This is powerful!
Count me among those glad a man with this passion is leading our world missions effort.
About Dave Miller
Dave Miller serves as senior pastor of Southern Hills Baptist Church in Sioux City, Iowa, and editor of SBC Voices. He served as President of the 2017 SBC Pastors’ Conference. He is a graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic College (now University) and SWBTS. He served churches in Florida and Virginia before returning to Iowa, where he grew up, in 1991, and has served two churches there. Twitter
No one doubts his sincerity on the matter. He has my support for moving the IMB forward. It’s a hard job and he has replaced Russell Moore as the SBC leader with the toughest job. No one else has to deal with a $30m or so annual deficit.
I wouldn’t say “no one” doubts his sincerity. We’ve seen the doubters here, and they are especially prevalent on some other blogs. But you are right, one does not have to doubt Platt’s sincerity to disagree with him concerning the layoffs/VRI situation.
Thanks for sharing this and it speaks to us all that if before this current time of pulling missionaries from the field we did not already realize that the IMB head is both the most difficult and important job in our SBC leadership.
I have to disagree William, there are quite a few people who are questioning Dr. Platt’s sincerity. They are questioning his motives. They are questioning his honesty. In fact, they are flat saying it. Not based on fact to be sure. Wild and I do mean wild and disastrous accusations are being thrown by the dozens.
Most are not Southern Baptist and have no idea what is actually going on, have no idea how the SBC works, but are shouting horrid accusations anyway. I believe this video shows just how wrong they are and maybe, just maybe, they will step away from the keyboard for a while anyway and think about who they are trying to destroy. I say trying, because I don’t think it will bear fruit because I don’t think they know who they are dealing with. This video shows who they are dealing with.
I also hear David Platt giving the straight Gospel, and I do believe most of the people who are spouting accusations need that Gospel. May God touch their hearts with this message.
ummmm, Debbie, you just got thru giving a whipping to anyone, who questions Platt’s sincerity and honesty. And then, YOU question those people’s SALVATION!
Wow.
David
PS. May God bless the SBC and our IMB. And, may God bless the missionaries, who are going thru such a tough time, right now.
David [volfan],
What Debbie said is true of them even IF they are saved.
The Gospel is not just for the unsaved.
The Gospel is not just for the unsaved sinners.
The Gospel is for all sinners, including you and me, and all of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
And when we sin, as Christians, we need to look to the blessed glorious Gospel all that much more.
mike
David: Good grief, I did not question anyone’s salvation. I know that on one website not all are Christians, few are SBC, yet they comment. They know nothing, absolutely nothing, of the SBC or the situation, but because of agendas comment anyway. That is who I was referring to. Christ is the only way to salvation. Not David Platt or the SBC.
Petty bickering section closed.
Why don’t we WATCH the video and APPRECIATE a passionate call to world missions.
I want to weep when I see this stuff. Honestly folks – the world is going to hell and some just want to score debate points.
Why can’t Southern Baptists get the job done? It’s not Calvinism or mega churches or any if the stuff we bicker over. It’s the fact that when faced with a powerful and moving message like Platt’s our reaction is either to play the blame game or to play victim.
Yep, it makes me want to weep, too. We need God to move in a mighty way, in the Churches of the SBC.
Here’s a quote that should make us all weep…not because it was said, but because it’s true.
“Two recent watershed moments that should awaken Southern Baptists — (1) the fewest baptisms in SBC churches last year in the last 60 years, and (2) the financial necessity of the International Mission Board bringing home 600-800 missionaries and support personnel.”
— Dr. Randy Davis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, today in NOBTS Chapel
OK, I take the point that some are doubting his honest and sincerity…should have said that I see no good reason to doubt those things.
Lots of SBC stuff is agenda-driven and that steamrolls a lot of discussions.
Anyone who has read “Radical” could never doubt Platt’s sincerity towards the gospel and the great commission and remain intellectually honest.
I didn’t hear David’s message at the Executive Committee the other night, but I saw Dr. Paige Patterson’s tweet about it. I wish some of the people who think they’re doing his bidding would follow his example on this subject.
About 65 percent of the WW2 generation said they had a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. But just 38 percent of the Baby Boomer generation could make that claim, and 15 percent of the Millennial generation. Our children and grandchildren are in Generation Z (born after 9/11/01), and unless God sends a revival, less than 10 percent of them will be believers.
— Dr. Randy Davis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, at NOBTS Chapel today
I can’t imagine the pain Dr. Platt went through when it was apparent that the IMB would be forced to reduce the number of missionaries, that had served God in remote areas for so many years.
How easy it is for us to cast our criticism, rather than to look inward towards our failings that caused this to happen.
Dr. Platt is still on mission.
I pray we listen and focus on the mission God has assigned us.
I pray that we act in accordance to God’s will.
“If Christians around the world were to suddenly renounce their personal agendas, their life goals and their aspirations, and begin responding in radical obedience to everything God showed them. The world would be turned upside down. How do we know? Because that’s what first century Christians did, and the world is still talking about it.”
? Henry T. Blackaby
Thanks for the video post.
Volfan,
Introducing your preferred alternative chapel speaker only reinforces the perception that you don’t like Platt, not make me weep.
Bill
Bill,
I have no idea what you are talking about.
David
I will tell you what makes me weep…no.. truth be known is making me angry…to wit we cannot make two comments without this discussion going to whether or not Platt is a good man pure in his motives ad nauseam. I get it, some think Platt can do no wrong, some think he can do no right. THIS IS NOT ABOUT PLATT. Please stop accusing him or defending him. THIS IS NOT ABOUT PLATT. Discuss the merits of the decision, that is good discussion. That type of discussion holds people accountable and that is a good thing. Whether he is the greatest thing to happen to IMB since indoor plumbing or the worse since whatever, is not the issue before SB. Enough already!! THIS IS NOT ABOUT PLATT.
IT IS about millions of dollars needed to keep pace with our mission force. IT IS about 800 missionaries who must come home. As far as the SBC goes IT IS about decreasing Baptisms, attendance, etc. That must be our concern. That must be our focus.
Did I mention THIS IS NOT ABOUT PLATT
D.L. This is certainly true on a few levels. First, Dr. Platt did not create the problem–and the problem certainly does exist. Second, Dr. Platt cannot solve the problem, nor even come close. It will take a team effort to move forward. Third, unless you are a post-millennialist, the mission will never be finished–under Dr. Platt or anyone else. Fourth, I don’t give my mission money to, or in honor of Dr. Platt. I give it in devotion to the Lord.
Dr. Platt is the man in the chair at this time. I have said before I would not have voted for him for a number of reasons–none of them having to do with whether he is a godly man. I cannot see one shred of evidence to indicate he has any more character flaws than any of the rest of us–more than some perhaps; fewer than others; probably typical.
I preached a message two weeks ago in my church titled, “More.” My text was 1Thess 4:1 and following. I rather pointedly said that if our church is going to do more in the world, we all need to do more in the church: more prayer; more piety (devotion); and more payola.
I also pointed out that no matter how much more we do, more will always be required. I think Dr. Platt would agree with that sentiment. I believe Dr. Platt truly wants to see “more” done for missions. He’s hit a bad patch of road. I’m praying he will get through it and lead the IMB to days of “more.”
DL! You da man!
One of the most dangerous things one can do with regard to a spiritual leader is convey that he can do no wrong – and equally poisonous is to convey that he can do no right.
Tarheel
To quote our fearless leader Mr. Miller….”yep”
Usually, when dealing with Tarheel, the better answer is nope.
LOL