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."
Then why did you post so much to this thread. Look in the mirror first!
Acts 8:14-16
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of god,they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy ghost:
Then why did you post so much to this thread. Look in the mirror first!
Believe me I do. Never once did I say I was better than anyone. I can't be like you perfect beings you know. "Falling short" is my trademark. It explains why I never grew very much. I posted a lot because among the many sincere replies, there's always a dumb, childish reply like this one that is so dadburn entertaining. I'll have to teach my four-year-old nephew that comeback. Then again, he might have already used it. Thanks again for the compliment.
Then why did you post so much to this thread. Look in the mirror first!
Believe me I do. Never once did I say I was better than anyone. I can't be like you perfect beings you know. "Falling short" is my trademark. It explains why I never grew very much. I posted a lot because among the many sincere replies, there's always a dumb, childish reply like this one that is so dadburn entertaining. I'll have to teach my four-year-old nephew that comeback. Then again, he might have already used it. Thanks again for the compliment.
Perhaps more self-reflection, and meditation on the things that are important to God are in order.
Thank-you,
Change that, I don't worry enough.
I don't know about yoose guys but I
ain't buying no sawsidge from this fellow.
As a former SB member, I quit buying anything from the SBC a long time ago.
As a former SB member
AW that explains it
Again you carp on others while doing the same yourself. And then play the old "I'm just a sinner" card. Pathetic is what it is.
Sorry, bud, you sound like the one carping. I haven't made a real effort to do so, though I could learn. Can you teach me? I like trout better anyways though. And yes, I am just a sinner, nothing more, nothing less. Thanks for pointing that out.
Hey, my two-year-old nephew copyrighted "pathetic." You may have to pay royalties to him.
Aw, sausage guy is probably all right I think. He's pretty FRANK, that's for sure.
Question:
Being a "former" SB.
After you "learned" how to speak in tongues
did you also learn how to lose your salvation ?
More childish response. Your just proving my words.
This is a common trait among the SB. You preach the word, then you speak and DO different. And of course pull the "I'm just a sinner" card.
OH I wish I was an Oscar Mier weenie.
I also learned you can lie ,cheat, steal, murder, rape,fornicate, have as many gods as you wish, all while your still saved.
Is that a yes or a no?
You mean, you're (spelled as a contraction by the way), actually equating me to a child. OH the humanity, oh woe is me. Heck, I've never been anything more than a garden snail before. Stop the compliments
Wait a minute, do you have me confused with someone else???? I'm not a preacher. Holy Cats!! How can someone even think that????? And HOW do you know I do different? Maybe you're that fly that keeps buzzing around my head.
And guess WHAT, I'm not even Baptist. I appreciate many of them, but don't agree with all of them.
Please tell me what I specifically said for you to make those accusations that you did. You got two things wrong already--that I'm Baptist and a preacher.
And if you looked, the only points I've really made are 1)that the gift of tongues is not just random talking 2) that the gift of tongues is indeed manifest in our day 3)that the gift of tongues when manifest often does have a purpose 4)that it can be manifest in other ways besides just uttering different tongues--such as when missionaries preaching the gospel learn languages in foreign countries 5) that I'm a dumb idiot. The last one is TRUE. I don't play any "cards." I insult myself because I'm not perfect and because I'm telling the TRUTH.
And what do you call your statements? enlightenment?
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