To the Seminary Student Interested in SBC Politics:

In recent weeks I have encountered many seminary students who have an interest in SBC politics … at least insofar as they want to know what is going on. As I have stated in my article, To the Incoming Seminary Freshman, concerning studies of the Conservative Resurgence, “chasing after white rabbits is a dangerous past time.” Therefore, allow me to offer some advice for those about to move forward in their studies of SBC politics.

-Love your neighbor as yourself. This means that because every human being is created in the image of God, every human being has value and should be treated as an equal and that every person should treat every other person as if they are that person. This means that no one should be treated with less dignity or value than any other human being. This means that no one should be treated with greater dignity or value than any other human being.

-Keep your eyes and ears open. This means that there is ample opportunities to learn about how and how not to behave as Christian ministers. Watch your professors, administrators and peers. Learn from their successes and mistakes and be aware that they should be looking at you as well.

-Take notes and keep all documentation. You would be surprised about how important it is to keep documentation and email correspondences on record. Such things will always come in handy and prevent anyone from mischaracterizing a given situation.

-Know that those who might want to stop you can always find a reason to do so. You may not have done anything wrong recently, but you may have done something wrong in the past. If people want to get you in trouble THEY WILL FIND SOMETHING. People will punish you for something you did a year prior but which did not get punished. People will search your college record for evidence. People will find insignificant things you have done in order to punish you for something they cannot technically punish you for. People will ignore and neglect established rules for punishment if they can. People will punish you for breaking a rule that will only be made after you have been punished. Don’t expect a hearing fair or otherwise. They will not hear you out, they will not let you speak, they only want you to stop and they will do it whether they should or should not.

-Assume the best of people unless the facts prove otherwise (give the benefit of doubt). Because we are all equal, because we all wish to be given the benefit of the doubt, because this is how God treats us, we should always give everyone this benefit. But even when blame is correctly placed, let us always forgive and move on. Again, because we all wish to be given the benefit of the doubt and because this is how God treats us. However, when a consistent pattern of behavior is evident ... well ... well, just pray about it.

-Practice grace, mercy and forgiveness for all. Everyone is being sanctified at different paces from different starting points and we need to forgive others because God forgave us. I know people who have been believers since childhood and have tremendous faith and spiritual maturity. I know people who have been believers since childhood and have very little faith and are spiritual immature. I also know people who have been believers a very short while and have more faith and spiritual maturity than many “elders”. There really doesn’t appear to be any set (or discernable) pattern or way in which one is sanctified. Really, all we have to go on is fruit. Thus, because we are all on the same path at different starting places and at different paces (with various starts and stops), we need to practice mercy and forgiveness because God is merciful with us. We need to be patient with other believers because God is patient with us. Above all, we need to help discipline other believers because we want (or should want) them to discipline us.

-Only get involve in political matters when someone is being mistreated. Frankly, I do not really care whether someone has a false doctrinal belief. I have enough faith in the grace of God to not worry about such matters. Anyway, most of the politicos have little Scriptural basis for their beliefs so it is futile to reason with them. But politicos make it their business to persecute and mistreat others. I mean this: the last 30 plus years of the Conservative Resurgence in the SBC has been a remarkable bloodshed of diabolical and unChristlike mistreatment of others. How many people have been fired because 1) they had “inappropriate” beliefs, 2) they did not agree with the methods of the Resurgence, 3) they were sympathetic to those fired, 4) they were not liked by people in power, or 5) they were around before those who are now in power came to power. In fact, the only reason people are not fired in the SBC is because of incompetence. Probably because that would set a dangerous precedent for those now running the show.

-Don't become disillusioned. Politics has been going on in the church since the first apostles. This does not make it right (quite the opposite) but it does show that the Holy Spirit can accomplish great things despite the foolishness of believers and their leaders. The politicos who do not have the slightest Scriptural evidence for their beliefs and who cannot present a reasonable argument for why anyone should agree with them but, instead, use political muscle to force people to do what they want have always been around and always will. In SBC politics, it does not matter whether your point is right and whether who can win an argument. Other people do not need to either be right or win arguments to get there way. Yes, these people can be believers and conservatives at that. Remember: people who have power do not need good arguments, but people who have good arguments do not need power.

-In political matters, the administration will always get their way. The best approach is not to win issues but rather to cultivate those students who witness these issues and teach them to rise above the politics and avoid the mistakes of the SWBTS administration in their own ministries. At this point, after a generation of systematic abuse and bureaucratic “digging-in”, the only real approach available to us who desire a more Christian approach to the Faith is to prepare the younger generations to assume leadership and wait for the Boomer generation to die out.

-Never let political expediency cause you to neglect or ignore principles of the Faith. The implementation of the Kingdom of God has been a slow and laborious process. The goals of the Kingdom are not accomplished by quick fixes, democratic and legislative victories, judicial decisions, and strong-armed force. The impatient, the aggressive and the greedy will find the Gospel and its message foolish (which includes believers as well). Yes, the implementation of the Kingdom of God is not a quick matter, but one must reach kingdom goals by kingdom methods. This method needs patience, meekness, love, peace, mercy, kindness, and the willingness to meet change by one person at a time. An individual may not see his personal kingdom goals reached in his or her lifetime, but the goals are not about him. Those who desire immediate successes are both impatient and prideful. Kingdom implementation is slow but it is a lot more permanent. A quick win of implementing a kingdom goal can just as easily be turned into a loss. Be patient and confident and do not allow your desire for change to subvert the principles of the Faith and the Kingdom. That is the problem of the Conservative Resurgence.

-Humility on a political issue will solve most of the problems one encounters. Everyone gets it wrong sometimes. There has never been nor will ever be a group of believers who gets every single Christian doctrine right. This alone should give us pause to not think that we can fly. Always assume that you could be wrong because you certainly could be. Always assume that some of your beliefs are wrong because undoubtedly some of them are. Nevertheless, if you believe that you are right then never let anyone force you to believe or claim to believe otherwise. Be convinced by the Scriptures and the arguments and nothing less. Don’t hold to the view of the crowd simply because it is the crowd because the crowd is often wrong. Don’t hold to the minority belief simply because it is the minority belief because the minority belief is often wrong. Furthermore, it’s best to proceed conservatively with one’s theological education: thus, hold to the first beliefs you have about a Christian doctrine until you are convinced otherwise. Even if you are unsure, still hold to your first belief; if you are wrong in that first belief then trust the grace of God in that situation. Again, just proceed under the assumption that you are wrong about some of your theology: that keeps you humble, dependent on God, and merciful towards others with whom you disagree. Also, do not care if people disagree with you. I myself do not care if everyone disagrees with me on a doctrine I believe to be true. I do take such disagreement under serious consideration, but I always hold to a belief because I think it is right and (again) not because it is popular.

-Jesus is our example. There is no other. John the Baptist is not our example. Neither is Paul, Peter, Abraham, Moses or Elijah. Do not look to Augustine, Calvin, Luther, Edwards or even Kierkegaard. Do not look to Graham, Barth, Brunner, Niehbuhr, Piper, Stanley, Adrians, Warren, or any other famous pastor. Really do not look at SBC professors, SBC politicians, SBC presidents and administrators as examples. Jesus. Who is our example? It is Jesus! Jesus, I say! Stop looking elsewhere for your example. If you are a Christian, your example is Jesus Christ. Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Without Jesus all other examples are diabolical.