The conservative resurgence still has work to do

The conservative resurgence still has work to do

June 20, 2006

During my first semester at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary back in 1998, I once asked my Old Testament prof this: “How long will it take for the effects of the conservative resurgence in the SBC to filter down and be felt by the state conventions, associations and finally the churches?” His response shocked and depressed me.

The more I think about it, the more I think he is right. The SBC is in relatively good shape, now 26 years beyond the launch of the conservative resurgence, but the same cannot be said for some our state conventions, associations and churches which are just beginning down the reformation path taken by the SBC.

For example, in Missouri, a multi-million dollar legal battle will likely continue for at least another year and there could be related lawsuits (not directly involving the Missouri Baptist Convention) for a decade. Moderates keep trying to steal Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) churches and moderates still hold some trustee seats at MBC entities. It will be years before they are supplanted.

Despite my former professor’s forecast, I still hear some of our younger pastors call for us to “move on” and “get over it.” They do not realize the job is not finished. I guess what troubles me most is that unless they start studying their Southern Baptist history and gain some appreciation for what has been accomplished, the job will never be finished.