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Voddie Baucham

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Voddie T. Baucham Jr.
Personal
Born (1969-03-11) March 11, 1969 (age 55)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
ReligionChristianity
SpouseBridget Linette Baucham (nee Wilson)
Children9
DenominationReformed Baptist

Voddie Tharon Baucham, Jr. (born March 11, 1969) is an American pastor, author, and educator. He serves as Dean of Theology at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia.[1]

Education and career

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Born in Los Angeles,[2] Baucham studied at New Mexico State University and Rice University, playing football as a tight end. He then transferred to Houston Baptist University, where he graduated with a B.A.[3] He went on to obtain an M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.[4] Baucham also did additional post-graduate study at the University of Oxford.[5] He founded Voddie Baucham Ministries in 1993.[6]

Baucham was involved in itinerant ministry for many years, primarily in Texas, but also preaching at some of the early Passion events in the late 90’s. Baucham served as pastor of Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring, Texas (a congregation within the Southern Baptist Convention) until he moved to Zambia in 2015. He is a board member of Founders Ministries.[7]

In March 2022, Baucham confirmed that he had been asked to accept a nomination for president of the Southern Baptist Convention, but noted that as an overseas missionary, he was not sure if he was eligible.[8] In 2024, Baucham moved back from Zambia to the United States.[9]

Beliefs

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Theology

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Baucham is Reformed in his theology, and subscribes to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. He calls himself a "fire-breathing, TULIP believing, five-point Calvinist."[10] Baucham appeared in the 2019 Netflix documentary American Gospel: Christ Crucified speaking in favor of penal substitutionary atonement. His statement "God killed Jesus" was criticized for "muddying the waters" on this doctrine.[11][12]

Biblical patriarchy

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Baucham is an adherent of biblical patriarchy. He outlined his views on the subject in his 2009 book What He Must Be: ...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter, though preferring the phrase "gospel patriarchy".[13] Baucham criticized Sarah Palin's vice presidential candidacy in 2008, on the basis that women serve best at home.[14][15]

Baucham is also a supporter of the Stay-at-home daughter movement.[16] He appeared in Vision Forum's 2007 documentary Return of the Daughters, in which he said that America is suffering an "epidemic of unprotected women."[17]

Family and church

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Baucham and his wife have homeschooled their children, and he has spoken against Christians sending their children to public schools.[18][19] In his 2007 book, Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God, Baucham argued that parents (especially fathers) can and should disciple their children through family worship and through attending family integrated churches.[20][21]

Critical race theory

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Baucham rejects critical race theory in favor of what he calls "biblical justice", and sees it as a religious movement, with its own cosmology, saints, liturgy, and law.[22] Baucham's 2021 book Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe outlines his criticisms of the movement.[23] In Fault Lines he argues that Critical Theory and its subsets, Critical Race Theory-Intersectionality and Critical Social Justice are grounded in Western Marxism, the public social justice conversation is perpetuating misinformation, and is incompatible with Christianity as a competing worldview.[24] In August 2021, Baucham was accused of plagiarizing parts of the book and falsifying a quote he attributed to Richard Delgado, an early researcher of critical race theory.[25] The publisher, Salem Books, rejected the plagiarism claim, saying it was merely a matter of style, while Delgado denied making such a quotation.[26]

Personal life

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Baucham is African-American.[27] He became a Christian in 1987.[28][29] He and his wife Bridget have nine children. He is a practitioner of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.[5]

In February 2021, Baucham experienced heart failure and had to travel to the Mayo Clinic Florida for treatment. A GoFundMe campaign for his medical expenses raised more than a million dollars.[30]

Baucham received the 2022 Boniface Award from the Association of Classical Christian Schools, given to recognize "a public figure who has stood faithfully for Christian truth, beauty, and goodness with grace."[31]

Books

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  • The Ever-Loving Truth: Can Faith Thrive in a Post-Christian Culture? (Broadman & Holman, 2004)
  • Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God (Crossway, 2007)
  • What He Must Be: ...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter (Crossway, 2009)
  • Family Shepherds: Calling and Equipping Men to Lead Their Homes (Crossway, 2011)
  • Joseph And the Gospel of Many Colors: Reading an Old Story in a New Way (Crossway, 2013)
  • Expository Apologetics: Answering Objections with the Power of the Word (Crossway, 2015)
  • Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe (Salem Books, 2021)
  • It’s Not Like Being Black: How Sexual Activists Hijacked the Civil Rights Movement (Regnery Faith, 2024)

References

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  1. ^ "About ACU". African Christian University. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  2. ^ Baucham, Voddie (2021). Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe. Salem Books. p. 9.
  3. ^ Baucham, Fault Lines, p. 25.
  4. ^ Baucham, Voddie Tharon (2002). A Critical Analysis of the History and Theology of the Nation of Islam with a View Toward an Effective Christian Response (DMin thesis). Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
  5. ^ a b "About". Voddie Baucham Ministries. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  6. ^ "Voddie Baucham to join Christian Studies faculty at Union University". Union University. April 8, 2004. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  7. ^ Blair, Leonardo (February 18, 2021). "How Voddie Baucham fought for years to protect his heart, health". Christian Post. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  8. ^ Blair, Leonardo (March 4, 2022). "Voddie Baucham says he's been asked to accept nomination for SBC president". Christian Post. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  9. ^ Brown, Jon (November 12, 2024). "Voddie Baucham to return to native US after decade in Zambia, asks for prayer". Christian Post. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  10. ^ "The Providence of God and the People of Promise". April 6, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  11. ^ Wait, Caleb (April 22, 2020). "'American Gospel: Christ Crucified': What Progressives Miss About the Gospel". The Gospel Coalition. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  12. ^ Randall, Joseph. ""American Gospel" Gets It Right". Reformation21. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  13. ^ Baucham, Voddie (2009). What He Must Be: ...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter. Crossway. p. 59. ISBN 9781433520815. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  14. ^ "Voddie Baucham on Sarah Palin". YouTube. February 15, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  15. ^ Watanabe, Teresa (October 1, 2008). "Evangelicals differ on whether Palin's career fits biblical model". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  16. ^ Webb, Madelyn; Munoz, Sergio (June 8, 2021). "The Heritage Foundation's critical race theory expert is an extremist who thinks women should not hold jobs and is very concerned with virginity". Media Matters for America. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  17. ^ Stankorb, Sarah (June 15, 2018). "The Daughters' Great Escape". Marie Claire. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  18. ^ Baucham, Voddie. "Top Five Reasons NOT to Send Your Kids Back to Public School". Exodus Mandate. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  19. ^ Bratcher, Sharon L. (March 13, 2018). "On public schools: evangelism is not discipleship". Reformed Perspective. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  20. ^ Nelson, Brian (October 12, 2011). "The Family-Integrated Model for Church Ministry: A Complete Break from Age-Segmented Structures". Family Ministry Today. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  21. ^ Brown, Douglas (January 5, 2012). "United Families Dividing Churches: An Assessment of the Family Integrated Church Movement". Faith Pulpit. Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  22. ^ Saliong, Sarah Mae (April 7, 2021). "Dr. Voddie Baucham Hits Critical Race Theory, Says 'The Gospel Is The Answer And The Solution' To Racism". Christianity Daily. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  23. ^ Green, Lauren (May 25, 2021). "Critical race theory and the Bible don't mix, theologian tells Fox News". Fox News. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  24. ^ Tennies, Tyler (2021). "Book Review: Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe". Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy. 2 (1): Article 8 – via American Politics Commons.
  25. ^ Smietana, Bob (August 3, 2021). "Voddie Baucham's publisher defends Fault Lines against plagiarism claims". Religion News Service. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  26. ^ Menzie, Nicola (August 3, 2021). "'Fault Lines' Author Voddie Baucham Confused or Making Things Up, Richard Delgado Says in Response to Misquote on 'Righteous Actions' of Whites". Faithfully Magazine. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  27. ^ Green, Lauren (May 25, 2021). "Critical race theory and the Bible don't mix, theologian tells Fox News". Fox News. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  28. ^ Baucham, Fault Lines, p. 24.
  29. ^ Noel, Brooklyn (July 26, 2004). "'Jock with a brain' writes as an act of stewardship". Baptist Press. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  30. ^ Lee, Jennifer (February 19, 2021). "Over $1m raised for Voddie Baucham as he battles heart failure". Christian Today. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  31. ^ "The Boniface Award". Association of Classical Christian Schools. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
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