Alabama Baptists must work to make Christianity relevant to the world around them in today’s society, said Joe Godfrey, outgoing president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention (ABSC).
In his presidential address Nov. 16, Godfrey said Christians run the risk of being seen as irrelevant in three ways.
One, people may see Christianity as being “so heavenly minded that it is no earthly good,” he said, citing verses from Hebrews 12:1–2, Colossians 3:1–4 and Philippians 3:20.
Second, when churches fight “things that don’t really matter (like redecoration issues), people begin to see us as irrelevant.”
Third, when churches fight and split over theological issues that are hard to understand, it can hurt their witness within the communities. “When we fight over issues we can’t even comprehend, we run the danger of becoming irrelevant to the world around us,” Godfrey said.
While it is good to focus on the life to come and “the things of God we can understand,” Christians are “also called to touch the world with His love and truth,” Godfrey said.
To maintain a relevant witness to those around them, Christians must maintain their focus on God. “When we’re focused on Jesus, then we are free to give of ourselves without fear to other people, and then we will be truly relevant,” he said.
Citing 1 John 4:17–21, Godfrey said Jesus sacrificially loved the world and gave His love by dying on the cross.
“And that’s how we should touch our world,” Godfrey said.
“We are to come out of our churches, move into our communities and we are to touch the world for Jesus Christ the way Jesus did — sacrificially, selflessly love them.” For those who are afraid to reach out so openly, Godfrey reminded them of verse 18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear.
“When we realize God loves and accepts us, it doesn’t matter what others say or do,” Godfrey said. “Then we are free to reach out.
“When we become focused on Christ, we become focused on needs of others and focused on ways to meet those needs.”
He pointed to the example of Paul and Silas in Acts 16. They were arrested and thrown into jail for casting a demon out of a fortune teller.
The two were freed from their chains by an earthquake, and subsequently led their jailer to Jesus. After the jailer was saved, he cared for the wounds of Paul and Silas and fed them.
“When you meet Jesus you start looking for ways to do some things for somebody else,” Godfrey said.
Godfrey also pointed to social reforms in England during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Many focused on child welfare, fair labor laws, protection for the workers and reform in prisons. Godfrey said these were all brought about by Christians who were responding to the revivals sweeping through the nation. These reforms were the way Christians in that time touched their world for Jesus.
Godfrey said there are three things that Alabama Baptists can do to make Jesus relevant to today’s world, based on James 1:26–27.
One is having a controlled tongue. Godfrey encouraged Alabama Baptists to think before they speak about how their words will impact those around them and to use their words to encourage, not hurt others.
Second, sacrificial service to others will demonstrate Jesus Christ in a real way, he said. That service can be shown by meeting physical, emotional and spiritual needs, Godfrey said, and meeting them in the name of Christ is the best way to make the Christian faith relevant.
Godfrey encouraged those in attendance to share with others how God met their own emotional and spiritual needs, needs such as eternal life, meaning, purpose, hope, joy and peace. “Everybody around the world shares these same basic needs,” Godfrey said. “The greatest service we can ever render to another person is to introduce them to Jesus Christ.”
Third, Godfrey said Alabama Baptists can “make Christ relevant and do intentional evangelism by doing the right thing.”
“Always do right thing no matter what people say or do. God will honor that and use you to impact the lives of others around you.”
To do all this, Godfrey said Christians must let Jesus Christ live through them as stated in Matthew 4:13–16: “Let your light shine before men.”
Having a fruitful faith
Godfrey added that Christians should not only let Christ shine through their actions, but also through their attitudes.
Citing James 1:16–27, Godfrey said, “Failing to apply God’s Word to our lives in our actions and attitudes makes our appreciation of God’s Word worthless.
“I believe in feasting on the Word of God, but if all we ever do is feast on the Word of God and never exercise the Word of God, we become spiritual blubber.”
To follow through on what he had just challenged the convention messengers to do, Godfrey shared the plan of salvation with the audience.
“I realize most of you … are ministering in your churches and are actively involved, but wouldn’t it be sad if we had a Baptist meeting and had a person off the street and they never heard Jesus Christ shared here?”
Godfrey ended by praying that “we as believers will become relevant to communities and those around us by showing them [God’s] love any way we can, but most of all by telling them about Jesus.”
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