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Cooperative Efforts That Edify
Posted by Chris Johnson in Baptist Life, Bible & Theology
As a messenger for our fellowship, the trip to Orlando was both edifying and profitable. Our current fellowship and our new mission were encouraged by a couple of things that surfaced at this particular convention. This was an SBC year when things seemed well planned and the overall temperature was mild. The atmosphere made for an enjoyable couple of days as we raised our yellow ballots ever so often during the morning sessions and into the afternoon. I have come to realize that the convention actually does a very limited amount of business and is not very complex,….which is a great advantage and a post for another day.
Beyond the usual business of the week, our little church was encouraged by several of the seminaries and a couple of the agencies that are funded by the convention, at some level, through the cooperative program distribution.
Theological Education Trends Beyond the Seminary
1 Timothy 3:1-7 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. (2) An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (3) not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. (4) He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (5) (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), (6) and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. (7) And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
This convention was a breath of fresh air for me as I spoke with the representatives of Southeastern and Southern seminaries concerning how they might assist our church with biblical education along with what we already provide. One of our prayers for the men and women leading in our seminaries was their awareness that Christ has formed the church to recognize many men to preach, teach, and oversee in the midst of the congregation. It is a foundational biblical principle and a clear Spirit’s mandate for the ekklesia that many men aspire to oversee the local fellowships and we were very pleased to see these two seminaries are prepared and committed to develop excellent content for our men and women (just to be clear…women are not called to overseer); teaching the great doctrines of scripture.
Most men aspiring to oversee in the local fellowships do not have the time or inclination to move into one of the seminary locations, nor should they even have to think that is normative methodology. It is obvious that qualifying to oversee in the church requires a well established testimony within the fellowship and from those in the community,…so it stands to reason that as men aspire and begin to meet these qualifications within the fellowship, having opportunities to learn from seasoned and knowledgeable teachers is a wonderful blessing. It is very clear that seminaries do not qualify the overseers of any fellowship. That is the job of the Spirit working through those men continually qualifying and set apart through the local assembly. Southeastern and Southern seem to understand this doctrine even better today and we look forward to forging new and innovative ways to have our men plugged into the resources they are able to provide.
I have personally longed for the day within the SBC when the sound teaching and witness which was systematically trapped within the walls of the seminaries be made available to and throughout the churches. What an encouragement to see this happening more than ever. Our men and women are grateful! It will take much more work to make this a reality,…but I am very encouraged.
A Lesson in Law
GuideStone is a real blessing for so many families within the SBC. The retirement facilities (monetary) and investment recommendations have helped a great number of ministers within this convention for many, many years. It was a privilege to speak with the counselors at GuideStone and begin to work with them in ways to multiply their services and assist the local congregation. Typically, GuideStone has been prepared to handle the contemporary traditional “pastor model” within the SBC….that being one ordained pastor per church, or the pastor and his staff, etc. So planning these types of services for those men and women are pretty cut and dry.
GuideStone does a great job of recognizing the legal boundaries for investment within this country and provides a much needed service. For instance, I work in the Medical Industry for income to pay for expenses incurred by me and my family. The very large company (68,000 employees) where I work provides the legal platforms, much like GuideStone, for the investment in 401K’s, Savings Accounts, Retirement Accounts, Healthcare benefits, etc. GuideStone provides a subset of those functions for overseers in the local churches. Even though I currently do not receive any income from the local fellowship, there may be a time in the future when that may occur and GuideStone provides an important platform for transitioning income facilities into their well defined and researched investment portfolios.
These same services are also available for the overseers who may be plumbers, carpenters, or in any other profession in the local fellowship. Some of these self-employed overseers may not have opportunities to plug into investment facilities. GuideStone provides these opportunities and is positioned to be an excellent resource for the church, under the current laws of this land,… as the local fellowships ordain and appoint multiple men to preach, teach, and nurture the flock of God within the local fellowship. So that, whether you are a fisherman, carpenter or physician….GuideStone has done the heavy lifting and keeps up with legal hurdles for the benefit of the churches. A real blessing for those in the United States system.
A Good Week
I have mentioned just a few things that are very edifying to our body and our fellowship. We are very thankful that God allows the SBC to mutually benefit from the cooperative efforts of the churches, both here in the United States and moving throughout the world. Both of these segments of resources, seminary education and financial services, stand ready to assist ministry; and the SBC is wise to continue to maintain excellent leadership in these specific areas. My prayer is that we maintain the same attitude the Apostle Paul encouraged among those at Rome.
Romans 1:11-12 For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; (12) that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Blessings,
Chris
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