Tom Ascol Rattles the Cage of the Slumbering Bear; Wong Is Right and the Founders Eventually Leave

Tom Ascol runs Founders Ministries.

I consider Tom a friend, but like any true friend, there's no hesitation in speaking up when I believe Tom or his Calvinistic Southern Baptist brethren have crossed a line - a biblical line. 

Tom crossed that line in a Tweet from Monday, February 10, 2020.

Hosanna Wong

Hosanna Wong is an author, Bible teacher, and spoken-word artist who serves as a Teaching Pastor at EastLake Church in San Diego, Calfornia. She's recorded a couple of spoken word albums and published a couple of outstanding books. 

Hosanna has been asked by SBC Pastor's Conference President David Uth to speak at the 2020 SBC Pastor's Conference in Orlando, Florida, June 7-8, 2020. 

Tom and his Calvinist friends are shouting their complaints on social media.

A woman will be on the platform.

A woman will be speaking truth from Scripture. 

A woman who carries the title Teaching Pastor at an evangelical church will be highlighted at the SBC Pastor's Conference.

What's the big deal?

Sexual abuse in the SBC. Now THAT'S a big deal. 

But Wong's presence on the platform has led Tom Ascol to pull out of attending the SBC Pastor's Conference, publicly tweeting:

"I wonder what the SBC@ExecComm will do about providing space at a discount?"

Rather than learn biblical truth from a woman, Tom would rather host his own conference at the same time, in competition with the 2020 Pastor's Conference. Tom, how about a debate with a man who also believes in the inerrant Scriptures, in particular atonement, and that the Bible teaches Kingdom leadership is determined by Spirit-gifting, not sexual gender; humble character, not hubristic control; and selfless service, not authoritarian attitudes?

Or, if that scares you, how about a friendly wager? I bet you a steak dinner (with you and your wife) that Hosanna Wong knocks it out of "the proverbial park," and that after the people attending the SBC Pastor's Conference hear her spoken-word teaching, it will be Hosanna Wong's part in the program that will be what everyone remembers because of what we learned from the Scripture. If I'm right, you buy my wife and me a steak.

I like my Rib-Eye medium.

You might say, "But Scripture forbids a woman to teach a man!" No sir, not even close.

Scripture forbids a man from controlling Christ's gifted body. Jesus Christ alone is the Head of His body, and He gifts His people as He pleases. If God has a way of using donkeys like you and me to preach the truth, surely He can gift a woman to do so, right?

Spiritual gifts are never gender-specific.

Tom, you and your buddies are on the losing side of this biblical issue, but you all are rattling the cage. Be careful. You are waking the bear.

Who's the bear? 

It's the average Southern Baptist church-goer who understands that there is room for differing interpretations of Scripture in the SBC on the issue of male-only leadership in Christian homes and churches. 

It's the average Southern Baptist church-goer who wonders where all the male SBC leaders were when a sexual abuse scandal rocked the SBC. 

It's the average Southern Baptist church-goer perceptive enough to realize that "spiritual power trips typically end in twisted trysts of sexual submission."

It's the average Southern Baptist church-goer who gets that the Baptist Faith and Message is not a creed, nor is it without error, nor should it be used as a club to beat autonomous churches into submission.

The bear understands.

The bear is awakening.

Stand firm, Ronnie Floyd. Stand firm, David Uth.

You men have no idea of the power of an angry bear. Cage-rattlers eventually go away. The bear is here to stay.

See you in Orlando.