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“By My Own Reckoning”
Posted by Tim Rogers | July 22, 2008
Dr. Cecil Sherman’s latest book By My Own Reckoning is one this writer was planning to invest in for his library. However, after reading Dr. Paige Patterson’s review, my mind has placed this book on the front of my “to do” list and I cannot wait until my copy arrives. Dr. Patterson has shown the grace and honesty in his review that I understand Dr. Sherman’s book shows in his assessment of the Conservative Resurgence. The book along with the review is a rare glimpse into the thoughts of two leaders that lived through the Conservative Resurgence on opposite sides of the aisle. To read Dr. Patterson’s review CLICK HERE. To read Dr. Sherman’s book, you will need to CLICK HERE and order it. Dr. Patterson points to Dr. Sherman’s own words which reveals the need for the Conservative Resurgence.
Dr. Patterson’s heart is seen in this review of an old foe. Everyone would expect this review to be less than flattering, but that is because the majority only know Dr. Patterson through reading what others want you to hear. When you read his review you will find that Dr. Patterson is honest and even challenged by Dr. Sherman’s life and fidelity to his wife, Dot. Dr. Patterson freely admits that this book will be required reading for his students. What higher review can one give? Some want to paint Dr. Patterson as an uncaring person, but it seems that those some within the CBF also try to paint Dr. Sherman the same way.
Topics: Book Reviews |
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:53 am
Wes,
Glad to see word is getting out about Dr. Patterson\’s review. It really does speak volumes of both his integrity and confidence as scholar.
I hope to review the volume myself.
With that, I am…
Peter
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
In the last sentence, I’d replace the word “those” with “some” because it’s only “some” seemingly ungrateful CBFers that sought to embarrass Cecil Sherman with their open letter.
It’s interesting that Paige Patterson depicts Cecil Sherman as a moderate statesman who has gone out of his way to put any bitterness behind him. Meanwhile, some “young” moderates in leadership positions from the organization which Sherman helped found have accused him of exactly the opposite. They’ve essentially accused Sherman of being a bitter old-man. I’ll stop here.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Tim, Thanks for the heads-up on Dr. Patterson’s review. It clinched it for me to order the book. I am excited about it.
BDW, Some folks describe lots of folks with myopic lenses with their own tinted perspectives. Doesn’t make it so.
selahV
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Brother Peter,
Your post on his review is moch more in depth than mine. Of course I do not know Dr. Sherman or Dr. Patterson personally, but what I have seen of them tells me that Starbucks is not a place they may frequent.
Brother BDW,
Your suggestion has been resolved. I resolved it with a strike through because I believe there is a majority of CBFers that would like Dr. Sherman silenced as they say he is bitter. They do this because they desire to forget their heritage.
Sister Harriette,
I am currently trying to order the book through its publisher. Unless BDW can get me a complimentary copy.
Blessings,
Tim
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Brother Tim,
I guess what I find interesting is that these types of books are interesting to the people that were involved in the “Peace Committee” and professional seminarians taking part in the chitchat of the 80’s, yet there is little value of having this as required reading in class at a seminary. I guess it might be possible to get a few lines out of the Pastoral section for support of a thesis,…. but required reading for class?? Let me know if this is an autobiography or something more of an appeasing.
What I find more stunning than this review is the CBF’s ministry profiling for a woman leading Christ’s church. I read through last weeks sermon by The Reverend Sarah Jackson Shelton, a Pastor featured by CBF leaders, she is part of the Baptist Church of Covenant in Birmingham where she wrote…..
“The grace of having an untidy kingdom is that it allows us the opportunity to rub up against those who differ from us while we all remain within the confines of the kingdom and the gracious, good care of God.”
She sites….
“Dr. Joanna Adams, a Presbyterian pastor in Atlanta, tells the story of a Roman Catholic woman who cursed and smoked, yet was one of the best Christians this preacher had ever known.”………….
And then adds a story sympathetic to a self-proclaimed lesbian Pastor……
“Tracey Lind is an Episcopal priest in Ohio. Tracey Lind is a female, and Tracey Lind is a lesbian.”
She added a few paragraphs later,….
“In 1979, there were those in the Southern Baptist Convention who were worried that the denomination was becoming too liberal. They thought that the way to deal with this was to purge the denomination of its liberal influences. So they performed a massive weeding. A whole host of professors were uprooted. Journalists, seminary presidents, and a crop of denominational employees were doused with Roundup. If these men and women were persistent, their reputations were plucked up and burned. In these kingdom workers’ zeal to pull up the weeds, much wheat was lost. Now because many of us personally experienced this history, we like to puff ourselves up and point fingers, feeling confident that we can easily identify who is now wheat and who is a tare. This is when it is my unpopular task to warn us: be careful! For just as soon as we become confident of our identity, we fall prey to joining the ranks of the enemy. As we charge into the Baptist fields with our machetes and weed-whackers of enlightened, educated, and superior insight, we fall prey to the warning of this parable that we do not fully know the mind of God. We do not know who God will, in the end, harvest as wheat nor is it our decision to make.”
What a tragic sermon for the hearer from Ms. Shelton!
My main concern is not that the leadership among the CBF believes that God has commanded women to Pastor Christ’s church, because that is a doctrine easily refuted. But unlike Patterson, I would not have my students wasting quality time on Sherman’s entertainment,… but I have those men and women in seminary seeking and meditating on the truth of scripture, so that heresy and poor doctrine are easy to detect and to correct,… so that the body may be in unity and encouraged.
Blessings,
Chris
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Brother Chris,
Good words and insight. However, I do slightly disagree with the required reading issue. I had Nancy Ammerman’s Baptist Battles as required reading when I was going through SEBTS the second time around. The first time the Moderates,while not in control of the administration, were a majority of professors, the second time Dr. Patterson had been there three years. Ammerman’s book has a copyright of 1990. I was being instructed by mainly moderate profs at the time and then went to an undergraduate school that is now a CBF partner. No one required me to read this book. However, when I read it in 1996, it opened my eyes to much of what the conservatives were saying was verified by Ms. Ammerman. Oh, she would be considered moderate by any one.
So, do I believe Dr. Sherman’s book should be required reading? Certainly, especially when a class covers the SBC history.
Blessings,
Tim
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Brother Tim,
I like to read,….so this one will probably make the “Regularly” Traveled Library suite. Maybe you can tell me later, but I’m not sure if this will be completely verifiable history (based on Patterson’s take and the author’s own words) or simply someones view of history.
Blessings,
Chris
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Chris, Please pardon me for this interruption into your conversation with Tim, but I simply can’t resist. I think that someday some of the bloggers who’ve written on SBC subjects will have their words copied, printed into books and studied as conversational history of the SBC and how folks viewed things.
Some of the business records of old church meetings lend incredible insight into the minds of our forefathers, don’t you think? selahV
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Brother Chris,
Have you ever read any of Dr. Sherman’s writings? If you have you will notice his copious attention to details. While he gives areas that he would say is only his opinion, as Dr. Patterson has pointed out in his review, Dr. Sherman is one that documents his facts.
It is hard for me to believe I am defending the writings of a moderate to one that is as conservative as I am.
Blessings,
Tim
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Sister SelahV,
Your probably right!…in fact I know your right, its happening as we speak….
Tim your right,…Cecil Sherman is very articulate, and I’m sure his autobiography will be fun to read. I guess I need to be patient and read it sometime.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Blessings,
Chris
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Chris, my anti-spam word is JOY. I’m elated! I’m “right”? And you can attest to it? I’m gonna copy this out and show it to my hubby. He’ll be amazed!
Thanks for the affirmation. 
selahV
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
All,
I think one thing being missed here is not that Dr. Patterson stated he would require this volume to be read; instead, he specifically noted a certain portion he would require:
Another portion Dr. Patterson highly acclaimed, though not stating “required” was the noble, godly way Sherman ministered to his ailing wife, “Dot”. Why learning from one who faithfully faced the pain many of us will face cannot be seen as a much needed balm I cannot tell.
Even so, therefore, for myself, I cannot see but only enrichment coming from reading the volume. But, then again, i will not know that till I turn the last page.
Grace. With that, I am…
Peter
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Tim,
Reading your review and Peter’s review, I ordered Sherman’s book today.
I would not say Dr. Cecil Sherman is a moderate, he is a liberal. If I remember right, Judge Paul Pressler used to define a liberal (in the context of the SBC) as someone who believes there are errors or could be errors in the Bible. Dr. Sherman fits that description.
I also say with respect that Dr. Sherman is an honest liberal. Unlike so many liberals, he did not try to hide that fact. That was something that angered some other moderates and liberals. Again if I remember right, Dr. Sherman said that he did not believe the Bible was full of errors, but that there were errors in the Bible. Much of the Baptist and religious press back then tried to avoid that inconvenient news.
I believe Patterson and Sherman had a debate back then, where Sherman revealed his liberal views. The silence from the press was deafening.
I think in some cases more conservatives read moderates’ and liberals’ books than their own group does. And, as has been said, I’m sure you will find from Sherman’s book the reasons, from a conservative’s viewpoint, of why the Conservative Resurgence (CR) was needed.
The CR was not a matter of character assassination. There are many honorable men and women on the moderate and liberal side. Dr. Sherman is one of many examples. It was simply a matter of believing to the depths of our being that the divine inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible had been and should continue to be a core doctrine and practice of the SBC.
I think many would be surprised at the graciousness and respect Dr. Paige Patterson has toward those who disagree with him.
David R. Brumbelow
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Thanks for pointing out the review. The book will now have a honored place on my Amazon Wishlist.
BTW,
Dr. Patterson’s graciousness in this review should be hardly surprising to those who have spent even a small amount of time with him. Keep up the good work friends.
Peace be with you,
Bishop Joe
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:13 am
Brother Peter,
Thanks for pointing out that Patterson did get specific on what he would have his students read. Good catch.
Brother David B,
You have brought out a most important distinction. If the bible is corrupt, I would as a “conservative” blame that on man and not on God. God has revealed and delivered His Word without error by way of real men in real documents.
Sister SelahV,
Your still right,…no matter what anyone else has said.
Blessings,
Chris
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:19 am
Brother David B.
I have ordered the book also, but am concerned about one thing. I am now on the Smyth-Helwys mailing list.
Blessings,
Tim
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:34 am
Tim,
One day in the distant future historians will find your name on the Smyth-Helwys mailing list. Their learned conclusion will be that you were one of the leaders in the moderate/liberal movement back in the Baptist wars :-).
David R. Brumbelow
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Tim,
I thought you had been on the Smyth-Helwys mailing list for years as well as the CBF. Aren’t you a Plan C church?
July 24th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Brother David B,
Wouldn’t that be a hoot.
Brother Preacherman,
Remember that I know who you are and where you live.
Blessings,
Tim
July 29th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I saw this today on another site:
“We received word today that Dr. Cecil Sherman, founding coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, has been diagnosed with acute leukemia. He is in M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, for tests and possible treatment options. His wife, Dot, continues to be in failing health in Richmond. Please join me in prayer for Cecil and Dot as well as their daughter Eugenia Brown during this difficult time.”
I know you guys will want to be in prayer for Cecil.