To doctrinal liberals and theological leftists, virtually nothing is a “primary issue.” The rise of ecumenism in 20th Century evangelicalism demonstrated that the cardinal doctrine of togetherness takes precedence over the Holy Scriptures on almost every account.
Demonstrating this truism is The Company Man™, Dave Miller, who owns and operates the nearly-dead SBC social justice blog, SBC Voices.
One would think that the doctrine of eternal security is seen as a primary issue to Southern Baptists, as it’s included in the Southern Baptist Convention’s “Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M) 2000.” This document serves as the statement of faith for the 25 thousand or so Southern Baptist churches that actually participate in some fashion in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. The doctrine is specified in Article V (below).
“All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. “
We are repeatedly reminded that the only test of fellowship in the SBC is an agreement with the BF&M2000 (and, as race-baiting feminist pastor Dwight McKissic proves, it doesn’t have to be actual agreement. Even an insincere head-nod will do, as Dave Miller claims “interpretations are tertiary”).
However, Dave Miller claims (on a recent post at the dusty, cob-web encrusted blog) the distinctive SBC belief of Eternal Security is a second-tier issue.
This begs the question; what doctrine is of primary importance to the social justice brigade in the SBC? One would hardly fathom that racial reconciliation isn’t on the list of primary issues to the snowflake faction. Other than that and abuse lamentations, it’s unclear what, if any, doctrine competes in importance.
“The Baptist Faith and Message” is not, as Miller suggests, a statement in regards to what Baptists believe to be secondary issues. It is, in no uncertain terms, a Baptist declaration regarding what Christians believe.
Those who do not support these doctrines may not be anathema per se, but they are on the other side of the line of separation from Baptists. And that line of separation is marked by primary, and not secondary, doctrines.
