The Way We Were: How Southern Baptist Theology Has Changed and What It Means to Us All

by Fisher Humphreys

Book Overview

"The Way We Were" is a book about the theological dimensions of the controversy which shook the foundations of the Southern Baptist Convention during the decades of the 80s and 90s. That controversy... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1569775885
• ISBN13: 9781569775882
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: McCracken Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Required Reading For All Southern Baptists!

I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church that had been indoctrinated by the "new" SBC regime of the 80's and 90's. I graduated from a Baptist University that broke off from it and mourned the loss of the "old" SBC. I was torn and caught in the middle of a controversy I didn't quite understand. Several churches later I began to see the problems myself and learn of the truth to the SBC's historical beliefs. I read this book about a year ago and its content has been imprinted in my mind. Humphreys' book helped me to fully understand the theological issues involved in the revisions to the Baptist Faith & Message and how Southern Baptists are not better off than they were before! I regret that I was out of college before I understood the controversy, but I am thankful that I can recommend this book to family and friends in the SBC who have absolutely no clue as to the true historical beliefs of the SBC. I am sad to say that the SBC with its current leadership is only apt to move further away from its roots and even further away from N.T. Christianity. This book should be required reading for all those who profess themselves to be a 'Southern Baptist' today. I also recommend reading: Pagan Christianity: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices

A Brave Book

I quickly read this book from cover-to-cover. As the Southern Baptist Convention has shifted towards Fundamentalism. I was somewhat surprised and very thankful to see such a well written example of someone publicly taking a stand against the powerful leaders of the SBC. Part of Humphrey's success with this book is his respectful attitude toward the present and the past SBC leadership. I believe his respect for the current Fundamentlist leadership best represents a succesful Christ like discussion. This book should be on the reading-list for all Southern Baptists. If I had the resources I would personally buy as many copies of this book as I could to give to Baptist churches.

A very well written book

As one who would be described as from the more conservative end of Southern Baptist life, though I'm no longer SBC, I enjoyed this book. Humphries does a good job of describing the beliefs that Baptists have with all Christians, with all Protestants, with all revivalists, and that are unique to Baptists. He contends that of the 27 beliefs that once comprised the SBC four have been lost. Those are the priesthood of the believer, congregational decision making, seperation of church and state, and "no creed but the Bible." I don't agree with his assessment about the priesthood of the believer, I don't think it is a belief that has been lost in the SBC, and to his credit he list it as the least tragic of the 4 losses. While congregational decision making has been lost in some churches, in most it is still intact. Now that may change, but at the moment it seems to be unchanged, at least from my experience. I do agree with him that seperation of church and state has been lost, at least for the most part. And I agree with him that this is the greastest tragedy of the conservative takeover. One can only hope that the leaders recognize this and change it in the future. I also agree that the SBC is becoming to credal. While I have no problem with the 2001 BFM, I don't think those who prefer the 1963 BFM should be excluded from missionary service. So, while I'm not in total agreement with Fisher Humphries on his assessment of the current SBC, I found it to be a good read.

Clarification for Southern Baptists

I believe most Southern Baptists would be enlightened by reading this book. The author discusses what Southern Baptists have in common with all Christians followed by the commonalities with other Protestant denominations such as Methodists and Presbyterians. He then elaborates on the distinctive Southern Baptists beliefs and practices prior to 1979. He also details a number of minority views which have appeared among Southern Baptists over the years. In 1979 the Southern Baptist Convention came under the control of the Conservative element of the convention and has continued to be thus dominated. During this period many of the members of the Moderate element have formed another Baptist organization called the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.Having laid this groundwork, the author then talks about what has changed among Southern Baptists since 1979 and what other changes are likely in the near future.Although he does express his own opinion at times about some controversal matters and one can detect whether he leans to the moderate or conservative view, he is able to keep his presentation factual and I believe unbiased.