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BROADWAY BAPTIST AND THE EMERGING MYSTICISM
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I recently met with the senior pastor (Brett Younger) of Broadway Baptist Church, in Fort Worth, Texas (http://www.broadwaybc.org/). The church has a rich history of over a century. It possesses one of the grandest pipe organs in the nation. Yet, doctrinally, the church is a tinkling cymbal that gives an uncertain sound. Dr. Younger is determined to have the church live up to its "broadway" name (Matthew 7:13). He appears to be an "emerging church" pastor. He wants sodomites, and such like, to be accepted as members and leaders in his church. He says that as long as they live in a monogamous relationship, they are just as good as traditional married couples.
A zealous, Christian brother and friend (named Russ) was born and raised at Broadway Baptist. He certainly has emotional ties to this church. He took me on a tour of the building and showed me the various places he has prayed, and learned about Jesus as a child. It is sad to see such an old, rich church become "reprobate silver" (Jeremiah 6:30). He showed me how the little crosses were falling off the sanctuary lights. He intends to replace them with a pink triangle as a symbol of Dr. Younger's latest heresies.
Brother Russ sometimes shares with me the latest, incredible things spoken by this apostate pastor. For example, in one sermon (printed in the bulletin), Dr. Younger stated that Jesus was guilty of sinful, cultural prejudice for calling the Gentile woman a dog (Matthew 15:36). What blasphemy!
While I think it is past time for my friend to flee this church (and I have reproved him for not abandoning the sunken ship), he has certainly helped ignite a storm of controversy! But before continuing with my story, perhaps a recent news report will give the reader some background concerning the latest controversy concerning Broadway Baptist:
"Photo shoots for a pictorial directory have brought to light a dilemma over the acceptance of homosexual couples in a large Baptist church in Texas. Members of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth are divided over whether homosexual couples should be pictured together in the same way as photos of other couples within the church. 'For decades Broadway has had gay members as part of our membership, but no couple had been pictured as a couple in a church directory,' pastor Brett Younger said in a statement to the membership of the church. The possibility of including homosexual couples in the directory 'was troubling to many,' Younger acknowledged...For now, Younger said the pictorial directory is on hold and the material that was to be used in it will be considered for inclusion in publications celebrating the church's 125th anniversary next year. Several church members were reticent to speak to Baptist Press on the record, but confirmed that several people serving on and leading committees within the church are living openly homosexual lifestyles..."
(http://www.baptistpress.net, Nov 6, 2007)
You may view a picture of the latest additions that Russ has added to their church sign:
http://picture.vzw.com/pub/share/guestMessage.do?invite=yETr44mKP7z1sYioaQjk
While it is probably much too late, I am glad to see some people stirring from the dead at Broadway, and saying, "enough is enough."
Russ has launched a movement to replace the modernist pastor. They are pressing for his resignation for the sake of the church. The liberal pastor decided to meet with Russ, and Russ invited me to come along.
When we arrived at the church building, the secretary sighed at Russ when she saw that he had a paper that was against homosexuality (you would have thought, by her reaction, that he was stirring up a controversy over whether or not women should paint their fingernails!).
Finally, Dr. Younger appeared. He looked and acted, just as one would expect - if you know what I mean. We sat down, and Russ began stating his case. He asked if the pastor believed in the "Blood Atonement." Dr. Younger replied that he believed in the "atonement" (leaving out the Blood). Russ brought up the issue about Jesus allegedly being guilty of cultural prejudice. Dr. Younger affirmed that this was indeed his belief about Jesus.
Dr. Younger argued that he was not a "liberal," and that he thought we should concentrate "on Jesus" instead of such terms. This is the standard, pious smokescreen.
Brother Russ gave some deep-hearted testimonies to how the liberal teachings had contributed to his own backslidings at one time.
We then began to discuss the issue of sodomy. The pastor implied that Sodom was only guilty of rape! I showed him, in Jude, where the Bible says they went after "strange flesh," (Jude 1:7), and that this referred to homosexuality. He asked to see the Scripture, and appeared troubled to see it in the Bible (the NIV says that they were only guilty of "sexual immorality and perversion," which the homosexuals can apply only to rape, etc.).
The pastor argued that the previous night the church heard a debate between Tony Campolo and Campolo's wife over the issue of homosexuality. His wife was affirming the homosexuals, and he was opposing. I argued that the whole thing was a show, designed to simply have everyone hug one another, and pretend the issue is not one they should separate over! I asked Dr. Younger if he would approve of pedophilia being "discussed" in such a warm manner! In typical, hyper-sensitive fashion, he implied that I was accusing him of such sin. I argued that I was only making a point about the continued fall into sin. What will be next? Decades ago, many would not have believed that a pastor could hold the views of Dr. Younger in the city of Fort Worth.
We showed how this "dialogue" over homosexuality was a serpentine path to final acceptance:
"A debate is a conflict which clarifies a position. A dialogue is a conversation which compromises a position." (John E. Ashbrook, "The New Neutralism II")
The pastor asked Russ what would make him happy. Russ quickly and firmly stated that he would be happy only when he left the pulpit of Broadway. I exhorted the pastor to repent. He said he would think about it. Nevertheless, he continued to use smooth words:
Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
The fair speeches are, "I am not trying to spread liberalism. I only want to concentrate on Christ."
I asked him, "How are we to know the right Jesus, and have correct thoughts about Him, if we do not follow the Bible?"
He replied that the "stories" of the Bible are good (what did that mean?), but that "Christ" is bigger than the Bible. That sounds very pious. It is just like when he told us that they change the words of the hymns, by getting rid of the male pronouns, because the word "God" is more reverent than "Him." This is all deception, hidden under a cloak of "good words."
We ended our meeting, and we can only hope that the church will repent, and get some backbone, and will mourn. Not some dead liturgy, but mourning for sin! Just this past Wednesday, the pastor celebrated Ash Wednesday by placing black ashes on the foreheads of his church members. Russ took part of the church downstairs and declared the ashes to be the mark of "a" beast. Indeed, the church is divided, but in this case, it needs to be. |
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