Posted on 02/04/2006 2:44:05 AM PST by WKB
ENID, Okla.
A Southern Baptist pastor being removed from a national board governing worldwide evangelism says he doesn't speak in tongues himself but is defending missionaries who do to keep the denomination "broad in our cooperation."
The Rev. Wade Burleson, the senior pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, said that the board of trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board wants him to be removed because of his criticism of a policy change enacted by the IMB in November 2005. It stated that any candidate speaking in tongues, even privately, "has eliminated himself or herself from being a representative of the IMB of the SBC."
In a statement, the International Mission Board says it wants him removed not because of the tongues issue, but because of "broken trust and resistance to accountability." Burleson's removal depends on a June vote of the entire Southern Baptist Convention, but the controversy is being watched beyond Baptist circles, largely because of the dispute over tongues, an issue that has rankled many religious groups.
Tongues is described in the Bible as a spiritual language used by early Christians, enabled by the Holy Spirit. The issue of whether it is still relevant, or appropriate, for modern times has divided many denominations.
Burleson says he is not most concerned about tongues, but a willingness to remove ministers who disagree with what he and others consider "nonessential doctrines." Since the changes in the mission board's policy were made official, Burleson has been writing open letters and explanations of his position on his blog, kerussocharis.blogspot.com.
He has repeatedly referred to those who wanted the policy changes as "crusading conservatives."
"Crusading conservatives seek to convince you that their interpretation of the Bible on nonessential doctrines must be accepted by all conservatives, and if someone chooses to not conform to their specific interpretation, then he/she is removed from service," Burleson said.
Burleson says he considers himself a "cooperating conservative," which he defines as a person who is in agreement on the major doctrines of the Bible but gives freedom in areas of interpretation regarding nonessential doctrines. The SBC has long considered the Reformation's rallying cries of faith alone, grace alone, Scripture alone and Christ alone as summing up the major doctrines of Scripture.
The use of the spiritual gift known as tongues or glossolalia would fall into the nonessential category. Southern Baptists have a policy that prohibits their ministers from using tongues in a public setting.
"I do not want people to lose sight of the real issue," Burleson said. "It is not about the new policies. It is the direction we seem to be moving as a convention that shuts out dissent and desires conformity in the interpretation of minor doctrines."
Burleson said he does not practice a "private prayer language," the phrase some use for speaking in tongues, nor does anyone he would consider a close friend or family member. The issue, he said, is one of principle and "is not personal."
Leon McBeth is a retired distinguished professor of church history at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He said that the SBC has a long-standing antipathy toward what some call the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit.
"In my day, our concern over the tongues issue was a biblical one," McBeth said. "In the Bible, tongues is always associated with conflict. And tongues isn't exclusive to Christianity. The practice goes at least as far back as the Oracle at Delphi.
"Sometime in the 1970s, as a way of ameliorating opposition to tongues, some Southern Baptists began to talk about private prayer language. They believed it was less offensive than calling it tongues."
Lyle Story, a professor of biblical languages and New Testament at Regent University School of Divinity in Virginia Beach, Va., said that the Southern Baptist resistance to tongues is tied to their belief that all the miraculous gifts (healing, prophecy, tongues, miracles) ceased with the death of the original 12 apostles and the completion of the Bible.
Burleson said he is resistant to the policy change because so many Christian men and women throughout history would have violated it.
"Some of our greatest missionaries of all time had a private prayer language, including Miss Bertha Smith of China, who led thousands of people to Christ and died an ambassador of the Southern Baptist Convention at the age of 100," he said.
Jerry Rankin, the president of the International Mission Board, has acknowledged that he has practiced a private prayer language for 30 years.
"We have become so intolerant that everyone must now march in lockstep with us or we kick them out," McBeth said. "I believe this (the policy change) was part of a power play to force Rankin into retirement."
The IMB made the policy change non-retroactive, so Rankin's position as president will not be threatened.
The trustees of the IMB deny that Burleson's criticism of the policy changes had a bearing on their decision to work to remove him. In an official statement released Jan. 11, board chairman Tom Hatley said: "In taking this action, trustees addressed issues involving broken trust and resistance to accountability, not Burleson's opposition to policies recently enacted by the board."
Burleson will remain on the board until the Southern Baptist Convention meets in Greensboro in June. The convention must vote to remove him, as the IMB has no power to do so. Burleson said he remains a strong supporter of the SBC and IMB.
"The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention is doing the greatest work in our 161-year-old history," Burleson said. "I and my church support the IMB. We will continue to support the IMB."
BOOKMARKED. Thanks for the ping.
LOL. Nothing like Baptists debating. I was born with a Southern Baptist spoon in my mouth and am still a member of a Southern Baptist Church but unoffically I'm a member of a Baptist Independent. You, think SB's are conservative..... Anyway, isn't this supposed to be "private" prayer? Church services aren't private. All I really care about is salvation but I wouldn't want to be around someone speaking in tongues and depending on their translation. I have my own instruction book. I may just have a personal interest here though because some lady running up and down aisles yelling in "tongues" at my in laws church really scared me when I was 16.
I think very little has changed since the early church. In fact in many ways, IMO..the Church is in worse shape.
Sometimes I just laugh..and cry at the same time....thinking about what God must be thinking about us. Instead of building each other up...we try and tear each other down. Instead of coming together in the things that should forever bind us...we focus on what divides us.
I don't have it all together....but I'm tired of seeing fellow professing Christians beating each other up.
Yes, I realize after reading some exchanges here...that this is a FR ongoing debate/feud. Maybe I'm reading more into this threads than what is here...but it seems many things are said...that people surely wouldn't say to each other in person. Especially brother's and sister's in the Lord.....
I'm guilty of this also, so I speak from humbled and embarrassed experience....IMO, the Internet is so impersonal..people will say things on-line...that there's no way, no how,..they would say in person...Christian or not.
Well I'm rambling...and life is short.
Be well...and may God bless you richly in all you do.
FRegards,
"Nothing there about any "spiritual language."
Also...nothing there about INTENTIONALLY picking up snakes or INTENTIONALLY drinking poison.
Finally, nothing there about those having hands laid on them ALWAYS getting well.
These are signs that will follow believers. The nature of a "sign" is that it a marvelous event designed to bring glory to GOD....and GOD will make them happen according to HIS determination."
I am reposting your entire reply because you are SO right!
Thank you bump!
"Popcorn anyone?"
I hope you have plenty of it,
because it appears you will
need a LOT! ;o)
"My personal belief:
What you do in private is between you and God.
Tongues in public WITHOUT and interpretation
is NOT Biblical or of any value to anyone."
That is my belief, as well.
Thanks, tutstar!
Be sure and get a good seat tomorrow. ;o)
You worry too much
Thanks, Dixie.
He Is Lord!
Thanks for the ping!
Good points. That's what I've been saying all along. I believe a major manifestation of the gift of tongues is indeed when missionaries learn a language under the inspiration of God in order to become stronger in sharing his Word.
Amen.
The Pastors have replaced the Book with pyscho-babble.
Perhaps you are correct.....
Perhaps more self-reflection, and meditation on the things that are important to God are in order.
Thank-you,
On the day of Pentecost the believers were in their home country. They did not learn a new language in one day as you prescribe. Please also point out where ever one that day were "missionaries" I can not find that in my bible.
PLEASE read the post carefully. I never said anything about them learning a new language at Pentecost, nor did I say anything about them being missionaries (though the apostles were somewhat missionaries after the Jesus ascended). I said that I believe another way that the gift of tongues is manifest is sometimes when missionaries learn another language. At Pentecost, the gift of tongues was used as a tool to manifest the power of God.
PLEASE read the post carefully. I never said anything about them learning a new language at Pentecost, nor did I say anything about them being missionaries (though the apostles were somewhat missionaries after the Jesus ascended). I said that I believe another way that the gift of tongues is manifest is sometimes when missionaries learn another language. At Pentecost, the gift of tongues was used as a tool to manifest the power of God.
You did not say "another way". What you did post:
I believe a major manifestation of the gift of tongues is indeed when missionaries learn a language under the inspiration of God in order to become stronger in sharing his Word.
Mark 6:11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”
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