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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
Going Forward
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.
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:
3
Soul Competency
Baptists have believed that each person should interpret the Bible
as led by the Lord. '63 says
4
Freedom of Religion
'63 opening remarks claim that our
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
8
Pastor Gender
2000 limits the pastorate to men.
9
Women's Submission to Hubbies
'63 left churches free to interpret
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
12
Witness Tone
'63 evidences an humble, gentlemanly tone. 2000 is
unabashedly arrogant:
1.
Conservatives
The name one group prefers to be known as. They most often make much of the words
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
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
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
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/
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
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.
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
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.
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
Baptists in the Early 21st Century
A.
The Baptist Faith and Message: Differences in 1963 and 2000
B.
Baptist Terms
C.
Baptist Organizations
D.
What's the Big Deal?
Introduction:
Getting Oriented to This Discussion
A.
The Baptist Faith and Message: Differences in 1963 and 2000
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.
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.
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.
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.
. . . 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.
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.
. . . 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.
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
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.
Lifeway Christian Resources.
https://www.lifeway.com/
instrument of doctrinal accountability.
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.
C.
Baptist Organizations
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
D.
What's the Big Deal?
group
decision.
Going Forward
Several books previewed on this website are available on line;
Or you may send the purchase price plus $4.00 shipping and handling to:
Edwin Ray Frazier, 4202 Appleton Way, Wilmington, NC 28412
Questions? email: edrafr9@gmail.com phone: 910-232-1258
Thank you.