Greeting all my blogging friends. I have missed you all. I have been away for a while and made some serious changed. I resigned my position of Associate Pastor, working to start a non-profit, and trying to do more writing. You can see by my lack of blogs that the last one hasn’t been going to well. I have left the church with a desire to reach out to those who are not coming to church. I have spent much of my ministry in front line ministry, on high school and college campus doing outreach and evangelism. That is where I feel led to go back, and with this in mind, I woke up to the tragedy this morning.
In case you live under a rock, a young man opened fire in a movie theater at a midnight showing. As of right now, there isn’t any reports of what was going on with the guy, why he opened fire and what was the focus of his anger, but one thing is clear. That young man needs Jesus. I don’t know anything about him, but I know that the darkness in his heart is symptomatic of the darkness in our society. We live in a dark world, with dark people trapped by their depravity.
So, it’s time for me to start the fight that needs fighting. I am out to wrestle against powers and principalities and authorities that are dark and twisted. As a Convention, I have concern that maybe we are not fighting the fights that need fighting. We like to fight about Calvinism, we fight about Traditionalism, we fight about communion and baptism and if Southern belongs in our name. These are good conversations, good things to consider, but they are not the fights that need fighting. It’s good to have Robert’s Rules of Order, but if they continue to dominate the convention, we have lost our minds.
I appreciate the fact that NAMB wants to penetrate the darkness, and thinks the answer is church planting. I think that is a good start. Can we do better? Should we do better? Do we as Southern Baptists or Great Commission Baptists or Great Southern Commission Baptists have any chance to begin to penetrate the darkness? Some of you have great ministries and are doing great things, but so many of us lead or work in churches in platue or decline. Are we fighting the fights that need fighting? Can we do better?
Since the SBC added, net, less than one addtional church *per state convention* last year, I’d say we could do better.
What do you suggest?
I am going to work with some people to start a cell church network, that is where God is leading me. Hope it does better.
The issues before us are those that involve a Third Great Awakening for which I have been praying for 39 years (it will be,if I live until this Fall), The first issue is the madness in the heart of man which we call Total Depravity or, better yet, Total Inability. For the madness see Eccles.9:3 What the man did in Colorado today, we all have in our hearts. I sue to murder thousands every Sunday afternoon in the cow pasture, where I was trying to ventilate the anger and frustration of a childhood in deprivation by reason of divorce. I… Read more »
Dr. Willingham, prayers that your wife will be well again. It always encourages me to hear that you are praying for an Awakening. I join you in this. Blessings!
I think the fight we need to fight is listening to the very specific prompting of the Holy Spirit and doing that we neither puffing up nor getting discouraged. When we don’t perceive a specific directing, then we ought to look to work within the existing ministries and evangelistic outreach of our local congregation and serve faithfully and happily. Let’s be honest: doing the above is much, much more challenging than it sounds or churches would be filled with volunteers who sense the need to share the work so no one gets worn out. And Satan’s chosen role of advocacy… Read more »
In my own limited experience, one of the root causes stems from what I’ve called “practical atheism” among Christians (I just recently came across Craig Groeschel’s 2010 book “The Christian Atheist”). Many Christians live as if God doesn’t really matter, thus, the “practical” part. Maybe that’s why there is such a problem with decline. These folks believe IN God, but they don’t really BELIEVE God. There is a difference. Transformation of life can’t come apart from believing God to be the God that He says He is. But so many want Him to be the God that THEY say He… Read more »
NAMB is aiming for 50% of their budget to go for church planting. It may surprise some to learn that they have put considerably more towards infrastructure rather than direct support for planters. Since their new planting initiative is just beginning, it may be prudent to give it time before evaluation.
You are correct, William. It would be prudent.
I’m not talking about their new initiative, I’m talking about what I’ve seen over the past couple of decades. I won’t attempt to explain further. It’s just my observation.
I’ll add what I’m sure will be a minority opinion on SBC Voices, but this is SBC Voices and I am SBC. How easy it is to criticize the SBC–or any Christian effort for that matter. I mean, how could one defend against the charge that we need, and can do better. That’s sort of like answering the question, “Have you stopped beating your wife?” It’s good to go do what the Lord leads one to do. But, why throw a grenade on the way out the door? Just go and do. No need to take a final, parting shot… Read more »
Frank, I said I was resigning my church position, I never said I was leaving the SBC or that my cell churches wouldn’t be part of the SBC, you assumed that, and you assumed incorrectly.
Frank: In Dan’s defense, since I’m not Dan, he didn’t say or imply any of what you point out as a problem. He has left his previous church position, but there is nothing in his post to indicate that he’s jumping the SBC ship. In a comment above he states that he too is starting a cell-church network. Is it going to be SBC? Dan will have to answer that question directly, but nothing in his post states otherwise. You state–“Please forgive me for being a little offended at yet one more reference of, ‘I’m leaving to do my own… Read more »
Dale. Are you suggesting that the non-profit is unrelated to the cell church? Are you also implying that the “non-profit” or new cell church is unrelated to the criticism of the SBC? Are you arguing that starting a non-profit rather than work through one’s church is not doing one’s own thing? If these are your arguments we see things differently. I don’t see how one cannot see the argument “I’m doing A because of B” at least strongly implied in the post. As to whether the cell church will be associated with the SBC I do not know I would… Read more »
“Dale. Are you suggesting that the non-profit is unrelated to the cell church? Are you also implying that the “non-profit” or new cell church is unrelated to the criticism of the SBC?” The non-profit is unrelated to the cell church. The beginning of the cell church is my attempt to do better personally. You totally misconstrued a lot Frank, but Dale didn’t. He is right. “Are you arguing that starting a non-profit rather than work through one’s church is not doing one’s own thing?” My leaving my church has NOTHING to do with my issues with the SBC and everything… Read more »
” I am out to wrestle against powers and principalities and authorities that are dark and twisted.” it is very, very dangerous to dwell on and confront darkness . . . I must caution you not to engage it directly . . . the people in my own Church do not discuss this kind of confrontation lightly, knowing the great danger . . . those exorcists in my Church who do encounter evil directly are highly trained to do this dangerous work, and it is not discussed openly or advertised because of the seriousness of what is done do not… Read more »
Frank: I’ll copy your reply to my comment here so I don’t miss anything– “Dale. Are you suggesting that the non-profit is unrelated to the cell church? Are you also implying that the “non-profit” or new cell church is unrelated to the criticism of the SBC?” No. I was just pointing out that Dan stated that he’ll be working to start a cell-church network. That is what the non-profit is about. The two are obviously related. In addition, Dan never criticizes the SBC. For you to react the way you did puts words in his mouth. I’ve been on the… Read more »
Thanks for being in my corner Dale.
I never imagined that we would go from arguing Calvinism to arguing . . . me. Where is Dave Miller when I need him?
You’re welcome, Dan. I’d be a poor substitute for Dave. I don’t have a lime green coat and I can’t stand the Yankees.
Blessings on your new venture in ministry.
As I said. We see things differently. As you said criticizing the SBC is your prerogative.
My point is that exercising such a perogative seems to be a spiritual gift in some peoples’ minds.
I’m actually sorry I even replied. I really don’t have anything but the best wishes for Dan or anyone else doing what they feel called to do
I just don’t like the “because A I’m doing B” when A is related to “the SBC could do better.”
Again I’m sorry I even brought it up. I hope both Dan and the SBC continue to do better.
Frank, me starting a non-profit and cell churches has NOTHING to do with the SBC. You don’t know any of the details what is going on, just that I resigned my position and I am doing something different, and your 1. Lack of any compassion for me and 2. Attacks based on assumption leave me heartbroken and trying not to be just plain angry. I am sorry your brought it up too, because I didn’t attack the SBC, I said we can do better. Quote me one negative thing I said about the SBC! I simply said there is a… Read more »
Dan, Although I don’t know how “compassion” has anything to do with it — whether I have it or not — really seems immaterial. You make my point by pointing out that your post focused on two things: you were leaving your church to start a non-profit and the SBC “could do better.” Now, you seem to be saying that although these two things are juxtaposed in a post, they are unrelated. OK, that’s what you say, so that’s what you say. It’s the juxtapostion of the thoughts in the post that made your post seem negative — otherwise, you… Read more »
So Frank, you seem to rage against my post as an “attack”, are you saying the SBC if perfect and can’t do things any better? Should we not look at ourselves and wonder if we can do better? Should the SBC be above examination? Is the SBC flawless in all things? Am I not right to look at the convention that I was raised in, licensed, ordained in, have a seminary degree from, worked in and I am starting a cell network in and ask the question “can we do better”? I assume from your backlash, you feel the SBC… Read more »
Dan,
Have a nice day.
You too Frank, God bless you.
If you are interested in what my non-profit will be doing, check out
http://revolution-inversion.blogspot.com/2012/07/what-is-ri-updated.html
While it’s purpose and the cell church network will have overlapping themes and ideas, the mission of the RI is mostly resourcing, training, equipping and supporting, not actually doing. I will actually be doing the ministry that the RI will be supporting and championing. Separate entities, same goal.
Good stuff, Dan. I look forward to seeing how it progresses.
Dan,
I hope you succeed at what God wants you to do.
In reading your blog on RI though i am a bit confused.
Why couldn’t you do those things as part of your local church outreach and ministry. I don’t mean as an Associate Pastor, but as a member. Does the new work mean you will be moving away from your church?
Isn’t the church you are [were] attending doing outreach and seeking the lost?
Well, God bless you and your Endeavor.
peace brother
My leaving was more complicated than me just going to do something else. It’s complicated.
The church I was at does incredible outreach. I had no issues with being there, in a perfect world I never would have left. Some things are beyond control.
I wish I had an emoticon for “face palm”……
Blessings, brother.