Being Green In The SBC

Mike Corley responds to the Southern Baptist Convention's declaration “A Southern Baptist Declaration on the Environment and Climate Change. At his blog, Mike Corley writes:

It was shocking to me to read of an initiative led by prominent Southern Baptists to take what is popularly know as the green route. Jonathan Merritt, national spokesperson for the Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative, and son of former SBC president James Merritt, is leading the way to encourage more Southern Baptist to be more engaging on environmental issues.The group have released a declaration titled, “A Southern Baptist Declaration on the Environment and Climate Change”, and its signatories include SBC president Frank Page, Southeastern Baptist Seminary President Dr. Danny Akin, Dr. Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist and Merritt’s father Dr. James Merritt, pastor of Cross Pointe Church.

Mike Corley describes his SBC roots as a licensed and ordained Southern Baptist minister who served as a pastor and evangelist. Corley expressed his love and gratitude for the SBC, but
left the denomination because of theological concerns as he became more committed to reform theology.

Corley continues, "I have great concerns as to why this environmental move has taken place in the SBC, especially when there are far greater issues. I have noted in numerous articles and radio programs doctrinal issues that I feel are threatening what is described as the nation’s largest protestant denomination.

Over the past 10 years, we have witnessed an alarming trend in the SBC toward a greater emphasis on what Pastor Jeff Noblit calls “hoop jump evangelism”, or what I unapologetically would label as “hyper-Arminianism”, the implied or distinct teaching and mindset that God cannot save someone without that person’s agreement or allowance."

Then there is the tremendous influence of Rick Warren and the Purpose Driven Life. I have described Warren as the “golden boy of the SBC’ as he is seemingly untouchable within the denomination and whose doctrine and practices are seldom ever questioned by many leaders in the Convention.

Listen to Mike further discuss this issue on The Mike Corley Program.

More related Mike Corley articles and audio: SBC: Biblical Duty To Stop Climate Change? , Why I'm A Recovering Southern Baptist, Spiritual Growth Without God? , Mike Corley Sounds the Trumpet , The SBC-No You Can’t, Yes You Can, No Wait… , Evangelical Church More Sick Than It Has Ever Been , The Endemic of Evangelical Pragmatism , Lifeway's Double-mindedness , Has the SBC Lost the Gospel ?

More articles on climate change and global warming here. (image credit The Expositor)