Christ the Head
“Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.”
Today’s Text: 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
As the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting approaches, the controversy over whether women can hold the office of “pastor” in a church is coming to a head once again. Albert Mohler, the President of Southern Seminary, has been leading the charge for a bylaw amendment to the SBC constitution that would explicitly restrict the office of “pastor” in any church to men only. Language to that effect is already in the Baptist Faith and Message.
Al Mohler is, without a doubt, one of the most influential voices in the SBC. And he is undoubtedly incredibly smart. And it is his influence and intelligence that makes it very difficult for you average pastor, like myself, to express any dissension of any of his opinions without an army of Mohler idolizers rallying to destroy the dissenter. Al Mohler wouldn’t have to lift a finger. And he knows that.
Recently, Al Mohler made an appeal on his YouTube channel concerning the bylaw amendment that he and his army are proposing. Around the 2:35 mark, he makes an appeal for the Credentials Committee of the SBC “to operate very efficiently, clearly, and without hesitation in matters that relate to this issue of Baptist conviction.”
The Credentials Committee has the authority to evaluate whether any church in the SBC satisfies the requirements for being a member church. Basically, Mohler is threatening the Credentials Committee if they do not “disfellowship” (that is, excommunicate) every church that has a woman in any office of “pastor,” because he knows that he has that kind of influence and reach.
Mohler goes on to state what is obvious. Ultimately, the decision lies with the messengers (the representatives) of the SBC churches. He says that every church has the right to make their appeal before the messengers at the annual meeting, if they are being targeted for disfellowship. And he goes on to say, “I think even recent evidence indicates the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention are just really competent to deal with that pretty efficiently.” He is referring to the recent disfellowshipping of Saddleback and other churches from the SBC.
And then, here is the part that makes me cringe a bit. He says, threateningly, “I also think that once the message is sent, the message will be received.” The reason I cringe is that Al Mohler has tried on numerous occasions to become the President of the SBC, without success. He never even came close. Obviously, without interviewing everyone who voted against him (like myself), we cannot know for sure why he failed. But my simple observation is that the considerable majority of the SBC churches just did not appreciate his divisive rhetoric and his zeal to purge the SBC of churches that do not wholeheartedly agree with how he interprets the Bible.
The message was sent to him, but apparently he didn’t receive the message. Instead, he has continued his campaign to purge the SBC of moderate voices that oppose his conservative voice.
The thing is, Mohler is brilliant. He knows that there is nuance to the issue. Because there are other brilliant scholars who point out the nuances. Apparently, he has chosen to ignore those voices. Or maybe he heard those voices and simply chooses to stifle those voice with his own robust and influential voice.
And by the way, it is not clear whether GCC would pass Mohler’s test, since we use the English word “pastor” to refer to our female staff, even if that may not be their official title.
Obviously, I’m a nobody, and Al Mohler is a somebody. I’m not as accomplished or educated or polished or influential as he is. I don’t have his pedigree—not by a long shot. But with the tiny little voice that I have, I will say that I disagree with his understanding of the full counsel of Scripture on this matter in key ways. And I think his proposal, if passed, would not be good for the SBC.
Whatever the case, I am 1000% positive that Moher and I will agree that Christ is the Head.
Father, You know all things. We are all limited in our understanding, even the smartest and brightest of us. In the end, we know that Your opinion is the only thing that matters, and You will make Your opinion known by Your sovereign hand. If I am wrong, I accept that I am wrong, and I pray that You would give me deeper understanding so that I may be more effective as Your servant. If I am right, let that opinion be manifested through the messengers this year. But I know also that our being right or wrong is not what matters to You. Bring peace to Your church and Your SBC. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
