Early in my college years, I started attending First Southern Baptist Church of Baldwin Park. The church had a very robust group of Bible-believing college students. It became my spiritual home within a fairly short time frame. The fellowship we felt over the short time we were all together was absolutely what one would expect in a group of young believers. We pretty much did everything together. It was the time when I found my life’s partner, Jan Johnson. We were married in 1977 and have spent the last 47 years together. She was, is, and always will be the love of my life.
Eventually I was chosen to teach the high school Sunday school class. It was a small group of people barely younger than myself. It was during that time that I felt the call to teach. After earning my degree in Biology from Long Beach State University, I accepted a teaching position at Western Christian High School teaching Biology, and Anatomy & Physiology.
During that time the church looked to select a group of men to serve as deacons. Deacons are basically the immediate support group for the pastor of the church. After all these years I have come to realize that I was far too young, and too outspoken, and too immature in my faith to serve in that role. At the time, none of those thoughts even entered into my mind.
Eventually, I was overcome by a sense that I was no longer 100% supportive of the leadership of the Pastor and the Deacons. I discussed my unhappiness with several very spiritual men who were leaders in other denominations. This included much older men who had served the Lord for years. At a discipleship conference that I attended one of these leaders asked me what was wrong. At the time I had not told anyone of my predicament. They just knew. I was led to believe that if I stayed in that church it would create a significant spiritual block to my growth as a Christian. It was time to leave. I didn’t listen. I stayed too long.
Eventually, we left First Baptist Church. However, none of the churches that we visited were attractive to me. At this point I decided to pour my life into the ministry of teaching science and coaching at Western Christian School where I was surrounded by incredible teachers who were from many different denominations. It was eye opening for me to be with these terrific believers. I am still in contact with my students and players that I coached to this day.
Over the years I have discovered very significant issues within the Southern Baptist Convention. The issues are so devastating to me that there will be no chance of ever setting foot in another Southern Baptist Church.
The main issue that has turned me away from that denomination is the fact the Christian Nationalism has invaded literally thousands of Southern Baptist Churches. Their stance on the places of leadership for women is unacceptable to me. In addition, their hiding of horrific abusive sexual relationships involving church leadership, their shaming of women who have experienced abusive behavior by the church leaders and even their husbands, has stained the witness of the Southern Baptist Convention.
However, the most serious issue for me is the fact that the Southern Baptist Convention has become the Southern Republican Convention. Large numbers of their mega churches have become nothing more than mouth pieces for Republican political operations. When the church gets involved in politics, the witness of the church is compromised.
Nothing illustrates the rot that has infected the Southern Baptist Convention any more clearly than yesterday’s announcement that the president of the Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission had suddenly lost his job. The announcement was made after the president, Brent Leatherwood, made a statement supporting Joe Bidens withdrawal from the race for president. Supporting this patriotic act by a hugely successful President is obviously an act of betrayal within the Southern Baptist Convention.
A Christian leader, making such a statement does not fit into the conventions political stance supporting the felon who they believe they should once again be elevated to the office of President of the United States.
Here is my point: who I support and vote for in the political realm never was, never is, and never will be any of their freaking business! There is no place for it in any group of believers. If you want to see the damage done to the witness of all believers, spend an hour reviewing the tapes of the January 6th insurrection perpetrated largely by White Christian Nationalists claiming their actions were the will of God. They are pathetic, and unfortunately, if you believe it was ok, you fit the category.
The Southern Baptist Convention has come out and said that the committee said the firing of Brent Leatherwood was “a consequential procedural mistake”. They have reversed their decision.
Their action was not a procedural mistake. It was once again, a clear message to believers who worship in Southern Baptist Churches all over the country. Clearly, the support of the Republican Party is more important to them than the witness that they destroy with their support.
At 70 years of age, I don’t know how I would respond to the things that are going on in the Southern Baptist Convention. I would like to think that I would stand up in the middle of worship services, quietly walk out, take off my shoes and dust them off, never to return.
The Southern Republican Convention does not deserve your support or your presence.
Someone has to say it, I am sure retribution will be just around the corner.
Independent Investigations 