BNG reported that Baucham and Bratton worked together at the church during a two year period wherein Bratton’s abuses took place and implied that Baucham had not been proactively cooperative with the police investigation. Though, the only evidence BNG gave for this implication is that Baucham has never made a public statement regarding Bratton’s abuse and that Baucham and Bratton previously had a close working relationship.
Apart from what BNG has published, Baucham has also recently been the subject of criticism on social media for a quote taken from a sermon he gave on biblical womanhood over a decade ago. In that quote, Baucham appears to argue that part of the reason why some men leave their wives for younger women is because of a lack of affection they experience with their daughters.
RELATED: Ed Litton Stresses ‘Removing Stains’ of the SBC in Executive Committee Address
In the sermon, Baucham explained that Christians often confuse love with sensuality, which leads fathers to withhold physical affection from their daughters once their daughters mature into womanhood. Baucham argued that this lack of affection from fathers is what causes young women to run off with irresponsible young men.
Baucham went on to explain that not only do daughters crave affection from their fathers but that fathers also need affection from their daughters.
“A lot of men are leaving their wives for younger women, because they yearn for attention from younger women. And God gave them a daughter who could give them that. And instead, they go and find a substitute daughter,” Baucham said. “You’ve seen it. We’ve all seen it. These old guys going and finding these substitute daughters.”
In response to the above quote, one person tweeted, “Please. Stop making excuses for Voddie Baucham. From all angles, in and out of context, this is decidedly unbiblical. God did not give men daughters to satiate their lusts.”
“This is just gross,” said another. However, others contended that Baucham’s words were taken out of context, as Baucham was arguing that the problem at hand is men confusing love and affection with lust and sensuality.
Willy Rice Responds to Criticism of Baucham
In response to the recent onslaught of criticism against Baucham, Willy Rice released a statement on Wednesday (March 9) regarding his potential opponent in the SBC presidential vote. Linking the statement in a tweet, Rice said, “We can discuss and debate our differences, but when we do, we should manifest the fruit of the Spirit not the spirit of this age.”
“Voddie Baucham is my brother in Christ,” Rice said in the statement, going on to explain that he has seen a number of articles and social media posts that are “strongly critical” of him.
“In my opinion, some of these things simply cross the line. Such attacks are unnecessary, unloving, and harmful to our witness. I condemn both the nature and the content of criticisms that distort the truth, unjustly impugn Voddie’s character, and attack his family,” Rice said. “I do not know Voddie Baucham. I have been aware of his prodigious ministry through the years, and I appreciate his courage and conviction.”
RELATED: Florida Pastor Willy Rice to be Nominated for SBC President
Rice expressed that he has no interest in running as an adversary to Baucham but instead wants to run “with anyone following after Jesus, who loves Southern Baptists and desires to see us fulfill our Great Commission mandate.”
