Truth vs. Tone: Tithing and Other Symptoms of Decline in the Southern Baptist Convention

by Michael Hartschenko

Overview

Are you a part of a local Southern Baptist church? Have you been concerned about some of the recent developments within the leadership of the convention? Have you or your church thought about leaving the SBC?

This book began as a rebuttal to Dr. Ronnie Floyd's work, Ten Percent: A Call to Biblical Stewardship. After a deep dive into the fallacies used to attempt to force a new focus on tithing among SBC members, it became clear that this tithing effort was merely just another symptom of spiritual decline within the broader leadership of the SBC. This book reveals the importance of identifying false teaching, naming those teachers who spread false teaching and removing them from  leadership. As Jesus warned in the Bible, these people come across as sheep but they are really wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). With a focus on comparing what the Bible says to what certain leaders within the SBC are actually teaching, this book provides the framework to identify these wolves and deal with them.

Those of us who attempt to stop the wolf are told by these wolves that our tone is wrong. What is lost in the discussion is the content of their teaching. It is often void of truth but is presented as truth proclaimed in a certain socially acceptable tone. Christians are called to proclaim truth. Wolves are focused on proclaiming what is false, often for personal gain and usually focused on gaining favor with a secular audience. Wolves are content with sacrificing truth on the altar of tone.

Truth vs Tone attempts to answer the question of whether to stay or leave the Southern Baptist Convention as a result of its apparent decline. Can we find a hope in the SBC for dealing with church decline? YES! Is it likely? Well, that may very well be another story. It seems the SBC remains more concerned about perceived tone in the eyes of the secular world rather than proclaiming the truth of the Scriptures. It seems that the only criticism allowed is when it is directed at those of us who are even suggesting that there is a toleration for false teachers among us. Our efforts MUST REMAIN grounded in the Word of God and NOT in man-made fallacies. Truth must prevail over any desire to maintain a certain tone to a watching world.

It seems there are a growing number of leaders and congregations who are hearing the blowing of the trumpet and are deciding to leave the SBC. Responding to the call to blow the trumpet is a mandate and not a personal decision. Responding to the trumpet blast demanding repentance is a mandate and not a personal decision. Scripture is clear- those who choose to ignore the call to make the shout for repentance or to choose to ignore the call for repentance will be held accountable. The efforts of the Church to be the Church by being "salt" and "light" (Matthew 5:13-14) and fulfilling Jesus' command to "make disciples" through "baptizing" and "teaching" (Matthew 28:19-20) MUST REMAIN grounded in the Word of God and NOT in man-made fallacies.

The intent of this book is to provide a framework to identify and deal with the symptoms of decline as evidenced through a focus on tone within the SBC. In line with this, the hope is to assist others in the pursuit of identifying and dealing with false teaching by providing the resources to assess their own local church or to find a good local church by knowing how to identify false teachers and how to identify networks or denominations to avoid.

Overall, the answer to the burning question of whether it is worth the fight to stand for truth over tone is, "YES!" But it also begs the question of whether this fight for truth over tone must be waged within the context of a declining Southern Baptist Convention. The answer here seems to be a resounding, "NO!"

Product Details

BN ID:	2940166512666
Publisher:	Michael Hartschenko
Publication date:	07/04/2022
Sold by:	Draft2Digital
Format:	eBook
File size:	312 KB

About the Author

Michael Hartschenko has been a part of the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) for decades in New Jersey, Tennessee and Virginia. He has served the local church in various waysin children, youth and adult settings and has been an Ordained Minister since 2002. He holds a B.A. from Lee University in pastoral Theology and Criminology with an internship as a prison chaplain. He also holds an M.Div. from Regent University in Practical Theology with an emphasis in cell church leadership and church planting. He is also a certified coach through Lifeforming Leadership Coaching and created a motivational gifting workshop. He has worked in regional jail settings since college and was a DCJS General and Firearms Instructor. Currently, he is a CDL Driving Instructor and DMV Examiner. He currently resides in Virginia with his beautiful wife of 28 years, Holli. They have four children (Cassandra, Nathaniel, Alexander and Brianna) and five grandchildren (David, Aaron, Bethany, Eliana and Sofia). For further information or questions about Truth vs. Tone, contact Michael at [e-mail] or truthvstone.com