Ascol fouls out
FLOUNDERS' DIRECTOR CAVES INTO COMPROMISING AMENDMENT
Tom Ascol of the Flounders did not need glasses to read the handwriting on the wall, "Your Resolution Doesn't Stand A Chance."
So Ascol settled for a compromising amendment to the Barber-Yarnell Resolution, approved by only "60%" of the voters.
Here is an excerpt from the report of the Baptist Press:
>>
Messengers pass amended membership resolution -- updated
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 9:30:00 AM
Messengers moments ago passed an amended version of the regenerate church membership/church member restoration resolution. . . . The amendment was proposed by Tom Ascol, a messenger from Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Fla. His amendment passed by roughly 60 percent of messengers, and the final amended version of the resolution passed nearly unanimously. . . .
The two additional RESOLVED paragraphs from Ascol's amendment follow:
"RESOLVED, That we urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to repent of any failure among us to live up to our professed commitment to regenerate church membership and any failure to obey Jesus Christ in the practice of lovingly correcting wayward church members (Matthew 18:15-18), and be it
"FURTHER RESOLVED, That we humbly encourage denominational servants to support and encourage churches that seek to recover and implement our Savior's teachings on church discipline, even if such efforts result in the reduction in the number of members that are reported in those churches."
The expression "any failure" is wide enough for an 18-wheeler. It does not even acknowledge that there actually has been "any" failure.
So Ascol has in effect failed again, for the third time, with his Resolution. He caved in and compromised for an amendment which acknowledges nothing whatsoever by way of failure.
Maybe next year?
posted by Bob L. Ross @ 11:58 AM
4 Comments:
ASCOL BASKING IN
HIS MOMENT
In reading the post-Convention comments on Tom Ascol's blog, one might think something "historic" was accomplished by Ascol at the meeting.
The fact is, Tom's "amendment" to the Barber-Yarnell Resolution made it simply on the coattails of the Barber-Yarnell Resolution. On its own, Tom's effort would most likely have been totally shut out for the third time. As it was, his "amendment" rode in on the back of the Barber-Yarnell Resolution.
But Tom is surely basking in his "15 miniutes of fame" by publishing several embellishing posts from bloggers on his Flounders' blog.
Whether or not Tom's efforts will ultimately result in an actual reduction in the total number of annually reported memberships in SBC churches remains to be seen.
If it doesn't, then it will give Tom something about which he can continue to complain.
Something historic did happen we are coming back to the Bible on church memberhsip. Regardless of the one involved in making the resolution and following through with it full or in part the Lord is doing his work.
I don't think Tom Ascol or the others care about the who gets what done as long as we get it right according to the Word of God. God moved and has spoken, he said yes to many of our prayers.
I think you, from some of your statements, I can tell who is thinking biblically on God and his glory (Tom) and who is thinking non-biblically on man and his glory (very SBC of you).
By the way, repentance in doing things contrary to the book is needed by the SBC today. We made a big deal over slavery years ago and it had nothing to do with those of us living today but we were call to repent and did as a convention. We are guilty of not taking membership seriously and biblically and we today should repent.
I love the pastor at the pastors conferemce who ask us to do as he did by getting rebaptized so others wouldn't be afraid to do the same, and that we should do it as often as needed to help them out -
Welcome to our Bible Based SBC!
REPENTANCE NEEDED
Anonymous said...
I love the pastor at the pastors conferemce who ask us to do as he did by getting rebaptized so others wouldn't be afraid to do the same, and that we should do it as often as needed to help them out -
This fellow obviously should be first line to get baptized, but after he repents of his unscriptural statement on baptism. You can be the second in line after you also repent.
GOD OR YARNELL?
Anonymous said...
Regardless of the one involved in making the resolution and following through with it full or in part the Lord is doing his work.. . .God moved and has spoken, he said yes to many of our prayers.
The fact is, if Malcolm Yarnell had not moved and spoken, there would have been no Resolution passed. Tom Ascol would have gotten 300 to 500 votes at best for his Resolution.
It was all a matter of Yarnell's having the respect of the messengers. Ascol's amendment just rode in piggyback.
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