The Trouble With Lap-Dogs
As of this moment Dr. Jerry Rankin is president of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is a gracious man with an objective and goal of reaching lost people all over the world with the gospel. He is not self-serving and does not seem to have a burning desire to manipulate the actions and day-to-day operations of other Boards, Agencies and Institutions of the SBC as do certain other well known individuals.
With the new guidelines in place at the IMB, trustee Ken Cademartori is quoted by ABP as having said something very interesting and revealing:
"WHEN WE BECOME TRUSTEES, WE GIVE UP SOME THINGS, INCLUDING THE FREEDOM TO SPEAK AGAINST THE BOARD. IF A TRUSTEE WANTS TO SPEAK PUBLICLY AGAINST AN IMB ACTION HE OR SHE CAN RESIGN."
If Greg Warner quoted Mr. Cademartori correctly, the IMB is in great jeopardy.
There will come a time when Dr. Rankin is no longer President of the IMB. When he leaves, one who "knows not Joseph," but only knows self, his buddies, and his own personal desire to become a demagogue may either be put into the presidency or, who knows, may leave the presidency of another institution and go to a new throne more suitable to the ego. (It has happened in the past.)
If the above does happen, the stage is set for chaos at the IMB. The new, would be, demagogue will select trustees that have passed the "lap dog" test. He will then surround himself with little lap dogs that do tricks for doggie treats such as: large churches, teaching positions, DOM positions, or "peachy" preaching opportunities at Pastor's Conferences and Conventions.
If one of the "lap dogs" suddenly has a genetic, internal change and becomes a Burelson bred Doberman of righteousness and challenges the demagogue, he will not last long. He will first be isolated and caged, given no more "neat treats" and finally banished to the dog pound to be put to sleep (unless the Blog Doberman Rescue Unit steps in).
If this scenario plays out we should erect a sign in the "kennel yard" at the IMB in Richmond:
TRICKY LITTLE LAP DOGS WELCOME. RIGHTEOUS DOBERMANS NOT PERMITTED, BUT PLEASE SEND MONEY. LABS ARE WELCOME ANYTIME.
A better sign may simply be: ICHABOD
I realize that this little analogy is sarcastic and cynical, it is my goal for it to be so. It is my desire that all of us understand how imperative it is for us to go to GREENSBORO and stand in unity against what has happened at the IMB. When we get there sarcasm and cynicism must be laid aside because we need to do a righteous work. We need to speak the truth in love but SPEAK TRUTH WITH NO FEAR.
If you are convinced in your heart that what has happened at the IMB and in other situations within the SBC is wrong then I implore you to come to Greensboro armed with truth, love and a pure heart filled with pure motivation and help us. God will bless us and give us victory.
I know you are praying and I ask you to pray more fervently and challenge those you know to pray. As one good brother has stated on another blog silence is the weapon used by those in power now.
WE DO NOT WANT TO BE IN POWER. That is where we failed in the past. WE WANT GOD TO BE IN POWER AND TO EMPOWER. Therefore do not be silent toward God. Pray, Pray and Pray again. Do not be silent toward your brothers and sisters. Tell them the truth. Bring them to Greensboro.
SEE YOU IN GREENSBORO,
Villa Rica
posted by Villa Rica at 7:28 AM
2 Comments:
I noticed you have submitted this post as a comment on more than one blog. I wonder if you would care to interact with what I have said in my most recent post, IMB Trustees and Public Criticism.
Brother Wes,
Let me begin by saying that I rest my statements basically upon the fact that the effort to remove Jerry Rankin is several years old. The situation at the IMB has more to do with that than to do with Wade and his blog.
If a statement is true it will stand as truth no matter if it comes from ABP, BP or The Washington Post. Let me also state that I know Greg Warner and I can understand your concern about things reported by ABP.
Now my effort to give a brief response to your thoughtful piece entitled IMB TRUSTEES AND PUBLIC CRITICISM.
A minority report is to be public. That is why it is a report and it is given in a plenary session.In our case a public report would be to the entire Convention by default due to our Charter, Constitution, Bylaws, and Financial Plan.
To compare a church to the SBC is not a good analogy in my opinion. The SBC is not a church. IT is a large number of churchs working together for a common goal within prescribed boundaries. ( I got that from a book entitled: ROPE OF SAND STRENGTH OF STEEL).
Trustees are elected to Boards by and from the Convention. Their service is to represent the Convention to the Board. Therefore the whole Convention has a vested interest in knowing what ITS trustees are doing.
AS far as the world knowing what is going on in the SBC is concerned? Well, the world has always known the "dirty laundry" of the church, yet, the Lord still uses us and people are still getting saved. I know you already know this, but it is Christ that saves and not churchs or the SBC. If salvation counted on the pitiful history of the church, a church or the SBC we would all be lost that were born after the end of the first century A.D.
Let me again say I know you have this knowledge and do not need me to school you on church history. I am just trying to make my point the best way I can.
Also, let me say that I believe the problems that have arisen at the IMB are only symtoms of terrible systemic problems within the whole Convention.
May God richly bless you, your family, and your church as you labor in the Lord's vineyards to bring people to Christ.
Villa Rica
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