Context is CrucialBy David Flick Moderator: BaptistLife.Com Discussion Forums former Director of Missions, Grady Association in Oklahoma Context is crucial. Context is crucial whether it is interpreting the Bible, reading a news story, or hearing a sermon. Statements can be taken out of context and misinterpreted. Statements can be taken within their contexts and be understood clearly and correctly. Southern Baptists are noted for taking things out of context. They are also noted for not recognizing heresy when it occurs within the contexts of sermons and debates. The most notable instance where a quote was taken out of context was during debate about the Bible at the 2000 Southern Baptist Convention. A statement in a debate over the Bible was taken out of context and the SBC fundamentalists went wild. Anthony Sizemore, spoke a single phrase about the Bible, and was greeted with "audible gasps" of shock and dismay for what he said. Never mind that the phrase he spoke was taken completely out of context. Todd Starnes, of the Baptist Press, lifted the quote out of its context and wrote an article which was completely misleading to Southern Baptists. He was, of course, picking up on the "shock" of diehard inerrantists in the denomination. The harmless comment, taken out of its context was, "... the Bible is just a book." In an article titled, "6 words: 'defining moment' between conservative & moderate Baptists," which appeared in the June 21, 2000 issue of BP, Starnes wrote:
Misleading as it was, Starnes succeeded in joining the fundamentalist leadership to lead Southern Baptists to believe that Anthony Sizemore was speaking heresy. Such was not the case, but Starnes' article, together with the vocal fundamentalists, used the phrase to frighten Southern Baptists into thinking that liberalism was sweeping the convention. Many Southern Baptists will believe anything that simply sounds bad. They fall for the lies told about moderates and conservatives. They claim that moderate and conservative Southern Baptists "don't believe the Bible" because they say it is "just a book." Never mind the fact the phrase was taken blatantly out of its context . Within seconds after he made the statement, the fundamentalists jumped on Anthony Sizemore, like ducks on junebugs. And they seized the moment to multiply lies upon lies about what he believed. Taken in context, Sizemore's statement was harmless but meaningful. His argument was that the Bible is not synonymous with Deity and does not belong on the level of the Trinity. The Baptist Faith & Message of 2000 had elevated the Bible to Deity status by saying that it is the very "Revelation of God." In reality, the new statement of faith elevated the Bible to a status above Jesus Christ. However, Jesus alone is the true Revelation of God. (John 1:1) Sizemore was attempting to point out to the fundamentalists that the "Bible is just a book," in the sense that it is the "written revelation of God." Nothing more, nothing less. And yet, taken out of context, the fundamentalists believed that Sizemore's comment meant the Bible is a book of no more importance than "Gone With the Wind." Now, a short year later, the president of the Southern Baptist sallies forth with genuine statements of heresy and nobody raises an "audible gasp." There is no defense for Merritt's heresy. Whether taken in context or out of context, Merritt's statements are heresy. Hear three statements from the president's mouth.
One might argue that these three comments are taken out of their contexts here. However, taken either in context and out of context, Merritt was talking about the Bible. It doesn't take a rocket scientist or an intelligent theologian to see that his statements are heresy. Nowhere in the Bible is there a claim that the book itself has salvific qualities. Nowhere in the Bible dose it claim to be, "ALONE," the word of God. Nowhere in the Bible are there claims that a book died on the cross for the sins of mankind. As Sizemore stated, the Bible is indeed just a book. It is a divinely inspired book and is the "record of the revelation of God." As the record of the revelation of Jesus Christ, it contains divine qualities only so far as it tells us who Jesus was and what He came to accomplish for sinful mankind. The Bible cannot save a single soul. Both in context and out of context, that's precisely what James Merritt said in his sermon. So, on one June day in 2000, a single statement was taken out of context and fundamentalists cried "heresy" with audible gasps. On another June day, just one year later, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, complete with a Ph.D. in theology, issues no less than three statements of heresy and there are no "audible gasps" to be heard Does anyone wonder why? Does anyone wonder what Southern Baptists are thinking? Here's one Southern Baptist who is filled with wonderment. . . - June 21, 2001 |
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