The Scandal of a Changed Mind
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Al Mohler explains why he used to be an egalitarian--going so far as to lead a protest against an SBC resolution on women in ministry--and how a question by Carl F. H. Henry caused him to investigate the matter and change his mind.
(HT: Russell Moore)
(HT: Russell Moore)
posted by JT at Wednesday, July 19, 2006
4 Comments:
Mohler has an endless number of good and true things to say about God, the Holy Bible, the Church, and the World.
But the SBC conservative leadership is at a crisis point, and as a conservative, comfortable-with-Calvinism, egalitarian-supporting SBCer myself, I'm left disappointed with how it is playing out.
My concerns today:
- SBCers still typically do not have a clue about discipleship.
- SBC leadership still leans on the good-ole-boy political style of ministry - not just in attempting to pick a SBC president, but in ministry in general.
- SBCers, despite the conservative leadership's efforts, are still wishy-washy on the issue of women in teaching and pastoring roles. (Is Mrs. Criswell still teaching her famous SS Class??)
Why is it that after so many years of correct conservative theological leadership, there is still a vacuum of spiritual authenticity in the air of the SBC?
Why is it that there were not 100 wonderfully giften men who could serve as president of the SBC? The nomination of Ronnie Floyd was so cheesy it was embarrassing. To see Mohler and Patterson and Akin endorse him and loose - the real embarrassment is not the endorsements of Ronnie Floyd, but the fact that apparently Mohler and Patterson and Akin have not raised up 100 men who would obviously be better than Ronnie Floyd.
Why the resolution on alcohol? Despite Dr. Akin's good attempt at an explanation, the reality is that the alcohol resolution resonates with our flesh's tendency to embrace legalism.
Why would there be any hesitation to purge church roles of inactive, apostate "members?"
I thought is was a good idea when Mohler decided to launch a blog about SBC issues. Then I saw - no option for comments! WHY? OK, so Mohler doesn't want comments to "get out of hand" or whatever. Maybe he doesn't have time to interact with people. Well, just make that statement then. "Due to time constraints, I will not be able to respond in the comments section. Please understand that if comments become unedifying for any reason, they will be deleted or the comments for that post will be closed."
I have made criticism before anonymously on this blog and was rebuked for it, pretty strongly [and I'm appreciative for the rebuke].
So I will do the same here. That is a pretty critical post in a veil of anonymity.
Once again... Jonathan Edwards 8th resolution helps..."8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God. July 30." You may have already done this...just a good reminder.
I mean this in love.
In Christ
Noah
noah - thanks for posting a great quote by Edwards. Frankly, it's an appropriate quote to go along side my thoughts becausee it's an accurate expression of how I "feel" when I think of these things.
Isn't it a challenge outside of a face-to-face environment to communicate frankly and concisely and honestly in gracious love?
Thanks again.
I have used Mohler's posting about his change of mind as the starting point for a series on my own blog on The Scholarly and Fundamentalist Approaches to the Bible.
Also, because I couldn't comment on Mohler's blog on SBC issues (but then perhaps I shouldn't expect to as I am nothing to do with the SBC), I e-mailed him instead with the link to my blog series, at the address on his contacts page.
"A Southern Baptist", you could always do what I am doing, comment on Mohler's postings on your own blog, and e-mail links to Mohler which he can respond to if he wants to.
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