Tightening the Umbrella

Deep prayer and careful diaglogue during the Southern Baptist Convention is necessary as thorny issues come up for discussion in the next couple of days.

As the conservative resurgence becomes the conservative maintenance the atmosphere of the convention needs once again to include grace and humility when it comes to discussing doctrinal issues. Some believe that the battle for the Bible has not been won. Their war for the Word compels them to engage in other doctrinal fronts. They move forward to tighten the circle of doctrine that will exclude many (i.e. doctrines of grace, election, eschatology and gifts of the spirit). I agree that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, but the goal of the conservative resurgence was the re-establishment of the inerrancy of scripture. I believe that was accomplished -- and yes, it does need to be guarded. We need to regularly re-visit and assess our doctrinal statements. The 2000 Baptist Faith & Message (BF&M) is an example of the continual watchcare of our belief system. However, it seems that some are continuing to draw sharper lines beyond the BF&M that will push many out of the SBC umbrella.

Dr. Al Mohler has aptly described the atmosphere of our present discussion in his commentary on the need to understand the priority levels of theology and doctrine. (http://www.almohler.net/commentary_print.php?cdate=2005-07-12) According to Mohler doctrines in the top tier of concern are

those most central and essential to the Christian faith. Included among these most crucial doctrines would be doctrines such as the Trinity, the full deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, justification by faith, and the authority of Scripture.

Those who do not hold to these theological truths can be called nothing less than non-Christian.

The second tier of doctrines are those that create significant barriers resulting in different denominations and congregational alignments. The mode of baptism is a clear distinctive that separates us from Presbyterians even though we rejoice together with them in the battle for the fundamentals of the faith in the first tier.

The third tier of doctrines are non-essential to salvation or regular fellowship and give room for diversity in our churches and denominational structures. Eschatology (the study of the last days) is a good example of such an issue.

The problem in our convention is the desire by some to take third-tier doctrines and make them a second-tier issue. This draws in the umbrella of fellowship within our denomination and disqualifies brothers, sisters and whole congregations from serving together. By establishing certain doctrines as essential for Baptist fellowship (that others see as non-essential) the SBC is unnecessarily shrinking the tent and weakening our ability to share the gospel in our culture and around the world.