Thread by @cuatronelson

Ok. I just finished the @EdLitton interview from @SBCthisWeek. The following are some initial thoughts. I don't feel like writing a blog today, so you'll have to deal with a twitter thread.

Here we go:

1. @Jonathan_Howe had an opportunity on behalf of southern Baptists to ask gracious and yet forthright and pointed questions to Pastor Ed. What about the horse joke, driver's ed, Augustine comment - what about these minute details here? How did that play into the "research"?

I don't know Jonathan. But he failed here in a big way. He did not serve Pastor Ed, southern baptists, or the "watching world" helpfully by glossing over these issues.

Further,

not only did he not ask difficult questions, he also put a spin saying there were "similarities" (instead of plagiarism). I expect CNN to put a spin on issues. I don't expect it from fellow Southern Baptists.

Secondly:

2. I have to wonder if Ed is either being intentionally deceptive or if he does actually not understand/know what he did? This is seen on several fronts:

a. He made a few comments about those having issues with what he did as "attacks". We were not attacking Ed, but the issue.

Does pulpit infidelity not demand the strongest of opposition? The pulpit is the place of logic on fire. It is a sacred place for exposition and exultation. It's the same reason many were upset that he shared the pulpit with his wife.

2b. Ed said this experience was really "eye opening". Yet he referred to the sermons he used as similar to using commentaries. Again, he didnt lift a word or two, but entire sections from JD *including* minute stuff tht shldn't have even mattered! Like, why was it even included!?

I don't udnerstand how this event was "eye opening" if Ed doesn't actually see the severity of what he did? Essentially he said, "Yeah, sorry, won't ever do that again. Let's talk about racial reconciliation." (Which that half of the conversation is moot right now)

2c. Ed talked about our public witness being at stake. Yes. Exactly. We are talking about men of God climbing into the pulpit and preaching the Word of God with integrity. Yes our witness is at stake. That's why this is a big issue. Bigger than what Ed is trying to say.

3. In many pulpits this would have resulted in a minimum of taking (at least) a few sundays off to reflect and pray.

Ed is both a pastor AND the SBC president. I do not understand how he and those who love him think that he serves is own soul, his church, and the SBC best by not even taking any time off? Like none at all? That would be the expectation *at minimum."

4. The comment about the sermons being down because of storage issues might not be an out-and-out lie. MAYBE. But at best it was deceptive. And Ed acted like that was no big deal.

5. For a convention that needs integrity, transparency, and grass roots involvement, this has been terrible. No one wins here.

@EdLitton, I doubt you read this but I have been praying for you. And I have also been praying that the Lord would put solid men around you to speak hard truth to you right now.