Misunderstanding

Last week the Baptist State Convention of NC voted to ban churches that openly endorse homosexuality. This ruling is new because though a similar rule has been in place for years, now churches may be investigated and ousted by the convention. Perhaps my biggest concern for this whole situation is the misunderstanding that has already come out of it.

First of all, one of the biggest parts of this story has been overlooked, mainly that in order to fall under scrutiny, two church members have to request an investigation. So before you make this out to be a witch-hunt, keep in mind it has to be initiated within the church itself.

Secondly, for years there has been tension in the Southern Baptist Convention and also the state conventions between the conservative Baptists and our more liberal brethren. The main point of contention seems to be that neither side will lay down and allow the other to do whatever it pleases. Now, I work for a liberal church. I attend a conservative one. I am surrounded everyday by liberal Baptists and I consider some of them to be my dearest friends. But, I am conservative to my very core. I don't get into discussions with them over these things because I know that I am not going to change their minds any more than they will change mine. From the very beginning, this job has been like I was working for another denomination. I've always looked at it that way. So I truly believe that if liberal Baptists do not identify with the convention they should fully embrace the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and leave the SBC alone.

And for the most part, the church I work for does when it doesn't benefit them to do otherwise. For example, our retirement plan is through Church Benefits Board of the CBF but our health insurance is through the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. There has been talk around my office lately of how elitist and exclusionary the convention has become. Well, I don't think that's the case. We cannot continue to remain at odds with ourselves and expect to move forward.

My main problems with the convention within my lifetime stem soley from the fact that we have had to bog down in this very kind of problem for so long. It's time for those who do not agree with the direction of the convention, to go another way. It's like Methodists trying to be part of a Baptist organization. We are a body of believers but if some don't believe the same, they should join with those who do. We are not projecting a Christ-like image to the world by fighting amongst ourselves.

Some would say that we are not projecting a Christ-like image to the world by ousting those churches who would allow homosexuals to hold positions of leadership, or marry, etc. Well, if homosexuality is sin (and according to the Bible it most certainly is) we cannot condone it within our church walls. Yes, everyone is a sinner. We all stand in need of grace. But we also stand in need of repentance and if homosexuality is sin then we cannot allow persons known to be engaging in it to continue in it. Out of love for our Christian brother or sister, we must insist that they try to change. That's not to say that the change will be easy, but we are to help our brother or sister to avoid sin. Just them same as if a church member were actively committing adultery you would not want them to teach Sunday School. If your church nominating committee put someone who was known to be engaged in adultery in a position of leadership, you probably would not want to attend that church anymore.

This move is simply another step the convention has taken in saying, "If you expect to have fellowship with God, you must purge your life of known sin."

There are those who say that Jesus didn't really say anything about homosexuality in his ministry, but he said alot about judgment and hypocrisy. (Actually that's a direct quote from the pastor of the church I work for.) Jesus also told a parable about a king who had marriage feast for his son. And when he sent out the servants to bring those invited to the wedding in, they wouldn't come. So, he went out and invited everyone he could find to come to this feast. But then he saw a man who did not have on a wedding garment and he had that man bound and thrown out into the darkness. (Matthew 22) So, we see that though all are invited, all are expected to change. And if nothing else, Jesus preached that to follow him you must leave everything else behind.

Is it hard to do that? Of course. Is it worth it? Of course. Can anyone do it? Of course.