SBC=>ENCOUNTERS

Immanuel Southern Baptist Church Breaks Record

I love the things I encounter about Southern Baptists on Facebook.

Rick Boyne,  pastor at Immanuel Southern Baptist Church in Wagoner, Oklahoma, posted some news which we can be thankful for today:

Just received word that the official count broke our Food Pantry Ministry serving records today! We served 66 families, (over 200 people) over 3000 meals! (we give groceries for them to prepare their own meals) Way to go volunteers at Immanuel Southern Baptist Church!*

If you'd like to help out financially, make your checks payable to: Immanuel Southern Baptist Church, 611 N. Gertrude, Wagoner OK 74467 We could really use the help.

If you are like our church, you are sharing in your own way in your own field of ministry.  Please feel free to share what your church is doing to be generous during this Thanksgiving season.  It will bless us all to hear.

*Isn't it nice to see a church that is not ashamed of being Southern Baptist?

I Hate Controversy, Don't You

Believe it or not, I don't comment that often on that which I disagree.  I rarely debate people. It never ends well.  Someone invariably accuses the other of seedy and unseemly attitudes.  No matter how carefully we word something, or how many words we use to explain something we have already said.  I've found that most people do not want to hear another viewpoint other than their own.  Do you?  That is, do you want to hear another viewpoint when you are happy with your own?

I think God has his own viewpoint on life in general and with Christians in particular.  I kinda think He wants everyone to make nice.  All the time. Especially when it concerns the "things of heaven", the cooperation with the body of Christ.  I don't think God really cares whether you like blue or green drapes as long as you get the drapes and block out the heat pouring into His house.

I think what we think is far less important in the scheme of things than what God thinks.  It does kinda grate on my nerves when someone else thinks that what they think is superior to what others think, though. Or, worse...that they have a market cornered on what God thinks.  And to prove it, they add this and that to whatever to explain to whoever that they are wrong or right.

I think we ought to be able to share what we think without fear of persecution, condemnation, or personal character assassinations.  But...that's just me.

Others think it's okay to tear everyone down, rip apart other viewpoints, and dissect every single solitary word they say or write. Is it okay to reject people in the process of rejecting their views?  Can the two be separated?  Must we be angry with someone simply because we don't agree with them?  Is it fair to judge another's heart based on what we perceive to be some growing "anger" when they disagree with something we do?  or how we interact with others?  I am beginning to wonder if we all aren't building our own towers of superiority and viewpoint, and the Lord is confounding our words because they are not HIS viewpoint.  I'm thinking...God hates controversy, too.

I so wish everyone could think like me.  Don't you wish everyone would think like you?  I know God wishes everyone would think like Him...so what do we do?

Isn't there someway for everyone to center on one thing and one thing only?

Jesus?

After all it is His church, not ours.  We ARE the church.  Does the doorknob tell the hinge what to do?  Does the floorboards hold up the walls, or the walls support the ceiling?  Does the light switch give light or the outlet which runs to the electricity source?  Let's debate that, okay?  no?

Some things just aren't worth our time, energy or spiritual depletion to argue about. I abhor confrontation--to a weakness.  What difference does one opinion make anyway?  The Bible says not to consider yourself smarter or better than anyone else.  But to submit ourselves one to another. If we are Gospel-believing Christians, then why don't we act like it and follow the Bible?  Why do we get all caught up in everyone else's life?

Why do we blog?  For what purpose?

Why do we comment, for what purpose? 

To hear our own voice?  to get our kudos and backslaps? to see how many "likes" we can collect?   OR...now this is novel...to make a difference in the Kingdom of God? to support and affirm anothers thoughts and actions?  to persuade? to encourage? to inform?  to edify?

I've been accused, when I voice an opposing position of "unkindness, anger," and all kinds of other things.  So, that's why I don't comment that often on that which I disagree. It throws folks into a tailspin of shock and awe.

I find that writing positive things and dwelling on that which is pure and good is better for me spiritually, emotionally, and physically.  Plus?  It's biblical.

So let me tell you something I think:

I think that individuals have a choice to which group of people they associate or affiliate.  They are free to choose their faith group, to submit to it, or not?  It is their choice.  It is their free will decision to join and be involved with whatever group--democratic, authoritarian or cult.  Isn't it?  And isn't this typical of Christ's prophecy in the latter days?  Everyone going in any directions they so choose?

I just personally choose to associate myself with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).  And I love to talk with folks who share my love and passion.  Though some will argue with me concerning her history with specific movements, eras and birthpangs, to me, her history is rich.   It's one of autonomy.  It's one of voluntary cooperation of multiple autonomous churches coming together to advance the commission of our Lord to "go into all the world and preach the gospel, make disciples, to baptize them, teaching them to observe all things which I [Jesus Christ], have commanded".

Every Believer has a personal opinion of how to best get that done. Normal, since each Believer is given specific gifts by the Holy Spirit to accomplish "kingdom work", wouldn't you say?

Some folks want to build bigger and better seminaries.  Some people want to spend their time and money going to Peru, and Africa and Russia for a couple of weeks a year. Some people want to send money to the Cooperative Program so missionaries can live on field year-round and amongst the people and help them grow to be self-reliant, self-sustaining church groups which raise up pastors and leaders indigenous to their own culture.

Our SBC history exemplifies a clear and distinct roadmap to obey the commission of our Lord Jesus Christ: by training ministers, by sending and financially supporting missionaries in nations around the world.  Her history is one which offers salvation to all by preaching the God's message of love and salvation to any who will listen and receive Jesus--the ONLY Gospel message.  Her history gives audible "voice" to the inerrant, living Word of God.

The SBC has grown, spiritually and numerically since her birth, and made room for young and old pastors, for all races, and people groups.  She has enthusiasm and unbridled compassion for missions, and gospel-focused social ministry throughout the entire world. Her Disaster Relief teams are known throughout the world--from Joplin, Missouri to Tokyo, Japan, for their ability to organize and help quickly in times of horrific castastrophies; they are second to none. And rumor has it, we are about to elect the first Black president of our convention in New Orleans.  I do not know if that is fact or gossip.  However, to me?  that is amazing progress since I was a little girl growing up in a racially segregated world in Virginia.

THEREFORE:

Given my understanding of Southern Baptists in general, I've been asking myself, how I can sit idly by in my comfortable recliner, protected from Oklahoma winds by my steel-built home, and not say something, I mean...something, if I find her threatened in some way, or read about ideas and thoughts of some who want to go in another direction from which many within the grassroots of Southern Baptists are unaware of?

How can I?

Should I sit here sipping on my Save-a-lot brand coffee, frugally saving coins to give to mission efforts of our convention, contemplating what the Lord would have us give to Annie Armstrong, and not say a word simply because I hate controversy and debate? For fear of offending someone?  Being attacked?  Rejected?  I don't know.  I just don't anymore.  Do you?  I'm trying to figure it out.  selahV

The SBC...I'm Part Of Something Great

Ever feel insignificant?  That the little you give cannot do much? that the work you do doesn't effect much? 

"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5

Go HERE and see how you, as a cooperating Southern Baptist, are one of the stones building a spiritual house greater than your own.  You are connected to this sister church and all the others within our convention.

We are "living stones".  Praise the Lord, we are part of something great!  selahV

What Must We Do To Be Relevant

With all the problems in the world, we often question who to help and how to help them.  We worry about giving and having our hard-earned money being mis-spent. 

As a child I learned that the money Baptists give to missions is one of the best ways to give and be assured the assistance we give makes all the difference in the world--the difference between clean water and filthy contaminated water.  Southern Baptist have been digging wells, stocking streams with fish, and teaching agriculture skills to get more bountiful crops for decades.  We have annual offerings for all kinds of things.  Hunger Funds, Baptist Children's Homes, Associational ministries, State Missions, Home Missions, and Foreign Missions.  I learned all these things in missions groups and Vacation Bible School.  Southern Baptists have the means to reach people in disaster situations and hundreds of countries.  We train Disaster Relief teams to go into storm-ravaged towns and assist people with food, clothing, water, and the Gospel message.

When reports are given at the Convention each year, the messengers are told multiple stories of where the money is going.  Sadly, many of these reports are poorly attended as I understand it.  Therefore, few pastors can return and pass on the information they learned to their respective churches.  Our Baptist papers give reports.  Who reads them?  I wonder how many Southern Baptist churches today don't bother to teach missions to children and teens.  As a member in a small New England church in the late '70's, we taught how the Cooperative Program supported hospitals, missionaries, teachers, seminaries, seminary students, church plants.  We witnessed summer missionaries come to our church and teach Backyard Bible classes in our neighborhoods.  We learned of Sojourners commissioned to various places around the world in service for our Lord.

I am old.  I am settled.  And I am saddened.  Some advocate new systems to educate our children about the Bible and the doctrines of our faith.  Discipleship Training use to be the place to learn those things. So many voices seem to say the CP is no longer the viable method of reaching the world for Christ.  10,000 missionaries around the world might have a different opinion of that.  Without our support they would not be offering hope to those in Japan right this minute.  David Brumbelow of Gulfcoast Pastor has written an excellent post entitled "How To Give To Japan Disaster Relief" that all SB pastors ought to consider promoting.  But with all the talking heads on television and the ads for giving to Star-a-thons and the Red Cross, will people listen?

"And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." Matthew 13:58

I think part of the problem with today's "young and relative" message is the need to "feel" their faith rather than act upon the faith they are given.  Faithful obedience is the back on which emotion rides.  When we are faithful stewards of God's blessings, we give to God and rest in His grace to multiply His kingdom.  Jesus was known for multiplying what little others gave Him and making it go farther than anyone could imagine.  However, there was a time in His home town when "He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." Matthew 13:58.

Notice it was not their lack funds, or of knowledge or feeling, but their lack of faith.  I'm sure glad Jesus didn't base His mission to go to Calvary on how He felt about hanging on a cross in the noonday sun for the billions He had not personally shook hands with and handed a cup of rice.

Do we need to hand a Bible to every person in the world?  Yes. Will more be handed out if we give money to people who can mass-distribute them, or by lugging around a knapsack on our backs?  Will my two-week mission trip to Peru, Uganda, or Japan make a difference in the lives of the lost?  Of course, but will the thousands of dollars for expenses for my trip be more effectively used by a missionary who is already trained in the language and well-versed in the culture of those places?  If the latter is true, I'm sure the reward my Savior brings in His hand will be sufficient enough to quell any ooey-gooey temporal feeling I might miss today. 

May God open our hearts to understand what we give may not necessarily make us feel good about our own involvement.  We may feel disconnected from the work of His servants abroad.  We may never see the fruit till we meet them in Heaven.  But if we are faithful to what He calls us to do, we will be like the church in Macedonia and Thessaloniki and give from our lack so others will be blessed.

Give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.  Give to Lottie Moon.  Give to the Cooperative Program.

Pure Water, Pure Love is one outreach program that the Woman's Missionary Union promotes to help bring clean water to nations where disease and pollution is rampant.  Just thought I'd mention it.  Have a fund-drive to dig a well somewhere.  You'll be just as involved with that as if you'd be shoveling the dirt.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011