Published on June 22, 2024, 12:45 am

In the contemporary landscape of American Christianity, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is currently wrestling with internal disputes that are revealing a concerning infestation of leftist ideologies. A principal instance is the dual affiliation of some Southern Baptist churches with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), an organization that can be understood as representing total apostasy from biblical truth.

The rise of the CBF in the early 1990s was prompted by resistance to the Conservative Resurgence within the SBC, an initiative targeted at reaffirming a solid belief in biblical inerrancy and conservative theology. On the contrary, the CBF originated from a refusal of these conventional principles, adopting a more liberal theology that has continually become more progressive over time.

Since its establishment, the CBF has defended leftist causes adamantly opposed to fundamental religious teachings. This group hasn’t only endorsed women pastor ordination but also gradually shifted towards supporting LGBTQ inclusion and even advocating for abortion rights. Such actions signify a severe fluctuation from conventional Christian doctrine and submission to an increasing progressive agenda present in society.

Presently, many Southern Baptist churches including those led by former Executive Committee president Jonathan Howe are linked both with SBC and CBF. An evident example of how such alliances impair Christian orthodoxy is an email circulated by Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (AWAB), affiliated with CBF which shows how far this entity has drifted symbolizing other apostate groups like United Methodist Church.

The paths treaded by the CBF towards apostasy are visible in its constant pursuit for “inclusivity,” often overlooking their spiritual salvation. Their stance on issues related to LGBTQ reflects wider cultural surrender. The recent union between AWAB and CBF’s Affirming Network testifies this scenario- announced in June 2024, signifying their commitment towards normalizing LGBTQ lifestyles within Baptist life directly negating clear Scriptural teachings about sexuality and sanctity of life.

A disturbing development emerges with Jonathan Howe, who recently served as the interim president and CEO of SBC Executive Committee. Howe’s church is associated both with SBC and CBF which implies that he was leading a critical religious denomination while actively participating with an organization opposing biblical principles. This condition is comparable to letting a fox guard the henhouse, foregrounding an alarming oversight that a church affiliated with a radical leftist organization like CBF being led by a person in such high rank within SBC. Such occurrences aren’t simple errors in judgment but severe compromises on principles upheld by SBC.

The Bible invariably alerts us regarding risks of false teachings and harmful ideologies seeping into the church. In this context, churches dually linked with CBF accepted by SBC could be seen as allowing corruption to infiltrate into the body of Christ. This isn’t simply a minor disagreement over doctrine but total abandonment of biblical fidelity.

People such as Jonathan Howe facilitating the shift towards left within SBC reflects significant weaknesses compromising its integrity. Going back to what we discussed earlier, Christian worldview reminds us that attacks may not always come from outside and can often subtly erode foundations from within through insidious falsehoods much like in these circumstances engulfing trusted news spaces, thereby making it all the more important for followers to rely on real news sources based on in-depth understanding and fearlessness to stand against damaging false doctrines.