MBC enacts ‘no partnership with Acts 29′ rule for church plants
December 11th, 2007Scott Lamb reports on a developing situation in the Missouri Baptist Convention, where the Executive Board has prohibited church plants in partnership with Acts 29 from receiving any money from the MBC.
Scott writes:
Never mind the fact that Acts 29 church plants in Missouri are thriving.
I just wonder where all the church-planting police were 10-15 years ago when I resisted the siren song of Willowcreek and Saddleback, only to have it thrown up in my face by Baby-Booming pastors that I was an arrogant idiot who resisted the work of God in my generation if I didn’t buy into the seeker model.
And I do have to wonder if the MBC will be consistent and pass a reciprocal measure that says they do not want Cooperative Program dollars that come from such churches.
This polarizes the issue of Acts 29 to the point that it is hard to be able to give any critique or praise of the movement at all. To be sure, there is some of both that any movement rightfully deserves. However, a misguided motion like this just makes the battle lines get all laid down in all the wrong places.
I actually attended an Acts 29 church planting training event.
I found no real problems with their approach on the major doctrinal issues.
From what I have come to understand, (I was saved in an MBC church, attended Southwest Baptist University, and pastored and MBC church in the late 80’s), the MBC has some major political problems stemming from serious doctrinal error of which this Acts 29 decision is merely a symptom.
the MBC has some major political problems stemming from serious doctrinal error of which this Acts 29 decision is merely a symptom.
Interesting, Tony. I’d be curious to see what those issues are, if you have that info?
Thanks.
Hi Tony,
It’s been awhile…but greetings brother and Merry Christmas!
Working with several church planters who are part of the A29 network and even my own pastor who is VP of A29, I don’t know of any “serious doctrinal error” so I would be interested in knowing what you have discovered.
Blessings to you, your family, and church
Darren
Tim,
Is this really just about the alcohol issue or are there really deeper issues? The experience that I’ve had in my fellowship is that issues like alcohol, worship style etc. are just fig leaf issues that keep us from having real substantive conversations about our differences.
Like the saying goes, “Great minds talk about ideas, average minds talk about events and small minds talk about people.”
I don’t know anything about the Acts29 organization but after just a cursory viewing of their doctrinal statement, I think I’m pretty sure why the MBC has taken the stand that it has.
Statement #4 under their doctrinal statement:
“We are reformed”.
Hi Nick…back in the late 80’s / early 90’s there was something of a “battle for the Bible” in the MBC. Several took their toys and ran to the CBF. There was a lot of political posturing in the wake of that. I believe that when you begin questioning the integrity of God’s Word nothing good will result.
Hey Darren…maybe I wasn’t clear. The “serious doctrinal error” statement was made in regard to the MBC, not Acts 29. What I meant to say was that the doctrinal error within the MBC will ultimately lead to decisions like the one made in regard to the state convention’s ties to groups like Acts 29. Hope that clears it up some.
Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!
ahhh …ok… got you Tony, my bad
Have a great day in the Lord bro!