1. I think we on the whole need to get out of our rut. Hello, it is not 1950. Alot of churches run like it still is. We are not in the world, as we are called to be. We are very separate. We don't show the world that our gospel is relevant. The message doesn't need to be changed, we may need to change the way we present it. Yes, people should come to church and hear the word no matter the style of worship or how hot/cold/uncomfortable it is, but the fact of the matter is they don't.
2. As a convention we have switched to a focus on church planting. This is a good thing yes, but we don't need churches if we don't have people to go in them. I think the focus should be relational ministry, meeting folks where they are, then getting them involved in church. Seems like we're trying to get the cart before the horse.
3. We major on the minors. 2 or 3 years ago there was a write up in the Baptist and Reflector about the Tennessee Baptist Convention. The article was the whole front page. It's focus, not reaching the lost (that did get about 2 sentences), alcohol. Whether or not you can drink and be a baptist. That is another blog post for another day. The point is the focus of our faith is to reach others for Christ, not to legislate morality. Jesus didn't say much about drinking, but his last words, so probably pretty important right, were "Go and preach the gospel." So instead of focusing on that, we were talking about alcohol. Don't even get me started on this year's witch hunt on Mark Driscoll (not a SB, therefore not our business in my opinion)
4. This is the most important. We need members who are truly members. Being a baptist does not save you, being a Christian however does. Notice I said being, not saying you are. Being implies doing something, not sitting on the pew. I think overall as the SBC we have forgotten to LOVE. A lot of the time we seem to hate the sin and the sinner, and that is not what we're supposed to be. Jesus said his greatest commandment is to Love God, and Love people (paraphrased). We have forgotten that I think. If we are truly loving God and loving his people we are doing what we're supposed to, but I don't see that in some Baptist churches. We are so focused inward instead of shining the light outward.
I don't know if any of this has made sense. Maybe this answered your question Frank.
well it is good to see that you are cognizant to the world outside of Adamsville, you have a very good gift from God right now as you nurture and raise your young children. They can help you understand more about God our Father than any preacher. On your blog today, as I mentioned in you f/b spot, I wish you would interpret what changes you think Mohler is referring to. Your 4 points are spot on, however, I understand Mohler's social work statement. I believe Mohler (who is disliked by as many Baptist that like him) has seen what a passion for the Word of God does to an individual and his sermons and rhetoric are for those who believe (activily) God's Word. When Paul tell Timothy to fan into a flame, he is speaking about the spark the Holy Spirit brings to our life, and as we get to know God's Word, then we are fanning the flame and once the flame gets started it cannot be stopped. The Spirit cannot do anything with a public display of your association with Christ. He only works as we learn, with true knowledge about God and His Gospel message, which is the whole of scripture. A church that is afraid to encourage home bible studies, and neighborhood outreach programs, and genuine aid to the needy is a dead church. A minister shouldn't worry about what a person believes, he should preach the Word of God, without apology, encourage worship and praise and let the Holy Spirit take that Word and make the heart of stone - flesh. I could go on and on, thank you for listening,
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