Thursday, September 08, 2011

Carl Trueman vs. the SBC

Carl Trueman recently criticized the president of the SBC for being displeased by the exclusion of Evangelicals from participation in religious ceremonies commemorating 9/11.  I tend to agree with Trueman's point that SBC pastors probably shouldn't be part of a religious event that also includes Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim figures, because it would be hard to do so without compromising the gospel.

Trueman, however, writes: 
Rather than lamenting the situation, the Southern Baptists should be delighted that the organizers had the sensitivity and foresight not to place them in the grim position of having to turn down such an invitation in order to avoid compromising their orthodox, Protestant identity. The public relations disaster that would have followed this elementary stand for biblical truth and exclusivity would have been spectacular.
This doesn't make much sense.  How is it a "public relations disaster" when Christians decline to participate in interreligious events?  Isn't that a witnessing opportunity? And ultimately, there is no reason (that I've seen) to suppose that the organizers intended to be "sensitive" rather than the more obvious explanation that they intended to snub evangelicals. 

-TurretinFan
to the Glory of God, at

4 comments:

  1. LjdibiaseThursday, September 08, 2011 8:57:00 PM

    I think he's being sarcastic, and in this case it works.

    ReplyDelete
  2. NatamllcThursday, September 08, 2011 10:15:00 PM

    For me, most of my work is done in the closet secretly. I am always rewarded secretly and some times the rewards come out into the public eye. I don't do well with public exaltations. Never have. Most likely, never will; but that is not a reason for God to do what He does do with His own. After all, He is the Most High God, the Owner.

    Psa 89:11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.


    I thought of these verses, as well, when reading the article for which I now comment:

    Rom 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
    Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
    Rom 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.


    ...
    1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
    1Pe 5:7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MegalofaunaFriday, September 09, 2011 2:15:00 AM

    I'm with Ljdibiase, here. I don't think Trueman truly believes the organizers are relevantly capable of the sensitivity and foresight he (facetiously?) attributes to them. Otherwise, I'd guess, you've gotten Trueman's comment exactly right, if via the back door: "there is no reason (that I've seen) to suppose that the organizers intended to be 'sensitive' rather than the more obvious explanation that they intended to snub evangelicals."

    I believe he's, here, underlining the snubbing with feigned appreciation for the theological acumen of the organizers, while also underscoring the fact that SBC-ers should take the snubbing cum grano salis: "[Y]ou should never want to join any club that would have you as a member."

    ...

    Piper is fond of saying that God is always doing 10,000 things; Trueman is sometimes doing two things.

    ...

    On the other hand, Dr. Trueman apparently has no idea who the president of the SBC actually is. So, there's that.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Coram DeoFriday, September 09, 2011 4:16:00 AM

    I think there's a conspiracy here. Note that "Carl Trueman" has precisely 11 letters in his name, and the remainder of this title (including the period) contains 9 characters. 11/9, TF?!?

    Coincidence? I think not!

    ReplyDelete

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