I know some people who are really depressed about the state of affairs in the SBC. I am not in the ranks of those people, and one of the big reasons is because I am hopeful that the SBC will indeed find consensus around the theological program that David Dockery lays out in his new book, Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal. (And I am not alone. See here here here here and here). If you don’t like what you perceive the SBC to be about, please read this book! If you don’t like what you perceive about vocal persons involved in the SBC, please read this book!
This book is a word in season. I hope and pray that God will be pleased to move mightily in and through our cooperating churches, and I am on board with the vision Dockery sets forth. I have no qualms whatever about the theological assertions in this volume, and I hope that people from every theological persuasion in the big tent of the Southern Baptist Convention will read this book, digest its proposals, and lock arms with everyone else that can unite around the truths presented here.
It seems to me that this is the great need of the hour: for the various parties and factions in the convention to somehow find the first part of what Dockery sets forth here–consensus–that we might work together toward the second part–renewal.
This book is like a banner on the battle field. I hope the representatives of the various sub-groups of the SBC–especially the vocal ones–will see it waving (i.e., read the book), rally to it, and agree that the aim of our cause is not to conquer other parts of our own army (other sub-groups in the SBC) but to advance the Kingdom of the Lord Christ against all the powers ranged against it.
May the Lord use this book to bring about the two things in its title: consensus and renewal.
I agree!! Too bad we can’t afford to send that book to every pastor we know!!