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Prayer, Unity, and a Great Commission Resurgence
Posted by David Rogers in Baptist Life, Church & Missions
Nathan Finn has a very good post up over at Between the Times entitled The Prayer Call of 1784. In his article, Finn recounts how the promotion of prayer by English Particular Baptist pastor John Sutcliff, taking his cue from Jonathan Edwards’ An Humble Attempt to Promote Explicit Agreement and Visible Union of God’s People in Extraordinary Prayer for the Revival of Religion and the Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom on Earth, led to a 10-year revival of prayer, that, in turn, played a major role in the subsequent beginnings of the modern missions movement, with the notable participation of English Baptists Andrew Fuller and William Carey. I won’t repeat all the great points here that Finn makes there about the importance of prayer, especially in regard to the current emphasis in the SBC on a Great Commission Resurgence. It is well worth your time to click here and read the whole thing for yourself.
I would like to focus in, though, on a certain aspect of Finn’s post: the interdenominational and united nature of the prayer that sparked the Great Commission Resurgence of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Notice, for example, the following words from Sutcliff’s Prayer Call:
We trust you will not confine your requests to your own societies [i.e. churches]; or to your own immediate connection [i.e. denomination]; let the whole interest of the Redeemer be affectionately remembered, and the spread of the gospel to the most distant parts of the habitable globe be the object of your most fervent requests. We shall rejoice if any other Christian societies of our own or other denominations will unite with us, and do now invite them most cordially to join heart and hand in the attempt. Who can tell what the consequences of such an united effort in prayer may be!
Finn himself comments:
Through the influence of Fuller, Carey, and their friends, the crippling influence of hyper-Calvinism waned among the Particular Baptists as they became partners in the Great Commission. Then the General Baptists became interested and also became partners in the Great Commission. Then non-Baptist British evangelicals became partners in the Great Commission. Then the New England Congregationalists–Jonathan Edwards’ denomination–became partners in the Great Commission. Then American Baptists became partners in the Great Commission. What started in Northamptonshire with prayer in the 1780s had become what my colleague Alvin Reid likes to call a movement–and many people were joining the movement.
The contemporary context and application of Finn’s post is the recent call to Prayer for a Great Commission Resurgence offered by GCR Task Force chairman Ronnie Floyd. If you have not already done so, I strongly recommend that you visit the Pray4GCR website, and earnestly seek God’s guidance in regard to joining those who have already added their names to the list of those committing to pray daily for a Great Commission Resurgence.
I strongly believe that one of the most important factors leading to God’s blessing on His work, and increased effectiveness in evangelistic and missionary efforts, is the effectual fervent prayer of God’s people. I also believe that God is especially interested in answering prayers that are not focused solely on the growth and success of one particular segment of the Church, but rather the advance of His Kingdom at large.
I have had the wonderful privilege, on numerous occasions, especially in my years of missionary ministry in Spain, of joining together with believers from different churches and denominations in order to pray for revival, and fruit for Great Commission efforts. I also remember very fondly the two years I spent in the mid-1980s on board the missionary ship M.V. Doulos, connected with the ministry of Operation Mobilization, in which every Thursday night, all night long, was a united Night of Prayer, in which we regularly lifted up, not only the needs of ministries connected with Operation Mobilization, but also those of many different Great Commission organizations and ministries around the world. I firmly believe that many amazing answers to prayer have come in response specifically to this type of kingdom-minded, others-focused intercession.
I am thrilled that we, as Southern Baptists (at least, a large percentage of us, if the response at the latest convention in Louisville is a good indication), are interested in and supportive of the idea of a Great Commission Resurgence. I am even more excited that there is what appears to be more than just a lip-service commitment to concerted, regular intercessory prayer on the part of many throughout the convention to back up this interest and expressed support. I will be even more hopeful and optimistic if, in addition to our prayers for a Great Commission Resurgence within the confines of our own denomination, we can come to see that God is interested in bringing His people together to reach the world, and, very possibly, in using us as a catalyst for revival and a blessing to other parts of the Body of Christ.
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Brother David,
Thank you for this important reminder. The prayer offered from a humble heart is a prayer offered rightly and expectant of the Father’s love. The GCR will occur as we humble ourselves and are obedient to God’s Word. John Bunyan and Spurgeon speak about the wisdom of prayer as well….
John Bunyan – “In prayer, it is better to have heart without words, than words without heart. Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin entice a man to cease from prayer.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon – “He who lives without prayer, he who lives with little prayer, he who seldom reads the Word, and he who seldom looks up to heaven for a fresh influence from on high — he will be the man whose heart will become dry and barren.”
As Spurgion implies….The Great Commission is a work where God is the effector,…so how better can we know His will, except through listening and speaking with Him. I hope all those that convene together as a convention each year will realize the availing significance of prayer.
Blessings,
Chris
Spurgeon aka Spurgion
David, may your tribe increase!
I have been greatly blessed by interdenominational fellowship. I would make two observations in response to your post.
1) We cannot pray for a Baptist revival. We must pray for a Christian work that expands the Kingdom, not just our corner of it.
2) I was taken by the (succinct?) title of Edward’s work – “An Humble Attempt to Promote Explicit Agreement and Visible Union of God’s People in Extraordinary Prayer for the Revival of Religion and the Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom on Earth”
When my people pray for revival, I notice they tend to call on God to save America, to restore our nation, to stop the spiritual and moral decay of the land.
I love America and would like to see spiritual renewal here. But Edwards focused on prayer for the “Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom on Earth” not just the renewal of the colonies.
Chris,
Thanks for the quotes from Bunyan and Spurgeon.
Dave,
Prayer for the SBC or Prayer for the Body of Christ?
“God bless America” or “God bless all nations”?
Ideally, there should be no conflict. They should go hand in hand. Yet, whenever we tilt the balance too much toward one side (namely, the SBC or the America side), we ironically run the risk of making room for an element of self-centeredness within our prayers for revival and for blessing. And, to the degree this is so, we make it more difficult for God to answer our prayers and to bless us.
The LORD told our father Abraham, “I will bless you, and I will make you a blessing.”
Thanks for your helpful words.
Usually, men are moved to pray. It seems that the Holy Spirit begins to urge us to prayer in some kind of preparation for the Spirit to move. That seems to be outside of our way of thinking, doesn’t it?
Noit to throw cold water on a call to prayer, but we must be careful NOT to assume that there is a mechanical or mathematical relationship between prayer and revival. As Bruce says, prayer comes when the Spirit moves rather than when men decide to pray.
John
David,
I echo what Chris, Dave and others have said about you call for Prayer, Unity and a Great Commission Resurgence. My experience in Taiwan is similar to yours in Spain in that I have been truly blessed by the opportunity to have fellowship, prayer and cooperation with missionaries and nationals from other sending agencies and denominations. Dave Miller may have some memory of Taiwan Missionary Fellowship and the encouragement it provides for all missionaries in Taiwan. There may be similar organizations in other countries. In recent years, however, IMB trustees such as John Floyd, who is a professor at Mid America Seminary, and California trustee Jerry Corbaley have expressed concerns about any involvement with non Southern Baptist missionaries or Para-church groups like the Doulos. I am not sure of all the reasons for this unless it is the landmark tendencies we seen recently.
Many of us have been praying for unity in our convention for many years. We have hoped for a Great Commission Resurgence even before Danny Akin started using the term. I am concerned that the early rhetoric of the GCR was not for unity but for more division. It seemed to be driving a wedge between the national SBC and the state conventions. I am also concerned that the task force seems to be very narrowly chosen without a broad representation of all areas of our convention. I won’t repeat the breakdown as far as states or size of churches represented.
If unity was the goal why not include a representative from the Baptist General Association of Virginia such as John Upton, a former IMB missionary to Taiwan, or Randel Everett or David Lowrie of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. When Ronnie Floyd added another member to the task force from our home state of Arkansas, why not invite someone like Emil Turner, our state exec or Wes George or state convention president instead of a staff member from his own church.
Two issues that have dominated the discussion of reasons for a GCR have been loss of cooperative program funds and decrease in baptisms and evangelism efforts in the SBC. Why not invite Richard Jackson to be on the task force or address the task force. He pastored a church in a pioneer area that baptized a 1,000 people a year and at the same time gave $1,000,000 a year to the cooperative program. It would help people know that despite what some pastors seem to imply, your church can be theologically conservative and support the cooperative program and be strong evangelistically all at the same time.
Ron West
Ron is right. One of the greatest things about being an MK in Taiwan was the broad fellowship we had not only with SBC missionaries, but other denominations as well.
Bruce & John,
No argument here. Yes, indeed, it is the Holy Spirit that moves us to pray. And there is not a mechanical or mathematical relationship between prayer and revival. God is sovereign, and sends revival if and when He pleases.
Still, we do have biblical guidance and precedent leading us to earnestly implore God to have mercy upon us, anoint our efforts, and use us for His glory. We pray out of obedience. We pray out of spiritual hunger and thirst. We pray expecting God to move. We pray with faith that He hears us. We pray to hear Him. We pray to grow closer to Him. We pray because He is our Father, and we long to have communion with Him.
Ron,
It may be because I believe that, in general, the Conservative Resurgence was a positive, and even necessary, development in the SBC that I tend to see the present call for a GCR with more hopeful and optimistic eyes. It may be because I don’t think it is ultimately beneficial to be cynical or judgmental towards those who are leading us. To be sure, no one is perfect. And, people have been hurt and mistakes made in our recent history in the SBC. But, unless I have specific information to the contrary, I choose to trust the motives and wisdom of those who are currently leading us.
It is true I have expressed my reservations about some specific decisions related to the IMB and the BoT. I know there has been concern expressed on the part of some specifically related to church planting ministry done in cooperation with other groups, and I have openly expressed my alternative views, and even engaged in debate with some, such as Mr. Corbaley, over these matters. I was not aware, however, that there had been concern expressed about “any involvement with non Southern Baptist missionaries or Para-church groups like the Doulos.” Are you implying these men would be opposed even to praying together with non Southern Baptists or to praying for each other? If that is the case, I have missed that.
David,
I was not trying to be cynical or judgmental. I was trying to discuss the prospects for a GCR. Whether you believe the conservative resurgence was positive or negative, you can still have concerns about the GCR task force. I know many who have been strong supporters of the conservative resurgence who have expressed strong concerns about the call for a GCR from Akin and Hunt. Morris Chapman would be one. I could name others. However, if I thought the conservative resurgence was a positive, I would be asking myself what was wrong with the conservative resurgence that has made us need to call for a conservative resurgence.
As far as the motives and wisdom of those leading us or on the task force, I am still concerned with Danny Akin’s original call for a GCR in which he referred to our state conventions as bloated bureaucracies and advocated a revolt against the state conventions. Being from Arkansas I have had over 20 years to observe Ronnie Floyd’s relationship to our state convention and to the cooperative program. I have to admit I question whether this is the best task force we could have to bring about a true GCR.
I do not know if the Doulos has ever been mentioned but I said Para-church groups like the Doulos. I have also had discussions with Jerry Corbaley. In trying to get him to comment on his statement that there were doctrinal problems at the IMB he made the following statement.
“Do our missionaries meet other Christians on the field? Are some of these Christians members of denominations that do not particularly care about the BFandM? Do these Christians have no influence whatsoever on the work?”
I admit I do not understand exactly what he was trying to say. Maybe you do. In any case he seems to be questioning our contact with non SB groups. I don’t have time to collect all the statements but there have been questions from trustees about partnering in church starts and in working with people who may have charismatic tendencies. I think this would include praying together or any other contact.
In any case, I will continue to pray with you for unity in our convention, especially around the Word of God. Also for a true Great Commission Resurgence that will result in a return to our love for evangelism and missions and for a revival in our convention.
David, I did not get a chance to comment on your announcement that you were leaving the IMB but I want to say I have greatly appreciated your support for the IMB, your attitude and your willingness to speak in defense of our missionaries. You will be greatly missed in Spain I am sure but also by the family of missionaries around the world. We look forward to your continued involvement in the SBC.
Ron,
Thank you for your reply. In the paths the Lord has allowed us each to walk, we have seen some of the same things, and yet, our experiences have also been different. I am sure that this accounts for a good part of our different perspective on some of these issues.
On the bottom line, though, I am also happy to “continue to pray with you for unity in our convention, especially around the Word of God. Also for a true Great Commission Resurgence that will result in a return to our love for evangelism and missions and for a revival in our convention.” I pray God will continue to give us wisdom and discernment to ascertain the path He is marking out for us in the days ahead, and love for one another as we continue to serve Him as members of the same Body.
David,
I am in perfect agreement with your comments.
In the last sentence of the first paragraph I meant to say, “However, if I thought the conservative resurgence was a positive, I would be asking myself what was wrong with the conservative resurgence that has made us need to call for a GCR.” I think CR supporters need to ask themselves this question. After 30 years you cannot continue to blame everything on the so called moderates or liberals. Is this task force the kind that will ask the hard questions and honestly state what went wrong or will they just blame bloated bureacracies?
Why were we doing better in evangelism and cooperative program giving before the CR began in 1979? I know it is not popular to ask these questions on this site. I will be away from any computer for the next 5 days but will check to see what answers are provided when I return.
I am also in agreement with David’s comments as usual.
Ron,
I would say that the last 30 years of history in the SBC have taught us that a CR doesn’t necessarily lead to a GCR. However, I would say that it would also be very difficult for a liberal-moderate leaning SBC to have an authentic GCR. The two (liberal-moderate theology and evangelistic fervor/effectiveness) do not go hand in hand. Doctrinal renewal, in and of itself, however, is not sufficient.
I believe we must also take into account the general decline in religious commitment, and response to evangelistic efforts in the US during the last 10-20 years. Not only the SBC, but the US at large, is in need of deep spiritual renewal.
I personally would credit at least part of the problem to the increased involvement of Evangelicals (including Southern Baptists) in secular politics. This has caused many to take their eyes off of the main thing, and, at the same time, caused many unchurched to be turned off by the church.
David,
Thanks for the reply. I do not disagree at all with your entry #9, I just have concerns over people making too-mechanical a connection between prayer and revival, almost as if it obligates God to send revival.
In your #15, you say, “I personally would credit at least part of the problem to the increased involvement of Evangelicals (including Southern Baptists) in secular politics. This has caused many to take their eyes off of the main thing, and, at the same time, caused many unchurched to be turned off by the church.” I think this is a very astute observation, but one which is not welcomed in some quarters of the SBC.
John
David & Ron:
At least part of the reason for “decline” in SBC congregations is demographic.
In many states in the Southeast and Southcentral USA as many as half of the counties have lost population in the last three decades.
So we see people moving away from areas which are the SBC base and instead moving into urban/suburban areas. The “problem” with urban/suburban areas, from a historical SBC standpoint, is that these communities are significantly different demographically than they were several decades ago. Large Southern cities such as Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas have very large “minority” populations. The SBC does have churches reaching a variety of demographic groups in large cities of the South — such as Latino and Asian populations. However, we have a lot of work to do to “catch up”.
The SBC is doing OK in areas where the demographics are aligned with our traditinal “culture” and where populations are holding steady or growing. These areas are where most of the SBC megachurches are — namely middle class to upper class suburbs.
I have a list of all the megachurches in the SBC. [It was compiled by some guy who did a study on this] Most of the megachurches and growing churches in the SBC (and there are notable exceptions) are in demographic areas at the edge of metro areas where we see upward mobility. Examples would be Saddleback (a very high end enclave of Orange county Calif), Prestonwood (Plano TX – a very high end zip code in suburban Dallas), Quail Springs (a high-end and growing area at the north end of the greater OKC area), Brook Hills (a high end area of new growth in SE Burmingham AL), Bellevue (in the eastern suburbs of Memphis having moved from a “downtown” location), Sagemont (a “new” [by historical standards] development in South Houston), etc. I have not actually done this but I think if you took a list of growing SBC churches most would fit into the class of being in areas where both are true: (a) areas of population stability or growth, (b) affluence compared to the surrounding area within a 100 mile radius.
I believe demographics contributes as much or more to SBC “growth” (or lack thereof) than any other single factor when averaged over all 44,000 SBC congregations. But of course, I have not done a definitive study to prove this thesis.
In summary: We have seen decline in SBC attendance in half the counties in our “Bible Belt” because the population has declined. At the same time we are not keeping up with the growth of the cities where much of the growth consists of demographic groups that used to be called “minorities”.
None of this has much to do either way with the CR and/or the GCR.
Roger Simpson
Roger,
The information you share is interesting, and appears, on the surface, to be accurate.
However, I would add the following observations. A true GCR will lead us, as Christ’s disciples, to be more missional in our outlook, which means extending ourselves beyond our traditional demographically-bound comfort zone, and reaching out to other demographic groups. A true CR will lead us to be submissive to the Word of God, and to the Lordship of Christ, which will, in turn, lead us to a true GCR.
Yes, it is true that, as Evangelicals (and Southern Baptists), we face some obstacles in our surrounding context that are different, and in some ways greater, than what they were 30, 40 or 50 years ago. And yet, the power of the gospel is not, and should not be limited, in us and through us, by these obstacles.
David:
I don’t think we disagree at all. The problem is that we are reaping what we sow.
We have walked away from our own mission fields. As the urban centers of our cities “decayed” over the decades we have flown away from them. We sold our buildings to other congregations — likely ones that are not anglo.
We wanted to be in the suburbs where there are better schools. We wanted to be in areas where there is less crime. Now many of us probably spend more money in our two week “mission trips” to some exotic place in Africa each year than the disposible income of a whole family unit living in the inner city only ten miles away from us.
Many of us might consider going to Zimbabwe every year for two weeks and spending $3,000 on the trip. But are we ready to move permanently to a bad downtown neighborhood? Are we ready to buy those church buildings back and set up shop down there?
Taking Memphis for an example: Why did Bellevue move out east? The answer is that is where all their members moved.
Here in OKC there was a church on the corner of SW59th and Western. It sold its land for commercial use (a car dealer) and moved out to Mustang. Over the decades the area morphed from being middle class anglo to 80%+ latino.
What we need is about 500 clones of people like Rev. Fred Luter. We need to put them in the epicenter of the areas that we have walked away from decades ago and are still walking away from.
I think one of the key things that the NAMB and/or a combined IMB/NAMB should be doing is energizing us guys in the pew to provide financial help to support sending people with the right skill sets to retake the turf we abandoned.
One answer to the question of why do we need a GCR is — because we INTENTIONALLY abandoned the mission field. It was part of our “growth” strategy.