News & Views, July 2000 - Edited By E. L. Bynum

Hybels & Schuller Back Together Again - By E. L. Bynum

Franklin's Festival Fuels Folly By Bill Mosley

"... the Bible Is Just a Book." By Todd Starnes

The phrase coined by politicians in past decades, "Trickle down economics," can also be applied to much of religion. There is a trickle down religious effect taking place in our country. There is hardly any area of church organization that is left untouched. The Willowcreek, Saddleback, and Hinn ministry methods of building mega-church enterprises has trickled down and crossed denominational lines. This has increased the flow of once sound churches into the stream of spiritual modernism and social mechanism. Formulas for the advancement of church attendance is aimed at pastors and churches who have quantity in mind with little or no regard to quality.

The trickle down spiritual effect of the Franklin Graham festivals is one of the latest to strike the area of West Texas. No doubt it has and is affecting other regions as well. April 28-30, 2000 was the appointed date for all churches to come together in unity in Texas Tech United Spirit Arena. Preparation was made and the day arrived for the throngs in and around Lubbock, TX, to come out in force and unite all religions together for the "cause of Christ." All "doctrines" were to be left at home and a `one big happy family atmosphere' would prevail. Baptist, Catholics, Methodist, Presbyterians, Lutherans and on and on the conglomeration expanded. It was a religious medley of universalism and ecumenical churchanity.

The trickle down effect of this hodgepodge has surfaced in a small town in West Texas with a population of about 500. An article in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 5/30/00, gave the following account. "Old-fashioned revival attracts faithful, celebrates conversions," read the headline. The pastor of First Baptist (SBC) and the Methodist church of Lasbuddie, Texas, patterned their setting for "revival" after the Franklin Graham Festival in Lubbock. The tent revival began Sunday, May 21 and lasted through Wednesday. The results were "70 plus professions of faith (during the revival)" according to the Methodist pastor. The two churches had a baptismal service the following Sunday night of "about 20 people by immersion in water" in a metal stock tank. This means that 14% of the population of this town made professions of faith and slightly over one third of these were jointly baptized by the Baptist and Methodist pastors.

My comments are sure to draw criticism based on the assumption that I am opposed to the salvation of souls. On the contrary, I rejoice over any soul repenting of sin against God and coming to Christ Jesus by faith. (Acts 20:21) The result of such conversion being a changed life demonstrated in daily living with a desire to know the truth. However, the "gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth," (Rom. 1:16), not the performance of human inventions. "Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. (Eccl. 7:29) This blending of Methodism's works salvation with Baptist's salvation through repentance of sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is an invention of these two pastors. "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." (Rom. 11:5,6)

The evangelist for this united effort was Clark Bosher. Bosher is an evangelist and a member of Aurora Baptist Church in the Rhome/Aurora, TX, area. He is also head basketball coach at Arlington Baptist College. Aurora Baptist is affiliated with the World Baptist Fellowship. (Aurora Baptist Church and the World Baptist Fellowship are both Fundamental Baptist institutions ELB.) Their web site gives this summary: "Evangelist Clark Bosher is one of todays foremost evangelist in the area of teens and college age groups. His `get in your face' style appeals to youth, adults, and children. While using humor he is able to drive home some important facts that have helped change peoples lives for the better. He loves people, and young people want to hang around him." This conforms with the modern methods of much of evangelism today. Spiritual honor gives way to silly humor and carnal appeal replaces a Christian atmosphere. Lost sinners need salvation...not just a change "for the better."

Humor is never an appropriate method of exposing the horribleness of sin. Humor cannot reveal sin to be that which works death to the soul nor will it expose sin as being "exceeding sinful." (Rom. 7:13) Soul damning sin cannot be laughed away and hell is no joke.

It is no surprise that young people "want to hang around him (Evan. Bosher)." Much of today's youth are more accustomed to being entertained into submission than censured for disobedience. Hence, small children who are pacified out of tantrums grow up to be adolescents who will not accept biblical evangelism apart from a mixture of entertainment. This makes sin appear naughty but acceptable. The "that is not nice" disorder develops into an adolescent "it is better not to do that" attitude. "Thou shalt not" has been invalidated by the "everybody is doing it" syndrome. It is indeed true that everyone has "sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23) The consequence being "the wages of sin is death..." for everybody. (Rom. 6:23) This cannot be laughed away. Preaching the shed blood of Jesus Christ is a serious obligation. Although the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that perish (1 Cor. 1:18), foolish preaching is not acceptable to the Lord. "The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly." (Prov. 14:24) "The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness." (Prov. 15:14)

Evan. Bosher said, "...he had nothing to do with the revival or the people coming forward...he just preached a traditional evangelistic sermon on salvation (emp. mine)." Traditional conveys the idea of originality, or the same as that from the beginning. The first Baptist preacher on the scene of church history preached this kind of revival message on salvation: "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 3:2) How many of the 200 nightly visitors to the "old-fashioned revival" in Lasbuddie, TX, would have returned if Bosher had preached the message of John the Baptist? When John saw "many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:..." (Matt. 3:7,8) I feel sure this would have had the same effect at the Lasbuddie stock tank as it did at Jordan 2000 years ago.

The Franklin Graham Festival enlisted entertainer Ricky Skaggs to attract a larger crowd. Skaggs' primary engagements are in bars, nightclubs and casinos. Not to be outdone, the Lasbuddie pastor duo called on Pastor Jeff McCreight and his "music team" of New Life Family Center in Lubbock. This group "performed throughout the revival."

This is not intended to imply that Mr. McCreight follows the style of Ricky Skaggs. Nor that he performs at bars, night clubs and casinos. However, he did perform at the 4th on Broadway's concert finale and fireworks spectacular Friday as reported by LAJ entertainment editor, William Kerns. Mr. Kerns' reported "...a few unpredictable moments added to the fun on stage, most notably the hilarious give-and-take between harmony singer Camille Powe and Jeff McCreight when the latter was performing `Hit the Road Jack.'" Pastor McCreight's obvious ability to entertain was surely beneficial in drawing the "200 people" who attended the "old-fashioned revival(?)" each night. Entertainment will always move the flesh...even to tears. People may shed crocodile tears over some sad scene from Hollywood that couldn't dampen an eyeball over lost sinners doomed to hell. Carnal manifestations often do not outlive the manipulation that stimulated them.

Trickle down eating has become a mighty stream to entice many to Bible Study(?). "Volunteers from the Methodist and Baptist church prepared snacks for those attending the revival." Fasting is out and feasting in at many religious gatherings. The disciples missed the blessing of delivering a lunatic whose father brought him to them for help. Jesus explained, "This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." (Matt. 17:21)

Feasting has become a more regular happening in many churches than Wednesday night prayer meeting. And often replaces the time of prayer request and prayer. If sandwiches are served too long a change in menu will be necessary to get the "faithful" to return.

After missing Jesus and his disciples when they crossed the sea, the multitudes came to Capernaum seeking for Jesus. When they found Him they asked him, "Rabbi, when camest thou hither?" The Lord would answer carnal man today the same as He did those in that day. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled." (John 6:24-26) Few church members will admit food and party fellowship is attended much better than fasting and prayer services.

The sad commentary on religious society today is the church with the most to offer the flesh will likely have the largest attendance. Yet fasting, not feasting, is an integral part of true fellowship with the Lord. Moses fasted before God and He spoke to "Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." (Exo. 33:11) Jesus fasted forty days and nights in preparation for Satan's temptations. (Matt. 4) Angels came and ministered to Him. (Matt. 4:11) God the Father said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." (Matt. 17:5 ) Nehemiah fasted and prayed before God when he heard of the spiritual bankruptcy in Jerusalem. (Neh. 1:4) God answered his prayer and used him to rebuild the fallen wall and burned gates of that city. The children of Israel fasted before they began the cleanup battle in Canaan. (Judges 20:26) The church at Antioch fasted before they sent out their first missionaries. The Holy Ghost, the Director of Missions, honored their fast by directing them in their missionary endeavor. (Acts 13:2,3)

If fourteen percent of any town with 500 population were genuinely saved and turned from sin to separation unto God, there would be a decided change in local happenings. I only assume that the great majority of these 70 converts were school age. What a difference that would make in any school system. Gun control would be of little concern and drugs dealers would find slim pickins' if any at all. I pray that these converts are transformed into the image of Christ day by day. Only eternity will reveal the real harvest at this "old- fashioned revival" or any other movement. I might add that it takes more than a tent and a joke to have a real old-fashioned revival. Contrition will be more prevalent than confections, supplication to God than sandwiches, lamenting more than laughter, and reverence more than refreshments if we are to have life changing revival.

It is impossible to imagine Jesus Christ, the Head of the church, engaging in a joint effort of any variety with the Pharisees or Sadducees. Yet it is becoming more popular each passing day for the Lord's church to sign pacts of unity with any religious group. What a rare commodity it is to hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, or religious leaders ruling over the people. (Rev. 2:6) The church in Ephesus hated the practice not the people. It is not popular to take the stand proclaimed in this article. My heart is sad for aging people in any Baptist church that see their bible based doctrine diluted with the water of ecumenism until it has no strength at all. Oh, for Baptist pastors who are not afraid to stand for that which our Baptist forefathers died to preserve.

I recently received an 8 ½ by 11 inch postcard from Schuller, which contained the invitation to attend his "Successful Church Leadership" conference, Jan. 29th - Feb. 1st, 2001. It is to be held at the Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, CA. I shudder when I look at the names of the speakers, even though this is no new thing. They list Robert H. Schuller, Bill Hybels, Tony Campolo (spiritual adviser to Bill Clinton, wow), Clark H. Pinnock as well as a number of other men and women, who are members of liberal churches.

It is our purpose to expose compromise and error among those who claim to be Evangelicals who are compromising with Liberals and Charismatics. It is a known fact that Bill Hybels is a close friend to Robert H. Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral. Schuller is the TV preacher who appears via the boob tube each week, with a silly grin on his face. The grin looks like it was pasted on his face. The worst thing about Schuller is apostate teachings, that can easily be verified by reading his books.

When I expose the heresy of Schuller, no one ever writes defending him. It is another matter when we expose Bill Hybels. His defenders give him a god like status, and refuse to believe there is anything wrong with his doctrine and practice. They often defend him by telling how that he has 15 to 20 thousand in attendance on Sunday. This simply makes him above all criticism, as far as they are concerned. They never realize that the Pope sometimes speaks to a 100,000 or more people at a time. I guess in the eyes of these defenders of Hybels, that this makes the Pope okay.

The defenders of Hybels often send the most vicious and hysterical mail that I receive. They never dispute the facts that I print about Hybels, but some of them defend him with the ferocity of a she-bear defending her cubs.

It is tragic that some so-called Baptist churches have had Bill Hybels speak for them. Many Baptist churches have adopted the unbiblical ways of Hybels. Many have joined his Willow Creek Association. (See the Plains Baptist Challenger, January 1998. It is on our World Wide Web Page, see our Web address on page 2 of this issue.) Some have been influenced to drop the name Baptist from their church name through his influence. They should drop the name Baptist when they depart from Baptist doctrine.

In the rest of this article, I shall quote from an article that appeared in the Plains Baptist Challenger of August 1999. It is also on the WWW.

No doubt Robert Schuller, pastor of the Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, California, has had a tremendous influence on Hybels. Schuller with his perpetual grin, can be seen on many television stations nationwide. He believes that self- esteem is the new reformation, and wrote a book to prove it. On page 15 of his book he declares "Self-Esteem" and "Self-Love" are the same thing. His theology and his message are a thousand miles from being biblical. The gospel he preaches would not save a fly, much less a sinner.

We shall give some quotes from "Rediscovering Church," by Lynne and Bill Hybels which clearly show the relationship between Hybels and Schuller. "In April he (Hybels) read Robert Schuller's book Your Church Has Real Possibilities, which affirmed Bill's belief that one could reach unchurched people through the local church." (P. 51) "During the latter years of Son City and the early years of Willow Creek, Bill (Hybels) traveled periodically as a consultant to youth groups. One group with whom he had an ongoing relationship was the high school Youth group at Garden Grove Community Church in Garden Grove, California (now the Crystal Cathedral)." (P. 68) This is Robert Schuller's Church.

"DIVINE ENCOUNTER. In the fall of 1976, Bill (Hybels) took another trip to Garden Grove this time to take the staff, module directors, and other lay leaders of Willow Creek to a pastors conference there. During the conference, our entire entourage somehow ended up in Robert Schuller's office which at that time was in the upper floors of the Tower of Prayer. Bill told Dr. Schuller about our efforts to establish a church for the unchurched and about our seeker services and about our tentative plans to buy land for a future building. Bill asked Dr. Schuller if he could give us any advice regarding our next step.

"Dr. Schuller answered, `If you give God a thimble, perhaps He will choose to fill it. If you give God a five-gallon bucket, perhaps He will choose to fill that. If you give him a fifty-gallon drum, perhaps He will choose to do something extraordinary and fill even that. If God chooses to do a miracle, you'd better be ready for it. Don't buy a thimbleful of land. Buy a fifty-gallon drum.'" (P. 69)

They go on to tell us that Schuller was highly esteemed by them. "Had we been `puffed up' with the affirmation offered us by a man so highly esteemed the only credible adult who had given us any encouragement?

"As I look back through the years I can't help but think that what happened that day was exactly what we thought it was at the time: a divinely staged encounter. We returned home changed." (P. 69)

"On a Saturday night in June 1977, Robert Schuller graciously came and spoke at our fund-raising banquet in the ballroom of the Sheraton Hotel in Des Plaines, Illinois...Dr. Schuller affirmed the value and potential of the dream to the 1,000 people who attended." (P. 70)

Down through the years the relationship between Hybels and Schuller has continued. They have spoken in each others churches on a number of occasions.

It is not difficult to discover the heresy of Dr. Robert H. Schuller, since he is also a writer. I have his book "Self Esteem, The New Reformation," published by Word Books, in 1982. When you read this book, you can easily see that Schuller is not only unsound in doctrine, but in fact he is an apostate of the first order.

Schuller said, "I don't think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality and, hence, counterproductive to the evangelism enterprise than the often crude, uncouth, and unchristian strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition." --Christianity Today, Oct. 5, 1984 (Emphasis ours).

Please note that he says, that "to make people aware of their lost sinful condition," is unchristian. If we do not make people aware of their lost and sinful condition, then we are failing to do what the bible says. I do find that Schuller is denying what Paul taught in Romans 3 and elsewhere. Listen to the Bible:

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood:Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:10-18). "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). (Emphasis ours).

Paul was not worried about the self-esteem of a lost soul, he was interested in the eternal destiny of that soul. Schuller says that it is, "crude, uncouth, and unchristian," "to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition." You might wonder why he does not read his Bible. I am sure that he has, but he does not believe the Bible.

Please note Schuller's definition of sin. "What do I mean by sin? Answer: Any human condition or act that robs God of glory by stripping one of his children of their right to divine dignity." "I could offer another complementing answer, `Sin is that deep lack of trust that separates me from God and leaves me with a sense of shame and unworthiness.'" He further says, "Sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem" (Schuller, Self Esteem, p. 14).

"I can offer still another answer: `Sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem.' And what is `hell'? It is the loss of pride that naturally follows separation from God . . . A person is in hell when he has lost his self-esteem." (Schuller, Self Esteem, p. 14, 15).

Can you imagine anything more heretical and more deadly for the souls of men? Sin is loss of self- esteem. Hell is loss of self-esteem. Of course he has no Scripture to prove these heretical statements. Schuller is his own authority, so what does he need with the authority of the Scriptures?

Here is his own definition of what he means by self-esteem, "I must admit that I am not totally happy with that word, `Self- Esteem.' Years ago I tried the word, `Self-Love.' I found the pervasiveness of a negative self- image so saturated the minds of persons that most people couldn't handle that term `Self-Love." I have tried others, `Self-Worth,' `Self- Dignity,' `Self-Value,' `Human Dignity,' `Positive Self-Image,' `Ego-Needs,' `Human Pride,' and none are perfect." You can see from Schuller's own words that Self- Esteem is really just Self-Love. This is so contrary to the Bible that it hardly needs any refuting. However, I will give one passage that completely disproves his false theory. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (I Tim. 3:1-5). (Emphasis ours) Here is God's warning for the last days, and self- love is set forth as one of the vile and wicked sins that will be evident.

What is Schuller's definition of the new birth? Listen to his own words: "To be born again means that we must be changed from a negative to a positive self-image from inferiority to self-esteem, from fear to love, from doubt to trust" (Schuller, Self- Esteem, p. 68).

According to this heretic, Jesus never called a person a sinner. "While Christ was on earth, he remained sinless he never shamed himself or others. He never called any person `a sinner'"

(Schuller, Self Esteem, p. 100). The following Scripture refutes his words. "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee" (Matt. 9:2). Why did this man need his sins forgiven, if he was not a sinner? I guess he must have lost his Self-Esteem. Paul addresses the sin question in many places, but we shall quote only on verse. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23).

We always thought that Jesus Christ was the incarnate Son of God, but Schuller has a different idea."Christ is the Ideal One, for he was Self-Esteem Incarnate" (Schuller, Self Esteem, p. 135).

His admiration for the Pope of Rome and for the Roman Catholic Church is amazing indeed. Maybe he is hoping to be the Pope's successor, or perhaps he hopes to turn the Crystal Cathedral into Vatican II (just kidding). Listen to his words. "I found myself immediately attracted to Pope John Paul II when, upon his election to the Papacy, his published speeches invariably called attention to the need for recognizing the dignity of the human being as a child of God" (Schuller, Self Esteem, p. 17).

Schuller often participates in ecumenical efforts with Catholics. David Cloud sent an email which included the following: "Schuller frequently speaks at conferences with Roman Catholic priests and bishops. He spoke at the `Washington for Jesus' rally on April 28, 1980, with priests John Bertolucci, John Randall, and Michael Scanlon. In October 1987, Schuller spoke at a Roman Catholic conference called the Jesus Day VII, in Chicago. Catholic priests Matthew Fox, John Powell, and Richard McBrien also spoke (National & International Religion Report, Sept. 21, 1987). In August 1988, Schuller participated in the ecumenical Congress '88, in Chicago. The Archbishop of Chicago, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, brought the opening address of the Congress. This faithful son of Rome was introduced as a `warm, caring, Christ-honoring, Christ-like brother' (Frank Bumpus, `New Evangelicals United with Catholics and Liberals,' (F.B.F. News Bulletin, Nov.-Dec. 1988)."

Cloud further stated: "Schuller participated in the publication of a series of books on evangelism co-sponsored by Tyndale House and the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association. The first book in the series, What Christians Can Learn from One Another about Evangelizing Adults, included articles by Schuller, Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Joseph Bernardin, as well as others."

"In March 1998, Schuller visited Pope John Paul II en route to a Church Growth conference in Sicily. It was `the fourth time Schuller and the Pope had met, hand-to-hand, heart-to-heart at the Vatican' (Foundation, May-June 1998). The Pope expressed interest in how their churches could work together in the Vatican's preparation for the Year 2000 Jubilee celebrations" (Calvary Contender, 8-15-98).

It must be that they are in agreement. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3). The followers of Hybels claim that he is a sound Bible believing evangelical. I could never believe that, as long as he associates with Robert H. Schuller. No real Bible believer would ever be associated with an apostate such as the man from the Crystal Cathedral.

Someone needs to ask these people a good Bible question. "And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD" (II Chron. 19:2).

It is hard for me to understand why any Bible believer could follow men such as Bill Hybels, John Maxwell and Rick Warren, when they are speaking for a man like Schuller. Many Baptist (?) Churches are adopting the methods of Bill Hybels, John Maxwell and Rick Warren. This is strange indeed that they would follow people who are in bed with Schuller. After all, Schuller is in bed with the Pope of Rome. Many Baptist churches have followed the advice of these men and dropped the name Baptist. Of course when they are no longer Baptists, they should drop the name Baptist. Many Southern Baptist Churches are following the "purpose driven church" philosophy of Hybels and Warren.

What is really bad, is that some Independent Baptist pastors are running off to these conferences where all this heresy is introduced. Soon their churches will be going down the same road that new- evangelicals have already followed. "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.... " (Ex. 23:2).

(In our PBC article of Jan. 1998, we list the names of some of the fundamental and/or independent Baptist Churches who are mixed up with the Willow Creek Association founded and directed by Bill Hybels.)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) "... the Bible is just a book." As those words resonated through the Orlando, Fla., convention center June 14, thousands of shocked Baptists responded with audible gasps. For conservatives, it was a moment of truth. The 20-year battle for the spiritual heart of the Southern Baptist Convention had just been exposed in six words.

"I think it was a defining moment," said Jerry Sutton, pastor of Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn., and author of "The Baptist Reformation: The Conservative Resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention."

"That statement exposed where the moderate crowd is standing," said Sutton, whose history of the conservative resurgence was released earlier this year by the Broadman & Holman division of the SBC's LifeWay Christian Resources.

Sutton said he was surprised by the statement. "I didn't think they would be so blunt. In the past the moderates have been secretive in their theological presuppositions."

At issue, was the statement on the Scriptures in the proposed 2000 revision of the SBC's Baptist Faith and Message: "The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation."

The moment of truth for dissident moderates and their denomination-like Cooperative Baptist Fellowship came when Anthony Sizemore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Floydada, Texas, offered an amendment to the proposed Baptist Faith and Message when it came up for discussion during the SBC annual meeting in Orlando's Orange County Convention Center.

Sizemore, whose church supports the SBC's Cooperative Program but also sends designated money to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, wanted to reinstate a near-exact version of the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message preamble. In defending his motion, he said that while the Bible is "true and trustworthy ... the Bible is still just a book."

Sizemore's remarks drew a sharp response from the thousands of local church messengers and guests in the convention hall, and R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a member of the BF&M study committee, responded from the platform.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is what it all comes down to," Mohler said. "The issue is whether or not the Bible is the Word of God or whether it is merely a record of God's Word."

"Sizemore was very outspoken," Sutton said. "In all honesty, it helped to set the context. There really is a strong divergence of opinion, and the truth is that he [Sizemore] is in the minority. Most of us think he's wrong."

Sutton continued, "One pastor who asked me not to use his name said we couldn't have paid someone to better set the issue in its context. This guy said exactly what he thought."

Ultimately, Sutton said, "The moderates really do believe the Bible is just another book." Sutton said he believes that God used the statement to expose the moderates. "God brings truth out of confusion," he said. "God allowed the moderate crowd, some of whom were confused, to expose what they really believed. Out of the confusion of their emotions, he brought out the truth."

In a telephone interview with Baptist Press, Sizemore said he didn't mean to draw so much attention, but he stands by his motion."

"I don't care what Al Mohler said, the Bible is not the full revelation of God. Jesus Christ is God's revelation," the Texas pastor said. "As I shared, I believe the Bible is a book that God has given us for guidance. It's a book that points us to the truth," Sizemore added. "We're not supposed to have a relationship with a book."

While Sizemore told Baptist Press he believes the Bible is inerrant and infallible on matters of faith and practice, he wasn't too sure about matters of history, geography and literature. He declined to speculate on how parts of the Bible can be infallible and other parts fallible.

Sutton said that's a question all conservatives have been asking and one that the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship should ask, too. "The CBF should ask themselves why are they here, what is their purpose, what are they hoping to accomplish," he said, noting that from a biblical standpoint, "Their foundation is shaky."

The handful of people who voiced opposition to the proposed BF&M during the SBC discussion either contribute to or strongly support the CBF.

"Every amendment that was made to the Baptist Faith and Message was an issue of presuppositions," Sutton said. "And every one of them failed. These moderates were attempting to displace what I call the conservative presupposition of the inerrant, authoritative Scripture."

Among those who spoke against the BF&M revision were Charles Wade, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and a former member of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinating Council; Bruce Prescott, a former leader in the CBF and president of the CBF-affiliated Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists; David Currie, a member of the CBF Coordinating Council and leader of the anti-SBC group Texas Baptist Committed; and Wayne Ward, a former professor at Southern Seminary under Roy Honeycutt's presidency.

Ward characterized the BF&M study committee as hand-picked and "trying to impose its will on rank and file Southern Baptists."

Ward's comments drew a sharp rebuke from Sutton. "When he criticized a group of outstanding theologians, leading pastors and laypeople, I think in a big way it betrayed his bias," Sutton told Baptist Press. "The 1963 committee was in many ways naive and they permitted neo-orthodox language to be inserted unbeknownst to most of them."

The SBC's statement on the Bible is historic also among mainline denominations, which generally hold to the perception that the Bible is just a book, Sutton said.

The former leadership of the SBC was on that same road, he noted. "I'm talking about heads of agencies and many of our professors," he said. "If that were not the case, then Ralph Elliott would never have been able to publish and the Broadman Commentary would never have been published," in reference to two works from the 1960s dismissing a traditional view of biblical authority.

With an overwhelming majority, messengers gave their approval to the 2000 BF&M.

Sizemore, meanwhile, said the revision does not reflect the views of traditional Baptists. When asked why thousands of Baptists voted for the revision, Sizemore replied, "When you put more control and power in the leadership, people can be duped. I'm going to have to say they [messengers] placed too much stock in the leadership's opinion."

Sizemore said he nevertheless will remain a staunch supporter of the SBC. Currently, his church gives 13 percent of its undesignated receipts to the Cooperative Program through the BGCT, in the giving plan which devotes 33 percent to SBC causes. He said that he does not plan to join the CBF. "My very first pastorate was a church that was 100 percent CBF," he said. "But I was able to counsel them and encourage them to rejoin the SBC and they did."

As for the future of the SBC, Sutton issued a warning. "There is a major movement to entrench moderates and liberals in the religion departments of state Baptist schools," he said. "If they can't subvert seminary students, they will go a step backwards and subvert college students.

"In time," Sutton added, "conservatives in each state, by necessity, will have to organize and challenge those moves for the sake of the next generation."Baptist Press