It’s NONE of My Business!

I have offended more than one of my good friends by my unwillingness to address certain topics, issues and people through the years. Some have wondered if I lack conviction or am afraid of confrontation. The first is seldom true – I’m a pretty opinionated man, more often described by those who know me as dogmatic (even belligerent) than wishy-washy. The second is a possibility. I do not enjoy conflict and I think the tendency to avoid conflict, while generally a good thing, has been one of my biggest struggles as a pastor.

But I do not believe that my unwillingness to address certain issues is simply a product of fear of conflict or a lack of principles. There is something more at work in my heart than that, a conviction that I believe is important.

Let me be specific. I would prefer to address general trends over specifics, but no one who reads this is going to be confused as to the topic. My thoughts here were spurred by the recent hiring Ergun Caner by Brewton-Parker College in Georgia as their new president and the controversy that has ensued. To say that opinion on Caner is divided would be an understatement. Those who oppose Caner do so with a passion that rivals my feelings when the Red Sox or Patriots win. And Caner’s supporters seem to do so without reservation, forcefully striking back against any who question or criticize him.

I have debated whether putting my opinion of Caner in this post would be productive or counterproductive. I am going to do so, not to open that “Can’er worms” (sorry, horrible pun), but because it will advance the point I am going to make.

I am convinced by the evidence I have seen that Caner created a mythological life-story, rooted not in truth but in expedience. He made a name for himself based on a false story. I think that, at best, he needs to repent of his in and at worst, he is disqualified from public ministry. I am convinced by the evidence Jason Smathers has put forward that Caner’s story was fraudulent.

There, I said it. I realize the irony of sharing my opinion in a post in which I will advocate that it is none of my business to do so. But I have a reason. I do not want those I address (and the bulk of this is directed at Caner’s opponents, those who share my opinion), to think I am simply defending Caner. If he was a candidate for the open position of Baptist Convention of Iowa Executive Director, you would hear me squawk (perhaps not on a blog, but at least to the committee!). If he were being hired by LifeWay or NAMB, I would write about it here. If I was a Georgia Baptist, I would have something to say.

But none of those things are true. Caner and I are not part of the same church. None of my offerings are going to support him or Brewton-Parker College. We are not part of the state convention. Our only connection is that we are part of the same association of autonomous, voluntarily-connected local churches known as the Southern Baptist Convention. That leads me to my thesis.

Ergun Caner’s presidency at Brewton-Parker College is none of my business.

- See more at: http://sbcvoices.com/its-none-of-my-business/#comment-215358

 

From the op further: