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Jay's Thoughts God has blessed me in so many ways.
One of the exciting things He allows me to do is open His Word and share it with His people. But, believe it or not, I sometimes don't get to say everything that I'd like to say.
Thus this blog...
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  The Great Commission Task Force Report 2010Friday, June 04, 2010
Why I will be supporting the Great Commission Task Force Report at the Southern Baptist Convention in 2010
In 2009 the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention overwhelmingly authorized Dr. Johnny Hunt, president of the convention, to appoint a task force to bring a report and any recommendations to the Southern Baptist Convention in 2010. The purpose was to determine how Southern Baptists can work more faithfully and effectively to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission.
In April of 2010 the task force finalized their report. Feel free to read it for yourself by clicking here. Even before the report came out, many pastors and denominational leaders began giving their thoughts on what it would contain. After reading the report and praying about it, I must lend my full support to passing it and its recommendations. But I want to explain why to my loving brothers and sisters who are sending me to the convention as their representative.
A Look at the SBC
There have been plenty of books written and numerous websites that give varied reasons why the Southern Baptist Convention was formed. There is no doubt that slavery played a large role, but (praise God!) no credible, godly person sees slavery as acceptable today. One thing is sure though – the Southern Baptist Convention was formed in 1845 so that more southerners could be appointed to home and foreign missions. (An example of this history can be seen by clicking here.) Over the past 165 years, there is no doubt that missions has been the heartbeat of our convention (as it should). Most members of our churches are proud of the mission efforts of our convention.
However, there is a problem. A BIG problem.
There are almost 7 billion humans on Earth. And if we are fairly lax in how we count them, there are only 1 billion Christians. That means 6 billion people are lost – hopeless – headed for Hell – and our efforts are not enough to reach them. We are losing ground.
In North America the population is growing faster than the number of Christians. In 2008, Southern Baptist churches baptized ¾ as many people as we did in 1972. In 1950 we baptized 1 person for every 19 members; in 2008 we only baptized 1 person for every 47 members. We are reaching fewer people even though our population is growing.
Recently, LifeWay Research presented sobering statistics (some of which can be seen by clicking here). Unless the 50-year trend changes, membership of SBC churches will decline from 16.2 million to 8.7 million by 2050. There will be half as many Southern Baptists as there are today. We are losing ground. One noticeable reason is financial. The average Southern Baptist gives only 2.5% of their income to the church – not even close to a tithe. In fact, the 2009 Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions fell $26 million short of the goal – which means we can now fund only 5,000 missionaries abroad rather than the 5,600 sent out in 2009. The world’s population is getting larger – North America’s population is growing – and we are sending out fewer missionaries. (To see the International Mission Board’s report on this click here.)
Why?
There is no doubt that the chief reason we are not reaching our world is a lack of obedience – a loss of passion. This is a heart-issue which cannot be changed at a denominational level. It must be personal and at the church-level. We must humble ourselves, ask God for a passion to reach the lost at home and abroad, and do something about it.
On the denominational level – the Great Commission Task Force looked at what we can do at the convention-level to change the terrible trend. I believe their suggestions are valid and might be the changes we need.
Though this article is lengthy, I will not restate the 20+ pages of the official GCTF Report. Instead, I want to mention some of the components that have led to debate – and give my take on them.
Issue 1
Great Commission Giving
The report asks Southern Baptists to begin noting how churches give to all Southern Baptist causes (local, state, and national) rather than just focusing on what is given through the Cooperative Program. For the average SBC church member this will not matter, but when people are considered for offices within our denomination, this issue does rise. We have been pointing out what churches give to the CP and not mentioning what churches also give to individual SBC causes.
To put it in terms I understand – the Cooperative Program is like one big bank account where SBC churches make deposits – and then all of our SBC entities receive money from it. It serves us well, but Southern Baptist churches give much more than this amount to specific areas and through special offerings (like missions, Baptist Children’s Villages…).
Dissenters believe that noting all of our giving will lead some to give more to individual entities while lesser-known groups will suffer. I disagree. We are already giving in both ways, and if a church decides to change the amounts/percentages it gives, that is between the church and God. That is the beauty of the SBC – we are not a true denomination – we are a group of churches with common beliefs that have chosen to work together to accomplish common goals (mainly missions).
Let’s celebrate what we are doing to build God’s Kingdom.
Besides – the 6th Component of the Report seeks to increase awareness of and support of the Cooperative Program – not diminish it.
Issue 2
Refocusing the North American Mission Board
The report asks Southern Baptists to affirm the NAMB with a priority to plant more churches where they are needed most, focus on large cities, and help mobilize Southern Baptists to be more missional. One way of doing this is to ask the NAMB to utilize the International Mission Board’s expertise on foreign groups to reach them when they are in North America.
Dissenters believe that this would be more of a burden for the IMB. But think about it – you could send 2 IMB missionaries to Nigeria, and they would do great things for God. But if you asked them to first spend a few months helping a large number of NAMB personnel to understand how to reach Nigerians here in America, those newly trained NAMB missionaries would be able to reach Nigerians here – and they would then be sending native missionaries back to Nigeria. Sounds fairly strategic to me.
And dissenters fear that pulling some of the NAMB focus out of the South would hurt our efforts. However, consider this: in New York State there are nearly 28 million people – that is more people than Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Missouri – combined! Where should more of our money be spent to reach people for Christ? (I’ll talk more about how we use our money below.)
Issue 3
Money
And whether people like to openly talk about it or not – this is one of the main reasons why some people don’t like the GCTF Report. The report asks Southern Baptists to affirm certain groups to give up some money – while giving other groups more.
I’m OK with that – because the way we’ve been doing it isn’t cutting it.
When a local church gives part of its budget to the Cooperative Program – that money goes straight to their state convention. The state convention keeps an average of 63.45% of that money to use in their state and sends what’s left to Southern Baptist causes. The GCTF Report asks states to go back to the traditional level of keeping 50% in state and giving 50% to SBC causes.
Some people have said that 50% of our cooperative dollars goes to international missions. That is true and false. 50% of our cooperative dollars that get to the national level go to international missions, but only 36.55% of our cooperative dollars ever get to the national level. That means – when a church gives $1 to the Cooperative Program, the IMB only gets 18.275 cents.
In Mississippi we aren’t even at the national average. We only give 35% of our cooperative dollars to the SBC – keeping 65% for ourselves (see for yourself by clicking here). I appreciate all that our state convention offers, but I honestly cannot agree that many of the “good” things we do are more important than reaching the billions of lost people in our world and millions in North America. It comes down to where our priorities are. Earlier I mentioned the vast number of people in New York (the estimate is that 27 million of New Yorkers do not have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ). Because there are so few Southern Baptists there, their cooperative giving was $893,248 in 1998. At the same time, consider what those southern states gave (since there are so many more Southern Baptists in the South): Mississippi gave $34,869,034 – Arkansas gave $20,785,888 – Louisiana gave $22,137,411– Oklahoma gave $26,090,606 – Alabama gave $44,983,974 – Missouri gave $15,672,331 (see the numbers for yourself by clicking here). These states (where more people are saved) gave over $164 million, and New York (with more people and less saved) could only give a little over $893 thousand. Where should more of our cooperative dollars go? To have nice gatherings, conferences, and the such – or to reach the millions of lost?
My Vote
I could go on and on – and you probably think I already have – but I won’t.
I am Southern Baptist because I agree with the doctrines affirmed through our convention. I am Southern Baptist because I believe our polity is right.
Southern Baptist do many good things. But as we have seen evidenced in most denominations, when we begin focusing on good things instead of the main thing, we lose ground. Jesus told us to go – reach the world – make disciples. And while our world has grown exponentially, our obedience has lessened.
I will support the Great Commission Task Force Report. As your pastor, I believe I must. I ask you to pray that it will pass and begin a new day for our convention. And I ask you to pray that God would grant us a fresh, burning vision to reach our world for Christ – starting right here in Pascagoula.
Unity in the SBCThursday, October 08, 2009 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. The Perfect StormMonday, June 22, 2009 OK, I realize that I haven't published anything for QUITE some time (thanks Chuck for reminding me - and everyone else ;-) ). But what better time to start than now - as I sit in Louisville, KY at the Southern Baptist Convention.
 Some might wonder if the title of this entry (The Perfect Storm) describes the SBC. You might think so, but , no, it doesn't. I'm referring to a challenge we received Sunday evening from Chuck Colson. (A link to his latest book is below.) I thought I would type a little on this - and then enter other thoughts in the hours/days/weeks/maybe years (haha) to come.
Mr. Colson made some powerful observations on America - stating that WE are in the midst of the perfect storm due to some terrible conditions surrounding us...
(1) Our government is breaking down. There is no denying that Christianity is being pummeled like never before. Christian views are being ignored and vilified - abortion is becoming more accepted (though the majority of Americans are now against it) and funded with our taxpayer dollars like never before - they are trying to take away the conscience clause (so all doctors must perform abortions if asked to) - groundwork is being laid to make any disagreement (or preaching) against sins (like homosexuality) considered hate crimes - and we could go on and on because our governmental leaders are going on and on.
(2) Our economy is breaking down. In the past 6 months we have taken our national debt to levels never dreamed (except maybe in nightmares). Billions of dollars are being spent on things that will in NO way help the economy. And it's only going to get worse.
(3) Terrorism is still rising. No matter how sweetly we speak with the radicals, it will NOT help because their desire is not dialogue - their desire is to destroy us.
(4) We are losing our national identity. We are forgetting who we are - what we came through - what we stood for...
Really, our country's worldview is warped. Rarely do we (yes, even we Christians) look at life through the eyes of faith. Instead, faith is either a part of our lives (instead of the totality of our lives) - or it is considered archaic. And all of our troubles can be seen as a result of immorality - yes all of our troubles! If we thought and acted like we should, we would not be in the mess we are in.
So, do we hide?
No - our only hope is this - to change the country, we must change the church! After all a nation's culture is its religion incarnate.
Did you know that 1/3 of American adults consider themselves evangelical Christians? What would happen if 1/3 of Americans took their faith seriously? What would happen if we were really discipled our own?
In recent years several prominent European athiests have come to faith because they have finally realized that Christianity is true. Why don't we realize that this will continue to occur - even with those in our own neighborhoods - if we will share with them what is true, what is real hope?
These are desperate times, filled with fear. But they are not the times to give up and hide. We must confront life head-on. We have the answer. We have the hope. We must make disciples.
Do you want to see America change? Then the church must change. You and me.
Pray for AmericaMonday, November 17, 2008 I waited a few days to talk about this - but now I will. That's right - my thoughts on the election - well, some of my thoughts anyway.
It was sad to see so much division in our land. I have been apalled by the tactics used by most of those running for election this year (especially those running for President & for U.S. Congress). For those who supported a certain person or party, it's easy to ignore what YOUR group pushes - while growing angry at the viciousness of the other party - but the shoe fits for all involved. 
I find it especially troubling to see the number of Christians joining the fray (in a negative way). Have we forgotten the kind of lifestyle Jesus calls us to?
As a pastor, I have chosen not to publicly endorse parties or candidates - especially from the pulpit. So I won't go into how good or how bad I think things will be (if things get better or worse later - then you'll hear from me). Instead, I choose to pray and trust God - whether a Democrat or Republican sits in the Oval Office (and as an American citizen, I'll use my freedom of speech to applaud or criticize if the situation warrants it).
However, since I've stuck my foot in this - let me go a little deeper...
For those who support President-Elect Obama - chill out! Just as it would irritate you if Republicans gloated over a Republican victory - it irritates them when you do. YES - his election is historical - and YES - it goes to show that America has come a long way in race relations - but don't forget that faith trumps politics. Keep God and His ideals first - and don't agree with everything he does just because you like his party or the color of his skin.
For those who supported Senator McCain - chill out! Many Christians have gotten all worked up over issues like Roe v Wade - as we should (to a degree) - but remember that since that decision was made, we have had 15 years of Republicans in the White House & 12 years of Democrats in the White House - and nothing changed in all that time. And even though you may think that he will destroy what you hold dear, remember that "We the People" "under God" can vote, pray, and voice opinions.
So what should we do? Isn't it obvious? We must pray for our newly elected President - just as we should have been praying for all previous Presidents.
And no matter who you supported - let's ALL remember what God's Word says...
"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor." (Romans 13:1-7, New King James Version)
"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4, New King James Version)
A bird in the handTuesday, October 21, 2008 OK, this is how I remember it...
I'm working in my office last week - minding my own business - when the phone rings. It's my lovely wife, and she sounds a little upset - so, being the ever-compassionate person I am (just don't ask her about that), I ask, "What's wrong?" And the event begins to unfold...  First, let me set the stage for those who may read this and not live on the coast. Pascagoula has done a wonderful job in recovering after Katrina, but you can still see evidence of its destruction - and one example is found along the coastline. There used to be a number of piers/docks going out into the Gulf. A few have been rebuilt, but many haven't - leaving the remnants of where they used to be. Now, on with the story...
Kristi and the kids were driving down Beach Blvd. when they noticed a seagull in distress. It had gotten tangled in some fishing line that was criss-crossed around the pilings of a former pier/dock. It had no hope of getting free on its own, so my dear family decided that we needed to do something. She called Angela Sullivan (the better half of our chairman of the deacons - and a lover of animals) and Angela "volunteered" Scott to get the bird. Kristi told me that - and she said that I didn't have to come - but you know as well as I that she was just being nice...
So I got in the car and headed home to put on my swimming trunks. But as I was driving home, she called again and said, "Hurry! There is something big coming out of the water - trying to eat the bird!"
Did you see "Jaws" when you were younger? 'Nuff said.
I get changed and grab a pair of gloves - why I thought of that, I don't know - and I headed toward them.
Scott & his crew had just gotten there when I arrived, so we put a plan in motion. We headed over to a concrete thing-a-ma-jig to get in (because there was no beachfront around us) - and Scott carried his ladder with him. He was smart enough to realize that we might not want to jump in (because it's not very sandy around that area). Scott stepped down onto the slime-covered concrete thing-a-ma-jig and looked up at me and said, "It's pretty slippery."
 Do you know what happened? That's right! I put one foot down - and both came up! Suddenly, I was sliding down the barnacle-encrusted bank in slow motion - head first. But Scott had my back - or should I say, my foot. As I was falling in slow motion, I felt him grab my foot. I am ever so grateful that he was able to keep my foot from plunging into the depths. Anyway, we headed out to the pier to free the bird. But Scott remembered to tell me that we'd better be careful because some areas around those docks get pretty deep because they dig them out for boats. SO... now I'm hearing the theme from "Jaws" in my head while waiting to plunge DEEP into the depths.  To make a long story short (OK, I realize that I've already passed that opportunity) - we made it - cut the bird free - and brought it in. Now, since I thought to bring my gloves, I got the honor of carrying it in - and BOY am I glad I brought my gloves because the bird was so tired, the only thing it could do was turn its head and peck, peck, peck, peck, peck.
Angela drove the poor bird out to someone who takes care of situations like this - though I'm not sure they have too many birds rescued by preachers and chairmen of deacons. The bird seems to be recovering - and I dried out and warmed up (did I mention that it is October?).
 So - is there any spiritual point to this? Yes, if you'd like to run the rabbits with me. What a joy it is - to know that God watches after us - and can rescue us FAR better than we could ever do on our own. As the psalmist put it, "Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped." (Psalm 124:7)
Scott's & my meager efforts to free the bird is an itty-bitty picture of what God does for us. After all, Jesus said... "'Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?'" (Matthew 6:26)
I'm not advocating wading into the Gulf in October to free seagulls - but let's be grateful for what God has done and is doing for us.
Golf for God?Saturday, October 11, 2008  Enclosure  Golf - I like it - but I definitely haven't mastered it!
Like yesterday... I was invited to play in a ministers' golf event (they didn't know that it's been 1 1/2 years since I last played - kids will do that to you). But I trudged on "helping" my team as best I could. And what troopers they were. I won't mention their names (who would want to be known playing with a hacker like me), but I'll give you a hint - one was a Minister of Music here - one was an Associate Pastor here - and one had the initials e.d.t.r.e.h.e.r.n. But I'm not telling you who they are.
Anyway, a verse came to my mind...
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17 - NKJV)
God definitely has a sense of humor, doesn't He? I mean, the way I played surely didn't bring glory to God - did it? OK - I actually had a few good hits - but still - for the glory of God?
And then it hit me... I didn't throw a club - I didn't say a no-no word - and I even picked up a few pointers. Could something as simple as that be for the glory of God? I think so.
Too often we think we are only bringing glory to God if we preach a sermon - teach a Bible lesson - sing a solo - or do something else "super-spiritual." But a follower of Christ has been changed into a child of God - which means everything we do is spiritual - like keeping the yard clean - keeping the griping under wraps - being kind - and even playing games. How we do what we do makes the difference.
You may not want to be seen playing golf with me - but since Jameson likes the game, I'm sure my game will be getting better. But I hope you'll join me in doing everything we do the way God wants us to do it... for HIS glory. Christians having a good time?Monday, October 06, 2008 Enclosure Why is it that so many people inside and outside the church think that Christians don't have much fun?
Maybe it's because we don't have enough of it???
Sunday night was a little different - here at FBC. We pulled out the lawn chairs and spread out the food (and thanks to the Gulf breeze, we didn't have to swat at flies). We had a great time and enjoyed the musical stylings of the Hwy 63 Bluegrass Band (in the words of our esteemed Scott Sullivan, "That's the kind of music they'll have in Heaven"). We had a stellar crowd, and everyone had LOTS of fun!
But it got me to thinking (Yes, I know - that's a dangerous thing)...
Why don't we do more of that? Why do we always seem to wait until someone or some committee plans out a "fellowship"?
We all enjoy the kind of "fellowship" that can only come through Christ, so let's do more of it. And it doesn't have to include a 4-course meal (though, if you want to do that, my number is in the book). Let's spend more time together - talking - drinking a cup of coffee together - playing a board game - whatever.
Fellowship - it's not just an event on the calendar. It's a way of living the Christian life.
Jay
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