iMonk and SBC

Michael Spencer (iMonk) has written a pretty interesting post called "Smelling Calvinism on My Breath: How the SBC Looks From Under the Table."

Comments

[Tim]

The Monk's post is long, but well worth the time to read it. His analysis is thorough and thoughtful, and he does a pretty good job of describing the landscape of the SBC today. Thanks for posting this, Steve.

[Steve McCoy]

Heh. I forgot to mention how long it is.

[David Wilson]

Except for the reformed part,(which I cannot identify with) and the prophecies about Rick Warren becoming Joel Osteen,(which seem ridiculous to me) he does seem to have done a good job historically. It's really painful when someone takes the time to point out all the seismic fault lines that lie just beneath the surface (most of the time) in the SBC. But it is nice to be called a Young Leader.

Grace!
David

[Account Deleted]

Glad you mentioned this post. Would be good to generate some discussion.

[Matt]

I think the Monk is right about the Culture Warrior thing, but what about those who find (on general terms) conservative politics to be good, but hate the way Dobson does business? I mean what about those of us who loathe Justice Sunday but would never ever vote for the Democrats?

[iMonk]

Matt...I think the question is really "Is the SBC going to be about Christ or about culture issues?" When you have your denomination spending its time on "I Vote Values" campaigns and its denominational press turned into an outlet of GOP talking points (and I am a registered Republican) something is wrong.

I simply believe the SBC leadership has gotten involved with Dobson and the GOP way too much. We've become the anti-gay/anti-abortion denomination. We have more people united around those stands than around 90% of the any Baptist confession.

[Matt]

Monk - works for me. See my ranting at SCO about this.

Steve - Opeth???

[Steve McCoy]

Yeah, what about Opeth?

[Joe Thorn]

BAHAHAHA! You got busted for listening to Opeth!

[Joe Thorn]

Hold on, Matt listens to Tom Wait - which is pretty wacked stuff in its own right (and good).

[Steve McCoy]

Hey, lay off Matt. Joe wears Opeth underwear (they look a little like Batman underwear, but darker).

Joe turned me on to Opeth, and this is the only CD of theirs I like because it doesn't rip my eardrums off.

[Joe Thorn]

The Opethong is a little pricey, but everything else is pretty reasonable.

[Matt]

Amazing.

[Dr. Clockwork]

The article is a cogent and prophetic vision of how the cross-denominational postmodern theological project may have opportunity to reap some positive reforms for their own denominational families, like the SBC folks. Most of these questions of returning to a "theological heritage" and away from the progressively dominant culture of pragmatism ultimately lead to questions of "essence."

What is the essence of the Christian mission, and how should it be projected from the Church to a sinful world (culture)? At least one aspect of this answer must address the issue of how Cartesian "dualism," which has certainly infiltrated the local church in the last century, has progressively impacted the Church's sense of mission.

Truly, in my view, one of the greatest contributions of the "postmoderns" is their integrative/organic/holistic approach to theology.

[Ray Van Neste]

Anybody know why the link to the Imonk article no longer works? I checked out his site in general and the article seems to have been removed. Did I just miss it?

[Steve McCoy]

Ray, it's gone. I dunno where. Checking on it...

[Ray Van Neste]

Steve,

Joe Thorn just emailed me with the New link:

http://www.boarsheadtavern.com/archives/2005/10/11/20034054.html

Unsure why the move.
Thanks.

[Steve McCoy]

Ray, for now you can find it here. If iMonk meant to erase it, this will be gone soon too. So get at it while the gettin's good.

[Mark]

Guys:
I'm sure you saw this on Boar's Head, please keep Michael and his mom in prayer.

http://www.boarsheadtavern.com/archives/2005/10/19/10034286.html