Destroying Bible-Believing Churches, Part 4: Reflections

Destroying Bible-Believing Churches, Part 4: Reflections
Friday, July 9, 2021 by Dr. James W. Walraven

Where do we go from here? First and foremost, we must remain committed to the Scriptures as God’s inspired, inerrant Word. We are saved through Christ’s work alone, by faith alone, and must rely on the Scriptures alone. We must heed the warnings found in the book of Jude, and as the church at Ephesus was commended for finding false apostles false (see Revelation 2), so must we.

But there is a catch. While the church at Ephesus was commended for finding false apostles false, God warned them that they had left their first love. God ultimately removed that church as He had threatened to do. Unlike contemporary cities like Athens and Rome, one finds only ruins at Ephesus.

Where does that leave the SBC? Politics are already ramping up in the aftermath of Ed Litton’s election. Some of the concerns may be genuine, but how much disinformation is swirling around? Within the denomination, many are relieved that Litton won, others are already threatening to depart. Had Stone won, a different group was contemplating leaving. Still others are glad that Mohler lost on the grounds that his “heretical” neo-Calvinist views were poisoning the SBC. We need to remember that Jesus had a lot to say about what happens to a house that is divided against itself: it will not be able to stand.

The situation at times seems loveless, with at least some refusing to treat others with mercy and grace. While that has lots in common with our graceless secular culture, it has little in common with the Scriptures. By our actions, is there a danger that we are telling God that the SBC could become another Ephesus?

What about Titus 3:10–11? “Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned” (NAU). To what extent are factious people stirring things up, and almost as important, which “faction” do they adhere to? We might be surprised.

The ethical issues still exist. These include potential sex-abuse scandals (steps appear to have been taken to ensure an independent investigation), the lawsuit containing falsified briefs currently before SCOTUS (their decision appears to be delayed), bullying some who sought to expose the truth, to various other political accusations. The situation at NAMB may be more severe than we yet realize. One former high-ranking person indicated that a forensic audit would “bring the house down” at NAMB.

Then there is the whole issue of CRT, a Marxist theory that is diametrically opposed to the genuine healing of divides that God offers in the Scriptures. Accusations are being made that the SBC has accepted CRT. What may be going on is that CRT is being taught as an anti-biblical tool the culture uses. If a student is to effectively engage the culture, that student needs to know what the tools the culture uses, and ways to refute it. On the other hand, there probably are some who want us to embrace it.

Then there’s the extremists that still exist within the SBC, some that may still have attitudes that reflect the idea that the South won the Civil War. There is no place for that sort of thing in Biblical Christianity. CRT isn’t the answer, but the unity in Christ that all believers share, the equality all believers in Christ share, regardless of ethnicity, is.

Evangelism is declining, church plants and baptisms are way down. Some of that likely reflects a culture increasingly hostile to the gospel. That cannot be ignored. But what if there is another side? What if the decline also reflects God’s judgment against the SBC? What if God is holding us accountable, like He did the church at Ephesus, for our lovelessness?

What if God is holding SBC leadership responsible for their lack of transparency, misuse of funds, of feathering their own nests and those of their allies? When leaders disregard the Scriptures, as well as the church’s own bylaws, they not only teach others to do the same, but God’s name is blasphemed among unbelievers (see Romans 2:21–24). Do we really think God will bless the SBC under these circumstances? The fact that Planned Parenthood is a more transparent non-profit organization than the SBC should alarm us.

Nevertheless, the misuse of funds by leaders in the SBC is hardly the first time that has happened in church history. It is worth remembering that the very first treasurer of the very first ministerial organization, “Christian Discipleship Training, Inc.,” was a thief and a betrayer, Judas Iscariot.

We need to remember that God is sovereign. God has placed Ed Litton in the position of president of the SBC for the coming year. Whatever one may think of him, that remains the reality.

We need to be praying for Ed Litton and the SBC, that we would repent where we need to repent, change where we need to change, and love one another as the Scriptures commands. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35 NAU). What would happen to our evangelism efforts if those we were seeking to reach for Christ knew that we genuinely loved one another within the SBC? What would happen if they knew we were seeking to root out corruption at all levels? What would happen if the world saw we were serious about following biblical principles, even when it appears to cost us? Might God’s blessing return to our evangelism efforts as a result?

Update: SCOTUS ruled against NAMB, so the original case now goes back to district court.

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