During the Southern Baptist Convention (2009), one of the highlights was a message by Ed Stetzer (President of LifeWay Research). If you'd like to find out more about him,
click here.
Many people are quick to point to anything they can to try to throw a negative light on the SBC (on the one hand) or to dismiss or criticize anyone who is not deemed a theological/political conservative (on the other hand). Ed's remarks were refreshing (especially from someone working with LifeWay AND who is a "young" leader). Below is a synopsis of what he said...
He based his remarks on Ephesians 4:1-6 - "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
Over and over the Bible calls us to unity. The reason is simple - it's hard to stay unified. But we must and we can.
1. We must walk worthy
We must remember who we are and whose we are. We must remember that all Christians are in Christ. God already made us one - we must learn to live it out.
2. We must display right attitudes
As a convention, we must work together.
We must be humble. It's not about turf - it's about Christ. When our preferences become more important that God's desires, we'd better watch out.
We must be gentle - which is strength under control. Christians have no place and no right to cut down each other. (Colossians 4)
We must be patient. When we see things that aren't quite right, correct privately - not in a public setting. (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
We must accept in love. It is natural for us to stir up trouble (we're really good at that). We must love instead. The world would be swayed if they saw godly unity.
3. We must live the unity God has created.
If Jew & Gentile could/can work together, surely our convention can. Surely all the subcategories - all the groups - can learn to work for Christ and stop working against each other.
We are one in Christ. What if we acted as one? What would happen if our convention - what would happen if within each church - we stopped fighting about things of no eternal consequence - and start working for God's Kingdom?
Sadly, people won't change until the pain of change is less than the pain of staying the same.
May God help us to be willing to change anything and everything that hinders His will.
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