SBC Pastor Defends Charismatic Practices as Biblical, Beneficial for Churches
by Allie Martin
October 26, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A Texas pastor and trustee at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) in Fort Worth charges that some Southern Baptist leaders are out of line because they put restrictions on the practice of using what he calls a "private prayer language," or what is known to some charismatic Christians as "praying in tongues." In August, Dr. Dwight McKissick, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, preached a chapel sermon at SBTS. During the sermon, he criticized a policy of the denomination's International Mission Board, which prohibits missionary candidates from using any so-called "private prayer language." The incident led to the seminary's release of a statement last week announcing that no professor or administrator who endorsed this charismatic practice would be hired by the school.
Dr. McKissick disapproves of the statement and suggests that it exalts church tradition over scripture. He calls the SBTS ban a form of "charisphobia" on the part of some Baptist leaders and says it is based on "a denial of the very inerrancy of scripture that they claim to believe in."
After all, the Texas minister points out, 1 Corinthians 14:39 specifically says, "Do not forbid speaking in tongues." At a theological seminary with the status, reputation, and biblical tradition of SBTS, he assumed that his own endorsement of "private prayer language" would not be a problem," he observes, "but I was obviously in for a rude awakening."
McKissick says those Southern Baptists who oppose the practice "have yet to show me where that violates the Bible or the Baptist faith and message." But besides the lack of a scriptural basis for the policy against praying in tongues, he contends, the ban is "paternalistic and 'plantational' -- not in a racist sense, but in a control sense."
In this situation, the pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church explains, "you have a group of people that wants to govern people's private prayer lives. That is a huge offense in my opinion." And it is illogical to bar this and other charismatic practices when "churches that are baptizing and growing affirm the gifts of the Spirit," he says. "In other words, it enhances evangelism. It's not hurting evangelism."
Despite the controversy surrounding his views, McKissick says he appreciates the debate that has arisen among SBC members. "I'm just grateful that God has brought the dialogue to this point so Southern Baptists can come to a point of decision-making on this," the pastor says. I think once that's done, it'll be better for everybody."
Those on either side of this issue need one another and can help one antoerh, Pastor McKissick adds, whether they are "emotional and ecstatic in their worship" or "more refined and conservative." He says his hope is that Southern Baptists, whichever position they hold, can realize this mutual need and peacefully co-exist.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
