Sometime after February we should have more concrete information pertaining to a proposed name change for the Southern Baptist Convention. I’m a Southern Baptist by identification and choice – even a pastor of a Southern Baptist Church. I really don’t have a preference (at this point) one way or another either for keeping or for changing the name. There’s value in both positions. New name supporters say they want to remove any “barriers” in reaching people for Christ. I’d really like to learn of the barriers they’ve identified and hope committee members will be forthcoming with both rationale and reasons. Is it a question of relevance? Is it that we’ve behaved badly (at times) over the decades? Is it because of a less than stellar reputation with outsiders? There’s a lot of stuff you can’t sweep under the carpet with just a new name – we really need heart change. You don’t change organizational culture, direction, or perception (bigger than reality) without implementing intentional and strategic shift. What’s at the core? What’s at the heart? Whitewashing an exterior does little for a deteriorating interior. If there is to be genuine change it must begin with significant heart change. I just want to make sure we’re as concerned about being the church as we are about the tag/label on the stationary and building. Just a thought.
While the SBC is considering a name change, may I mischeviously suggest the following:
The Southern, Conservative Lutheran Church!
Why would I make such an outrageous suggestion?
I grew up in a very conservative off-shoot of the SBC—the fundamental Baptists.
My father was a Baptist preacher.
However, in my twenties, while reading the writings of Martin Luther, it struck me that Martin Luther really had re-discovered the central truth of the Christian faith; salvation is by God’s grace alone.
Do Baptists really believe this?
Is salvation 100% God’s action or does God require assistance from the sinner? Does the sinner need to bring his faith, his repentance, and his “decision” to the salvation transaction table to work out a salvation exchange with God?
Luther would say “No!”
Salvation is ALL God’s doing. That is why it is called a “free gift”.
I believe that you will find my perspectives as a former Baptist and evangelical very interesting. Please check out my blog postings at:
http://www.LutherWasNotBornAgain.com
If the SBC is looking for a good name change, I would bet that Martin Luther would like my suggested new name.
God bless,
Gary M.
While the SBC is considering a name change, may I mischeviously suggest the following:
The Southern, Conservative Lutheran Church!
Why would I make such an outrageous suggestion?
I grew up in a very conservative off-shoot of the SBC—the fundamental Baptists.
My father was a Baptist preacher.
However, in my twenties, while reading the writings of Martin Luther, it struck me that Martin Luther really had re-discovered the central truth of the Christian faith; salvation is by God’s grace alone.
Do Baptists really believe this?
Is salvation 100% God’s action or does God require assistance from the sinner? Does the sinner need to bring his faith, his repentance, and his “decision” to the salvation transaction table to work out a salvation exchange with God?
Luther would say “No!”
Salvation is ALL God’s doing. That is why it is called a “free gift”.
I believe that you will find my perspectives as a former Baptist and evangelical very interesting. Please check out my blog postings at:
http://www.LutherWasNotBornAgain.com
If the SBC is looking for a good name change, I would bet that Martin Luther would like my suggested new name.
God bless,
Gary M.