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Conservative Baptist Community pledges go back – Baptist Usual

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Pastor Tom Ascol, the Conservative Baptist Community’s candidate for Southern Baptist Conference president, speaks at a flooring microphone right through the SBC annual assembly in Anaheim, Calif. (Photograph via Justin L. Stewart/Faith Information Carrier)
Bob Smietana / Faith Information Carrier
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ANAHEIM, Calif. (RNS)—Within the moments after the general gavel sounded to near the Southern Baptist Conference’s annual assembly ultimate week, Rod Martin used to be strangely cheerful.
Issues had now not long past smartly right through the assembly for Martin, co-founder of the Conservative Baptist Community, whose contributors consider the country’s greatest Protestant denomination has been invaded via “woke” concepts like important race principle.
The community’s candidate for SBC president, Florida pastor Tom Ascol, misplaced. As did the gang’s applicants for recording secretary, president of the once a year pastors’ conference and officer applicants for the SBC’s Government Board. And many of the motions made at the flooring via Conservative Baptist Community contributors had been voted down via an awesome margin.
None of that discouraged Martin, a tech entrepreneur from Florida and longtime Southern Baptist.
“We’ll be again,” he mentioned.
In recent times, the Conservative Baptist Community and its allies, together with Ascol’s Florida-based Founders Ministries, a Calvinist workforce, and Sovereign Countries, a Christian nationalist workforce, have made nationwide headlines for his or her claims about liberal go with the flow within the SBC.
They’ve rallied make stronger on social media and thru meetings, urging fans to modify the SBC’s route and “take the send” of the denomination.
One Conservative Baptist Community supporter went as far as to unfurl a skull-and-crossbones flag at his church—main the gang and its allies to be classified as pirates.
But their efforts to reshape the denomination have in large part failed. Final yr in Nashville, Georgia pastor Mike Stone, the network-backed candidate for SBC president, misplaced in a detailed election. And a bunch of Conservative Baptist Community contributors give up the SBC’s Government Committee within the fall, after an unsuccessful try to restrict an investigation into how SBC leaders treated sexual abuse.
The week of the 2022 annual assembly started expectantly for the Conservative Baptist Community and its allies. The gang drew packed crowds for a night with California pastor John MacArthur and Voddie Baucham, a bestselling creator and anti-woke preacher, and a breakfast that featured Ascol, Martin and activist Charlie Kirk of Turning Level USA.
“I believe we’re going to win as of late,” Martin informed the gang on the breakfast, a couple of hours forward of the presidential election.
However although they didn’t win, he mentioned, the stakes had been too top to surrender.
After the once a year assembly wrapped up, Martin and different leaders blamed the gang’s losses most commonly on location. Anaheim, Calif., he mentioned, used to be “difficult flooring” for the community’s makes an attempt at reforming the SBC. Subsequent yr’s assembly shall be in New Orleans, a lot nearer to the SBC’s Bible Belt core.
“I be expecting the turnout to be extra like Nashville,” he mentioned.
In Nashville, their candidate misplaced via a couple of hundred votes, at a meeting that drew greater than 15,000 native church representatives referred to as messengers. Against this, simply over 8,100 messengers made it to Anaheim.
An research via Japanese Illinois College professor Ryan Burge identified that the SBC conferences within the Bible Belt generally tend to outdraw the ones in different places. The Conservative Baptist Community additionally has a state bankruptcy in Louisiana, which can most likely support with turnout.
And Southern Baptists within the Bible Belt are much more likely to spot as politically conservative than the ones in California—which might most likely bolster the Conservative Baptist Community reason, which is each spiritual and political.
Right through his remarks on the community breakfast, Kirk classified the gang’s supporters as brave pastors resisting the affect of liberalism within the evangelical church. He contrasted them with “cowardly pastors” who care simplest “about budgets and structures and baptisms” and “complicit pastors” who march with Black Lives Issues and “cling pleasure flags.”
“Our stunning religion is beneath assault from inside of,” he mentioned.
Kirk suggested pastors to face for liberty—seeing masks mandates and COVID-related shutdowns right through the pandemic as indicators of presidency tyranny. He additionally informed them that if “The us falls” then it’ll be tougher for Baptists to unfold the gospel.
“If we don’t acknowledge that all of us need to agree on liberty and the gospel, we’re all going to be sharing our theological disputes in jail,” he mentioned.
Former SBC First Vice President Lee Emblem, whose time period expired after the SBC assembly, informed Conservative Baptist Community supporters to proceed status towards worldly influences invading the denomination.
“We’re now not ever going to do sufficient for the arena to love what we need to say,” he mentioned.
Regardless of their election losses, the Conservative Baptist Community and its allies have had some good fortune. Their activism helped force up attendance for the 2021 assembly in Nashville, the most important because the mid-Nineties. And that larger attendance led SBC to transport the 2023 assembly from Charlotte, N.C., to New Orleans, because the Charlotte house used to be too small.
Anti-CRT activism via Ascol and Michael O’Fallon of Sovereign Countries additionally helped force the nationwide “woke battle.” The Conservative Baptist Community and its allies performed a task in a 2021 SBC solution calling for the abolition of abortion, which might make stronger law to outlaw abortion without a exceptions. A 2022 abortion solution, additionally sponsored via the Conservative Baptist Community and its allies, which referred to as for felony consequences for ladies who’ve abortions, used to be rejected via messengers.
The community’s supporters additionally contributed to controversy over the way forward for Saddleback Church, probably the most greatest church buildings within the SBC. That church, led via bestselling creator Rick Warren, ordained 3 ladies as body of workers pastors ultimate yr, resulting in requires Saddleback to be expelled from the SBC. The SBC’s commentary of religion limits the place of business of pastor to males.
The SBC’s credentials committee, charged with reviewing Saddleback’s standing, proposed growing a job power to review the which means of the phrase “pastor”—for the reason that many SBC church buildings discuss with body of workers contributors as “pastor” even supposing they don’t pontificate. The speculation of a learn about committee used to be met with an indignant reaction and used to be withdrawn.
Martin pointed to the credentials committee as an indication that the SBC’s management has misplaced its method. Maximum Southern Baptists know what a pastor is, he mentioned. Whilst a girl may have a management function at a church, she will be able to’t have the identify of pastor.
“I don’t care if she’s the ladies’s Grand Poobah,” he mentioned. “She will be able to’t be a pastor.”
Whilst the Conservative Baptist Community and its allies have discovered make stronger for his or her opposition to important race principle, ladies pastors and abortion, a few of their perspectives at the factor of sexual abuse were arguable.
Ascol, as an example, used to be important of the new Guidepost Answers document on abuse and has been skeptical of a sequence of reforms authorized via SBC messengers to deal with abuse. Mark Coppenger, a former SBC seminary president and Conservative Baptist Community guidance committee member, has mentioned the problem of intercourse abuse within the denomination has been overblown. Coppenger antagonistic the not too long ago handed reforms to deal with abuse right through the once a year assembly.
“I in reality assume Guidepost and people who are enthusiastic for what they’ve mentioned are nearly slandering the conference,” he mentioned in a telephone interview. “I’m announcing, you’ve were given us fallacious.”
Coppenger fears that reforms, equivalent to a website online to trace abusive pastors, will open the SBC as much as court cases from abuse survivors.
“We will have to cope with this within the native church and paintings with native government,” he mentioned. “However don’t move overboard.”
On the finish of the 2022 assembly, Martin stood outdoor the primary assembly corridor on the Anaheim Conference Middle, greeting buddies, shaking fingers and admiring a brand new “Wrath of Khan”-themed reward he were given from Victor Chayasirisobhon, a fellow “Superstar Trek” fan and California pastor who’d been elected the SBC’s first vp.
Martin suggested buddies and allies to stay with the conference, in spite of the gang’s 2022 losses, announcing the SBC is “higher in combination.”
“We’ve some arguments we’ve were given to settle,” he mentioned. “However we want to move to New Orleans and settle them and do it with braveness, with constancy to Scripture.”
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The Friend Who Sticks Closer than a Brother

Embracing True Friendship: The Friend Who Sticks Closer Than a Brother
Friendship is a valuable asset that enriches our lives by providing companionship, support, and a shoulder to cry on. But have you ever had a buddy who goes above and beyond—someone who remains closer than a brother? In a world where relationships can be fickle, a friend who sticks by us through thick and thin is a rare and priceless gift.
More Than Just Blood Ties
Consider the tie between siblings, which is based on blood and shared history. Consider a buddy who is more than just a family member. “One who has untrustworthy friends soon comes to ruin,” says Proverbs 18:24 (NIV), “but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
This verse describes a friendship that goes beyond basic conditions. It’s a bond founded on trust, loyalty, and real concern for one another.
Continuous Support
Consider a buddy who is present not only during happy times but also during difficult times. This type of friend is unconcerned about changing circumstances or personal gain. They provide their presence, encouragement, and steadfast support.
Jesus expresses the core of such friendship in John 15:13 (NIV): “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. This selfless affection serves as the foundation for a lasting connection.
Journeys Together
Consider a friend you’ve shared many stages of life with—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. This shared experience forges a link that extends beyond surface-level exchanges. The value of companionship is brilliantly captured in Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 (NIV): “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”
A friend who sticks closer than a brother is someone who goes beside us through life’s ups and downs, lending a solid hand and an ear to listen.
A Mirror of God’s Love
As a symbol of God’s love for us, consider the buddy who sticks closer than a brother. God Himself offers an unbroken, unchanging, and everlasting companionship. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” says the Bible in Romans 8:38–39.
God’s love is the ultimate paradigm of true friendship—a love that is not conditional but remains faithful regardless of what happens.
Conclusion: Value true friendship.
A friend who sticks closer to you than a sibling is a treasure to be treasured. This type of friendship is founded on love, trust, and mutual care rather than convenience or shared interests. May we seek to be that sort of friend to others in our lives, just as God offers us His unfailing love.
In a world where relationships can be fleeting, let us create friendships that will endure. Let us be the sort of friends who are present in both joy and sadness, who offer unconditional support, and who mirror God’s unfailing love. We are reminded of the beauty of true friendship, which clings closer than a brother, as we welcome and cherish these unique and valuable ties.
God
The Just God

The Just God: The Divine Balance of Justice and Mercy
The concept of justice is intertwined with the fabric of human society. We seek justice, responsibility, and reparation for wrongs done. But have you ever pondered a God who is not only just but also perfectly just? The Just God is a lighthouse of truth and righteousness, providing a profound awareness of justice and kindness that transcends human comprehension.
Justice in Pursuit
Consider a world where wrongdoers go unpunished and the disadvantaged have no recourse. The pursuit of justice is a natural human goal that reflects a feeling of rightness and order. And if we as humans value justice, how much more should the Creator of the universe, who is completely just?
According to Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV), “He is the rock; his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. He is a loyal God who does no wrong, who is straight and just. This verse reveals God’s character, which is characterized by unwavering justice.
Justice and Mercy in Balance
Consider yourself in front of a judge who holds you accountable for every action and decision you make. Imagine that same judge showing mercy and giving you a second opportunity despite the evidence against you. The just God is kind as well as just.
This delicate balance is captured in Psalm 103:10–11 (NIV): “He does not treat us as our sins deserve, nor does He repay us according to our iniquities. For his love for people who fear him is as high as the skies are above the earth. God’s justice is balanced by his unending love and kindness.
The Redemption of Justice
Consider a debt that you will never be able to repay—a debt of mistakes and wrongs that weigh heavy on your soul. In His perfect justice, the just God provides a solution. God provides a mechanism for justice to be served and redemption to be offered through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” says Romans 3:23–24 (NIV), “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. This is an example of justice being met via the redemptive act of Christ’s sacrifice.
A Call to Justice
Consider a society in which justice is not simply a notion but a way of life. In our interactions with others, the just God calls us to exemplify justice. Micah 6:8 (NIV) states unequivocally, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. What does the Lord expect of you? Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
Living justly entails treating people with fairness, compassion, and respect, as the character of the just God requires.
Finishing: Adoring the Just God
The Just God asks us to comprehend the breadth of His justice—a justice that supports truth, requires accountability, and strikes a balance between mercy and justice. God’s justice and mercy merge in the person of Jesus Christ, offering us redemption and restoration.
May we turn to the just God as our ultimate standard as we traverse a world that frequently grapples with issues of fairness. May we seek His wisdom and counsel in order to live justly and treat others with love and justice. We find not only a paradigm of perfect justice but also an invitation to experience the transformative power of His kindness when we embrace the Just God.
God
The Pleasure of Serving Others: A Pathway to Achievement

The Pleasure of Serving Others: A Highway to Contentment
Have you ever ever felt the nice and cozy glow that effects from lending a serving to hand to a stranger, the enjoyment that lasts for days after the act of kindness? That emotion offers a way of the pride of serving to others. The straightforward act of serving to can give us a sense of function and pleasure in contrast to the rest in a society that incessantly pushes us to place our consideration on ourselves.
The Want to Serve
Believe a society the place everybody labored to fortify the lives of people of their instant neighborhood. The need to lend a serving to hand, proportion a load, and supply comfort is on the core of carrier. The instance used to be established through Jesus Himself when he stated, “For even the Son of Guy didn’t come to be served, however to serve, and to provide his lifestyles as a ransom for plenty of.” (NIV, Mark 10:45)
Serving others is extra than just a nice deed; it is a way to emulate the compassion and love that Christ proven for us.
Discovering Pleasure in Selfless Giving
Believe spending time with the aged or going to a neighborhood refuge to hear their stories and cause them to really feel essential. Those tiny acts of kindness won’t appear to be a lot, however they be capable to make any person’s day higher, create relationships, and toughen a sense of group.
A better feeling of pleasure emerges after we set aside our personal issues and be aware of the wishes of others. The Bible admonishes us, “Every of you can use no matter present you’ve gotten won to serve others, as trustworthy stewards of God’s grace in its more than a few paperwork.” (NIV) 1 Peter 4:10 We specific the particular talents God has given us through serving others, and it’s in those deeds of carrier that we discover authentic pleasure.
Have an effect on Unmeasurable
Take into consideration the impact if all of us realized to experience serving to others. If we take a bit spoil from our tense schedules to lend a hand a neighbor, supply a sympathetic ear, or donate cash to a reason we reinforce. Small acts of kindness have the facility to unfold, sparking a sequence response of generosity and optimistic exchange.
In step with the NIV translation of Matthew 25:40, Jesus stated, “Actually I inform you, no matter you probably did for this sort of least of those brothers and sisters of mine, you probably did for me.” No longer simplest can we fortify the lives of other folks we serve, however we additionally perform Jesus’ command to like and deal with the ones round us.
Development Relationships and Connections
Believe the sensation of camaraderie that comes from cooperating with others to reach a shared purpose. Folks come in combination via carrier, growing ties and friendships that differently won’t have took place. It serves as a reminder that we’re all part of a broader group, and that group would possibly take pleasure in the acts we do.
Serving others permits us to peer the arena from many angles and to realize the demanding situations and victories of other folks round us. Our lives are enriched and {our relationships} are deepened through this sensitivity.
Conclusion: Discovering Contentment Via Carrier
Every people has a skill that is able to be opened: the pleasure of serving to others. It serves as a reminder that our lives are meant to be about extra than just our personal pursuits; they’re an opportunity to fortify the lives of others.
Let’s thus embody the pride of serving to others, if it is by means of deeds of kindness, volunteering, or simply being conscious about their wishes. The easy act of serving would possibly supply mild and hope in a global that every so often turns out overwhelming. As we emulate Christ and prolong ourselves in love, we no longer simplest exchange the lives of others but additionally revel in a deep feeling of success and enjoyment that overflows into our personal hearts.
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