Live the Trinity

Most years I do not attend. But this year we came for two primary reasons:

1. I have been asked to participate in a panel on ministry with internationals and
2. A chance to visit a member of the congregation who has been here for 6 months undergoing treatment at M. D. Anderson and a third reason which is that
3. This year it is in Houston which is the large city nearest Baton Rouge

Although there is much that is good in and about Cooperative Baptist Fellowship there are reasons why I am finding it more difficult to identify with that organization. For many years I have not regarded myself as Southern Baptist because it is far too strict and conservative. But increasingly…

The last few years I have been reading and thinking more about the importance of sound theology. Not doctrine for the sake of doctrine – but rather sound theology which works and works because it is sound theology. This was particularly clear in The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church by Vladimir Lossky. Lossky articulates clearly why sound theology matters. Because if there is a goal (or purpose) of the Christian faith it is important that one’s theology allows and/or supports that goal. If your theology is broken – then the goal becomes difficult if not impossible. (Lossky describes the goal/purpose as “union with God”.)

My concern is that in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship being “missional” has taken front and center stage to such an extent that it is unclear if they have a theology. And/or if there is a theological framework which allows and/or supports their “missional” emphasis. I remember when my fine classmate Rick Bennett – who works for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship – at a retreat for clergy said that they have two goals or “twin emphases”. Spiritual formation and missions (which they often articulate in terms of being missional or missional practice).

Fair enough. But what do we mean by spiritual formation? And in what theological framework do we understand the mission of the Christian church? I think it is too simple even simplistic to say “we are all about Jesus Christ and being the presence of Christ in the world”. That is why I understand spiritual formation and missions within the theological framework of the Holy Trinity. Our Orthodox Christian friends understand this very well.

It was good to see old classmates – especially those who have been serving faithfully as career missionaries and often in challenging contexts. This is when Cooperative Baptist Fellowship tends to shine – its career missionaries. People of prayer and theological conviction and passionate participation in the work of the kingdom of God.

Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is liberal or heretical or a Bad Thing(tm). Just that at times it feels uncomfortably “bland and mushy”. Perhaps and understandably in reaction to the excesses of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The above must seem rather critical of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. That is not my intent. But rather to share why increasingly I feel – oh dear there is that word – uncomfortable and even dissatisfied when I attend such events. It is like we are trying to live in a beautiful palace – that is genuinely beautiful – made or jello or even made of cloud.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 and is filed under Christianity, Personal, Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.