Ethics Daily has published a report that "European Baptist Leaders Criticize IMB Strategy."
It has been clear for a long time that Southern Baptists are more concerned about spreading their sterile bibliolatry than about sharing the gospel. SBC Executive Morris Chapman says they intend to create "a network that shall extend to every corner of the earth."
2 comments:
Bruce,
Honestly, to me this sounds like something that is less about theological differences (although I will grant you that theology does play a role) and more of an old-fashioned "turf battle." And you know as well as I that turf battles can happen between churches and organizations that are theologically identical to each other.
From my vantagepoint, the European Baptist organization in this situation isn't all that different from the cantankerous old declining church down the street who gets angry when they discover the Association is planting a new church close to them. Yes, ethics would suggest that the Association alert the old church to its intentions, but the "push-back" would still be there.
I am aware of the indigenous church planting strategies of the IMB, and contrary to what you have stated, they do NOT rely on the "expertise" of professional missionaries. They rely largely on laity going into unreached areas with IMB training to tell the story of the Gospel, baptize converts and raise up leaders who will then perpetuate a movement. In light of this, maybe IMB didn't consult the Europeans because they recognize that a church planting movement doesn't come from a denomination, but rather from the indigenous peoples.
Just giving another side to this. But after reading the article, I really think this is more about turf and less about theology.
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