by Tim Bonney » Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:15 am
William, how do you avoid this coming down to its most absurd conclusion, that doctrine is decided by whomever has the money, gives the money, and controls the money?
Since Baptists have no official church law or doctrine the answer is that professors teach doctrines based on what the people who give the money believe? This seems contradictory to what conservative Christians always tell me they believe, "we should teach what the Bible says no matter what people say." Apparently that doesn't carry over to "no matter what people give."
I don't really think this is what you mean but it appears to me that the unavoidable conclusion of what you are saying is the money determines doctrine.
What I think you may mean is that Southern Baptists should get to determine what doctrines are taught in SBC seminaries. I can only see one way to do that with integrity, and that would be for the SBC to adopt official doctrinal guidelines that would be binding on pastors and churches, and church members as well as seminary professors.
But what you are appearing to say is the Southern Baptist can believe whatever they want, SBC pastors can believe and teach whatever they want, but if people are giving money then the money trumps all.