Cover-ups of sexual misconduct, allegations of racism and intimidation of those who wish to speak their minds but can’t for fear of losing their jobs. It sounds like the dysfunctional ways of the world, doesn’t it?
These are just some of the problems the Southern Baptist Convention will confront this week as their 16,000 “messengers” gather in Nashville. Instead of obeying their professed leader, who said, “A new commandment I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34), they are bickering with one another.
What a terrible witness this is to those who do not share their faith. Part of the conflict has to do with interpretation of Scripture. Southern Baptists see other denominations that have gone theologically liberal and rushed to keep up with the thinking patterns of a world they see as fallen and fear the same could happen to them. It is a legitimate concern, but the way it is being debated is embarrassing.
Tensions between church and state are as old as church and state. The Founders wrote in the First Amendment that while Congress could not establish an official church for the nation, neither could it prohibit the “free exercise” of religious beliefs. Courts and denominations have been wrestling with the proper balance between the two since before the nation was founded and especially in recent years as a secular agenda appears increasingly dominant in modern culture.
Southern Baptists and most conservative Christians believe in the characterization of Satan in Genesis 3:1, where he is described as “crafty” or “subtle.” How would such personality traits manifest themselves to derail the primary objective of the SBC, which is to share faith with others? If I were Satan (no letters, please), I would entice people to fight me, instead of obeying their Master. I would especially seduce people to focus on endorsing politicians to the point where it can dilute their more powerful and life-changing message.