I have stated publicly that the actions are motivated by fear and a power play for control. I still believe that. I have stated publicly that I believe the policies regarding baptism and private prayer language exceeded scripture. I have stated publicly that I believe the baptism issue specifically is heresy and that it can’t be found in scripture. I still believe that.

This week, the Tampa meeting consumed much of my time and energy, despite the fact that I wasn’t in Tampa. I wanted to go. My wife and I lived there for 3 years, and it would have been good to see some old friends.

Tonight I was leading a Bible Study, as I do every Thursday night, and we are in Romans 8. Beautiful chapter! During our study, I couldn’t shake my thoughts regarding my feelings about the BoT. Something wasn’t right. As I pulled onto the road heading home, I discovered I had forgotten one simple, yet monumental issue in all of this: God’s Sovereignty.

I did a couple of sermons a few weeks ago on the topic, including his sovereignty and issues of timing. If God is sovereign, he can keep people from sinning (see Abimilech in Gen 20:6). If God is sovereign, nothing can be done if he doesn’t want it done. That is the very nature of the definition of God. He can do what he wants when he wants how he wants.

So if the above is true regarding His sovereignty, I need to put all of the IMB stuff into that filter and deal with it. Did God bring Wade Burleson to the IMB board for a sovereign purpose? Absolutely! It was no accident that Dr. B became a member at just the right time. An unknown from Buford, GA picked up on something in November in a Baptist Press article. Now Marty Duren is well known across the leadership of the convention and is the main source of information for those of us who consider ourselves young, emerging leaders. Having talked to Marty and spent time with him, I have to say that his temperament, his character, his discipline are perfect for what is needed in these days. Was it an accident? I contend it was the sovereignty of God.

All of this mess – the decision about Wade, the policies of baptism and prayer, the restricting of information flow out of the IMB and the meetings of the BoT – has been sovereignly orchestrated. Think about what has occurred.

There is a network of younger leaders who have never met, but have called each other, have emailed each other, and have purposed in their hearts to fight for the convention they love. We have also shared in each other’s lives. This same network is connecting with IMB missionaries all over the world.

We are being called back to theology and doctrine. I’ve done more reading of my Baptist forefathers in the past 3 months than I can ever remember. We are searching the scriptures to deal with issues such as baptism, prayer language, salvation and ecclesiology. We are scouring church history. We (maybe just me) are even reading everything Gene Bridges writes, because it challenges me and makes me pull out my history and theology and that feeds my soul, gives me an appreciation for those who have gone before me, and draws me near to God. Just a few months ago, we were strangers. Today we are friends, united in a call to biblical authority, doctrinal purity, kingdom intentionality, and cooperation with all believers on the non-essentials.

Seems like there’s something in the Bible about all things working out for good…

What will come of this? Will it be the death knell of the convention? Possibly. It could be that in the sovereignty of God, he has brought young leaders together along with missionaries at home and abroad that will fight for the convention for a while, but instead of staying in the fight will join together in a loose network outside the SBC to build the kingdom and support each other and missions. It also may just be that we will become a convention within a convention.

Or, it could be that God has brought us all together for a different sovereign purpose. This could be the beginning of the end of the old way of doing things within the convention. It may be that the leadership for the new generation is being gathered and course corrections will occur. It could be that we are being drawn together and will see God reverse these decisions – and he may even use some of us to make that happen. Or it could be that He will do something else that we cannot even expect.

I have told several people that if it wasn’t for my state convention, the Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware, there would be nothing keeping me in the SBC. Except for an emotional tie. Our church is not in the SBC part of the Bible belt. We don’t openly talk about the SBC, though I do talk about the BCMD and our association a good bit. We have no strong ties to the SBC. We could leave and our church wouldn’t really care and probably wouldn’t even notice.

But I have come to realize that if we did that, I would be leaving you, the blogosphere. In Delaware, we have few churches and few pastors. The pastors in town – none of whom are SBC – don’t get together. The pastors in our association don’t get together. Many of you have become a sounding board for me. I love your stories and your struggles. And I love that in the context of us all being Baptist we can share our lives. I even have a ministry coach from this whole experience.

What will be the result of all of this sovereign planning by the Father? I honestly believe that God is going to do something so awesome at Greensboro that we cannot fathom it. I pray that the policies will be revoked and openness, transparency, and authenticity prevail. And yet whatever He decides to do, I will rejoice in, whether I like it or not. Because He has allowed it, and He has a reason for it. And I will rejoice because of who and what He has brought to me through this time in our lives. I am the better for it.

I tell our people to let God build as we obey. It’s his church, let him build it. But when he tells you to do something, don’t hesitate, do it. That doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing. It means we watch for Him and work hard when we see Him working.

God is sovereign and His purpose is upon us. Wade told me that I was in Richmond in January “for such a time as this.” He was more right than he could ever know. It still rings true today!

To God be the Glory!

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