Poulain. This communicates something about my heritage as a person and member of an earthly family. I am thankful for this heritage and the impact my family has had on me. I hope my and Sandy's children will say the same thing about their heritage when they grow up. However, this is not the heritage that I want to write about.
As a Christian I have a larger family. As one who is in Christ, I am united to everyone else in Christ because we are all one in Christ (Rom. 12:5). I am also thankful for my heritage as a Southern Baptist, and most specifically as a part of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO), which is what I want to focus on.
As a Christian I have a larger family. As one who is in Christ, I am united to everyone else in Christ because we are all one in Christ (Rom. 12:5). I am also thankful for my heritage as a Southern Baptist, and most specifically as a part of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO), which is what I want to focus on.
I was reminded of this thankfulness last week as we joined together for the BGCO's Annual Meeting. Over the course of Monday and Tuesday I also became aware of a couple things we could do better. I am thankful for Oklahoma Baptists' love and support for small churches, can and will accomplish together (in cooperation), and our emphasis on the Great Commission. Conversely, a more distinct focus and emphasis on discipleship, as well as a more careful pattern of post-profession-of-faith follow-up would make us more excellent together.
It was clear at the Annual Meeting that this convention does not lose sight of the majority of its membership who meet together in smaller buildings, among smaller congregations. This support is not offered simply as lip service but the BGCO and its leadership back it up in action, visiting and planning events regularly with smaller churches in rural areas. In so doing, they are living out the principle laid out in James 2:1-4 (not catering to the rich, but treating the poor and rich alike).
Working together is not unique to Oklahoma Baptists - mainly because the example is set for us at the national level through the SBC's Cooperative Program - but Oklahoma Baptists work well together and, through God's gracious will, are accomplishing much for his glory. From the ministry at Falls Creek (through Skopos), to the foster work at the OK Baptist Homes For Children, and the new partnership with Latvia, Oklahoma Baptists are putting their Cooperative Program dollars to work to spread the gospel in ways that Sunday morning church services won't, to God's glory.
It was clear at the Annual Meeting that this convention does not lose sight of the majority of its membership who meet together in smaller buildings, among smaller congregations. This support is not offered simply as lip service but the BGCO and its leadership back it up in action, visiting and planning events regularly with smaller churches in rural areas. In so doing, they are living out the principle laid out in James 2:1-4 (not catering to the rich, but treating the poor and rich alike).
Working together is not unique to Oklahoma Baptists - mainly because the example is set for us at the national level through the SBC's Cooperative Program - but Oklahoma Baptists work well together and, through God's gracious will, are accomplishing much for his glory. From the ministry at Falls Creek (through Skopos), to the foster work at the OK Baptist Homes For Children, and the new partnership with Latvia, Oklahoma Baptists are putting their Cooperative Program dollars to work to spread the gospel in ways that Sunday morning church services won't, to God's glory.
Lastly, I am grateful for the emphasis on the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20) that is inherent in our Southern Baptist heritage. The truth is that we cannot love our neighbor as ourselves if we do not share the Gospel of Christ with them calling them out of the slavery of sin into faith in Christ. Over and over at the convention we saw how the Great Commission urgency is alive and well in the BGCO.
Yet, this Great Commission focus seems to fall short much of the time. What do I mean? I mean we usually emphasize evangelism and tend to ignore discipleship. True, you cannot make disciples without seeing people regenerated through God's work of bringing them to faith in Christ. However, may we never - NEVER - get so concerned with baptism numbers and reporting professions-of-faith that we ignore the person and the help they need to walk the long term road of repentance and sanctification required by new life in Christ.
Brothers and Sisters, this starts with professions-of-faith. When we sit down to talk to new believers - which we must - we ought not to be to hasty to pronounce "salvation has come." We must listen carefully to their understanding of God's holiness, sin, repentance, faith in Christ, and Christ as Lord. We must discern, with heavy hearts, in the power of the Holy Spirit, how God is working in bringing individuals to salvation. We must be careful in this because what's at stake is a lifetime of confusion with regard to regeneration, genuine salvation, and eternal security. As Great Commission people we are not after simply reciting prayers, walking aisles, and reporting numbers. We are after justification by faith (Gal. 2:16; 3:24-26) leading to new creations (2 Cor. 5:17) and changed lives (Gal. 2:20). We are after disciples! This article by Jim Elliff has influenced my view as well.
I thank God for the BGCO and our partnership together. Let's continue to be better at making disciples of Christ, for God's glory.
Yet, this Great Commission focus seems to fall short much of the time. What do I mean? I mean we usually emphasize evangelism and tend to ignore discipleship. True, you cannot make disciples without seeing people regenerated through God's work of bringing them to faith in Christ. However, may we never - NEVER - get so concerned with baptism numbers and reporting professions-of-faith that we ignore the person and the help they need to walk the long term road of repentance and sanctification required by new life in Christ.
Brothers and Sisters, this starts with professions-of-faith. When we sit down to talk to new believers - which we must - we ought not to be to hasty to pronounce "salvation has come." We must listen carefully to their understanding of God's holiness, sin, repentance, faith in Christ, and Christ as Lord. We must discern, with heavy hearts, in the power of the Holy Spirit, how God is working in bringing individuals to salvation. We must be careful in this because what's at stake is a lifetime of confusion with regard to regeneration, genuine salvation, and eternal security. As Great Commission people we are not after simply reciting prayers, walking aisles, and reporting numbers. We are after justification by faith (Gal. 2:16; 3:24-26) leading to new creations (2 Cor. 5:17) and changed lives (Gal. 2:20). We are after disciples! This article by Jim Elliff has influenced my view as well.
I thank God for the BGCO and our partnership together. Let's continue to be better at making disciples of Christ, for God's glory.