The Christian Worldview

David Platt is one of the most influential evangelical pastors in America. He came to prominence after the release of his best-selling book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream. He has served as president of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, one of the largest missionary sending agencies in the world, and since 2017, has been pastor at McLean Bible Church, a mega-church with four locations located just outside Washington DC in Virginia. His tenure at the church has not been smooth, at least not of late. Prior to his sermon on July 4, Platt called out a “small group” of people in the church for hindering the election of three new elders. A subsequent vote took place but allegations of voting impropriety has led to a legal challenge. It turns out this is the tip of the iceberg. A 17-page letter was sent to church leadership earlier this year, detailing their concerns about the direction of the church. One of the recurring charges is that church leadership is wrongly focused on social and racial justice. A Facebook group called “Save McLean Bible Church” has been actively pushing back against Platt’s leadership. Church divisions are certainly nothing new but there are things to discern and learn from them so unity that honors God can be achieved. We hope you join us this weekend on The Christian Worldview.

David Platt is one of the most influential evangelical pastors in America. He came to prominence after the release of his best-selling book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream. He has served as president of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, one of the largest missionary sending agencies in the world, and since 2017, has been pastor at McLean Bible Church, a mega-church with four locations located just outside Washington DC in Virginia.His tenure at the church has not been smooth, at least not of late. Prior to his sermon on July 4, Platt called out a “small group” of people in the church for hindering the election of three new elders. A subsequent vote took place but allegations of voting impropriety has led to a legal challenge.It turns out this is the tip of the iceberg. A 17-page letter was sent to church leadership earlier this year, detailing their concerns about the direction of the church. One of the recurring charges is that church leadership is wrongly focused on social and racial justice. A Facebook group called “Save McLean Bible Church” has been actively pushing back against Platt’s leadership.Church divisions are certainly nothing new but there are things to discern and learn from them so unity that honors God can be achieved. We hope you join us this weekend on The Christian Worldview.

Guest: Matthew Fletcher, senior pastor, Webster Bible Church (NY)  Last week we discussed the very troubling situation that the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Ed Litton, plagiarized sermons for several years from the immediate past president JD Greear. What’s worse is that, as of yet, Litton hasn’t resigned nor has the SBC removed him for a transgression that would result in expulsion for any seminary student. The only guesses as to why Litton remains as SBC president is that Christian leaders don’t consider repeated plagiarism (a type of lying and deception) to be a disqualifying sin for a pastor or that plagiarism is so widespread amongst pastors that no one wants to “cast the first stone.” Whatever the reason, the state of Evangelical leadership is in dire condition. But lest we despair, Christ says, “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18). In other words, no failing of pastors or leaders will hinder God building His church, the body of true believers. In fact, as our guest Justin Peters mentioned last week, there are many faithful pastors laboring each day in little-known churches across the country. They may not have large social media followings, multi-site churches with thousands in attendance, and best-selling books, but they do understand the purpose of the church and their role as shepherd. Matthew Fletcher is one such pastor. In pastoral ministry for 30 years (senior pastor of Webster Bible Church near Rochester, NY), Matt joins us this weekend to discuss how a church can follow Christ’s prescription for His body and avoid the kind of mission drift so prevalent today.

Guest: Matthew Fletcher, senior pastor, Webster Bible Church (NY)Last week we discussed the very troubling situation that the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Ed Litton, plagiarized sermons for several years from the immediate past president JD Greear. What’s worse is that, as of yet, Litton hasn’t resigned nor has the SBC removed him for a transgression that would result in expulsion for any seminary student.The only guesses as to why Litton remains as SBC president is that Christian leaders don’t consider repeated plagiarism (a type of lying and deception) to be a disqualifying sin for a pastor or that plagiarism is so widespread amongst pastors that no one wants to “cast the first stone.” Whatever the reason, the state of Evangelical leadership is in dire condition.But lest we despair, Christ says, “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18). In other words, no failing of pastors or leaders will hinder God building His church, the body of true believers.In fact, as our guest Justin Peters mentioned last week, there are many faithful pastors laboring each day in little-known churches across the country. They may not have large social media followings, multi-site churches with thousands in attendance, and best-selling books, but they do understand the purpose of the church and their role as shepherd.Matthew Fletcher is one such pastor. In pastoral ministry for 30 years (senior pastor of Webster Bible Church near Rochester, NY), Matt joins us this weekend to discuss how a church can follow Christ’s prescription for His body and avoid the kind of mission drift so prevalent today...

GUEST: JUSTIN PETERS, founder and preacher, Justin Peters Ministries Just days after our recent program on the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Annual Meeting, which in part focused on the election of new president, pastor Ed Litton, and where he stands on various issues, it was revealed that Litton had for many years been plagiarizing sermons nearly word for word from immediate past SBC president, pastor JD Greear, and that Litton’s church had removed over 140 sermons from their website. The story is receiving widespread coverage, even in mainstream outlets such as the New York Times. The dictionary definition of plagiarism is “the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own.” Biblically speaking, plagiarism is stealing and is an egregious sin, particularly for a pastor and preacher of God’s word. While Greear says he gave Litton permission to use his content, Litton never publicly credited Greear. That is blatant plagiarism. So far, Ed Litton has not resigned, and based on a recent interview, doesn’t seem inclined to do so. More troubling, there has not been a universal call from the SBC or Evangelical leaders for him to step down. Justin Peters, evangelist and preacher of Justin Peters Ministries, joins us this weekend to discuss what is being called “Sermongate”. For if Christian leaders are now able to skirt past plagiarism, where does that leave the reputation and influence of the body of Christ?

GUEST: JUSTIN PETERS, founder and preacher, Justin Peters MinistriesJust days after our recent program on the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Annual Meeting, which in part focused on the election of new president, pastor Ed Litton, and where he stands on various issues, it was revealed that Litton had for many years been plagiarizing sermons nearly word for word from immediate past SBC president, pastor JD Greear, and that Litton’s church had removed over 140 sermons from their website.The story is receiving widespread coverage, even in mainstream outlets such as the New York Times.The dictionary definition of plagiarism is "the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.” Biblically speaking, plagiarism is stealing and is an egregious sin, particularly for a pastor and preacher of God’s word. While Greear says he gave Litton permission to use his content, Litton never publicly credited Greear. That is blatant plagiarism.So far, Ed Litton has not resigned, and based on a recent interview, doesn’t seem inclined to do so. More troubling, there has not been a universal call from the SBC or Evangelical leaders for him to step down.Justin Peters, evangelist and preacher of Justin Peters Ministries, joins us this weekend to discuss what is being called “Sermongate”. For if Christian leaders are now able to skirt past plagiarism, where does that leave the reputation and influence of the body of Christ?

GUEST: KATHERINE KERSTEN, senior policy fellow, Center of the American Experiment Contrary to what the mainstream media and some Evangelicals are saying about Critical Race Theory (CRT)—that it’s a “bogeyman” (that it’s made up, nothing to fear)—Christians who are paying even half attention know and see how this insidious ideology that pits non-whites against whites is infiltrating every institution in our country. The government-run public school system has become a flashpoint for heated confrontations between school boards intent on instituting CRT and parents pushing back on this racist and divisive worldview. One question that has been little discussed is: How did Critical Race Theory become so widely accepted so quickly? In other words, how could such a blatantly wicked ideology be swallowed hook, line, and sinker by so many people? Our guest to answer these questions this Independence Day weekend is Katherine Kersten, a writer, lawyer, and senior policy fellow at the Center of the American Experiment. She has written extensively on CRT, especially as it relates to the educational system here in Minnesota, which is likely taking place in your state as well. She will explain the psychological manipulation—straight from the Marxist playbook—that is being used to delude so many. She will also rebut the false assertions about America that Critical Theorists use as a basis for their deception.

Contrary to what the mainstream media and some Evangelicals are saying about Critical Race Theory (CRT)—that it’s a “bogeyman” (that it’s made up, nothing to fear)—Christians who are paying even half attention know and see how this insidious ideology that pits non-whites against whites is infiltrating every institution in our country.The government-run public school system has become a flashpoint for heated confrontations between school boards intent on instituting CRT and parents pushing back on this racist and divisive worldview.One question that has been little discussed is: How did Critical Race Theory become so widely accepted so quickly? In other words, how could such a blatantly wicked ideology be swallowed hook, line, and sinker by so many people?Our guest to answer these questions this Independence Day weekend is Katherine Kersten, a writer, lawyer, and senior policy fellow at the Center of the American Experiment. She has written extensively on CRT, especially as it relates to the educational system here in Minnesota, which is likely taking place in your state as well.She will explain the psychological manipulation—straight from the Marxist playbook—that is being used to delude so many. She will also rebut the false assertions about America that Critical Theorists use as a basis for their deception.

GUEST: TOM ASCOL, senior pastor, Grace Baptist Church (FL) The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is the largest Protestant church denomination in North America, with six seminaries, 47,000 churches, 14 million church members, and affiliate entities in 41 states. Some of the largest churches and most influential pastors in America are part of [...]

GUEST: TOM ASCOL, senior pastor, Grace Baptist Church (FL)The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is the largest Protestant church denomination in North America, with six seminaries, 47,000 churches, 14 million church members, and affiliate entities in 41 states. Some of the largest churches and most influential pastors in America are part of the SBC, including Rick Warren, Ed Young, Kerry Shook, Jack Graham, Jonathan Falwell, Matt Chandler, and Steven Furtick.Because of its size, one could say, “As the Southern Baptist Convention goes, so goes Evangelicalism in the U.S.” In other words, the doctrinal stances of the SBC and the pastors it educates at its seminaries will likely trickle down to a church near you.Which is why we are going to recap some of the most noteworthy events at this year’s SBC Annual Meeting which just took place in Nashville, TN. Member churches can send up to 12 attendees or “messengers” to participate in the annual meeting, which includes voting on resolutions and leadership for the SBC.One of those messengers was Tom Ascol, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Cora, FL. He is also the president of Founders Ministries, which produced an excellent documentary on the 2019 SBC Annual Meeting, highlighting a resolution made on critical race theory (CRT).Tom will explain some of the key moments of the Annual Meeting, including the election of a new SBC president, pastor Ed Litton, who came out on top over Mike Stone and Albert Mohler (who is the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary).Whether you’re Southern Baptist or not, please join us to discern the direction of this influential organization, and more broadly, Evangelicalism in America.