It is time for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) to wake up, announced Don Wilton, pastor of First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, S.C.
“God has given us our marching orders, and if we do not obey what God has told us to do … God will no longer bless this denomination,” warned Wilton as he delivered the convention message for the SBC annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C., June 14.
Comparing the direction of the SBC with King Solomon’s life, Wilton said God has blessed the SBC to the point it has forgotten why it has been blessed.
He explained that God visited Solomon twice in his life. The first time, He gave Solomon a chance to ask for what he needed as king of Israel.
The second time, God told Solomon that He had fulfilled His promises, but if Solomon or his descendants turned from following God, then they would lose those blessings.
“Look at us (Southern Baptists). Just imagine what God has done,” Wilton said. This passage in 1 Kings 9 raises several significant issues for the denomination, he noted.
Christians need unobstructed access to God. Nothing is more important than having that access through prayer, discipline and in ministry, Wilton said.
Part of gaining that access involves forgiveness, both from fellow Christians and within the convention.
“We as Southern Baptists need to confess and forgive each other for not following the Great Commission to go into all the world and preach and teach people about the Lord Jesus Christ,” Wilton said.
Southern Baptists also need to understand they do not have an unlimited amount of time to accomplish the task to which God has called them — winning souls to Christ.
Southern Baptists also need to face the issue of God’s unapologetic warnings, Wilton said.
If God’s people wander from His commands, then future generations will lose His blessings, Wilton warned.
God said He would cut off Israel, disgrace the people and demean their witness, all of which Southern Baptists are facing if they do not stay true to God’s call, he said.
In following that call, today’s churches are facing three concerns, Wilton said. One is the need to never compromise on the absolute truth of the Bible.
Second, God’s people need to develop personal convictions based on that absolute truth, but these should not be imposed as absolute truth, he said. Third, God’s people have personal preferences “ad infinitum,” but these also should not be imposed on others as absolute truth.
“The Southern Baptist Convention is no longer built on absolute truth,” Wilton said. “It is built on personal preference and we’re in trouble. We’ve moved away from the mandate of almighty God.
“It’s time to roll up our sleeves and go to work as the soul winners we’re supposed to be.”
Share with others: