"This Press Release is an example of God's people working together on the essentials of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, even though they come from many denominational backgrounds.
If Sonic Flood, the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, and The National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools , were to discuss private prayer language, baptism, evidence of the Holy Spirit, abstinence or moderation with drinks or many other non-essentials to the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; I am sure we could get more than enough material for several Dr.'s degrees.
On the other hand this interdenominational group all love Jesus and believe He is the only way to Salvation. With this spirit, is it any wonder people are being saved, giving their life to missions, and working to get the Bible back into our schools.?
The same reputation as the early New Testament Church had, i.e." my how they love one another"
is growing in this nation wide effort.
All of us should pray for and learn from these folks, how to maintain our own doctrine, and at the same time make the main thing the main thing, as one of our great preachers once said.
Please pray and promote these folks as they are in your area.
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, are doing a great work. As another of our men of God said, "find out what God is doing and join him."
As 2nd Vice President of The Southern Baptist Convention I am going to do all I can to lead our denomination into this kind of revival and unity.
I have been a Southern Baptist pastor for more than 40 years and will probably be a Southern Baptist when Jesus takes me home, but I confess to God before all men that I have been too narrow. He has forgiven me and I hope all my brothers and sisters from all denominations will find it in their heart to also forgive me for being so Southern Baptist that I was unkind, and thinking we have the only answer.
I'm not going to change in many ways but God has made me realize that I need to seek that New Testament type unity."
Pastor Wiley
_________________________
Well said Wiley. The IMB is to be commended for their creative efforts in reaching young people with the exciting opportunities in mission work around the world.
Have a great Lord's Day everyone.
Feel free to comment, but I've answered my share of questions this weekend and I do not intend to dialogue in the comment section this week.
In His Grace,
Wade
14 comments:
Wade -
Thanks for this post. Just Thursday when Frank Page was preaching at SWBTS, I was wondering ... what has Wiley Drake been up to lately? And here you have a post about him. I appreciate it.
Irreverend Fox,
You deserve an explanation. The Lord's work at Emmanuel is particularly tiring this Sunday. Three services, a luncheon, deacon's meeting and preparations for a mission trip to Niger, Africa.
No time to answer any questions.
Thanks, though for your interest.
Did someone say ACTS chapter two ?
Frankly, I was surprised when I read the post and specifically the comments from Wiley Drake that there were no post here (with the exception of Dorcas) about that.
For me, I thought it was powerful.
Just as God shows us in the book of Joshua the magnitude of "sin in the camp," I believe an attitude of repentance by one person can be equally infecting and it gives me great hope. I thank God for men like Wiley Drake and his humility.
This may just be the beginning of something very spiritually significant to us all.
Selah
When we kneel together at the Cross, each bought by the atoning blood of our Savior and Lord, our differences fade to insignificance.
Brother Wiley, thanks for your call to New Testament unity.
Brother Wade, thanks for posting this information.
Wade,
Wiley Drake said, “All of us should pray for and learn from these folks, how to maintain our own doctrine, and at the same time make the main thing the main thing…”
That reminds me of a letter printed by the Baptist Standard on November 18, 2002, written by Gary Morgan of Waxahachie, TX:
"Christianity always has faced two great enemies--fundamentalism and liberalism.
__Fundamentalism creates systems, makes rules and enforces dogma. It leads people to believe that so long as they follow its precepts they are right with God. It becomes a substitute for Christ.
___Liberalism denies the possibility of ultimate truth and encourages people to manufacture their own truth and create God in their own image. It causes people to deny Christ and embrace a god of their own making.
Those who truly know the heart of God resist these errors by honoring God’s word, loving God and each other, and joining together to work for the cause of Christ despite their differences. They have “kept the main thing the main thing.”
Rex Ray
truthofacts,
I always thought that a "fundalmentalist Christian" is a person who believes and lives their life in accordance with the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith.
Could I be wrong?
The term "fundamentalism" has been hijacked and ever since the 1920s has taken on a pejorative connotation.
At least originally, "Fundamentalism" was ascribed to people who held to the basic tenants of Christianity as documented in the series of books that were published at the beginning of the 20th Century by the Los Angeles Bible Institute [later known as BIOLA].
I have a reprint of those books.
I consider myself a "fundamentalist" based upon the original meaning of the term.
"The Fundamentals" were written to counter the rise of liberalism in the early 20th century.
To find out what "fundamentalism" REALLY is find these books on Amazon and order them. The reprint which came out around 10 years ago consists of 4 volumes.
Wade-
This will be a long comment...eight painful years in the making!
I am BLOWN away by this statement by pastor Wiley. Finally, someone from the "good ole southern baptist boys club," gets real. I read your blog almost daily, and the wisdom you present as a pastor is insightful. I am a Baptist woman, and I appreciate your honesty about some of the "elephants in the room," as far as the Southern Baptist Convention and Churches are concerned.
I grew up in a non-denominational church. It was basically a Southern Baptist Church which spoke in tounges according to the scriptures three times a year and we had communion every Sunday. I participated in many activities at the local baptist church as a teenager. The small town baptist church was awesome and I was hungry for MORE than I was getting in Sunday school at my home church. My father, a deacon and a member of the elder body, always encouraged me to go where I was fed, as long the teachings followed Jesus Christ. This being the case, I attended Sunday School and worship at my home church and I attended youth group, Bible study, Falls Creek, and many other things at the Baptist church.
My father always said that in the "great commision," he had a hard time finding the words Southern Baptist anywhere in the text. What made the narrowmindedness of the Southern Baptist Convention more real to me was as an adult I married a "Baptist Boy" who felt called to be a youth paster and I was to serve along him as a youth minister's wife. I was jazzed about teaching Sunday School, youth, choir, and maybe having the opportunity to serve in the church. But oh my goodness I hit a snag. I was not baptisted in a Southern Baptist church and I was told that I could not join this church that my new husband was called to unless I was re-baptised and in no way could I serve in any capacity in a Southern Baptist church because they were not sure of my salvation experience. Now hold on here my salvation experience was in line with the 67'BFM, and no matter how much I explained this to the pastor of this church, I was told "NO!" So after much prayer I decided that my serving God's calling was more important than my pride and I was re-baptised. My ever supporting father (who is a rockin' Christian) hugged me and asked me if I had recieved my official Baptist card after I was re-baptised. That comment hurt.
I am giving you this background to make a point that I think Pastor Wiley has made so eloquently in his statement.
Eight years later, When I stumbled onto your blog and watched some of the news coverage I had to chuckle to myself in disgust. When I am witnessing to young people I am checking their hearts, not to see if they are carring an official "Baptist card."
To pastor Wiley, I encountered so many people in the baptist church like you, that it made me sick and embarrassed! So from a person who was made to feel like my salvation experience was meaningless, by the baptist church. I realized God's call was greater in my life than denominational lines. I have spent many years praying for closure, and some clarity as to why I suffered at the hand of the "good ole southern baptist boys club," I accept your apology.......it was long overdue.
Melanie,
Your letter touched my heart, and I’m sorry my Baptist brothers in their ignorance have caused you much pain.
Your story illustrates the difference of what ‘fundamentalism’ used to be and what it is today.
Roger Simpson wrote that fundamentalism has been hijacked since the 1920s.
Russell Dilday was president of SWBTS from 1978-1994. That’s 16 years of experience with fundamentalists. He wrote in the introduction of his book:
“In the light of recent world events swirling around Islamic extremists, the term “fundamentalism” has become a household word with negative connotations. A fundamentalist is one with extremist, fanatical views. Convinced that their position is the only right one, fundamentalists are confrontational and argumentative, demonizing anyone who differs. Reflecting a hidden insecurity, fundamentalists try to control others, forcing them into conformity. In furthering their cause, the end often justifies the means.
At one time among Baptists the term had a positive implication. A fundamentalist was someone committed to the fundamentals of the faith. But today, the term “fundamentalism” suggests a mind-set that is narrow, self-righteous, smug, judgmental, rigid, angry, combative, negative, critical, sanctimonious, and hypocritical. Whether it is political fundamentalism or philosophical fundamentalism, Islamic fundamentalism or Baptist fundamentalism, these same characteristics will likely be shared.
In the effort to defend SWBTS, I encountered firsthand that attitude, the politics, the disregard for Baptist principles, the exaggerations, the misinterpretation of the Bible, and other evils of Baptist fundamentalism.”
Rex Ray
Grosey,
You may ask the question on the "Ask Any Question Weekend" Post, and not this one.
Thanks,
wade
P.S. I'll be very happy to answer you there. All questions to me are removed off this comment line. I stated in my post that there will be no dialogue, thus, your question removed
Rex,
No questions on this comment section.
Comment on the post.
That's the last time I will say this.
Ron,
Wiley has been converted.
:)
Wade,
JUST FOR THE RECORD (This is not a question.)
I believe comments of one post should stand on its on words, and a ‘mystery’ should not be solved on the 237 comment of another post.
With that said, here is what happened on this post:
1. I asked a question with the second comment on this post of why the cutoff day for asking questions was changed from Sunday to Saturday.
2. You deleted the question, but answered it, BUT referenced Irreverend Fox’s name instead of mine.
3. Grosey asked a question.
4. I asked if you answer his, would you answer mine about Fox’s name.
5. Grosey’s question was deleted and he was told nicely to ask it on the ‘question and answer’ post.
6. My question was deleted and I was told to comment only on the post.
7. Grosey and I asked our questions again on the question and answer post.
8. On the 237 comment, you explained: “Rex, you are one persistent person. I explained why, but unfortunately put Irreverend’s name on the comment and not yours. Sorry. Here is the explanation again, with the right name. Rex, you deserve an explanation. The Lord’s work at Emmanuel is particularly tiring this Sunday. Three services, a luncheon, deacon’s meeting and preparations for a mission trip to Niger, Africa. No time for any questions. Thanks, though for your interest."
Rex Ray
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