It's Not About the Liquor, Stupid!
Right now in the MBC (Missouri Baptist Convention) there is a preoccupation with alcohol. Not that we're drinking it, because most Baptists I know in Missouri are teetotalers anyway. No we're fighting over it because that's the latest "hot button" issue certain Missouri Baptists are pushing.
Here's the agenda:
No Cooperative Program Funds to any Church who holds a regular announced religious discussion in a Bar.
No one serving the convention who will not sign a statement saying that he or she does not and will not consume alcohol as a beverage.
Disenfranchisment of any Missouri Baptist who maintains that the use of alcohol is a matter of Christian liberty and who will not conform to the position that abstinence is the only correct Biblical teaching.
What is still unclear is the following:
Will the MBC (Missouri Baptist Convention) still receive Cooperative Program funds from Churches that accept tithes and offerings from members who gain part of those offerings from the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages?
Will the MBC still receive CP funds from Churches that hold religious discussions in bars?
Will the MBC still receive CP funds from Churches that participate in Christian family day at Busch Stadium in St. Louis?
Will the MBC still portray Albert Pujols as a Christian example to Missouri Baptists via the Pathway when it is a known fact that his restaurant in St. Louis has a bar?
Will the MBC still hold Annual Convention meetings at Tan Tar A when it is known that a portion of their income is derived from the sale and consumption of alcohol ?
Will the MBC continue to promote usage of the Holman Christian Standard Bible published by Broadman and Holman Publishing Group, an arm of the SBC, at it's annual meetings because it contains the word beer?
My guess is NO to all of the above. I mean we want to be consistent. Right? Right!
The truth is that all of those things will continue to be SOP for the MBC, because it's really not about alcohol. It's all about control. It's all about being a "Better Missouri Baptist" than some other more "Liberal Missouri Baptists." It's all about "I'm right and you're wrong!"
Doesn't matter what the Bible says. What matters is what I say it says.
Sadly, that's the only way some Missouri Baptists know how to live.
posted by Jim Shaver at 4:25 AM
3 Comments:
When will it end Jim?
Amen and amen. The worst part about it is that when the convention says it then there are people in the local church who accept it as gospel truth. That's how it goes at our church anyway. As our church was going through the process of changing the infamous phrase "Furthermore we resolve to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage" a woman wrote to the SBC about the situation and their response was that consuming alcohol was a sin. Not a bad idea, a sin. There were no scripture references. And this only added fuel to an unfortunate fire that still burns unresolved and underground in our church. Thanks alot SBC/MBC.
Great post Jim
I am an inerrantist:
I do not drink:
I have a question:
If a person/group/denomination etc claim to believe the Bible is inerrant and then these folks start making rules that add to the Bible then are they saying that God Himself made a mistake by not saying all drinking (etc) is sin? If they believe it to be alright to add to sins an/or scripture, then I would think they have a funny view of scripture and the meaning of inerrant.
How can we have leadership that passes resolutions that even disagree with Jesus?
What have we come to?
God help us all.
Hey Micah, thank you and hang in there. I know you are doing a great job at your church.
In His Service
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