Some #BGAV15 Clarifications

I have written a couple of blog posts about this week's meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.  I have also read some other blog and social media posts and comments that have been written.  As I prepare to head to Richmond tomorrow, I thought I would write one more post with a few clarifications.

Unity is not the same as unanimity

The calls for unity have been clear.  I hear those calls, and I agree with them.  That is, as long as we mean the same thing by unity.  Unity is not unanimity.  A commitment to unity means that we commit ourselves to treating one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.  It means that we don't threaten to leave the family when we don't get our way.  It means we recognize that the BGAV is not about us, but the work God is doing in and through us.

We can be united together even if we disagree on some items of business.  If disagreement is not allowed, we'll have to stop boasting about the diversity of Virginia Baptists.  We should not be afraid of having things challenged from the floor.  We should not be afraid of discussion related to very important matters concerning our partnership together.  We certainly should not be afraid of having more than one candidate for the BGAV's top elected officer position.

I'm not Brad Hoffmann's campaign manager

Brad Hoffmann, the pastor of Cool Springs Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, VA, is running for BGAV President.  I have written about his candidacy here.  I am glad he is running.  I will be voting for Brad.  I am bringing members of the church I pastor with me to vote for Brad.  But no one should assume that my concerns are the reason Brad is running for BGAV President.  I had never heard of Brad Hoffmann until his candidacy was announced.  Though I expect this to change tomorrow, I have never met him in person.

Brad has been very clear about the reasons he is running.  He believes that he is the best person on the ticket to lead the BGAV forward.  I agree with him.  He has a vision to see Virginia Baptists move from being mission minded to truly living missionally.  I appreciate what he has written in this regard.  Brad pastors a church that has been very generous in its mission giving both in total dollars and percentage.  He is well-positioned to challenge and encourage churches to do more to financially support our cooperative work together.

I hope some will read what I have written about the reasons why I am glad Brad is running and decide to vote for Brad.  I also hope that my stated reasons for supporting Brad will not cause anyone to assign motives to him that he has not verified himself.  Don't allow your disagreements with me to keep you from voting for a very qualified candidate in Brad Hoffmann for BGAV President.

My SBC/CBF concerns are not political

My concerns are theological.  The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship held a panel at their annual meeting this year addressing the subject of homosexuality.  One pastor who participated in the panel pastors a church that welcomes committed homosexuals into the membership of the church.  The other pastors a church that is more closed toward homosexuality.  These two pastors argued in the panel that homosexuality should not be an issue that divides us.  I could not disagree more.

You do not have to agree with my theology, but it isn't necessary to accuse those who disagree of having political motivations for their concerns.

I don't think homosexuality is the only issue

I believe that homosexuality is a big issue facing the BGAV.  There are churches within the BGAV who believe we should remain committed to one another regardless of what individual congregations decide to do regarding homosexuality.  I disagree very strongly.  Each local church is autonomous.  But so is the BGAV.  The BGAV has the right and responsibility to define the parameters of cooperation.  We are Baptists.  Therefore, Baptist distinctives are non-negotiables in our association of churches.  It is my contention that nothing that is more important than our Baptist distinctives should be negotiable either.  I believe in local church autonomy as much as anyone, but it is not more important than whether something is sinful that the Bible clearly calls sin.

While it is a big issue, homosexuality is not the only issue facing the BGAV.  The $1 million budget reduction is a big one.  I am concerned about it too.  But neither are the two mutually exclusive.  If the BGAV doesn't figure out where it stands now (not 20 years ago) on the issue of homosexuality, the bleeding will continue.

Finally...

I am looking forward to gathering together in Richmond this week.  I am looking forward to the worship times, seeing the new governance structure in action, and even having important discussions about issues that can sometimes be controversial.  I am looking forward to spending time with friends and meeting some new friends as well.  I am looking forward to spending Wednesday with some people from my church.  I am expecting a good meeting.  I am expecting to learn things, and walk away giving thanks to God for the things He is doing among Virginia Baptists.  See you in Richmond!

Resolution for 2015 BGAV Annual Meeting

I have submitted a resolution to the Resolutions Committee of the Baptist General Association of Virginia that addresses the subjects of homosexual behavior and the sanctity of marriage.  I am hoping that this resolution will receive consideration at the annual meeting of the BGAV to be held November 9-11 at Second Baptist Church in Richmond, VA.  In 1993 the BGAV passed a resolution on homosexual behavior that is representative of the Bible's clear teaching on the subject.  In 1998 the BGAV also passed a resolution on the sanctity of marriage that defines marriage as a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman.  My resolution is intended to be a reaffirmation of the BGAV's historic position on these important issues.

The cultural climate in America has changed very much over the last 20 years.  Homosexual unions are now recognized as marriage in all 50 states.  The president has shifted his views on the subject.  Public opinion in America seems to support giving homosexual couples the ability to have their unions solemnized as marriage by the government.  Baptist ethicist David Gushee has shifted his opinion on homosexuality, and undoubtedly many others who claim the name of Christ and the denominational identifier of "Baptist" have as well.  In fact, within our own BGAV, I read a sermon where one pastor endorsed homosexual relationships without explicitly giving his support and the support of the church.  He said that he did not know if he would perform a homosexual marriage in the future.  Part of it would depend on whether the deacons of the church would give their approval to his participation.

In fact, during the floor discussion that took place regarding Ginter Park at the 2012 meeting of the BGAV, one person contended that the BGAV's official position was 20 years old and should be reconsidered.  I agree that the position should be reconsidered.  But it is my contention that it should be reconsidered with a reaffirmation of our historic position.  Passing the resolution I have written would be such a reaffirmation.

I am concerned that a failure by the BGAV to speak clearly on this important issue will cause great harm to our association of churches.  There are some who will argue that we should just agree to disagree on the sinfulness of homosexuality.  The problem is that if we have to agree to disagree about something on which the Bible speaks very clearly, I am not sure what we can agree on.  If we are going to cooperate together for the cause of the gospel, there has to be a certain level of theological agreement for that cooperation to work.  We have in the past decided that there are some theological issues not worth dividing over.  It is my contention that this issue does not fall in that category.  We must be clear about what sin is if we are going to point people to the salvation that is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have included my resolution below.  You can find links to the 1993 and 1998 resolutions above.

Resolution Reaffirming the 1993 Resolution on Homosexual Behavior and 1998 Resolution on the Sanctity of Marriage:

WHEREAS, the Baptist General Association of Virginia approved a resolution at its annual meeting in 1993 affirming the Bible's teaching on the sinfulness of homosexual behavior; and

WHEREAS, the Baptist General Association of Virginia also approved a resolution at its annual meeting in 1998 affirming the sanctity of marriage as a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman; and

WHEREAS, the cultural climate in our country has changed dramatically since that time as it relates to both homosexual behavior and the definition of marriage; and

WHEREAS, in October 2014 the Commonwealth of Virginia began recognizing same-sex marriage in response to a ruling by a federal judge that Virginia's marriage amendment is unconstitutional; and

WHEREAS, in June 2015 the United States Supreme Court ruled that the United States Constitution grants the right to same-sex marriage, and consequently all fifty states must now recognize same-sex marriage; and

WHEREAS, many state and national government leaders have applauded the Supreme Court's June 2015 decision; and

WHEREAS, various religious leaders—including many Baptists—have now spoken in favor of same-sex marriage, and have begun to officiate same-sex weddings; and

WHEREAS, the Bible's clear teaching on the sinfulness of homosexual behavior and the sanctity of marriage as a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman has not and will not change; and

WHEREAS, there is an increasing need for Christians to speak with moral clarity regarding the issues of our day; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that the messengers to the Baptist General Association of Virginia meeting in Richmond, Virginia, November 9–11, 2015, continue to affirm the Bible's clear teaching on the sinfulness of homosexual behavior and the sanctity of marriage as a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we continue to affirm both the 1993 resolution on homosexual behavior and the 1998 resolution on the sanctity of marriage.

My 2015 Reading List

For 2015 I have decided to make a list of twelve books (one each month) that I am committing to reading this year.  These are books that I already had on my shelf, but have never read.  I started making my list yesterday and pulled down around twenty-five books that I would be interested in reading this year.  I easily narrowed it down to fourteen or fifteen, and then with a bit of difficulty whittled the list down to twelve.

When I put out on Facebook that I was making such a list, a couple people asked to see the list.  Please do not take this list as an endorsement of the content of these books.  I have not read them.  Most of them I am comfortable recommending based on recommendations I have received from others, but a few of them are a bit more unknown to me.

So here it is, in no particular order, and with a few explanatory comments.  Enjoy.

The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul

I should have read this book long ago.  I am a little ashamed that it is on this list of books I have not yet read.  I am excited to dig into it this year and set my gaze on the holiness of God.

Preaching and Preachers by Martin Lloyd-Jones

I wanted to make sure that I had a book on preaching on my list.  I had a few smaller books on preaching in my top fourteen or fifteen.  I decided to ditch those and go with this one.  Lloyd-Jones is one of the greatest preachers of recent history.  I am looking forward to learning from him.

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney

This book is sort of all-encompassing. Because it is difficult to have a book on each spiritual discipline in a list of only twelve books, I chose this one book which covers them all.  I have heard a lot of good things about this book and am anxious to read it.

Evangelism by J. Mack Stiles

I need to be a better witness for Christ.  I knew I needed to include a book on evangelism.  This one comes highly recommended, and I look forward to reading it.  Also on the plus side, it is a short book which provides balance for some of the more lengthy works on this list.  At 114 pages, this is the shortest book on my list.

The Plight of Man and the Power of God by Martin Lloyd-Jones

Lloyd-Jones is the only author who has two books on this list.  I wanted to include his biography by Ian Murray, but the size of it made doing so a bit unrealistic.  There is a documentary coming out this year on Lloyd-Jones that I am excited to see.  Reading some of his writings this year will serve as an excellent complement to that film.

The Gospel at Work by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert

I believe this book will help me be a better preacher and pastor.  The subtitle is "How Working for King Jesus Gives Purpose and Meaning to our Jobs."  It addresses real life issues with which all people wrestle.  I look forward to thinking about work in a gospel-centered way.

The Conviction to Lead by Albert Mohler

I wanted to make sure I had a book on leadership on my list.  This happened to be one that I had not yet read.  Al Mohler is a leader in the Southern Baptist Convention and in the broader evangelical world.  I look forward to learning from him in this book.

The Masculine Mandate: God's Calling to Men by Richard D. Phillips

I thought it would be good to include a book on manhood, because, well, I am a man.  I know very little about this book.  It was given to me at a conference.

Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church by Gregg R. Allison

I enjoy ecclesiology.  This is a book that I have heard good things about that I was recently able to purchase at a conference I attended.  I do not want it sitting on my shelf very long before I get a chance to read it.  At 471 pages, it is the longest book on this list.  I will have to be very diligent to make it through this thing.

Gospel Assurances and Warnings by Paul Washer

Too many Christians who should be sure of their salvation aren't.  And too many unbelievers are sure their ticket to heaven has been punched.  I want to be able to provide assurance to precious believers who struggle, while also warning the self-assured unregenerate.  This book will help me think biblically about both sides of that coin.

What He Must Be by Voddie Baucham Jr.

We are expecting a little girl in May.  This daddy couldn't be more excited.  I want to be what I must be so she will know what he must be.  This book will help me think about the father/daughter relationship further before my precious little girl makes her grand entrance.

The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken

The order in which I will be reading the books on this list is yet to be determined, but I will be reading this book first.  I have heard several glowing recommendations in the last couple of months.  I look forward to having my worldview challenged as I consider my persecuted brothers and sisters and the work God is doing around the world.

I will plan to write a review of each of these books on this blog as I read them.  Happy New Year!