Editor's note: Following this article is a brief email exchange between Dr. Rainer and me.
When my three grown sons were small children, we would often play with a wooden train. Because they were so young, the boys would sometimes construct a track that ended up becoming two separate sections. It was at that point that one of them would request with excitement: “Daddy, build me a bridge.”
And so I would. The train could then run smoothly.
I am a part of a denomination that has many tracks but few bridges. And if we don't start building some bridges quickly, God's hand of blessing may move beyond us.
Let me share with you an example of recent days. I spoke last week at the Baptist Identity Conference at Union University in Jackson, Tenn. From an outsider's perspective, one might conclude that the crowd was likeminded. After all, it was a gathering of mostly Southern Baptists.
But I knew better. Present were five-point Calvinists and others who would not affirm all five points. Also in attendance were cessationists and non-cessationists, people with differing views of women in ministry, bloggers and print-media writers. There were some who thought leaving “Baptist” out of a church's name was wrong; and there were others had already taken the denominational label out of their church's name. The views on eschatology held by the attendees were many.
It was a diverse group of Southern Baptists indeed.
I spoke to many people before and after my formal presentation. One person commented to me, “Dr. Rainer, I better leave you before people start wondering why we are speaking with each other.” Admittedly, his comment was meant to be humorous. But it did have a sting of truth in it. The labels had already been applied. The sides had been chosen. And you had better be careful about the side you chose or the people with whom you associated.
I reject that line of thinking.
As far as I knew, everyone at that conference was my brother or sister in Christ. As far as I knew, everyone was a Bible believer. I refuse to let labels keep me from building bridges.
My six years as a seminary student were difficult. Though I met many godly men and women and professors, I also witnessed firsthand much aberrant theology. I was and still am a firm supporter of the conservative resurgence. I knew we could not continue down the path we were headed.
But it seems as if we just can't stop fighting even though the battle for the Bible is over and won.
I understand the risk I am taking by writing these words. But silence is not an option. I must be about building bridges.
Please understand that I have no illusion that my words will start a revolution or that many will listen. But I can only be held accountable before God for my own actions.
I choose to build bridges.
Though I am a fallible and sinful person, I will seek God's power to stay true to the following:
1. I stand firm on the inerrant Word of God. I support without reservation the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.
2. Though I may disagree with some on secondary and tertiary issues, I will not let those points of disagreement tear down bridges of relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ.
3. I will seek to join with those who will work together on the common causes of missions, evangelism and the health of the local church.
4. I will seek God's will in prayer before I write or speak a word of disagreement against another brother or sister in Christ or even a non-Christian. I will seek to see the plank in my own eye before pointing out the splinter in another person's eye. I will follow the truths of Matthew 18 when I feel that I need to confront a brother or sister in Christ.
5. I will spend more time rejoicing in the Lord (Philippians 4:4).
6. I will seek God's power to have a more gentle and Christlike spirit (Philippians 4:5).
7. I will pray that the lost and the unchurched world will know me by my Christlike love.
Such is my commitment.
If God so leads, I invite you to join me in building bridges.
Email exchange
Editor: Dear Dr. Rainer,
In reading your article on bridge building, I want to thank you for the spirit you convey. I want to pursue the thought; but I know that even the best analogy has its limitations. I just want to be sure to remove as many misconceptions as possible for the Virginia Baptists who will read your words.
You refer to your commitment to the conservative resurgence and the war having been won. No one could expect you to be other than devoted to the cause you believe correct. You then state directly that you choose to build bridges (despite believing you are taking some risk in doing so). I seek clarification because, as you know, we have many 1963 Southern Baptists in Virginia and I don't want to report that a bridge is being built if they will continue to be excluded from participation and regarded with suspicion.
My question is this: Given your first point regarding the Faith and Message 2000 is the bridge only for like-minded Southern Baptists or may BFM 1963 Southern Baptists also cross on the bridge? And, if they do cross, will they find the gate locked on your side when they get there? Or, will they be welcomed fully as brothers and sisters in Christ?
Are the differences between the BFM 1963 and the BFM 2000 central or “secondary and tertiary” issues?
Thanks for your help in this matter. I look forward to hearing from you.
Rainer: Jim,
Thanks for your kind words and for asking me to comment on my article. My desire for building bridges is to show love and respect for my fellow Christians, even if we do not agree on every theological nuance. And that would certainly include those who affirm the 1963 BFM. As you indicated, I do affirm the 2000 BFM, but that does not mean that I disagree with the 1963 version. I simply think that the 2000 version better states and clarifies where I am theologically.
Both versions of the BFM state the following on cooperation and unity among Christians:
“Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ's Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ's people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and his Word as revealed in the New Testament.”
Such is the spirit of my article. I seek to build bridges with those of other denominations, and certainly with those within my own denomination.
Editor: Dr. Rainer,
I know I asked you to comment off the record, but I wanted to clarify whether that is your intent. If you are willing, I would like to share your comments with Virginia Baptists.
Rainer: Jim,
One of the first steps in bridge building is to show trust toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. I am happy for you to put my comments on the record, and I will trust you to handle the story well. I really appreciate your class and ethics in asking me first, though.