10 January 2006

The More things Change, the More they stay the Same

Lately, the trustees of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention have made some changes to their policies concerning baptism and tongues. It has cause a bit of an uproar in many places and with many people to say the least.

I spoke with a pastor friend of mine yesterday concerning his involvement in denominational life. He had been heavily involved in his local association, state convention, and also on the national level (Sunday School Board, etc). By his count, he was serving on 13 different committees / boards at the time. I didn't recognize it then, but looking back, I noticed that all of a sudden, he quit being involved with anything and anyone other than on the local level. He was very clear about his reasons for quitting and very open with me about them. He got fed up with the politics - plain and simple. Sick and tired of putting up with them, being on a rubber stamp committee and not being able to change anything that needed to be changed.

It would appear that although time has continued to march on, politics is still politics, not much has changed.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can understand his decision to the focus his enegry on an area that he can have an impact. At some point someone is going to have to stick it out and get into a position of influence to effect change at a national level.

RMc said...

You are right Rick. I think that there are some who are starting to use the influence they have to make positive changes - check out what Marty Duren has been doing. But I don't think it is going to be pretty.

Adam said...

rodney, thanks for the encouraging comment on my blog. keep up the good work w/ your blog, man!

Gordon said...

Politics is the unpleasant part of the work we do as the SBC. When we focus more on political leverage than we do on fulfilling the mission, that's when we take the fun out serving Jesus. Let us run the race looking unto Him.

RMc said...

Gordon - I agree! I wish the attitude you mention was the prevailing one and there was more fun being had all around.