Comments on: Soul Freedom and the New Baptist Covenant http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/2007/11/soul-freedom-and-the-new-baptist-covenant.html News & Commentary About All Things Baptist Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:13:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Greg http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/2007/11/soul-freedom-and-the-new-baptist-covenant.html#comment-1631 Greg Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:28:00 +0000 http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/?p=346#comment-1631 Big Daddy Weave,<br/><br/>I read your complete article in the actual newsletter. Perhaps it is fair enough that only bodies affiliated with the North American Baptist Fellowship are invited to the New Baptist Covenant convergence in January. It is my understanding, however, that the NABF has denied membership to the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America and the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists – both progressive and inclusive Baptist bodies. Therefore, both the BPFNA and AWAB are not invited to this alleged “display of Baptist unity.” Sounds to me like even we progressive Baptists have yet to live into an authentic gospel of inclusion, and yet to practice what we preach about soul competency and freedom of individual conscience. When it comes to the inclusion of God’s lesbian and gay children – well, even many progessive Baptists are just not there yet.<br/><br/>Greg<br/><a HREF="http://blog.greggriffey.net" REL="nofollow">blog.greggriffey.net</a> Big Daddy Weave,

I read your complete article in the actual newsletter. Perhaps it is fair enough that only bodies affiliated with the North American Baptist Fellowship are invited to the New Baptist Covenant convergence in January. It is my understanding, however, that the NABF has denied membership to the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America and the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists – both progressive and inclusive Baptist bodies. Therefore, both the BPFNA and AWAB are not invited to this alleged “display of Baptist unity.” Sounds to me like even we progressive Baptists have yet to live into an authentic gospel of inclusion, and yet to practice what we preach about soul competency and freedom of individual conscience. When it comes to the inclusion of God’s lesbian and gay children – well, even many progessive Baptists are just not there yet.

Greg
blog.greggriffey.net

]]> By: D.R. http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/2007/11/soul-freedom-and-the-new-baptist-covenant.html#comment-1622 D.R. Sat, 01 Dec 2007 17:53:00 +0000 http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/?p=346#comment-1622 Thanks Dr. Jonas, I will go and check those out. Thanks Dr. Jonas, I will go and check those out.

]]> By: Chuck http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/2007/11/soul-freedom-and-the-new-baptist-covenant.html#comment-1621 Chuck Sat, 01 Dec 2007 13:56:00 +0000 http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/?p=346#comment-1621 Big Daddy and D.R.,<br/><br/>According to Herschel Hobbs, on p. 10 of his commentary book "The Baptist Faith and Message" (1963 version for you, Big Daddy), one thing the doctrine never meant was that one could interpret Scripture and believe just any way he chooses, and still be Baptist. The collective conscience of believers through the years, and sound interpretive principles aren't to be ignored or violated.<br/><br/>When I pointed this out to a certain NewBapCov blogger who was defending Jimmy Carter's reported pluralistic views on the grounds of soul competency--"That's between him and God,"--he didn't allow my comment.<br/><br/>Must have hit a nerve. Big Daddy and D.R.,

According to Herschel Hobbs, on p. 10 of his commentary book “The Baptist Faith and Message” (1963 version for you, Big Daddy), one thing the doctrine never meant was that one could interpret Scripture and believe just any way he chooses, and still be Baptist. The collective conscience of believers through the years, and sound interpretive principles aren’t to be ignored or violated.

When I pointed this out to a certain NewBapCov blogger who was defending Jimmy Carter’s reported pluralistic views on the grounds of soul competency–”That’s between him and God,”–he didn’t allow my comment.

Must have hit a nerve.

]]> By: Dr. Glenn Jonas http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/2007/11/soul-freedom-and-the-new-baptist-covenant.html#comment-1620 Dr. Glenn Jonas Sat, 01 Dec 2007 04:16:00 +0000 http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/?p=346#comment-1620 E.Y. Mullins' "Axioms of Religion" is a good place to start for defining soul freedom. Then, pick up a copy of Walter Shurden's "The Baptist Identity: Four Fragile Freedoms." Those two should give you a good dose of what soul freedom means to the Baptist tradition. E.Y. Mullins’ “Axioms of Religion” is a good place to start for defining soul freedom. Then, pick up a copy of Walter Shurden’s “The Baptist Identity: Four Fragile Freedoms.” Those two should give you a good dose of what soul freedom means to the Baptist tradition.

]]> By: D.R. http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/2007/11/soul-freedom-and-the-new-baptist-covenant.html#comment-1616 D.R. Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:58:00 +0000 http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/?p=346#comment-1616 The biggest problem I have with the idea of "soul competency" or "soul freedom" is that I have never seen it definitively defined, though I have seen it misused. Historically, it seems to be the companion to the Reformation idea of the "priesthood of all believers", just as "once-saved-always-saved" is the Baptist companion to the Reformation teaching of the Perseverance of the Saints.<br/><br/>So, it might be helpful to define the term by pointing to Scripture and history as examples of the doctrine and indicating just exactly how you and others think that it has been lost. It seems you and other moderate Baptists view the SBC as having lost this idea, but I have never seen this adequately discussed. Even if you could point to an article on the internet or a book that really discusses this, it would be helpful. The biggest problem I have with the idea of “soul competency” or “soul freedom” is that I have never seen it definitively defined, though I have seen it misused. Historically, it seems to be the companion to the Reformation idea of the “priesthood of all believers”, just as “once-saved-always-saved” is the Baptist companion to the Reformation teaching of the Perseverance of the Saints.

So, it might be helpful to define the term by pointing to Scripture and history as examples of the doctrine and indicating just exactly how you and others think that it has been lost. It seems you and other moderate Baptists view the SBC as having lost this idea, but I have never seen this adequately discussed. Even if you could point to an article on the internet or a book that really discusses this, it would be helpful.

]]> By: foxofbama http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/2007/11/soul-freedom-and-the-new-baptist-covenant.html#comment-1615 foxofbama Thu, 29 Nov 2007 03:03:00 +0000 http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/?p=346#comment-1615 Congrats: Google up Dorrien for great pieces in Century on Rausch; two pieces one back in May and another just last week.<br/> <br/>And you and Hankins will want to take a close look at Wills on Rausch in American Christianities.<br/> Check my comment in the Gushee blog, and my challenge to him for Atlanta on the politics of Abortion Congrats: Google up Dorrien for great pieces in Century on Rausch; two pieces one back in May and another just last week.

And you and Hankins will want to take a close look at Wills on Rausch in American Christianities.
Check my comment in the Gushee blog, and my challenge to him for Atlanta on the politics of Abortion

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