A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE
The Sad Climate of Fear
By David R. Currie
executive director

I have been thinking often about what it must feel to be a SBC missionary and yet a traditional Baptist who knows it is wrong to have to sign a creed to prove your faith.

You are in a strange land, but one that has truly become home because you love your calling and have grown to love the people you share life with. You want to stay and serve, but it violates your conscience to sign the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. You know several parts of it violate the teachings of Holy Scripture or do not fully explain the teachings of Scripture in several areas.

You’ve been told that you can express your concerns with the document and still sign it, but you really do not know what that means. You haven’t even been told what will happen to you if you do not sign the document. Will you be fired? If you are fired, will the expenses of returning you and your family to the states be paid or will you have to pay your own way home?

You are scared. You want to honor God. You wonder why in His name someone put you and your family in this situation when you have served faithfully for many years.

One of the saddest things that has occurred the last 23 years as Fundamentalists have taken control of the Southern Baptist Convention is the prevailing climate of FEAR that surrounds so many wonderful people.

You speak out publicly against what has happened and your remarks are misrepresented by Baptist Press. Many uninformed people believe the lies reported about you.

Or you teach in an SBC supported seminary. You know that everything you say is being scrutinized and that at any moment you may be fired if you encourage students to think for themselves or give them an alternative interpretation other than that approved by the SBC hierarchy. Rather than challenge students, you mostly indoctrinate, knowing you have no choice in order to keep your job.

Or you pastor a church and really want to inform your congregation of the truth of what has happened but you really don’t know how your people would respond.

Therefore, you say nothing and then one of your lay persons reads some SBC printed lies and suddenly you are under attack for “not believing the Bible.”

Others that must live in fear are state convention executive directors, associational directors and director of missions.

Many would like to show leadership regarding the many unBaptist, and plain evil actions, currently taking place but do not know how the churches they serve will react and are trying desperately to keep their churches in cooperation with each other.

Even university presidents and other institutional leaders live in a climate of fear. They do not want to see their wonderful ministries controlled by fundamentalism but they know if they speak out too loudly, funds will be lost from some who currently support the ministry.

Even lay persons are fearful. They are afraid of losing their church to fundamentalism but also afraid if they seek to educate others in the church, they will be labeled as persons who do not believe the Bible. Some of my own family has experienced this.

An entire climate of fear surrounds the Southern Baptist Convention and this is not God’s design.

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid,” —John 14:27 (NKJV).

Paul said, “For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” —Romans 8:15

Paul also said that the acts of the sinful nature are hatred, discord, jealously, fits of rage, dissensions and factions (Galatians 5). Do those words not describe the SBC of 2002?

Sadly, they also describe many local churches because of fundamentalism. The SBC is a convention of discord, dissensions and factions. Surely this is not of the Father’s doing.

But it is present reality in Southern Baptist life. There is a climate of fear that surrounds many wonderful Baptist pastors, lay persons and denominational workers as well as missionaries.

Overcoming Fear

The time has come to overcome fear. Charles Wade and our BGCT officers and leaders are setting a wonderful example of courage in the midst of fear. They are leading out in an effort to save our missionaries.

The fact is fear cannot be ignored, but must be overcome. One overcomes fear by doing the right thing, despite the unknown consequences. In reality, we overcome fear with FAITH.

It is time for all who know the truth to tell the truth and trust the Father to bless their courage. If everyone, every denominational leader, every seminary professor, every director of missions, every pastor, simply stood up and declared themselves and told the truth, the current SBC would crumble on the foundation of lies and untruths on which it now stands. Out of that rubble, a new Baptist cooperative effort would emerge that was truly Baptist and truly effective in carrying out the Great Commission.

Yes, there would be a period of chaos, but not like the past 23 years. There would be some who would lose their current positions, but I truly believe God would provide for those who showed courage and leadership. And peace, over time, would replace discord, dissension and factions.

And there would be great excitement across the traditional Baptist community.

Every time fear is overcome with faith, the Kingdom moves forward. Every missionary who refuses to sign the BF&M 2000 will help the Kingdom of God. Every pastor who informs his or her congregation will help the Kingdom of God. Every denominational worker who stands publicly against fundamentalism will help the Kingdom of God.

In order for all of us to be what God has called us to be, for all of us to be truly effective in fulfilling our responsibilities in our current positions, we must overcome fear with faith. Our role in advancing the Kingdom calls us to do no less than be faithful. Leadership in a climate of fear is the road to peace and unity.

April 2002