It was appropriate that the story of Harmony Baptist Church appeared on the page before Mr. S. Craig White’s letter in The Courier’s October 2014 issue. I am encouraged by Harmony’s story, as our church (Southside Baptist, Anderson) is embarking on a similar journey through the Intentional Church Multiplication Process initiated by the South Carolina Baptist Convention.

Mr. White perceives or has experienced churches where there is no emphasis on being “born again” and on baptism. He and I agree that regeneration and baptism are important doctrines, and certainly there are some churches that may not emphasize these doctrines as they should. However, these are not the only doctrines that need emphasis. Being “born again” (regeneration) is but one aspect of salvation. Justification, sanctification, adoption and glorification are equally important and are all part of salvation. I am a product of the 20th-century “born again” proclamation, but I am also a product of the lack of emphasis on discipleship in the 20th century. We did not disciple our newborns in Christ.

We should not assume that the programs and attendance growth of the mid-20th century were necessarily indicators of discipleship or a healthy church. If we in the church are still thinking like we did in the 20th century, are we going to be effective in the 21st century? I submit that our decline is due to ineffective discipleship, resulting in churches full of people who don’t even understand the doctrines.

Disciples don’t just lead people to Christ, they make disciples. Being intentional and relational within the context of our community helps us communicate the love of Christ, and this opens the door to communicate the gospel of Christ and all of its doctrines. It is a process our missionaries use all over the globe, and I can attest to the early fruit of this process.

Jeff Smoak
Anderson, S.C.