Baptist World Alliance Message From The Centenary Congress

[Psalm 95]

What do you think about the Baptist World Alliance Message From The Centenary Congress?

http://www.bwanet.org/default.aspx?pid=141

 

[Psalm 95]

Statement by BWA Executive Committee, March 2004
We wish to affirm again for all to know:
a. Our adherence to the historic doctrines of our faith including but not limited to
i. The uniqueness of our Lord Jesus Christ
ii. The centrality of the Great Commission
b. Our joyful affirmation of faith in the mediation of Jesus Christ as solely and entirely
sufficient for salvation, “for there is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12).

 

[Psalm 95]

Statement by BWA General Secretary to General Council, July 2004:
1. The BWA strongly affirms the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith as proclaimed in Holy Scripture which we accept as the authoritative Word of God!
2. Since we affirm the autonomy of Baptist bodies, it is the prerogative of local churches and their member bodies to make decisions on ordination.
3. We are citizens of the Kingdom of God and loyal citizens of our own nations. As Baptists who believe in the authority of the Word of God we believe that all of us must be open to the prophetic voice from God as it applies to our nations and to the world! We believe that Baptists should be good and patriotic citizens of their countries, but patriotism must always be limited to and judged by the Bible’s call for ultimate loyalty to Christ who is above all!
4. The BWA does not support homosexuality as an acceptable life-style, believing it to be incompatible with the teachings of Scripture! It affirms without reservation that marriage is a holy state and only between a man and a woman. Meeting in July, 1994 in Uppsala, Sweden, the BWA General Council approved the following resolution confirming that the BWA “proclaims the biblical definition of the family, a permanent, monogamous, heterosexual union, as the original divine plan for family life which must continue to serve as the foundation and ideal for an ordered and effective society.

 

[Fred Moritz]

Baptist World Alliance

The Baptist World Alliance has several problems.

1. Regardless of statements they make they still refused to endorse the statement that Christ is the only way of salvation. This took place in Brazil. In my office I have the report of the meeting as carried in the Richmond, VA newspaper. I believe this goes back to December 2003. They pled the old liberal Baptist ruse that adopting such a statement infringes on individual soul liberty. Bible believers respond that individual soul liberty, a highly valued Baptist distinctive, is limited by the absolute authority of Scripture. Acts 4:12 and other passages are definitive on the subject of salvation. The BWA has been trying to "dance" around this issue ever since.

2. Regardless of how good a Statement of Faith may or may not look, the other issue is that many of the BWA world wide member bodies are also members of the World Council of Churches. The organization is patently ecumenical.

 

[Lou Martuneac]

Joining the BWA will put you in membership with the likes of Rick Warren. Commenting on the SBC's decision to pull out of the BWA Warren said,

"I see absolutely zero reason in separating my fellowship from anybody." Noting he has theological differences with many of the diverse denominations that invite him to speak, Warren added, "That doesn't stop me from fellowshipping with them." (See Warren: Global Baptists are all in this Together

That Rick Warren can join, financially support and be welcomed by BWA leadership should give you a good handle on just how uncommitted to the biblical plan of salvation BWA is.

For details on the ministry and philosophy of Rick Warren, please read:

Purpose Driven's Compromise of Scripture

Rick Warren's Foray Into the United Nations

No Laughing Matter


LM

 

[Gold Dragon]

That Rick Warren can join, financially support and be welcomed by BWA leadership should give you a good handle on just how uncommitted to the biblical plan of salvation BWA is.

Do you feel the same way about the SBC? Saddleback is also a member of the SBC, financially supports it and Warren likely attends leadership meetings for the SBC. Does that give us a handle on how uncommitted to the biblical plan of salvation the SBC is?

 

[Psalm 95]

The Baptist World Alliance has several problems.

1. Regardless of statements they make they still refused to endorse the statement that Christ is the only way of salvation. This took place in Brazil. In my office I have the report of the meeting as carried in the Richmond, VA newspaper. I believe this goes back to December 2003. They pled the old liberal Baptist ruse that adopting such a statement infringes on individual soul liberty. Bible believers respond that individual soul liberty, a highly valued Baptist distinctive, is limited by the absolute authority of Scripture. Acts 4:12 and other passages are definitive on the subject of salvation. The BWA has been trying to "dance" around this issue ever since.

2. Regardless of how good a Statement of Faith may or may not look, the other issue is that many of the BWA world wide member bodies are also members of the World Council of Churches. The organization is patently ecumenical.

A. It is true that BWA has problems. On the other hand, so had SBC before the SBC Conservative Resurgence. Also, I think I would not question that there are many conservative members of BWA around the world.

B. It may be that SBC Baptist Faith and Message 1925, was in responce to liberalism and its further revisions has been an important part of the conservative resurgence. Could the Centenary Message of the BWA be a start of a conservative resurgence of the BWA?

C. In many countries there are no SBC, IFB or equialent. You have to do the best what you have, in my case the Baptist Union of Sweden.

Conclusion
So while I encourage no one to leave SBC for a church connected to BWA, I am happy to see signs of conservatism in BWA. For me personally that means that I can pray for a conservative resurgence of both the BWA and the Baptist Union of Sweden, knowing that I not alone.

I is also important to me that BWA wants to confess a basicly sound faith at the centenary congress. That means that I am not alone and that I can support them, at the same time praying for our Lord to help us with problems and doing my best to be a wittnes where I live.

 

[Gold Dragon]

2. Regardless of how good a Statement of Faith may or may not look, the other issue is that many of the BWA world wide member bodies are also members of the World Council of Churches. The organization is patently ecumenical.

I applaud them for trying to obey Paul's pleading in Ephesians 4 and live out Christ's prayer in John 17.

NASB - Ephesian 4:1-6

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
with all humility and gentleness,
with patience,
showing tolerance for one another in love,
being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body
and one Spirit,
just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
one Lord,
one faith,
one baptism,
one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

NASB - John 17:20-21

I do not ask on behalf of these alone,
but for those also who believe in Me through their word;
that they may all be one;
even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You,
that they also may be in Us,
so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

 

[Psalm 95]

Joining the BWA will put you in membership with the likes of Rick Warren. Commenting on the SBC's decision to pull out of the BWA Warren said,
That Rick Warren can join, financially support and be welcomed by BWA leadership should give you a good handle on just how uncommitted to the biblical plan of salvation BWA is.

LM

I can see no part in the Baptist World Alliance Message From The Centenary Congress that says you should approve Rick Warren or his methods.

I think my point is that the Baptist World Alliance Message From The Centenary Congress is basicly OK, even if everything the BWA does is not good.

/Psalm 95.

 

[JustChristian]

The Baptist World Alliance has several problems.

1. Regardless of statements they make they still refused to endorse the statement that Christ is the only way of salvation. This took place in Brazil. In my office I have the report of the meeting as carried in the Richmond, VA newspaper. I believe this goes back to December 2003. They pled the old liberal Baptist ruse that adopting such a statement infringes on individual soul liberty. Bible believers respond that individual soul liberty, a highly valued Baptist distinctive, is limited by the absolute authority of Scripture. Acts 4:12 and other passages are definitive on the subject of salvation. The BWA has been trying to "dance" around this issue ever since.

2. Regardless of how good a Statement of Faith may or may not look, the other issue is that many of the BWA world wide member bodies are also members of the World Council of Churches. The organization is patently ecumenical.

I don't understand your point. This was their statement of faith.

Statement by BWA Executive Committee, March 2004
We wish to affirm again for all to know:

b. Our joyful affirmation of faith in the mediation of Jesus Christ as solely and entirely sufficient for salvation, “for there is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12).
Reply With Quote

How can you interpret this as saying anything other than salvation is ONLY through Jesus Christ? You're arguing that some statement in a newspaper (which you didn't post) is stronger than their statement of faith. Explain.

 

[Joseph M. Smith]

To tarnish the BWA by pointing out that some member unions are also part of the World Council of Churches is to engage in guilt by association. We showed that tactic up during the McCarthy years (Joe, not Charlie or Eugene or Jennie!).

The statement is classically Christian. Notice that while it points out the need for Christians to work for unity, it also says that baptism by immersion is the proper way for churches to provide entry. So there is no compromise with pedobaptism or other problematic doctrines.

I was privileged, some years ago, to be an observer at a World Council of Churches hearing on their "Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry" document. It was heartening to see how much appreciation there was in this ecumenical gathering for Baptist insights, which were vigorously offered by people like Frank Stagg and Glenn Igleheart. We should not make the term "ecumenical" a negative.

I personally do not pray for a conservative "resurgence" in the BWA. I believe that its statements, which of necessity reflect a wide variety of cultures and traditions, are on target.

Disclosure: one of the members of the church where I am interim pastor is an executive of the BWA.

 

[Lou Martuneac]

J. Smith:

Earlier Fred Moritz wrote,

1. Regardless of statements they make they still refused to endorse the statement that Christ is the only way of salvation. This took place in Brazil... They pled the old liberal Baptist ruse that adopting such a statement infringes on individual soul liberty. Bible believers respond that individual soul liberty, a highly valued Baptist distinctive, is limited by the absolute authority of Scripture. Acts 4:12 and other passages are definitive on the subject of salvation. The BWA has been trying to “dance” around this issue ever since.

2. Regardless of how good a Statement of Faith may or may not look, the other issue is that many of the BWA world wide member bodies are also members of the World Council of Churches. The organization is patently ecumenical.

The part I put in bold above trumps everything you said to legitimize the BWA.

The BWA is a council made up of compromisers with known and vital error. The BWA’s tolerance for men and movements that corrupt the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a betrayal of Scripture and treason against the Lord Himself.

This note from my book is very applicable here,

Compromising the fundamentals of our faith in order to be accepted by and retain fellowship with our peers is wrong. In his day, Charles H. Spurgeon valiantly fought against false teaching and the compromise of major fundamental doctrines in order to maintain unity. Many believe that this struggle led to his premature death. Although the majority of Spurgeon’s Baptist contemporaries agreed with his doctrinal stand,

“They preferred unity above the maintenance of doctrinal purity. He attacked the position by saying, “first pure, then peaceable; if only one is attainable, choose the former. Fellowship with known and vital error is participation in sin. . . . To pursue union at the price of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus.” (E. Wayne Thompson, This Day in Baptist History, p. 529.)

LM