Today, Baptist Press will release the nominations for committee and board service in the Southern Baptist Convention, to be voted upon by the full convention in San Antonio this summer.
This Nominating Committee report is the culmination of the year's work performed by the Bobby Welch Nominating Committee. Frank Page's Nominating Committee, the members of which will be voted upon at this year's convention, will not present their first year recommendations until the 2008 Southern Baptist Convention.
This report will be analyzed by many bloggers who can do a far better job than I. I anticipate making a few comments about various recommendations of this year's Nominating Committee report either late tonight or early in the morning.
Ultimately, the convention and her agencies are run by the people you will be voting upon this summer in this report.
It's important you know who it is you are being recommended to approve.
In His Grace,
Wade
(Update: It seems BP, originally scheduled to release the report today, is waiting to release it for reasons unknown by me. The SBC Bylaws mandates it be released by April 24, 2007.)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
My Inheritance Is Earned By Christ's Obedience
One of the most wonderful doctrines of Biblical soteriology is that of the saint's inheritance. When a believer in Christ arrives in glory, he receives "An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (I Peter 1:4). We did not earn this 'inheritance.' We do not deserve this 'inheritance.' Christ has earned it for us. His imputed righteousness to us who believe guarantees it. We are all 'co-heirs' with Christ.
One of religion's doctrines (as opposed to the doctrines of grace) is that rewards in heaven are earned. From the Islamic fundamentalist who believes seventy virgins await him for his personal sacrifice for Allah, to the Hindu fundamentalist whose exhaustive belief system in rewards motivates his every earthly action, religion thrives on keeping her followers motivated by rewards.
Unfortunately, within the Arminian system of evangelical theology, rewards also play a prominent role. The idea that the thief on the cross is rewarded as much as the Apostle Paul is unfathomable to the average Arminian. Faith, commitment, and obedience are not gifts, but works of man according to the Arminian. Thus, the Christian with more faith, more commitment and more works will be rewarded more than others in heaven.
Some Christians argue that without a system of rewards there would be no incentive for Christians to do good on earth. However, the evangelical motive for obedience and good works is never to be fear of punishment or the prospect of reward, but gratefulness for the Christ and His work of removing all punishment for our sin and guaranteeing our eternal inheritance by His obedience.
Yesterday, a friend set me the following set of illustrative pictures to visually display the silly logic of believing a Christian's inheritance is based upon his own work and not Christ's.
Thank God my inheritance is earned by Christ's obedience.
In His Grace,
Wade
One of religion's doctrines (as opposed to the doctrines of grace) is that rewards in heaven are earned. From the Islamic fundamentalist who believes seventy virgins await him for his personal sacrifice for Allah, to the Hindu fundamentalist whose exhaustive belief system in rewards motivates his every earthly action, religion thrives on keeping her followers motivated by rewards.
Unfortunately, within the Arminian system of evangelical theology, rewards also play a prominent role. The idea that the thief on the cross is rewarded as much as the Apostle Paul is unfathomable to the average Arminian. Faith, commitment, and obedience are not gifts, but works of man according to the Arminian. Thus, the Christian with more faith, more commitment and more works will be rewarded more than others in heaven.
Some Christians argue that without a system of rewards there would be no incentive for Christians to do good on earth. However, the evangelical motive for obedience and good works is never to be fear of punishment or the prospect of reward, but gratefulness for the Christ and His work of removing all punishment for our sin and guaranteeing our eternal inheritance by His obedience.
Yesterday, a friend set me the following set of illustrative pictures to visually display the silly logic of believing a Christian's inheritance is based upon his own work and not Christ's.
The Super Saint Mansion: This is the home of those rare folks who totally commit themselves to the task of advancing the Kingdom of God.
The Widow's Mite Mansion: Jesus' example of the poor widow out-giving wealthy men proved that it may not be so obvious who will be greatly blessed with riches in Heaven.
The God Fearing Mansion: The Bible repeatedly declares to us that God will, someday, pointedly ask each of us to give an account of the good deeds we've accomplished in our life on earth. This type of mansion is for people that wisely acted on God's warning.
The Average Christian Mansion: In heaven, even the average believer will enjoy living quarters that will be elegant by earthly standards.
The Struggling Believer Mansion: This home is for people who made it into heaven by the skin of their teeth. It's far better to live as a pauper in heaven, than to face the alternative.
The Spiritually Immature Mansion: Many Christians fail to fully mature in their faith. Because these folks cling to juvenile ways, a play house would be a fitting home for them.
The Wood, Hay and Stubble Mansion: This is the dwelling place for those individuals who did everything in life for their own glory. Many high-minded preachers would easily fit into this category.
The Pew Warmer Mansion: One of the saddest groups of people in heaven will be those who never did anything beyond going to church every Sunday. They had the knowledge of the truth, but they never did anything with it.
The Quitter Mansion: This is a home that will never be lived in because the person slated for this lot was a believer in name only. Angels began to build him a mansion, but they stopped work when it was clear the client had no intention of fulfilling his commitment.
Thank God my inheritance is earned by Christ's obedience.
In His Grace,
Wade
Sunday, April 15, 2007
We've More In Common With Boyce Than Falwell
Yesterday I read Les Puryear and Tom Ascol on their thoughts about Dr. Jerry Falwell's statement during last Friday's chapel message at Liberty University. Falwell declared about his school's theology:
I appreciate the ministry of Dr. Falwell. I appreciate Liberty University and the pastors who have graduated from that school, many of whom are now serving within the Southern Baptist Convention. I am glad Dr. Falwell has chosen to unite with the Southern Baptist Convention and welcome him as part of our fold. However . . .
I have long been concerned that a group of independent, fundamental Baptists are attempting to remake the Southern Baptist Convention into the mold they perceive is best. One of the ways fundamentalists accomplish their goal is to label anything 'heresy' that is in disagreement with their views. This 'heresy' labeling is attached to even disagreements on secondary and tertiary doctrines, like that of 'the extent of the atonement.'
I believe that if and when the Southern Baptist Convention ever rolls over and acquiesces by agreeing with pronouncements of 'heresy' like that of Dr. Falwell regarding 'limited atonement,' we are finished as a cooperating convention.
When I was eighteen years old I was handed "The Abstract of Systematic Theology" by James Petigru Boyce as a graduation gift. I have now read the book at least five times from cover to cover and make it a personal policy to give a copy to graduates as well. We also have used it as a textbook and study guide for our men's Tuesday morning discipleship class.
James Petigru Boyce was the principle founder of Southern Seminary. He was born January 11, 1827 in Charleston, South Carolina to Mr. and Mrs. Ker Boyce. His father was considered the wealthiest man in South Carolina and Charleston was the most cultured American city in the early 19th Century. J.P. Boyce had the privilege of the finest education available at Charleston College, Brown University (R.I.) and Princeton Seminary (N.J.)
It was while a student at Charleston that Boyce was converted. Dr. Francis Wayland, President of Brown University discipled Boyce during his years at Brown, and the great theologians and teachers Archibald Alexander and Charles Hodge mentored him at Princeton. After graduation in 1851, Boyce was ordained and accepted the call to First Baptist Church, Columbia, South Carolina. He served faithfully until 1855, when he was made professor of Systematic Theology at Furman College. It was at Furman, in 1856, that he gave his famous address 'Three Changes in Theological Institutions' which became the founding structure of Southern Seminary in 1859.
The address set forth three principles on which a seminary would meet the needs of the educated and uneducated man. John Broadus summarized the principles in his book "Memoirs of James P. Boyce" as these:
The Abstract of Principles, written by Boyce's friend Basil Manley (notice Boyce's two best friends are John Broadus and Basil Manly -- it's where we get the name Broadman Press), still serves as the doctrinal standard of Southern Seminary and Southeastern Seminary today, preceding the 1925 Baptist Faith and Message by more than half a century.
The Abstract of Principles is Calvinistic. It declares regeneration precedes saving faith. It unequivocally declares the sovereign election of sinners for salvation by God's free grasce. It also emphasizes substitutionary atonement.
John Broadus, fellow founder of Southern Seminary, declared this about his friend James P. Boyce:
Boyce held to the view that the atonement was 'sufficient for all, but efficient for the elect.' I hold to the belief that the atonement is both sufficient and efficient for the elect alone, the same view held by Dr. John Gill and Southern Baptist systematic theologian John L. Dagg, but my appreciation for the writing and ministry of James Boyce is unequivocal.
My point in this post is simply this:
I would never dream of calling an opposing view of the extent of the atonement 'heresy' or cease from cooperating in missions and evangelism from those who don't see atonement the way I do.
It is incumbent upon us as a convention to avoid 'heresy' pronouncements if we are going to continue to grow in our cooperation and missions ministry. I am trusting that the majority of Southern Baptists will see our heritage as a convention in the vein of J.P. Boyce. We welcome Jerry Falwell and those who believe as he does, but we will not let them get by with heresy pronouncements unchallenged.
In His Grace,
Wade Burleson
"We are not into particular love or limited atonement. As a matter of fact we consider it heresy."
I appreciate the ministry of Dr. Falwell. I appreciate Liberty University and the pastors who have graduated from that school, many of whom are now serving within the Southern Baptist Convention. I am glad Dr. Falwell has chosen to unite with the Southern Baptist Convention and welcome him as part of our fold. However . . .
I have long been concerned that a group of independent, fundamental Baptists are attempting to remake the Southern Baptist Convention into the mold they perceive is best. One of the ways fundamentalists accomplish their goal is to label anything 'heresy' that is in disagreement with their views. This 'heresy' labeling is attached to even disagreements on secondary and tertiary doctrines, like that of 'the extent of the atonement.'
I believe that if and when the Southern Baptist Convention ever rolls over and acquiesces by agreeing with pronouncements of 'heresy' like that of Dr. Falwell regarding 'limited atonement,' we are finished as a cooperating convention.
When I was eighteen years old I was handed "The Abstract of Systematic Theology" by James Petigru Boyce as a graduation gift. I have now read the book at least five times from cover to cover and make it a personal policy to give a copy to graduates as well. We also have used it as a textbook and study guide for our men's Tuesday morning discipleship class.
James Petigru Boyce was the principle founder of Southern Seminary. He was born January 11, 1827 in Charleston, South Carolina to Mr. and Mrs. Ker Boyce. His father was considered the wealthiest man in South Carolina and Charleston was the most cultured American city in the early 19th Century. J.P. Boyce had the privilege of the finest education available at Charleston College, Brown University (R.I.) and Princeton Seminary (N.J.)
It was while a student at Charleston that Boyce was converted. Dr. Francis Wayland, President of Brown University discipled Boyce during his years at Brown, and the great theologians and teachers Archibald Alexander and Charles Hodge mentored him at Princeton. After graduation in 1851, Boyce was ordained and accepted the call to First Baptist Church, Columbia, South Carolina. He served faithfully until 1855, when he was made professor of Systematic Theology at Furman College. It was at Furman, in 1856, that he gave his famous address 'Three Changes in Theological Institutions' which became the founding structure of Southern Seminary in 1859.
The address set forth three principles on which a seminary would meet the needs of the educated and uneducated man. John Broadus summarized the principles in his book "Memoirs of James P. Boyce" as these:
(1). A Baptist theological school ought not merely to receive college graduates, but men with a less general education, even men having only what is called common English education, offering to every man such opportunities of theological study as he is prepared for and desires.
(2). Besides covering, for those who are prepared, as wide a range of theological study as could be found elsewhere, such an institution ought to offer further and special courses so that the ablest and most aspiring students might make extra-ordinary attainments, preparing them for instruction and original authoriship, helping to make our country less dependent upon foreign scholarship.
(3). There should be prepared an "Abstract of Priciples", or careful statement of theological belief, which every professor in such an institution must sign when inaugurated, so as to guard against the rise of erroneous and injurious instruction in such a seat of sacred learning"
The Abstract of Principles, written by Boyce's friend Basil Manley (notice Boyce's two best friends are John Broadus and Basil Manly -- it's where we get the name Broadman Press), still serves as the doctrinal standard of Southern Seminary and Southeastern Seminary today, preceding the 1925 Baptist Faith and Message by more than half a century.
The Abstract of Principles is Calvinistic. It declares regeneration precedes saving faith. It unequivocally declares the sovereign election of sinners for salvation by God's free grasce. It also emphasizes substitutionary atonement.
John Broadus, fellow founder of Southern Seminary, declared this about his friend James P. Boyce:
"It was a great privilege to be directed by such a teacher in studying that exalted system of Pauline truth which is technically called Calvinism, which compels an earnest student to profound thinking, and when pursued with a combination of systematic thought and fervent experience, makes him at home among the most inspiring and enobling views of God and the universe He made."
Boyce held to the view that the atonement was 'sufficient for all, but efficient for the elect.' I hold to the belief that the atonement is both sufficient and efficient for the elect alone, the same view held by Dr. John Gill and Southern Baptist systematic theologian John L. Dagg, but my appreciation for the writing and ministry of James Boyce is unequivocal.
My point in this post is simply this:
I would never dream of calling an opposing view of the extent of the atonement 'heresy' or cease from cooperating in missions and evangelism from those who don't see atonement the way I do.
It is incumbent upon us as a convention to avoid 'heresy' pronouncements if we are going to continue to grow in our cooperation and missions ministry. I am trusting that the majority of Southern Baptists will see our heritage as a convention in the vein of J.P. Boyce. We welcome Jerry Falwell and those who believe as he does, but we will not let them get by with heresy pronouncements unchallenged.
In His Grace,
Wade Burleson
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Odds and Ends For the Weekend
Item One
This Friday night ABC television will air a two part series on the news program 20/20 which will examine Sexual Predators in the Southern Baptist Convention. I predict this program will be a shocker for many around the nation. I am hopeful that we who are part of the SBC can show legitimate, thoughtful concern for the problem in our midst and take concrete steps to protect our children and our churches by establishing a national data bank in Nashville that tracks men affiliated with the SBC who have been convicted of sexual harrassment or sexual abuse.
The Dallas Morning News has already posted a press release about actions being taken at the San Antonio Southern Baptist Conventon this summer to address the problem and appropriate steps to deal with it. The full press release can be read here.
Item Two
I received the following email this morning from Brian Cleveland about his dad, my friend and fellow Southern Baptist blogger Bob Cleveland.
Why don't you stop in and send Bob a get well message on his blog Eagle's Rest.
Item 3
Today is my daugher's 20th birthday. Charis is an absolute delight to her mom and dad and we will be traveling to Waco, Texas to spend the day with her tomorrow.
I look forward to posting again later this weekend.
In His Grace,
Wade
This Friday night ABC television will air a two part series on the news program 20/20 which will examine Sexual Predators in the Southern Baptist Convention. I predict this program will be a shocker for many around the nation. I am hopeful that we who are part of the SBC can show legitimate, thoughtful concern for the problem in our midst and take concrete steps to protect our children and our churches by establishing a national data bank in Nashville that tracks men affiliated with the SBC who have been convicted of sexual harrassment or sexual abuse.
The Dallas Morning News has already posted a press release about actions being taken at the San Antonio Southern Baptist Conventon this summer to address the problem and appropriate steps to deal with it. The full press release can be read here.
Item Two
I received the following email this morning from Brian Cleveland about his dad, my friend and fellow Southern Baptist blogger Bob Cleveland.
Just wanted to let you know that dad appears to have had a TIA or Transient Ischemic Attack [some people call them a mini stroke] this morning. He is in a local Hospital and doing very well. His only symptom was some slurring of his speech. The CAT scan and MRI's have come back negative and all of his symptoms were gone as of 5:00 pm. They will be doing some additional test tomorrow and the neurologist thinks he will be able to go home tomorrow afternoon, or Friday morning at the latest.
I know he is going to be ok as he was asking for his laptop this afternoon to check the blogs :)
We would appreciate your prayers, God has already been answering today as we have seen the symptoms disappear and dad is his normal [ok, that is somewhat subjective] self.
Why don't you stop in and send Bob a get well message on his blog Eagle's Rest.
Item 3
Today is my daugher's 20th birthday. Charis is an absolute delight to her mom and dad and we will be traveling to Waco, Texas to spend the day with her tomorrow.
I look forward to posting again later this weekend.
In His Grace,
Wade
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
More Wild Winds From Texas Are Needed
Today I viewed a priceless video interview with Dr. W. A. Criswell and his wife Betty on their 62nd Wedding Anniversary. Dr. W.A. Criswell told several anecdotal narratives, totally impromptu, that give the listener insight into several unique characteristics of Dr. Criswell’s life, marriage and ministry. I learned why Dr. Criswell was never seen in old, shoddy clothes, including at home. I learned of the Criswell’s love for antiques, and through Dr. Criswell’s ten minute detailed explanation, the history of the porcelain Easter egg. But the one story that caught my attention began when Dr. Criswell was asked two questions about meeting Betty in 1933, whom he later married in 1935. The interchange begins at minute fifty one of the videotape:
I love this story.
May the Wally Amos Criswells in our convention increase. May we constantly challenge unwritten and unspoken rules that we don’t find in Scripture. May we persevere when all we hear are naysayers. May the world around us change because we stand alone against tradition and emphasis the freedom and liberty found in God’s Word.
In His Grace,
Wade
Question: “Now Dr. C. you knew Betty two years before you married her?”
Dr. Criswell: “At least”
Question: “Did she have other boyfriends?”
Dr. Criswell: “Good night yes. Unspeakably so. Indescribably so. Unforgiveably so.”
(Laughter)
Dr. Criswell: “You know how come my knowing her? I was raised out here you know. I never dreamed of a church such as they have over there east of the river. And in Kentucky it was an unwritten law that no female was ever to pray in public. I never heard of anything like that in my life.”
Mrs. Criswell: “You know that’s true”
Dr. Criswell: “So my introduction to Mt. Washington where she grew up, which was seventeen miles from the seminary, I was there first on Wednesday night, and I wanted to have a prayer meeting. I was going to speak and on and on, but I wanted to have a prayer meeting. So I had them bow their heads and I started with that woman there (pointing) and asked her to pray. Oh boy, she was insulted. Then I asked her to pray, the next one. Same thing. Asked her to pray. Asked her to pray. I went clear through the front row.
Mrs. Criswell: “You would think anybody would know better than to keep on and on . .”
Dr. Criswell: "Well I just did. I had never heard of anything such as no woman was allowed to pray in public. So when I got through the first row I started on the second one here. And then I asked that woman to pray. “No.” And the next one, and the next one. And finally I got to that girl (pointing) – later Bessie Marie Harris – and I got to her. And I asked her to pray."
"And she did. That’s the first time I ever saw her and the first time I had ever heard of her. And I said, ‘How in the earth is it that all the women refused and when I got to you, why you led in the prayer?' And she said, 'I just got full of pity for you, so when you got to me I just decided I was going to pray."
"Well that was my introduction to Bessie Marie Harris."
Question: "Well now she must have just been awestruck with you from the beginning."
Dr. Criswell: “Good night no.”
Mrs. Criswell: "This wild wind from Texas we’ve never seen in Kentucky. All our preachers were nice and quiet. We started home after the service and I said, “I hope I never see that man again.” My mother said, "We’ll I hope we do he’s the only right thing that’s come into this land in memory."
I love this story.
May the Wally Amos Criswells in our convention increase. May we constantly challenge unwritten and unspoken rules that we don’t find in Scripture. May we persevere when all we hear are naysayers. May the world around us change because we stand alone against tradition and emphasis the freedom and liberty found in God’s Word.
In His Grace,
Wade
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Show Trials Have No Place in Christianity
Today the Missouri Baptist Convention fired Executive Director David Clippard
Immediately after the roll was called at the MBC Executive Board meeting, a motion was made to move into Executive Session. Executive Director David Clippard, who by nature of his position is a member of the board, was barred from attending the closed door meeting. Nearly four hours later, a vote was taken to fire David and it passed 44-7. The Missouri Baptist Convention staff members were notified by inter-office e-mail to assemble in a conference room at 1:30 where they were informed of Clippard's termination.
I have no opinion on whether or not David's termination was justified, but I have a very strong opinion on the process taken. David Clippard heard nothing of the deliberations. He had no opportuntity to issue a defense before the board. He was kept OUT of the meeting, and the entire meeting was about him. That is a clear and direct violation of Matthew 18, and what is worse, not even the pagans treat their accused as unjustly as the Executive Director was treated in the procedures yesterday. An appeal was made to reverse the decision to bar the Executive Director from the closed door meeting designed to hear the reasons why he should be terminated, but the board leadership overruled it.
Therefore, David Clippard was not asked any questions, given an opportunity to share his thoughts, or allowed to issue any statement before the vote to terminate him. He was removed from his job as the top leader for Missouri Baptists without even so much as a 'David, what do you have to say for yorself" before the entire board.
For several months we watched Sadaam Hussein sit before his accusers, speaking regularly in his defense, and being offered every opportunity to plead his innocence. Yet, in the end, Sadaam was executed for his crimes.
David Clippard had none of the opportunities afforded to Saddam, yet, in the end, instead of a public execution, this very bizarre statement was issued to Baptist Press by Michael Whitehead, the parlimentarian for the MBC, regarding the board's feelings for David:
Gee, what a weird way of saying your still the same guy we hired five years ago. Remind me never to apply for the Executive Director position in Missouri. Also, it would seem to me that this very statement RULES OUT any justifiable termination on moral grounds. One would never dream of making this statement of David Clippard if that were true.
Some Friendly Advice For Dr. Clippard
(1). Don't sign any confidentiality agreement.
If a board or committee doesn't have enough guts to say what needs to be said in the light of day for all Southern Baptists to hear it, bars you from hearing the accusations against you or from issuing any statement in your defense before the board, and then comes out in public and commends you as a person and your ministry as a whole -- then it's time to play hard ball with the people who are controlling and manipulating Missouri Baptists.
Your integrity is at stake and the work of the kingdom at large is at stake. The MBC is kicking churches out. The MBC is kicking people out. The MBC is kicking Executive Directors out. Soon, the Missouri Baptist Convention will have kicked everyone out that doesn't look the same, talk the same, preach the same, act the same, give the same, walk the same, etc . . . We should change the name to the 'Show Me You're Like Me' Convention. I think you need to say what your experience has been like because of the future of the kingdom work in the SBC. I think you should believe you should talk because your future ministry is at stake. If you don't, others will for you.
(2). Encourage every single board member and board officer to make EVERYTHING public -- immediately .
One of the problems with closed door meetings is that one, two or three years from now, those who were in the meeting will be saying many things about the meeting that are not true. What was said was bad enough, as the resignations of some key people will show, but you will discover what will be said in the future -- which was not even said behind closed doors -- will even be worse. This will all be in an attempt to discredit you. Further, you will find that unless you make all facts public NOW, things will be said in an attempt to ruin your ministry in the future.
Again, demand EVERYTHING be made public. Only the guilty wish things to be hidden or covered. I bet you will find the little things that crawled out when the doors were closed will be scurrying for cover when the light is turned on. The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. They want you to be quiet -- you should want them to talk. Do you see the irony?
Of course, if something is revealed that proves the action taken in your termination is just, we can, and will forgive you -- all the while affirming your termination.
But I can tell you that something really smells rotten in Denmark.
(3). Recognize that you may never understand the logic of what happened.
It is not about logic. It is not about spiritual matters. It is about power. It is about control. It is about politics. And right now, you are on the losing side.
But it won't be for long. Southern Baptists are waking up to the fact that show trials have no place in our convention life. It's time people realized that you just can't run over people in the Southern Baptist Convention because of philosphical or methodological disagreements. Leaders in the SBC who misappropriate funds, regularly lie, build personal kingdoms, and are immoral should be terminated. But there is a long trail of Southern Baptists who have been abused, maligned, set aside, and in some instances terminated, all because they did not form the approprate alliance, express the necessary allegience, or had the audacity to think for themselves.
Those days are quickly coming to an end in the convention as a whole, but the state of Missouri may need someone to step up to the plate to hold accountable those who would villify and crucify their brothers in Christ for personal or political gain. Do you have it in you?
I think you will find people respect a man who stands on principle.
In His Grace,
Wade Burleson
P.S. David Tolliver, the man Roger Moran and the MBC activists placed on the Executive Committee payroll at MBC -- without David Clippard's direction or permission -- is now the 'interim' Executive Director. What are the odds the title 'interim' will be removed within the next few months? We'll see.
Immediately after the roll was called at the MBC Executive Board meeting, a motion was made to move into Executive Session. Executive Director David Clippard, who by nature of his position is a member of the board, was barred from attending the closed door meeting. Nearly four hours later, a vote was taken to fire David and it passed 44-7. The Missouri Baptist Convention staff members were notified by inter-office e-mail to assemble in a conference room at 1:30 where they were informed of Clippard's termination.
I have no opinion on whether or not David's termination was justified, but I have a very strong opinion on the process taken. David Clippard heard nothing of the deliberations. He had no opportuntity to issue a defense before the board. He was kept OUT of the meeting, and the entire meeting was about him. That is a clear and direct violation of Matthew 18, and what is worse, not even the pagans treat their accused as unjustly as the Executive Director was treated in the procedures yesterday. An appeal was made to reverse the decision to bar the Executive Director from the closed door meeting designed to hear the reasons why he should be terminated, but the board leadership overruled it.
Therefore, David Clippard was not asked any questions, given an opportunity to share his thoughts, or allowed to issue any statement before the vote to terminate him. He was removed from his job as the top leader for Missouri Baptists without even so much as a 'David, what do you have to say for yorself" before the entire board.
For several months we watched Sadaam Hussein sit before his accusers, speaking regularly in his defense, and being offered every opportunity to plead his innocence. Yet, in the end, Sadaam was executed for his crimes.
David Clippard had none of the opportunities afforded to Saddam, yet, in the end, instead of a public execution, this very bizarre statement was issued to Baptist Press by Michael Whitehead, the parlimentarian for the MBC, regarding the board's feelings for David:
"Clippard's termination doesn't translate into a rejection of David Clippard and his conviction to plant churches worldwide. The same gifts and talents that attracted the board to Clippard four years and eight months ago he still possesses. This is a hurtful time, but not a funeral for a man and his ministry."
Gee, what a weird way of saying your still the same guy we hired five years ago. Remind me never to apply for the Executive Director position in Missouri. Also, it would seem to me that this very statement RULES OUT any justifiable termination on moral grounds. One would never dream of making this statement of David Clippard if that were true.
Some Friendly Advice For Dr. Clippard
(1). Don't sign any confidentiality agreement.
If a board or committee doesn't have enough guts to say what needs to be said in the light of day for all Southern Baptists to hear it, bars you from hearing the accusations against you or from issuing any statement in your defense before the board, and then comes out in public and commends you as a person and your ministry as a whole -- then it's time to play hard ball with the people who are controlling and manipulating Missouri Baptists.
Your integrity is at stake and the work of the kingdom at large is at stake. The MBC is kicking churches out. The MBC is kicking people out. The MBC is kicking Executive Directors out. Soon, the Missouri Baptist Convention will have kicked everyone out that doesn't look the same, talk the same, preach the same, act the same, give the same, walk the same, etc . . . We should change the name to the 'Show Me You're Like Me' Convention. I think you need to say what your experience has been like because of the future of the kingdom work in the SBC. I think you should believe you should talk because your future ministry is at stake. If you don't, others will for you.
(2). Encourage every single board member and board officer to make EVERYTHING public -- immediately .
One of the problems with closed door meetings is that one, two or three years from now, those who were in the meeting will be saying many things about the meeting that are not true. What was said was bad enough, as the resignations of some key people will show, but you will discover what will be said in the future -- which was not even said behind closed doors -- will even be worse. This will all be in an attempt to discredit you. Further, you will find that unless you make all facts public NOW, things will be said in an attempt to ruin your ministry in the future.
Again, demand EVERYTHING be made public. Only the guilty wish things to be hidden or covered. I bet you will find the little things that crawled out when the doors were closed will be scurrying for cover when the light is turned on. The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. They want you to be quiet -- you should want them to talk. Do you see the irony?
Of course, if something is revealed that proves the action taken in your termination is just, we can, and will forgive you -- all the while affirming your termination.
But I can tell you that something really smells rotten in Denmark.
(3). Recognize that you may never understand the logic of what happened.
It is not about logic. It is not about spiritual matters. It is about power. It is about control. It is about politics. And right now, you are on the losing side.
But it won't be for long. Southern Baptists are waking up to the fact that show trials have no place in our convention life. It's time people realized that you just can't run over people in the Southern Baptist Convention because of philosphical or methodological disagreements. Leaders in the SBC who misappropriate funds, regularly lie, build personal kingdoms, and are immoral should be terminated. But there is a long trail of Southern Baptists who have been abused, maligned, set aside, and in some instances terminated, all because they did not form the approprate alliance, express the necessary allegience, or had the audacity to think for themselves.
Those days are quickly coming to an end in the convention as a whole, but the state of Missouri may need someone to step up to the plate to hold accountable those who would villify and crucify their brothers in Christ for personal or political gain. Do you have it in you?
I think you will find people respect a man who stands on principle.
In His Grace,
Wade Burleson
P.S. David Tolliver, the man Roger Moran and the MBC activists placed on the Executive Committee payroll at MBC -- without David Clippard's direction or permission -- is now the 'interim' Executive Director. What are the odds the title 'interim' will be removed within the next few months? We'll see.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Commentary on Easter Sunday Worship Services
Yesterday was a great day at Emmanuel. We had five Easter Sunday morning services and had 3,000 in worship for the first time ever. The exciting part is that we were able to reach many people in our city with the gospel of Christ for the very first time.
I told my wife that there are things I like about Easter worship services and things I dislike. One of the things I did enjoy this year is that our staff was very creative and pro-active in the ways we reached out to unchurched people in our community. It takes a tremendous amount of effort and energy to do what we did, including . . .
(1). Filming and showing a three minute clip of the life story of a local dentist who was saved from a life of 'partying and doing all the things he shouldn't be doing' (his words) to a life committed to Jesus Christ.
(2). Adjusting the times and format of our worship services to accomodate five morning services including three blended services in the auditorium at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00, and two contemporary services at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.
(3). Using newly designed community wide mailouts and special Sunday worship programs that were created to communicate both the gospel of Christ and the mission and purpose of our church to those unfamiliar with both.
(4). Hosting guest receptions for all visitors after each service and providing for them additional materials that further explain the gospel (a book by John Piper) and the specific ministries of our church.
(5). Never forgetting that what it takes to get people to church is what it usually takes to keep them in church. Therefore, our staff does the very best job possible to make sure the expositional teaching of God's Word and the praise and worship times, both choral and corporate, are the MAIN emphasis every Sunday. All power points, special presentations and worship events are designed to emphasize either the teaching of God's word or the strengthening of one's personal worship and walk with Christ. Thankfully, Easter Sunday is no different from any other Sunday at Emmanuel in these two areas.
I would particularly like your comments about your Easter services, from both pastors and laymen, and ask you to offer any ideas or suggestions that you have that we might be able to implement in the future. Of course, we would also be interested in those things you don't like regarding Easter since sometimes that in our lives we dislike the most are exactly the things that teach us our best lessons.
Blessings to all,
In His Grace,
Wade Burleson
P.S. Thanks to Tyson Wynn of FBC Strang, Oklahoma for the cartoon!
Saturday, April 07, 2007
The Risen Savior and the Center of The Universe
The photograph above - voted by scientists as the best among the thousands of space photographs taken by the Hubble telescope - pictures The Sombrero Galaxy. This galaxy, also called M104, is 28 million light years from Earth. That means if you began today traveling toward the galaxy at the speed of light, it would take you 28 million years to reach it. Though the photograph makes Sombrero seem small, it actually has 800 billion suns and is 50,000 light years across, which means it has eight times more stars than our own Milky Way galaxy and stretches half the distance across space than that of the Milky Way (which is approximately 100,000 light years across).
When one considers that M104 is only one of 500 billion galaxies in the known universe (we are not sure about that which we do not know), it makes earth seem quite small. And from a scientific standpoint, our world is tiny. In fact, for anyone in our modern day to call the earth the center of the universe would be a statement that invites ridicule.
But in a very real sense the earth is the center of the universe. It is the very spot upon which God chose to create man. It is upon Earth that God condescended and walked among His creation and revealed Himself to those who otherwise would be unable to comprehend Him. It is upon this planet we call Earth - in this comparatively small galaxy we call Milky Way - that the God-man chose to die, and rise again. In the salvation of those who have sinned against Him, God brings glory to Himself. These soteriological events convince me that earth is, in reality, the center of God's universe.
I wish each of my friends in the center of the universe a wonderful Lord's Day as we celebrate our Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In His Grace,
Wade
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Too Great A Temptation and Too Great A Story
I just finished reading for the third time Too Great a Temptation: The Seductive Power of America's Super Church, an autobiography of Dr. Joel Gregory's life and ministry, particularly his calling to, and short tenure at, First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas. Every time I read the book I come away with anecdotes that I must have missed before. For instance, when Dr. Gregory first took a role in national Southern Baptist politics, he was called on by Paige Patterson, Paul Pressler and others to give the presidential nominating speech for Ed Young.
Gregory writes of the events at the June 9-11, 1992 Southern Baptist Convention in Indianopolis on page 292
Fifteen years later the domino theory is being tested. The ordained candidate did not win last year. The first domino has fallen in the election of Frank Page. However, it is my personal belief that the Southern Baptist Convention will only become broader, more missions oriented, and less focused on the non-essentials through the election of Frank Page. We shall remain conservative. We are all conservative, Bible believing Christians. We all hold to the fundamentals of the faith as historical Baptists have always done, and we unite for the purpose of missions and evangelism.
I think the SBC in Greensboro, June 2006, a quarter of a century after the beginning of the 'conservative resurgence,' will go down as the beginning of a needed pendulum swing back toward a brand of irenic conservatism that focuses on missions and evangelism more than sectarian ideology and demands for conformity in the interpretation of tertiary doctrines.
San Antonio will only build on that trend.
And, contrary to what some might believe, the SBC will not reverse course - we will only slightly alter our direction toward a more important destination.
In His Grace,
Wade
Gregory writes of the events at the June 9-11, 1992 Southern Baptist Convention in Indianopolis on page 292
Thus came time for The Meeting. Each year on Monday night of the Southern Baptist Convention was The Meeting. Attendance was by invitation only. It was usually hosted in the presidential suite of the sitting president. Security was tight with the meeting often taking place on an elevator-keyed floor. This was the strategy meeting for the next day's election. The heroes of the conservative resurgence led the meeting. Adrian Rogers by force of personality usually became the unofficial chair. Around the room sat the major voices of the conservative wing of the Southern Baptist Convention. With three candidates seeking to lead the sixteen-million-member denomination amidst a thirteen-year-long war for control, certainty was not a guest at this gathering.
I was seated on a couch in the middle of thirty or so conservative powers, most of them friends of the years. I read to them my thoughts of a nominating speech for Ed Young the next day. It was not well received. Paige Patterson, Paul Pressler, Adrian Rogers, Bailey Smith, Jerry Vines, and Charles Stanley all began to submit their ideas for a better direction of thought in the speech. Then the second rank of younger leaders around the periphery of the room added their opinions. As I took notes on my lap-top, it began to look like a speech by committee. Since Ed was perceived by some as an elitist, some wanted to emphasize his populist roots in Mississippi. Others wanted to underscore his astonishing achievement at Second, Houston. Some said this, some that, and some something else. Finally, Adrian made the suggestion that since they had asked me to do it, they must have thought I had sense enough to write the speech. As usual, his wisdom carried the day. Dr. Charles Stanley of First Baptist, Atlanta, approached me as the meeting broke up. With his gaunt presence and basset-hound eyes, he laid his hand on my shoulder to say, "Joel, this may well be the most important speech of your life."
I was not sure if this was an affirmation or a warning. This was the second of three times in as many years that Charles would say something like that to me. During the Paige Patterson airport meeting described earlier, Charles told me something of the same ilk concerning my stand to save Paige's job. A year later and months after my resignation from the church, I presented the new candidate for the presidency of the Foreign Mission Board. Again, Charles informed me of the uniqueness of the moment.
For thirteen years the anointed candidate of the conservatives had won. NO one, but no one, wanted to be the nominee or the nominator who lost that election. The stakes were sky-high. If there was ever one conservative loss, the left wing of the denomination could gain momentum again. There was a domino theory that the whole Baptist civil war could reverse itself. Whether or not that was true, no one knew, and no one wanted to find out."
Fifteen years later the domino theory is being tested. The ordained candidate did not win last year. The first domino has fallen in the election of Frank Page. However, it is my personal belief that the Southern Baptist Convention will only become broader, more missions oriented, and less focused on the non-essentials through the election of Frank Page. We shall remain conservative. We are all conservative, Bible believing Christians. We all hold to the fundamentals of the faith as historical Baptists have always done, and we unite for the purpose of missions and evangelism.
I think the SBC in Greensboro, June 2006, a quarter of a century after the beginning of the 'conservative resurgence,' will go down as the beginning of a needed pendulum swing back toward a brand of irenic conservatism that focuses on missions and evangelism more than sectarian ideology and demands for conformity in the interpretation of tertiary doctrines.
San Antonio will only build on that trend.
And, contrary to what some might believe, the SBC will not reverse course - we will only slightly alter our direction toward a more important destination.
In His Grace,
Wade
A Little Fun With Nicknames
Lest someone accuse me of being too serious minded, I am offering us all a chance to have a little fun with nicknames. Feel free to add people from SBC life or the blog world at your discretion. I just ask that you have fun, keep it clean, and only be as creative with others as you would have them be to you (the Golden Rule of nicknaming). I would obviously offer myself on the altar of shame and ridicule as well. :)
My list of nicknames would include:
Marty How Ya Duren
Hershael Kisses York
Don Hinkle Tinkle
Frank Turn The Page
Bart Who's Your Barber
Bob Ever Been To Cleveland
Ben Hotter Than A Cole
Al Check My Mohler
Malcom Spin The Yarnell
Oh well, you get the idea. Open for suggestions.
My list of nicknames would include:
Marty How Ya Duren
Hershael Kisses York
Don Hinkle Tinkle
Frank Turn The Page
Bart Who's Your Barber
Bob Ever Been To Cleveland
Ben Hotter Than A Cole
Al Check My Mohler
Malcom Spin The Yarnell
Oh well, you get the idea. Open for suggestions.
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