Feb
15
2007
Evidences of Grace in the SBC
A few months ago, I wrote about the need for humble bloggers. C.J. Mahaney’s book Humility teaches that one of the key ways to develop humility is to look for evidences of grace in other believers. When we look at other believers, do we first see faults and things they need to change? Or do we see the evidences of God’s grace in their lives?
This has led me to look at the Southern Baptist Convention and to make sure I am not only looking for the faults of our great Convention, but also seeing the shining light of God’s grace that is indeed visible in our midst. What are some of the evidences of grace in the SBC today?
1. We went to the brink of liberalism and turned back.
Thirty years ago, the Southern Baptist Convention was heading down the same path as many of the mainline denominations. God chose to turn around this denomination and to keep it on the path of biblical authority. We are the recipients of grace greater than all our sin.
2. Southern Baptists believe that theology matters.
Some may see our Convention debates (Calvinism vs. “something like Arminianism, but we won’t call it that”, IMB policies on tongues and baptism, open vs. close communion, evangelistic methodology, drinking in moderation vs. total abstinence) as signs of weakness and division. Perhaps. But maybe these debates are only possible because we are united behind Scripture as our authority and believe it to be truth without mixture of error. It is precisely because we take the Bible seriously that we can have these discussions.
3. Southern Baptists are again beginning to realize the importance of the Cooperative Program.
Last year’s election of Frank Page is a sign that Baptists are reaffirming their commitment to the Cooperative Program as an important tool for use in God’s Kingdom. As churches increase giving to the Program, we will see more fruit in our missionary endeavors.
4. Southern Baptists believe that Christianity should affect culture.
Many of us are concerned that evangelicalism seems to be more and more wedded to the conservative Republican agenda in this country. However, we can be grateful that Baptist activism in politics reveals our belief that faith affects culture. We cannot and must not privatize our Christian faith until it is sealed off from other areas of life. Though we can disagree about how Christianity should influence politics, we all agree that these two spheres are not to be split apart.
5. Southern Baptists are running with arms outstretched to the places of deepest pain.
I don’t know if I have ever been prouder of my Baptist identity than in the weeks following Katrina. Southern Seminary housed refugees from New Orleans Baptist Seminary. Southern Baptist relief agencies raced to the scene and offered help to all. In this situation, the government was shown to be impotent and Christ was shown to be all powerful. His mercy was extended through His people. And this happens time and time again in places all over our country and all over the world (even if the media rarely reports it).
Does the SBC have faults? Yes. But let’s remember the SBC also shows evidences of grace.
written by Trevin Wax. © 2007 Kingdom People Blog