At the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, these Baptists debated and passed a resolution identifying themselves as total abstainers from alcohol. They also expressed a desire to limit involvement to those who agreed with this position. As one raised in this baptist culture, I am saddened by the continued movement toward a legalistic culture that is more rigid than the Bible.
A previous post of mine lists the foreign countries in which I have lived and travelled. In addition, I have participated in cultures that are not bible-belt. It is amazing to me that baptists still want to be known for the things they oppose – even if the opposition is based on a by-gone era and culture rather than from biblical instruction.
I remember a time when I was a pastor, preaching a series of sermons on the book of Romans. I remember the eye opening studies that knocked the legs out from under the legalism which the baptist culture existed. Note: I was the pastor of a church that did not consider having a drink as sinful. I am going to link this to a great blog discussion by Wade Burleson on the difference between abstinence and drunkenness.
Anyway, my chief observation is this: this baptist culture that was expressed through this resolution has been influenced and shaped more by a southern culture rather than biblical teaching. What is ironic is that those on that side are trying not to be influenced by a worldly culture. What they don’t understand is that they are being influenced by a worldly culture that just happens to have existed 50 years ago.
Stumbled across your blog while searching for a friend. I really enjoyed your view on this topic. Seeing that you are a father of four, I’d guess you have a few years on me since I’m still in college. It’s very unlikely to find someone older that sees things the way you do.
I think we (Christians) as a whole have missed the point of the Gospel. It is, nor ever was, about the things we can’t do. It is about JESUS CHRIST! And telling others about Him! How can we tell the world about Christ if we’re too busy telling them what they’re doing wrong. Christ was about loving people and that’s what we’re supposed to be about too!