Published on May 26, 2024, 12:48 am

Breaking news has surfaced from within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) that is considered worthy of serious attention by those upholding a Christian worldview. Jeff Iorg, president of Gateway Seminary, has openly opposed possible measures intended to ensure that the convention continues adheres to God’s word, according to reports in the trusted news medium Baptist Press.

The proposed changes are often referred to as the Mike Law amendment and focus on women in pastoral ministry. Iorg opposes it due to concerns around church autonomy, administrative burdens, possible legal problems and the potential for wider effects on church cooperation and unity. He fails to see such measures as obedience to God’s Word but instead views them as an interference with autonomous churches’ operations.

However, his worries about church autonomy seem significantly misplaced because one may argue that obedience isn’t infringing upon autonomy but is instead reclaiming biblical fidelity—an act of reformation itself. While churches aren’t democracies driven by majority rule—they’re considered theocracies wherein Christ is supreme, His Word holds ultimate authority. Any compromise on this matter effectively compromises Scripture’s authority.

Contrary to Iorg’s perception of potential administrative or legal burden looming over SBC through the enforcement of biblical standards is short-sighted, rather than considering it a realization of divine commands regardless of our convenience or otherwise adverse ideologies prevailing in defiance against Him under false churches headed by female pastors. Reflecting upon scriptural narratives we learn that observance usually came at personal sacrifice —yet it was always indispensable.

Among Iorg’s apprehensions were also financial implications; he argued that “GuideStone participants in excluded churches may lose their disability insurance (provided through state conventions),” and they might lose various other retirement benefits linked with SBC affiliation.

To counter this perspective, we can draw from the history lessons from Israelites and early Christians showing those faithful being taken care of by Providence itself. The New Testament illustrates God’s continuous provision—From miracles like the feeding of 5,000 with five loaves and a couple of fish to communities where everyone shared belongings so that none were left in penury. Even today, the emphasis should be on trust in God’s endurance, rather than being gripped by fears of monetary repercussions because God doesn’t require man-made institutions to fulfill His promises.

Iorg also advocated that having women serving in pastoral roles is not sinful. He argued that previous decisions refining a cooperating church definition—such as for homosexuality (1992/1993), sexual abuse (2019/2021) and racism (2019/2021)—were to demonstrate unity rather than defining new positions. Since these definers were adopted, only a small number of churches have been removed from the convention for any of these reasons. Now this amendment threatens to exclude hundreds of churches over an issue which, Iorg believes, is open to interpretation, not submission to biblical authority.

Critics argue that his point misrepresents thenature of Scripture regarding female pastors—the Bible outrightly prohibits it. Earlier apostles like Paul made categorizations for ‘disorderly worship’, including women preachers “in all churches” beyond just the Corinth church. Reflecting upon this establishes how striding away from faithfulness can land us into paths leading towards destruction and judgement as illustrated vividly in both Old and New Testaments.

In conclusion: Given this situation at hand within SBC between obedience versus man-pleasing tactics proposed by leaders such as Jeff Iorg,it seems crystal clear—obedience to God’s Word ought to hold uncompromising importance regardless of cost.