In the past, I’ve considered a full SBC name change a worthy idea. But it’s more fun to be negative, so here are # reasons why the proposed “Great Commission Baptists” naming scheme is a failure.
- It’s a deceitful label. With declining baptisms and missions giving, this looks like wishful thinking. “Rainer said Baptists need to spend more time spreading the faith to nonbelievers. In the 1950s, he said, there was one baptism for every 20 Southern Baptists. “Now, it takes 40 of our members to baptize one person,” he said.” (USA Today)
- It will accelerate the divisions. Instead of saying, “There are many different ways to be Baptist.” We get to label ourselves “Southern” or “Great Commission.” Keep your apples and oranges, we like bananas anyway.
- It’s chasing the wind. Denominational affiliation does not bring lost people to church. If you didn’t graduate from Sunday School, then likely the phrase “Great Commission” sounds like a really big congressional study group. At the end of the day very few people follow Jesus better and the world will have a good chuckle at our expense.
- It’s not a “convention” issue. We don’t need anyone to vote about a non-binding and non-legal nickname. We could start using this tagline (or anything we like) without any official motion from the Executive Committee or the annual meeting. This is exactly why every local church can choose it’s own name.
- Don’t feed the trolls. Some genius has already reserved the GCBvoices.com domain via Go Daddy. I guess some Christians do get excited about stripper commercials.
Please leave your comments below, be sure to indicate if you support the name change.
** Disclaimer: This post is 95% kerosene.
*** Post Name Updated 17 times, late version 16:12
