Look who’s gone Mainstream!

by T. C. Pinckney                                                                                    Vol. XVI, No. 5, May/June 2003

The “Mainstream Baptist Network” (MBN) is one of the liberal Baptist organizations formed a few years ago to provide alternative comfort zones for those who resent the success of the Conservative Resurgence. While (as I understand it) MBN is legally an independent group, it shares many if not all the viewpoints of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and they work toward the same ends.

The Religious Herald reports that MBN held its annual meeting 8-9 February in Birmingham. Not unexpectedly there was talk about the “pain and exclusion felt by many Baptists as the Southern Baptist Convention takeover has moved it strongly toward the right.” And the meeting was addressed by at least three former SBC missionaries who left the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board because they were unwilling to sign the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message statement.

But to me the most interesting fact was that two state executive directors took part: Charles Wade, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and John Upton, executive director of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Wade and Upton “outlined approaches to missions in their states which they said will seek to include any Baptists who want to network in the cause of ‘spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ around their cities, states, nation and world.’” (bold print added)

Wade said, “We will network with Virginia Baptists, (Cooperative Baptist Fellowship) global missions, or any others (including SBC) who want to help people come to Jesus.”

Comment: While one is attracted by the rhetoric of helping “people come to Jesus”, notice the emphasis on inclusiveness, “will seek to include any Baptists who want to network ...” This attitude epitomizes a major fallacy of liberal Baptists: that it does not matter what we believe as long as we work together. But a little thought and some Scripture remind us that God says just the opposite. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3. “... ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 3. “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace but a sword.” Matthew 10:34.

One could multiply verses, but these are enough to make the point. The Gospel is both inclusive and exclusive. It includes all who truly repent, turn their lives around, accept the Word of God, and live as He has taught us. But it excludes those who reject Jesus outright and those who say they accept Him but who, in fact, place their judgment above God’s divine revelation in the Bible.

This is NOT to say we should rejoice in their error. Quite the contrary. We must sincerely pray for them and witness to them as we can. Nevertheless, we must also staunchly stand against their efforts to dilute biblical truth with nice sounding appeals which amount to no more than “let’s all work together and not concern ourselves about what we believe.”