The Holy Spirit and the Southern Baptist Convention Today (XVI): “I HAVE a Dream (Continued)”

Last time, I recalled Martin Luther King’s incredibly influential August, 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech.  As I noted, what he said was not what he had prepared to deliver on that occasion.  Rather, he bowed to the request from the crowd to “Tell us your dream, Martin!”  Fairly obviously, what he did say turned out to be more significant than any other speech made during those formative years of the civil rights movement.

It has now been well over 40 years since King passionately articulated his “dream” for a color-blind American society.  However, the tragedy of racism not only still exists, but, in some pockets of our society, it remains as laid in concrete as it ever has been. 

Why is that the case?  Shoving aside current shallow cultural explanations and getting to the theological heart of the matter, we find sinful human nature.  And, frankly, from a biblical standpoint, no further basis for racism is needed than that.

Sadly, though, racism is not just a reality in the unsaved world.  Many evangelical churches (not a few Southern Baptist), notably–but hardly exclusively–in small towns in the South–remain racially segregated, and full of racists, 40 years after all public schools in their areas were integrated. 

How can we explain that widespread phenomena?  The clear theological explanation is “the flesh,” the part of redeemed mankind that, when allowed to control the believer’s life, continues to think and act like a non-Christian, no matter how long the person has been saved (1 Corinthians 3:1-4; Galatians 5:17, 19-21).

Now, my “dream” is not at all about racism per se.  However, racism indeed is one strong piece of evidence among a number of others pointing to a much broader corporate control of the flesh in key portions of the Southern Baptist Convention.  And, as the field of medicine reminds us, “Don’t treat the symptoms and miss the underlying disease,” the SBC must face the theological reality that racism is simply one symptom of the flesh being allowed to run the show in a whole bunch of our brothers’ and sisters’ lives.

Before beginning to lay out the “dream” (or vision) the Lord is in the process of clarifying in my heart, I feel that I need to make my biblical case for why my “diagnosis” of our biggest problem is the control of the flesh.  To do so, let’s briefly think our way together through Galatians 5:19-21.

Paul as much as tells us to watch carefully for these attitudes and related behavior, because, whenever you see them, they are unmistakable (“obvious,” 5:19, HCSB) evidence that the flesh is in control: “sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing… (5:19-21, HCSB). 

For the sake of simplicity and clarity, it is fair to say that we have here two categories of fleshly attitudes become actions.  They are: 1) the licentious; and 2) the legalistic. 

The licentious works of the flesh are those in which the person simply lets their “lusts” go wild or they go to previously unthinkable misguided religious extremes.  In this category would be: “sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery… drunkenness, carousings…” (5:19, 21).  These are the actions of the flesh that are the ones we get upset about when some professing believer–especially some pastor or leader–flips out into this gross kind of behavior.

Sadly, almost completely overlooked in our circles are the legalistic works of the flesh.  These are the attitudes-actions that are related to trying very hard to look religious on the outside while just as much controlled by the flesh on the inside: “… hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy… .”  Anything here remind you of meetings you have attended or heard about in SBC circles?  If you are honest enough to admit it, I salute you.  Many are still deep in denial in this area, which is an “obvious” (5:19) gigantic spiritual problem for any who will but open their eyes.

What is the answer to this problem?  As Paul says in 5:16: “I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”  How is this done?  Simply by walking (living step-by-step) by faith (5:5-6).  When that is taking place, this is the attitudinal “fruit” that is manifest in your life: “… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-c0ntrol” (5:22-23, HCSB).

But, the other side of the coin is very much worth considering here.  When you are not walking by faith (5:5-6, 16), this is what the attitudinal fruit tragically morphs into: being unloving, without joy, devoid of peace, impatient, unkind, bad, unfaithful, harsh, and out of control.  And, that, my friends, is also nothing more than the flesh at work.

As I prepare to lay out my “dream,” a key question for all of us is: Are we willing to recognize and label “the works of the flesh” and “the fruit of the Spirit” for what they are, no matter whose words or actions they are?  If just that (i.e., calling attention to “obvious” actions in the flesh or in the Spirit)–and nothing else–were done consistently, the SBC would soon be on the road to my “dream.”

You see, I do have a wonderful dream in which the Holy Spirit is allowed to take control of the Southern Baptist Convention, from the top down and in every nook and cranny.  That will happen if every believer among us walks by faith daily, in complete dependence upon the indwelling power of the Spirit.

In my dream, the leaders of the Conservative Resurgence are humbled by the Spirit, are able to admit their shortcomings and overreaches for the sake of power, but are completely forgiven by the denominational masses, in order that they might undertake reaching the proper goal of the Resurgence: Spirit-led revival based in life-transforming application of the inerrant Scriptures.  That would be their “legacy,” and it would be far greater–and godlier–than anything yet seen in the long history of the SBC.

In my dream, there is no need for a reform movement.  Prompted by the Spirit, the leaders recognize that their arrogant pride has put them in opposition to God (1 Peter 5:5).  So, they humble themselves (5:6) and gladly make the appropriate changes that are the only bedrock reason why a reform movement is currently in existence.

In my dream, entity trustees, operating in the power of the Spirit, exercise their duties with proper accountability (i.e., answerability) to the SBC.  Also, in the power of the Spirit, there would never again be cover-ups or “smiley faces for the camera” by the lieutenants of those making bad, or power-hungry, decisions or trustees in the know.  There would be candor and the legitimate assuming of responsibility for their part of whatever takes place.  And, in a Spirit-led SBC, there would be complete forgiveness for their lack of courage.

In my dream, Spirit-led Calvinists would “agree to disagree agreeably” with Spirit-led slightly adjusted Arminians.  the same would be true wiht Spirit-led neo-Landmarkists and those who are not sold at all on that set of Baptist distinctives, but can love those they disagree with anyway, because of the Spirit.

In my dream, the presidency of the Convention would no longer be a political role only for the most powerful of our entity leaders or the pastors of the largest fraction of one per cent of our local churches.  Rather, the president would be a spiritual role for whatever godly person the Lord prayerfully sets forth, not just a political ally “who is one of us.” 

In my dream for the SBC, people would not become entity trustees because of nepotism, croneyism or for motives of shoring up political control of an entity.  Rather, they would be selected on the basis of their Spirit-led walk with the Lord and their desire to serve the Lord first, then the spiritual interests of all Southern Baptists, without regard to factions/power interests.

In my dream, the trustees of our two mission boards and Southwestern Seminary would rescind their policies or guidelines against those who speak in tongues or have a private prayer language.  They would be convicted and realize that these policies/guidelines are “quenching” the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19).  Instead, if they are still cessationists, they would move to a point where they could openly, but cautiously, trust their brothers and sisters with this gift not to abuse their positions as missionaries, instead of denying them any opportunity to follow their calling through the SBC.

In my dream, there would be true integrity in the reporting of numbers within the SBC.  Led by the Spirit, we would freely admit the true number of “people showing up weekly” numbers in our local churches, as well as the actual overall membership active in the SBC.  If the Spirit was in control, there would be no hesitancy to own up to the actual enrollment numbers of a seminary that, if known, might hurt the prideful reputation of an illustrious president, as well as the actual salary/benefits numbers for several seminary presidents.

In my dream, local church pastors would not view their current pastoral position as another stepping-stone to the next bigger, more prestigious congregation.  Rather, with the Spirit leading (e.g., Acts 16:6-10), the fleshly “caste system” that looks down on smaller churches and their pastors would be a thing of the past.

In my dream, SBC pulpits would be known for powerful Spirit-led preaching which is always capped off by piercing careful application.  Not only would many be led to the Lord, but there would be no more long-term carnal Christians (1 Corinthians 3:1-4) just occupying pews on Sundays, but never growing in Christ.

In my dream, all church members would be “salt and light” in their communities, sharing Christ as a way of life and an opportunity for great joy!  Our congregations would truly be “in the world, but not of the world,” instead of the current reality for so many of our people: “of the world,” but not “in it” in any meaningful sense.

In my dream for the SBC, giving would go up substantially, but not because of pressure to give.  Rather, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the great joy of underwriting the Lord’s work all over the world would far outweigh the fleshly reasons many of us spend so much of the financial resources with which God has richly blessed us.

And, the best part of my dream is that it is realistically doable.  Honestly, the only action it requires is for each one of us to walk moment by moment in the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16), by faith (5:5-6). 

So, as I close this installment, the key question is: Are you willing to get your act together with the Holy Spirit?  After all, if you do not choose, moment by moment, to walk in power of the Spirit instead of the flesh, why should anybody else in the SBC?

Coming Wednesday: “I HAVE a Dream (Conclusion)”