Organizational Drift

by   T. C. Pinckney                                                                                                                                   Vol. IX, No. 10, Nov/Dec 1996

     “Schools don’t drift right. They drift left. The gravity of the world pulls them into compromise and spiritual lassitude. What gives? In a nutshell, schools shift their focus from the will of God to the pursuit of dollars, the world’s acclaim, or some other secondary or sub-Christian value.”

           Dr. Mark Coppenger, President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City

           Organizations are only as good as the people who staff them. Whether we look at a seminary, a mission board, the Boy Scouts, the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, IBM, a military service, or a local church, its charter documents, traditions, founding fathers, and history may unanimously uphold the most conservative standards only to have present incumbents follow an outrageously liberal line in whatever sphere they may operate.

           Benjamin Franklin put his finger on a vital, though partial, explanation of the phenomenon when he wrote in his autobiography, “So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find a reason for everything one has a mind to do.”

           And thus the Supreme Court had no trouble in discovering in 1973 a “right” protected in the Constitution to murder babies ... a concept which undoubtedly would have provoked Franklin, Washington, Adams, and many of the other Founders to condignly punish any who advocated it. Rationalization can scale the heights of any obstruction raised against it.

           But when faced with obvious rationalizations, we must ask, “Why?” The answer lies in Coppenger’s last sentence and Franklin’s closing, “for everything one has a mind to do.” Note that it is not only Christians who recognize this ever-present motive as demonstrated in the following reprint from AFA Journal, Nov/Dec 1996, p 9.

“Satanic death-rock band Marilyn Manson returns to record stores with a new album, Antichrist Superstar. Manson, the band’s leader and namesake, is quoted in a music magazine, ‘For me the idea of Antichrist is an unspoken knowledge that every person has; it’s just the denial of God and the acceptance of yourself as a powerful entity that can make their own decisions.’ The man who fronts for the band says, ‘I think every time people listen to this new album, maybe God will be destroyed in their heads and they’ll become themselves...’” [Bold print added.]

           Here’s a Satan worshipper who understands that natural man is in rebellion against God. All men want to “make their own decisions”, to destroy God in their heads and “become themselves.” That is, the real, natural self wants to refuse to turn over “my” life to the Holy Spirit. I want to run my own life the way I see fit!

           Off course there is a major problem with this in that it is NOT “my” life. I am not self-existent. We are all created beings, only existing as God puts up with our foolish ways, only able to live as He sustains us.

           But Satan and the fallen human heart are persistent enough and dumb enough to keep on using the same tactic. Perhaps my criticism of Satan in unfair, after all his wiles have served him well by enticing millions and millions starting with Eve to spurn the love and leadership of God.

           We fail to profit from the lessons of the past and so condemn ourselves to repeat the problems of the past in the present. Just two biblical examples: In verses 3 & 4 Jude warns us “it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” And in II Timothy 2:2 & 4 Paul warns his protégé, “For men shall be lovers of selves, ... having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

           The history of heresies proves the truth of these passages. It is probably safe to say that there has never been a time when some have not had “a form of godliness” but denied the power of the gospel and when ungodly men have not tried to creep into Christian organizations without anyone becoming aware of what was happening.

           Politically we say, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” Denominationally we can likewise state that “Eternal vigilance is the price of doctrinal truth.” Until Jesus returns, there will never be a time when worldly lusts will not attack godly institutions. The children of light must at least try to be as wise as the children of this world (Luke 16:8). Don’t kid yourself. As long as Satan hates heaven, as long as men’s hearts are fallen, spiritual warfare will continue.

           If you don’t see the struggle, if you think peace in the denomination, any denomination, is normal, it is sure evidence you don’t understand. We do not send soldiers into battle without training, instruction, and armament. Lay up God’s Word in your heart. Read up on what has been happening in our Southern Baptist Convention and in our state. Be prepared for spiritual battle, for it is raging all around you every day. This is not to suggest you be harsh or mean-spirited, only that you educate yourself to understand what has happened and what will happen so that you will know how to take a godly stance in your church, in our state, and in the Southern Baptist Convention. Regarding Virginia events, you might want to request a copy of The Banner Files by calling 757-363-0153; a donation of $5 per copy is suggested but not required.