If Southern Baptists are serious about a Great Commission Resurgence, then they must become “vibrant believers on mission,” John Marshall, pastor of Second Baptist Church, Springfield, Mo., charged as he delivered the annual meeting convention sermon.
The greatest misconception among Christians is that the Great Commission was given to institutions or even the local church, he said.
“The Great Commission is given to you,” Marshall asserted. “You are commanded to go. … Every believer is to go. … You yourself must go.”
To be like Jesus, Christians have two choices: become career missionaries or go on short-term missions trips, Marshall said. “[Jesus] spent His whole ministry going on short-term missions trips. That’s all He did.”
Marshall displayed a fire brigade bucket, noting the bottom is rounded. “When there is a fire going on, you don’t put your water bucket down. … Someone has got to deliver the living water.”
He quipped that denominations begun by the three blind men Jesus healed argued over whether to be mudites, spitites or touchites, based on how Jesus had healed each man.
“Petty divisions divided them,” Marshall said. But three common traits should have united them because each had a personal encounter with Jesus, heard God’s word and went out on mission.
Those same traits can unite Southern Baptists to reach the world, he insisted.
“Always embrace the admonition that you must be born again,” he urged. “The only way sinners can be holy is for Jesus to come into their lives … and holiness matters most.”
Jesus spoke God’s word to the blind men, and “God’s word is not debatable. The Bible alone has ultimate authority.”
Noting that Southern Baptists hold certain beliefs in common, he added, “Only the Bible is infallible. All we need is the Scripture, because that is authoritative.”
Baptists always have believed only Scripture can exercise authority over anyone, which is why annual meeting resolutions are nonbinding, he noted.
Marshall warned Baptists to avoid the trap of developing rules and regulations to enforce certain cultural standards.
“The moment we do that we cease being Baptists,” he said. “We do not believe one generation should legislate to another.
“We want our children and grandchildren to search Scripture to find their way. The greatest gift we can give our children is a love for Scripture.”
He said he always knew that liberalism does not know where to stop or draw the line but he has been surprised to learn in recent years that legalism does the exact same thing.
“If Southern Baptists follow that trajectory (of legalism), we move away from grace and argue over lesser issues. … Our man-made, legalistic rules do not add a cotton-picking thing to Scripture. The Bible stands on its own. … Trust it. It is sufficient.”
Marshall said being on mission should be our uniting trait. He urged personal evangelism and starting more churches, as well as encouraging young leaders to become more involved in SBC life.
“If the Great Commission Resurgence is to happen, we gray heads … must send a signal to the younger generation that we want them and need them,” he said.
He said many older Baptists have prayed for revival and renewal but it has not come.
“Would it not be tragic if after all our years of praying that God wants to bring revival through a younger generation, that we drive them off?” (Editor’s Network)
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