Why I’m Still Here

Bell’s Theological Messages of the OT is very helpful, and so is Bauder’s Baptist Distinctives. Talbert, very good, very quality stuff, too.

To the second point, many simply need a good, vicious editor who will not hesitate to say “you did not define your terms”, “you’re using personal attacks and inflammatory language”, “this is a guilt by association argument”, and the like. (not attacking your work personally, by the way—I of course don’t know it well). Clear out the flotsam and jetsam of logical fallacies, get a quorum of people involved who recognize them and will throw the flag instantly (“ad hominem, 15 yards and loss of down”, that kind of thing), and the world is going to take notice.

Absolutely!

I mentioned, on another thread, that I’m not sure the FBFI is willing to receive criticism, and pointed to the fact that Dr. Ward’s article (or whatever it was) was received and someone (ones?) in the FBFI responded by calling for Dr. Ward to be banned from participating in the magazine in the future (as per Dr. Vaughn’s opening article). Others have noted similar responses - TylerR and his exchange with Bro. Unruh, for example.

If Fundamentalists want to be taken seriously, they have to be willing to receive advice, encouragement, rebuke, and questions from their friends and their enemies. If they want to exist as a genteel social club of nice people that don’t rock the boat, then I don’t want to hear anything from anyone there about losing all their young people to places that are actually worth going to.

We are Christians. We stand for truth, and truth endures in the face of all attacks, both without and within. I am not afraid of controversy - or of saying things that I think need to be said regarding the FBFI - because I (and others on SharperIron) want us to do better, and that means facing ugly issues sometimes and dealing with it like the men we claim to want to be.

The FBFI knows it has problems, but nothing can be done about those problems when the continual response to these kinds of issues (and there have been more than a few discussed on SharperIron) is:

1. The suppression of other views by removing them from FBFI channels or hiding comments on FBFI blogs.
2. The coverup of all these issues under the rubric of ‘individual viewpoints’ or ‘Christian unity’.

Unity is based on Truth, and Truth is contained in God’s Word. We do not need to fear it, no matter what our attendance numbers may look like. If you’re going to participate in the exchange of ideas, then you’re going to need to take arrows - even unjust ones. But at least then you know where, and who, you’re standing with and against.

Edit - the line that was struck out was something that I referred to that was in error. I am leaving it in but striking it out because it’s important to note that this was originally a part of my post. My apologies for the confusion.

[Jay]

We are Christians. We stand for truth, and truth endures in the face of all attacks, both without and within. I am not afraid of controversy - or of saying things that I think need to be said regarding the FBFI - because I (and others on SharperIron) want us to do better, and that means facing ugly issues sometimes and dealing with it like the men we claim to want to be.

The FBFI knows it has problems, but nothing can be done about those problems when the continual response to these kinds of issues (and there have been more than a few discussed on SharperIron) is:

1. The suppression of other views by removing them from FBFI channels or hiding comments on FBFI blogs.
2. The coverup of all these issues under the rubric of ‘individual viewpoints’ or ‘Christian unity’.

If you are for truth, why do you keep peddling falsehood? What other views are “removed from FBFI channels”? What comments are hidden? What are you talking about?

Obviously, we are not going to run every opinion, informed or otherwise, with no discretion. SI doesn’t do that, there are guidelines here for commenting and moderators, etc. The simple fact of having editorial guidelines and policies is not suppression of truth.

But I would suggest it is false to accuse the FBFI of covering things up or implying sinister motives to our actions. I will push back when you raise suspicions like this. It isn’t true. If you are for truth, you shouldn’t use innuendo to discredit by suggesting “something else is going on.”

I would like to know what you mean by “suppression” “hiding” “coverup.” Those are very charged words and are serious accusations. You provide no substance to back them up.

Don, I looked at link 1 but did not see the comments remained on link 2, Jay responded to my comment and PM-d me about the matter. See other thread for details including my correction.

So while I still think it’s troubling that at least one FBFI member proposed giving Mark Ward Jr. the “right boot of fellowship”, I’ve struck that and left an apology. My mistake, not intentional.

Jay, you don’t know me in person, and I don’t know you. But I will share some cordial thoughts of my own in response to your interaction here. I think I agree in heart with what you are saying, but I probably disagree in your perception of the FBFI in general. I concede that my viewpoint may be skewed, something that is always possible for sure.

1. My personal experience, from many angles, indicates to me that the FBFI welcomes thoughtful, heartfelt input from men like Mark Ward, Jr. and others who value the FBFI. This recent FrontLine magazine, in part, reveals that. That one or a few members asked for Mark’s contribution(s) to be withheld does not describe the entire FBFI. It describes whichever individual(s) voiced personal concern. And whomever voiced such concern has every right to do so. That’s the nature of healthy, friendly camaraderie.
2. I’m not sure what cover-up you are refering to. Again, the recent FBFI magazine is the opposite of any sort of cover-up.

[Jay]

Unity is based on Truth, and Truth is contained in God’s Word. We do not need to fear it, no matter what our attendance numbers may look like. If you’re going to participate in the exchange of ideas, then you’re going to need to take arrows - even unjust ones. But at least then you know where, and who, you’re standing with and against.

I agree with what you’ve said in these four sentences. Wholeheartedly. Unreservedly. And so, I think, does John Vaughn, Mark Ward, Jr., etc. Again, the recent FrontLine magazine reveals this shared conviction. And the small article I contributed to this magazine myself focuses on some of what you are saying. We all have need for increased growth in the grace of godly communication as friends and co-laborers for the gospel, both talking and listening to one another better. And knowing our weaknesses, the FBFI is taking significant steps in that direction.

We all make mistakes. No problem.