CO-CHAIR THOUGHTS FROM JEROLD McBRIDE
Understanding Fundamentalism

Understanding the nature of fundamentalism is a problem people continue to struggle with 20 years after the fundamentalist takeover of the SBC.

When you do not understand fundamentalism, then you do not know how to relate to the movement. Fundamentalists, therefore, can easily take advantage of you.

Fundamentalism is a way of viewing life. It is a world view which focuses on control and domination. Fundamentalists think they are always right. They can never compromise despite using such language, because to compromise is to disobey God. They ultimately interpret their will for God’s will.

People avoid simplistic solutions to difficult problems when they understand the nature of fundamentalism.

For example: The reconciliation movement in Texas could be a good thing if it helps people dialogue and not be bitter toward one another. While operating under the banner of “reconciliation,” as the SBC fundamentalists did “inerrancy,” there seems to be little effort to seek reconciliation with those whose views are quite different from the leaders of this movement.

The exclusiveness of this movement is of real concern to me.

To the best of my knowledge most of those involved, both as leaders and participants, would like to see even closer ties between the BGCT and the SBC. That the purpose of this movement is to pull the BGCT under the control of the SBC is surely hinted at in the February 17 The Baptist Standard article on this matter. Consider two indications of this:

First, the two “advisors” of this group are an employee and a former employee of the SBC. Second, the article goes on to state one of the “five activities it intends to sponsor during the balance of the year” is “a meeting between forum members and political leaders of the BGCT and perhaps the Southern Baptist Convention.” Why meet with SBC leaders if the purpose is not to pull the BGCT back in line with the SBC?

Texas Baptists and the Southern Baptist Convention will never reconcile in the sense of working closely together again. For reconciliation to happen, the SBC leadership would have to apologize and make compromises, etc., and that is not likely. True fundamentalists do not have the capacity for such change.

Pressler critical of BGCT

The June 9 issue of The Baptist Standard reports that Paul Pressler, the architect of the fundamentalist takeover of the SBC, in his new book, “laments that the BGCT has redefined its Cooperative Program to include causes other than those controlled by SBC conservatives.”

Could it be that BGCT funds and program personnel are being used to undermine the direction that the convention has voted to move toward year after year?

Consider the “reconciliation” sessions tobe held at Glorieta this summer under the auspices of the Evangelism Division of the BGCT. The question naturally arises, “what has this to do with evangelism?” The answer is “absolutely nothing!”

The Baptist Standard article also states, “Pressler admits that his own state convention (the BGCT) has failed to follow the new direction of the SBC.” He is right, Texas Baptists have gone on record again and again not to be blindly married to the SBC and follow its “new direction.”

But many of the “reconciliation” people seem to side with Pressler in this matter. It appears that nothing would please them more than for the BGCT and the SBC to be “reconciled” in the sense that we follow the direction of the New SBC. To do that Texas Baptists would have to cave in to the demands and adopt the mentality of the New SBC, and this Texas Baptists will not do!

I hope this is not the intent of many of our “reconciliation” friends because it would be futile. On the other hand, if their intent is to lead all of us to be Christian in our attitudes toward one another, we must wish them well.

It is good to talk and be rid of hard feelings. The goal of the reconciliation movement should be helping people realize the past is over. We must not be bitter but go forward and move respectfully into a better future. We may partner on some things but for the most part both the BGCT and SBC will be developing their own programs.

Shared Leadership

Another example: “Shared Leadership” is another concept some states are trying. They are trying to work out a plan to share leadership within the state convention between fundamentalists and traditional Baptists.

Again, this is a noble idea, but has no chance of succeeding because fundamentalists cannot share leadership. The fundamentalist position is all or nothing. They must totally control and punish those who disagree with them or, in their mindset, they are being disobedient to God.

In Texas, we do have shared leadership because traditional Baptists are the leaders. They continue to share leadership with others within the BGCT.

I urge you to study the history of fundamentalism. When you understand fundamentalism, you will not get caught up in some illusion that things can be like they used to be. This is true in education, government and business. The sooner you give up such fantasies, the quicker you can invest your time, money and energy in more worthwhile causes.

I honestly believe that if every Baptist fully understood traditional Baptist doctrine and understood fundamentalism, that 80 percent of all Baptists would reject fundamentalism in every form. In fact, I think 80 percent of Texas Baptists have much more in common with the CBF than they do the SBC and just do not realize it.

I have been active in both the BGCT and CBF. Their goals, beliefs and commitments are the same. Neither the BGCT nor the CBF seek to dominate any group or individual.

Every effort being made to keep Texas Baptists closely tied to the SBC is an effort that distracts us from our main job. The road to peace is in front of us, not behind us. Let’s get moving.

July 1999