For Posterity's Sake and Theological Concern
Well, the IMB (International Mission Board) has finally given their position on the two policies concerning private prayer language and baptism that I mentioned in my previous post. You can check them out by starting at sbcoutpost.blogspot.com and following the links to the position papers. Another EXCELLENT critique with some pertinent links can be found at Wade Burleson's blog.
You can read it for yourself, and this is probably of more interest to theologians and pastor types, but let me just express my opinion: the positions espoused from the IMB's Board of Trustees espouse a strict cessationist (all of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit have ceased) and a landmarkist theology. This is VERY dangerous and is a really bad interpretation of Scripture. I am very concerned for the Southern Baptist Convention and feel that we have severely gotten off track. Read the papers and let me know what you think. I really am interested!
I've read most of this stuff on the blogs you have mentioned, and I see the "landmark" theology label thrown around alot. I don't really understand what that means and I would like to know if you could expound either in a comment or another post what Landmark theology is.
Posted by: Rob Slagle | March 09, 2006 at 01:14 PM
I couldn't get access to the link on blogspot. Are you saying the SBC's position is that *all* miraculous gifts have ceased? Tongues and healing?
Posted by: Beth DeVore | March 09, 2006 at 03:13 PM
Beth,
I fixed the link. Sorry about that. No, I'm not saying that all Southern Baptists hold a cessationist position. That's the point of why this bothers me so much. But, a smaller group has gained power that does hold that position and they have enforced that policy on the International Mission Board in relation to private prayer language. It affects all of us, however, because missions is really our whole reason to be together. Check out a comment I made at http://sbcoutpost.blogspot.com/2006/03/too-little-too-late.html#comments. It explains the logic.
Rob,
I'll try to point to some information on Landmark theology soon. In a nutshell, it is saying that Baptists are the only true church and that you have to believe like them or they will not cooperate with you. I do not know if they consign Methodists, Episcopalians, etc. to hell or not (I imagine that their is some discrepancy), but they believe that they are the true church.
Posted by: Alan Cross | March 09, 2006 at 04:25 PM