If You Blog It's Best To Have a Response Plan
A few months ago Business Week published an article entitled "How Do Companies Respond to Blog Attacks?" Writer Stephen Baker predicted:The question of how to respond to blogs is going to be so vital, I believe, that it will give birth to an entire new branch of corporate consulting. These blog consultants, increasingly, will be battling with the entrenched public relations departments for control over the corporate message.
Southern Baptist bloggers do not have a public relations department, nor do we have paid consultants to help us respond to blog attacks, but after over two and a half years, 700 posts, thousands of comments, and a proliferation of Southern Baptist blogs which use me as their subject matter, I've learned a little about what it feels like to come under 'attack' by blog writers. I am fully aware that some feel they also come under 'attack' by me. I seek to write about issues and not people (the Baptist Identity movement, Southern Baptist Fundamentalism, etc . . . ), but I realize it is sometimes hard to separate issues from people, and my writings can give the impression I am attacking people. In my heart, I'm not, but I understand how others can feel that way about what I write. Nevertheless, I do have a little experience in receiving what seems to be , or at least feels like, personal attacks. For example, a blogger friend of mine sent to me the following comments which were written about me yesterday by five different people.
"I felt as if I was going to be sick (reading what Wade Burleson writes)! Garbage is spewing and the guilty one is once again denying any and all truth concerning the post that produces the garbage . . Wade Burleson is indeed sickening and wrong - garbage!"
I wish Wade would fade into the background . . . it seems like every issue we deal with comes down to Wade, Wade, Wade. I am really sick of that."
"Wade is an SBC Moderate. He appears to come across as a bitter man who at times feigns an irenic and pious spirit, yet repeatedly, betrays himself by his bombastic posts and comments that has pummeled the character of so many. His current demeanor will only make himself irrelevant to the SBC."
(Referring to my blog post) "It is wrong…it is sinful…it is godless."
"Mr. Burleson no longer kicks sand; instead he poisons soup. His current post posing as an "unmasking" of those he dubs the "Baptist Identity movement" is a complete fabrication within his own mind."
"A wise person has said that it is better to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. The owner of Grace and Truth to You has opened his mouth . . ."
The statements above do not offend me. A couple of years ago they would have. I'm not always successful in thinking through an appropriate response to what I perceive to be personal attacks, but the following, in outline form, is my response plan.
An Answer Worth Remembering
When Shemei began cursing King David, lying about him, and throwing rocks (literally) as the King and his men walked through a valley on the way home, Abishai, David's loyal servant asked the king, 'Will you allow me to go cut off that dead dog's head?' David's answer is very revealing. "Leave him alone. God hath bidden him to speak."
A few times in years past I have sought to stop people from writing untrue things about me. I have made a handful of phone calls to seek to correct the errors that I perceived in what some bloggers have written. Over time I've learned that the attitude of King David is far better - and when I read things like the above, it is worth remembering the words of the ancient king of Israel. Sometimes it is best to relax and let a fire burn out rather than to fight to put it out.
An Attitude Worth Imitating
The Bible says "love covers a multititude of sins." It would seem that when a Southern Baptist blogger really loves others, he lets them 'offend' on many occasions without making an issue of it. I have read recently that some postulate the problems in our convention are people who either complain or are critical of the work of the SBC. I propose that the problems are not the critical words that are written, but the lack of humility in refusing to receive the words as being from God - even those words we don't like - and loving the person who wrote them.
An Action Worth Initiating
Jesus said, "Bless them that persecute you." You examine this word 'bless' in the Sermon on the Mount and you will see it is in the imperative. It is not an option; it is a command. It is also in the continuous, present tense. It is not a one time act, but a repeated series of 'blessings.' It would seem to me that the person who is really obedient to His master is the one who blesses the person who persecutes him.
I was once told that a leader of one of our SBC agencies has a practice of sending a new tie, with a kind note of encouragement, to the person he believes is persecuting him. One has to commend such a spirit. You or I may not send a tie, but we sure can pray for those who persecute us, or we can write an encouraging note, or we can say something positive and public about that person.
Conclusion
Those of us who have entered the blog world need to think through how we respond to personal blog attacks. Attacks will occur. If you blog for any amount of time, you will experience it firsthand. I suggest that the battle is won, not when the attacks stop, but when God's people respond in a Christ-like manner. I don't always respond in a Christ-like manner, but it sure is my goal.
In His Grace,
Wade
posted by Wade Burleson | Saturday, May 03, 2008
77 Comments:
DR WADE:
Have you ever thought that those words that have come from those you have constantly accused of having the wrong agenda and leading us on the wrong path may be coming from God or that their intentions are pure ?
Wade, one of the things I have thought through is the fact that regardless of the action or behavior of another, God holds me responsible for my response. If I react in sin, then I am in sin. Period. I must always respond in Truth and in Love. When i believe the lie of the enemy that i have to defend myself, then i've rejected my One True Defender, and made an alliance with the enemy.
Blogging has been quite a journey for me because God has used it mightily to point out where I have chosen to believe a great many lies about myself and others. May God bless us both with a greater understanding of the Truth and faith therein!
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. So I hear.
Wade,
It is hard not to respond to an attack on you and what you write.
My mother tough me many years ago that words like water will dry up if you leave them alone.
Remember; “Stick and stones will break your bones, buy words will never hurt you.”
A good post.
Fox
Well, I would have to disagree about the sticks and stones - we've always taught our children that words can sometimes be more hurtful and have a longer-lasting effect than sticks and stones.
However, words can dry up like water and the Bible teaches that "a soft answer turns away wrath."
Friends of ours were living in Istanbul. They had three children who were normal, active and loud at times. They all lived in the usual apartment complex. The neighbors below them were not happy with them. Typical Istanbulites only had one child. And children always went to school. But our friends homeschooled. For a while, the downstairs neighbors used a broom to bang on their ceiling and our friends were getting frustrated as well as there was only so much they could to do to keep their children quiet all the time.
This continued with the banging increasing in frequency and ferocity until the husband from the downstairs came up to our friends' apartment and pounded on the door. When our friend opened the door, the neighbor let loose. Who knew what he said as it was in fast, angry Turkish! Our friend just stood there, getting blasted, repeating the only words he could, "I'm sorry."
After the tirade, the neighbor stormed away. The next week, the neighbor and his wife invited our friends to tea. Eventually they became good friends and our friends were able to witness to them the Gospel of Christ. And all because our friends were willing to let a soft answer turn away wrath!
Wade,
I have to be honest that I have often wondered if your blog was doing more hamr thsan good on some subjects. This was mainly due to how people may have felt personally attacked. I think on the whole what you have presented have at least given good food for thought. I have not always agreed with your conclusions or perspective but your blog has made me think about a vast array of different subjects that i otherwise would have never cared about.
So I pray that all who read this would attempt to see the heart that I see. To see a heart that truly has the best interest of Christ and the SBC at heart.
Wade, I don't always agree with you. In fact it maybe correct to say at this point, I seldom agree. Although, I don't keep track of our disagreement. I try to read and respond to each post. There are times I cross the line and judge you, but in the end I am reminded that I do not know your heart---so I have decided to look for the best in you. Plus, I figure a man who can preach like you must be a pretty decent man.
Blessings
Jeff
Othoniel,
I have considered that those who constantly attack me are doing so because they see I am leading the SBC down the wrong path, that their intentions are pure, and that it is coming from God. And, I agree that this could be the case. I also take great comfort from reading the lives and writings of the Civil War participants. I believe both sides possessed great Christian men, their intentions were pure, and both thought the other side was leading the nation down the wrong path. In the end, the will of God was accomplished - as it will be in the SBC, as it was in 1865.
To All: Amen.
To Jeff: Thanks
Wade,
It is unfortunate that many times we (myself included) are unable to seperate the issues from the individuals. In my opinion, your most recent posts have been more about individuals than issues (with some poor caricatures).
On a side note, there is some good advice in this post. Do you care if I "borrow" these points for a sermon?
Have at it!
Also, feel free to point out where you think what I've said is personal instead of issue oriented.
Meloff,
I had a choice of disagreeing with Fox about “Stick and stones…”, or agreeing with you on your reply to him.
I’d rather agree than disagree with people. But I’ll admit I have a habit of disagreeing.
I agree with Wade on his excellent post today as usual.
Yesterday’s, Baptist Identity, revealed in depth the continual sinking of the Ship of the SBC into the murky waters of Catholicism
Wade,
Sometimes people say what they don’t mean. I believe such was the case when David said, “Leave him alone, God hath bidden him to speak.” (2 Samuel 16:10)
I believe David was hoping God would come nearer feeling sorry for him and give him blessings if he didn’t let his general kill Shimei as shown by: “Perhaps the Lord will see my affliction and restore goodness to me instead of Shimei’s curses today.” (2 Samuel 16:12)
If David really thought Shimei was throwing rocks and speaking for God, he would not have told Solomon, “Keep an eye on Shimei…He uttered malicious curses against me…so don’t let him go unpunished…” (1 Kings 2:8-9) Solomon eventually had Shimei killed.
Wouldn't this post be better titled if it were called "If You Attack Others, It' Best To Have a Respone Plan"?
Wade, I would also add that I would rather be in fellowship with you who I don't always agree with than some of the people who I might agree with who are very disagreeable. I hope that makes sense. In fact there are many on here who I disagree with but in reality I would rather fellowship with them than those who I agree with.
This is great advice - for not only bloggers, but for all who claim to be acquainted with the grace of God. It is only by God's grace that this is possible for it is totally contrary to the nature of an non-graced man.
When we who claim to be Christ followers do not exhibit evidence of His grace within us - why should we wonder why a lost world ignores our message and mocks our ministries.
Perhaps a greater demonstration of God's grace within us is the answer to the SBC's declining baptism problem.
Last time I looked Emmanuel Enid was among the top 10 churches in total baptisms in the state of Oklahoma.
To othoniel and others who often take offense in what you write - "The proof is in the puddin'."
Grace to you Wade - and Grace to all who disagree!
"A test of how much a servant you are is how you act when you're treated like one" seems to be an appropriate response plan. The quote was originally seen on Alan Knowx's blog here.
Guy Muse,
Thanks for the link to such a great statement. It made me think pretty deep, and I’m afraid I come up short on being a good servant.
On the other hand, my uncle was the volunteer janitor for our church for 27 years which was servant’s work. But when he retired, the church hired a janitor with a good wage and I think it made my uncle bitter. So I believe a Christian should be careful not to do so much that they develop a chip on their shoulder.
Guy, after reading your reference, I copied pasted its link to this:
SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2008
SERVANTHOOD
A test of how much a servant you are is how you act when you're treated like one.
--Mark Chase
Posted by amateur
Wade,
In my opinion, the post titled "The Mere Replacement of One Set of Bureacrats" is personal and not issue related. Rather than focusing on the proposed resolution and what it says, you focuse your attention on what it does not say. You then questioned the motive, reasoning, and character of those presenting the resolution.
How can you make an argument on what is not in a resolution? The answer is... you have to speculate and give opinions on individuals?
Ironically, this is the same thing you accused others of doing, when they speculated on the things left our of the Antioch Network Confession.
Like I said before... "it is unfortunate that many times we (myself included) are unable to seperate the issues from the individuals."
I believe it was Alistair Begg who said in a sermon (I quote as close as possible), "There is no proclomation without misrepresentation."
Dr Wade:
Thank you for your response, time will tell.
In the mean time I plan to stay active in SBC Life till death do us apart.
Wade,
If you are going to quote me, at least put it in context:
Wes,
Excellent essay. You are quite correct that according to Dr. Adrian Rogers definition, Wade is an SBC Moderate.
I must say that the acrimonious tone coming from Wade, is getting worse as we near another convention. He appears to come across as a bitter man who at times feigns an irenic and pious spirit, yet repeatedly, betrays himself by his bombastic posts and comments that has pummeled the character of so many. One can only speculate as to why he has purposely chosen to lower himself to such gutter tactics. I fear his blog assaults will only get worse over the next few months. I think we are seeing his blog go the way of the second iteration of SBC Outpost - becoming more caustic and bombastic. His current demeanor will only make himself irrelevant to the SBC.
Blessings,
Ron P.
As I stated above in the original comments, you give the appearance of bitterness and the appearance feigning an irenic and pious spirit. That belief is based upon your own words towards others with whom you disagree that are caustic and bombastic that give credence to such a view. How can one be irenic and pious, while attacking mightily with the keyboard?
With humility and all sincerity, you only have yourself to blame for the necessary rebuke of such vitriolic writing. Even many, who in the past that have agreed with you on several issues, have publicly noted here and elsewhere that your tone and attacks has been ever increasing and have stated that they can not defend your attacks. I hope I am wrong, but I fear that as we near Indy, you will continue down this spiraling road. I pray that I am wrong, and hope you are willing to reach across the aisle in Christian friendship and brotherhood, debate the issues, but stop the attacks. That is something all of us want. But if you do not, you will only continue to hurt the causes that you believe in, thus my reference to making yourself irrelevant to the SBC. The ball is entirely in your court to do as you will. Hopefully, it will be gracious and constructive leadership and not the continued politics of personal destruction.
May God bless you my brother,
Ron P.
Ron P.,
Why do you feel it “necessary to rebuke such vitriolic writing?” And if you were doing this with humility and sincerity would you be assigning motives to why Mr. Burleson is writing what he is writing and accusing him of “personal destruction?” I’m not taking up for Mr. Burleson, I don’t really know him. As I have read before, he strongly encourages people not to take up for him. I’m just tired of people ending comments with words like “May God bless you my brother”, when in reality everything that was just written has no hint of love or grace. It reminds me of those “seminary boys” who used to tell me they would pray for me in chapel because I got mad with a call during a game of basketball.
Brent L. Williams
"As I stated above in the original comments, you give the appearance of bitterness and the appearance feigning an irenic and pious spirit. That belief is based upon your own words towards others with whom you disagree that are caustic and bombastic that give credence to such a view. How can one be irenic and pious, while attacking mightily with the keyboard?"
Gives this appearance to whom? Who are you speaking for? Certainly not me. I have been completely amazed at how humble and steady Wade has been under enormous attacks on his character.
This really boils down to the fact that there are such things as negative truths that certain people will never want public and will respond by attacking the messenger.
All issues and the conflict therein come dressed as people. The secular world has taught us to separate the two because they do not deal in sin and repentance and so they teach us to focus on the issues only. Eventually this takes the 'conflict' behind closed doors with tactics and strategies to win because all issues involve people.
True conflict resolution can only happen with total transparency and humility. Not 'feigned' humility, either. Which brings me to mention that I have seen Wade admit mistakes quite a few times. True conflict resolution cannot happen when one party wants 'control or power' and demands 'authority or respect'.
All this blogging boils down to is that leaders and their followers are not happy that certain tactics and strategies that have been behind closed doors for a long time are being aired . They consider this 'airing', sin.
However. they do not consider the tactics and strategies behind closed doors as sin.
As crude as they are, blogs are the new media. A blog brought Dan Rather down even though he refuses to admit it. He even had to gall to say that blogs had no editors or fact checkers as if HE had only presented 'facts' for all those years. :o)
It was always been about a FEW controlling the message.
It is only natural that the powerful and their followers hate certain bloggers. They no longer control the message and the only way to counter a message they do not like is to kill the messenger.
From my vantage point, it looks like some have become quite adept at killing the messenger.
This post has been removed by the author.
Lin,
They were pretty good at it in Jerusalem too. Just ask a few of the prophets and apostles. Might ask Jesus too.
John 15:18 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
Kehrsam:
Best post award goes to you.
None of us can read people's hearts. Many of us are too quick to attack people and their motives, rather than address ideas.
Religious denominational life across many denominations can be particularly rough. Did any of you follow the Methodists' recent General Conference?
It is hard on pastors to be criticized because it is their nature to want to help people and to want to receive the acknowledgment that comes from helping. That is only human.
I am old enough, 47, to remember the days when people in SBC life were attacked much more than Wade.
Some in the denominational machinery and those sympathetic to it during the CR worked very hard to destroy people.
Paul Pressler and Paige Patterson had things said about them for a span of about 20 years that make anything I have seen written about Wade look very mild. And in many cases, the secular press got involved. Phil Donahue tried to destroy Pressler and ended up destroying Ken Chaffin (even with a stacked audience) because Dr. Chaffin was not careful enough to keep his theological opinions concealed. Bill Moyers also tried to destroy Pressler, unsuccessfully. As did Gus Neiburh (sp?), religion writer for the NYT (I think).
Also, John Baugh, probably the wealthiest Southern Baptist (chief stockholder and Chairman of Sysco, the food company) alive at the time of the CR invested (literally) heavily in destroying Pressler and Patterson.
The rough and tumble of religious life is not for the faint of heart. Still, we should aspire to a higher road.
Also, the most devastating types of attacks come not from what it printed, but what is done in secret - plotting and such.
If we stick with issues rather than trying to destroy people, that is the right way to go.
Louis
Before I begin my self-imposed absence from blogging about anything that deals with Wade Burleson, and not ideas or issues, let me agree with Ron P.
Wade used my quote above - but twisted it to say something essentially that I didn't say.
I dont' mind being quoted - I stand behind what I said, or revise it. But I am not crazy to have Wade twist my words to make it seem like an attack on him.
Here is my actual quote. You see if it says what Wade said it said:
"I wish Wade would fade into the background. I will always appreciate that he brought what I consider to be abuses by the IMB to the forefront in the SBC. (I know, you don't agree.)
But now, it seems like every issue we deal with comes down to Wade, Wade, Wade.
I am really sick of that. I keep hoping someone else will take up the mantle of reform leadership in the SBC."
You make the call,
The Fat Man has left the blog!
Louis, What is so sad is that Patterson and co. are using the same search and destroy tactics now. The difference is the mainstream media does not care except for the blog world.
Lucy
Ron P. and David Miller,
You two men are acting act really childesh. You write things that bash, bash and bash, and then you act like you get your feelings hurt for not being quoted accurately. I read the original quotes, and contrary to your whining, you said exactly is alleged you said. Grow up.
I hope you are a man of your word. You will not be missed from anybody here.
Louis,
Are you insinuating that Pressler and Patterson were completely innocent of plotting in secret to destroy others back in the day?????
"If we stick with issues rather than trying to destroy people, that is the right way to go."
Louis, The 'issues' require openess, transparency, trust and honesty in order to 'deal' with them. We are Christians, right? Issues always come from people and always involve people. You cannot get around that.
Unless of course, you believe the 'issues' should be decided by a few behind closed doors. But that is what brought us to this point, isn't it.
Bruce:
No one is perfect.
But my experience and recollection with Pressler and Patterson during the CR was that they were trying to address issues - the nature of the scripture and the core Christian doctrines. I think that they were always willing to debate the issues publicly. Some on the other side did not want that debate because there was a lot in the educational institutions that was simply indefensible. That is what caused a resort to personal attacks by some, rather than addressing the theology. I truly do not believe during the CR that Pressler and Patterson attacked people openly or in secret. They were very straightforward in that regard. Now, I will say that if some person during that time opposed the CR, they would address the person, and that often ended in embarrassment for such persons, if they were defending the indefensible.
I am sure that Dr. Honeycutt, Dr. Lolley, Dr. Dilday, Dr. Ferguson, Dr. Levell etc. at times felt under attack. But that was because Pressler and Patterson were pointing out the theological problems in the convention, and they were either trying to deny there were problems, or that nothing needed to be done.
Lin, you are right. Issues involve people, as referenced above. If people take the opposite sides of issues, there is going to be friction.
I don't think that's what Wade is referencing. It's the personal, below the belt kind of stuff that can go on, in public or in private.
I remember one quote in particular from the CR days. I think it was a quote in the Baptist Standard. One opponent of the CR said that the "Fundamentalists" were run the 3 "sick egos." "One who was senile and needed to retire (Criswell), one who is in a secular profession and desires to be in a religious profession (Pressler), and one who is the head of a second rate educational institution who wants to be in charge of first rate institution."
That's an example that I recall.
I also have a friend who worked for a major secular newspaper in those days. He was a member of a moderate church at the time, and was sympathetic to the moderates, so he had a dim view of Pressler and Patterson. He told me that on several occasions that moderate leaders tried to persuade him to print things about Pressler and Patterson that were incredibly libelous. I won't go into the details, but each time they pressured him, he would tell them, bring me the evidence of what you are talking about. They never did.
I also know that when President George H.W. Bush considered nominating Judge Pressler to be the first person to lead the new ethics agency in Washington that was created during his administration, that some moderate Baptist leaders promised to work with, and some began working with, left wing secular groups in Washington D.C. to try and smear Judge Pressler. They were going to try and "Bork" Judge Pressler. Judge Pressler had other career and personal goals at the time, so he did not go down that path, but it was incredible that Baptists had an opportunity to have one of their own lead an agency of the federal government and the biggest opponents were not non-Christians, but fellow Baptists, who were going to attempt to smear Judge Pressler, not oppose him on any reasons related to agency that he proposed to head or his views on issues related to ethics in government.
And, I believe that openness is a very important value in religious organizations.
There is a line, however, that gets crossed on occasion when we go from disagreeing on issues and the people who might be the spokespersons for those and going to the personal.
Louis
Dave Miller,
Sorry to see you go. You made life interesting with your opposing views.
I thought I’d get one last shot at you before you fade into the sunset, but I hate to agree to a point that Wade left out the good stuff you said about him when he quoted you.
Wade left out: “I will always appreciate that he brought what I consider to be abuses by the IMB to the forefront in the SBC.”
Wade did what a lot of people do (including me) in picking out Scripture that proves their point and ignoring Scripture that disproves their point.
Your bragging on him did not fit his intended purpose of him being criticized so he left it out.
If Wade wanted to attack you, he would have given your name, but he tries to deal with issues and not people.
In your criticism, were you attacking people or issues. “You make the call.”
I for one, will miss the fat man.
Louis, I would like for you to put some meat on this bone: "there was a lot in the educational institutions that was simply indefensible."
Louis,
Have you read Dilday’s book? His being fired can be traced to Patterson telling him: “You’re conservative all right, but you’re not one of us.”
Bruce:
Don't know how old you are or what your background is. Did you attend an SBC seminary from, say 1959-to 1985? Did you attend a state Baptist college? Just don't know how familiar you are with the history. That is, are you young and just have no knowledge of the history, or are you older and just never encountered any problems yourself, so you don't think that there were any problems?
The list is so long, it would take more articles than Wade has run recently on Women's ordination to address this.
A good starting point would be to read the appendices to Judge Pressler's book. Have you read that book?
Judge Pressler does a good job illustrating the problems there. The list is not exhaustive, but is a good place to start. The survey of Southern students done in the early 80s is a real shocker. It would show you how the beliefs of the students steadily declined the longer they were at Southern.
Jimmy Draper's recent history of the the Sunday School Board (Lifeway) also has a couple of helpful chapters on this.
Also, I would encourage you to interview leading theologians in the SBC now. Al Mohler and Danny Akin can both give you very good histories of the men under whom they studied in obtaining their degrees and what their views were regarding the nature of scripture, the deity of Christ, the atonement, the resurrection, the new birth etc. David Dockery taught at Southern for a while. His recollections would be very helpful.
Another good way to go about this is to look and see where those who were teaching at the SBC schools are today, and check out what they have written and what they advocate.
A great example here is Dr. Bill Leonard at Wake Forest. I am sure that you can do a google search and bring his stuff up. He used to be at Southern. I don't know anything about you, but if you think that homosexuality is something the SBC should go for, then I am sure that you would want Dr. Leonard back at Southern. That is but one issue, I agree, but it is illustrative.
My own experience is having attended a state Baptist college for two years. The history department was awesome. The religion department was terrible. There may have been one person in the department that believed the scriptures were "truth without any mixture of error." They believed that the scriptures were not God's objective revelation of Himself to man, but that they were man's record of what they thought God was doing in their time. And as man's understanding of God changed, so, too, did his writing about God. This is in contrast to the concept of "progressive revelation."
Another thing that you could do is pull up an old catalogue from, say, Southern Seminary. Note the leading professors in the NT and OT departments. Then check out their writings. Talk with those who are profs now who had them. See if you can distinguish doctrinal views.
Finally, look at the schools where the old SBC profs have gone - Baptist Seminary at Richmond, Duke, Wake Forest, Bright Divinity School (TCU?) etc. Check out whether those are confessional institutions and whether those profs have written anything. I believe that you will find some interesting things.
But a lot depends on what you are wanting to find.
For years the old Moderates simply denied there were any problems in the schools. That did not work because too many Baptists had attended the schools. Finally, the Peace Committee Report (I think from 1987) put to rest the position that there were no theological issues at stake. In fact that report said that the issues were primarily theological, and that they needed to be addressed.
I look forward to dialoging with you about this, but again, it would be helpful to have your background and perspective because that will help me understand how to dialogue with you.
Thanks.
Louis
Rex:
I haven't read Dr. Dilday's book. Of course the trustees at Southwestern fired Dilday, not Paige Patterson.
I don't remember too much about Dilday's firing. It seemed he got really cross ways with the trustees. As I recalled, they asked him to do things, and he wouldn't. Again, I don't remember the details, but you are correct in suggesting that Dr. Dilday did not get fired because he personally was liberal.
My recollections of Dr. Dilday were that he was very abrasive. Those come from memories of TV interviews and the like.
Let me also hasten to add that to my knowledge Southwestern was in the best shape, by far, of any of the SBC schools in those days. I know people who went there and had good experiences. That is in contrast to Southern, Southeastern and to a lesser extent, New Orleans and Midwestern.
Dr. Lolley resigned. He was not fired.
Dr. Honeycutt was of an age where he just retired, I believe.
Here is a TV interview with Dr. Dilday while he was still President of SWBTS. It's interesting.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=J39kbJFkAhs
I don't think it is issues we need to deal and it definitely isn't people, Louis. We need to focus on one issue and unite around it - Jesus. All the rest really doesn't matter. It's amazing that we are so distracted by so many things, most of which are more cultural than biblical, and where they are biblical they are disputable as discussed in Romans 14. Whatever happened to the spirit Paul had to focus only on Christ and Christ crucified? Doesn't it all really just boil down to the Cross?
Kersham, thank you for that reminder to everyone. Why is it that peacemaking isn't believed in? Why is it people think unity really isn't that important?
Dr. Honeycutt was older than many professors, but he definitely felt persecuted and beseiged before he left SBTS in Louisville. He spoke at several churches in Ky. on the personal attack portrayed in the 3rd Book of John.
Some observers who knew him and Mohler during that time had the definite feeling Mohler latched onto the inerrancy movement or party as much as a survival technique as any sort of true believer, but I only got this from one source.
I didn't know enough about STBS at the time to know if erroneous thinking had crept in, but every preacher I heard from Southern sounded as fundamentalist as you could hope to hear.
There is a quote from a book my son has written called Five Principles Of Unity. THe quote is: "We tend to judge others by their actions, not by what is in their heart, while we judge ourselves by what is in our heart, not by our actions."
Isn't that true?
It seems to me that much of the animosity that is expressed in blogging circles today has less to do with what is actually said and more to do with what people perceive are the motives behind them. Although Wade has continually expressed he has no desire to undo the CR, but merely widen the tent within scriptural parameters, he's been called a moderate, a drunkard, and a friend of CBFers. (A bit of editorializing there) It seems if people would merely deal with each post on it's face, without addressing the perceived motivations of the writer, our dialogue would be much more constructive.
Grace,
Jeff
Bryan:
I agree with what you say. However, as long as churches get together to operate seminaries, colleges, send out missionaries and print literature, having a common doctrinal confession that is truly believed is important.
For example, if one person believes that following Jesus (who is not the second person of the Trinity, is not eternal, not virgin born etc.) means following his ethical teachings and his example of a sacrificial life, and another person believes that Jesus is eternal, is all God and all man, was virgin born, resurrected bodily, and that following him means believing that his death on the cross was in our place and is our only means of salvation, those two people are going to have a very hard time running seminaries together, agreeing on what is "missions", and deciding on what kind of literature to print.
The SBC and her schools, thankfully, are in a much better position now when it comes to doctrinal Christian essentials. So, your advice is good and I agree with it.
Steve, I know personally that Southern tried to include Dr. Honeycutt in many events after his retirement, but that he chose not to come. To his credit, Duke McCall came to Southern last year and participated in a round table with the faculty. He has told Dr. Mohler that he would not take Southern in the conservative direction that Dr. Mohler has taken it, but that he is confident God will take Southern where it needs to go.
You need to remember that Dr. Honeycutt also declared Holy War on the conservatives from the seminary chapel in 1983. Newsweek ran an article on that speech. The Southern faculty (not all, but most) was VERY opposed to the CR and to the concept that they would have to sign the BFM or promise to teach in accordance with it. They believed that was creedalism, and they believed that the priesthood of the believer and academic freedom gave them the right to believe and teach what they felt was correct. Cecil Sherman, a former moderate leader and moderator of the CBF still believes this strongly.
I have heard from friends (who have heard from moderate supporters) that same speculation about Mohler. That he really doesn't believe what he is saying, but that he became a conservative so that he could become President of Southern.
First, there is no real 'evidence' for this other than speculating about people's motives. Again, I think that we need to get away from that.
And there are a host of logical reasons why this is not true:
Listen to Mohler and read what he has written. Anyone that has the passion that he has for the issues he addresses could not be faking. One of my friends who had been told Mohler was faking came to the seminary to hear him speak. Afterwards, he thought the suggestion was amazingly absurd.
Also, it's not like Mohler was a moderate student one day, and the next day was President at Southern. There were many years in between when he edited the Christian Index (the Georgia state paper), pastored etc. I know of no one in the ministry (regardless of their theological persuasion) who would for years do all of these jobs and take the positions he has taken for a possible position somewhere.
Finally, Mohler could make it a lot bigger if tomorrow he said that the had evolved and become a liberal. The perks in the academic world for former fundamentalists are a lot better than the perks in SBC agencies. Just ask Ralph Elliott. He had a great academic career after leaving Midwestern. Mohler would also be hailed by the media. Mohler would probably get his own show on CNN!
Louis
Jeff:
You are correct.
Guessing at motives is not a productive thing.
Louis
Debbie Kaufman:
I went to the link and watched the portion of the Bill Moyers' program that was produced in about 1990, just before Daniel Vestal's run for the SBC Presidency. That was the campaign that John Baugh financed so heavily. Weatherford/Crumpler was the VP on that ticket. That ticket was the worst defeat for the moderates in all of their years running. After that, many moderates left and started the CBF.
Only a portion of the program has Russell Dilday in it. I remember watching this when it was first produced.
Bill Moyers is a first rate propagandist. You can continue to see his work on PBS. I saw him interview pastor Jeremiah Wright last week. Moyers' interview couldn't have been more friendly unless he sat in Wright's lap!
I found Dr. Dilday's statements in this tape just as disingenuous today as they were in 1990. Thank God that the vast majority of the SBC rejected his prescription.
I agree that Dr. Dilday is conservative. I also agree that there had been many Presidents of the SBC who were conservative, but did not know how to use their appointment powers to affect the SBC's direction or did not care.
However, unlike Dr. Dilday, I believe it is perfectly correct for those who were concerned about theology in the convention to intentionally elect Presidents who were also concerned and would use their powers to appoint others who were concerned. That is the way representative bodies work. For anyone to cry foul over that is not logical.
Dr. Dilday first used hyperbole to describe the situation -that some people were calling and wondering if faculty members were Christian. Well, let's admit that even now that could go on and it would still be just as silly. Objectively, that is not what conservatives were ever saying.
Dr. Dilday admits that there are faculty who don't like the term "inerrancy." He also admits there is some small percentage of a problem, but doesn't allude further. He also says that the "militants" (that has to be the worst epithet used during the entire CR) were concerned about 6 or 8 issues, but he never says what those issues are.
Dan Vestal is equally vague. He admits that there need to be theological changes and a return to the fundamentals, but says he got physically ill when he listened to a tape of Judge Pressler. The only portion of the tape played by Moyers has Judge Pressler saying that for the first time in SBC history, they had a conservative resolutions committee that could issue a pro-life resolution. Well, aren't 99% of the SBC pro-life? Why would it take so long to get a resolutions committee (since 1973, I suppose, Roe v. Wade) that would allow a pro-life resolution to come out of committee? Surely, in concept that is a problem for you and any other Southern Baptist reading this blog. The SBC is strongly pro-life. The denominational statements were not, however, under the old denominational leadership.
Also, with regard to Pressler, you will note that Moyers spends all of his time on secular issues because Pressler answers so clearly on the theological issues. You should go look at the rest of Moyers' interview with Pressler. It is nothing but an attempted smear. He suggests that Pressler's association with some think tank group is nefarious etc., etc., but again runs as fast as he can come the question of "What is scripture?"
Debbie, I don't know what you were doing in 1990 (have no idea how old you are), and what your perspective is, so please forgive me if I make wrong assumptions.
I hope that the SBC never returns to the days when it has paid denominational employees at seminaries or elsewhere that deny Christian essentials or have some low view of scripture. I really don't think that any of the people reading this blog want that.
Just look at the CBF, the schools it promotes, the complete absence of any doctrinal confessional statement, it's embrace and flirtation with many issues that the SBC would not buy into. That is where the old guard would have taken us.
Finally, I am sure that you know that Moyers finally left the Baptist church, in about 1988 or so, for, in his words, "a different way of seeing and believing."
I'd say so.
Louis
I agree that Moyers is a liberal. If you go to Part one of this series, he lays out exactly what being a Baptist used to mean. I was amazed at how much of it he got right! :o)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkM7q0eug5Y
Louis, I don't think any true Christian can keep from taking their beliefs with them into the secular arena as much as Pressler tried to convince us different.
Lin:
I suppose you mean a Christian would take what he or she believes about secular matters and bring them into the church?
Since the SBC supported the Baptist Joint Committee, which addressed church/state issues, and operated the Christian Life Commission, which addressed moral issues, it was impossible for some issues in the CR to touch on politics (e.g. strict separation vs. accommodation in church/state matters and abortion in the moral arena). No one would deny that.
But the great emphasis and push in the CR was the seminaries and colleges (even though they were state agencies). The belief was if one had the correct view of scripture, these other issues would play out. If you ever heard Pressler's stump speech which he must have given over 1000 times as he travelled around the country on his own time and dime from about 1978 to 1990, almost all of his examples and concerns related to theology. He would tie it to his experiences in religion classes at Phillips Exeter and Princeton in the late 40s and early 50s. He found, much to his dismay, that a lot of SBC colleges and seminaries were using the same approach.
I am glad that you see Mr. Moyers for what he is, and not some objective newsman. I think over time (even since 1990) people have seen him continue to move ever farther left. I think that he is actually on the board (or has been) of the Tides Foundation (sp?) which is an influential foundation financed and run by George Soros.
You have to remember that this Moyers TV program was released on PBS the week of or the week before the SBC meeting in New Orleans. You may recall that PBS took some criticism for what appeared by many to be an overt effort to influence a deliberative meeting of the religious denomination.
At any rate, my point when we started this thread was that whatever criticism bloggers may receive nowadays does not compare to the heat that some of the conservatives faced in the 70s and 80s.
By the way, have you ever seen the Phil Donahue show with Pressler and Dr. Ken Chaffin, former pastor of the South Main Baptist Church in Houston and then professor at Southern? If you ever get a chance to see that, do not pass it up.
Take care.
Louis
Louis,
You said, “I found Dr. Dilday’s statements in this tape just as disingenuous today as they were in 1990. Thank God that the vast majority of the SBC rejected his prescription. Dr. Dilday admits that there are faculty who don’t like the term ‘inerrancy.’
Thesaurus of your word “disingenuous” is “insincere, untruthful, hypocritical, deceitful, devious, and dishonest.”
My, my, it’s strange when you have your mind made up; you hear what you want to hear.
WHERE DID DILDAY SAY THAT ON THE TAPE?
Your heard Dilday reply to the question: “What do the militants want?”
“They use the emotional flag of conservative theology; holding to the great truths of the Biblical inerrancy; Biblical authority; the basic doctrine of the faith. I do not find in our denomination much divergence among our people over these basic principles.”
Louis, will you put in quotes what Dilday said that you disagree with; that you condemn “disingenuous”?
You should read Dilday’s book and then judge. In his book he wrote ever word in the Bible was breathed by God.
Your “Thank God…” reminds me of Dilday’s book telling of all the “Amen’s" heard at their trustee meetings when one trustee would preference his statements with “Thank God I never went to any seminary.”
All six seminaries complained of the quality of trustees being appointed.
I believe they were appointed by their loyalty to the ‘us group’ and not based on their abilities.
When the trustee fundamentalists outnumbered the real conservatives, they fired Dilday; telling him they didn’t have to have a reason to fire him because they had the vote.
Did Patterson fire Dilday? You be the judge. One trustee wrote a letter complaining they’d received hundreds of letters telling there was a special place in hell for them; “we did what you wanted us to do”…why is no one standing for us? I believe his letter was sent to Pressler and Patterson. (Someone correct me if my memory is bad about whom the letter was sent because I’ve loaned Dilday’s book.)
Louis, you wrote: “He also says that the ‘militants’ were concerned about 6 or 8 issues, but he never says what those issues are.”
Again you did not listen to what was said. Dilday said, “We have about 500 teachers in the six seminaries. Not in any of this debate have there been more than 6 or 8 issues raised by the militants of examples of adrift from Biblical faith. And these 5, 6, or 8 teachers are not at all classic examples of liberals. None deny the deity of Jesus, authority of the Bible, the miracles, or the supernatural as a traditional liberal would do.”
It’s been said that Patterson had a list of all the ‘liberal teachers’, and they could all fit in a Volkswagen.
Instead of getting bogged down in this current line of thought, let me just say that it is my opinionation that Dilday and Vestal are liars and Generals of Hell.
The CBF is worse than Catholicism, and if I might add, Daniel Vestal sounded (in the Moyer interview) a lot like our dear friend Wade.
"I am a conservative, but I will fight for the rights of liberal slime."
Wade,
Is DV your hero?
K. Michael Crowder,
To call Daniel Vestal a General of Hell not only negates the veracity of other words you write, it reveals a level of immaturity and rashness that causes me to blush - on your behalf.
Don't blush on my behalf. Blush at the rank liberalism perpetrated by your dear friend Daniel Vestal. Some professing Christians are SO evil that it shames the Cross to consider them part of the fold. Oh yes, we indeed know him by his fruits.
K
I won’t mention your name because your name is your god. You say stupid things for attention. You fancy yourself as wise, but most fools do. I could go on, but you would enjoy it so much your head might explode.
The following letter was printed in the Baptist Standard January 13, 1999.
Pondered vs. Love
In his letter (December 23) Jeff Whitfield “pondered” the words of BGCT President Russell Dilday: “We Texas Baptist don’t like anyone telling us what to do except God himself.”
Whitfield said, “But I wonder if we are more citizens of Texas than we are citizens of the kingdom of heaven.”
I think Dilday believes in the priesthood of man that has spiritual leaders but not spiritual bosses.
Would Whitfield have like for Dilday to say the opposite? ‘We like anyone telling us what to do except God.’
That’s what Hebrew people did when they told God they wanted a king.
That’s what early Christians did when they became obedient to a pope.
That’s what happened two years ago when a letter requested our missionaries to have “a confidence and willingness to follow the wisdom and guidance of God-appointed leadership, whether we necessarily understand or agree.”
Notice Whitfield and the letter both said “we” but meant ‘you’.
I just wonder what the heroes of the CR will do with Southwestern Seminary when its enrollment drops below twelve hundred? A thousand? Five hundred? At what point do the world-changing militants admit a mistake, or do they ever? The re-writers of history can play make-believe all they want, but when students don't trust an institution any longer, all the PR of all the Dilday-haters amounts to nothing.
Louis, You are still stuck in 'everything is either liberal OR conservative' mode and cannot get past it. You don't seem to understand that I was a foot soldier in the CR in the late 80's and all through the 90's. I drank the kool-aid and would have made the exact same points you are making here.
You are doing exactly what I used to do by making the implication: If you do not agree, you are a liberal and don't really believe the Bible.
We see that implication daily by folks on this blog.
I would have done exactly what you did by pointing out that Moyers is a big liberal. (He is) And therefore, we cannot believe anything he says. Pressler is conservative and on our side, says the right words about the scripture so he must be right and a good man. Moyers bad. Pressler good. This thinking, over time, is applied to everyone: Wade bad. Patterson good.
But then I saw quite a few of these conservatives who beat the the bible was 'inerrant' drum, up close and personal and wondered why they did not 'live' what they said they believed to be completely true. What about me? Was I doing that, too? I now know that believing correct doctrine is not enough.
(What is inerrancy, anyway? I have found some translation problems with the NIV and the KJV and others. :o) Get my point?
What I find ironic is that we fought the CR battle and won but many are acting like we lost. Now we are arguing about 'how' the battle was won and very few want to admit to the vastness of the collateral damage. Some want to look the other way at unethical behavior of our leaders because they have the right 'politics'. Some want to fight it all over again but this time the conservatives are not conservative enough. Where does it end?
Let's not rewrite history. Let's be honest about all of it and learn from it. Some of it was good and necessary. Some of it was very bad and un-necessary and much of that is still going on today because the movement became about power and control whether or not that was the inital intention...that is where it has ended up.
BTW: We are blind if we do not admit that the CR was about more than saving our seminaries from liberal professors. It was also about winning in the public square. We became a huge voting block. We wanted a more moral society. We never stopped to think we could have a more moral society that would go to hell anyway because they were not saved.