The FBFI and the Text and Translation Debate

By using sarcasm when referring to independent Baptist brethren such as Clarence Sexton and Paul Chappell in his address to the FBFI’s annual meeting, Mark Ward has forced the FBFI to answer David Shumate’s question, “What constitutes divisiveness over the issue?”

Yet, Ward’s speech demands that the FBFI clarify even more. By speaking positively of D. A. Carson in his speech at the FBFI’s annual meeting (in contrast to how he spoke of Sexton and Chappell), does that mean Carson’s Trinity International University (a new evangelical institution) is a better place to send college-age kids than Crown College or West Coast Baptist College (independent Baptist institutions)? Does the FBFI now more closely identify with The Gospel Coalition (Carson and Kevin DeYoung) and Desiring God (John Piper and John Frame) than with institutions like Crown College and West Coast Baptist College? What about Ambassador Baptist College and the Bill Rice Ranch? Are conservative evangelicals more in tune with today’s FBFI than certain mainstream fundamentalist brethren?

Shumate’s suggested clarifications weren’t necessary three months ago, but now they are. However, I’m beginning to think that all this might be exactly what the FBFI Board wanted to happen in the first place.

CD,

It would be really easy if all theological issues were on a single line from conservative to liberal, but that is just not the case. There are far too many variables. It’s quite easy to be closer to TGC on some issues, while being closer to Crown on others. It’s just not as easy as saying one is completely right and one is completely wrong, though we might wish it were. Fundamentalists need to stop thinking in terms of things like distance from a fundamentalist group over one or more issues meaning rejection of all of fundamentalism and acceptance of all of new evangelicalism. It’s that type of thinking that causes many to think fundamentalism is NOT worth saving.

D.A. Carson has written an excellent book on the KJVO controversy. No problem referencing Carson in relation to this subject. Such a reference does not in any way endorse TEDS. Mark’s choice to submit an article to the GC was totally his, and he did so on his own months after the annual meeting. Crown and West Coast are both KJVO. However, I don’t think their positions/reasoning/dispositions are identical. West Coast use to be more militant on the KJV. Perhaps they are changing. I am reasonably sure that Clarence Sexton was comfortable working with Non-KJVO pastors and organizations. One has to approach each ministry individually to examine their position, reasons for holding it, disposition toward Non-KJVO churches and organizations, and whether they see the KJV as a test of orthodoxy or fellowship.

Very good. I highly recommend

All in favor of Jim Peet being the new face of the FBFI, say AMEN!

Mine is in the mail… Canada Post has this unique storage system.

I think NYC mail is a little slow for whatever reason, although USPS *does* deliver packages on Sunday here and Amazon Prime *does* provide same-day delivery here, also. Hmm. Go figure.

1- Nice suspenders!

2- Smile, bro :-)