A Call for Pastors to be Exclusively Godly, Qualified Men: Support the Truth and Unity Amendment

We are living in a time of mass gender confusion. Questions that used to be unthinkable, like “what is a man?” and “what is a woman?” have become common questions in our day.  We live in a day and age when good men are hard to find.  Fatherless homes are all too common. Young men are often delaying marriage and giving their strength to porn. And when men falter, it hurts everyone. Families are fractured. Children are left more vulnerable to abuse. Depression and anxiety abound.

           What a stroke of genius that God wants his churches led by godly men.  Ina world where sin corrupts men, God redeems men and calls qualified, redeemed men to be leaders among his holy people. As God calls people to Jesus Christ and places them in his church, he wants these saved sinners to be led by Godly spiritual fathers. Oh don’t get me wrong, he wants us to be discipled by more than just godly spiritual fathers. He wants spiritual mothers, brothers, and sisters to shape us too.  But God knows that spiritual families, just like natural families, are at their best when they are led by active obedient Fathers.

           Because of the great wisdom of Godin calling qualified men to lead his churches, I am supporting Dr. Mohler’s “Truth and Unity Amendment.” This amendment will make it clear to the watching world, to the SBC Credentials committee, and to our SBC sister churches, that a cooperating Southern Baptist church:

‘6.Does not act to affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, such as preaching to the assembled congregation.’”

           This simple amendment constitutionally enforces what our doctrinal statement already clearly affirms.  This amendment settles an issue in Southern Baptist life that the Bible settled 2000 years ago. Friends, the issue of women being pastors really does not have any traction in church history until the 1960s, the same time so much of the confusion about manhood and womanhood began.  The decision to only cooperate with churches that honor God’s command for the church to be led by qualified men is a decision to leave the spirit of the age that began in the60’s behind and to be on the right side of history, to be on God’s side of history.

           Some will say that if we do this we will see lawsuits. Well when the SBC made a similar decision to exclude racist churches, or churches that tolerated abuse, or endorsed homosexual behavior, we did not see lawsuits.  But even if we did see lawsuits, is that how we lead our churches? We will enforce whatever the Bible says as long as we don’t get sued? No, let’s reclaim an apostolic stride and say with confidence we must obey God and not be swayed by the changing opinions of men.

           Some will say this is going to marginalize minority churches that may have women functioning as pastors. I find it so patronizing to think that minority churches cannot be held to the same standards as everyone else. I honor my brothers from different tribes and tongues by believing that they can read, hear, understand, and obey the Bible just like I can.

           Some will say this is just a power grab by men. This comment demeans born again evangelical women.  Desiring to have qualified male leadership is not a men’s issue, it is something born again men and women desire. I know the women of my church want to see God obeyed. They do not see this as an issue that gives power to men, rather it is an issue that calls men to be submissive to God, and for men and women to honor God.

           Friends, there are so many good reasons to vote for this amendment: obeying the Word, honoring God, resisting the spirit of the age, forming well ordered churches with godly pastors who serve as spiritual fathers in the congregation, so I want to invite you to vote with Dr. Mohler at this year's convention.

But I want to ask you to do one more thing. Ask your pastor to record a video like this, ask them to link to a video like this one, ask your state executive director and your associational missionary. Ask every leader you know to support this amendment so we can be obedient to the great commission which calls us to obey God in all things, so that we can get on with the great commission which calls us to reach this lost world for Jesus.

God Bless, and I hope to see you in Orlando.

‍