I have been completely intrigued over the past several days reading about what happened at the Southern Baptist Convention. As a disclaimer, let me say that I have nothing bad to say about Southern Baptists. (Even though they took a totally absurd position on alcohol.) As I wrote a few days ago, storms are blowing in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in the wake of their recent General Assembly. If only we were arguing about drinking beer and blogging.
Anyway, what has been fascinating to read about was the election of a basically unheard of candidate to be president of the SBC. Frank Page won the election over two very well known ministers, both of whom had support from the conservatives at the convention; who historically have made all the calls within the Baptist church.
It appears to many that blogs played a major part in this unexpected turn. Is this a sign that the conservative revolution has now gone too far politically and that a more moderate, (although still conservative) voice, is needed? It appears that way. Bobby Welch, the outgoing president of the Southern Baptist Convention, doesn't like blogging at all. Here is what he said:
"If we'd spend less time on these websites that we'd be able to spend more time witnessing?" Here is another one: "Do you think if we spent less time blogging we might have more time to do some baptizing?"
Witnessing and baptizing, those are a couple of great Baptist words. Mr. Welch is right about one thing. We do spend too much time caught up in things that do nothing to advance the kingdom. So, let's see, church politics would be one for sure, but blogging? I don’t think so.
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