Jake Wright

Born Again Christian | @MBTS Alumnus | Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church Carthage, MO

[Jake Wright @jakegwright]

I have always appreciated the work of @ThomRainer. But seriously, what is this? @SamRainer

[Church Answers @ChurchAnswers]

Congratulations to Rebecca Zahrte for becoming a certified interim pastor!

[𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐨 ⛪︎ 🌲 @MichaelCarlino]

FWIW, I've seen some asking if this edit may prove to be a loophole for egalitarians to use down the road in separating office from function.

First, I don't see how one can do so based on the explicit language: "Does not act to affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer..."

The word "specifically" doesn't mean it is therefore illicit to think of any other pastoral function. It merely points to a most pressing and thankfully, most agreed upon expression of pastoral ministry in the life of a local church.

Second, it is encouraging that we will likely pass a resolution the same year, so that for posterity sake, if future Baptists have any questions as to what the consensus of the convention was/is, we have these statements to point to:

"RESOLVED, That we affirm that the New Testament presents the pastoral office and the function of pastoral oversight of the church as inseparably connected...

RESOLVED, That we affirm the function of teaching Scripture and preaching the Word to the gathered church is essentially connected to the office of pastor/elder/overseer and should not be separated from the qualifications for pastoral ministry; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage Southern Baptist churches to maintain clarity and integrity in their ministerial titles and practices so that nomenclature is not used in ways that obscure or contradict the Convention's adopted statement of faith regarding the pastoral office; specifically, we encourage churches to use the titles "pastor," "elder," and "overseer" in a manner consistent with the biblical office described in Scripture and affirmed in The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and not to use these titles in ways that separate the title from the office and function of pastor..."

I have no doubt some will look for loopholes down the road, until Jesus returns this will be the case. But from my vantage, all this edit has done is increase the base of support, answered the most common question/concern being raised against the original wording, while also steadfastly upholding the inseparability of the pastoral office and function.

Let's get this done.

[Jake Wright @jakegwright]

@jrwhitehead Yeah, probably a good move for greater clarity and precision.

[Bob Bickford @bobick]

The report is live: https://t.co/LHa6YU0z5y

[Denny Burk @DennyBurk]

Trevin Wax points out the “novelty” of removing churches from the SBC—that we went through the entire conservative resurgence without doing it.

But if you want to understand why such attempts are so common now when they hardly ever happened previously, there’s really only one date on the timeline that explains our current situation. It’s 2019.

One development in 2019 explains why we had very few challenges in the past but have so many now.

In 2019 as a part of abuse reform, the SBC amended Bylaw 8 to make the Credentials Committee a standing committee. And they opened up a portal online through which anyone could report churches for being out of friendly cooperation. That one act is what led to the current proliferation of challenges.

Before 2019, the CC only existed for two days every year. Their responsibilities were largely administrative. After 2019, they exist all year round, receive membership challenges all year round, and have the power to recommend removal of churches between conventions.

Before 2019, a “membership challenge” required a messenger to come to the annual meeting and challenge the seating of another church’s messengers. After 2019, anyone can go to the online portal (which is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year) and make a membership challenge. They don’t have to be a messenger. They don’t have to attend the convention. They don’t even have to leave their home.

At the time in 2019, the rationale for this sweeping change was focused almost entirely on the ability to remove churches who aided and abetted abuse. It’s like no one considered the possibility that Southern Baptists might be interested in using the new structure to enforce close identification with the BF&M. But Southern Baptists have been interested in that, and here we are.

Had this structure been in place during the conservative resurgence, does anyone doubt that things would have proceeded much differently than they did?

When the history books are written about the SBC in our era, I predict they will identify 2019 as the key date that set in motion a chain of events that very few anticipated.

[Jake Wright @jakegwright]

@colinsmo @JoshuaWPowell @WillyRice @albertmohler Absolutely!

[𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐨 ⛪︎ 🌲 @MichaelCarlino]

I bet he’d write something like:

“I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first formed, and then Eve.”

[Libs of TikTok @libsoftiktok]

BREAKING: Missouri Supreme Court upholds new Congressional Map which eliminates a Democrat seat

[Matt Smethurst @MattSmethurst]

In all my years of pastoring, I have learned this lesson: a person’s spiritual maturity is not truly visible until they DON’T get their way. Then you see the person.

—@ErikReed

[Jake Wright @jakegwright]

Does a SBC church that permits proponents of infant baptism into membership have a faith and practice that “closely identifies” with the BF&M2K?

[Jake Wright @jakegwright]

C’mon!

[Mike Stone @PastorMikeStone]

🧵No video needed:

I sat on the credentials committee when a member didn’t want to remove a gay-affirming church, stating such action could hinder NAMB church planting in the NW.

Multiple members suggested it was a slippery slope and questioned why we single out homosexuality.

[Jake Wright @jakegwright]

We Southern Baptists don’t take church polity advice from egalitarian Anglicans.

[God & Country @GodandCountryy]

We don’t know them all but we owe them all.

[Wretched with Todd Friel @WretchedNetwork]

Is “Just Living Your Message” Enough?

[Denny Burk @DennyBurk]

The attached image is also from Mike Bird’s essay. It’s another false allegation that betrays a basic misunderstanding of Baptist polity.

What Mohler said 25 years ago is an absolutely true statement. In fact, you’re not a Baptist if you can’t agree with it. We don’t tell any church what they can or can’t do. If a church wants to have a female pastor, there’s nothing the SBC can do about it. That church is free to have a female pastor.

The SBC, however, is also free not to cooperate with that church.

Mohler’s statement reflects the reality that churches and conventions are sovereign in their own sphere. This is Baptist Polity 101.

[Jake Wright @jakegwright]

@jaredcwilson And the best answer is Photograph

[Jake Wright @jakegwright]

@jaredcwilson *Def Leppard

[4αм🦉 @4amAlready]

Since its release 11 years ago, just one hour and 36 minutes have passed on Miller's planet in Interstellar.

[Joel Berry @JoelWBerry]

A little-known hack:

2 slices of Aldi wheat bread: $0.17
3 oz of Aldi deli turkey: $0.86
1 slices Aldi cheddar: $0.15
1 condiment of your choice: $0.02
1 apple: $0.53
1 hard boiled egg: $0.14
5 carrot sticks: $0.17
Cold water from the tap: $0.01

Total: $2.05

You can do this.