« Saddam Judge to Quit | Main | Happy Birthday to Us! »
January 14, 2006
Religion Controversy: SBC & Tongues
A new controversy involving the Southern Baptist Convention gives me another reason to be glad that I left that denomination.
The trustees of the SBC International Mission Board want to remove a board member because he is opposed to a board policy that contradicts a biblical teaching.
Last year, the Board decided to reject missionary candidates who spoke in tongues in private devotion.
This decision clearly violates what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:39, which says (emphasis mine), “Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.”[NIV]
It is true that Paul warned churches about the improper public use of tongues, but, as the above verse reveals, Paul didn’t ban private use. Instead, he instructed churches not to completely ban tongues.
If during its annual convention, the SBC upholds the decision made by its International Mission Board, then the SBC would be openly contradicting the Bible.
If this happens, then it will be clear that the SBC lies when it claims to always adhere to the Bible’s teachings.
Posted by Dodo David at January 14, 2006 12:58 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.lifelikepundits.com/cgi-bin/mt3/mt-tb.cgi/2060
Comments
The Baptist church does not believe that spiritual gifts, such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, laying on of hands for healing, etc., are part of today's church. They believe once the canon of Scripture was completed by John, such spiritual gifts ceased.
Its always entertaining to watch someone who has a faith based belief argue that someone else with a faith based belief different from his is wrong.
Posted by: KeithS at January 14, 2006 06:47 PM
KeithS:If the Apostle Paul said not to forbid speaking in tongues, and if the SBC forbids speaking in tongues even during a person's private prayer time, then the argument isn't between the SBC and me - the argument is between the SBC and the Apostle Paul.
If the SBC contradicts Paul, then the SBC will be violating one of its own standards.
As for me, I am merely following the SBC standard of comparing a party's teaching to what the Bible says. In this particular case, that SBC standard works against the SBC.
Correction: The standard works against the SBC's International Mission Board. It remains to be seen if the entire SBC leadership supports what its mission board has done. If the SBC leaders reject the mission board's policy, then the SBC will be in the clear.
Posted by: Dodo David at January 16, 2006 10:16 AM