Now Tony, can I get out of this well please.

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”

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

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

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

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

Todd Benkerts last blog post..What kind of pastor will I be?