Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

[Rebel]

I don't know if there are any on here who would consider themselves moderate Baptists. I am one such person. Actually, I think my views range across the spectrum, but I am definitely traditional on ethics and morality.

In the past, I have been a supporter of the CBF, but now I have mixed feelings about it. They say they are not a denomination and so don't issue policy statements. Therefore, they have no stated policies on abortion, capital punishment, or homosexuality. They do have a hiring policy in place for the CBF organization which prevents the hiring of a self-avowed practicing homosexual.

I am all for autonomy, but I wish they would take an official stand on some of these issues. If they did, this would in no way interfere with local church autonomy. Local churches could still agree or disagree.

I do find it troubling that there seems to be a weakening in the CBF for the support of the traditional view of homosexuality. I base that on some recent meetings. Also, there are churches in my state that are CBF members which are affirming of homosexuality. I'm not sure how an organization that will not hire a practicing homosexual can allow churches to be members which affirm it. Can someone explain this thinking to me?

If anyone here is a moderate Baptist, do you or could you support CBF?

 

[just-want-peace]

IIRC, the peanut magnate, ex-POTUS Jimy Carter was/is a big supporter of the CBF. AFAIC, that's enough to be against it.
Also have a friend whose pastor was a big fan of CBF, and his views were nowhere near what I consider typical Baptist beliefs. Course you have to realize I'm a dyed in the wool SB, so my evaluation may not D) be a good benchmark.

 

[Rebel]

IIRC, the peanut magnate, ex-POTUS Jimy Carter was/is a big supporter of the CBF. AFAIC, that's enough to be against it.
Also have a friend whose pastor was a big fan of CBF, and his views were nowhere near what I consider typical Baptist beliefs. Course you have to realize I'm a dyed in the wool SB, so my evaluation may not D) be a good benchmark.

Thanks for your reply. Could you say what you consider "typical Baptist beliefs"?

I'm afraid I can't support the SBC or CBF, and especially not the Alliance of Baptists. I'm not sure where that leaves me.

 

[Yeshua1]

Thanks for your reply. Could you say what you consider "typical Baptist beliefs"?

I'm afraid I can't support the SBC or CBF, and especially not the Alliance of Baptists. I'm not sure where that leaves me.

Are you one who agrees with god on salvation in Christ alone, and that God condemns things such as abortion, gay marriages etc?

 

[Rebel]

Are you one who agrees with god on salvation in Christ alone, and that God condemns things such as abortion, gay marriages etc?

Yes..........................

 

[Yeshua1]

Yes..........................

Would that not then put you in good standing with SBC and majority of other Baptist churches?

My church is a member of the Great Lakes Baptists group, and what would we hold with that causes you concern then?

 

[Revmitchell]

Would that not then put you in good standing with SBC and majority of other Baptist churches?

My church is a member of the Great Lakes Baptists group, and what would we hold with that causes you concern then?

Not if he also holds to open theism and rejects substitutionary atonement. It would create big issues. He would have big issues with what is preached on average in the SBC.

 

[Rebel]

Not if he also holds to open theism and rejects substitutionary atonement. It would create big issues. He would have big issues with what is preached on average in the SBC.

I think you have stated it, except I would say that I am open to open theism, pardon the pun.

Also, I affirm women's ordination and oppose OSAS.

I am, though, traditional/conservative on moral and ethical issues. On that and polity, I could agree with the SBC. On theology, I have issues.

 

[Rebel]

Would that not then put you in good standing with SBC and majority of other Baptist churches?

My church is a member of the Great Lakes Baptists group, and what would we hold with that causes you concern then?

See my reply to Rev.

 

[Yeshua1]

I think you have stated it, except I would say that I am open to open theism, pardon the pun.

Also, I affirm women's ordination and oppose OSAS.

I am, though, traditional/conservative on moral and ethical issues. On that and polity, I could agree with the SBC. On theology, I have issues.

Just curious, do you hold that God is still learning then, as he has become part of His own creation, and thus decided to experience history same way as we do, in linear time?

And what scriptures would you use to support female pastos in local assemblies?

 

[Rebel]

Just curious, do you hold that God is still learning then, as he has become part of His own creation, and thus decided to experience history same way as we do, in linear time?

And what scriptures would you use to support female pastos in local assemblies?

I wouldn't affirm or deny it. I am still working through my views on it. I lean toward a panentheistic (not pantheistic!) view, as found in the Eastern Orthodox tradition and Thomas Oord of the Church of the Nazarene.

Female pastors: Well, "In Christ Jesus there is neither male nor female...". There were women deacons, and apparently a female apostle. I can see the viewpoint of women not being senior pastors, although I don't agree with it. What I can't see is excluding them completely.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

My son attends a CBF church and I attend when I visit. Always enjoy going and the preaching is always excellent. I don't really notice any doctrinal differences between his church and my sister's SBC church, except for the women in leadership roles.

 

[Yeshua1]

I wouldn't affirm or deny it. I am still working through my views on it. I lean toward a panentheistic (not pantheistic!) view, as found in the Eastern Orthodox tradition and Thomas Oord of the Church of the Nazarene.

Female pastors: Well, "In Christ Jesus there is neither male nor female...". There were women deacons, and apparently a female apostle. I can see the viewpoint of women not being senior pastors, although I don't agree with it. What I can't see is excluding them completely.

What is the their views on God then?

And us being one now in Christ refers to all of us having same realtionship to God, and as all being now part of His body, with same spieirual blessings, but does not mean that we have the same roles for him, as there were NO females in head leadership positions in the scriptures...