Friday, Sept. 19, 2003
Baptist Faith and Message defense
I have often said, "If cut, I bleed Baptist." I have spent the last 46 years preaching in SBC work in all areas. My wife and I now serve as IMB missionaries in Fiji. I want to commend Dr. Jerry Rankin and the IMB on their move to have the missionaries affirm the Baptist Faith and Message.I became a Southern Baptist because of what they believe.
To me the whole argument is over "truth." We, as Baptists, have believed certain truths through the years and that has set us apart. Once we begin to lose those truths, we lose our identity.
The devil is having a field day over our debate and we are simply providing him fuel to confuse the world. Shame on us!
The International Mission Board, as our employer, has the responsibility to require us to believe the basic statement of faith for our denomination.
If there is not a statement of faith, then what is it that sets us apart from the rest of the denominations in the world? These doctrines have been the basis of who we are through our history. If we move from those basic doctrines, then we no longer have the right to call ourselves Southern Baptists.
The Baptist Faith and Message is an attempt to put into simple language what makes Southern Baptists unique in Christendom. The Baptist Faith and Message has not changed, the doctrines are the same. Paul very clearly kept tabs on the churches he planted to make sure they stayed in the faith. Why should we do less?
I hope when we have finished our work, the churches we have helped start will say without hesitation, "we are Baptist."
Emory May
Fuji
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