Today was perhaps a little more contentious than the last two days, but nothing too bad, nor out of the ordinary for a Missouri Baptist Convention. Three observations . . .
1) Every candidate endorsed by the group Save Our Convention won their elections over their counterparts with ties to the Missouri Baptist Laymans Foundation. Three of the four "SOC" candidates won their elections in landslides. What is the significance of this?... I think the outcome of the elections makes a clear statement that Missouri Baptists are ready to turn a page in our history. We are tired of fighting. We want peace and reconciliation. Accurate or not, the perception is that the "SOC" candidates represent peace, and unification around the essentials.
*DISCLAIMER* I do not drink. I firmly believe, and teach, that total abstinence from alcohol is the wisest course of action. Now, on to #2...
2) Some may be surprised by the vote on the anti-alcohol resolution, which only passed by a 58-42 margin. I'll not say a lot about it, except to say that for many of us this is not an alcohol issue, but a "sola scriptura" issue. While the Bible says drunkeness is a sin, it simply does not command total abstinence from alcohol. I'm sorry, I wish it did... It just doesn't. And for us to require of a brother, more than the Bible itself requires, is in my view to add to the Scripture. In essence, I believe this is what the alcohol resolution does. I thought my good friend, Doug Richey, did an outstanding job in laying out the case for not adopting the resolution. I was proud of him.
3) Did anyone else notice the point of order button being abused? Multiple times in this convention, including a notable instance in the alcohol debate, whenever time for debate had ended, a messenger would push the point of order button just to be recognized, and then commence to debate the merits of the motion. I know we preachers are used to having the floor, and inherently believe everyone in the room is on the edge of their seat to hear what we have to say, but this practice is just plain dishonest. Some might say it's a small thing, but I think it reveals a little bit about a man's character.
Convention Summary
Overall, the convention went very well. It wasn't nearly as ugly as some had feared it would be, and I really think a lot of healing took place. It will be interesting to read the Pathway's take on the elections. It will also be interesting to see where the Missouri Baptist Laymans Association goes from here. I suppose the next big thing in Missouri Baptist life will be the Theological Study Committee's report, which will no doubt address topics such as the use of alcohol, and the emerging church. That should be some good reading!
I am going to take a few days off from blogging, but I will be back. In the meantime, please join me in praying that God will bless our state convention, and that the healing which began this week, will continue throughout the coming weeks and months.