Is the Southern Baptist Convention on the slippery slope of denominational decline? Are its brightest days just around the corner or are they slowly receding in the rear view mirror?
Recent comments by Jimmy Draper, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, comparing the nation’s largest Protestant denomination to the proverbial frog in the kettle are drawing reactions from around the state and across the nation.
David Osborne
Mike Stone, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, believes the encroachment of ecumenicalism is at fault for many who downplay denominational loyalty.
An informal telephone poll of Georgia pastors show much agreement with the publisher’s stance that the future does not bode well for Baptists who have posted four years of decline in baptisms and whose younger pastors are showing less commitment to the denomination.
Cause for concern is well-placed, they say.
“Right on target”
“I think Jimmy was right on target,” said Harold Burrell, pastor of Whigham Baptist Church in Grady County. “In fact, it caught my attention so strongly that I read his article twice. I didn’t enjoy hearing it but I had to admit he’s right in what he said.
“I believe we need to get back to the basics of seeing people saved, then discipling them as new believers. It’s not that we are doing a lot of bad things because we have a lot of good strategies but they may not have the evangelistic focus that they need to have. Let me say it a different way: What we’re doing is not wrong (in meeting people’s needs), but what we’re not doing (weaving evangelism into all of our outreach) is what is hurting us.
“In defense, a lot of pastors may say they have never eased up on their evangelistic messages but I think the direction of our denomination paints a different picture. I have to admit to myself that there are times when evangelism has slipped a notch or two on my personal list of priorities. It never fell off the list, but if it slipped to number 2 then it was not number 1.”
Kevin Farmer, pastor of Adrian Baptist Church in Mount Vernon Association, said he believes the denomination has good intentions but has a problem with follow-through.
“We have a history of starting well with Bold Mission Thrust, Share Jesus Now, and other strategies but we don’t always finish the task. If we took our relationship with Christ more seriously then we wouldn’t have any problem with completing the task (of reaching the lost).”
At Peavine Baptist Church in Rock Spring, pastor Greg Gaddis believes the answer to higher baptisms is already present in the local church: more effective use of Sunday School.
“As a convention we already have the main tool for reaching, baptizing, and discipling – Sunday School. If Sunday School is working properly to reach new friends of members, start new classes, train leadership and teach the Bible, then people will come to Christ.”
Jim Weaver, pastor of Pine Level Baptist Church in southwest Georgia, says he believes the frog in the kettle analogy is very appropriate.
Weaver says “it breaks my heart to see old-time churches that have been so influenced by society that they have stopped having Sunday night services. If we truly believe that Jesus is coming again we would never miss an opportunity to gather together to proclaim the Word.”
Don’t compromise the message
John Paul Hasick, pastor of Gordon Heights Baptist Church in Grady Association, spoke for several pastors who voiced concern about Baptist worship services that seem to offer more entertainment than substance.
“I think we’ve become too trendy in our praise and worship style. Don’t get me wrong … I believe we need to adapt to presenting the gospel in fresh new ways to reach our changing audience, but I don’t think we need to compromise the message in the process.
“Don’t give people a watered down gospel, give them the truth of the Word. Most people I know don’t want to be comforted with good thoughts, they want practical solutions to their problems. They need to know those solutions are found in the Bible.
“Do you want to know what excites me? I’m envious of the revivals that our missionaries tell us are occurring overseas. I long to have a real revival in my heart, in my family, and have it to spread to my church and community.”
At First Baptist Church in Cairo, pastor Joe Allen believes the decline in baptisms will be reversed in part by a different style of preaching.
“I believe our seminaries are heading in the right direction with their emphasis on expository preaching. I think that will cause a great rebound in baptisms as the young men take to the pulpits in our churches,” he said.
Tim Brown, pastor of Blythe Island Baptist Church in Brunswick, says he has not seen a slump in baptisms at his church but understands the decline at the national level.
“Evangelism is a lifestyle and I’m afraid that not enough Southern Baptists see it that way. We need to give our laypeople as many different approaches as possible to help them become comfortable with sharing their faith, then turn them loose.”
While some young pastors feel the denomination is relevant, others see it differently.
Overlooked and unappreciated
“Young pastors tend to feel overlooked and unappreciated by older leadership. I am thankful that a denominational leader like Jimmy Draper recognizes the worth of younger pastors and is concerned about our disillusionment,” said Jamie Archer, pastor of Blundale Baptist Church in Swainsboro.
“While it is true that we lack the experience of older pastors, our youthfulness gives us a pretty accurate perspective of how to reach a younger generation. Hats off to Dr. Draper who seems to realize that fresh ideas of younger pastors just might work to the benefit of the SBC, and more importantly, to the Kingdom of God.”
Brad Martin, who pastors The Church at Woodland in Cartersville, says he is one of those young pastors who is trying to make a difference in the denomination.
“I made a decision years ago to ‘fight the fight’ to remain loyal to the SBC. Remaining loyal has been a chore and I continue to watch other young pastors fall away to plant or lead nondenominational community churches.
“Though there are many forces that pull at us to leave the denomination, I agree with Dr. Draper that our current leaders are failing to reach down to their sons in the ministry and bring them into the leadership tent – not just to be mentored, but to help lead.
“It seems that in the last 20 years, the trend toward contemporary worship and ministry was either rejected or didn’t resonate well enough with SBC senior leadership. As a result a divide seems to have been created.
“Instead of a denominational leadership that adapted quickly to embrace what God was doing and bring in the brightest young minds, they seem to have alienated those who talk too much about ‘relevance’ – my generation’s Number One word. As a result we developed an older generation who loves to be ‘biblical’ and a younger generation who is attached to being ‘relevant.’
A plea for being biblically relevant
“Oh, that there would have been powerful men in place who would have seized the day to merge both generations and create a ‘biblically relevant’ denomination. This would certainly have produced the increase in baptisms that we seem to be lacking.
“As I look at our leadership today I wonder, ‘Where are the 30-40 year old minds?’ These young minds are responsible for much of the new church plants and church growth that the SBC enjoys. Bringing them in and soliciting their energy and talent would give our spiritual fathers the opportunity to encourage the sons to remain more biblically focused, and teach the fathers to stay more culturally relevant.
“The question is, ‘Can either group admit their weaknesses and declare their dependency upon one another?’
“Until then I will continue to serve as a loyal SBC pastor. I try to attend the yearly meetings, have developed a friendship with my director of missions, and I count it a privilege and responsibility to serve. But I would count it a greater privilege and responsibility to serve with my brothers and fathers across different generational, racial, and ministry approaches. This would translate into a baptismal rate we have never witnessed.”
Steve Frazier, pastor of Southside Baptist Church in McRae, said the problem is two-sided.
“Older pastors should encourage and mentor younger ones and the younger ones should take the initiative to become actively involved in SBC life. The fervor and love for our denomination and its adherence to biblical standards should be the main baton that is passed on from one generation to the next.”
Mike Stone, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, believes the encroachment of ecumenicalism is at fault for many who downplay denominational loyalty.
“The strong draw of ecumenicalism under the guise of unity makes denominational affiliation and service appear to be unspiritual. I have even heard some of my friends say they are more interested in being biblical than being Baptist. Well, I could not agree more but I think there is a danger in that line of thought.
“I believe that my generation is too quick to forget that other denominations exist for a reason. Generally, they exist because at one level or another we do not believe and teach the same thing.”
On a lighter note, Clinton Hughes, who is 28 years old and pastors Wilscot Baptist Church in Morganton, offered a different perspective on the problem incorporating younger pastors into the denominational structure.
“By the time we work to support our families, pay our way through seminary, and eventually graduate we’re no longer young pastors.”
Bryce Mitchell of Georgetown Baptist Church also said he appreciated Draper’s observations.
“My wife and I recently attended the annual meeting in Indianapolis and were in the minority because of our lack of grey hair … or no hair.
“Dr. Draper is correct in saying that we younger pastors do not understand the historical significance of the conservative resurgence – I was 3 when it began – but we do recognize liberalism and hate it. On the flipside, the resurgence was won politically and we do not care for politics as usual. We don’t have time for politics.
“To Dr. Draper and anyone else who will listen, let me say that down here in South Georgia I will continue to lead my church. I hope to contribute to the SBC's goal next year of one million baptisms, disciple God’s people, and build a strong church for the sake of Christ. I will do anything it takes to strengthen our work.
“Local Southern Baptist churches are changing their world. May God bless us as we pool our resources for the proliferation of His Kingdom.”
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