by William Thornton » Mon Jun 20, 2011 3:43 pm
Peter Lumpkins is a very decent guy who thinks deeply about a number of SBC issues. What he thinks on this was the subject of his blog well prior to the convention.
So, he gets to a mic and asks a question publicly of Al Mohler, same question basically that he has blogged about. Sure, others would have handled it differently. Mohler answers. I don't see a big deal out of that.
Although I was not present, I viewed the video and blogged:
I may not buy all of Peter's stuff (I don't even buy all of my own stuff at times) but I hate to see the level of rancor and ridicule that has been heaped on him. I thought that the usually gracious ("I am always gracious" he would say, almost as a mantra) Wade Burleson overreacted in the way he expressed his disagreement with Peter, an old nemesis. With some reflection, I'd bet he would handle it differently. I don't fault him for pointing his guns at what he sees as a danger to the SBC.
Others, some anonymous, have slapped Peter for his past record as if that has anything to do with this issue and a low blow, IMO. Folks have even ridiculed the way he was dressed.
We get to ask entity leaders questions at these meetings. He asked a fair, if not succinct, question. Mohler answered it.
Would anyone maintain that SBCers have not exhibited unlovely behavior and speech towards homosexuals? I think not. Have all SBCers "lied"? No, but doesn't Mohler get some homiletic license in his words? Sure. "Form of homophobia"? The "H" word is so loose and a clobber word in itself; however, some among us would surely be guilty.
We will see where this goes, but I sincerely hope that we get quickly past the ad hominems that have saturated commentary on this for the past few days.
Some SBC leader might start by explaining exactly why we codify the sin of homosexuality in our constitution and by laws and not murder, adultery, pedophilia, or gluttony. That point wasn't lost on Burleson .
Someone put a motion on the floor to repeal that little item and watch the apoplectic messengers stack up at the mics, veins a-popping. Bet we would see some homophobia then, however narrowly you might define it.
My stray thoughts on SBC stuff may be found at my blog,