Why I Believe the SBCV Should Become a Convention Now!

by William M. Templeton                                                                    Vol. VIII, No. 8, September 1995

[Bill Templeton is pastor of Northside Baptist Church, Charlottesville.]

History will testify that many times God's people failed to recognize His calling to make a great move forward for His kingdom's sake. A few example are Moses and the Israelite people leaving Egypt and crossing the Red Sea, Joshua and the Israelite people crossing over Jordan or launching an attack on Jericho, Gideon and his followers against the Midianites, or Nehemiah and the then small remnant rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. When God calls His people to move and they disobey, they reap serious consequences. When they obey, God performs great miracles. I believe conservative Southern Baptists in Virginia are now faced with such a moment. Even though every question is not answered, or every hurdle jumped, or every obstacle cleared, I believe God is calling His people to move out for Him, His Word, and lost souls.

The Word says, "Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord," (Isa. 1:18) Look with me at four reasons why I believe we are being called to start a new state convention now!

Theology

The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) and the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia (SBCV) are not going in the same direction theologically. Some would say there can be "unity in diversity". I could agree if we were talking about abilities, backgrounds, or culture. But there can be no unity, cooperation, or association when two individuals or entities disagree over something as basic as the Bible being the authoritative, inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God. Southern Baptists (and every other evangelical movement or denomination to ever make a mark for God) have been built upon the doctrine of the inerrancy of the inspired Word. Those that have let go of this anchor doctrine have washed up on the seashore of liberalism, ineffectual barrenness, and death. Those who want to continue to be a part of the BGAV and its doctrinal positions are certainly free to do so, and we should have no malice nor disdain for these individuals and churches. Our attitude should be sweet, our compassion should be genuine, but our resolve on the basic tenet of our faith should be immoveable. Conservative Southern Baptists in Virginia need a state convention they can call their own and be comfortable with its mandated positions dictated by its stand concerning the inerrancy of the Word of God.

Witness

Our "witness" for Christ is at stake! Belief begets behavior! When one does not believe that God's Word is authoritative or completely and totally correct, one does not see the urgent need to reach a lost and dying world for Christ before it is eternally too late. Some say, "Southern Baptists have hurt their witness because of their struggle over theology." I disagree. I believe that when people take a stand upon such a doctrine, and then follow through with their actions, it does not hurt, but rather enhances, their witness. The soul winning efforts of both the Foreign and Home Mission Boards, attest to this fact. Since conservatives have stood strong for inerrancy, even though it brought division internally, soulwinning on both home and foreign soil has increased. Baptisms are up. New church starts are up. Mission involvement from the laity is up. Giving is up. And Virginia will see the same result when the people of the Book show by their actions as well as by their words, their commitment to the Word of God. Conservative Southern Baptists in Virginia need a state convention of their own that is sold out to winning Virginia to the Lord.

Association

A state convention should naturally want to be a part of a national convention that is going in the same direction. The BGAV is not going in the same direction as the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). This is evidenced in many examples.

First, the budget. The BGAV. is almost encouraging churches to give at least a portion of the mission dollars to efforts of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF). That is their right as a convention when mandated by the people. If that is what they want to do, that is fine. But, that is not supportive of the SBC, nor does it speak of commitment to the SBC on the part of the BGAV,

Second, there is the matter of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs (BJCPA). Once again, it is certainly the right of any convention when mandated by the people to support whom they wish. But the SBC decided years ago that its position is not commensurate with that of the BJCPA, and the SBC ceased to support the BJCPA. When the BGAV immediately picked up the financial ball to support the BJCPA, they demonstrated that they were not in accord with the SBC.

Another, example is the Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond. Southern Baptists have six seminaries. Dramatic course changes have been in effect for most of these schools over the last ten years. Such changes have been answers to prayer for conservatives. Yet the BGAV, seeing the changes taking place, decided they needed their own seminary. That is their right. But it sends a resounding message to the on-looking world that the people and churches who make up the BGAV are not going in the same direction as the SBC! Conservative Southern

Baptists in Virginia need a state convention that is going in the same direction as the Southern Baptist Convention -- one that will cooperate with the programs and evangelistic efforts of the SBC.

Timing

A large majority of people who make up the SBCV agree that one day we will have to become a separate state convention. Some feel the timing is not right. Why wait? The time has never been better and will never again be better than it is tight now. Nothing, that has been brought to my attention, can be gained by waiting. We need an organized place of fellowship that will offer soulwinning help to the churches, a theological home to the constituency, and a Southern Baptist haven for Bible-believing people in this state.

Some would say there is the matter of the unknown. No embryonic organization has had all the answers to all the questions it might face in the reasonable future. We must take heart in what we know and Who we know, and set sail. We would rather sink at sea than rot in dry dock.

Some would say there is the matter of other churches and individuals who are not yet ready. No one has more compassion or understanding for these churches and congregations than we. We do not want any pastor to split his church over this decision by being too hasty. But many are ready. Some have already dissociated themselves from the BGAV. Let those that are ready begin. Let those who come along later come freely. Let those who choose dual alignment do so. Let pastors and congregations have time to pray and study and decide what God would have them do. In the meantime, those that are ready can begin building a state convention for conservative Southern Baptists in Virginia to call home.

Some would say we are not prepared. If the founders of the SBC had waited until they were prepared, we would still be looking for a national convention. Look at any church. When it got it's beginning, neither the pastor, people, nor facility was prepared for the future. But they started, and they grew. That is what the SBCV can and will do if we will but take that step.

But to grow, we must start! To build we must begin! To sail we must launch!