In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it. (2 Timothy 3:12-14)

Plenty Of Wolves In The Sheep Pen

In an article from the Southern Baptist TEXAN we’re told, “When SBC President Frank Page addressed Southern Baptist editors meeting in Philadelphia Feb. 16, he offered many of the same answers he gave eight months earlier to some of the same reporters following his election in Greensboro, N.C.” Please understand that this is no way reflects on what the reporter says; however, non-answers would be more accurate. Dr. Page says critics like Apprising Ministries ought to do a “reality check” before giving up on Southern Baptist ministry and mission.

Ok Dr. Page, do you mean my reality check should remind me of your publicly ignoring very prominent Southern Baptists like Ed Young, Jr. and Dr. Ed Young welcoming Word Faith mogul and Oneness Pentecostal T.D. Jakes into a Southern Baptist church? After all, T.D. Jakes only denies the Holy Trinity–the actual nature of God as revealed in the Bible you claim to believe is inerrant. Or how about your apparent approval of the warped man-centered “missional” approach of men like Erwin Raphael McManus and the new cult of liberal theology which is the Emergent Church?

Or maybe we’re supposed to also ignore the corrupt dominion theology inherent in this statement from Dr. Page, “I sense a huge number of people—primarily laypeople, certainly pastors of small and medium-sized churches who are authentically, loving, Christian men and women–they want to win the world to Christ, care about people, help people in Jesus’ name.” O, all sounds very pious Dr. Page, but the truth is that neither you nor any of these people have any power whatsoever to win anyone to Christ. You need to come to realize that padding church roles with false converts to a false understanding of the Gospel message may impress other men at your conferences but you’re not fooling Jesus.

And this article also tells us that it would seem Dr. Page feels countering the critics “is somewhat of a public relations problem. When talking with people who have left the SBC or are considering that option, Page said he acknowledges ‘constant antagonisms have driven away massive numbers of people.’” While he is certainly entitled to his opinion it can just as easily be countered that “massive numbers of people” have been purpose driven away as sinner/seeker sensitive missional methods that have now highjacked the SBC through men like Dr. Ed Stetzer. While I don’t necessarily advocate all of what this implied, it is as I asked my little SBC church Sunday, “Do you remember when Southern Baptist made one think of ‘Hell-fire and brimstone preachers?’”