What is cooperation? My online dictionary says cooperation means: “1: the action of cooperating; common effort. 2: association of persons for common benefit.”
It’s kinda like my granddaughters’ cheerleading dance presentations. Each girl has her own personality. Each has her own height, weight, and abilty to perform the cheer in a fluid motion of unity. They cooperate in making this occur with a common effort to achieve one voice to benefit the whole. If one girl decides she’d rather dance to a different song and when the music begins, she dances to a song in her own head, she is not a cooperating member of the team. She may continue to dance with the rest of the team, but it is clear to all who watch the performance, that she is not cooperating.
Whenever a member of any team sticks out like that girl, can that member be considered cooperating? Some folks think cooperation is disagreeing agreeably. Some folks think cooperation is saying you are a member of a team while doing something different than the team. Some folks think cooperation means being polite while doing the opposite of what a team has decided upon. Others think its appropriate to talk ill of the team while remaining on the team–that is still cooperating. Is it?
Jesus had a team. He had twelve. One decided he didn’t like the direction of the leader of team. Can you imagine, actually going against the leader of the team? Sounds a bit like Terrell Owens. Now where did that take him? No matter how valuable a person’s talents, abilities and opinions are, if that person is not actively cooperating in a common effort for the common good, can that person be considered cooperative? If any member of the team persistently and methodically does all he/she can to undermine the team’s efforts, to divide the loyalties of the team, are they truly cooperative?
One of my favorite things about being a Southern Baptist is the cooperation amongst the churches within our convention. I love the fact that through the gifts of many, many are served, reached, ministered unto and blessed because of the money we each give to God each week. I love that we work together as laborers in the kingdom in our associations and our states for the common good of reaching the lost. I love that we set aside times for special prayer and offerings for world missions, North American missions, state missions, world hunger relief, and children’s homes. I love the fact that many in the evangelical community at large see our cooperation as a positive thing–something they wish they could achieve in their own faiths. (Perhaps they will some day…I pray to that end). This cooperative effort is worthy of report, but not of prideful boasting. In fact, it should humble us to realize how very blessed we are as a body of Believers. But then, I suppose there are those who would disagree with me.
Oh I hear it now, “Cooperating! Like the cooperation Wade Burleson, McKissic, etc.. all got. Is that what you call cooperation?”
Yawn…
Great post.
Matt Svobodas last blog post..John Piper on a girl wrestling boys in High School
Matt, you are becoming predictable.
Hey, I’ve heard that if you drink a couple of glasses of cool water, it will take care of that “yawn” you have. Caused by lack of oxygen, they say. 🙂
Blow my mind. How is my post “great”? selahV
selahVs last blog post..BENEFICIAL BLOGGERS…who are they?
Hey Matt, how do you get that sweet photo of you next to your comment? selahV
selahVs last blog post..BENEFICIAL BLOGGERS…who are they?
I certainly have no problems cooperating with other Christians–even with ones who disagree with me. My level of cooperation would vary base on the kind of disagreement. I’m an old 5 pointer but I have no problems working with an Arminian in evangelism or missions. For that matter, I’d have no problems fellowshipping with them. There are other doctrinal differences I would consider minor (Premil/Amil for example). For me, and I may be oversimplfying here, there are three “lines” over which I will not cross to cooperate: 1-Biblical inerrancy (a la the Chicago Statement). 2-Complimentarianism 3-Cessasionism (Hope I spelled that… Read more »
Joe, Which three of those four lines would you not cross? Must be some slippery liberal double talk you got going on there. (j/k) Seriously though, why would you choose not to cooperate with people who differ from you on cessationalism? You would be more willing to cooperate with a person who baptizes their babies for inclusion in the covenant blessings than someone who thinks that it is possible for people to still receive the gift of tongues? I know you wrote that quickly and so probably missed a few things you actually do consider important, but I for the… Read more »
Todd
Yeah, 34. Math was never my strong suit.
I would agree that sprinkling babies is also something that would constitute a line that I would not cross. As far as cessasionism, without threadjacking here I’ll just say that based on my study of the Bible and church history I believe that the sign gifts were intended to authenticate the message of those apostles and their associates who preached the gospel until the New Testament was completed. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it, yo.
Joe Blackmons last blog post..II Peter 1:16c-19a Is Seeing Really Believing?
Yes, I am a cooperating Baptist. I like the idea that we join together for specific purposes such as missions and training. It’s a cliche but has much truth, we really do better together than we can do separately.
It’s also a matter of perspective. Coming from a group that prided itself on being independent – actually it was more like contrariness – the SBC feels like a haven of cooperative and biblical spirit.
Tom Bryants last blog post..Monday!
I was a cooperating Southern Baptist, when the Moerates were in control. They had a little more sophistication than many of the Conservatives of today, albeit they were very effective in dissing opponents….and not all of them were like that. Meanness seems to have no theological barriers and limits. The Pharisees were Bible believers just like the followers of our Lord. That did not keep them from totally misunderstanding Scripture and crucifying the Lord of glory. In any case, My ancestors have been a part of the Baptist scene in America practically from the get-go. I don’t propose to go… Read more »
I was a cooperating Southern Baptist, when the Moderates were in control. They had a little more sophistication than many of the Conservatives of today, albeit they were very effective in dissing opponents….and not all of them were like that. Meanness seems to have no theological barriers and limits. The Pharisees were Bible believers just like the followers of our Lord. That did not keep them from totally misunderstanding Scripture and crucifying the Lord of glory. In any case, My ancestors have been a part of the Baptist scene in America practically from the get-go. I don’t propose to go… Read more »
I was a cooperating Southern Baptist, when the Moderates were in control. They had a little more sophistication than many of the Conservatives of today, albeit they were very effective in dissing opponents….and not all of them were like that. Meanness seems to have no theological barriers and limits. The Pharisees were Bible believers just like the followers of our Lord. That did not keep them from totally misunderstanding Scripture and crucifying the Lord of glory. In any case, My ancestors have been a part of the Baptist scene in America practically from the get-go. I don’t propose to go… Read more »
SelahV,
Honestly, I do not have a clue how I got that picture there!
Thanks for the practical yawn advice. Every time I hear the Burlesonites come out I have a terrible problem with yawning…
I thought it was a great post because we seem to very much appreciate the same things when it comes to being Southern Baptist, this post is another example!
Matt Svobodas last blog post..Some Food for Thought (and hopefully digestion)
Joe,
I can understand how you might find the cessationist position in Scripture, but do you really think that is a line worth breaking fellowship over? Requiring spiritual gifts is one thing, but to simply say that they haven’t ceased does not strike me as severe enough of a distinction to get upset about. This isn’t meant to be an attack on you, I just think that is an awfully minor point to say we should not cooperate across.
Todd Buruss last blog post..Confronted by Glory- Two Practical Questions from the Experience of Isaiah
Matt, well thanks. I’m glad I connect a bit with you, brother. I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that the majority of Southern Baptist probably appreciate the same things we both do. Including some who do not see eye to eye on other issues. How can one (who is SB), not appreciate the best of our convention? selahV
SelahV — I like the cooperative mindset of our convention and the lengths it goes to work together for the most part. On a side note, I wish that every Christian could go to a demon-oppressed country so that they could see the gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as healing, in action. Here in America, our beliefs, even for the greatest of conservatives, are too watered down to let the great faith needed to believe that God can still do these miraculous things show forth in our daily life. That is really sad to me. Have a blessed evening!… Read more »
cooperation or compromise/ What do you mean cooperating. Baptist Churches are independent, self governing.
missions yes
Biblical Evangelism [Preaching the Doctrines of Grace] -yes
Decisional Regeneration-no
Sallie, I think I understand what you mean about witnessing the miracles in places under demon-oppression. Perhaps you have a particular country in mind? Unfortunately, I think it’s hard enough to get folks to recognize the gifts of the Spirit at work in our own demon-oppressed country. Folks fail to see the spirit of love, forgiveness and grace being manifested in a murdered minister’s church in Maryville, MO by a demon-oppressed mentally broken assailant. Some Christians fail to see the manifestation of the Spirit of pastors, ministers, teachers, administrators and counselors being exhibited in churches all over the country as… Read more »
Dr. Foltz, you asked the question I had in mind: What does one mean by “cooperation”? If I go to work and I need to come up with a plan to improve production with a team leader who is unregenerate, am I not cooperating with him? Do we say that this is merely a “secular” endeavor or am I not to glorify God in the workplace? I have a young brother in Christ in another denomination whose theology is underdeveloped and yet informed by much popular philosophy, even for the denomination he is in. Nevertheless, we often strive together in… Read more »
Brother Jim Pemberton; Amen my brother amen. You hit the target dead center. I too, have friends in the ministry, who are not Baptist, and we fellowship and work together to reach the community for Christ. We all need to agree on the main issues, Salvation by grace, by blood and power, but let our views on eschatology take a backseat. THERE WON’T BE ANY BAPTISTS IN HEAVEN…. Neither Presbytterians, Lutherns, Methodists, etc…. There will be only the children of God, redeemed by Christ’s blood. The Church today is too divided, fighting each other, instead of joining hands to carry… Read more »
What is the goal of a dance recital? If it is to demonstrate the disciplines achieved and the harmony and beauty of cooperation, then all must be in lock step. If the goal is to entertain, hey one little girl dancing to her own tune would accomplish that. What is the goal of SBC?
to Philip Kinssinger;
A praying knee and a dancing foot does not belong to the same leg.I thought Christiand were to l;ive separated lives from the world-not do the same things, undress like them, go where they go etc. Romans 12’1-2.
Metaphors aside, I looked up the definition myself: From Houghton-Mifflin: co·op·er·ate intr.v. co·op·er·at·ed , co·op·er·at·ing , co·op·er·ates 1. To work or act together toward a common end or purpose. 2. To acquiesce willingly; be compliant: asked the child to cooperate and go to bed. 3. To form an association for common, usually economic, benefit: When buyers cooperate, they can make large wholesale purchases at a discount. For the first definition, Romans 8:28 immediately comes to mind: It is found also in Mark 16:20, 1 Corinthians 16:16, 2 Corinthians 6:1, and James 2:22 and each use of the word lends itself… Read more »