Why the divisions between the two conventions? Four issues stand out:
--Marv Knox
(reprinted from the Baptist Standard)

1. Authority. The SBC exhibits a top-down chain of command. In the church, the pastor is the absolute ruler. In the convention, the president and agency heads are supreme. This notion was exhibited at the SBC meeting when messengers proposing changes to the Baptist Faith and Message were criticized for daring to suggest such a move.
   
   Texas Baptists tend to trust each other more. It comes from our affirmation of the priesthood of the believer, the idea that while we live and work in community, we first are accountable and responsible to God. Consequently, we hold back from imposing rigid authority over each other. We trust God and each other too much to do that.
   
   

2. Grace. Ironically, the Texas Sunday School lesson just before the SBC meeting was taken from Galatians 2, where the Apostle Paul had to defend himself from the Judaizers, who accused Paul of over-emphasizing God's grace. They feared what might happen if people were not bound by laws. They did not trust the Spirit of Christ to lead believers in the way of righteousness, and so they sought to impose restrictions.
   
   Over and over, SBC leaders express fear of what might happen if Baptists exercise the priesthood of the believer. Texas Baptists rest secure in God's grace, realizing the Lord's love turns hearts toward righteousness and compels Christians to live according to standards laws never could attain.
   
   

3. World-view. A sub-theme of this year's SBC could have been "The Sky is Falling." Speaker after speaker lamented that these are the worst of times. Indeed, they built a case from certain indicators of morality that Texas Baptists would not dispute. But BGCT Baptists tend to be more optimistic than that. Yes, we lament abortion, the sorry state of TV and movies and sexual promiscuity. However, we see God's hand at work in spiritual movements, in human compassion for others and in opportunities to turn disaster into victory for the glory of God.
   
   

4. Attack. For the most part, the SBC meeting was free from attack on the BGCT that has characterized the SBC for the past year or so. However, some could not resist. A seminary president misrepresented a Baptist Standard editorial to make a point in debate on a motion.

Baptist Press released two Texas stories--one that perpetuated the seminary president's remarks and another that misrepresented BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade. Frankly, BGCT leaders are bone-weary of arguing with and responding to such attacks. Nevertheless, truth must be presented to counter falsehood. Fundamentalism's nature is to attack, and warm-hearted Christians are not wrong to resist for the sake of Baptist ideals.

Most Baptists simply want peace. IF the SBC and its surrogates in Texas would stop attacking the BGCT and refuse to sanction untruth, Texas Baptists could decide where they stand on authority, grace and world-view as they decide where they will stand in relation to the conventions. Then, we could live in peace to support missions, racial reconciliation and America's families.

August 2001