The above article simply adds a GA dimension to the FLA story cited above!

Above is the site referred to by Stephen Fox in the Biblical Recorder. It will get you to several recent articles on the GCR as well if you go to the home page or archives (recent). My commentary is “graciously critical,” but I have problems with all these recent declarations.

I have communicated directly with Johnny Hunt who pastors a church just North of where I was in the late 70′s. He is in “Beulah Land” for church growth as are all these recent SBC mega-church leaders.

Our Editor, Norman Jamison, is doing a good job of trying to appease the fundies, who now own NCBSC, but speak the truth in love. I wish him good luck.

We have lost our way as Baptists. As the article clearly states “they” took it over to improve it, but time always tells whether “they” were right by the response to a “new and more conservative” Baptist way.

Along the way we have been like the monkey climbing the tree–the higher he climbs, the more you see his tail. Thinking and searching people are not as easily fooled as Conservative Republican and Baptist Inerrentists believe.

We are not reaching the numbers we once reached because America seems to be divided into 2 groups: One which wants everything done for them with clear rules for everything, and another which continues to think along the lines of the Founding Fathers where a free religion and a free conscience allows for discussion of all things human.

Your typical Baby Boomer and Generation X’ers were raised in Daycares where everyone had to “hold the rope” to go to the bathroom. The mega-church mentality feeds on this void of personal decision making. However, everyone with a brain gets tired after a while of being told what to do at every turn. Who knows if they will ever find a way of self-determination and free thought without being called names?

At the core of Southern Baptist success were Autonomy and Missions. Both of these have been babies thrown out with the bathwater of the “Conservative Resurgence.”

Traditional SBC politics had too many political sidebars and connection to the Seminaries and State Conventions. If you knew the “right people” and attended the “right schools,” you were bound for the big FBC and fame. If you stood out in mission giving, you were assured of high office and recognition. In essence, it was “money talks and the poor man walks.”

Conservative Resurgence was a situation described above on steroids, in my opinion. You had to REALLY know the “right people” and use the “exact right words” to be on the ladder to success. It was even more tightly knotted than the old school of the SBC.

In my opinion, both have their flaw in ego and self-servance. When Jesus said, “He who is greatest must be least.”–he meant it. When he said, “If you love one another and forgive one another, you are my disciples.”–he meant it. We who belong to all sides of leadership have forgotten most of the above in our quest to be great followeers of Christ. Therefore, we have failed miserably.

Randall Lolly recently cited a new Baptist church in Jacksonville, FLA, which was ready to give itself a name. They hired an expensive research firm to survey the community for a name which would not be offensive and would attract newcomers. The advice given them was to NOT use the word Baptist in their name. It had so many connotations of fussing and narrowness that it brought a negative reaction from Joe Q. Public.

I think this is accurate and “enough said” on our perception by the average Joe wanting to find a place where he is loved, instructed, encouraged, and supported in his daily attempt to find the Joy and Peace promised by our Saviour to his followers.

Maybe we have ALL lost our way in “big church religion.” The way of Jesus was dusty, full of fussing and flawed Disciples, and tracked among people who just wanted to be forgiven and loved in a Jewish “big church religion” which failed them at every turn.

Let’s not crucify Christ again for telling the truth in love. I still think he is wanting us to follow him, IF we are wise enough to be servants of all.

http://www.ethicsdaily.com/news.php?viewStory=14350

Also my understanding the NC Biblical Recorder is having active intense discussion of this matter in it various article comment lines.

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=30662&ref=BPNews-RSSFeed0611

David

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=30656&ref=BPNews-RSSFeed0610

Read this, and compare it to what’s being said and written about the SBC.

David

Also, I do hope that everything goes well with Sarah and the new baby.

David

It would be good to see you again, and see Sarah again. It’s been years and years, hasnt it? I havent changed a bit? you? lol.

Kirby, about changing things…yea, we could use some tweeks here and there. I agree. Wholesale changes…I’m not so sure. Locking arms with others? Depends on who they are and what they believe.

And, what label are you thinking of changing to? Brother, I really think that the SBC is the best thing going in our world today. We are people of the Book. We are the best mission sending agency in the world today. Even with all of our problems and shortcomings, which some people seem to obsess and major on, we still have a lot going. Missions. Church planting. Theological training. Ministries to children. Autonomy of the Churches, etc.

David

One more thing that qualifies me to say what I’ve said: for the last year, I ran one of our institutions here in South Carolina as the transitional CEO/President. I’ve served on their board for five years, four as chair. Five years ago, our agency was losing more than one million per year. After a complete restructuring and reorganization, we are making that much. That doesn’t make me a total organization expert. But I know you can’t run the Kentucky Derby with a mule. And I know you can’t compete in 2009 with 1955 or even 1999 organizational structure. And that’s what we are trying to do as Southern Baptists.

And I know where another former MABTS dude, David Rogers, is going with his comments: we had better uniquely lock arms with anyone who agrees with us in basic evangelical concepts if we are to reach our world, regardless of their label. In fact, I may be about to change my “label”, though I will NOT change my beliefs. I am who I am and it is what it is.

You can reach me on Facebook or at kirbywinstead@gmail.com to discuss more personally.

Are you the Kirby Winstead from South Carolina who graduated from Mid America Baptist Seminary in Memphis back in the 80′s? Who had a cute little girl named Sarah?

David Worley
1988 graduate of Mid America Baptist Seminary