Last night we continued our study through the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and came to the article dealing with Peace and War. Amidst the discussion of how to be agents of peace in a world at war, one of my deacons raised a very enlightening thought. Sometimes in order to have peace you have to speak truth that has the potential to lead to war. In other words, there are times in which a compromising word is given which only produces a pseudo-peace. We know that the only true peace will come when the Prince of Peace reigns within our hearts and lives. As believers we ought always to be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit and aware of the ways in which our statements are perceived. Sometimes it's not so much what you say as how you say it.

Trip to the Dentist

Life after the Conservative Resurgence

   Praise God for the transformational truth that led the body of the Missouri Baptist Convention to come to the conclusion that we needed to return to the roots of the truth of God's Word. Thank God that while the journey was difficult and painful, we have finally arrived at a day in which the leadership of our state, across the board, is made up of unquestionable inerrantists. Many of us suffered loss through this process. Our churches suffered loss. But, in the end it was the only choice in order to correct the erosion that had crept in.

   Now we stand on a new threshhold. Instead of dealing with radical liberalism, we are dealing with radical fundamentalism. Many in our state wish that we would just stop talking about it. "Just go along and everything will be fine." However, everything is not fine. Throughout our state there are DOMs who have already met together to discuss leaving the MBC. There are pastors who have already spoken with their church finance committees to seek to redirect funds away from the MBC. We stand at the edge of the demise of the Missouri Baptist Convention and there are those who would say to us, "Be quiet!" "Stop stirring the pot!" While that may seem a desirable response, for certainly it is the path of least resistance, it is not, in my opinion, a Godly response. Even a secular dentist knows enough to know that you cannot treat a diseased mouth if you refuse to address the disease.

   We need some transformational truth in our state to reveal the disease and to help usher in the healing. This is a God-sized task, but we serve a great God. Won't you pray with me that God will be glorified in the days ahead as some painful truths are revealed in order to bring some much needed healing? Without prayer, we are powerless. But with prayer, we will stand strong!