To my spiritual kinsmen, Southern Baptists,
I’m far removed in distance and unfamiliarity of the people and issues that are facing us as a denomination of Gospel advancers. May I attempt to articulate a few thoughts of caution to us from my vantage point in Twin Falls, Idaho?
First, today is a reminder to this gospel preacher to give as much attention to walk humbly before my God as I begin to look toward the finishing line of my own ministry days. (I’m not numbering my days, I’m just saying that that finish line is closer than it was 33 years ago when I first began the path down this ministry road.) From time to time there needs to be some attention given to re-calibrating that which has drifted off course, but our primary duty is to keep our gospel shoes on and enter the battle field with the aim of advancing the gospel banner.
Second, let’s be careful to not let the issues facing the Southern Baptist Convention today confuse us lest we get lost on the wide, fast lane toward liberal, unbiblical temptations.
As Bible students, it is easy to see God holds men and women equal in value, importance, and blessed and neither superior to the other and neither taking advantage of the day to belittle the other. If we are not careful, this re-calibrating to the plumb-line of Scripture could unknowingly over calibrate (ride the pendulum to the other side) and find ourselves on the path of many before us toward an unbiblical opinion rather than proclaimers of Biblical Truth. To be a proclaimer of Biblical Truth is not permission to be rude, arrogant, or a bully in behavior. It means we walk carefully and circumspectly. When we find ourselves in a dangerous day it is even more important to watch our steps and guard our tongues. (I have many scars to prove my own past foolishness.)
Finally… It’s a good day to be the church. Let’s take advantage of the day to turn the conversation to the Gospel. God has shown us what is good, now do that! “Act justly, Love mercy, and walk humbly before your God.” (Micha 6:8)
The greatest danger that is before us right now is that we don’t let the secular culture throw us off our “game.”
The abuse in the secular world of men over women is tragic. Men in our culture don’t have a right to behave as they want and say what ever they want just because they are men. Men who have abused their authority in Christianity, organizations, institutions, and churches ought to know better. Shame on any who have not behaved godly.
Church, let’s walk carefully in this day. Call out those who are clearly in the wrong for their own benefit because we love them and don’t want them to face the more strict judgment they deserve from God by taking advantage of their duty, but let’s not do it like the secularist who have no interest in a Gospel witness.
It is clear that those who have responsibilities to deal with those who have acted unbecomingly are doing their duty. Today, it appears some re-calibrating needs to take place, so we have to give attention to the issues. Let’s not labor long here in the winter barracks lest we grow unfit for the battle. Let’s get our gospel tools sharpened and prepped and get that gospel banner back on our shoulders and send it on the field with the vanguard.
Preacher, get to your post and preach. Church, guard these posts and don’t let foolishness rule the day. All of us have a responsibility to finish, and finishing well is done when we are found doing our God ordained duty faithfully.
