![]() Put simply, one group sees the solution as primarily one of individual change and the other understands it as a problem in the system.Įnter Mohler. SSJG opponents are convinced swift and systemic change needs to occur in the church in order to set things right. ![]() Others place the blame for racism and racial disparities squarely on the United States’ institutions and policies, and have charged the church with complicity in this system. They believe racism is a problem that can only be solved by doing the hard and slow work of individual transformation. ![]() On the one hand, proponents of the Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel (SSJG), such as Johnson and MacArthur, fear the approach some are taking will obfuscate the church’s central message and mission. The real question is, what can and should be done about it? How Did It Come to This?Įveryone recognizes that America has racial disparities in income, education, and incarceration rates. With the SBC also embroiled in a sex abuse scandal, it seems America’s largest Protestant denomination is facing multiple controversies. Video of this discussion has also been scrubbed from third-party sources. Visibly angry at Johnson’s panel question, Mohler answered, “I’m not going to be forced into a situation before thousands of people in which I have to say I have to do it your way… Sorry! And if this is a test of fellowship among us, this would be a good time to find out.”įrom here, the panel dropped the subject and, as of this writing, all of ShepCon 2019’s videos have been taken offline. For example, part of the statement says: “We deny that God-given roles, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, religion, sex or physical condition or any other property of a person either negates or contributes to that individual’s worth as an image-bearer of God.” MacArthur and Johnson are initial signers of the statement, but Mohler has not publicly supported it. The statement responded to attempts to push the nation’s largest Protestant denomination into identity politics on race. Pressing Mohler for a clear answer, Johnson asked, “Why didn’t you sign the Statement ? …Do you not see that the evangelical movement, even our constituency, the most conservative bend of the evangelical movement, is becoming a little susceptible to ?” Both are hugely influential in conservative evangelicalism. ![]() MacArthur, who was also on the panel, is pastor of the prominent Grace Community Church, which hosts the annual ShepCon, and a longtime friend and ally of Mohler. Sparks flew between Albert Mohler, a prominent SBC leader and president of Southern Seminary, and Phil Johnson, a close pastoral associate of John MacArthur. A significant division over how the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) should address racism became public again during a panel discussion at this year’s Shepherds’ Conference (ShepCon) last week. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |