Comments on: Dissent, Religious Liberty, and Dr. Bart Barber http://sbctoday.com/2007/11/25/dissent-religious-liberty-and-bart-barber/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dissent-religious-liberty-and-bart-barber A forum for Baptists to dialogue about how best to fulfill God’s calling in our lives. Thu, 17 May 2012 02:00:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Tim Rogers http://sbctoday.com/2007/11/25/dissent-religious-liberty-and-bart-barber/#comment-743 Tim Rogers Sun, 02 Dec 2007 11:44:31 +0000 http://sbctoday.com/2007/11/25/dissent-religious-liberty-and-bart-barber/#comment-743 Brother Dave, We find ourselves looking at two very different issues. The examples that you described are of dissenters standing for the truth--the One true God--not standing against others that serve and are surrendered to the truth. The situation we find ourselves and the purpose behind the censure is not about Gospel issues. The issues that Brother Wade has brought to the fore front are issues that will not distract from the Gospel. The censure, as I understand it, places the IMB in a position to move forward in ministry without being constantly distracted. This distraction is consistently tied to issues the entire board voted on and approved, and these issues were not the direction that Brother Wade thought the board should go. Therefore, if one decides to make issues out of, what some call second or third tier doctrines, there needs to be someplace that the board should draw the line. One other reminder. Do not think for one minute that the administration could not have stopped this censure. Blessings, Tim Brother Dave,

We find ourselves looking at two very different issues. The examples that you described are of dissenters standing for the truth–the One true God–not standing against others that serve and are surrendered to the truth. The situation we find ourselves and the purpose behind the censure is not about Gospel issues. The issues that Brother Wade has brought to the fore front are issues that will not distract from the Gospel. The censure, as I understand it, places the IMB in a position to move forward in ministry without being constantly distracted. This distraction is consistently tied to issues the entire board voted on and approved, and these issues were not the direction that Brother Wade thought the board should go.

Therefore, if one decides to make issues out of, what some call second or third tier doctrines, there needs to be someplace that the board should draw the line. One other reminder. Do not think for one minute that the administration could not have stopped this censure.

Blessings,
Tim

]]> By: Dave Miller http://sbctoday.com/2007/11/25/dissent-religious-liberty-and-bart-barber/#comment-742 Dave Miller Sun, 02 Dec 2007 04:04:00 +0000 http://sbctoday.com/2007/11/25/dissent-religious-liberty-and-bart-barber/#comment-742 Dissent may be the wrong word in this entire debate. There is no virtue in simply being contrary. however, Scripture is full of stories where one person stood against the majority, and that one was in the right. Elijah on Carmel. Micaiah against the cacophany of positive false prophets. Jesus against the entire religious establishment. The Bible defends the truth that one man can be right and the overwhelming majority can be wrong. Unity is not advanced by stifling dissent and ostracizing dissenters. Dissent may be the wrong word in this entire debate. There is no virtue in simply being contrary. however, Scripture is full of stories where one person stood against the majority, and that one was in the right. Elijah on Carmel. Micaiah against the cacophany of positive false prophets. Jesus against the entire religious establishment.

The Bible defends the truth that one man can be right and the overwhelming majority can be wrong.

Unity is not advanced by stifling dissent and ostracizing dissenters.

]]> By: Chris Johnson http://sbctoday.com/2007/11/25/dissent-religious-liberty-and-bart-barber/#comment-741 Chris Johnson Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:06:43 +0000 http://sbctoday.com/2007/11/25/dissent-religious-liberty-and-bart-barber/#comment-741 Dissent is simply a thematic tool used to uncover the motive of the heart. Religious Liberty is a privilege put in place in some cultures. Liberty is the soveign grace and pursuit of our Lord. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19) Religious Liberty is not required to have Liberty. I think that was the point of your final paragraph...?? Blessings, Chris Dissent is simply a thematic tool used to uncover the motive of the heart.

Religious Liberty is a privilege put in place in some cultures.

Liberty is the soveign grace and pursuit of our Lord.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
(Luke 4:18-19)

Religious Liberty is not required to have Liberty.

I think that was the point of your final paragraph…??

Blessings,
Chris

]]> By: Darby Livingston http://sbctoday.com/2007/11/25/dissent-religious-liberty-and-bart-barber/#comment-740 Darby Livingston Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:22:21 +0000 http://sbctoday.com/2007/11/25/dissent-religious-liberty-and-bart-barber/#comment-740 I agree that dissent in and of itself is not a virtue, nor a vice. I think dissent is what happens when one person or group sees an error they want corrected. So when theological liberals controlled the SBC, theological conservatives dissented, and the error was corrected. However, I wonder if your post misses the point by confusing religious liberty with Christian liberty. Religious liberty is a dream come true for those in western countries. Religious liberty is a pipe dream in China or Saudi Arabia. God never ordained religious liberty or freedom of unhindered worship. He ordained freedom of conscience that may receive worldly persecution, yet heavenly reward. Christian liberty is absolutely biblical and Paul deals with it extensively. Am I reading you rightly on this? I agree that dissent in and of itself is not a virtue, nor a vice. I think dissent is what happens when one person or group sees an error they want corrected. So when theological liberals controlled the SBC, theological conservatives dissented, and the error was corrected. However, I wonder if your post misses the point by confusing religious liberty with Christian liberty. Religious liberty is a dream come true for those in western countries. Religious liberty is a pipe dream in China or Saudi Arabia. God never ordained religious liberty or freedom of unhindered worship. He ordained freedom of conscience that may receive worldly persecution, yet heavenly reward. Christian liberty is absolutely biblical and Paul deals with it extensively. Am I reading you rightly on this?

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