THOUGHTS ON FREEDOM, GIVING, AND UNITY

One of the distinguishing characteristics of Southern Baptists used to be that we were free people. Our polity guaranteed freedom. Priesthood of the Believer meant freedom. Local church autonomy meant freedom. The separation of church and state meant freedom. Scripture as our final authority meant freedom from the legalism that others might try to impose. In short, being Baptist meant being “free” to be “slaves” of Christ with no earthly mediator.

Texas Baptists Committed is dedicated to preserving freedom for Texas Baptists — moderate, Fundamentalist, uninvolved, unknown, or don’t care Baptists. Of course, we hope you will support missions, evangelism, Christian education, and Christian service in Texas - both through your local church and through your association and our state convention.

Now we have made it clear that the purpose of TBC is to keep Texas like it is and has been. Period. Our NATIONAL agenda is for people to respond to the SBC as the Lord leads them. Our STATE agenda is for us to respect each other and remain as unified as possible. Here is a short historical recap and some thoughts on freedom, giving, and unity.

Southern Baptists have always been a diverse people. Our polity allows for that and, in fact, encourages diversity. Then in 1979, one faction of the family took control of the denomination by deceptive means. To be frank, they started a lie, “that our SBC leadership and seminary professors did not believe the Bible.” People believed that lie, came to the conventions and elected leaders of this faction as officers year after year. These officers appointed only persons of their faction to leadership, and excluded every other part of the family.

For a while “traditional Baptists” tried to expose this lie and stop the takeover. Finally, in 1990, many of these “traditional Baptists” gave up and decided to remain in the family but to try to do missions and theological education in a manner they were more comfortable with. The result is people being called traitors for not totally (most still support missions, education, and some programs they are comfortable with) supporting the family that is excluding them.

Nationally, there does not appear to be any solution to the problems in the SBC. The reason for that is simple. The group in power does not want a solution to be found. They want everyone to say “Thank You” for what they did, support them 100 percent financially, or get out of the convention. No one can reasonably argue they hold any other position.

Therefore, there is little hope to keep Texas Baptists unified in relation to the SBC. Some support the group in power and some do not. Those who do not are not invited to participate, only send money. Thus, all we can do is respect what each local church and individual decides to do. The group in power is not making any attempt to “include everyone.” Fragmentation is inevitable given the attitude of the SBC leadership.

The best thing the BGCT can do is make it clear that beyond the state convention “however you give your cooperative gifts has our blessing - we respect your autonomy as Baptists.”

But in the BGCT there is a solution to fragmentation. We can maintain unity to a far greater extent than is possible in the SBC. Here is how to do it.

First, we must continue to elect BGCT leaders opposed to Fundamentalist control but committed to being inclusive. (The alternative is to elect Fundamentalist leaders who will not be inclusive, and we have the SBC example to prove that won’t work.) This makes the “traditional” Baptists happy because we are rejecting Fundamentalism. And it allows the “Fundamentalist” Texas Baptists to continue to have a part in the BGCT since many of them are still included in appointments to leadership positions.

Second, we can respect each church’s decision on BGCT giving. We can say to Fundamentalist Texas Baptists that we understand they are not happy with the leaders we elect, and we respect that. We can encourage them to look at the overall program of the BGCT and support what they are comfortable with. That is the only Christian and Baptist way to respond to them — to combine inclusiveness with respect (the two attitudes ignored by SBC leaders).

Third, we can respect each church's decision on giving beyond the state convention. In fact, the BGCT should officially count all money given to Baptist causes (SBC, CBF, etc.) as Cooperative Program gifts. We should respect local church autonomy in cooperatlve giving.

Fourth, we must encourage everyone to stay in the family of Texas Baptists. We must never say “support everything or get out.” Instead we can respect everyone’s freedom in giving, both within Texas and outside Texas and thus maintain unity within diversity.

Home