Comments on: Finger Pointing and the SBC Decline http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/04/29/finger-pointing-and-the-sbc-decline/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=finger-pointing-and-the-sbc-decline Kingdom People - Living on Earth as Citizens of Heaven Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:33:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brian http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/04/29/finger-pointing-and-the-sbc-decline/#comment-2381 Brian Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:31:26 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=1284#comment-2381 but aviod foolish questions and genealogies and contentions and strivings about the law for they are unprofitable and vain. titus 3 I believe any church can trive if they stop striving about words. let start reaching the lost. For the Lost, Brian Messinger P.S. I am looking for a pastoral Job. Lots of expeince but in Honduras would like somthing in america I live in Ohio but aviod foolish questions and genealogies and contentions and strivings about the law for they are unprofitable and vain. titus 3
I believe any church can trive if they stop striving about words. let start reaching the lost.
For the Lost,
Brian Messinger

P.S. I am looking for a pastoral Job. Lots of expeince but in Honduras would like somthing in america I live in Ohio

]]> By: Southern Baptists in the 21st Century « Kingdom People http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/04/29/finger-pointing-and-the-sbc-decline/#comment-2380 Southern Baptists in the 21st Century « Kingdom People Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:42:20 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=1284#comment-2380 [...] Finger-pointing and the SBC Decline – Baptist Press (April 2008) [...] [...] Finger-pointing and the SBC Decline – Baptist Press (April 2008) [...]

]]> By: Thomas W. Gregory http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/04/29/finger-pointing-and-the-sbc-decline/#comment-2379 Thomas W. Gregory Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:02:27 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=1284#comment-2379 Many years ago a book was written called "Baptist's North and South" The book was written for the overlaping American and Southern Baptist Conventions in Atlantic City. In the book the authors who I can't remember were given one chapter to critique each others group. The American Baptist made an interesting comment. "When the south becomes urbanized, you will have the same problems that we have." This was very prophetic and I believe is at the heart of much of Southern Baptist problems. Many years ago a book was written called “Baptist’s North and South” The book was written for the overlaping American and Southern Baptist Conventions in Atlantic City. In the book the authors who I can’t remember were given one chapter to critique each others group. The American Baptist made an interesting comment. “When the south becomes urbanized, you will have the same problems that we have.” This was very prophetic and I believe is at the heart of much of Southern Baptist problems.

]]> By: C. V. Wedgwood, The Thirty Years War (New York Review Books Classics) http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/04/29/finger-pointing-and-the-sbc-decline/#comment-2378 C. V. Wedgwood, The Thirty Years War (New York Review Books Classics) Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:58:34 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=1284#comment-2378 [...] Finger Pointing and the SBC Decline « Kingdom People [...] [...] Finger Pointing and the SBC Decline « Kingdom People [...]

]]> By: Links for the Week « Pastor and People http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/04/29/finger-pointing-and-the-sbc-decline/#comment-2373 Links for the Week « Pastor and People Thu, 01 May 2008 14:23:37 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=1284#comment-2373 [...] Trevin Wax has written an excellent article about the current state of the Southern Baptist Convention entitled, Finger Pointing and the SBC Decline. [...] [...] Trevin Wax has written an excellent article about the current state of the Southern Baptist Convention entitled, Finger Pointing and the SBC Decline. [...]

]]> By: e4unity http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/04/29/finger-pointing-and-the-sbc-decline/#comment-2372 e4unity Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:34:58 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=1284#comment-2372 Great post Trevin. The real trouble with all this finger-pointing is that it is counter-productive. Does it really solve anything? But there is a deeper element that all faithful stewards should be very concerned about, and there is just too much of Scripture not to notice it (Piper did in Future Grace). We really do live by the law of the harvest: Whatever you sow, is what you are going to reap. unless God in mercy intervenes (don't count on it, let it surprise you if He does), it works for the righteous just like it does for the unrighteous. You sow to the flesh, says Paul to the Galatians, and you shouldn't expect anything but corruption; sow to the Spirit, and reap everlasting life! Or, my favorite version in Romans 8: "If you live in the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live!" Its a matter of life or death, and not just about declining numbers. Once our Pastors get convicted of this and begin to cry out to God for repentance, well we might begin to see a whole lot more fruit. (for further reading, The Race Set Before Us, Schreiner & Caneday) John Paul Todd Great post Trevin. The real trouble with all this finger-pointing is that it is counter-productive. Does it really solve anything? But there is a deeper element that all faithful stewards should be very concerned about, and there is just too much of Scripture not to notice it (Piper did in Future Grace).

We really do live by the law of the harvest: Whatever you sow, is what you are going to reap. unless God in mercy intervenes (don’t count on it, let it surprise you if He does), it works for the righteous just like it does for the unrighteous.

You sow to the flesh, says Paul to the Galatians, and you shouldn’t expect anything but corruption; sow to the Spirit, and reap everlasting life! Or, my favorite version in Romans 8: “If you live in the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live!”

Its a matter of life or death, and not just about declining numbers. Once our Pastors get convicted of this and begin to cry out to God for repentance, well we might begin to see a whole lot more fruit.
(for further reading, The Race Set Before Us, Schreiner & Caneday)

John Paul Todd

]]> By: trevinwax http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/04/29/finger-pointing-and-the-sbc-decline/#comment-2377 trevinwax Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:59:13 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=1284#comment-2377 Thanks for the tip. I appreciate it. Thanks for the feedback, Bill and Keith. Thanks for the tip. I appreciate it.

Thanks for the feedback, Bill and Keith.

]]> By: jbignacio http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/04/29/finger-pointing-and-the-sbc-decline/#comment-2376 jbignacio Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:52:42 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=1284#comment-2376 Great post Trevin! Thank you for the helpful reminder! By the way I noticed that You have "Possibly Related Posts" activated on your account. Just a little warning...there are times when WordPress will post a related link that is not necessarily related to your post and could be vulgar. I found this out when I checked out a comment on one of my posts. If you want to turn it off you can go to the Dashboard, click on Design and then Extras. Just thought I'd let you know... Hope you are doing great! Great post Trevin! Thank you for the helpful reminder! By the way I noticed that You have “Possibly Related Posts” activated on your account. Just a little warning…there are times when WordPress will post a related link that is not necessarily related to your post and could be vulgar. I found this out when I checked out a comment on one of my posts. If you want to turn it off you can go to the Dashboard, click on Design and then Extras. Just thought I’d let you know… Hope you are doing great!

]]> By: Bill Blair http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/04/29/finger-pointing-and-the-sbc-decline/#comment-2375 Bill Blair Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:58:31 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=1284#comment-2375 I like your application of the 30 Years War. It is good to see that Church History II can be useful. I tend to think we are in that post-war era when people did not see the point of the church. I see it as a problem with "lukewarm" Christianity. The congregation just wants to "go to church." Pastors/leaders want to talk about how we "do church." Nobody wants to "be the church." It is easy to bicker over lessar issues when we do not feel the full force of our God-given mission. If the whole body truly focused on the gospel, we simply would not have time to fight over such issues. I like your application of the 30 Years War. It is good to see that Church History II can be useful. I tend to think we are in that post-war era when people did not see the point of the church.

I see it as a problem with “lukewarm” Christianity.
The congregation just wants to “go to church.”
Pastors/leaders want to talk about how we “do church.”
Nobody wants to “be the church.”
It is easy to bicker over lessar issues when we do not feel the full force of our God-given mission. If the whole body truly focused on the gospel, we simply would not have time to fight over such issues.

]]> By: Keith Price http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2008/04/29/finger-pointing-and-the-sbc-decline/#comment-2374 Keith Price Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:03:57 +0000 http://trevinwax.wordpress.com/?p=1284#comment-2374 Very wise words...a call for love and repentance. Sounds like Someone I know. Keith Price Very wise words…a call for love and repentance. Sounds like Someone I know.

Keith Price

]]>