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Jun 12
Our Southern Baptist Convention is promoting or proposing a document that was written under the leadership of the president, Johnny Hunt and much of the credit or blame depending on your take on the matter for writing the document goes to Danny Akin. Let me say at the beginning that I appreciate both of these men and their commitment to God’s Word, the Gospel, and our denomination. I wrote an article in the Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine that was a brief cautious but optimistic support of a Great Commission resurgence.
In the article, I pointed out that I thought the document was too long. I expressed that opinion to Johnny as he allowed the state presidents to have a look at it. The document was modified by removing some language that included the word “bloated” when referring to the bureaucracy of the SBC. Denominational workers were offended by the language although I did notice some signatures on the document by some state executives. I think we can learn a lot from this whole discussion and how we go about the discussion. No one who believes the Bible would not support a Great Commission resurgence. Unfortunately, that’s where the common ground stops especially as we evaluate how we accomplish this.
For me, the local church is the only institution that is given the responsibility of fulfilling the Great Commission. I have heard Jerry Rankin say that the Great Commission was not given to the IMB. I agree. Neither was it given to the SBC, or the ABSC or associations, etc. Now I have great friends who work in all the agencies and organizations that I have mentioned and many that I have not mentioned. Simply passing a resolution or adopting a new theme or calling for a new emphasis at a gathering of messengers will not translate into life change in the local community. That’s my opinion anyway. While others whose opinions are probably much more valuable than mine discuss or debate what is working and what is not, how to correct the issue and get headed in the right direction. I have read in Baptist publications of a underground strategy to consolidate the IMB and NAMB. I certainly do not have any first hand information that proves or disproves such speculation.
This kind of speculation and question and even discussion can really turn off a lot of people who are great folks who believe the Great Commission and want to honor God. Guys my age and older wonder why young guys don’t have denominational loyalty while others say that young pastors do have it. This stuff frustrates an older guy (that is older than the young guys) like me. There are a lot of people I think that are looking around to see if anything significant happens to change the decline of what I think is the greatest group of cooperating churches on the planet. Lots of folks are tired of red tape and bureaucracy. Lots of folks want to see the power of God and lives changed. Lots of folks want to see their life, their ministry, and church count for something significant. Lots of folks understand that significance only comes from glorifying God in obedience to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
We need on the local level to honestly evaluate what we are doing. Are we honoring God first in Worship and also in witness where we are located? You can’t brush with a broad brush because God always has the remnant. Usually the remnant is not jumping up and down saying I am the remnant! Do it like me! Or even come to my conference for $$$$$ and I will help you do it like me. (Hey, I know I just went to a conference. . .that’s the next blog). But generally speaking and for most specifically speaking, we are not being as effective as we should or better as we want to be. Some keys might be repentance, humility, responsibility,focus, and determination. Until next time. . . .Wes