The Open Door

Recently Tim Millwood, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Warner Robins, shared with me a wonderful poem that he has written. The poem blessed my heart and inspired me as I anticipate a new year of ministry among Georgia and Southern Baptists. I asked Tim for permission to share it with you so that you would have an opportunity to be blessed and inspired for your ministry in building Christ's Kingdom in 2004.

Southern Baptists

A nation divided in the 1840's
Split apart over ideas and rights.
Opinions, Issues, varied, sordid
A long prelude to an ominous fight,

Divided further over issues of conscience
Of morals, Theology, Biblicy, Belief
Denominations severed; inflexible staunchness
A great barrier, an impenetrable reef.

August of '45, convening in Georgia
Augusta the city, First Baptist the site,
God said "Submit and I'll sovereignly forge Ya"
"For you're providenced to go and shine the light".

We're not to glory only in our heritage,
The Hebrew children made that mistake,
We're joined to Him in sacred marriage,
We must ever be submissive and stay awake.

The painful war ending, reconciliation
Brother to brother, man to man,
Southerners loving, consoling, embracing
But remaining distinct, a part of His plan.

Establishing points and ports for missions,
For training and equipping the called of God,
Fasting, praying through agonizing decisions
Heads bowed in tearful nods.

Through Darwin, Marx, Moderns, Freud,
Challenging ideas confronting man
Forever clinging to the infallible sword
Ever borne-up by an unseen Hand.

Louisville, New Orleans, Wake Forest, Texas,
San Francisco, Midwestern, one-by-one,
Coming to Him at each critical nexus,
Striving always to lift up the Son.

"Southern Baptist," we proudly wear it,
Though such a label no longer applies,
In 130 countries, we go and share it,
A thousand a day, not enough in His eyes.

For His heart is so great we cannot fathom,
His grace so wide as to embrace all,
On mountains tall, or deep dark chasms,
We must go and sound forth His call.

So many untold, the task overwhelming,
Omnipotence our source, the Spirit our guide,
Undaunted missionaries going, Forging
The Cauthens of tomorrow in the pew beside.

Cooperating, sharing a commission and program,
Pulling together, forging a dream,
Facts and statistics, infinite decisions,
For some, no sacrifice too extreme.

In the end, it comes down to God and people,
The message of His word: Luke 19:10
In the street or jungle, or shadow of a steeple,
There's a hell to avoid and a heaven to win!

Thrusting forward, ever boldly
Armstrong's and Moon's shadows great!
Voices challenging to minister uncoldly
Christmas Eve '12, 0 that convicting date!

The greatest denomination of the greatest nation,
Potentially a pitfall of affluence and pride,
We must not neglect so great a salvation,
Calling all men to the spear-pierced side.

What will you do for Him who is Holy?
How will you be used by Him this day?
The wheels of commitment move ever so slowly,
Especially where luxuries stand in the way!

Broadus, Manley, Mullins, Carroll,
Ordinary giants who merely let Him have His way,
Lee, Hobbs, Criswell straight and narrow,
Quietly faithful, each in His day.

Looking back to our heritage, proud of our history
The '50's and 60's a golden age,
But if this is our focus, it is certain folly,
For we'll lose our voice against the present rage!

Though wars and Tyranny, Scopes and Genesis,
Each a threat against the task at hand,
Ever focused on Christ, and not some perceived nemesis,
Ever loving, but taking a firm stand.

For truth, for the gospel, for other's adoption,
No time for lukewarmness, nor feebleness of Faith,
Warned there'd be those not enduring sound doctrine,
The time is now, so we dare not wait!

On mission with God, doing the will of our Master,
Oh what a privilege! Do we not view it as such?
Helping lost souls avoid eternal disaster
As others give and go, can we not do this much?

For someday soon, 'Twill be too late to tell them,
Too late to serve, too late to go and to love,
How will we feel when flames overwhelm them?
Knowing they might have been safely above.

How will we then face the Savior?
Claiming our hearts have been made like His.
For the toils of Life are but a vapor
Can it be sacrifice, if its so others might live?

You see, in the end it comes down to two things,
You and Christ; Indeed, Christ in you.
In the dark silence, the Light still sings
And there's something you've been gifted to do!

It's His work-This salvation, It must be Christ-centered.
But if that's all there is to it, He'd not've said "Go!"
Lets not allow our denomination to be splintered,
There are some things in this life, we just can't know.

Night is Falling, darkness is growing,
Ever encroaching, all around,
The unsound winds of adversity are blowing,
Yet within our circle, great light can be found.

For really, there is but one battle and but one Sword
But many places where the sword's voice and light are dim,
We have all eternity to enjoy our rewards,
But only today to deposit them!