ROFF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

In the video clip on the right is Bruce Frank, a nominee to be the next president of our Southern Baptist Convention at the time of recording during our annual meeting. Please listen carefully to what he says about doctrinal precision versus people surrendering to the lordship of Christ, a contrast that he sets up. Then, as he says, let's cut to the chase.

What is doctrinal precision? It should be aligning what we believe as closely to Scripture as possible. We should never expect doctrinal perfection in this age, but we should study to be as precise as possible, first on primary doctrines that are essential to salvation and sanctification (like the nature of Christ and human sexuality), then on secondary doctrines that are not (like types of baptism and foot washing). This starts with us pastors not generalizing and broad-brushing everything in our preaching and teaching. The psalmist prayed, "The unfolding of Your words [not merely thoughts or concepts] gives light; / It gives understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130, LSB) Paul instructed Timothy, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling [literally 'straight-cutting'] the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, LSB) These verses, along with others like 2 Timothy 3:16-4:5, are always on my mind while preparing to preach and teach because they embody and instruct intentional precision.

Understanding this should cause us to see the problem with what Bruce says in setting doctrinal precision against people surrendering to the lordship of Christ, in regards to what will matter a hundred years from now. There are two sides of this coin to consider.

On the first side, to whom does Bruce refer as Christ? Is not the strictest doctrinal precision necessary here in order to know exactly who we are talking about? Remember this exchange between Jesus and Peter:

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." (Matthew 16:15–18, LSB)

In his answer to the question of Jesus' identity, Peter perfectly hit the dead center of the bullseye, not as the result of his own natural reasoning but as supernatural revelation from God the Father. This is absolute perfect precision in the doctrine of Christology and the indestructible foundation upon which Jesus is building His church. Without this precision, we are not actually leading people to Christ but to an imagined counterfeit instead. When we speak to them of Jesus Christ, we must precisely tell them exactly who we are talking about without the slightest nuance. He is not the Jesus of the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Mormons, the Muslims, the universalists, or the progressives.

I have known from day one of my salvation that I am saved because of exact doctrinal precision on who Jesus is. I was raised to be a Jehovah's Witness by my mom. The Witnesses teach that Jesus was Michael the Archangel in bodily form, crucified on a straight log, and only spiritually resurrected. In the New World Translation of the Bible, John 1:1 is translated like this: "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was a god." When I read John 1:1 in a true translation, I read this instead: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God." The absence of that one little letter "a" (which the Witnesses intentionally inserted) made the difference of eternity for me in being awakened to the truth of Jesus being the Son of God as God. By that truth, I was born again and knew that I forever belong to Him to live for Him as my Lord and Savior.

Now, on the flip side, what does Bruce mean by surrendering to the lordship of Christ? What is involved in that? Can a man practicing homosexuality continue to do so and surrender to the lordship of Christ? Can a woman champion the murder of unborn babies in abortion and surrender to the lordship of Christ? Are these not doctrinal issues? When none of the scribes and Pharisees threw the first stone at the woman caught in adultery, remember what Jesus said to her:

Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:10–11, LSB)

She could not continue in her adultery. This is the reason that Jesus Himself began His preaching ministry with the call, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15, LSB) What does it mean to repent? It basically means to turn away from sin. That's doctrinal. What is sin? Sin is anything contrary to the will of God. That's doctrinal. What is one to believe in the gospel? That's doctrinal.

Before my new birth, I was addicted to pornography and sexually promiscuous, and I had been unexplainably under conviction for quite awhile. I know now that it was the Holy Spirit convicting me of my sin and the judgment to come. I did what I could to alleviate some of my guilt by cutting back, but I was only trying to feel better, not to be pure, holy, and righteous in true honor of God. But when I was born again, I knew that my lifestyle had to change, and I wanted it to for His honor. I stumbled along the way, but I sincerely repented when I did. Next to pride, purity of body and mind has been my hardest battle, but it has been worth it, knowing His will for it. And I know His will for sexuality by studying the doctrine of sexuality.

In closing, doctrinal lines must be drawn sharply by us, with the greatest precision possible on our part. We must do this in view of eternity, not just a hundred years from now. This will matter 10,000 years from now. This will matter forever. Glory to God.