"Us versus "Them"

As I have followed blogs, news, etc… concerning the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force Report which, will be voted on in Orlando next week, I have discovered an interesting development. It seems that at least for some this report is about “Us” versus “Them.”

I am struggling with identifying who “Us” would be and who “Them” would be. Could it be “Conservative” versus “Moderate?” I don’t know many “Moderates” in SBC life. Could it be “For” the Great Commission versus “Opposed” to the Great Commission? Every Southern Baptist I know is for the Great Commission. Is it “Coots in Suits” versus “Dudes in Jeans?” If this is the case, it is an unnecessary distinction based on how we dress. I for one am more interested in a man’s heart and character than the style of his clothing. Is it “Mega-Church” versus “Non-Mega-Church?” From the rhetoric, particularly concerning Cooperative Program giving, this may be the case.

I thank God for every “Mega-Church” in our great Southern Baptist Zion. These churches reach people with gospel. However, I am just as grateful for every “non-Mega-Church” in our convention. These churches are also faithful in preaching the gospel and reaching people for Christ. It is the nature of our process to lift up the “Mega-Church” as the ideal for our convention. “Mega-Church” pastors are elected to the “High Seats in the Synagogue” of our convention. This is not wrong, these pastors are gifted, Christ-honoring and dedicated leaders.

Likewise, there are many gifted, Christ-honoring and dedicated leaders in our “Non-Mega-Churches.” These pastors and their churches should not and must not be marginalized in this process. It will take every last one of us doing our best, to cooperate together, to win a lost and dying world.

Our enemy is Satan and sin, not the brother or sister who may disagree with us on the “how” of doing the Great Commission. Satan’s favorite device is to create division among the people of God. Whatever the outcome of our vote on the GCR report in Orlando we must not allow the enemy to divide us into an artificial division of “Us” versus “Them.”

Whatever the outcome of the vote on the GCR report, I shall leave Orlando grateful for the privilege that is mine, to be a part of the greatest missionary endeavor in the history of Christianity, the Southern Baptist Convention. I will also leave with a new resolve to do my best to win souls for my Savior.

Attempting to connect the dots…

Wayne
Romans 1:16

Quotable:
“If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?”
—David Livingstone