 2000 statement reflects the views of the new SBC leadership since the 1980s. The driving force behind the new leadership is the desire to exercise control from the top down. The best example is the following item number one.

 

1    The Proposal   ' 63 was crafted by all the state Baptist presidents, each chosen by the Baptists in their own state: representation from the bottom up. 2000 was crafted by a committee handpicked by the president: central authority from the top down.
 

2    Accountability   2000 introduced doctrinal accountability for the first time: Baptists . . . have adopted confessions of faith as a witness to the world, and as instruments of doctrinal accountability. We read also about accountability to each other. '63 makes no such reference to accountability to humans.
 

3    Soul Competency   Baptists have believed that each person should interpret the Bible as led by the Lord. '63 says the criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ. 2000 omits that. This omission, coupled with the doctrinal accountability language, effectively abandons soul competency.
 

4    Freedom of Religion   '63 opening remarks claim that our faith is rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ. 2000 says that our faith is established upon eternal truths. Those eternal truths are defined now by the folks at the top, avoiding again the centrality of Christ.
 

5    Priesthood of the Believer   This belief is twin to our belief in soul competency. Every believer is a priest, relating directly to God for himself and for others, and relating directly to others for God. This belief also gets lip service in 2000, but is effectively abandoned.
 

6    Local Church Autonomy   Traditionally, Baptists have left many issues to local congregations to decide, as is reflected in '63. 2000 addresses pastors' gender, women's submission, and abortion. In each case 2000 prescribes belief rather than leaving those issues to the local congregation. Local church autonomy and voluntary cooperation therefore have been displaced by centralized authority.
 

7    The Bible   The most profound and theologically indefensible change substitutes the Bible for Jesus. '63 says that the Bible is the record of God's revelation (the revelation itself being Jesus Christ). 2000 says that the Bible itself is God's revelation. This is unthinkable.
 

8    Pastor Gender   2000 limits the pastorate to men. . . . the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. '63 leaves that to the local church. Also, many SBC pastors are denying women leadership over men in other capacities such as teaching and the deaconship. 
 

9    Women's Submission to Hubbies   '63 left churches free to interpret submit to each other (Eph 5:21), in Christ there is no male or female (Gal 3:28), and wives submit to your husbands (Eph 5:22). 2000 makes one text authoritative over other texts.
 

10    Authoritarianism   2000 is about worldly control: denominational, pastoral, husbands, and men. '63 has the more biblical view. At issue is not who submits to who. It's about the audacity whereby some dare make others' decisions for them.
 

11    Creed   '63 says . . . statements have never been regarded as complete, infallible statements of faith, nor as official creeds carrying mandatory authority. 2000 does not disavow creedal authority, but missionaries have to sign it. It is therefore a creed, carrying mandatory authority.
 

12    Witness Tone   '63 evidences an humble, gentlemanly tone. 2000 is unabashedly arrogant: Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. It's one thing to hold that belief; it's another thing to state it so rudely in a document that surely has found its way into the hands of those we seek to win to Christ.


B.  Baptist Terms

 

1.    Conservatives   The name one group prefers to be known as. They most often make much of the words inerrant, and infallible to describe the Bible. They will say that SBC schools, seminaries, and Baptist leaders in the 1960's and 70's became increasingly liberal and unfaithful to the Bible. Conservatives seized control of the SBC in the eighties and early nineties primarily by focusing their efforts on electing one of their own as SBC president. The president has enormous powers of appointment to committees and boards, and the conservatives calculated that they would need one of their people in the presidency for seven consecutive years to gain complete control. They were right. Conservatives are more likely to be exclusive rather than inclusive.
 

2.    Moderates   The name preferred by those who prefer the SBC as it was prior to 1980; they resist the new attitude and spirit in SBC leadership. They most often call attention to the pharisaical exclusiveness among conservative leaders. Moderates are more likely to be inclusive rather than exclusive, and make much of soul competence.
 

3.    fellowship!   The CBF news letter printed six times a year. www.cbf.net.fellowship
 

4.    The Biblical Recorder.   The North Carolina state Baptist newspaper, published 40 times each year. It was one of the last state Baptist papers to come under the control of denominational leaders. www.brnow.org
 

5.    Cooperative Program .   The unified giving and budgeting process that has been hugely successful for Southern Baptists since the 1920's. Individual churches' cooperative program gifts are sent to Raleigh (Cary). From there, gifts are disbursed, according to the current budget formula, to all the ministries of the state and national conventions.
 

6.    Lifeway Store.   Used to be The Baptist Bookstore. The Baptist Sunday School Board is now Lifeway Christian Resources. https://www.lifeway.com/
 

7    "CBF Seminaries"   CBF has no seminaries; the SBC owns and controls six seminaries. Ministerial students with strong CBF convictions prefer seminaries beyond the SBC. Among those are: Campbell University Divinity School, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Mercer University's Macafee School of Theology, Wake Forest University Divinity School, Truett Seminary (Waco, Texas), Gardner Webb School of Divinity, Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, several associated with the American Baptist Convention, and others such as Duke University Divinity School, which are associated with other denominations.
 

8.    Colleges and Universities   Baptist groups own and operate very few colleges and universities. Varying numbers of Baptist schools in various states have different types of connections with the state conventions. Most schools' boards are self perpetuating and are therefore beyond the control of state Baptist conventions. In North Carolina we have Campbell University, Chowan College, Gardner-Webb University, Mars Hill College, Wingate University, Meredith College, and Wake Forest University.
 

9.    SBC Seminaries   The SBC owns and operates six seminaries in the country. Their leadership in every case has been brought into line with the conservatives in recent years. Many presidents and other leaders were fired. Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Southeastern BTS, Southern BTS, Southwestern BTS, Midwestern BTS, New Orleans BTS.
 

10.    Creeds and Statements of Faith   A creed is a statement that is used to enforce doctrinal accountability. A statement of faith is a statement set forth as a witness and a testimony. From our beginnings in 1845, Baptists were strong and sensitive about wanting no part of centralized authority. For 80 years we wouldn't even approve a statement of faith. The first came in 1925, was revised in 1963, and again in 2000. The 2000 statement proclaims itself to be an instrument of doctrinal accountability.
 

11.    The Baptist Faith and Message   A statement of faith drawn up by the SBC in 1925 and revised in 1963 and 2000. Herschel Hobbs, a well-known Baptist leader, wrote a book by the same title, explaining the 1963 statement. His book still is the closest thing we have to an explanation of what Baptists have believed until recent years. The new SBC leadership supports the 2000 statement.
 

12.    "Messengers"   The name we give to the individuals that a church sends to annual meetings of the local association, the state convention, and the SBC. We do not send delegates who are instructed to vote a certain way. Rather we send individuals to vote their consciences. The association does not send messengers to the BSCNC or to the SBC. The BSCNC does not send messengers to the SBC. This procedure is a strength, and it is a weakness.
 

13.    Nurturing Faith   A national magazine about Baptist news, run by moderates. Its name used to be Baptists Today    https://dev.nurturingfaith.net/current-issue/


C.   Baptist Organizations

 

1.    CBF   Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. A nationwide missions sending organization of Southern Baptist moderates. CBF has a newsletter, fellowship! (see Baptist terms # 3) CBF is not a denomination. www.cbf.net
 

2.    CBFNC   Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina. The North Carolina statewide CBF organization. www.cbfnc.org
 

3.    SBC   The nationwide organization of Southern Baptists. It was taken over in the 1980's by the conservatives. www.sbc.net
 

4.    BSCNC   Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. The statewide organization of Southern Baptists. For a decade North Carolina was thought of as one of the states in which there were the strongest efforts to share leadership between moderates and conservatives. That may be less true now. www.bscnc.org
 

5.    CFNBC   Cape Fear Network of Baptist Churches. In 2017 the Wilmington Baptist Association name was changed to this. www.cbfnc.org
 

6.    Mainstream Baptists   An organization of moderate Baptists with the goal of promoting traditional mainstream Baptist beliefs that had held sway until around 1990. http://www.mainstreambaptists.org/mbn1/baptist.htm
 

7.    Baptists Committed   Groups modeled after Texas Baptists Committed. In Texas it was a political organization established to maintain control of the Texas Baptist State Convention and to prevent a takeover like that in the SBC and in many states. Baptists in a few other states have similar organizations. www.txbc.org
 

8.    BWA   Baptist World Alliance. This world-wide organization of many different Baptist groups in many countries was in place before the SBC controversy exploded in the late seventies. It was larger than our controversies until recently. When the CBF applied for membership in the BWA, the SBC withdrew from the BWA. www.bwanet.org
 

9.    The Alliance of Baptists   One of the first moderate groups to organize in the late 70's and early 80's. It has not become a major factor and does not have a large membership. www.allianceofbaptists.org
 

10.    WMU   Women's Missionary Union: the nationwide Baptist women's organization to teach and support missions. WMU refuses to side either with moderates or conservatives. Around 1990, SBC leadership tried to bring the WMU under their control, saying it should be hard wired to SBC leadership. The effort failed with the result that SBC leadership does not support/promote WMU as it once did. Alternative women's groups are being encouraged. www.wmu.com
 

11.    Global Missions   The name for CBF missions.
 

12.    NAMB   North American Mission Board. Used to be our SBC Home Mission Board, promoting missions in our country. www.namb.net
 

13.    IMB   International Mission Board. Used to be our Foreign Mission Board, promoting missions outside the United States. https://www.imb.org
 

14.    BGCT   Baptist General Convention of Texas. The older established Baptist state convention in Texas. This group has soundly rebuffed the new SBC leadership. If and when a new nationwide Baptist convention is ever formed, the BGCT no doubt will figure prominently in it. www.texasbaptists.org
 

15.    Smyth and Helwys   A publishing house in Macon, Georgia. It was established in 1991 by moderate Baptists, and is named after two key figures, John Smyth and Thomas Helwys, heroes of religious freedom four centuries ago. Smyth and Helwys publishes Christian curriculum, books, and digital resources. www.helwys.com
 

16.    Affiliation   Affiliation is a floating term, impossible to define precisely. Some churches are 100% CBF with no SBC affiliation; others vice versa. Many CBF churches still interact in some way with SBC associations, and state and national conventions.


D.  What's the Big Deal?


What are the issues?
 

1.    The Centrality of Christ   We believe the basic Christian confession since New Testament times has been "Christ is Lord." We treat as brothers and sisters in the Lord all who make this confession. But some now put the Bible above Christ; rather, they put their interpretations of the Bible above Christ.
 

2.    The Bible   We believe it best to speak of the Bible in biblical terms, like "inspired," "eternal," "trustworthy," "true," "alive," "light," "delight," "witness," and "treasure." But some stress the non-biblical word "inerrant." They also stress the word "infallible," which is used only once in the Bible, and then it is used about Jesus' resurrection. In some congregations, it is not necessary to stress these non-biblical words in order to be Baptist.

 

3.    Individual Soul Competence   We believe that Christ treats every individual as both responsible and competent in matters of religion. Therefore we seek to witness, educate, and lead others to establish their own personal relationship with the Lord. But some religious leaders want to assume the authority to tell us what we must believe. Therefore they cannot treat individuals as responsible and competent in matters of religion.
 

4.    Democratic Church Processes   We believe church decisions should be made democratically. But many pastors and religious leaders want churches to have a stronger central authority structure with less power vested in the church members.
 

5.    Pastoral Authority   We believe pastors should learn the skill of leading groups to make group decisions. Some want pastors to make the decisions; others are okay with pastors maneuvering groups to approve the decisions the pastor wants, and then calling that a group decision.
 

6.    Education   We believe that students can grow up and become their own persons only if they are allowed and encouraged to search, question, and reach their own conclusions freely; that's called "education." But some religious educators want to tell students what conclusions they must reach; that's called "indoctrination."
 

7    Missions   We believe that our missionaries should win others to the basic Christian confession, "Christ is Lord," and then encourage them to develop their own programs and worship styles appropriate to their cultures. But some missionary leaders want firmer control over developing churches and religious groups that our missionaries start.
 

8    Separation of church and state   This has been an important belief among Baptists and Baptist forefathers for several hundred years, but strangely, it is under attack today.
 

9    Strength in diversity   We believe that God created us different, and that a wide range of diversity in the fellowship of Christians is a good thing. But today we see emerging church leaders who fear diversity, and try to suppress it.
 

10    A free press   We believe that the religious press should be free, just like the free secular press. But some religious leaders have had success in exercising their authority over the religious press.

 

11    Women   We believe that if God calls a woman into ministry, no one has authority to deny that call. But some refuse to recognize women deacons or ministers.
 

12    Statements of Faith   We believe it appropriate for any group of Baptists to set forth a statement of their faith as a witness. But some church leaders are setting forth their views as official and authoritative, insisting that they are right and that those who disagree don't believe the Bible.
 

13    Cooperation   We believe that a spirit of cooperation and kinship should prevail among all Christian brothers and sisters. But some recent Baptist leadership is uncooperative toward any who disagree with them.   

 

14.   Liberal/Conservitive   Either or both may be godly. Jesus' opponents called him every first-century equivalent of "liberal" when he allowed his disciples to pull grain on the Sabbath (Mat 12), and associated with sinners (Mar 2). His disciples called him every synonym for "conservative" when he insisted that the Jewish law must be fulfilled (Mat 5:18). He just wanted to obey God, and it didn't matter what people called him.

We do not relish controversy. We do believe, however, that we must understand current issues and define our beliefs clearly from time to time.


Going Forward


These matters will impact us most directly in the future in numerous situations. Some examples are:  

1. when we are on pastor search teams;  

2. when a relative or friend is choosing a church home;  

3. as we choose Bible study literature; and  

4. as we decide whether to teach or remain apathetic about soul competency, etc.
 

In any event, we will be affected, either directly or indirectly, by the authoritarian role of pastors that is now being taught in SBC seminaries. At times it's obvious; at times it's more subtle.
 

Also in any event, someone needs to be modeling and calling out peacemakers, individuals who articulate our beliefs courteously and respectfully toward other beliefs. It's legitimate to consider them different; it's sinful to label as wrong any who disagree with us.
 

Finally, there is a question that will be answered in coming years and decades: what need will we have in the future for those benefits that SBC associations and conventions provided in the past, such as fellowship, counsel, and ministries larger than those that individual congregations could carry out by themselves?
 

Edwin Ray Frazier, August, 2015




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