You are if you speak your disagreements against a perspective of the Editor at SBC Voices! In an astounding show of arrogance the editor has posted an OP that outlines guidelines on how to spot wolves in sheep clothing.  What is so arrogant about his post? He uses Scripture to justify tagging brothers and sisters in Christ with the tag of “wolf in sheep clothing.”

To be fair he opens his OP with a disclaimer that he is not speaking about those that may come to various reader’s minds.

“While certain individuals may come to your mind, and may have come to mine as I wrote this, this is not directed at any individual.”

Even in his disclaimer he admits he has certain people in mind. The arrogance is not contained just in his directive of these guidelines but explodes in his pen as he tries to justify he is not speaking about certain individuals.

The people he admits came to his mind, whoever they are, seem to be those who disagree with his perspective on things.  Therefore he reveals this plastic pseudonym of referencing unbelievers. This is the entire error with his OP.  He lumps (no pun intended Peter) together blogs along with others who comment in disagreement to his (and those he supports) Baptist perspectives, with those who avow themselves as unbelievers.  Using the Scripture as his basis, the editor, in one sweep, condemns Baptist bloggers as being wolves in sheep clothing along with those who avow they do not know Christ. What do I mean?

The SBC Voices editor gave four perspective in order to establish how to deal with the commenting “wolf in sheep clothing”. First, does the issue touch the cross? He is speaking of lost people, not someone who professes to be a Christian, when he says:

“We need to make sure that enemies of the Cross are really enemies of Christ and his finished work on the Cross, not just that they disagree with me about some issue of theology.”

Second, the editor brings into question someone’s motive.  He tries to help his readers establish a basis to determine if someone is a “seeker, or a deceiver.” He says;

“We do not battle sinners, we battle the forces of darkness on behalf of sinners.  We do not fight against sinners, we fight for them.”

He makes a clear point concerning our battle.  But then he softens that point and brings into the mix false teachers.  Here is the rub that is exposed in his arrogance.

“The wolf must be identified and opposed – even publicly and by name.”

Who/Whom is/are the blogger(s) and commenter(s) the Editor of SBC Voices has called by name or allowed posts calling bloggers by name?  It is apparent if one disagrees with the Editorial staff at SBC Voices one is placed in moderation and the comments not allowed through.  That is, until the editor is confronted and then some snide backhanded swipe is made about the one disagreeing concerning the vitriol of their language and as long as they disagree without offending (mainly with the blog editor) their comments will be allowed through.

You may try to defend the open voices and free exchange of ideas some think take place at SBC Voices.  That is fine and you are free to defend that.  However, take special note at the responses to those who voice a disagreement.  Either they are lamblasted by all as being out of step or out of date, or they are “jokingly” steered in another direction.

Third, the editor questions the affect one is having.  Does the disagreeing one affect others or does the editor affect the one that disagrees.  Here is another rub of arrogance.  God’s Word tells me to protect the flock and to expose false teachers to my flock.  But that is not what this article is about.  The editor made clear this article was about blogging. What do I mean by that last statement?  Look at his concluding six principles.  It is about blogging.  However, the editor seemingly wants one to think it is about lost people.

“If I am engaging a lost person who needs Christ, and he is sharing his doubts and false beliefs and I am sharing the truths of the Word with him – that calls for a patience that comes from Christ, regardless of how he responds.”

He speaks well concerning trying to engage a lost person.  As one looks at his conclusion one will find in the very first principle; “Blogging is a tricky thing.” Thus, it is a foregone conclusion, from the outset of the OP, the editor believes if one disagrees with him they are a “wolf in sheep clothing.”

Fourth, the editor brings our attention to the level of progress being made.  In this position his arrogance oozes through his pen.

“But if you find yourself going over the same ground over and over, rehashing and reviewing and there is little sign that it is sinking in, beware.  You may be dealing with someone whose goal is not to learn the truth but to lead others into error.”

If he were speaking from a pastors perspective concerning someone coming into the local church this statement would not be one of arrogance.  However, he is not speaking of that he is speaking of someone who disagrees with him on the blog.  This someone usually will be a pastor of another church within the SBC.  Thus, he believes his position is the correct one and if you disagree with him then you are not there to express truth you are disagreeing only to lead others into error.

The editor has placed a position into the public domain for us to assess.  I have tried to do that and I wholeheartedly disagree with his position.  The position is one of arrogance and even assigns one’s eternal destination to Hell if one disagrees with him. The editor has double-downed and tried to make sure you wouldn’t disagree with him privately because he has set up an email davemillerisajerk@….. This email, he is quick to point out, is available for all who disagree with him.  The very email is condescending for the one who disagrees. As much as I disagree with him, I honestly do not believe he is a jerk.  Thus, to use the email one is intimadated from the start. Why? One does not want to call another person a jerk and to do so would be the epitome of what the article at SBC Voices promotes–arrogance. I do believe the perceived status of editor has gone to his head, but no one is a jerk for something like that.

Thus, if you disagree with the position of the editor at SBC Voices, it is official–You are a wolf in sheep clothing and your lot for eternity is Hell.  That is, in the mind of the editor.

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