1. Those of you who have various versions of autocratic church governments that never give the ordinary hoi polloi the microphone may look down your noses at allowing people to make motions to ban books, adopt flags and boycott Pepsi, but our circus has a lot to commend it over your imitation of the Vatican. Public perception has to go out the window, but meaning what you say about congregationalism, messenger representation and cooperation from the ground up outweighs the spectacle. No one will ever stand up in most of your churches and say something really stupid, and that’s a shame, because the pastor shouldn’t be the only one who gets to have fun.
2. The younger leaders of the SBC are taking on power in a denomination that has been, for the most part, attempting to lock the doors and hope they would go away. Well, they didn’t. They came to the convention and voted in a mechanism to take an urgent look at what we are doing for the one thing that holds us together: a commitment to carry out the Great Commission. What you saw today was a serious changing of the power grid in the SBC. The vast numbers of obedient old-guard messengers are never again going to show up and make the SBC into a wholly owned subsidiary of the culture war or the Jerry Vines version of the SBC. This is now a denomination that has given itself clear and simple instructions: Get to the task of world missions, not the task of building a denominational culture.
3. It’s hard for many people to see how the SBC is a victim of its own success. In its heyday, the SBC built everything, started everything, produced everything, thought of everything and told you everything. They were, unlike any denomination in recent history, a self-contained evangelical empire. But that structure was not built for the future. It has become, to the younger generation raised on the Biblical, Gospel emphasis of the conservative resurgence, a collection of distractions and unwanted structures with little relation to the Great Commission. While every agency and entity will defend its existence, the fact is that the SBC’s overall structure is too large, and younger leaders will not support the vision of the “Great Denomination” that the generation of the 50′s and 60′s valued and created.
4. Changes in the SBC will happen quickly. Seminary education is changing before our eyes. Finances are going to change. Cooperative models are going to change. Relationships with the local and state conventions will change. A lot of people are going to find that the old rallying cries- be they rhetorical, cultural or denominational- are not going to get the same response. The younger generation SIMPLY ISN’T GOING TO BUY THE OLD SBC MYTHOLOGY. The sooner leaders come to grips with that, the better things will be. It is ridiculous to lecture the audience about Calvinism or throw fits about teetotalism or books in the bookstore. The number of people who care, who are being told by ANY pastor or leader they respect that these things matter, is small and growing smaller.
5. The motions brought from the floor did reveal what an utter waste of time the culture war has been for Southern Baptists. With a $40 million dollar missions’ shortfall, some SBCers still want to boycott Pepsi and harp about Mark Driscoll. Such rhetoric is an embarassment to the next generation. In all honesty, fellows….you’ve lost. Either give it up or find one of the few churches that care about being the moral police department.
6. The patient teaching of the Gospel and church-centered theology by the Founders Ministries and 9Marks has paid off in more fruit than can be put in a basket. Hundreds and hundreds of young people, hungry to hear how to build a Gospel centered, God honoring, missionary focused church. It is astonishing. It may not be revival, but it is a solid outcome that will make a huge difference for a small number of churches.
7. No, the SBC’s generational turnover won’t be averted. Thousands of churches will die in the next 2-4 decades. But hopefully, thousands of new and revitalized churches will live.
8. It is now time for the large churches and the state conventions to come to the plate and take leadership in making sacrifices and doing what is necessary to get those stalled missionaries on the field.
9. Morris Chapman should resign. His moral mandate is utterly finished. He has served well, but his address today was an embarrassment.
10. Johnny Hunt has chosen to support the future of the SBC and the Gospel. He has laid aside the questions of style, culture and methodology- even the questions of Calvinism- and chosen to side with those who want the Gospel itself to be our unity. This is still a stunning development, in my opinion, and one for which Hunt should be deeply appreciated as a man of principle. He is not my style of pastor, and megachurches are not the future in my view, but Johnny Hunt is playing for the team, not his church or his “boys.” He is a gift to the SBC.
11. Younger leaders: You won today. Now be mature. Be gracious. Be kind. Build bridges. Heed wisdom and heal rifts. Watch Danny Akin and do what he does the way he does it.
12. God is amazingly kind to our old ship. Born in a love of slavery. Arrogant. Blind to the Kingdom outside its own borders. Cantankerous and stubborn. But the ship still sails because the Holy Spirit says it will be so.
Michael,
Thanks for sharing your very optimistic outlook, I really hope your right. But like all the other 30-something SBCers, I think the church will get on with Jesus’ mission either way.
I’m glad of a little hope for the SBC, but am 2500% more interested in doing the great commission in my family and little town.
Can we change our name now?
All I can say is, “Wow”. If half of what you’ve predicted comes to pass, then my views of SBC life and its future has taken a positive turn for sure!
Amen to #6.
Wow! I hope so, especially #4. Just think of a small acting, deft, creative mega-convention.
PS Twitter really made it fun, especially when the crazies were let out.
All Hail, King Jesus!
Off the mountain, back to work… got some demons to cast out.
I hope some of this trickles down to Baptist churches in the more isolated areas.
For instance, here in the foothills of North Carolina, the Baptist churches I have visited are in dire need of a breather from morals and end-time prophesy.
The people cling to the King James and are convinced that Jesus will be back in the next ten years. At the same time, divorce, child abuse, drug use and an utter lack of even basic biblical education are rampant. There is a lack of community and a missing “spirit” of outreaching love. These are some of the coldest churches I have ever visited.
I am currently a member of my local Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) and they are some of the warmest Christians I have ever met, though I wish they were a little more into expounding biblical truth.
Michael,
I think you’ve nailed it.
Precisely.
Exactly.
I’m up here at the Convention and what you’ve expressed here are my sentiments exactly.
Overall, a very encouraging day.
Wyman
Why are they boycotting Pepsi?
Interesting take on the days events. I hope that the changes you predict will take place. I will be interested to see if there will be an attempt by the “old guard” to try and stop the coming changes. I hope not.
There is nothing quite like faithful, humble, patient, plodding, grinding, constant persistence to effect positive change.
Yet, God help us if we ever forget Who is the real Change Bringer.
Okay,
I’m lost,
Can some one point me to some info on what Imonk is talking about. I’m an SBC bi-vocational pastor too busy with Driver’s Ed this summer trying to make a little extra money to know what is up. Is there a blog of the convention proceedins somewhere?
Thanks,
Austin
Thanks for the positive spin, the sheer number of bizarre motions had left me quite discouraged about the future of the SBC.
Austin,
Alan Cross is following the Convention almost motion-for-motion at http://www.downshoredrift.com. Since I’m out of town on a business trip (bi-vocational here, too), I’m following events on his blog.
I can testify from personal experiences that the SBC is not the only denomination whose national conventions are full of motions to ban books, adopt flags, invite or disinvite speakers, write letters to newspapers, institute boycotts, reorganize committees….. if I have managed to acquire any patience, that’s probably where I learned it. And it took awhile.
Thanks I-Monk. I concur with you and share your positive outlook. And Aaron, I agree, my friend, let’s change our name. We’re on a roll. Any ideas?
Michael:
Good analysis. If anything, I am even more hopeful than you at this point. Today was the single best day any SBC Convention I have ever attended. I am convinced that God is working in ways that will surprise us all. The sooner those of us within the SBC get over the SBC the better off the SBC will be. I think that is happening.
Blessings,
tom
Oh to see some of those same positive things happen in the GARB…
I am just curious… if we were able to fast forward 40 to 50 years, what will that present generation say about the old guard… the one that you are speaking of as the new guard today?
In other words, how do we guard against the issues that plague the present guard from being our issues in the future? Can we?
While I believe that there can be a contextualization or social relevant way in which to present the gospel, I have to wonder how that applies to doctrine.
We would all do well to focus on God’s will…. every day.
Michael,
Great thoughts. I linked to you and took several excerpts from you here and put them in my post. I think that there is a group committed to Biblical Christianity that is asserting itself and they are going to exert a great deal of strength for the forseeable future, even as the SBC shrinks in size because it is losing older members and dying churches. But, faithfulness should be our goal and God will bless that in all kinds of ways. Anyway, great thoughts.
“Why are they boycotting Pepsi?”
I don’t know but it is likely like the resolutions to boycott Disney about 10 years ago.
First one was boycott them because they extended benefits to partners of gay employees. The next year it was over Disney marketing specifically to gays.
At my church (at the time) this was talked about as of course we should support this. By the people talking. I did some digging and came to the conclusion that between 50% to 80% of the income of the congregation was from companies that practiced both of these “issues”. American Airlines, IBM, Cisco, Nortel, local universities (Duke, UNC, NCSU, etc…), and on and on and on. Of course this included some of our elders.
I was a bit oblivious and un-engaged at the time but if it came up now in my church I’d like to think I’d ask some pointed questions.
What a much needed pick-me-up. Thanks for posting this.
As someone who grew up in the SBC (but is no longer affiliated) I truly hope you younger guys can stir up some fresh vision and life for the denomination. And I think turning the focus from inward (bolstering the denominational culture) to outward (missions) is a good step. Being too inwardly focused is a sure sign of decline for any institution, government, or culture.
But I’m not sure overseas missions should be the primary focus. Maybe the denomination should spend some time and resource first looking in its own backyards, neighborhoods, and home towns.
Here in the southern Bible Belt, there’s a denominational church building within either walking distance or a five-minute drive from practically everywhere. Nevertheless, it seems that many denominational churches have become somewhat isolated and aloof from their own neighborhoods and communities — much in the same way that next door neighbors are becoming increasingly isolated and out of touch with each other these days.
And I’m not talking about just going around knocking on doors and inviting people to come to Sunday morning services — I’m talking about being good and caring neighbors to the people in the run-down trailer park across the street (you know, the one the church has repeatedly complained to the city council about), even if these people attend another church or no church at all.
Okay, there were some silly motions, but within those I heard a cry and a hunger for holiness in our convention. Will the “new guard” be more erudite in that call? Will there be a call for holiness, for humility, for prayer? Please tell me yes.
And it may be wise to remember that we stand upon the shoulders of those who have gone before us.
Great thoughts on the events of the day. As a non-SBCer, I was following some of the play-by-play via blogs and Twitter (not the places where you’ll typically see grace and kindness), and I’m really encouraged that perhaps the denomination will be able to become known for something more than what it prohibits.
John, thanks for the link to Alan Cross’s blog and thanks, Alan, for what you wrote there. It’s interesting.
Alan, I got a kick out of your list of motions where one said, “A motion that I had no idea what was being said.”
I am not SBC (I am Catholic) but I do find it interesting to follow what is going on within the SBC.
Thanks for keeping us all in the loop, Michael!
Re #1: Should I point out that, as a Quaker, I can stand up and say something stupid whenever I feel like it.
I for one, am encouraged — for many reasons, but not least of which is the optimism I’ve seen from my peers and evidenced in this post.
Blessings!
As a relatively new Southern Baptist (I married into this strange and wonderful family) this is the first time I’ve been excited by what I see from the convention. I’ve always respected the doctrine and the BFM, but now I see a commitment to move forward.
To Tony York, in 50 years, we may have gone this this process two or three more times. There is always a need to re-evaluate what we’re doing and change as culture changes to meet new needs. There will be positives and negatives of today’s movement that will need to be improved or corrected. No one is claiming perfection here, just a serious need to change for the better.
In 50 years I will be 82. I hope to be a little old lady at the SBC rallying a new generation of 30 somethings on their quest for change to reach a new generation.
You know the end is near because I agree with iMonk.
In spite of Timmy Brister’s single moment of twitter dispair during the motions, Yesterday was a day in which the SBC failed to major in the minors, and we’re all better for it.
I’m not spelling police, but just trying to help out. You can delete this comment once you see it, but in number 11 I think you meant to say “heal rifts” not “heal riffs”. Riffs are guitar licks. Rifts are divisions. Don’t know if it’s a typo or just one of those things where you heard the phrase wrong. Happens to me all the time. God bless.
“Why are they boycotting Pepsi?”
http://www.boycottpepsico.com/
And they aren’t boycotting Pepsi.
Gotta learn to differentiate between motion/resolution and what is finally voted out.
A thousand tweeters will say the SBC voted to ban Driscoll books. Never happened. One guy said it!
“Why are they boycotting Pepsi?”
Sigh.
By the way, I’m not sure if the video archives are up at http://www.sbc.net yet, but everybody should go listen to David Platt’s sermon from Monday night.
Before you give up on the SBC, listen to that.
Wyman
“Why are they boycotting Pepsi?â€
“http://www.boycottpepsico.com/”
As I suspected in my other post, these are things that many of the Fortune 1000 participate in doing. Maybe most of them. Most motions like this are made by folks who have no idea of the world in which many of us have to exist and earn a living.
Food for thought for a young SB like myself. Thanks. And I esp. love the move of JH.
As a recovering Baptist, it’s great to hear what’s going on (and I applaud the things you are applauding, iMonk). I do root hard for the SBC to reform itself in these ways!
One favor: tell the SBC that they ought to fix their website so that the links to new actually work. Kinda embarrassing that they post news, but the links to that news don’t go where they say they will. Unless I’m missing something…
I’m glad to hear something good is coming. I havent been following the convention events, but this one hit close to home.
http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/2009/06/broadway-baptist-ousted-from-sbc.html
Forget that thar whole gay thing with Pepsi. Pepsi’s a Yankee drink. Enough reason to boycott right there, yep. We don’t need to be givin’ aid and comfort to the Yankee lifestyle anyhow. Everyone knows Jesus drinks Coke.
I hope the SBC turns and follows Christ and gets out and loves others regardless of how they think, and drop the human legalism that lives inside many denominations.
Hey! We have the *real* Vatican, not any old imitation!
I did wonder, as a Coke drinker, why the SBC would want to boycott Pepsi. Thanks for the explanation.
As Ross says, this has less to do with corporate devotion to the wonders of being gay and more with marketing to where they think the money is. If Martians landed in the morning, we’d be seeing ads featuring little green men drinking *insert brand name of choice* within forty-eight hours.
In the midst of this great article you gave me a great smile…
“No one will ever stand up in most of your churches and say something really stupid, and that’s a shame, because the pastor shouldn’t be the only one who gets to have fun”
And I don’t think I have ever actually read the words “hoi polloi” printed out…
Sorry, I think I am in a light hearted frame of mind today!
The content of this post though, was thought provoking and actually comforted the runcomfortable,random thoughts I have about some of the more inane parts of conferences I have attended.
The sbc isn’t boycotting pepsi.
Great words of wisdom here! You summed it all up best at the end in your reference to the Holy Spirit’s moving.
Nothing will stop God’s Spirit in what HE is doing! Not even a great denomination done in the name of Christ.
Those who know and follow Jesus Christ ARE the BODY OF CHRIST! They include those who have ‘a heart for Jesus Christ’ – to follow Him – and they come from all different walks of life, and yes, many different denominations and EVEN some from non-denominations. You won’t find those door signs anywhere in heaven’s kingdom.
I do believe that the Holy Spirit is on a worldwide revival sweeping across not only our nation – but the entire world – as big as the one that began in Wales 100 years ago!
He’s on the move and He’s sweeping up the floor of the mess that others have left behind. I loved what you said to the younger ones: “Now be mature. Be gracious. Be kind. Build bridges. Heed wisdom and heal rifts.”
Can’t think of a better encouragement. Perhaps they will open their doors and remove their denominational signs and allow the body of Christ to step inside – and maybe – just maybe – when they open those doors – they themselves will step outside [of their box] and smell the wind of fresh fire as the Holy Spirit passes by. May that catch the Spirit and run with Him – no longer against Him!
Blessing to all of you………
Choosing JOY in sharing the TRUTH,
Stephanie [NJ]
I thought true southerners drank RC, what’s this talk about Coke being the drink of choice. Was there no motion in support of RC and Moonpie?
Using the Lord’s name in a joke is using His name in vain. Let’s not sin grievously just to join the party.
Great news from the convention.
I appreciate your optimism and agree with Tom A. that those in the SBC have to “get over SBC”. But who’s to say that any ‘changes’ that take place at the Convention level will be anything more than smoke and mirrors.
I was a member at a Louisville area SBC Church for almost 8 years. Each year conventions came and went. We sent delegates who came back with reports on resolutions adopted and how ‘exciting’ the experience and future prospects were. Then it was back to business as usual.
The overall effect that decision making at the convention level had on our local congregation was zip, zilch, zero (maybe less than negative effect). As long as you promote a system of absolute autonomy at the local Church level, you can adopt all the resolutions you want, and while that may look good on paper and allow some dude with powerpoint to create really pretty graphs, it won’t have real, lasting effect for the Kingdom.
my two pennies.
This is great news even for those of us who are not SBC. In the past, when the SBC sneezed, the rest of evangelicalism caught a cold. They seemed to drag the rest of us into their past boycotts.
Perhaps if the SBC can right their ship, they can set a positive example for the rest of evangelicalism.
“Get to the task of world missions, not the task of building a denominational culture.” -iMonk
This is a great statement. The LCMS “Ablaze” movement has been accused of a lot of things, some of it deserved; however, I think their goal is truely missions, rather than just promoting the brand. But I can understand the fears and concerns of the old guard; when people talk about change, you do worry about the baby going out with the bath water.
iMonk: “the sbc isn’t boycotting pepsi.”
Glad to know the SBC didn’t go along with that particular bit of crazy. There’s hope yet.
“I thought true southerners drank RC, what’s this talk about Coke being the drink of choice. Was there no motion in support of RC and Moonpie?”
That ended with the switch to cans. An RC just didn’t taste right in a can. Plus you couldn’t see the crumbs floating in the can like you could in the bottle.
I have to wonder if the SBC had existed in the 1st century (ignoring landmarkism for now) just what resolutions that would have put forth against the culture of the day.
The SBC did exist in the first century Ross. What do you think John the Baptist was? Presby?