Southern Baptist Must Change Or Die!?!

Mohler: SBC must be willing to change or face serious decline

By Jeff Robinson

The Southern Baptist Convention faces a critical crossroads and must move into the future with denominational structures and methods open to change or face serious decline, R. Albert Mohler Jr. told attendees of a forum on the future of the SBC held Aug. 19 at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Southern Seminary’s president said the SBC in 2009 continues to operate largely out of a model that the denomination adopted from corporate America in the early 20th century, a model that prioritizes efficiency over theological conviction in carrying out the task of missions.

“Certainly in business, efficiency can be a make or break word between profit and loss,” Mohler said, “but when it comes to missions and the work of our churches and the work of the Gospel around the world, efficiency has a limited application.

“What this really marked, more than anything else, was an infusion of a business culture into the life of the denomination…Churches were now concerned with efficiency; decisions were made on the basis of efficiency.”

In the 1950s, the SBC underwent a restructuring calculated to bring greater denominational efficiency, Mohler pointed out; this led to the adoption of a programmatic approach to ministry based more on corporate management practices than on theology.

The approach worked because in those days the SBC largely held the evangelical franchise in the deep South and its programs were so vast that a Southern Baptist would develop a “tribal identity” that defined his church life from the cradle to the grave; Southern Baptist children would participate in all of the age appropriate SBC programs from life until death, he said.

Though American culture, particularly in the Bible belt, has changed profoundly, Mohler said the SBC has continued to operate out of a 1950s programmatic mentality. He compared the denomination to two American institutions: the General Motors Corporation (GM) and the shopping mall.

For most of the 20th century, more than half of all the automobiles sold in America were manufactured by GM. While the car-buying culture changed in the late 20th century, GM continued to operate out of a business model that worked well in the 1950s. Now, the automobile giant has declaredbankruptcy and has ceased to be a publicly-traded corporation.

Similarly, shopping malls exploded in number over the second half of the 20th century, but today, hundreds of the hulking complexes sit empty because businesses today want to operate outside of malls so their storefronts will have increased visibility.

In the same way, Mohler said the SBC faces a bleak future if it continues to minister out of a business model from the 1950s instead of one that is driven by theological and missional concerns, neither of which is susceptible to the shifting currents of culture.

“The question we have to ask is the same question that General Motors should have been asking for the last 20 years: What has changed and why have we not?” he said. “Or for those whose business is the shopping mall: Has the logic of this particular organizational pattern been eclipsed by something else?

“Are the people who are actually in our churches today and the people we are trying to reach today, are they attracted to that kind of logic or does it seem like an age gone by?” Mohler said the SBC faces at least 10 questions, which he put in terms of dichotomies.

Mohler said Southern Baptists in the future will be either:

1. Missiological or bureaucratic
The denomination will be driven by the work of the Gospel mission as set forth in Scripture or it will die a slow death along a path clogged by bureaucratic red tape.

“The missiological logic, I would suggest, is the only logic that fits the church of the Lord Jesus Christ,” he said. “Unless the SBC very clearly asserts an unashamed, undiluted and ruthless missiological logic, we are going to find ourselves out of touch with our churches, with the generation now coming into leadership and with the world we are trying to reach, because the logic of bureaucracy will never take us where we need to go.”

2. Tribal or theological
The SBC must be driven by common doctrine and not a “cradle to death” ethos in which one is a Southern Baptist by virtue of being raised in a SBC church. The SBC “tribal identity” no longer exists because the cultural assumptions that underpinned such a nostalgic identity have disappeared, he said.

3. Convictional or confused
The basis of cooperation among Southern Baptists must be a robust theology. Mohler said Southern Baptists must not be afraid to discuss and even debate theology:

“If we avoid talking about theological issues, if we try to minimize the theological logic of this denomination…Or if we make every issue a first-order issue, we are going to have a very confused people,” he said. “Southern Baptists are going to have to grow up theologically in this new age and we’re not going to have any choice. Southern Baptists are no longer going to be insulated from the theological and ideological currents around us.”

4. Secular or sectarian
Southern Baptists are sectarian by their very nature, he said. Because of their allegiance to Christ and Scripture, Mohler urged that they must be qualitatively different than the world in their mores, ideology and convictions. In the mid-20th century South, Southern Baptists did not have to be sectarian because they were “at home” within that culture, Mohler said, but no longer.

“The South became the Sun Belt and the primary religion of the Sun Belt is materialism,” he said. “We have gotten contamination from other worldviews and we are going to have to recover the sense that the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is always, in a New Testament sense, sectarian. It is going to be made up of resident aliens who are never fully at home in the culture because the culture itself is a Genesis 3 culture and the church is called to a different worldview under allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ.”

5. Younger or dead
The SBC, Mohler pointed out, is losing two-thirds of its young people between adolescence and adulthood. He said Southern Baptists must reach the younger generation with a theologically robust vision of the Christian life to rescue them from a deadly therapeutic ethos that says God wants their lives to be worry-free, prosperous and happy.

6. Diverse or diminished
Mohler said studies show that by 2050, 25 percent of all Americans will have a Hispanic grandparent. Th e denomination will have to become more racially diverse to reach America, he said.

7. Missional or more methodological
“For a long time when you asked the question, ‘Who is a Southern Baptist?’ you got a methodological answer,” Mohler said. “You got a certain historical answer, a certain minimal theological answer, but by and large, it was a methodological answer. By and large, that’s not going to be an option in the future. The church is not methodological, but is deployed for the cause of the Gospel.”

8. More strategic or more anemic
Southern Baptists must update their missions strategy at every level. Local churches will have to become individual missiological units to reach their communities, Mohler said. A fast-changing world demands that Southern Baptists be constantly rethinking their missions strategy.

9. More bold or more boring
“This is a generation that is not going to be satisfied with boring,” Mohler said. “The kind of boring logic which is the same thing being said in roughly the same way every time – no surprises – is simply not going to work because that’s not the way the New Testament is. The mission of the Lord Jesus Christ is so bold that it can never be boring. … This means we are going to have to take risks.”

10. Happy or bitter
The SBC has gained a reputation for denominational crankiness, Mohler said, adding that Southern Baptists often seem upset, angry and frustrated even while claiming to be happy.

“Crankiness often erupts on the floor of the Southern Baptist Convention,” he said. “We criticize people who are not even there. We raise issues as if this is where the SBC should direct its energies. …

“The risk here is that we will be cranky in all the wrong ways. If we stand by the Scriptures, we are going to have to say hard things to a culture around us that will consider us backward, unloving, intolerant, while having to stand by the truth. …

“We cannot afford to waste our energy on being cranky about things that are irrelevant and unhelpful and extraneous to the life of the SBC. When we gather together there had better be evident joy and there had better be a unity of purpose and a commonality of heart or people will stop coming.”

Video and audio of Mohler’s presentation on the future of the SBC is available at …

http://www.sbts.edu/resources/lectures/presidents-forum/video-the-presidents-forum-on-the-future-of-the-southern-baptist-convention/?play=true

And they called them Christians...

“And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.” Acts 11:26

In this small little verse in Acts we see a term that is being used for the first time ever; “Christian.” It was the first time they had ever been giving this mark by other people. This title comes not from the believers in Christ, but from everyone on the outside of things. Everyone around them saw this people who were “Christ-like” or “Christ-natured” and they began to call them Christians. The definition of a Christian is, little Christ or like Christ, or in the very nature of Christ.

As I think about the word Christian, I begin so see some cloudy mire around the surface. There is a whole lot of people and things claiming to be “Christian”, but the sad thing is that I am not to sure that it is a correct interpretation of the word. There are a lot of “Christian” churches who have forgotten the words of Christ and they will not even let the Holy Spirit in their doors. Instead of the “Come and follow me.” from Jesus; it seems as if they heard “Come, sit and wallow.” So much of our churches are full of people who claim Christ, but only if it is convenient or full of “prosperity.” I wonder if we have even realized that we have turned a definition of a way of life into a label or title or something in which rides the backs of candidates to the White House.

But before it seems like I am way off base, let’s look at the early church before they were even given this definitions of their life and livelihood. And let’s look at the other two times this word “Christian” is used…

...

“But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose…” Acts 2:13-15

The Church had felt the Holy Spirit move like a rushing wind into their lives and community. Now the interesting thing is that outsiders perceived them to be drunk on wine, but that was not the case at all. They were “drunk” with the Holy Spirit. Filled and overflowing with intimacy and closeness to God. They were so different that people could only explain there behavior as…they had to be drunk.


“And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” Acts 2:44-45

They gave up all they had to support each other and love one another. Today all we do is gossip and pick at each others flaws and imperfections. They were quite the opposite, if one was hurting or in need they gave freely because God had freely given to them as well. I wish I could see this more in churches, people giving their money, time, and even their lives for the sake of others and the sake of Christ.


“But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.” Acts 3:6-7

They were doing amazing signs and wonders in the name of Jesus Christ. Peter had nothing more than the Christ to give to people. Most of us, have much more than Peter could have dreamed of but we don’t use it for God’s glory. And even more so, we rarely share or confess the name of Christ to people who are in need.



“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31

They were filled with boldness in their devotion and proclamation of God. Time and time again we see that they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Always, the spirit was with them and leading them in the ways of the Lord with utter boldness.



“and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” Acts 5:40-42

They suffered for Christ! Enough said, they suffered for the sake of the Gospel and of Christ because of its “surpassing worth” to them. I rarely see anyone in the American Church who actually suffers for the gospel. Instead, we avoid persecution and we say they people don’t get persecuted for their faith in America. But that is not true, if fact most people avoid confirmation or persecution by not even mentioning the name of Jesus. Instead it is “politically correct” to say God because it’s all inclusive. The apostles proclaimed Christ and got beaten over it, yet they went away rejoicing because they were counted worthy to suffer in the name of Christ Jesus.


Acts 7
We see Stephen teaching the Gospel of Christ and being persecuted for it. He is then stoned to death because of his challenge to the authority and high priests.


Act 8
Saul ravages and persecutes the early church and kills many, yet the church grows larger because of their boldness in proclaiming the gospel and showing love to others.


Acts 9
Saul is now converted to a follower of Christ and his new name become Paul. And God sends Ananias to minister to Paul about Christ. And Paul then goes and proclaims the gospel to they synagogues and to the gentiles.

…

And then we look at the other two times “Christian” is used in Scripture.


“Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" Acts 26:28

Paul’s life was about the spreading of the gospel and in his time he had contact with many people. One person he came in contact was King Agrippa. But because of the stand and life of Paul people noticed something different.


“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” 1 Peter 4:12-16

Once again, the term “Christian” is used in reference to the way we suffer for the sake of Christ and what we live for in Him. If we take a stand for Christ, we are going to suffer.

…

And then we come back to our original verse, “And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.” Now it may seem like this big run around answer to a simple question, but the true of the matter is that it was needed to look at that in small debrief.

If you noticed these people who would eventually be called Christians were doing great and mighty things in the Lord Jesus Christ. It wasn’t a title or cheesy t-shirt label. It was more than that, it was a way of life. It was a way of letting Christ define who you are and what you are. It was about showing love and proclaiming the great story of love for you and for me.

The question is, are we living up to the word “Christian” according to scripture or the apathetic and complacent view of “Christians” in America?

"I Will Build My Church"

For the past weeks I have been look at a few verses over and over again. And one that I keep coming to is Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus was giving a proclamation to Peter saying you will be apart of my Holy and solid Church. He was essentially saying, “My church is an ever-growing and unstoppable Church.” This undeserving group of people (very much myself as well) who were rooted in “Christ, the Son of the living God” (v.16) would assemble in such a way that nothing could stop them from fulfilling the commands and purposes of God.

At first thought, I think “WOW!” To think that for some reason or another I am apart of this unstoppable force of God is speechless. And then my mind starts to trail off and the next question enters my mind, “If this God willed, ordained Church is so unstoppable, then why does the American “Church” (and I use that word loosely for some) seem so stoppable?”

And I wonder, when Jesus was dying on the cross did he ever think He was dying for money, programs, air conditioned/heated buildings, extravagant “get you in the door” ministries, tight worship bands, expensive sound systems, Christian books, blogs, podcasts, cheesy lingo…? I wonder…

What if we got rid of all those things and all we had were just a few people and some bibles. Would the Church still be as large as it is? Would our pews be as full? If we stood only on the Word and the promises of God, would it still be what it is in America? I don’t think it would. I am saddened by idea that if the church was just people and the Word of God, that it would be smaller.

But, and a big BUT! I think that if the Church was literally just a few passionate people who stood on the Word of God and lived in His grace, then that church will be unstoppable. That is the Church that Christ died for and that is the Church we see all through the book of Acts. And that is the Church that I hope to see one day in America, and hopefully the Church that I hope to work in and with.

“I will build my church” I am reminded about that statement each time I read it. Christ will build His church, and I will be apart of it REGARDLESS of whatever happens.
I was reminded that in spite of the mess we have created, it was so good to know that God will build his church.

Do You Love ME?

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

(John 21:15-17)

I see this image of Jesus after the Resurrection and Peter talking. Its after this intimate breakfast with all the disciples after a long drawn out night of fishing and soul searching. And Jesus cuts right to the chase, "Do you love me more than these?" The question that arises is what is "these?" Now these could mean: "Do you love me more than these (Fish)" or "Do you love me more than these (other men)?" Regardless Jesus his really asking and probing Peter about his love and belief in Christ. When Jesus is asking do you love me; He is using the Greek word agapao. This love is a Godly love and is a deeper style of love and a passion for that other person. But Peter's response is "you know I love." The love he uses is the Greek word phileo. This is a brotherly love or genuine affection. Its very vague in response to the other form of love.

It is interesting that Peter had such a lesser response. Peter grieved over this and it is plain to see that he is disappointing with himself. I guess the real question is, do we really love God? I wonder if we really love Him as much as we say we do. When you are in love with someone or something you usually do crazy things. Love makes you do crazy things. When Liz and I first started dating I remember doing things for her. I borrowed her car once to run errands and in the process I cleaned to outside and inside of her car, and then I also put a full tank of gas in her car. I also left her this super sweet note to go along with it. I didn't do it out of obligation, but out of love and a caring heart. You see, when we someone then we will be willing to do any crazy things for them. I wonder if we do crazy things for God out of love? Do we or is it out of obligation? Or do we even love him. You see after Jesus left Peter and ascended into Heaven; we see people go do all these crazy things out of his love for Jesus. Preaching to thousands to healing and etc.

So do we love God? Are we crazy about him? I hope we begin to fall madly, deeply and crazy in love with God!! The God who spoke the earth into existence and saved our souls..."Do You Love Me?"

My Two Request Unto God

Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.

(Proverbs 30:7-9)

This is the only prayer that is in the book of Proverbs; it is the prayer of Agur. It is something very simple, yet is something that I personally will begin to be praying for. I feel in someway that it is the prayer that I want for my life. Notice that in this prayer, there is only two requests that is asked of the Lord.

The first request is "keep falsehood and lies far from me." I think this means two things. It means that he wants to be a person of integrity, who has no lies and deceit come from his mouth. I think in someway it is saying "Lord keep me from spreading false truth about you and everything in general." I think it also means "God protect me from false truth that is around me." It implies both that he doesn't want to be lair and that he doesn't want to have lies around him. He is not only asking to not spread false truth, but also that he will be delivered or protected from any false truth that may be in this world.

The second request is "give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread." This second request is two fold. Give me neither riches or poverty. He is saying God don't give me riches, because I know that if you do give me riches then I will probably forget God and be completely satisfied in myself. God don't give me poverty, because I will probably steal and cheat, and that will only dishonor and profane the name of God. Instead of asking for either he insists that God only give him his "daily bread." The bare minimum, the living pay check to pay check. He was literally praying "God don't give me too much, only enough to survive for the day." Saying this means that he wants to stay totally dependent in God alone!

My prayer for myself is that God will only give the daily necessities so I am still completely and utterly dependent on God. I hope you as well will read this and challenge yourself to pray this and to rest solely in the goodness and grace of Christ.

Savior On Capitol Hill?

Is Barack Obama the messiah? NO, but many people have this feeling that he is our hope and our strength for a better day. Earlier in the day I went to a local book store in Chattanooga and I saw a book that kind of caught my attention. It was a children’s book that displayed Obama’s face in a very savior-like fashion. There is even a sculpture in Chicago that depicts him looking like Christ. People everywhere are giving in to the idea that he is our savior and will be the “hope” for all of us. When movie director Spike Lee predicted Obama’s victory in November he said, "When that happens, it will change everything. ... You'll have to measure time by `Before Obama' and `After Obama.'"

I have nothing against the Obama, but he is no savior. In the words of Derek Webb, “We've never had a savior on Capitol Hill.” My Savior is Jesus Christ and NO other can take that place. I hope others in America will realize that Christ Jesus is the only savior we need.

Christmas List

So I got a lot of books for Christmas this year. I hope all these books will help influence my life in a powerful way for Christ.

- “Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence
- “Influencing Like Jesus” by Dr. Michael Zigarelli
- “Higher Ground, Deeper Truth” by Jim Johns
- “The Love Dare” by Stephen & Alex Kendrick
- “Miracles” by C.S. Lewis
- “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis
- “The Problem Of Pain” by C.S. Lewis
- “A Grief Observed” by C.S. Lewis
- “The Great Divorce” by C.S. Lewis
- “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis
- “Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine” by Wayne Grudem

I hope through these books I can gain knowledge that will help me grow closer to God through faith. Also I pray that they will inspire me to service others with love and humility like that of Christ.