ntchristian
Active Member
Some background, before I get to my main point: Some time ago, I left the EOC in search of a NT church. Having discounted apostolic succession, infant baptism, and any kind of connectionalism in polity, I was left with Anabaptists and Baptists, Pentecostals and Charismatics, and the Restoration movement. I believe in all the gifts of the Spirit but not the way Pentecostals do, so they were out. I maybe could have gone with the Vineyard Church, but they are mostly in big cities in this region, and I had long since fled a crime-ridden metropolis to settle in a very rural area where I am very happy. I live in the South, so American Baptist churches were out. The only Restorationists within driving distance are the Churches of Christ, but I don't agree with their no-musical instruments policy nor their baptismal regeneration. As for Anabaptists, I don't hold to their pacifism or stance on judicial oaths, plus there are no churches nearby. So, practically and philosophically, that has left me with Southern Baptists. Theologically, I find myself not as conservative as many SBC'ers, but I am very conservative politically.
Last year, I was about to join a SBC church and had hoped to be baptized on Easter Sunday. Then the pandemic hit, and the church pretty much closed its doors and went to online services. They just recently, last week, reopened their doors again for in-person services. But I have come to a pause, based on the vote at the recent SBC convention. It seems to me that the SBC is giving in to PC culture by not outright condemning CRT. CRT is directly opposed to what Martin Luther King taught -- that we should be judged on the content of our character, not the color of our skin. I never thought the SBC would do this, and I'm wondering why they did. The SBC has lost 2 million members in a little over a decade, and I believe they were afraid of losing more, so instead of standing on principle, they caved.
So, now I am hesitating to join an SBC church. I know such churches are still autonomous, but this is very concerning to me. There are a few Baptist churches within driving distance that belong to Baptist denominations that are very fundamentalist, but I don't think I would fit theologically. I am conservative but not fundamentalist.
My question to SBC members here: Will you remain in a SBC church, considering this vote? If not, where would you go?
Last year, I was about to join a SBC church and had hoped to be baptized on Easter Sunday. Then the pandemic hit, and the church pretty much closed its doors and went to online services. They just recently, last week, reopened their doors again for in-person services. But I have come to a pause, based on the vote at the recent SBC convention. It seems to me that the SBC is giving in to PC culture by not outright condemning CRT. CRT is directly opposed to what Martin Luther King taught -- that we should be judged on the content of our character, not the color of our skin. I never thought the SBC would do this, and I'm wondering why they did. The SBC has lost 2 million members in a little over a decade, and I believe they were afraid of losing more, so instead of standing on principle, they caved.
So, now I am hesitating to join an SBC church. I know such churches are still autonomous, but this is very concerning to me. There are a few Baptist churches within driving distance that belong to Baptist denominations that are very fundamentalist, but I don't think I would fit theologically. I am conservative but not fundamentalist.
My question to SBC members here: Will you remain in a SBC church, considering this vote? If not, where would you go?
