Are Baptist Seminaries 'Holding Firm' and 'Standing Fast'?

According to Tom Ascol, Executive Director of Founders Ministries, they sure are. Ascol writes this in his July 20th article entitled "Reforming theological education":

"One of the great results of the conservative resurgence within the Southern Baptist Convention the last three decades has been the impact made on our theological seminaries. Whatever doubts there may have been about the confessional integrity of those institutions has been, for the most part, removed. Now there is reason to believe that most professors actually believe the statements of faith that they sign in order to teach at one of our schools."

Undoubtedly, much of this can be attributed to the leadership abilities of seminary presidents such as Albert Mohler from Southern Baptist Theological in Louisville, KY. Mohler's firm stance on doctrinal accuracy and adherence to the Abstract of Principles makes him one of the figure heads for the "conservative resurgence" that has helped to bring the SBC back on track, so to speak.

In a 1993 Convocation Address to his students, Rev. Mohler had this to say about holding firm to the Faith:

"The Abstract is a reminder that we bear a responsibility to this great denomination, whose name we so proudly bear as our own. We bear the collective responsibility to call this denomination back to itself and its doctrinal inheritance. This is a true reformation and revival only the sovereign God can accomplish, but we must strive to be acceptable and usable instruments of that renewal.

The Abstract represents a clarion call to start with conviction rather than mere action. It cries out, "Don't just do something, stand there!" This reverses the conventional wisdom of the world, but it puts the emphasis rightly. Southern Baptists are now much more feverishly concerned with doing than with believing--and thus our denominational soul is in jeopardy. This people of God must reclaim a theological tradition which understands all of our denominational activity to be founded upon prior doctrinal commitments. This is true for the denomination at every level--and of the local churches as well.

But this message is also critical for the future of theological education and of Southern Seminary. We can never measure our life and work in terms of activity and statistics. In the view of eternity, we will be judged most closely, not on the basis of how many courses were taught, how many students were trained, how many syllabi were printed, or how many books were published, but on whether or not we kept the faith. The other issues are hardly irrelevant, and they are valid markers of institutional stewardship and ministry. But there is a prior question: Does the institution and those who teach here stand for God's truth, and do so without embarrassment? May we answer that question with the humble confidence of Martin Luther, and say *Here we stand; we can do no other. God help us.* "
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As an aspiring seminary student myself, it gives me great comfort to know that these seminaries are taking a firm stance on their commitment to historical doctrinal truths. A healthy SBC in years to come, is dependent on a firm theological foundation. May we ever build on the Rock.

--Bro. Hank--