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Southern Baptists: Headaches in the Baptist Body?
Posted by Dave Miller in Baptist Life
I’m in another run of cluster headaches. According to Dr. Peter Goadsby, Professor of Clinical Neurology at University College London, “Cluster headache is probably the worst pain that humans experience.” They are actually nicknamed “suicide headaches” because of an unfortunate consequence in the lives of that 1/10th of 1% of people blessed to suffer them.
Cluster headaches are caused by the inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. They come on suddenly with a blinding pain behind my left eye. The pain then spreads to my temple and forehead. They last around a half hour then go away almost as quickly as they come on. Most often, they come at night, leading to their other nickname – “alarm clock headaches.” Mine come mostly at night while I sleep. I wake up every two hour and have to wait a half-hour or so until the pain subsides. I then go back to bed and sack out for another couple of hours until the next one hits. They tend to come in “clusters” then go into remission for up to a year.
I’d pay a thousand bucks (don’t actually have it – it’s preacher hyperbole) for a solid, uninterrupted night of sleep.
So, basically, I’m not doing very well. My body is betraying me. I need sleep to function and the Clusters are monkeying with my sleep. I walked around all day today in a mental fog and got next to nothing done (except for a good bit of complaining).
Something is wrong with me and my body is not functioning properly because of it.
A Message from God?
Sixteen years ago, I had mononucleosis. (Honestly, I’ll stop whining soon and make a point). I was sick for several months and felt horrible all the time. I was complaining to God about how lousy I felt all the time and that is when I “heard” a sentence. I do not hear the audible voice of God very often, but I can only tell you that a message came strongly to my soul.
As I complained about the pain in my body, I heard these words in my soul. “Imagine how I feel about what is going on in MY Body.” I will let you decide if that was a “word from the Lord” or a thought from my own psyche. But I often think of that when I feel poorly. When my body doesn’t function properly, when I have mono, or a migraine, or a Cluster headache, I cannot do the things I want to do, the things I should do in this world. When that happens, my mind goes to the Body of Christ and the pain and sickness that runs through it.
My Conviction
I am convinced that there is great sickness in the body of Christ today. I don’t really want to open Pandora’s door into the world of eschatology, but as I read scriptures, the church in the last days is destined to see increasing doctrinal compromise, an increase in false brethren, a form of godliness without the power of God – all the things we often see in our dysfunctional Christian world.
I am also convinced that the Southern Baptist Convention has become a dysfunctional body as well. Perhaps we are the trigeminal nerve causing cluster migraines in the Body of our Savior.
I love the SBC and am committed to its future. That is why I am excited about the Great Commission Resurgence – it provides me hope that we are making the changes we need to make as we face the future.
I have to admit I feel a little protective and defensive when I read some bloggers and their incessant attacks on the direction and leadership of the SBC. I do not want to join in the chorus of shrill Baptist-bashers who seem to relish in the struggles of the SBC and denigrate its prospects. But that does not change the fact that I think we have some serious problems that need to be dealt with. If there are real problems, then those who truly care about the SBC will confront them and deal with them. Ignoring our issues or pretending they do not exist is not helpful; it actually contributes to the decline of the SBC.
Sickness in the Body of Christ
So, what are those problems? Frankly, I thought the GCR Task Force did a masterful job of spelling out some of the key issues that face our convention – and did it in a hopeful, encouraging way. I think even most of those who have problems with the GCR recommendations have appreciation for the GCR analysis of the issues of the SBC. But I will add my perspective to the discussion. There are several “pain points” that I see in the SBC. I invite you to interact with my analysis and add your own.
1) Some Have Ignored the Bible
The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to do the Work of God in the People of God. That is my ministry philosophy. I have watched through 30 years of ministry how the Spirit does exactly that when I consistently proclaim the truth of God’s Word to His people.
Studies have demonstrated what I think that we know in our hearts. American Christians, including far too many Baptists, are biblically ignorant.
In 2 Timothy 4, Paul warned that there would come a time when sound doctrine would be eschewed and be replaced by preaching that tickles people’s ear with positive messages that make them feel good about themselves without dealing with the hard spiritual issues that really matter.
I believe those days have come.
We have idolized numbers to the point we have developed a bottom-line mentality. If it brings in bigger numbers, it must be “of God.” Nonsense! I am convinced that in this day, what brings in numbers is often not what is pleasing to God. There are a lot of people who do not want to hear about the sovereignty of God and the demand for the Lordship of Christ. They want to hear that regardless of how they live, God will help them to be successful in life. If we give people what they want, we can sometimes grow a big church. But giving people what they want will seldom give glory to God.
We need to proclaim the Word of God. In children’s programs, we need to proclaim the Word. In youth programs, the Word of God must be taught. From the pulpit, we need to exposit God’s word fearfully, carefully and prayerfully.
The Spirit of God uses that Word to do the Work of God in the People of God.
2) American materialism has infected our churches.
What irony that some have painted the GCR as an attack on Cooperative giving. It is one of the most eloquent defenses and powerful calls to sacrificial giving that I have ever read. It confronts the materialistic self-centeredness that is, I believe, at the root of our denominational missions problems. Why is the IMB having to reduce its missions force? The economy? Balderdash. God is not poor. The problem is that we are keeping more and more for ourselves, becoming less generous. Self-centered Christians in self-centered churches do not give sacrificially.
During the 90’s – a time of great economic prosperity in America (even if much of it was a “bubble”) – average charitable giving among American Christians fell by about 1%. The richer we got the less we gave.
Jesus said that we could not love God and money. We are trying to prove him wrong. We are often self-indulgent, valuing personal comfort and luxury more than the spread of the gospel. Our hearts are not invested in the Kingdom, but in this world, and our giving shows that.
I do not believe that the imposition of the Old Testament tithing standard is going to solve this problem. The people in the New Testament church did not give a tithe. Their hearts were so passionate about Christ they sold all their goods and possessions and gave it away. Though the Macedonians in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 were impoverished and persecuted, they had an overflowing joy in the Spirit that welled up in a rich generosity. They gave “as much as they were able and even beyond their ability.”
This did not happen because of a stewardship emphasis or a tithing appeal. It happened because their hearts we so inflamed with the love of Christ that they invested their money where their hearts were.
Our problem is not a lack of money. I don’t even think the problem is a lack of stewardship emphasis. I think that ultimately, too many Christians love this world and the things that are in it. We have baptized materialism and sanctified greed.
The love of money has become the root of all our evils, and we, both individually and as a convention, are in danger of the shipwreck of our souls that Paul warned Timothy about.
3) We have become petty and focused on minor things instead of the major things.
I love blogging and have made some good friends through the process. I think blogging has some very positive aspects. But I sometimes hope that bloggers do not represent the general thinking and ways of Southern Baptists at large.
Think of some of the petty, small, mean-spirited arguments you have read on the blogs. I followed the Caner/White fracas (you could hardly avoid it) and I still don’t know all that is going on there. But what pettiness and small-minded bitterness we have witnessed in that exchange – on both sides, I’m afraid.
While people are dying and going to hell all around us, while our convention continues to shrink and lose spiritual ground in America, we make policies about private prayer language. We debate Calvinism ad nauseum while often ignoring the Sovereign God’s call to Great Commission living. I remember what Dr. Mohler said at his debate with Dr. Patterson in Greensboro. “I have known Calvinists who will walk across the state to debate one of the points of Calvinism but will not walk across the street to share the gospel.” By the way, the non-Calvinists (or anti-Calvinists in some cases) have not shone any brighter. (For reference – I believe that salvation starts with God’s sovereign choice.)
Think about this, folks. Music was a gift God gave humans to express their praise to Him. Yet it has become one of the greatest sources of conflict and division in churches today. We fight about what style to use in praising God. Anyone else see the irony there?
I think there is a place to discuss every issue out there. But we need to keep the main thing the main thing and not let ourselves get sidetracked by silly arguments over petty issues.
What Is Right in the SBC?
It is too soon to write the epitaph for the SBC. I think the GCR report is the right first step toward renewing biblical priorities and passions in our convention life. I believe it will pass by an overwhelming margin in Orlando (though I’ve been wrong before). I do not believe that God is through with us.
Contrary to the anti-SBC ranting of some bloggers, I think there are some good, healthy things about the SBC that put us in a hopeful place.
We are a denomination committed to honoring Scriptures. I poked around a little at a “Baptist Forum” recently; one run by people who left the SBC over the inerrancy debate. All I can say is that I’m thankful, despite all the SBC’s problems, to be part of a denomination that will not compromise inerrancy or other key doctrines. I believe God will honor that.
We are a denomination that is still committed to evangelism when some are starting to abandon the concept. I believe in the need for a “resurgence” in this area, but we are a denomination passionate about planting churches and reaching souls for Christ. I like that.
I think there is a lot to work with here in the SBC. But there is sickness as well. I hope, and believe, that the illness is not terminal. Pray God that the best days of the life of the SBC lie in the future, not the past.
God bless the SBC.
Now, the Discussion
My list above is in no way exhaustive. I would love to hear your opinions about what is wrong with the SBC, and what is right with it.
I hope to interact with you after a good night’s sleep – perhaps my first one in a long time without an “alarm clock” headache.
Hope springs eternal…
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As a minister with a chronic illness (MS) starting out a pretty tough day in body, your opening was great medicine. Thanks.
Dave,
It has been a while since I have really commented on things here. I feel sometimes that many conversations are out of my league since most of you are preachers and missionaries. With all that learning and experience, I feel a little inadequate most of the time. Dave began this blog with something that I could relate to and I decided to jump in, if but for a moment. I, too, had headaches very similar when I was single. I carried aspirin with me at all times. When I felt the slightest throb behind my left eye I would reach for the aspirin box and head for the water fountain. By the time I got there I had a tear running down my cheek. It would take total silence and a dark room to exhaust the pain. Mine went away when I finally broke up with the girl I was dating, however, that isn’t everyone’s diagnosis and cure. I know Dave has thought of 2 Corinthians 12:9 many times and has a better understanding of God’s strength in weakness.
To the subject, my observation of the SBC is that we have much more to correct than will allow us to unify. Simplicity and individuality is the recipe. God gave us the 10 Commandments and we have written libraries of information on how to enforce or encourage or use methods or create incentives to do what the law stated in the simplest form. It is no different with our politics. We cannot seem to draw a border line in Arizona without billions of dollars and time wasted in debate and wrangling. Just stop the blood flow! That seems to be where the SBC is on the biblical issues. Just do it!
The items that were listed; Bible, Money and Petty Differences seem to be symptoms of a deeper sickness rather than areas we need to focus our efforts on, not that we shouldn’t. I read in scripture that I am a new creation, alive. There also dwells within my heart and soul, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I am set apart and holy unto God. I should have some kind of wool that identifies me with others within the church and I should gravitate toward them. If that isn’t happening, the church doesn’t have a very healthy flock. The only suggestion that I can think of is that we need a visitation of the Shepherd. We need the presence of God to fall fresh on our services and lives. We need prayer meetings for this one thing, no prayer request. I find that my repentance sometimes is just words and not a real in-depth spiritual change of direction that only God can do. I hear men pray in the services and tell God that we are grateful that He is present with us. Frankly, His presence is more like an image than essence, idea than substance and mist than flood, if you know what I mean. I think if we prayed that God would fill our church, not like the Pentecostals and not like the way we Baptist want Him to, but in His fullness without restraint. The symptoms will leave and we can experience kingdom living like we never could imagine. We need what eye has not seen and ear has not heard before we see change. I think we offend God when we set human limits about how His church should be set up and how it should be operating. We miss the point that God is holy and we cannot comprehend holy living, holy worship, holy bible study or holy communication. We would be nothing like the world because we would be a church that is holy.
Thanks for the good information.
Excellent article in the genre of “soul-searching”.
I’ll raise one point of problem in the SBC. God has sent 16+ million people to us; something like 9 million have simply disappeared; we still count them as members, and; we boast about 16 million and being the largest protestant denomination (I actually read the term “16 million strong” last week).
I think it was Jerry Grace who said “All we ARE is evangelical”. In most cases, we’re not disciplers, and THAT is the great commission, isn’t it?
With that lousy record, why would God WANT TO send us more people, or prosper “our efforts”. We can’t be trusted to do what He told us to do, can we?
After reading what Bob said I think that may be the reason our churchs are not experiencing the FULL presence of God. The Great Commission says to Preach the gospel and then teach them whatsoever I have commanded, then, the promise of His presence. That may be the single answer. We cannot stay on track without His full presence to make the Word alive and our hearts unify.
Charles, my problems come and go. Yours is the kind of illness that makes my periodic headaches seem minor. Our bodies betray us, don’t they? Good thing the Savior never does.
Bruce, you said, “I think if we prayed that God would fill our church, not like the Pentecostals and not like the way we Baptist want Him to, but in His fullness without restraint.” Amen to that.
Well written.
Bob, great point. A couple of things in response.
1) I think the most important discipleship program in the church is the Sunday worship service with the proclamation of God’s Word. I think that is why light-weight topical preaching that uses the scripture text as a pretext is at the heart of our problems. When we consistently proclaim the Word, God’s power is revealed to conform us to Christ.
I have strengths and many weaknesses in the ministry. But I have seen this. I try to faithfully proclaim God’s Word and I watch as people grow and begin to change to be more like Jesus. It works.
2) Richard Owen Roberts preached in my church in Cedar Rapids. He made the same point you have made about shepherding God’s people. He said that the sheep belong to God. If we are not caring well for the sheep God has given us, why should we think he would bring us MORE sheep.
We must care well for the sheep God has given us.
One cannot disciple unbelievers. I have a hard time believing that most of those who don’t attend church are genuinely converted. The Second chapter of John demonstrates such a likelihood. In vs 23ff we’re told that when Jesus was at passover many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did, but Jesus did not accept their belief, because He knew them.
We don’t know the hearts of men. We must accept their profession until their lifestyles tell us different. But when those lifestyles tell us that theirs has been an empty profession, we must treat them as lost and attempt to win them.
I believe God places within the heart of believers a desire to learn of Him, some struggle and have difficulty in their degree of commitment, but there is at least an understanding of need. Those who do not seem to have a sense of need to learn of Christ, and in fact, seem determined to live their lives as if they have no Lord, probably are not converted in my opinion, and therefore incapable of being discipled.
Mike, there are a lot of reasons why people stop attending church. But I would agree with you that many of those millions of Baptists who cannot be accounted for are probably unsaved. how many? I wouldn’t speculate.
In general, though, I agree.
The numbers issue has always been a pea under my mattress. One church I attended decided to look at the roll to purge some of the names and only was able to eliminate those who died, basically. We had sympathizers that thought it was almost like sending them to hell if we took their name off the roll. Some had been on the roll for over 20 years. One thing I know is:
Acts 2:41 there was 3000 added to the church.
Acts 11:26 because of their actions and way of life, they were called Christians.
Acts 17:6 they were known for “turning the world upside down”
If we have 15 Million SB on our rolls and America is heading down to certain disaster, we ain’t got much influence, power or real Christians in the Southern Baptist Denomination. I happen to believe that the Holy Spirit kept working after Pentecost and works the same as He did back then. He didn’t move, we did.
My assessment of how many we have that can be called Christian would be to perform an easy accounting procedure of our rolls. Just identify those who attend:
1) 4 times per month.
purge all over 5 years.
2) 2 times per month.
3) 1 time per month.
4) 1 time per quarter.
5) 2 times per year.
6) 1 time per year.
7) 1 time in 5 years.
Just having that information would give churches the opportunity to visit them. Christians, of all people, should be able to tell a duck is a duck is a duck. Our church politics prevents us from rallying the true Christians. Jesus was full of Grace and Truth. Both of which attract and repel. That is how Jesus did it and, also, how He will build the church of the future.
The problem is not the SBC. The problem is local churches. There are myriad reasons for maintaining a large membership roll, none of which I consider valid.
The primary reason for dealing in a disciplinary way with those who are unfaithful is to not give them a false sense of security concerning their relationship with God.
I think it important that those not living in covenant relationship with the local fellowship be confronted in a loving and redemptive way so that they might reconsider the path they have chosen. This will at least let them know that the active membership thinks there is a problem with their lifestyle. Should they continue to demonstrate a lack concern for the unity of the local body, after a period of time usually about six months, additional steps should be taken and eventually the names should be removed. They should be notifies of such action and made aware that such action comes only after all attempts have been rebuffed, and/or ignored. Such action should implore the individual to seek God with all his heart, and at such time as he begins to understand the necessity of his participation in the local fellowship to re-unite in the way that the fellowship receives members.
Now, of course attendance is not the only thing which invokes redemptive discipline, but that is the topic on the table.
Mike,
Addressing the issue you have mentioned is true discipleship for those that have passed the basics. This is almost never approached, as it is confrontive type relationships. Are we not to be well rounded in our walk? This action creates humility and the fear of God. I would encourage pastors to impliment a basic form of this with the intent of maturing believers and restoring believers, too.
Bruce
implement
My dad made an interesting observation a while back. I’m not sure what it has to do with the discussion, but it was interesting nonetheless. He was observing that in the 60′s when he pastored here in Iowa, a “faithful” church family was in church around 48 or so Sundays per year. They’d have a couple of weeks of vacation and then be sick one week, or something like that. But they were there in church (and Sunday night and Wednesday night as well) almost every week.
Now, I have members who are VERY committed and “faithful” members may not attend more than two to three Sundays per week.
Its a different world.
Again, I realize this is not really germane but Bruce’s comment #10 made me think of that.
Mike, I have a question – don’t really mean it to be confrontational, just challenging.
Jesus told parables about the tares among the wheat and the goats among the sheep. It is always presented in such a way that Jesus is the one who will separate the wheat and tares, the sheep and goats.
I agree fully that we as churches have the responsibility to hold people accountable, to take care of the sheep, to find those lost sheep, etc. I’m not really disagreeing with what you are saying.
But I do think that the “accountability” concept can go too far. We can have discipline in our churches and challenge people to greater discipleship and growth. But ultimately, it is not our job to separate the true from the false or the genuine from the false.
I’d be interested in your response to this.
Dave,
It is a different world. From birth to 6 years I walked across a vacant lot with mom and dat to church and we went twice on Sunday and on Wednesday night. My mom was in WMU on Tuesday’s and dad went on Thursday Visitation. We moved and found a church two (2) blocks away and carried on the same schedule. We changed once again and drove about 3 miles and kept up with the same schedule. Thirty years later, we are going to a church that is 35 miles one-way. We take dad with us and follow the same schedule with the exception of Thursday Visitation and my wife goes to BSF Wednesday morning during the school year. It is a difficult process, but, we find that the 10+ churches we pass on the way do nothing with the Truth. Fortunately, we have Wednesday night dinner and there is an occasional Sunday night the church wants us to have family time. That is why I am focused upon the presence of God coming down to do the changing of the hearts in our churches. Programs seem to be Band-Aids that don’t stick, but they are pretty.
Dave,
I would take issue with the idea that it is NOT (not yelling) our responsibility to separate those who proclaim Christ’s Lordship and yet live contrary to His way.
A careful reading of 1 Cor. 5 makes it clear that salvation is not the issue here. The issue is responsible living by one who claims to be a follower of Christ. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us to get the beam from our own eye, so we can help the brother get the speck from his own. We are not to ignore the speck in the brother’s eye, but we are to make sure we are walking in His will so that we use the light of His love to illuminate the speck.
In the Revelation Jesus castigates two churches for allowing people to gain a modicum of influence so as to influence others into error.
All of this requires judgment on our part. Paul goes so far as to tell the Corinthian Believers to turn the offender over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, in order that he might ultimately be reclaimed. Apparently, they followed his injunction and in 2 Corinthians Paul encourages them to now accept his repentant spirit and receive him once again into the fellowship.
All discipline should be redemptive. That is the overriding principle. Should discipline become punitive, we have set ourselves as God. That God’s work. When we act in discipline, it must not be knee jerk, but rather it must follow Biblical principles. Most churches which exercise discipline use the Matthew 18 pattern for approaching the offenders.
Once they are under discipline, they are treated as lost people. That is every effort is made to win them to Christ. When they return with a contrite and repentant heart, they are received as new brothers in Christ.
Sorry, I can’t spend much time here today, I’m working on a Commencement Speech tonight for a High School Graduation. I’m asking the question: “Will You Allow America to Commit National Suicide?”
Sounds good. I don’t disagree with you, Mike. I just wonder if the desire for accountability can sometimes go too far. Obviously, if someone is living in open unrepentant sin or promoting fundamentally false doctrine, we need to confront that.
But I have observed some who seem to be trying to take that one step too far.
Anyway, have a great time speaking – good topic.
We are not disagreeing here in our primary positions.
Sometimes I wonder, in the area of discipline and other similar issues, if we have to know exactly what to do before we do it? Do we follow Matthew 18 mechanically step by step? In my personal experience I have launched out and discovered many truths about discipline and restoration by application. Humility and knowledge have helped guide me past failure and provided great experience. I do know one thing, I was ready and willing to apologize if I was in the wrong. The true believer would also be willing to forgive. Jesus never said we wouldn’t have failures in this area or make enemies. I’ve had to pass several enemies at the local grocery I have made by addressing issues. Seems like we are in a warfare of sorts and need to exercise the fruit we are suppose to be producing. We do this in our homes, why not our brothers and sisters at church. It is not a police action, just a compassion to pull out those who have slipped into the quicksand of sin. I have had success in restoration and separation by discipline during my 25 years as a Christian. It has taught me what it means to bind and loose brothers and sisters under God’s approval. It has mainly taught me the fear of the Lord.
It is always interesting to walk around town and meet great Christian friends and, at the same time, feel the cold shoulder of one who was once friendly toward you. That seems to be the pathway Christ walked as He went toward the cross.
Heaven will be for Veterans of War and Peace.
Bruce, you said, “I feel sometimes that many conversations are out of my league since most of you are preachers and missionaries. With all that learning and experience, I feel a little inadequate most of the time.”
You articulate your views far too well to feel that way. Insightful perspective.
I think the SB’s may have given the rest of the Country a Big Headache for getting the water ready for the Texas reactionaries to rewrite History for Public school children.
As I have said many times before it’s roughly the campaign of 48 where the Pressler’s TExas Regulars lost, and now he and the SBC are paying back the country in Spades.
It ought to come up in Orlando so Southern Baptists can show school teachers who support the CP just where their money is going.
The question is do Southern Baptist public school teachers really believe the American History of Paul Pressler and the Texas Regulars??
I sincerely would like to hear Mike Raspberry report on his commencement address tonight.
Was it a public school or a Christian Baptist Academy of Some Sort.
Outline, transcript; whatever you got; would love to see it.
Dave,
Thanks for your good comment.
Bruce
Brother Dave,
I will keep you in prayer brother…as you know, those type of headaches create other problems and can really wear a person down.
Your philosophy statement is wonderful… “The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to do the Work of God in the People of God.”
I completely agree and really view the SBC as a group of folks with a wonderful opportunity to live out the philosophy you have mentioned. I am living in Boston off and on during the next two years… and the SBC is woefully absent in this area. I like the ideas the GCR have for areas like Boston….The leaders of the convention have made some wise observations and now implementing some of those things will be the challenge.
The main reason that I continue to encourage people to cooperate with Southern Baptist’s is for the majority… their commitment to the Word of God. There is obviously dead churches throughout the SBC landscape, yet…the exhortations of John in the book of the Revelation gives us great encouragement, since we simple need to return to the things we did at first… Love Christ, and preach His Word. The path back to being obedient is more easily recognized so far for those that cooperate in the SBC…so my prayer is that we continue to edify one another as we make our way back to Christ,…so that we can do nothing except bring Glory to God alone.
Blessings,
Chris
The good news is that I haven’t had a cluster headache in over 48 hours. Maybe the cluster is gone? Hopefully.
Chris, don’t go becoming a Red Sox fan.
For David Rogers in Particular; Wanted to bring this to all of your attention as it covers many subjects facing the SBC and others, in the SBC centering around the Ergun Caner Headache.
I hope Rogers will take a look at it over the weekend if he can make time, before the link is constricted.
Last paragraph in particular is most poignant, fertile for further discussion.
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2010/06/07/100607crat_atlarge_mishra?printable=true