I grew up American Baptist. I am the eldest son of an American Baptist pastor, Douglas Crawshaw Sr. He currently is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Waverly, KS.
I don't know a whole lot about his own doctrine, but ever since I started to question modern Christianity over 10 years ago, I had to include my own roots. If I exposed everyone EXCEPT those of my own roots, I would be rightly exposed as committing the sin of partiality (James 2:9).
In addition, Jesus reminded the Pharisees that cursing one's own father and mother is a sin worthy of death (Matthew 15:4, Mark 7:10).
So, I simply present the facts I know and let the Truth condemn if so worthy.
Here is what I know about ABC-USA that is problematic:
1. In 1982, ABC-USA made a resolution condemning capital punishment, saying: "Therefore, the General Board of the American Baptist Churches recommends the abolition of capital punishment in those states which still practice it and urges churches and members of our American Baptist constituency to support groups and agencies working for the abolition of capital punishment in those governmental jurisdictions of the U.S. where it is still authorized by law. We as American Baptists, condemn the reinstatement of capital punishment and oppose its use under any new or old state or federal law, and call for an immediate end to planned executions throughout this country."
Now, while the following Scripture is true, when the Pharisees challenged Jesus by citing the Law of Moses saying that adulterers are to be put to death (Leviticus 20:10, John 8:4-5):
Joh 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
What ABC-USA is doing asking their adherents to lobby the government to end the death penalty is to resist the rightful power of the government to put evildoers to death. Romans 13:1-2 says:
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation."
Now, to put to death the innocent is still sinful (Exodus 23:7, Deuteronomy 19:10, John 19:11). Yet, it is also a sin to resist the rightful power of the State to weird the "sword" (Romans 13:4), whether or not the executioner has sin.
Besides,
Genesis 9:6 says: "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." Numbers 35:33 says concerning murderers and the murdered: "So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it." "for blood it defileth the land" is a fact, a not just a part of the Law of Moses. Thus, as a fact, if you want your land cleansed from murdered blood, you must use the blood of the murderer, implying putting the murderer to death.
2. They affirm the ordination of women, saying in "A Biblical Basis For
Equal Partnership", written by Dr. David Scholer:
"...we have affirmed in the church that no person, called and gifted by God,
should be denied any role of ministry or leadership in the church because of
one's sex."
I am focusing on "leadership" in this exposure, because the word "ministry"
doesn't just mean "pastor", but any kind of helper.
I Timothy 2:12 says:
"But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man,
but to be in silence."
Scholer argues that the Greek word for "silence", which is also used in
2 Thessalonians 3:12, in which the NIV renders the word "settle down".
Yet, the word-for-word translations, such as the ESV and KJV renders
part of the verse as "in quietness they work". The connotations of "quietness"
and "settling down" are very different.
Even if that word could be rendered as "settle down", what about v. 13-15?
1Ti 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
1Ti 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
This confirms the absolute prohibition of women from teaching or
usurping authority over the man, as Scholar admits "if I Timothy 2:11-12
were a trans-cultural, absolute prohibition on women teaching and
exercising authority in the church..." Is not the teaching of Adam
and Eve trans-cultural and absolute?
3. They allow individual churches to decide whether or not to marry same-sex couples.
According to a Baptist Press article concerning the Supreme Court affirming same-sex marriage
nationwide, a representative for ABCUSA said:
"We respect and will continue to respect congregational freedom on this issue
knowing that, within our family, we differ, but in love."
The website is here: (https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/gay-marriage-mainline-denominations-affirm-scotus/)
Two problems. Firstly, Leviticus 18:22 says:
"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."
It is crystal clear: Homosexuality is a SIN. True, modern "marriage" is
not the same as "sex" as in "intercourse", but still, gay marriage is a farce.
Secondly, the Word of God urges believers to be of "one mind", that is,
to agree on what the Bible says (see Romans 15:6, I Corinthians 1:10, 2 Corinthians 13:11,
Philippians 1:27, Philippians 2:2, and I Peter 3:8).
As for I Corinthians 1:10, this nails down the point perfectly:
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you;
but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."
This passage also condemns the existence of Christian denominations in general.
So, if ABCUSA is so divided ("we differ") on same-sex marriage, by definition, there are liars
within the network of churches, for both stances cannot be true.
In addition, according to religiousinstitue.org, the ABCUSA has a history of division
regarding this issue.
The website is here: (http://religiousinstitute.org/denom_statements/american-baptist-churches-usa-responsesactions-pertaining-to-homosexuality/)
Where you will find only one recorded instance of unanimity on an issue.
4. The same heterogeny exists when it comes to abortion.
At first, I thought that ABC-USA was united in being anti-abortion.
Then, once it was brought to my attention that ABC-USA allows abortion,
the first thing I needed to do was to test this charge (I Thessalonians 5:21).
I then found this website (http://religiousinstitute.org/denom_statements/american-baptist-resolution-concerning-abortion-and-ministry-in-the-local-church/)
which says the following:
"We acknowledge the diversity of deeply held convictions within our fellowship even as we
seek to interpret the Scriptures under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Many American Baptists believe that, biblically, human life begins at conception,
that abortion is immoral and a destruction of a human
being created in God's image (Job 31:15; Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:44; Proverbs 31:8-9; Galatians 1:15).
Many others believe that while abortion is a regrettable reality, it can be
a morally acceptable action and they choose to act on the biblical principles
of compassion and justice (John 8:1-11; Exodus 21:22-25; Matthew 7:1-5; James 2:2-13)
and freedom of will (John 16:13; Roman 14:4-5, 10-13).
Many gradations of opinion between these basic positions have been expressed within our fellowship."
What compassion and justice is there? There is neither compassion nor justice when a child is murdered.
Even if the mother's life is at stake, there is a way to deliver the child without
intentionally killing the child or the mother, even if the child doesn't survive outside the womb.
The most compassionate and just course of action is to do all that you can to
keep both mother and child alive.
As for freedom of will, murder is not a disputable matter. It is SIN, plain and simple.
As for ABC-USA, it is plain to see that, again, there are multiple stances
within the denomination, stances that are presumed to be firm.
Again, by definition, all but one stance,
if not all stances, are false, for not all stances can be true.
Again, no sense of I Corinthians 1:10 is present in ABC-USA.
In all cases, abortion, as defined as the intentional
terminating of a pregnancy requiring the death of the life in the womb,
is a SIN, for it is murder (Exodus 20:13, Psalm 22:10).