Their successes are numerous such as the large number of impressive churches, colleges, seminaries, orphanages; many quality hospitals; and a disaster relief agency. Their failures have been mainly in the area of liberalism in their schools. To their credit, a few years ago, conservative leaders made a valiant effort to take back the SBC from liberals who controlled it. They were surprisingly successful since that had never happened in history.

Today, their problems are numerous such as the corrupt colleges; decline of baptisms; reformed theology; wine-bibbing pastors and members; ordained women preachers (over 1,225); and insurrection of younger leaders noted for their leftist theology and left wing social positions–a problem in all religious groups.

Unfortunately, the International Mission Board (IMB), known as the Cooperative Program, is millions of dollars in the red. Dr. David Platt is head of the IMB and oversees about 9,000 missionaries, but the IMB has not been able to pay the bills in recent years; hence, their attempt to entice Independent Baptists into their fold. Platt announced in Sept. of 2015 that they would “reduce the total number of our personnel…by 600-800 people over the next six months.” He admitted that the IMB had spent “$210 million more than people gave to us” since 2010! How does an organization overspend $210 million and what about hundreds of missionaries who were removed from the field because of financial irresponsibility?

The impersonal cooperative missions program of the SBC is partly responsible. Seldom do SBC church members get to meet their missionaries, pray for them by name, or send them birthday and Christmas cards because a faceless, impersonal program takes care of SBC missionaries. A few SBC churches also support missionary families from various Baptist mission boards.

The biggest boat-rocker and wave-maker in the SBC is Dr. Russell Moore, Executive Director of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). Moore seems to have a natural inclination to poke  sticks into the eyes of traditional SBC leaders as when he suggested that Trump supporters came from the “Jimmy Swaggart wing” of evangelicalism and that Southern Baptist leaders who met with President Trump were “drinking the Kool-Aid.” Evidently, Moore has not read the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People.

Moore angered many white conservatives when he wrote. “The man on the throne in heaven is a dark-skinned, Aramaic-speaking ‘foreigner’ who is probably not all that impressed by chants of ‘Make America great again.’” We might ask the reverend if “Black Lives Matter”; “Sharia yes, Democracy No!”; or “America, go to Hell!” and similar chants impress “the man on the throne”! And what does Moore think of those chants?

Much of Moore’s strong support comes from the 4,000 mostly black congregations in the SBC. They especially liked his stand on the SBC’s decision to “repudiate the display of the Confederate Flag.” Moore wept tears of joy at that decision. Moreover, the black pastors showed their appreciation for Moore when the president of the SBC’s National African American Fellowship, recently defended him in an open letter to the Baptist Press.

Moore had a major lapse in judgment when he filed a religious-liberty brief in favor of a New Jersey mosque, poking most SBC pastors in both eyes.

With the annual convention of the SBC taking place in Phoenix this month, the long knives are out but then maybe that is not a proper metaphor in a Christian context. A better choice would be that some of Moore’s critics will have their Bible verses ready. I believe the treatment of Moore may determine the direction and even threaten the cohesion of the SBC in the very near future.

Last year, 49 SBC churches left the convention which is far more than the six or so that leave each year. Some of those that don’t leave are snapping shut their checkbooks, something that gives denominational leaders perpetual heartburn and keeps them awake at night. According to Christianity Today, “more than 100 churches threatened to end their donations to the SBC’s Cooperative Program” because of their dissatisfaction with Moore.

The prestigious Prestonwood Baptist Church, served by former SBC president Jack Graham, stated that they would escrow up to one million dollars that would normally go to the Cooperative Program. Remember that the Cooperative Program has been printing red ink for many years.

The Washington Post reported that Frank Page, former president of the SBC and now chief executive officer of the SBC, recently met with Moore and would not rule out the possibility that Moore would be asked to resign.

Watch closely this month when the SBC messengers convene in Phoenix. I’m not sure Baptists will bring long knives to the convention, but for sure, they will bring their well-marked Bibles: Tit. 2:15: “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority” and Eph. 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” II Tim. 4:2: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Dr. Russell Moore may be touted in Phoenix as an illustrious religious leader or be standing in the unemployment line–with a handful of sticks for future eye-poking!

Boys’ new book Muslim Invasion: The Fuse is Burning! was published recently by Barbwire Books; to get your copy, click here. An eBook edition is also available.

The Muslim group went even further to preempt a brutal battle similar to what erupted in a town nearby over building a mosque. Trying to satisfy the opposition, the Muslims chose not to have a dome and its minarets would be chimney-style as are homes in the area. And the minarets would not be as high as church steeples. That would eliminate Christians whining, “Your minarets are higher than our steeple. It’s unfair.”

The opposing group determined to wear down the Muslims by making various excessive demands. There were 39 public hearings, and almost four years of demands for one change after another by town officials and planning board members. Even though each proposal was agreed to by the Muslims, they were followed by additional demands.

The four-acre requirement for churches was increased to six-acres. The parking lot was approved for 50 cars but was increased to 107 cars. But the mosque approval was denied by the town. Obviously, most of the opposition to the mosque was ill-disguised and ill-considered and without merit.

The major opponent declared, “Shariah law is one of the greatest threats to American values and liberties.” So, obviously, the issue was what Muslims believed and practiced. Therein is the rub.

Christian groups, including some Baptists, got involved in a suit to permit the mosque to be constructed! While I believe in religious liberty, I think Baptists have far more pressing and less controversial issues to support. I wonder if the broadminded Christians would be so supportive of a satanic group wanting to build a temple for their coven of Satanists! If not, why not? Islam is far more deceitful, disruptive, and dangerous than a few Satanists performing their silly rituals.

Brent Walker is the recently retired Executive Director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty who said, “It’s good when we can join hands with…folks we are sometimes on the other side of.” But God warned us not to be yoked together with unbelievers.

Other non-Muslim mosque-supporters included Dr. Russell Moore of the Ethics and the Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and Dr. David Platt of the International Mission Board (IMB), both agencies of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Platt “apologized” for his actions that were distracting and divisive but not for disobedience of Scripture! Bud Ahlheim wrote in Pulpit & Pen, “But in the case of much of the SBC, it seems that Biblical disobedience isn’t all that much of a crime, isn’t a sin, and isn’t an issue. When you get caught, apologize for the confusion, not for the transgression.” True, but that is typical of everyone, including Independent Baptists.

When Dr. Moore was confronted by fellow-Baptists about the mosque caper, he refused to apologize but did manage to antagonize his critics. Moore could only be more controversial if he led a short-term mission project to help build the New Jersey mosque! Reports have surfaced that Moore may get the axe during the annual SBC meeting in Phoenix next month; however, only his executive board has the authority to remove him. The fate of Moore may determine the future of the SBC.

Not to be outdone, the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) signed on to support the mosque-builders. About 20 other faith-based groups have joined the suit including Hare Krishna, Sikh, Jewish, and Muslim.

The suit declares that the town cannot discriminate against Muslims by requiring a different criterion from other religious groups. This is an old story of which all sincere people should be aware. For decades, Christians in America have been refused permission to build by big-city authorities because “we don’t need any more churches in this part of town.” Of course, this has been an ongoing problem for centuries in Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. I think it should be heralded that there is not one church in Saudi Arabia! Why is no one screaming about that? Have all these religious groups taken a public stand on that issue? Why not?

All right, this is America so we are held to a higher standard. I agree and I feel queasy about the silly, unfair demands made by the opponents of the mosque. If a town can ban Muslims, they can ban Methodists. I detest inconsistency. Additionally, it is illegal to use zoning as an excuse to ban a religious group from building based on the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000.

“We really felt it was important to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Muslim brothers and sisters,” Walker the Baptist said. Say what? Has Walker lost his mind or is he overcome in a seizure of an ecumenical spasm that shut off his thinking process? All Baptists know that we are brothers to those who have been born into the family of God through the New Birth. Has he been called upon to explain his ridiculously unscriptural statement? Or, is this issue the cause of his retirement?

A major principle that most Americans don’t know is that no one speaks for Baptists. You can speak to Baptists but not for Baptists. I speak for myself.

Galen Carey of the NAE said it was not unusual for the association to support plaintiffs of other religions. Carey said it has backed a Muslim prisoner’s right to grow a beard and Jewish inmates’ right to kosher food behind bars and a Muslim woman’s successful Supreme Court case to wear a hijab while working at retail store.

I think those issues are without merit, after all, doesn’t a department store have a right to determine employees’ dress? Must a prison cater to every religious practice? Can a snake-handling fanatic demand a bag of rattlesnakes in his cell? After all, that is a religiously held belief with more biblical support than a hijab. And no one can question the sincerity of snake-handlers!

There are limits on what can be permitted based on religious belief. Some church members sit around in the nude so is the state required to overlook the harm done to children in such a church? If a church believes in sacrificing a virgin on an altar every January 1, are they to be permitted to do it? These days they will not have much of a future since virgins are difficult to find. Since Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe in blood transfusions, are they to be permitted to refuse blood for their sickly children? So, there are some limits to religious freedom, and I believe there must be limits on all mosques, and even on churches in extreme cases!

Islam is not only a religion but is a total way of life–economic, social, legal, and religious–that Muslims believe should regulate everyone. Christianity is also a total way of life but without coercion. It is fact that every true Muslim is obligated to make the nation in which he or she lives, a Muslim nation. All true Muslims believe in sharia law. Since 51% of American Muslims believe they have the right to be ruled by sharia rather than local laws and 20% of American Muslims believe violence is permitted to make sharia the law of the land, it is not only a religious matter. It is not very smart to encourage your executioner.

Islam is a poitical system taking advantage of our much-revered first amendment guaranteeing freedom of religion. It is seeking to destroy our Constitution and Bill of Rights, to replace them with sharia to gain world domination and subjugation of all non-Muslims. No mosque should be permitted in America unless the leadership declares under oath that they do not have plans to conquer America; they do not support female sexual mutilation; do not support honor killings; do not support violence against those who criticize Islam or Mohammed; do not support retaliation against those who leave Islam; and disavowal all forms of terror any place in the world. After permission to build the mosque, any deviation of the above would result in the leaders being arrested and the mosque demolished.

After all, under President Bush, on February 13, 2001, Federal Marshals raided the Indianapolis Baptist Temple and carried out many of my friends who were praying at the altar! The feds sold the 6 million dollar property for 1.5 million to a charter school. They attacked and later destroyed the large, famous, fundamental church based on far less (and inaccurate) transgressions than the above.

By the way, where were all the Christian mosque-defenders when the beautiful auditorium was bulldozed to the ground? They were not in Indianapolis for sure; after all, it was an Independent Baptist Church, not a Muslim mosque!

Maybe George Orwell was right. While all animals are equal, it seems some animals are more equal than others!

Boys’ new book Muslim Invasion: The Fuse is Burning! was published recently by Barbwire Books; to get your copy, click here. An eBook edition is also available.