Interview with Dr. Mac Brunson

When I saw your blurb about blogs specifically created to criticize church leadership I thought it would be about blogs like the ones created in Memphis to criticize the new pastor at Bellevue. Since there was so little said I assume you were making reference to some other kinds of blogs. I can only assume that by “church leadership” you must be referring to denominational positions. Brother, where are blogs created to specifically criticize denominational leaders? I read several blogs which I know are involved in controversy, but, with the exception of Ben Cole, I have not ever read one that I thought had as their mission to criticize denominational leaders. I think this kind of characterization is false and misleading and reveals the different perspective often apparent. If people have problems with issues which are held by specific individuals and the issues are attacked it is an automatic assumption that it is an attack on the person. I think this is not helpful.

I often feel the same way…whenever I hear these big shots talk about all these blogs out there ripping entire ministries to shreds I always think to myself, “where are these blogs? I don’t know what the man is talking about.”

Like Scotty said, only Ben Cole has repeatedly demonstrated such character and intent in his blogging. Other then him…I’m not sure where these other boogie-man blogs are, who is writting them or (more importantly) who is reading them.

Sometimes I think leaders need an enemy to take uncompromising shots at for the delight of the audience…taking hard stands against the boogie man “out there” is certainly convienant and effective because such a shot can not be easily refuted (because after all…perhaps there really are an army of bloggers shredding entire ministries to pieces…but we just are not aware of them…plus yet today, the vast majority of the white heads sitting in the pews or chairs likely are unaware of what a blog is…many if not most may not go much beyond email online) and plus the boogie man simply never seems shows up to punch back.

Of course I did not hear brother Brunson making such a claim here…but other influencers and leaders have.

I’m sure Dr. Brunson is a great guy…I love to learn him preach cause I learn so much!

I agree with you completely…and it goes all the way around. The whole blogosophere is so new and people are going crazy with it. Dr. Patterson is an anti-Christ or Wade Burleson is a wolf in sheep’s clothing…for crying out loud…I thought we were Christians! When one studies Christian history and gets into the emergence of the Radical Reformers/Anabaptists we can see from day ONE basically we have been a rowdy bunch.

I’m not sure about your last question…surely you’d not suggest that our leaders should be removed from scrutiny? We don’t have, need or want vicars or popes after all.

Brother Tim,

the bottom line…it’s a new day. for the good or the bad history must judge. but barring a nuclear holocaust or something in north america…this is the way it is. every political leader, spiritual leader, celebrity and sports star had better walk the walk…cause if they don’t…the whole world will know about it. we must guard our lips, phone conversations, emails…our conduct. I believe that “the market” will balance the kooks out…just as an out of control blogger can attempt to destroy a person another blogger can (and will) work to refute and defend. Just as level headed people pay no attention to move on dot org neither will they pay attention to sbc outpost’s of the blogosphere. Blogs like this one and Grace and Truth to You will be the most influential because people have common sense…the tabloid blogs will not be heeded. So I for one don’t see the big threat.
Obey the rules, don’t lie (or say one thing to one group and another to another) and be with the people you are supposed to be with at all times and everything will be just fine.

I don’t believe the trustees of any agencies should be the sole source of accountability…maybe I’m still not understanding what you are suggesting? I don’t understand how the trustee system is being undermined…bloggers have no authority after all.

Obviously no one has read Wade Burleson’s blog. The majority of his writing is ripping denominational leadership and taking shots at the SBC. That’s the reason he says he started his blog, to “expose” the wrongs of the IMB and SBC. I haven’t seen one thing yet he could prove or document. Just because he posts it on his site does not mean it is accurate nor does it make it official. It’s kind of sad to continually see posts where he takes shots at his fellow (former) trustees and the IMB but in the next breath say no one loves the SBC more than he does and how he wants missions to further, and blah, blah, blah. Just like Mac Brunson said, it’s nothing but beauty shop gossip. He deliberately and purposely disobeyed BOT passed policies over and over which led to as my father in law would say, a mell of a hess.

Brother IF,

We will need to begin another post in order to deal with this issue. I promise you that I will post on this in the near future. The reason I need to call it off here is that we have moved from the current comment stream a little too far. I am more guilty of that than others, in this particular circumstance.

This post was about Dr. Mac Brunson, and I do not remember asking him about the trustee system. So please accept my sorrow in suspending our comments concerning this. If you want to discuss something Dr. Brunson and I spoke about, feel free. But I must call a stop to our comments. Please understand.

Blessings,
Tim