Posted on 05/23/2018 10:19:09 PM PDT by Cronos
Evangelicals, we can no longer say sexual misconduct is just a Roman Catholic problem. At one of our seminaries, controversy has centered on a president (now former president) whose sermon illustration from years ago included advice that a battered wife remain in the home and the marriage in hope of the conversion of her abusive husband. Other comments represented the objectification of a teenage girl. The issues only grew more urgent with the sense that the dated statements represented ongoing advice and counsel.
..We thought this was a Roman Catholic problem.
..
When people said that evangelicals had a similar crisis coming, it didn’t seem plausible—even to me. I have been president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for 25 years. I did not see this coming.
..We cannot blame a requirement of priestly celibacy. We cannot even point to an organized conspiracy of silence within the denominational hierarchy. No, our humiliation comes as a result of an unorganized conspiracy of silence. Sadly, the unorganized nature of our problem may make recovery and correction even more difficult and the silence even more dangerous.
...This is just a foretaste of the wrath of God poured out. This moment requires the very best of us. The Southern Baptist Convention is on trial, and our public credibility is at stake. May God have mercy on us all.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...
I believe a scandal broke recently where a prominent SBC leader was revealed to have been involved in an extramarital affair. This may be some of what is behind this letter.
Surely and sadly there is much, maybe as much, sexual abuse in Prot churches, if not predominantly of the same kind, but the articles does not mention that while Forgotten Study: Abuse in School 100 Times Worse than by Priests ...
JWs are not evangelicals; they are anti-trinitarian.
And your focus is on a president of a Texas seminary who upheld martial vows and faith (though at least intervention is called for in such a case).
For your benefit, I'll just repeat the points raised by Mr. Mohler -- Albert Mohler is the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. This post originally appeared on his blog and has been republished with his permission.
..We thought this was a Roman Catholic problem.I would suggest you read this. There are lots of other posts on other topics.
...When people said that evangelicals had a similar crisis coming, it didn’t seem plausible—even to me. I have been president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for 25 years. I did not see this coming.
I was wrong. The judgment of God has come.
We cannot blame a requirement of priestly celibacy. We cannot even point to an organized conspiracy of silence within the denominational hierarchy. No, our humiliation comes as a result of an unorganized conspiracy of silence. Sadly, the unorganized nature of our problem may make recovery and correction even more difficult and the silence even more dangerous.
As I recently said with lament to a longtime leader among the more liberal faction that left the SBC, each side has become the fulfillment of what the other side warned. The liberals who left have kept marching to the Left, in theology and moral teaching. The SBC, solidly conservative theologically, has been revealed to be morally compromised.
i'm not sure how they dress as I've not met one in person in years.
it’s kind of sad that you instantly look for the smote in your brother’s eye. tsk tsk
I wouldn’t categorize them as evangelicals, either.
It is incorrect to say that they are not Pentecostals -- they do reject the Trinity but in every other way their beliefs are identical to Pentecostal groups like "Assemblies ofGod" etc.
Why would you not call them Pentecostal?
What I don’t get is that Mr Mohler the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary talks about cleaning his house - very admirable and I’m sure he will do that. By hitting the problem head-on, he is sure to resolve it and this is a wonderful example for us all. May God bless Mohler on his endeavours.
The denial of the Trinity separates them from what is commonly held as evangelical. YMMV
As Oneness Pentecostals hold to this salvation by grace and that Jesus Christ is God, they are Evangelicals
The term Evangelical includes diverse points of view with really the only common point being the salvation by grace (since most don't hold to creeds).
I grew up Southern Baptist and I’ve heard that crap from the pulpit too.
You can't deny calling them evangelicals as there is not a defined creed as defines orthodoxy.
The reason why Paige Patterson has been removed from his position is related to this:
Paige Patterson and the Rap Victim He shamed
That’s not the classic definition where I am from, since the Trinity is essential to being a Christian, let alone being an evangelical.
“Rap” - s/b Rape
The thing to respect is that the house cleaning is happening. That’s good news. We all sin, but the fact that people like Mr mohler are standing up and saying “let’s clean house” — THAT is good. Good for him!
you do realise that the Unitarians also were defined as Christian as late as the 50s (Eisenhower was Unitarian)
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