Timmy Brister over at Strange BaptistFire has done a wonderful, although sad, piece on SBC, Calvinism and church reform. I originally commented on the post but thought it might be helpful to leave some thoughts here. Please read the article above before you dive in so you understand the points I am referencing.
What began, I thought, as simple pulpit supply turned into as of now a two and a half year journey.
I took a church (bi-vocational) that was in desperate need of a pastor. It all started after preaching one Sunday morning I was told that they were looking at me as the pastor. I have never been a pastor. I didn’t know what a pastor was suppose to do outside of preaching. I was good at stirring up the hornets’ nest not leading sheep.
I held a 2 hour discussion/question session before I let them vote and decide–I did everything I could to scare them away. I laid out all five points of Calvinism right before them and answered all questions. The congregation voted with only 2 “no’s”. Then about 6 months into it, the problems arose. I was told what I was teaching was not Baptist or that I was sneaking in this Calvinism. I had one gentleman, who is now a good friend and supporter, bring in papers written by Baptist Fire declaring that Calvinism was coming in the back door to Southern Baptist churches–yes I know that the SBC was started by strong Calvinists. I told him and everyone else that I was honest up front and that I tried everything humanly possible to get you to vote “NO” for me. I continued to press forward simply preaching and teaching the Bible and explaining through my own conversion how this all can be true. There were many times I was ready to throw my hands in the air, shake the dust from my feet and head out of town. God would not let me though.
The waters have calmed without a split (one couple left but I had doubted his conversion from the beginning) and now a broken town (drugs, crime, etc.) is coming before the Savior. Stick with it and know that it is a tough battle but it can be won in Christ.
