It could be said that all of this analysis is futile and detracts from the mission of making disciples who make disciples. It could be said that making these observations while calling for repentance and reform amounts to pointing the finger at others and ignoring personal error. It is increasingly said that making these observations is harsh and lacking in tone. What is seemingly ignored is the importance that Scripture places on making these observations and shouting out for repentance. The call for repentance is a responsibility, not a choice.
Ezekiel 33:1-6 provides a stark reminder of this responsibility to make the call:
The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’
Notice the dual responsibility of the person hearing the warning and the responsibility of the one giving the warning. There remains strict accountability for those of us who see the decline to loudly announce the coming wrath. Any failure to provide the warning is not acceptable. There is also strict accountability for those who hear the warning to heed the warning.
The word for trumpet here, “shofar,” refers to the loud blast from blowing into a ram’s horn. There are other words for trumpet that could have been used, but this particular instrument had a specific purpose by the user and recognition by the hearers. Here is a partial list of it’s uses throughout Scripture:
- When God spoke at Mt. Sinai in Exodus 19:16, 19
- To announce the year of Jubliee in Leviticus 25:9
- Blown on the seventh day on march on Jericho in Joshua 6:4
- While carrying the ark of the covenant in Joshua 6:6, 13 and 16
- Stopped Israel’s enemies from fighting in 2 Samuel 2:28
- To announce a new moon in Psalms 2:28
- Used in worship in Psalms 98:6, 150:3
We see the hearer would have understood the use of the shofar as an important milestone and not to be ignored when heard.
Therefore, for SBC leaders to refer to those of us assuming the task of blowing the trumpet to both warn of pending wrath and call for repentance as a “playground bully behind keyboards” or “a jerk” (i.e., Rice) or “synagogue of satan” (i.e., Greear) is reprehensible. It seems that the only criticism allowed is when it is directed at those of us who are even suggesting that there is toleration for false teachers among us. Because of this, a growing number of leaders and congregations are hearing the blowing of the trumpet and are deciding to leave the SBC. Responding to the call to blow the trumpet is a mandate, not a personal decision. Responding to the trumpet blast demanding repentance is a mandate, not a personal decision. Scripture is clear- those who decide to ignore the call to make the shout for repentance or to choose to ignore the call for repentance will be held accountable.
In summary, it remains observable that those in support of leaving far overshadow the reasons supporting staying within the SBC to enact reforms. First, those who suggest staying due to the desire to retain control over the vast financial resources of the denomination fail to address the overwhelming evidence of asset mismanagement. Even if there was a way to retain a voice within the convention through selective defunding, the most prominent proponent of this ideal cannot identify one entity worth supporting. Second, those who suggest staying due to a desire to retain the mechanism of the education of future leaders fail to understand the distortion of the pulpit to pew to world dynamic, whereas the liberal drift within SBC seminaries is met with a diminishing remnant of faithful leaders and members. Thus, an increasingly liberal local church base will encourage and demand an increased liberalism within the seminaries. Third, any view elevating the SBC as a God-ordained institution that must continue (regardless of all the warning signs of decline) also downgrades the sufficiency of Scripture and focuses on tone rather than truth. This replacement of truth with a focus on tone requires a direct and willful disregard of Scriptural mandates to guard against and disfellowship from false teachers.
Overall, the answer to the burning question of whether it is worth the fight to stand for truth over tone is, “YES!” But it also begs the question of whether this fight for truth over tone must be waged within the context of a declining Southern Baptist Convention. The answer here seems to be a resounding, “NO!”
What is your choice?
