During the press conference following his re-election as president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), Texas pastor Jack Graham declared that Southern Baptists did not want to be known as “isolationists” or as “ugly Americans.”
That desire may have been behind some other events that transpired during the June 17–18 annual meeting of the SBC.
Joe Stowell, pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, addressed messengers by video. Graham introduced Stowell as “another voice” for the kingdom of God. The introduction acknowledged the important contributions of the church, the Moody Bible Institute and the arrays of ministries originating from Moody.
In addition to bringing greetings, Stowell commented on the worldwide influence of Southern Baptists. Stowell praised Southern Baptists for their educational programs and many contributions to the kingdom of God. The exchange between Graham and Stowell emphasized that Southern Baptists work for the same kingdom of God as Moody.
At the annual Pastors Conference, well-known California pastor and popular radio speaker David Jeremiah announced that his church, Shadow Mountain Community Church in San Diego, is now a Southern Baptist Church. A church spokesman said the SBC missions program helped convince them that both groups are working for the same kingdom — the kingdom of God.
Most Alabama Baptists know that God’s kingdom is greater than the scope of Baptist work. Unfortunately, we sometimes become so caught up in our own efforts that we treat others as if we alone were working in God’s kingdom. The reminder of the recent SBC annual meeting and Graham’s press conference comment is that such a conclusion is untrue. We must not only give ourselves to work in the kingdom of God as expressed through Baptists, we must also acknowledge the work of others, celebrate their victories and pray for them. It does take us all to reach the world.
Graham’s words about being perceived as “ugly Americans” related to the SBC’s relations to the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). During convention debate about the cutback of 30 percent in SBC support of BWA, a messenger observed that the move appeared punitive because the SBC did not like the way BWA handled a membership proposal for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Graham acknowledged the SBC’s concern was about process. The SBC was “not being heard or properly understood,” he said.
Graham’s concern about the SBC being perceived as the “ugly American” is a serious comment. The SBC is the largest of all Baptist conventions. It is the most far-reaching through its international missions efforts. The SBC possesses the most resources, from a worldly point of view. It is incumbent on the SBC that it act in ways that do not communicate a “my way or the highway” attitude.
Southern Baptists, ministries such as those of David Jeremiah, Moody, the 206 Baptist bodies that make up the membership of the Baptist World Alliance and others are all working for the same kingdom of God. We are all members of the same Body of Christ.
Southern Baptists made another step during their recent annual meeting that may impact the convention’s image. Southern Baptists announced a new initiative to reach the homosexual community with the gospel. (See story, page 5).
Confrontation has marked the relationship between homosexuals and Southern Baptists in the public media in past years. Some mistakenly believe that Southern Baptists hate homosexuals. The initiative announced in Phoenix will attempt to change that perception.
Task force members were clear in their comments. Churches need to act lovingly toward homosexuals without approving or promoting their lifestyles. A number of resources have been assembled to assist churches to begin ministries to homosexuals. Task force members said homosexuals should be encouraged to attend and participate in worship and church life. At the same time, the church should help them come out of their homosexual lifestyle.
Love the sinner. Hate the sin. That is still the way of Southern Baptists.
This approach is far different than that of some who call themselves Baptist and preach hate for homosexuals.
Graham also attempted to put a good face on the attendance of the Phoenix annual meeting, the lowest in more than 50 years. He alluded to low attendance in most conventions held in the West. Five years ago in Salt Lake City, attendance was 8,582. This year’s attendance was 7,008, a drop of about 35 percent from that last convention held in the West. In fact, this year was the lowest attended convention since San Francisco in 1951.
What does the low attendance mean? No one really knows, though everyone has an idea. What one does know is that this convention emphasized the kingdom of God as the Christian’s first priority. We work together with brothers and sisters in the Lord to reach the world for Christ. That gives no room to be what Graham called “isolationists” or “ugly Americans.”
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