Missouri Baptist Convention

B F & M – The Christian and the Social Order

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

For the most part down through the history of Baptists we have been economically poor people.  That is not to say that we have not had well to do people in our churches.  We have been a hard working, devoted class of people, who would give to anyone in need.

In some cases, and maybe in many ways we still are.  Our National and State Conventions offer aid to victims of storms accross our Nation.  When our Nation was attacked on September 11, 2001; and there was cleanup work to be done of nearby appartments we had cleanup crews cleaning, at no charge, to the residents of those appartments in order for them to return to a somewhat normal life.  We also had crews feeding people, at the same time.

I heard the other day that the Southern Baptist Convention had the third largest Crisis Team in the United States with the Red Cross being number one, Salvation Army second.  Why do it?  Because we are caring people who care for other people.  Most of all, because we love Jesus Christ and want others to know our Savior.

Baptists people are also people who see problems in the society we live in and are quick to point out the dangers we see.  Things involving immorality; such as all forms of sexual sins, and things which cause harm to our families.

Here is our Statement of Faith:

“XV. The Christian and the Social Order

All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.

Exodus 20:3-17; Leviticus 6:2-5; Deuteronomy 10:12; 27:17; Psalm 101:5; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:16; Matthew 5:13-16,43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35; Mark 1:29-34; 2:3ff.; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15; Romans 12–14; 1Corinthians 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Philemon; James 1:27; 2:8.”

As you can see by our Statement of Faith we are a people who cherish life.  We believe that life begins at conception.  I insert here that, if life is not sacred before the child is born, then, he/she will not be sacred after she/he is born.  God gives life and only He has the right to take life away, and sometimes that is done through human government, by way of capital punishment; for capital offenses.

In Micah 6:8 the God inspired prophet wrote, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of  you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”  That is the belief of faithful, committed Baptists.  That should be the attitude of all Christians.

-T.A.

Baptisms Are Down???

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

The following article was written by Ben Straten, and it seems at a time when many “Baptists” are more concerned with numbers than they are souls salvations this article is quite meaningful.  When “Baptists” seem more concerned with going along to get along, receiving alien emersions, and doing what comes natural to the world in the drinking of the liquor, and supporting the industry of drunkenness; we need to stop and pay attention.

Why the Decline in Southern Baptist Baptisms?

 

Recently it was reported in the news that the number of Southern Baptist baptisms had declined for the third straight year. In 2007 Southern Baptist churches baptized 345,941 people. This is considerably lower then 1972 when Southern Baptist churches baptized 445,725 people, the most in their history. So the question is why the great change in the number of Southern Baptist baptisms since 1972. Some are saying that we are not as evangelistic or as committed as we were back in 1972.

While there is some truth to this answer, there is another reason that is totally ignored in the blogs and denominational papers. Back in 1972 the vast majority of Southern Baptist churches rejected alien immersions. (that is non-Baptist baptisms) Thirty-five years ago when someone wanted to join a typical Southern Baptist church from a Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Disciples of Christ, etc. church they had to be “rebaptized” in order to join the church. Yet since 1972 hundreds of Southern Baptist churches have given up this practice. Today many Southern Baptist churches that thirty-five years ago would have rebaptized these non-Baptists who wanted to join their church, will now receive them by “statement”. That is one of the biggest reasons why the number of Southern Baptist baptisms is so much lower in 2007 than it was in 1972

Let’s continue being the Southern Baptists which we should be.  Be saved and grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

-T.A.

Letter From a Director of Missions

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

The following is the monthly letter our Barry County Southern Baptist Associational Director of Missions, Jerry L. Williams, wrote for the Monthly Newsletter. I pray you will hear his heart.

“Look not thou upon the wine when it is read, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” (Proverbs 23:31-32)

“I do not believe that our Lord contradicts Himself in His Word, do you?

‘I also believe that when His word states, “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright…” that that is referring to when the wine is fermenting.’

‘I am sharing this because it seems that today there are some ministers in SBC and MBC that believes it is alright to drink alcoholic beverages. I never thought that we would hae to deal with this issue in Southern Baptist life, but I guess I was wrong.

Now I know that there are some in our churches that probably drink and think nothing of it, but that doesn’t make it right and I feel that they are wrong in doing it. Look at what he alcohol industry has done to the lives of so many; deaths, ruined families, homes, marrigaes and on and on I could write.

The Acts 29 and Emerging Church movement claims to be “theologically conservative and culturally liberal.” Alcohol, Acts 29 and the Missouri Baptist Convention…, below is an excerpt from the St. Louis Post Dispatch:’

“As Tolliver (MBC Interim Executive Director) was speaking, another group of pastors gathered at a lake house a couple of miles away, drinking Red stripe and Fat Tire beer, watching football and talking shop: the influence of music in their worship services, their inner-city social justice efforts, the challenge of having so many new babies in their congregations.”

“The young men are part of Acts 29, a network of more than 100 emerging churches across the country that have a conservative theology but a more liberal take on some aspects of the culture than do traditional Southern Baptists. The group’s focus is on starting more new churches. The Journey in south St. Louis is one such church, and there are others in the State — St. Charles, Eureka, Hannibal, Columbia and Ozark.

Our MBC Executive Board met last Dec. 10, 2007 in part to discuss their concerns about alcohol use and alcohol-based evangelism strategies within the greater Missouori Baptist family. They concluded by taking significant action on the issue.

In an historic move members of the board voted by a nearly 3-1 margin to cut off state convention Cooperative Program support to Acts 29 Network churches/church plants in Missouri. The vote does not impact MBC churches who, on their own are assisting Acts 29 churches.

The controversy over Acts 29 began when one church, the Journey, started holding regular discussion sessions in a bar where some participants drank alcohol. The “Theology at the Bottle Works” (the name of the bar).

I agree with Roger Moran when he stated, ‘One of the most dangerous and deceptive movements to infiltrate the ranks of Southern Baptist life has been the Emerging/Emergent Church Movement”.

I will be bringing a message this month at our worker’s conference dealing with this issue. May we as Barry County Southern Baptist stand firm on our doctrine, the Word of God, and the teaching of abstinence when it comes to the use of alcohol beverages.

My we send our number of messengers to this years MBC in October and stand with our State Executive Board Members and what they did in Dec. 2007. Let’s go and vote with them to hold the line on this movement within our convention.”

Bro. Jerry

The Barry County Southern Baptist Association has sent a letter to the Executive Board of the MBC voicing the approval of their December 2007 actions.  We do fully support this action of the Board, and will continue to do so.

-by Tim A. Blankenship

Let Them Lead

/ Tim A. / 9 Comments

Within the Missouri Baptist Convention there is dissent concerning the matters of supporting the so called “Acts 29” movement.  Part of the dissent is over their allowance of beverage alcohol which Baptists have long been know for being temperant in their teaching and standards of our churches.

We have on the MBC Executive Board men and women who have been appointed to serve, hear the reports of agencies, committees, and officers; then decide on how to procede with certain matters.  Do we trust them or not.  They all have been sent there from the churches of the MBC with the recommendations of their pastors, Director of Missions (Associations), and other pastors; then they have been approved by the Convention when we meet each year.

Now, many who have disagreed with a decision for us to refrain from supporting Acts 29, have gone into a contentious mode of attacking the leadership of our convention, and raising a dissention which has not been seen before.

I know that the local churches are the head over the Conventions.  The Conventions serve the local churches.  The local church is what Jesus Christ established, and not Associations or Conventions; however, these organizations are tools which we have established to serve us, aid us, give us guidance and direction, and even to strengthen our missions capability.  When we rebell, which is what is happening, we go against the trust that has been put in our Executive Board.

Understand, when a Board, Director, or agency goes contrary to the way of Scripture, steals agencies, and speaks contrary to the local church without its best at heart, then there needs to be a legal, Biblical, prayerful removal of those  who have previously been sent to represent us; but that is not the case with the current members of our Executive Board.  The rebellion is from the outside.

I do not agree with every decision our EB has made, but I do concerning Acts 29 and beverage alcohol.  All I am saying is let the Board do its work the best way they can, and know how, trust them to make good, and godly decisions.  Concerning this matter of Acts 29 and beverage alcohol they have the good of our churches, holding on to strong doctrines which we believe as Baptists, and a pure and clean heart, body and soul for the people of our Convention.

The writer of Hebrews wrote, “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” 13:7 (NKJV).  Then in verse 17 he writes, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.  Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

No, the board is not our pastor, nor our leaders for our local church, but we have sent them to represent us.  Let’s let them represent us without burdening them with the dissension which is going on.  Let’s pray for them, support them, and be supportive of their decisions when they are done for our best interest, the good of our people and the glory of the Lord.  It has never pleased the Lord to be contentious against His leadership; let us give the same respect to those who are representing us.  Let us Let them lead without dissension

-by Tim A. Blankenship