The SBC convention yesterday was summed up best by Dr. Danny Akin, when he said it was the best and the worst of the SBC.
I am going to focus on the best. The convention passed the formation of a task appointed by Dr. Hunt to examine whether or not we are using the resources of the convention in the most efficient manner to fulfill the Great Commission. It passed by a considerable margin.
Another great event was the Baptist21 panel at Sojourn church. That was the about the best $5 I have ever spent at an SBC. Very engaging discussion about the future of the SBC.
It is my hope that just as in 1979 when the battle for the Bible in the conventions began, that 2010 in Louisville, Ky will be remembered as a such an equally historic event.
Rich
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
SBC Pastor's Conference 2009 Louisville Part 1
I am in Louisville for the 2009 Pastor's Conference and SBC Convention. I am actually looking forward to this one more the others because I think we may actually begin to address real issues related to our convention.
The Pastor's Conference was very good last night and today. The line was very good and diverse. I loved the theme, "What if..." What if we as Southern Baptists were of one mind, one unity, and loving the way Christ expects us?
I am always challenged and inspired by the conference. It gives me a lot to think about and try to apply to my life, my church, my ministry, and my family.
It challenges my life because I spend the week around some of the most godly people I know and admire what God is doing in their lives. It challenges my church because I hear about churches in which God is doing great things and would love to seem Him do in my church. It challenges my ministry because I constantly ask myself if I am doing what I can to equip the saints, disciple the sheep, and put them in positions to allow God to do the remarkable things I would love to see Him do. It challenges my family because one of the areas that is always emphasized it seems like is that my first responsibility is to my family.
I look at all of these things and see how much farther I need to go to be all that God wants me to be. So I will be challenged this week but I will also be inspired to press on toward that goal and be recharged as I look to the larger issues of the kingdom of God and fulfilling His mission in this world until He returns.
Rich
The Pastor's Conference was very good last night and today. The line was very good and diverse. I loved the theme, "What if..." What if we as Southern Baptists were of one mind, one unity, and loving the way Christ expects us?
I am always challenged and inspired by the conference. It gives me a lot to think about and try to apply to my life, my church, my ministry, and my family.
It challenges my life because I spend the week around some of the most godly people I know and admire what God is doing in their lives. It challenges my church because I hear about churches in which God is doing great things and would love to seem Him do in my church. It challenges my ministry because I constantly ask myself if I am doing what I can to equip the saints, disciple the sheep, and put them in positions to allow God to do the remarkable things I would love to see Him do. It challenges my family because one of the areas that is always emphasized it seems like is that my first responsibility is to my family.
I look at all of these things and see how much farther I need to go to be all that God wants me to be. So I will be challenged this week but I will also be inspired to press on toward that goal and be recharged as I look to the larger issues of the kingdom of God and fulfilling His mission in this world until He returns.
Rich
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Millennial Maze
In the current times we live in, new president, North Korea nuclear testing, Middle East turmoil, economic crisis, government bailouts, etc.,etc., etc. It seems that it is a new season of end times speculations in the church.
I say that cautiously because since I have given my life to the Lord there has always been eschatological fervor in the church. It just got more amplified when God called me to the ministry as I am now, it seems, constantly asked about this and that when it come to eschatology. It seems there was a season of "quiet" after the "Left Behind" series, but it is now back in full force.
As a pastor I get kind of frustrated that if I do a study on Revelation, that will draw a crowd, but James well maybe, Leviticus, forget it!!! So much energy is put into figuring out what Jesus said is not for us to know. What is an especially hot topic is who is the "anti-christ". But let us not forget about when the tribulation is, the nature of the millennium, or when that rapture will take place.
Of course these speculations are nothing new. They have been throughout the history of the church. I have a question though, is all this study of eschatology really helping the church accomplish it's mission to bring glory to God and advance His kingdom?
People spend hours upon hours in study trying to figure out who the enemy is when we already know who the enemy is, it is Satan. All this focus on what he is going to do when we already know what he is trying to do.
We cannot honestly say that all this focus on eschatology has helped our zeal to share our faith. My own denomination's (Southern Baptist) latest profile shows that. It has not helped to build unity in the body of Christ, in fact it could be argued that it has caused more harm than good on that front in my opinion. I wonder if Satan has not quietly pulled a fast one on the church. Distracting us from what we are supposed to be about.
Eschatology is intended to give us hope and peace. That there is more to our existence then what this life has to offer. That death is not the end but rather a transition to a better existence, in a better place, for eternity. But that reality is only for those who put their faith in Jesus. That is where eschatology should focus, not on matters that are at best debatable, at worse speculative causing more harm that good.
I say that cautiously because since I have given my life to the Lord there has always been eschatological fervor in the church. It just got more amplified when God called me to the ministry as I am now, it seems, constantly asked about this and that when it come to eschatology. It seems there was a season of "quiet" after the "Left Behind" series, but it is now back in full force.
As a pastor I get kind of frustrated that if I do a study on Revelation, that will draw a crowd, but James well maybe, Leviticus, forget it!!! So much energy is put into figuring out what Jesus said is not for us to know. What is an especially hot topic is who is the "anti-christ". But let us not forget about when the tribulation is, the nature of the millennium, or when that rapture will take place.
Of course these speculations are nothing new. They have been throughout the history of the church. I have a question though, is all this study of eschatology really helping the church accomplish it's mission to bring glory to God and advance His kingdom?
People spend hours upon hours in study trying to figure out who the enemy is when we already know who the enemy is, it is Satan. All this focus on what he is going to do when we already know what he is trying to do.
We cannot honestly say that all this focus on eschatology has helped our zeal to share our faith. My own denomination's (Southern Baptist) latest profile shows that. It has not helped to build unity in the body of Christ, in fact it could be argued that it has caused more harm than good on that front in my opinion. I wonder if Satan has not quietly pulled a fast one on the church. Distracting us from what we are supposed to be about.
Eschatology is intended to give us hope and peace. That there is more to our existence then what this life has to offer. That death is not the end but rather a transition to a better existence, in a better place, for eternity. But that reality is only for those who put their faith in Jesus. That is where eschatology should focus, not on matters that are at best debatable, at worse speculative causing more harm that good.
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