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Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Proposal

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Southern Baptists, of whom I am not one, were for generations smugly confident of their identity, e.g., "There are us and then the others." As they splintered into opposite and opposing sides, they began to recognize they only thought they knew who they are. Those who call themselves "moderates" (but are called "liberals" by the other side) have moved left, and those who call themselves "conservatives" (but, "fundamentalists" by the former) have moved to the right. The differences each champions have taken on a life of their own and become their new identities. Dockery attempts to identify what is common among them, which is hard work, because attacking the other side is both easier and more fun. His focus is on what is Southern Baptist rather than what is moderate or conservative.

-- Wallace Alcorn, Ph.D.

If you are a Southern Baptist, you need to read David Dockery's Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Proposal (Broadman & Holman, 2008). At first I planned on advising Southern Baptist leaders, pastors, ministers, or missionaries to read this book, but I am now convinced that more and more Southern Baptist laypeople should read this book also. Nowhere else will you find both a concise history of Southern Baptists and a robust theological vision for the future.

Dockery's book is an important work that lays the groundwork for Southern Baptist cooperation in the 21st century. He begins by renewing markers of Southern Baptist identity. He writes of the Conservative Resurgence and our continued emphasis on the inerrancy of Scripture and cooperation in fulfilling the Great Commission. He defines the gospel of Jesus Christ and shows how Baptists navigate between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Dockery devotes an entire chapter to Baptist worship, recapping the history of worship in the Baptist churches, while offering many insights for renewing Baptist worship today. Dockery distills the main arguments from his book on higher education in chapter 4, specifically - how education should serve the church and society within a confessional context.

Dockery describes the contributions of great Southern Baptists from our past in order to learn from our theological heritage. He shows how Baptist theology has developed over the centuries, writes about the main figures in Baptist life and describes how they influenced Baptists. Building upon their work, he discusses ways in which we can hold fast to Scripture into the 21st century.

Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal is a landmark book. Dockery has done all Southern Baptists a great service by laying out the framework for Baptist cooperation. His work is especially needed in a day and age in which many Baptists are polarizing into different camps. Dockery celebrates our diversity and offers genuine hope that we can continue to work together.

Dockery wants to see a new generation that will be both convictional and cooperative, and his work is a giant step in bringing together the all sides of Baptist life for the gospel, for the Great Commission and for the good of the world.