The Iowa caucuses brought some surprises to the U.S. presidential campaign and established Barak Obama and Mike Huckabee as the early front runners in the world beyond opinion polls.
They did not, however, decide the presidency: there's a long way to go. Several states that host upcoming primaries don't necessary share Iowa's inclinations, and several candidates who finished near the top still have boatloads of money. The race is far from over, and we will have to suffer through many more political advertisements before the final results are in.
Barring an unexpected surprise, however, the contest to be the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention has most likely been decided: after being rumored as a candidate for more than a year, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Al Mohler has publicly declared his candidacy, going the traditional route of having a supporter announce that he plans to make the nomination. In this case, Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, did the honors.
Like Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary president Paige Patterson, who was twice elected to the SBC's top office while serving as president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (1998-2000), Mohler is a primary architect of the Convention's extreme makeover .
Mohler differs from Patterson primarily in being an outspoken proponent of five-point Calvinism. Like many other contemporary Calvinists, however, he somehow manages to simultaneously believe in both the reality of predestination and the need for evangelism.
Mohler has received occasional (mostly anonymous) criticism from professors and staff who find his leadership style to be abrasive and tempermental, but he has been in the position long enough to weed out most opposition to his view of what theological education should be. That view, among other things, is so opposed to the idea of women as pastors that female students at Southern are not allowed to enroll in preaching classes, or so I've been told by folks in Louisville.
Mohler is as well known for his frequent guest appearances on national news programs, vying with Richard Land of the SBC's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission to be the "go-to" guy to weigh in on Southern Baptist thought. Look for both of them to get lots of face time in discussing the candidacies of former SBC pastor Mike Huckabee and faithful Mormon Mitt Romney.
In addition, Mohler writes a popular blog in which he reviews movies and comments on social issues such as family life, once arguing that couples who are childless by choice are guilty of sin.
There will be opposition to Mohler in Indianapolis: how potential opponents fare depends on who they are and what they bring to the tablel. Little known William L. (Bill) Wagner, president of Olivet University International in San Francisco, announced Sept. 7 that he will allow his name to be put in nomination, but he is unlikely to be a factor. Perennial SBC gadfly Wiley Drake may give it a go, but while messengers laughingly elected him to the meaningless post of second vice president two years ago, they are unlikely to put him in the top spot.
Perhaps the most spirited challenge would come from Oklahoma pastor and influential blogger Wade Burleson, who would be a favorite of many Southern Baptists who have chafed under the SBC's current steamroller status quo. Burleson, who was recently censured by the fellow trustees of the International Mission Board for daring to speak his mind, has not publicly indicated a personal interest in running.
In a New Year's Day blog, however, the first of 10 predictions Burleson made is that "A pastor with a strong commitment to the Cooperative Program will be elected President of the Southern Baptist Convention in 2008, defeating Al Mohler." Burleson correctly predicted on Jan. 1, 2007 that Mohler would become a candidate, noting that the 2009 SBC meeting is slated for Mohler's home base in Louisville.
Will Burleson run? Will another pastor with a strong giving record, like current president Frank Page, rise to the challenge? Or will Mohler mow them down? I suspect the latter, but with Baptists, most anything is possible.
The upside is that the decision can be made without subjecting the populace to political ads on television, and it will all be over in six months.
Let's give thanks for small favors.
Friday, January 4, 2008
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13 comments:
Tony:
Loaded topic for sure as it is getting a lot of play at your sister site baptistlife.com
I encourage your audience here to visit there, especially the developing thread on SBC and Racism started by a Graduate student at Baylor.
Here in Alabama there is some question as to whether the BAma SBC EXCom Director Rick Lance will speak in prophetic witness to Albert Lee Smith's widow Eunie of the Eagle Forum and some of the latest political inflections.
Same goes for the state paper's Bob Terry, long known to be a good friend of SBC Peace Committee and Bush Judicial nominee Charles Pickering.
Three brief statements about all this and I'll back out and may come back later.
Albert Lee is well known to be a key figure in the elevation of Richard Land during the SBC Takeover; placing him in a position to be on the inside of Karl Rove's conference calling stratagies on behalf of President Bush
Two: Let us all hope the national media makes use of any wisdom UVA Charles Marsh may have in the inflections about the SBC and Race, the Obama and Huckabee Rise
Three: My honestly good friend here in Bama, the overwhelming John Killian similarly to the charms of Hoss Cartwright on the Bonanza in his Musings from Maytown Blog has joined Wade Burleson in declaring Al MOhler wll NOT be the next president of the SBC.
The conflation and entanglements of it all could be astonishing and full of surprises the next few weeks.
And Oh, I do hope many of you can make time to wade through the Nation Mag article online titled SC's Black Primary. It is unflinching and entirely captivating.
My apologies for back to back comments but this likely presidency of Mohler and your insightful stroke correctly pointing out how he and Land will be vying for National attention as go to boys on things SBC for the National Presidential race in my mind places a reflected spotlight on Mercer's DAvid Gushee.
His comments on his experience at Southern Sem in the mid 90's Mohler Covenant era are prophetic.
In Barry Hankins book Gushee joined Carey Newman in concluding God was not in the place; was not a part of the elevation of Mohler in SBC life; something else was at work.
Gushee's record on abortion in particular, and his pilgrimage in Baptist life away from the smarmy political record of Richard Land; Gushee's role in the Baptist Covenant in ATlanta, places an even bigger burden on him now as a truth teller about the nature of SBC fundamentalism.
Let's hope Gushee can be brought to the national spotlight along with the likes of Charles Kimball and Charles Marsh as the media once again takes a look at the inflections of all this; and pray that some deep pocket Baptist Churches that continue to fund Mohler and Land Willy nilly may yet find the light and send their money elsewhere; even as their hearts are convicted into a more substantial incarnation in the Kingdom of God as we influence our national character.
I am a bit confused as to how one who is a current head of an institution funded by the SBC's CP budget can sit as one of its elected leaders. Is this not a conflict of interest? This would never pass the test in business or other non-profits. I find the whole thing a glaring example of bad practice and unethical use of power and influence. And the SBC is not alone here - CBF has had individuals serving on the Coordinating Council who have direct conflicts of interest as well. Check out our recent history and see how many Coordinating Council members served on the boards of institutions who were funded by the CBF during the same period of time. I find it simply asounding that professional standards, ethics and honesty are more artfully practiced and valued in non-religious institutions. Am I off-base here?
Tony,
You said about Dr. Mohler, "Like many other contemporary Calvinists, however, he somehow manages to simultaneously believe in both the reality of predestination and the need for evangelism."
I would recommend you read "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God," by J. I. Packer. Perhaps this great book will help you to better understand the seeming incongruency between Calvinism and evangelism.
Regards,
Les
Tony,
I have to say "Yes" and "Amen" to Les' suggestion that you read Packer's book, as it appears that you don't have a firm grasp on the reality that one can, in fact, hold absolutely to God's sovereignty in all things, including salvation, as well as our responsibility to share the gospel, for "faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God" (Rom 10).
Dr. Cartledge,
Thanks for the great blogs and for keeping me informed on the goings on of Baptist life. As a Southern Baptist Youth leader, it is good to read opinions of someone I agree with. And to add on to your last thought. Small favors indeed.
L.P.
Thanks for the comments, friends. I appreciate your input. To Les and Aaron, reading Packer sounds like fun, but it'll be a while before I can get around to reading anything not directly related to my coursework.
I'm familiar with the position of some contemporary Calvinists that evangelism is important despite one's belief in predistination because it (a) is a demonstration of obedience to God's command and (b) gives glory to God.
I get that ... but if you truly believe that (a) God in his sovereignty has already determined who will be saved and (b) that God's grace really is irresistible, then evangelism on the part of other believers can be nice -- a helpful venue by which God's irresistible grace becomes known -- but isn't absolutely necessary because the sovereign God's will to save (or condemn) someone will not be thwarted.
To a degree, practicing evangelism while knowing it isn't really essential to whether others believe (since they don't really have a choice) would be a rather hollow exercise, something like checking off "Present" on your offering envelope.
If Packer offers any other reason why a consistent Calvinist should believe human evangelism is essential for the salvation of others, feel free to share it in a further comment.
Blessings to all ...
Tony,
First time visitor here. In your post and then follow up comment re: your misunderstanding of the role God plays in comparison to the role man plays in the salvation of sinners, it seems to me the most important thing you could do is to drop your coursework immediately and study scripture (complemented with reading Packer's work, along with many others).
Furthermore, if you truly believe that the "mere disobedience" of reformed thinkers when it comes to sharing their faith is somehow much less important than the "mere disobedience" of folks like yourself who think the responsibility lies with you to cause others to believe (via your efforts), then I would question your decicion to use your time to write a blog, study to advance yourself, work to feed your family, watch television, or anything else that is not directly involved in rescuing those that are waiting on you to share with them? Is their eternity less important than your degree?...than your blog?...than CSI? :)
I just read the paragraph above and it sounds harsh. Please don't read it that way. I ask this not for a response, but to perhaps spur you to deeper thought in realizing the full extent of what you are saying. I also realize you may have been challenged this way 8000 times already. But who knows what might happen this time? :)
Personally, as a missionary my disobedience re: personal evangelism makes me disgusted on some days. But that's when I am thankful that our Lord can still save sinners despite my disobedience. God doesn't call me an idiot when I do not share with the man in line at the store with me because He had intended to save that man, but no thanks to me, now He couldn't. Then He sits patiently by hoping that man will come into contact with a more obedient believer.
Daily I strive to be more pleasing to Him and to receive the blessing of being used by Him to be a part of His work. The joy is in knowing that He uses fallen man to reach fallen man, even though he could prick the sinners blackened heart and turn that heart of hatred to the things of God into a willingness to please Him, all by Himself. Why He uses me, I don't know...but I'm glad He does.
Thanks for allowing me to share thoughts.
Mohler is one of the most ambitious young men in the New SBC, a former moderate who tested the wind and moved to the right side of the ship. His ambitions exceed the possibilities provided by the New SBC. Look for him to run for the U.S. Senate in the next few years.
Dr. Cartledge:
The idea of Al Mohler for senate makes my skin crawl. Fortunately, or unfortunately, we already elected the Moral Majority wannabes three plus years ago.
I do think Mohler will get the nod for the SBC presidency and seal up the resurgence once and for all. To make such a statement saddens me, however, since very little has changed in thirty years to keep Moderates from regaining control of the Convention the same way they lost it. Burleson could, in my opinion, be the Adrian Rogers of the 21st century who could help Moderates get their foot back in the door and possibly turn back the tide of Fundamentalism. Am I dreaming or is Burleson just a loose cannon shooting his mouth off again?
Tim Wade
According to his church doctrine I guess Wade is a 5 pointer as well?
Here is their beliefs on salvation:
"Man was originally created in the image of God. He sinned by disobeying God; thus, he was alienated from his Creator. That historic fall brought all mankind under divine condemnation.
That man's nature is corrupted, and he is thus totally unable to please God. Every man is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
The salvation of man is wholly a work of God's free grace and is not the result, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justifies them in His sight.
It is the privilege of all who are born again of the Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment in which they trust Christ as their Savior. This assurance is not based upon any kind of human merit, but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the testimony of God in His written Word.
The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to men. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption. His fullness, power and control are appropriated in the believer's life by faith."
Hmm, maybe I am wrong but that sounds kind of Calvinistic to me
Jaime,
It has been established long ago the Wade is indeed reformed in his doctrine as long as it lines up with scripture...as am I.
I'm not a "blind Wade supporter" or an "all things Wade hater" and he doesn't need me to speak for him, but how can you read any of the above statements and not say "AMEN!" to any of it...instead you say something like "hmmmm...sounds like a Calvinist!"
Unbelievable!
I would be interested to know which statement you don't agree with. Sincerely I would. I don't see how any bible believing follower of Christ could disagree with any of it...regardless of what they think about reformed theology.
anonymous,
First, I was responding to Tony's assertion that Al was a Calvinist.
I to feel I am Reformed in theology. So this is not a knock against Wade. I appreciate Wade and his blog.
Also, why anonymous? My name is Jamie Steele. If you are gonna comment at least give a nickname!
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