Bullies in the Pulpit
Like playground bullies, Oklahoma Baptist leaders appear to be trying to pick a fight with Mainstream Baptists. Over the last few weeks, the Baptist Messenger, a weekly newspaper with a circulation of more than 94,500, unleashed a combination punch seemingly designed to impugn the reputations of Mainstream Baptists. The first blow, delivered by the state executive director, tried to level us by labeling us as extremists. The second blow, delivered by the pastor of Calvary church in Enid, tried to knock us down by lying about our doctrinal convictions. Unfortunately, no earthly monitor has the power to command these bullies to stop picking on their brothers in Christ.
For the record, neither Mainstream Baptists nor I have any interest in promoting neo-orthodoxy. We claim to be nothing more, and nothing less, than "born again" Christians who affirm the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M) and reject the 2000 BF&M. Maligning the 1963 BF&M as "neo-orthodox" and slandering the reputations of Hershel Hobbs and others, as current SBC leaders have done, is unconscionable. Labeling us as extremists for holding to the 1963 BF&M is conduct unbecoming of an officer of the convention. Diverting attention from our conscientious defense of Hobbs by bearing false witness and publishing falsehoods about the beliefs of Mainstream Baptists is libelous.
Both Anthony Jordan and Steve Williams owe Mainstream Baptists published apologies. We won't hold our breath until we get them, but God might (Matthew 5:21-26).
Bruce Prescott
Executive Director, Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists