May
08
2010
SBC-Related News and Notes
Baptisms Down
Christianity Today reports that some in the Southern Baptist Convention are concerned about declining baptisms. So, what else is new.
We all need to be concerned about baptisms–genuine baptisms–insofaras they indicate anything about the growth of the church, zeal to follow Christ, and obedience to the great commission. But the issue is what, if anything, to do about it. One proposal on the horizon calls for NAMB to do more church planting in regions of the U.S. where the SBC is under-represented and for the IMB to do more work in the U.S. And, of course, appeals for more money are being made.
I actually appreciate much about the SBC. But it seems to me, outside looking in, that evangelistic conversation is free–it only requires we Christians to actually share with our neighbors–and diverting efforts from international missions to take up the role domestic churches should be playing is wrongheaded.
Penetrating the Lostness
That’s the name of the final report of the SBC’s Great Commission Task Force. Subtitled “Embracing a Vision for a Great Commission Resurgence Among Southern Baptists,” the report outlines seven core components, from “getting the mission right” to addressing great commission giving and elevating the importance of the cooperative program.
Chapman Concerned About GCTF Recommendations
Morris H. Chapman, chair of the SBC Executive Committee expressed “grave concern” about the Great Commission Task Force’s recommendations regarding what it calls “great commission giving” as an alternative to the cooperative program. Chapman’s nine concerns are detailed in a white paper dated May 7th.
Interview with SBC Voices
While we’re on SBC-related things, I want to give my thanks to the folks at SBC Voices for the opportunity to discuss The Gospel for Muslims (here). Much love.
2 Comments
This is very interesting. I can understand some of Chapman’s concerns, but if I am understanding the GCRTF correctly, the new giving category is designed to engineer a measure of accountability. If people can bypass the cooperative as a whole and give straight to missions, then the cooperative has a certain amount of pressure to conform to the wishes of the giver. I am not sure that I like the implications of this. Or maybe I am just paranoid.
Perhaps the problem is that we have only emphasized personal evangelism and not body evangelism where cells/small groups of people put on exhibit the love of God to the lost as the Body of Christ. Pastor Eddy Leo from Abbalove Church in Indonesia is downloading this concept on us. Especially as to how it works in a Muslim context. When the “basic church” as he calls it (cell), engages someone as a body, not just individual sharing (though surely we should have that as well).