Along with Marty Duren at SBC Outpost I felt it best this weekend to link with other Southern Baptists whose writings have been especially poignant. The following is a list of blogs I have been reading.
Todd Littleton at Just Todd.
David Phillips at CrossConnect.
Art Rogers at 12 Witnesses.
Kevin Bussey at Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee.
Tim Sweatman at The View from the Hill.
Jason Sampler at A Baptist Perspective.
Jason Shepherd at Paridigms Lost.
Clifton Cummings at Graceful Words.
Bowden McElroy at Interregnum.
All these men are young leaders within the Southern Baptist Convention.
Pastor Clif Cummings at First Baptist Church, Duncan, Oklahoma is hosting a Pastor's Conference Monday, March 6, 2006 with Dr. Sam Storms and myself. Details are found on his blog Graceful Words. The conference is free and lunch is provided, but you will need to contact the church for a reservation. I think you will find the meeting at FBC Duncan, March 5-8, 2006 with Dr. Sam Storms a wonderful Bible Conference with the Pastor's Luncheon on Monday a time of great dialogue.
In His Grace,
Wade
17 comments:
Excellent recent interview with Jerry Rankin, President of the IMB, at
www.floridabaptistwitness.com/5513.article.
"IMB president speaks plainly about private prayer language"
You have to admire President Rankin's willingness to speak candidly/plainly and answer what must have felt like awkward questions regarding "private prayer language" & new policy to restrictive baptisms.
Wade!
Thanks for the forum. Also the willingness to serve your elder brother Jesus and the rest of us.
May your term at the IMB, do just that, along with other fellow trustee members.
I have never heard Dr. Rankin speak, but I was disappointed with the way he conducted himself during this interview. He didn't come across as very articulate. His use of the King's English sounded more like an interview with some of the professional ball players than a head of one of our SBC agencies. Perhaps he was ill at ease because of all of the recent hoopla. I do admire his being willing to be interviewed. His answers were hard for me to sift through. Sorry, but I was not very impressed! F.Y.
I could tell that the editor took a tape recorder and transcribed the interview.
Not a very good way to present the speaker. However, take out the words that never should have been transcribed (umm, uhh, etc . . . ) and what Dr. Rankin says is excellent.
The editor is at fault for the presentation.
It's interesting all the blogs completely agree with you.
Maybe I missed it (not really),
but I put his interviewed articulation into GREAT *company*.
(Obviously, not same authority but same in principle.)
Someone famous said; 'I brothers, came to you, not with excellency of speech, declaring unto you the testimony of God. Jesus Christ, and him crucified.'
"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.'
'And my speech ... was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.'
Wade, thanks for your comments at Fide-O. I followed-up with a couple of questions that our readers would like to know from you. I am greatly encouraged by your availability and transparency in this whole process. As one who stays out of the politics and knew nothing about you six months ago, you have earned my respect. I came out the box hard on you for what seemed like unfair attacks upon all conservatives. But you have with patience and grace clarified your positions and concerns. So as a Calvinist SBC church planter who sees the gospel-compromising results of the megas and emergents here on the Left Coast, could you please answer those few questions at Fide-O so that we may clearly understand your thinking.
To a growing friendship,
Jason
P.S.
Of course I also admire du not so articulate professional ball players for their bravery to be interviewed on live television.
(Nothing against professionals, fellows!)
The comments from Jerry Rankin may not have been "said well," but it was "well said." He stated his perspective both personally related to his prayer language and professionally as the IMB President. It helped me understand why the issues of the PPL and baptism came up at the BOT, a committee was acting, not the whole BOT to make a change that Jerry Rankin felt should be considered in the whole group for action.
Jerry Rankin spoke about the issues, he didn't get angry (at least I didn't see any angry words), he didn't attack anyone's character and he did say that even though his personal opinion differed from the BOT he as President would still have to implement the decisions of the BOT. This is AGREEING to disagree but still living at peace with one another.
Thank you Jerry Rankin for your candidness, and thank you Wade and the other bloggers for giving a voice and ears to these important issues. I'd like to also say that this blog and Jerry's responses to the reporters questions are good examples of questioning issues and even dissagreeing. Hopefully when we have similar disagreements on the field we M's can do so according to these good examples - we may also just have to live with situations as they stand made if nothing changes, or until change comes.
Your welcome Jason. You are doing a great job. I think you may find our theology very, very similar. I appreciate your willingness to dialogue.
In the end, you and I want the same thing.
Forgive me, Wade and all with whom I now place myself, but Joe, you asked for it...
"Great minds think alike."
;)
Big Tent Conservatism ....hmmm....can it exist within the SBC?
That seems to be the question of our times. Can we cooperate together in the work of the Great Commission? Praying for and supporting each other as we hold up the inerrancy banner of the gospel; while allowing some freedom in some matters of interpretation that the greats have differed over for centuries.
I am hopeful, but as long as some lump all reformed types into those who don't believe in offering public invitations or evangelism goals and group all continuationists as name it claim it radicals...I don't see this cooperating conservatism happening. Someone has to take a stand.
I am thankful that men like Dever, Mahaney, and Mohler have chosen to cooperate and work together. See www.togetherforthegospel.com
Does anybody have a clue as to what Dr. Rankin meant when he said he has a private prayer language but ”I don’t consider myself to have a gift of tongues. I’ve never been led to practice glossolalia.”?
If it's not tongues or glossolalia, what is it?
It IS interesting isn't it Joe?
Hillary Davis
Bowden,
I think Dr. Rankin is attempting to let people know that what is most often called "tongues" and practiced in Charismatic churches in not in any form or fashion what he does.
However, your point is well taken. Maybe Dr. Rankin would be better served by saying the abuses of glossolalia is what he opposes.
You make a good point.
BTW, Thank you for the link and the compliment. At 45, it always amuses me to be called young. I have three children (ages 15 to 24) who are quick to let me know I am in fact a fossil.
Joe & Hillary,
Are you really surprised that people link to others who think like they do or support their public positions? I think anyone would be hard pressed to find a blogger who routinely refers readers to people who oppose him.
I think Wade's willingness to accept criticism (he has a track record of changing posts some find offensive) and allow comments that critique him to stand unedited tells all that needs be said.
For myself, I do support Wade. I told him in another comment section that it was vital that he let us support him, because if he puts himself forward, it has the smack of self promotion. His ideas are his own to defend as he likes, but in the contraversy in which he finds himself, I am glad to intervene on his behalf.
As someone who is a terrible extemporaneous speaker, I must respectfully take a different position than the anonymous commenter who was not impressed with Dr. Rankin's responses in this interview. (I'm not exactly sure what this has to do with the original post, but the issue has been raised.) I don't know of many people who, when being asked a series of questions on a sensitive topic, are able to respond in a smoothly flowing style using perfect grammar.
Wade,
At least the editor can't be accused of quoting anyone out of context!
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