Your Voice

Living the resurrected life in a ‘dead’ culture

By Adron Robinson
Pastor, Hillcrest Baptist Church

Ask 10 different people to define what it means to be a Christian and you will probably get 10 different answers.

The name Christian is often claimed in our culture today, but the corresponding lifestyle is often absent. This disparity has left many confused on what authentic Christianity looks like.

Christianity is an external demonstration of the internal reality that by faith we have been united with Christ and hidden in Him. 

Our position in Christ is the foundation and motivation for our daily walk in the world.

We live in a world full of doubt, disagreement and downright evil. And the only answer to the ills of this world is the transformational power of the gospel.

Our family members, neighbors, co-workers and friends need to see living displays of the resurrected life. We need to invite them into our homes and our dinner tables and let them see what compassion looks like, what forgiveness looks like and what love looks like.

We need to talk to them and not at them, to listen to their concerns and their struggles. 

We need to offer them the hope of the gospel along with a loving display of the gospel.

Many of them won’t come to church, so the church needs to go to them and display the resurrected life.

They will never stop cursing people out by their own power. They will never stop gambling away their savings by their own power. They will never stop lusting by their own power.

They need the power that is greater than willpower. They need resurrection power.

This power is described throughout Scripture. As the apostle Paul, for example, wrote: “if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1) and “if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you” (Rom. 8:11).

But if we don’t live the resurrected life, how can we expect to resurrect a dead culture?

God, we were born in sin, yet by Your grace You made us alive through faith in Christ. Now help us to live in light of the resurrection so that others may believe in You.

EDITOR’S NOTE — Adron Robinson is pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church, Country Club Hills, Illinois; president of the Illinois Baptist State Association; and a member of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee.

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Why Baptism Sunday?

Baptism numbers serve as one of the best indicators of evangelism in our churches. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, and that means proclaiming the gospel is the core of who we are — not only as Southern Baptists but most importantly as disciples of Jesus Christ.

That’s why I’m challenging every Southern Baptist church to call for baptisms in services on Sept. 8, the date our Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)  Executive Committee has designated as “Baptism Day” on the SBC Calendar.

Baptism Sunday will be an opportunity for thousands of people in our churches to take their step of obedience and faith. This follows the example of Jesus’ Great Commission: “Make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). 

Baptism is a believer’s first act of discipleship, a step of obedience that stands as a witness that we belong to Christ.

I believe God is preparing a harvest of souls. Let’s faithfully call them to respond by publicly declaring faith through baptism.

For resources go to namb.net/baptism-sunday-resources.

—J.D. Greear

EDITOR’S NOTE — J.D. Greear is president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh, N.C.

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Letters to the Editor

I just read Jennifer Davis Rash’s “My Rashionale” editorial — “Is it really fair to claim ‘it isn’t fair’ in the life of a believer?” — in the July 25, 2019, issue of The Alabama Baptist. 

I believe it is one of the most well-thought out, carefully worded, mature analyses of a tricky subject I have ever read.  

More importantly, in concluding the column, Rash points us all to the example of our Savior by suggesting we follow the Apostle Paul’s advice to his young helper Timothy as recorded in Scripture passages such as 2 Timothy.

It doesn’t get any better than that.

Bob Henderson
Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Appreciate what you are doing in TAB each week. Great and practical “My Rashionale” editorial on true communication in the Aug. 1 issue. The Aug. 8 issue had a timely and fresh focus on students and a new school term/semester.

Gary Cardwell
Pastor, chaplain
@gcwell

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Expect damage when Christians flip on God, church duties, friends, family or an employer. Commitment gone awry always hurts Kingdom advancement.

Darryl Wood
Retired pastor

“Righteousness” is a slippery word. When we think we have caught it, we probably haven’t. It is possible to be right but not righteous, sanitary but not saintly, pious but not pure. Righteousness is not first a legal word but a quality that rises from profound and unselfish love for God and others.

Bob Adams
Retired pastor

There’s lots of communication happening, but fewer people are listening.

Mark MacDonald
Vice president of marketing and communication, International Mission Board

The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. 

Helen Keller

It’s amazing to see how God puts pieces of the puzzle together.

Michael Goforth
Pastor, Sardis Baptist Church, Boaz

The Annual Church Profile (ACP) numbers provide a unique glimpse at the eternal impact churches are making for the Lord in sharing His gospel and seeing souls come to Christ through baptism and participation in a variety of activities worthy of His disciples. 

Rick Lance
Executive director, Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions

Before you post something to social media, carefully read Paul’s words to Timothy: “Don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach and be patient with difficult people. … Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts” (2 Tim. 2:23–25, NLT). If social media had been around in Paul’s day, this would have been his advice to the young preacher concerning his use of it.

Kevin Blackwell
Interim pastor, FBC Pleasant Grove

We must STOP making worship leaders and thought leaders or influencers or cool people or “relevant” people the most influential people in Christendom. … We are in a dangerous place when the church is looking to 20-year-old worship singers as our source of truth.

John Cooper
Lead singer, Skillet 

In his book “The Restored Man” Randy Hemphill encourages men to take a journey toward biblical restoration. 

As he approaches the process of restoration, Hemphill embraces emotions while confronting spiritual issues. 

Using rich texts from God’s word, Hemphill seeks to guide men into greater community with one another through spiritual discipline. 

“The Restored Man” is structured in such a way that others can join in and discuss the questions presented for reflection. 

This book is a challenging one that will push men to be fathered by our great Father God.

James Hammack
Digital Services manager, TAB

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From the Twitterverse

@c_lisle10

Galatians 5:22–23: If you put your daily life up against these verses, life pretty much works out. @RashionalThts

@Stu_Davidson

Three goals for today. Be joyful. Be prayerful. Be thankful. Your situation is often determined by your concentration. If your focus is on faith, then your future will brighten. #trusthim @Eastern Shore Baptist Church

@joeyhanner

Hope does not come from my situation for hope comes from my Savior. “And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.” Psalm 39:7, NKJV

@bellevuepastor

You can either pray and trust the Lord, or you can worry and try to work things out on your own. I’m gonna pray.

@DrPaulChitwood

After spending 28 days this summer traveling overseas to meet with @IMB_SBC missionaries, it’s the 2,800+ missionary kids that have me reflecting on the opportunities and obligations of our @SBCCP. We’ve made promises to them that we plan to keep. Thank you, Southern Baptists!

@GaryFenton07

Anxiety is the breeding ground for greed. Awareness of God’s grace is the fertile soil from which generosity grows.

@desiringGod

“Lord, spare me from the success that would threaten to undo me. Not all victories are good victories; not all triumphs will lead me home. Keep me from those achievements that would puff me up, those accomplishments that would tempt me to forget you.” — Greg Morse

@Jeff_Iorg

We are robbing our followers of the joy of giving and the blessing of trusting God in financial matters when we fail to model and teach stewardship.

@richardblackaby

God is not obligated to help you achieve your goals. He is focused on accomplishing His purposes. Align your life with God’s activity and get swept up into the greatest, worldwide, miraculous movement of all time!

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As we are celebrating Read The Alabama Baptist Day this month we want to hear from our readers.

Why do you read The Alabama Baptist? 

What do you love about the content provided in print/online? 

Do you have any favorite articles or columns?

“I love the way TAB helps pull the faith family together from around the state. I feel like I know more ministries, churches, local heroes of the faith and area missionaries because of its stories.”

Grace Thornton
Special assignments editor, TAB

“I love all the up-to-date news I get. I really like the media reviews. I always look forward to the issue with the Calhoun Baptist Association newsletter on the back.” 

Gina Hardman
Golden Springs Baptist Church, Anniston

“My favorite part of The Alabama Baptist is the TAB News podcast! Of course as digital editor I might say that, but it has been a great time developing each episode and watching it grow and get better week after week. The topics presented in the first half of the podcast vary and there’s something interesting for everyone. But the second half is my favorite. It is a lot of fun to see co-workers behind a microphone, reading TAB articles. And it’s a good way for people who aren’t able to read the paper to keep up with TAB or for those who are more ‘on the go’ to listen to articles in the car or on a run.”

Hannah Muñoz
Digital editor, TAB

“I very much appreciate knowing everything that is going on in the Alabama Baptist Convention, the Southern Baptist Convention and about Alabama pastors. We know so many of these people.”

Sara Palmer
Shiloh Baptist Church, Opelika

“TAB is one of my main sources for news in addition to inspiration. In today’s world, because of incredible political bias on both sides by the press, it is sometimes hard to believe what you read. TAB, on the other hand, is trustworthy, and I appreciate that.”  

Sallie Bryant
TAB board member