SBC - Zion or Afghanistan?

We SBC members received some disheartening information today: for the first time, the country’s largest protestant Christian denomination reports declining membership and numbers. For all of my lifetime, the SBC reported growth among its churches, but a plateau/decline now appears evident over the last several years. How could this happen? I have an idea.

Apparently, since the all important battle for the reliability and infallibility of the Bible has been settled and won, boredom has overcome some (most) active participants in SBC life and new battles have sprung up within our “Baptist Zion.” I guess Protestants always look for something to protest. Unfortunately, the result amounts to a denominational Afghanistan where competing “warlords” battle to marginalize those who believe differently than they on issues NO WHERE NEAR as critical as the inerrancy of the Bible. Every “station on the theological dial” is guilty at times of parroting their own pet issue all the while proclaiming all other issues to be “tertiary.”

So . . . what to do? The SBC is a voluntary collection of churches that pool their resources to accomplish together exponentially more than we could accomplish alone. In like manner, Baptist churches are nothing more than a voluntary collection of believers who collective use their individual spiritual gifts and resources to serve each other, their communities, and their world. Any effective solution to the resuscitation of the SBC will begin with individuals who serve in Baptist churches. INDIVIDUALLY, we are fragmented, therefore our churches are divided and fragmented, so it only stands to reason the collection of churches known as the SBC will be fragmented. We have become a sad 21^st Century example of what Paul described in the church at Corinth:

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." 1 Corinthians 1:10-12

…because you are still fleshly. For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and living like ordinary people? For whenever someone says, "I'm with Paul," and another, "I'm with Apollos," are you not [typical] men? – 1 Corinthians 3:3-4

We are not divided over our allegiance to “names” but we seem to choose sides based on our favorite issues - Calvinism versus Arminianism, Complimentarianism versus Egalitarianism, Elders rule versus Congregationalism . . . the list could go on ad nauseum (especially to God!). We would rather fight over secondary issues than to work together to accomplish the most important ends. According to Paul, our problem is CARNAL, FLESHLY, WORLDLY envy and strife. Various groups and individuals battle each other for position, prominence, and power, rather than battling the real enemy, Satan, and his grip of lostness on precious souls. Honestly, do you believe Jesus died on the cross so we could claim victory for a particular doctrinal interpretation?

This is not a MACRO problem, but a MICRO problem. There is strife at the SBC level because INDIVIDUALS are fleshly and seeking to win battles for which Jesus did not die. Individual churches are impotent because members fight the same battle for position, prominence, and power locally.

I want to prayerfully challenge you – as an individual - to consider your true allegiance, evaluate who is your real enemy. There are way fewer “essentials” than we pursue. I suggest three: the glory of God, the Lordship of Christ, and the salvation of lost souls. Let’s get back to pursuing these three goals with passion. When individuals get right, churches and conventions get right. Let’s get our focus back where it belongs.