A Disturbing Question

Are Baptist churches teaching heresy in Sunday School?

The question is disturbing, however, it is one that needs to be dealt with. Look at a Sunday School quarterly from Lifeway, the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. In each piece of literature it says, "the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline."

The statement also appears in each issue of Home Life Magazine, Open Windows, The Deacon and other publications of SBC's Lifeway Christian Resources.

A recent issue of the LifeWay Family Bible Study Pathways contained the following statement promoting the 2000 BF&M.

"The best protection against false doctrine is to know Bible doctrine. A good study of The Baptist Faith and Message will help you understand the Bible and the vital issues that face us all as we seek to follow Jesus and bring others to him. Copies of this booklet are available from LifeWay Christian Stores or by calling LifeWay Customer Service at 1-800-458-2772. Your church may have copies, or probably would order copies if you ask the person who orders your literature."

The 2000 BF&M is a heretical document. Its theology regarding Christ and Scripture is wrong. So why are Baptist churches using literature that uses this heretical statement as a doctrinal guideline in our Sunday School classes?

For more information on problems with the 2000 BF&M, we recommend the following websites:

• www.baptiststandard.com which has an excellent article by Russell Dilday;

• www.bgct.org which has another excellent article;

• www.mainstreambaptists.org which has many resources relating to the 2000 BF&M;  and our own website,

• www.txbc.org which has several articles relating to the 2000 BF&M.

We strongly suggest all Texas Baptist churches find out more about the new adult literature published by Texas Baptists. Information about the BGCT website mentioned above is included. You may order materials by calling 1-800-355-5285.

August 2001