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Much has changed since that noon hour 19 years ago, when words calmed the vast torrents of theological warfare. W. A. Criswell is dead. Denominationally speaking, so is Joel Gregory. A new generation of Southern Baptists—many of whom have never heard of Criswell or Gregory—will soon gather in San Antonio. But one thing hasn't changed—the denomination seems to be still at war.

The nature and perfection of Holy Scripture no longer dominates denominational battles. This year, the conflict will be over the issues of Calvinism, private prayer languages, alcoholic beverages, and the integrity of denominational statistics.

The overall impression seems to be that seismic shifts are at work which might change the SBC forever. Some predict the inevitable loss of the denomination. If history is a guide, they are correct. The effects of the Fall seldom enable people—even Christians—to work well together for very long. Pride rears its ugly head and personal agendas quickly choke the life out of good efforts and sanctified innovation.

Yet this could be the Southern Baptist Convention's finest hour if, by God's grace, people of God will rise to remember the heritage of the Southern Baptist Convention. The return to a founding vision once empowered an American President to transcend the trials of the present and press forward toward a reconciled nation. Perhaps such a study of the Baptist past might enable the pastors of the present to press toward the goal of future ministry armed with history's warning that if great humility and prayer do not mark all who perform ministry in the name of Christ, the wall of human arrogance will replace the castle of Christian theology.

The new birth of freedom of which Lincoln spoke could only happen if, as was his wish, the dead who consecrated the killing fields of Gettysburg would be remembered as something more than mere participants in a battle. He desired that they be seen as advancing the cause of the American founding generation who conceived of a nation of liberty and were dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

How much more should the Southern Baptist Convention remember the passion of past leaders as a uniting force dedicated to the divine proposition that all men are born sinners who stand in urgent need of the saving grace of God. Could this be a turning point in the life of the Southern Baptist Convention?

That history is yet to be written.

Douglas Baker served as special assistant to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, as associate pastor of First Baptist, Alexandria, VA, and as the founding editor-in-chief of The Kairos Journal. He is now a writer who lives and works in the Washington DC area.

Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Associated Baptist Press and Baptist Press are covering the SBC meeting in San Antonio.

The original column is cached, but not available on Baptist Press's website.

Previous columns Douglas Baker has written for Baptist Press include "Inerrancy Isn't Enough," "Harry Potter & Sunday School," and "Semper Reformanda: More Than a Phrase."

Bloggers, including Timmy Brister and Travis Hilton, have picked up on the removal of Baker's column.

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June (Web-only) 2007, Vol. 51