A Stand for Truth: Contending for the Faith at Southern Seminary

by John R. Michael, Harriet E. Michael

During the 1980’s and 1990’s, a fierce battle raged between conservative and liberal leaders within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the world’s largest Protestant denomination. Conservatives insisted that the SBC’s six seminaries had strayed from sound doctrine, and launched a campaign to return the denomination to its historical biblical roots. The liberals were determined to stop them.
As the flagship institution of the SBC, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary became a focal point in this historic controversy. When a special committee investigated Southern for suspected heresy, the Seminary’s liberal leaders manipulated the investigation process and denied the existence of theological problems.
However, a young man on the Seminary’s Board of Trustees discovered evidence of the liberals’ manipulations, and stood dramatically against them. Enduring a series of incredible twists and turns over the course of several years, this persistent young man and a small group of fellow conservative Trustees engaged the liberals in an intense battle over the future of the Seminary. Given this institution’s stature and global reach, the impact of the conflict would be felt around the world for decades to come.

636 pages, ebook

Published January 15, 2020

Reviews

[Holland Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. This is one of those books that you look at the cover and wonder if it’s a good book. And you also read the description and you think, “there’s no way this could be a riveting story.” WRONG. I laughed, cried, vented frustration to my very own mother. I even cheered as I read through this masterpiece. This story is about the transition of a very liberal seminary into one that is one of the most conservative. It accurately encapsulates the conservative resurgence that I didn’t even know existed. I go hunting with the main protagonist of this book, and after reading, I am honored that I even get to have a guy like this in my life. You might be like me. You aren’t interested in the subject in the slightest bit, the cover doesn’t look that appealing, and you already have so much other things to read. I beg of you. Please. Take this book, sit down in a nice old library, and watch hours of your life pass away as you experience the joys found in this book. People will probably get saved reading this thing, that’s how good it is.

[Jonathan Ginn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a two-time alumnus of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, I have tremendous respect and appreciation for the way in which R. Albert Mohler has sought to faithfully lead this institution for the past three decades with conviction, courage, and commitment to God's Word. That said, however, we need to keep in mind that long before Mohler came into the picture in 1993, there were other faithful men hard at work behind-the-scenes seeking, by God's grace, to turn the ship around at the seminary. This book depicts the decade-long journey of one such man—and it is a riveting page-turner at that. John and Harriet Michael's story may never go down in the annuls of church history the way Mohler's likely will, but it remains a story well worth reading, celebrating, and praising God for.

[David Gadoury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evangelical friends around the world, both inside and outside the Southern Baptist movement, have been deeply impacted by the Gospel focused ministry of Southern Seminary. The influence of its leaders and the resulting resurgence of SBC-related ministries are immeasurable. But few can appreciate the work God did to rescue, recover and re-energize this great resource for the Christian world. Stand for Truth fills in the blanks with a testimony that is both gripping and comprehensive. I am humbled and grateful that God used our little church in some small way to prepare John Michael for the unexpected, strategic role he was to play in this story.
Dr. David Gadoury, Founding Pastor
Cranston Christian Fellowship
Cranston, RI

[Harriet E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a 2021 Selah Award winner. It took 1st place in the Nonfiction Book category.