I’ve heard from several readers who are just discovering that iMonk is a long time (and current) Southern Baptist. Even more are surprised that he is making a solid run in our SBC blog contest. So, if you need just one more post to prove his credentials as an SBC blogger, I think he just published it.
Avoiding Death by Nostalgia: My Denomination (The SBC) Today
“Death by Nostalgia” is wishing the world was like it was in the 1970’s and we could just assume that we were right . . . We’ve become functionally unevangelistic in many places because our past methodologies- door to door visitation, revivals, church based ministries- no longer are effective.
The second part is now up: A Great Commission Resurgence: Is It A Possible SBC Future? (Part 2 of Thoughts On My Denomination Today)
the FUTURE of the SBC lies with a Great Commission Resurgence, a new commitment to cooperation and a relentless emphasis on the things that matter in the Kingdom.
No, a Great Commission Resurgence is a vital future for the SBC, not only for our priorities as a missionary and evangelistic force, but because it is that Great Commission task and the trust of the cooperative funding mechanism that created who we are as contemporary Southern Baptists. Whatever isn’t working in Baptist life, we can’t forget that the ideal of cooperation for missions was always an incredible blessing to us and to the world.
When our churches, leaders, denomination and people see the same worthy goal and support one another beyond our differences in secondary matters, age, style, feelings about being Baptist or local strategy, we demonstrate that our history was not a wasted exercise.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I for one don’t understand the fascination with imonk. I’m tired of would be prophets that point out all that is wrong without a way forward that doesn’t involve the demise of our denomination and evangelicalism as a whole. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not for putting my head in the sand, but I much prefer guys like Stetzer and Akin who see a future for Southern Baptists through reform and a Great Commission Resurgence rather than guys like imonk and the other prophets of our doom.
Todd Benkerts last blog post..What kind of pastor will I be?
Todd: The whole point of his post was to say we need to follow guys like Akin and the “Great Commission Resurgence”
http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/a-great-commission-resurgence-is-it-a-possible-sbc-future-part-2-of-thoughts-on-my-denomination-today
Yes, but not before a long post about all that’s wrong with the SBC. Combine that with his death of evangelicalism posts and its more negativity than I can take. Maybe I’m just cranky, but I’ve been reading posts like his for the last year and a half and I find them more discouraging than helpful.
Todd Benkerts last blog post..What kind of pastor will I be?
Todd: Instead of pretending it’s not true, because in three years of reading and this, I believe it is, do something about it.
Well there you go Tony. I come by to visit, and I’m being thrown down a well. Where can I complain?
Todd:
1) I wrote about the collapse of some things in evangelicalism. I didn’t write about the death of evangelicalism.
2) The statistical data is available on the ARIS website and in Michael Bell’s reviews at IM. Neither of them works for me.
3) It was Frank Page, SBC President, not Michael Spencer, who said the SBC would see half its churches gone in 25-35 years.
4) It was Bobby Welch and other conservative SBC Presidents who said our Baptisms are declining and so are we.
5) It was NOBTS Prez Chuck Kelley who said that the SBC are the New Methodists. Not me.
6) It doesn’t really matter to me if you read, like, agree or even know what I’m saying. But painting me as a lone voice predicting doom and gloom while everyone else is positive is hardly accurate.
7) I’ve been SBC almost 37 years. I’ve served SBC churches since I was 18 and I’ve served a KBC institution for 17 years. I plan to retire here. I have no plans to leave the SBC until they throw me out or God says leave. The measure of how positive I am, personally, is how I live my life. My money is still with the Annuity Board by the way.
sincerely,
Michael Spencer
Michael,
I’m certainly not casting you as the lone voice of negativity, but you seem to be the one in the spotlight right now and the one my church members are facebooking me about.
I am also not contesting the issues you raise, even if I think some are overstated and I believe that I have a more optimistic view of the future. There is really nothing new in your posts. Yes, there are problems, and yes the statistics show a decline. That has been established for some time. What I do think is that it’s time to move beyond generalizing and rehashing the same problems of decline and move toward solutions. Not just generalizations, but practical answers. On a macro level, all I can do is work to change the minds of people with whom I disagree and I can go to the annual meeting and vote. What I have much more influence over, is on the micro level.
Everyone with a blog wants to be a prophet. I just want to learn how to fix myself and lead my church to reaching my community with the gospel — coming along side those who have been doing just that all along. I want to find practical ways to share my faith and be a missional Christian and church. Beyond that, I work with, pray with, and encourage fellow pastors in my association to do the same. A great commission resurgence happens one pastor, church, and association at a time. The future of the denomination or evangelicalism is not in my hands. It may indeed radically decline or even die. Then again, God may do something great in our midst! I prefer to champion the latter.
Blessings,
Todd
Todd Benkerts last blog post..An "Experiencing God" Moment
Tony,
I think I’m going to stop commenting on blogs because all I accomplish is looking like an idiot and getting people irritated — both things I have no interest in.
– Todd
Todd Benkerts last blog post..An "Experiencing God" Moment
Alright, so I went back and reread Michael’s posts as well as a healthy sampling of his past articles. It appears my first impressions of his blog were unbalanced and a bit unfair. There are a lot of things to chew on over there and much of his writing is worthy of contemplation. While I do prefer a bit more optimism and disagree with some of his conclusions, it is obvious that Michael is a serious thinker and resonates with a lot of blog readers. (I suspect that I’m one of those bloggers who people read and just roll their eyes.)
All in all, in my initial response above, I am guilty of the same kind of knee-jerk reactionism that I find so distasteful in others. Chalk it up to my struggle with the 10th commandment, my distaste of our American “guru” culture, my tenacious naiveté, the fact that I tend to be an “evangelical optimist” and am weary of the general cynicism of the blogosphere or that I been a bit grumpy lately.
Whatever the case, Michael, I apologize for my negative attitude toward you and for not treating you fairly. I’m adding you to my google reader. Time will tell if I have a full conversion and become a fan, but at least I will not be your adversary – for whatever that’s worth.
Blessings,
Todd
Todd Benkerts last blog post..An "Experiencing God" Moment
Todd,
For whatever this is worth from the perspective of a fellow blogger, blog reader, and occasional commenter who’s never met you or Michael, I appreciate your humility. That’s far too uncommon on blogs.
Barry Wallaces last blog post..You don’t “Try Jesus”
I think this comment thread is approaching the status of conversation. Good work guys, I appreciate you both. It’s clear to me that most SBC people still love the vision of the SBC (Gospel + Cooperation). So, I think it’s ok to be critical when we miss it, as long as we don’t do so out of pride.
Thanks for the second look brother. I tend to get more stoked about being short changed. Going back to reread was a stand up thing to do. Sorry if I sounded like a scold.
Now Tony, can I get out of this well please.