Pastorinthewoods's Weblog: Can You Handle The Truth?

THIS WAS 2008′S TOP POST. I WROTE THIS IN A SARCASTIC TONE TO PROVOKE RESPONSE BUT I ONLY RECEIVED 1 RESPONSE FROM DEBBIE WHO SAID SHE WAS AN IB. I KNOW MANY INDEPENDENT BAPTIST PASTORS AND MEMBERS AND WISH THEM WELL. MAY THEY NEVER BE ACCUSED OF BEING ANY BODY’S BUDDY.  ( BY THE WAY I KNOW THERE IS NO WRITTEN DRESS CODE IN THE IB MOVEMENT)

FOR ME I WILL KEEP PREACHING THE WORD AND CHERISH THE THOUGHTS THAT DR. SMITH THINKS I AM COOL.  

KEEP UP THE EDITORIALS DR. SMITH JUST KNOW THAT TELLING ME HOW TO DRESS IS NOT CONVINCING ME TO GO INDEPENDENT.  

In a recent article in the Sword of The Lord, Dr. Sheldon Smith gave his 8 reasons why he could not be a part of the SBC.  I could respond to all 8 of the reasons but I will choose only 1 because of its ludicrous assumptions. He said that he could not be a part of the SBC because its clergy are ”cool and casual” and are nothing more than buddies to church members.

My first thought after reading this was of an IB pastor I saw shopping at Wal-Mart once. It was pretty obvious who he was with his tailored black suit, starched shirt, red tie, red cowboy boots, and magnificient comb over.  What really set him off was his glowing KJV 1611 pin on his lapel. As I walked by and spoke in my dress pants and golf shirt I felt like I had left my halo in the car.

There are several reasons why SBC pastors cannot dress like this. My reason is that with three kids my wife would laugh me out the door if I told her that she had to iron a suit for me on Monday morning. I guess I choose to be cool.

I have a couple of questions for my IB brethren at the Sword. If I were to aspire to leave the SBC and become IB what would I have to dress like to be accepted among the IB movement ( A slick name to avoid calling it a cooperative fellowship or denomination). As I look at the Sword every month I see the same names over and over so obviously they have a list of acceptable pastors. Do they put out a dress code? If I am seen in public with a T-shirt or a golf shirt does that “compromise the Bible” and make me every-bodies buddy? If I choose to cut my grass in blue jeans or shorts(oops!) and a T-shirt does that make me less of a Bible expositor than someone who cannot go to Wal-Mart without a suit on?

I guess until I get answers to these questions I will choose to be cool as an SBC conservative. I would hate to bail out of the SBC and become and instant outcast because I didn’t know the dress code. I have never been called “cool” by anyone so it is flattering. Thank You Sword!  For your backhanded compliment.

Your Buddy,