Have you ever thought of The Alabama Baptist as a modern-day Luke?
I confess that I had not until David Platt, outgoing president of the International Mission Board, described the work of state paper editors as “modern-day Lukes.”
Platt’s comment came after a prayer time during the annual meeting of the Association of State Baptist Publications in February. He had addressed the group about missions work around the world and then we all participated in a season of prayer.
At the end of the final prayer Platt turned to the group and said, “I just realized that you are modern-day Lukes. You are telling the Jesus story today like Luke did in his day.”
Obviously, no one dares claim that any modern-day publication is inspired by God like Luke’s Gospel but, still, the comparison is intriguing.
Luke’s audience
Luke wrote to Theophilus which means “friend of God.” Some believe the book was written to an individual person by that name. Others believe the name is a literary device and that Luke’s Gospel was intended for all “friends of God.”
The latter view has lots of support. At the time Luke wrote, between A.D. 60 and 70, the new church was a divided lot.
Believers debated the role of Gentiles, the relationship of the new faith to Judaism and appropriate political alliances to Rome. Understandings about the kingdom of God were still being worked out as were views about missionary efforts and even who Jesus was.
Theological, political and cultural differences among believers abounded. That sounds a lot like today.
Luke’s opening words provide insight to the confusion of his day. He wrote, “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us.” Some writings argued that Jesus could not have been a physical being since all material is evil. That led to questions about His birth. Some writings were fanciful, even self-serving.
There was no shortage of accounts about Jesus but not all of them were trustworthy and reliable. Again that sounds much like today.
Luke recognized the need for an account about the life of Jesus that would provide “certainty of the things you have been taught.” The church needed a reliable and trustworthy source about the events of its day just like the church needs a trustworthy source today.
To provide that trustworthy source Luke said, “I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning.” He interviewed eyewitnesses. He talked to scribes. He examined other writings. He poured over various accounts trying to find truth as directed by God’s Holy Spirit.
To all of this Luke added his own credibility. He was known to the Christian community as an able believer who was a physician. He was a friend and companion to the renowned Apostle Paul. Luke had a system of accountability because of his relationships in the church. He was a trusted source.
Luke’s “orderly account” of Jesus’ life and ministry merged information from various sources, viewpoints and accounts into one reliable source of information for Theophilus, whether that is an individual or all “friends of God.”
The gospel could be read and trusted in churches in Galatia or Greece, in Rome or Jerusalem.
Just as the young church needed Luke’s Gospel, today’s churches need the ministry of the state Baptist paper.
Today churches are divided by theological, political and cultural differences just like the early church. And like the early church, there is no shortage of public voices. It is estimated that the U.S alone has more than 30 million active bloggers. Many of these write about the church and about Christianity.
Following Luke’s goal
Unfortunately, few of these can claim to have followed Luke’s example and “investigated everything” about which they write. Many write from passion or prejudice. They describe things as they want them to be or as they want others to think they are.
As Christian journalists, state Baptist papers are bound to verify information, to double check facts, to evaluate accounts in light of other testimony. That is what Luke did. The goal is accurate, reliable and balanced news that creates common understanding and that can be trusted and acted upon by today’s “friends of God.” Again that was Luke’s goal.
Since 1843 when The Alabama Baptist was founded, the publication has shared information that results in understanding and perspective. The paper’s content has inspired people to grow as Christian disciples in their family life, their church life and life in the public square. For 175 years the paper has connected Baptists for missions and ministries at home and to the ends of the earth.
Luke would be pleased with such a record.
Alabama Baptists have called their state Baptist paper “a trusted voice and welcomed friend” for generations, in part because the ministry belongs to them. It is not an outside voice. Only Alabama Baptists serve as directors of the ministry.
The directors, in turn, hold the editor, also an active Alabama Baptist, and all staff members to the highest standards of Christian journalism consistent with Baptist heritage.
Like Luke, the paper is always accountable to the community of faith.
Every week The Alabama Baptist holds up gospel-centered values shared by Baptists across the state. The Alabama Baptist helps bridge differences created by geography, age, education, economics, race and more, reminding readers that we share a common faith centered on Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection.
Just as Luke tried to provide early Christians an “orderly account” related to Jesus, the state Baptist paper provides an orderly account of what God is doing today through those who believe in Jesus. The Alabama Baptist offers the first version of today’s Christian history. It offers an orderly account based on interviews with eyewitnesses and other appropriate sources. It is trustworthy and reliable.
Comparing Luke’s goals and how he worked with what state Baptist papers do today makes Platt’s comparison a little more understandable. Christians today need to read Luke’s Gospel to learn what God did through Jesus. Christians today also need to read their state Baptist paper to learn what God is doing today through those of us who believe in Jesus.
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