Southern Baptists Now in Decline

Paul Proctor expresses similar concerns as did Pastor Ken Silva in his recent post PRAYER IS NEWS IN THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION—BUT WHAT TYPE OF PRAYER? …

Southern Baptists Now In Decline By Paul Proctor April 29, 2008 NewsWithViews.com

…And what about the books LifeWay offers on Contemplative Spirituality, aka, Spiritual Formation, from Emerging Church authors and leaders, many of whom reject absolute truth, downplay doctrine and encourage their readers to incorporate mantras and mysticism into their Christian walk?

Proctor asks the rhetorical question, "Does he (Thom Rainer) honestly think the Lord Jesus wouldn’t pull out a whip and start turning over tables if He walked into one of LifeWay ecclesiastical emporiums today?"

Pastor Silva makes the point: "What does this have to do with the Southern Baptist Convention? Plenty. In SBC Embraces Emergent Church and Contemplative Spirituality I have already showed you that this contemplative mysticism runs much deeper into the Slowly Becoming Catholic than many know. For example, as of this writing one can go to Lifeway Christian Stores (LCS)—a arm of the SBC that was once called the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention—and buy books by Spiritual Director Guru Ruth Haley Barton."

Silva also challenges the motives behind the planned use of "prayer rooms" that feature videos, maps and other visual aids at the upcoming SBC Annual meeting.

See related articles Has the SBC Lost the Gospel ? Can the SBC Avoid The Samson Effect?
Read more of the pollution within the SBC here.