Southern Baptist Preachers in the news!

Yep, we can.. with all their flaws they are still better than IFBs!

 

Hey Matt? how many are still in the ministry? Did their church seek to hide what they did? (some do, they say stuff like "we are standing behind our preacher until the matter is fully investigated" and then somehow it all just goes awaaaay)

What do you see in the SBC that could be improved to prevent this from happening again?

See, it doesn't bother me or make me angry that you point out flaws in my chosen flavor of Baptist. Instead it makes me wonder what could have been done differently in order to prevent the sin before it was committed.

 

A few thoughts...

In most of the examples you gave, the churches did a background check, which came back clean.

In most all the examples above, the church suspended or terminated the employee, and notified authorities immediately. (there were a couple of examples that didn't say; none of the churches blindly stood behind the accused).

In one of the examples--the Brookfield case--I saw no evidence or documentation that the church was SBC. Please show that he was SBC; otherwise, this comparison is invalid.

So...it seems to me, that the churches handled a horrible situation as well as they could (from all the info I have). Compared with some of the IFB cases you are apparently defending, it would appear your contention falls short.

 

The other side of the coin is, you won't find Satan working in the dead churches as they are already dead. Satan does his best work in churches that are moving along for the Lord.

It's certainly a shame these men succumbed to the lust of the flesh such as they did.

 

Why this attack? Have SB's ever claimed to be perfect?

 

Well, I'm glad you said this. I thought you were just trying to run down the Southern Baptists.

 

Dave Hyles - predator, serial adulterer
Ray Batema - adulterer, ran off with church funds
Truman Dollar - sodomy, when exposed blew his brains out
Bob Gray - pedophile (26 counts)
Jack Hyles - adulterer, homewrecker

Dr Bob, I was totally "unaware" of this information. Makes me want to up-chuck! I just wonder how many lives were twisted, torn, ruined or side-tracked because of these men? Absolutely amazing and totally unacceptable. A disgrace.

 

You know, I remember a lot of these guys. I still get the SOL paper.

Makes me wonder (in all cases including the ones in the OP) how did all these men make it to such a position of authority in the church while at the very same time they were committing such gross sin? How did/do people miss that?

 

Makes you afraid to go to Church on Sunday doesnt it!

 

Please Matt. I'd like to hear your conclusions. Please.

Here is my question to you and to everybody else: how is Matt Wade's post any different than if I were to post 8 or 9 links of stories that showed crimes committed by <insert a particular race here> and then say something as idiotic as "Based on the above I think we can make some conclusions about <insert a particular race here> ????

Thanks, Matt Wade. You have made my day.

Edit: unless you were painting with a broad brush to expose the stupidity of painting with broad brushes. If that is the case, then I retract my statement above and say "well played, Batman. Well played."

 

The only conclusion I could make about SBC churches from that would be that, due to the fallen and depraved nature of man, SBC churches must choose men who, by default, are prone to sin.

While each of these offenses are serious and should be dealt with, both by law enforcement and by the church, I find the idea of exploiting the sins of these men (and by extension, the pain of their victims) in order to make a political point, equally disturbing.

While my gut reaction is to say, "Child porn? String him up!" "Sexual assault? Let's take him out into the woods and bury him!", the Holy Spirit working in me reminds me of what I am, where I was when God found me, and what I am capable of without God's restraining hand on my life.

You seem to be exploiting these things to make a point about your dislike for the SBC but the truth is, that as Christians, we should have three concerns:

1. Healing for the victims
2. Justice for the perpetrators
3. Restoration of brothers in Christ

If all you would do is to exploit these terrible acts while ignoring these three concerns, then I would have to question the spirit that causes you to bring these things up.

 

Are the OP men officers of the SBC?

Contrast the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International, for example.

In the last decade, the leadership of the FBFI has been decimated by scandals of one sort or another.

Alcohol abuse ended one long-time officer's tenure.

For another, it was massage parlors

Currently, the FBFI is without a chairman, due to his church dismissing him late last year after discovering his financial shenenigans with Christian school association dues monies[!].

Next in line? Oops, the current FBFI vice chairman is the preacher exposed on the 20/20 broadcast.

I could go on.

It's disgusting and as Dr. Bob said, it goes to the highest level in some of these IFB groups.

 

does anyone know if there has been any egregious behavior by Reformed Baptists or any PB Churches?

 

Wait a minute. Someone was fired for getting a massage? Or is the implication one of solicting prostit*tion?

Now there's an example of a broad brush. There are many good and ethical massage therapists out that do not engage in anything untoward. But they stuggle against the perception that "something untoward" is going on.