I Have a Problem
I have a problem with Martin Luther. Oh yes, I know he started the Reformation and we owe him much. Yes, he gave us great hymns, Sola Scriptura, and other important contributions. But he did not come far enough theologically for my tastes. And he liked beer too much.
I have a problem with John Wesley. Sure, he led a great awakening and helped to spare England from much the French experienced in the French Revolution. He led a missional movement that resulted in thousands and thousands of new believers and churches. But he quite frankly was a terrible example as a husband.
I have a problem with George Whitefield. Whitefield, that young, bold evangelist who came to the American colonies seven times during the Great Awakening, preaching to multiple thousands while only in his twenties, did much good for the gospel. He even started an orphanage in the colony of Georgia which is still in existence today. But he also had slaves at that orphanage. Though he treated them well and preached Christ to them, I have a real problem with that.
I have a problem with Jonathan Edwards. Sure, he helped lead a Great Awakening. Pretty impressive. He wrote some of the greatest writings on revival in history. He was a pastor, leader, missionary, and thinker. But he is just a little too Reformed for my tastes in his treatise Freedom of the Will.
I have a problem with Charles Spurgeon. Spurgeon stands as one of the great Baptist preachers in history and is likely the most quoted. A pastor, leader, church planter, and soul winner, Spurgeon did much good. But he smoked a cigar, and I have a problem with that.
I have a problem with W.A. Criswell. The famous pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, did so much good for the gospel and the SBC during his time. Criswell was more innovative than many know in evangelism, and had a constant burden to see people saved. He played a vital role in the conservative resurgence. But Criswell allowed his numbers to be inflated, particularly in church membership, which has not been a good precedent.
I have a problem with Mark Driscoll. Driscoll, the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle and recent speaker on our campus, has seen possibly more hardcore unchurched young adults come to Christ in the last decade than any church in the US. He has led a church planting movement as well. But sometimes his language is a little edgy for my tastes, and I interpret the Bible differently than does he on the place of alcohol.
I have a problem with Alvin Reid. Yes, I have a problem with myself. I am pretty sure I really love Jesus and my main motive in life is to bring glory to God. I love my family, my students, and my convention. But sometimes I have added to the institutionalism and programmatic ministry that plagues us now. And I have a problem with that.
Finally, I have a problem with my convention. I am a Southern Baptist. I have blogged before on why I am a Southern Baptist. But I have a problem with my convention, when we seem more intent on witch hunts than on contextualizing the gospel in our time, when we love to pick at each other’s differences than unite for the sake of the gospel, when we are more concerned about our total receipts than we are the lostness of our nation, when we continually confuse personal preferences with unchanging truth, and when we castigate younger men who love Jesus and His truth for simply doing what we taught them to do: study and honor the Word (when they come to different conclusions than some of us on secondary issues, they scratch their heads at the response they get). I was a supporter of the conservative resurgence before it was cool. But the resurgence I supported did not include a Pharisaical legalism that expects conformity in nonessentials. I supported a resurgence to stand on the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture, one that now has led me and many others to see the need for a Great Commission Resurgence to be built on the foundation laid by the conservative resurgence. I am tired of talking good younger men off the ledge from leaving the SBC.
So, I have a problem. I have many heroes. I did not name them all. But none of them are perfect. None of them are Jesus. I can live with that. I can honor people who may be more Landmark on the one hand or Reformed on the other than I am. I can learn from and respect people who love the Word and the Gospel yet who may do things a bit differently from me.
I wonder if I am the only one….
22 Responses to “I Have a Problem”
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I’m with you, Dr. Reid.
Doc-
Great post! I was actually laying in bed this morning thinking about writing something just like this. Thanks for beating me to the punch!
No, you are not the only one. You listed most of my heroes, could have thrown in Calvin, Brainerd, Owens, Fuller, Carey, Piper, Truett. The list goes on and on. Give me hope for myself that these great men of faith had issues and shortcomings. Many of these men suffered from depression, they were limited by their physical ailments, and they just blew it sometimes. Nice to see that great men, reformers, great teachers and professors and men of faith are still just men, trying to work out their salvation.
Thank you! I think you voice, in many areas, what many of us are thinking.
In my mind, your article begs the following question. Why is it so hard to have balanced and biblical convictions that differ with others. Perhaps it is the loss of critical thinking ability? Or perhaps it is hero-worship? Maybe it is both.
Either way, thank you.
Dr. Reid… very good post. My sentiments exactly.
Gregg Potts
Great thoughts Doc. Thank you for your insight and candor on this issue. I think that this article has the potential to really do some good in this discussion. You summed it up very well in your closing paragraph.
Blessings.
“…when we are more concerned about our total receipts than we are the lostness of our nation…”
This really hit me because of how easy it is to get caught up in those numbers. In the end, total receipts isn’t going to win people to Christ is it?
“…Pharisaical legalism that expects conformity in nonessentials.”
Wow! What an eloquent way to put it! When you say it that way, one can clearly see the pettiness of the nonessential “arguments.”
Thanks for this challenging post!
This is the best response to the BP article that I have read anywhere!! I agree 100% with you Dr. Reid. Thank you!!
Anytime you attack someone it usually comes from your own insecurities. You tear others down to make yourself look better. Maybe these attacks on Driscoll come from a very jealous Baptist denomination. When other groups, denominations, para-church organizations, or churches are truly reaching more people for Christ, than we better be humble enough to pat them on the back and say “well done” brother or sister in Christ.
Great article Dr. Reid. While criticism has it’s place, let’s no throw out the baby with the bath water.
Alivn,
You got it right! Thanks.
Great, great post Dr. Reid. You drilled the nail on the head. If most SBC leaders were like you, I may still be Southern Baptist. Doubtful, but there may have been a chance. God bless you.
You are not the only one. We are many, and we are ashamed of what our convention has become. I want to see a day when we PARTNER with ministries, rather than bashing them and chasing witch hunts of anyone who believes the slightest bit differently. The SBC is shooting itself in the foot, and young men are leaving by the truckload. Many great pastors are seminary students are moving away from Southern Baptist churches, and I fear for the future of the convention.
Thank you, Dr. Reid, for your timely and truthful words. I am one of those young men standing on the ledge. I’ve been a SBC pastor since I was twenty years old. I am a graduate of a SBC seminary, and proven SBC church planter. I believe every stroke of God’s Word and my heart blazes for planting healthy, reproducing churches that contextualize the gospel and spread the glory and fame of Jesus (which I am doing.) But I have two problems: I am biblical and I am missional. Therefore, I am feeling less and less at home in what is becoming the current convention. I think of Ronald Reagan when I say, I didn’t leave the SBC… the SBC left me. So here I stand, on the ledge, with more of my brothers than the convention is counting, ready to leap and leave the SBC behind. I was thrilled at the arrival of the conservative resurgence. But the resurgence didn’t go far enough. The SBC needs a reformation. But as that seems less and less likely, the convention is about to witness the departure of legions of its brightest leaders.
Clint:
Your post summarizes over 150 I have received via Facebook, email, phone calls, and here. Hang in there. I believe we have reached a tipping point.
Good post. Short, swift and to the point. I don’t know a lot about the SBC, but I hope the focus is on Scripture and not on preference and tradition only. Maybe I’m a bit off I don’t know. I simply hope the motives are not their own.
Bravo!!! Dr Reid, Bravo!!!
Could not agree more with you Doc. Though we should have men we look up to a learn from, we must always remember, “they are not Jesus!’
Dr. Reid,
Thank you for your post. I have read many web articles about the current challenges with the SBC. I am a church member and have been involved in various leadership roles over the last 15 years. I am concerned about what I see taking place today.
I am especially concerned when I see posts like Clint’s. I agree with your challenge to Clint to hang in there. I too would challenge those on “the ledge” to hang in there. I would ask for everyone to consider the consequence if the “3rd generation” was to leave the convention. Imagine the headlines on CNN or Fox News. Exiting the SBC is not the answer. I urge all to continue in prayer and to have faith that our Precious Lord and Savior will provide and strengthen our convention according to His will.
Amen and Amen! I just picked up your convergence book while on campus this week and I’ve perused about half of it thus far. I appreciate your balanced approach with the ECM–seeking to embrace what is healthy and standing firm on legitimate concerns. Also I’m grateful for your work and passion to stay in tune with culture (folks and movements outside the classroom) for the cause of Christ.
AWESOME, AWESOME, and more AWESOME! Although your text was assigned by a Baptist University steeped in legalism…I will not mention any names…you clearly communicate what it means to seek Christ centered balance in life. It is clear you are constantly evaluating where the healthy area dwells between inappropriate liberalism and Spirit squelching legalism.
Thank You
No, you’re not alone. We just nedd to rise our voice all together, because would be madness, and sinful, keep things like they are right now