A Response to the Southern Baptist Convention Report

As SBC Leaders release the results of an investigation of sexual abuse and cover-up, what can Independent Christian Church leaders learn?

By Jerry Harris

The Southern Baptist Convention released the findings of an independent investigation detailing a decades-long pattern of sexual abuse and cover-up at the highest levels. The nearly 300-page report details specific instances of this abuse and names names. It describes how victims were not only ignored but systematically silenced. At the same time, detailed files were kept—not for the purpose of exposure and healing but instead to create protection for those in the highest levels of that denomination’s leadership. Those who have called for the investigation and subsequent report are enraged by the findings and do not mince words expressing their outrage. (Read Russell Moore’s Christianity Today article, “This Is the Southern Baptist Apocalypse,” here.)

I expect the horrific revelations contained in this report will have devastating consequences not only for the SBC, but also for the church in general. I think it makes perfect sense to conclude that some people will become disillusioned with the hypocrisy of it, and like the Catholic Church has experienced, some may leave the “organized religion” of the local church, even those outside the SBC.

We are now living in an age of exposure, where the church is being challenged to confront its sins—not only of sexual abuse and cover-up, but also misuse of funds, emotional abuse of staff, and just about every other vice. The number of once highly respected leaders, churches, and organizations that have or are presently falling and failing is staggering. It would seem that, contrary to Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:18 that the church would prevail against the gates of hell, those gates are wide open and every vile thing is infecting and destroying the church.

Actually, in my opinion, Jesus is protecting his church. In Luke 8, Jesus taught the parable of the four soils, reminding us what is necessary to produce a good crop. He further taught about a lamp placed on a stand so that what once was dark might be illuminated. Then, in verse 17, Jesus said, “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” In verse 18 he said, “Therefore consider carefully how you listen” (my emphasis).

We are hearing a lot of disturbing and heartbreaking things, but my question is, How are we hearing them? What are we learning and how are we responding? Human nature is to react, but if we would invest some time for deeper reflection, we might produce a more meaningful response. Here are some of mine:

We are all sinners desperately in need of a Savior. We shouldn’t be surprised that people, even those with a personal relationship with Jesus, do horrible things to other people We need salvation more than just once; we need it every day of our lives. The church needs a reminder that a constant attitude of repentance and call to repentance is what drives us to be conformed to the image of Christ. Church people aren’t better people, just people who have found a better Savior.

Church leaders are sinners too. In fact, church leaders may have a greater propensity to sin for multiple reasons. They have access to vulnerable people. They may have access to power, money, and influence and might use those tools to be more the exception than the example. Many leaders create echo chambers for themselves and abandon the critical accountability necessary to maintain integrity under the pressure of culture and success. The pedestal is a privilege, but if people see us instead of Jesus, we’ve failed. If we’re the heroes of our own stories, we’ve failed. If we don’t have present and active accountability, we’ve failed.

Human constructs are flawed, and we shouldn’t put our faith in them. While there will always be sin in the local church because we are all sinners, even in local leadership, monolithic structures like denominations are not generally healthy. A disconnected hierarchical leadership that makes decisions from far away towers has never been good for the local church. This is not to say we shouldn’t cooperate, even have a sense of interdependence, but not what we are seeing here.

Our faith should be in Jesus alone, not in flawed human beings or even ourselves. It’s amazing to me how many people sacrifice their faith on the altar of burnt offering because of something that a church, a church leader, or a church person did. It doesn’t make sense! None of those people have led a perfect life. None of them came to earth to die for us all. None of them have any ultimate power, let alone the power over death. None of them can take us to Heaven. Only Jesus can do that.

Being part of the church means I’m living with and loving the people Jesus calls me to love. Jesus considers the church his bride. Jesus loves us despite our shortcomings and failings. He loves us despite all the horrific things we’ve done or thought about doing. His love doesn’t excuse us, but it does remind us he is leaning toward us, not away from us. He calls us, then, to lean in the direction of other believers, the church. God reminds us we are called to be ministers of reconciliation, ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:11-21). Disconnecting from that calling is sin as much as any other.

So, what are we to do? How do we respond? Pray for the victims who have been marginalized by this abuse and cover-up. Pray for your brothers and sisters in SBC churches as they wrestle with what comes next. Pray they will fix their eyes on Jesus who is the Author and Perfecter of our collective faith. Pray that as God pulls the weeds from the field he will protect the harvest. Fill your heart with Philippians 4:8, but do not put blinders on because we all need to pay attention, lest we fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Jerry Harris serves as publisher of Christian Standard Media and as teaching pastor with The Crossing, a multisite church located in three states across the Midwest.