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Interview on The Janet Mefferd Show pertaining to the sexual abuse of children

On Monday, I had an opportunity to speak with Christian Talk-show host, Janet Mefferd, about the resolution against the sexual abuse of children passed at this year's Southern Baptist Convention. For those of you who did not listen in, below is the brief interview¹:

  

As I indicated in the interview² I have no plans to allow this issue to drop. Already, I have verbal interest or commitment from pastors or churchmen/churchwomen in several states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and of course Georgia to present either the same resolution against the sexual abuse of children we passed at the Southern Baptist Convention or even penning a stronger one for state conventions to consider. Southern Baptists must speak both boldly and imminently on an issue which affects so significantly the protection of those whom our Lord repeatedly spoke in one way or another, "Suffer little children...to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Mark 10:14).

My goal is to have at least half of our state conventions meeting in 2013, passing either the identical resolution against the sexual abuse of children we adopted in Houston or an even stronger resolution, calling for and encouraging tangible accountability at all levels of convention cooperation.

In addition, I am also in dialog with theologians, SBC statesmen, and policy experts exploring ways Southern Baptists may tangibly (i.e. "officially") redress our policy deficiencies pertaining to protecting our children from the thousands of abusive predators who potentially may mole-up in our churches while we fervently continue guarding our free church heritage. Our mistake seems to have been to cite the "autonomy of the local church" as reasonable reluctance to proactively address this mounting social concern all the while sitting comfortable in Zion. Amos' words sting us hard: "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion...but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph" (6:1, 6).

May our Lord forgive our comfortable apathy and raise up His standard among us.

 

¹the full clip is found on Janet Mefferd's site

²at least one verbal correction in the discussion needs address. I mentioned in the course of conversation I'd never spoken on the floor of the SBC. That was incorrect. Two years ago, I asked a question of the president of Southern seminary, and last year I asked a question of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary president. In my mind I was thinking of arguing for a position as the resolution required and had never done so. Nevertheless, I still spoke on the convention floor. Hence, I offer my deepest apologies to Janet Mefferd and her listeners as well as SBC Tomorrow's readership for the lapse in factual expression.

What Is Wrong With the Young, Restless and Reformed Movement? An Interpretive Essay by Dr. Paul Owen

Below is a solicited essay by Dr. Paul Owen. Dr. Owen is Professor of Greek and Religious Studies at Montreat College in North Carolina, where he has taught since 2001.  Founded in 1916, Montreat College is the only liberal arts college in North Carolina that holds membership in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.  Dr. Owen’s academic articles and book reviews have been published in numerous venues, including the Calvin Theological Journal, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Journal of Biblical Literature, and Journal for the Study of the New Testament. (see a fuller bio at the article's end).

Dr. Owen is an occasional contributor on the comment threads at SBC Tomorrow, and it was his insightful comments on the so-called "young, restless, and reformed" theological trend which occasioned my request he tease his thoughts out further. He did.

Thus, the essay below is a spirited look at what TIME magazine listed in 2010 as one of 10 ideas changing the world right now--New Calvinism. Some will dismiss Dr. Owen's analysis as much too blustery. Others will praise his insight as spot on. Still others may raise suspicions concerning his conclusions since Dr. Owen's theological tradition is rooted in the Episcopal Church (unfortunately, we Baptists are at times prone to consider only Baptist contributions). What one cannot do, however, is ignore his studied, scholarly opinion.

I trust that whether or not one agrees with Dr. Owen, he will receive the respectful response a scholar deserves.