Fred Luter challenged Southern Baptists to follow Jesus and be known for evangelism, discipleship and concern for the lost, in his presidential address to the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville.
Southern Baptist Convention president Fred Luter addressed the SBC Executive Committee at its Feb. 18-19 meeting in Nashville, challenging Southern Baptists to follow Jesus’ example of compassion, discipleship and concern for the lost.Using the familiar question, “What would Jesus do?” Luter stood on Matthew 9:35-38 and drew wisdom from the biblical accounts of Jesus’ interactions with Zacchaeus, blind Bartimaeus, the woman at the well and the woman caught in adultery, emphasizing concern for the lost, compassion and prayer.
“If the question was asked – what would Jesus do about this generation, about this society, about our nation, my answer would certainly be, Jesus would be concerned about them. Therefore, brothers and sisters – if Jesus would be concerned – about the unchurched, we also must be concerned,” Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, preached during the EC’s Feb. 18-19 sessions.
“We must be concerned about their hurts, concerned about their struggles, concerned – about their addictions, concerned about their pain, – concerned about their decision. We must be concerned about their eternal destination.”
God has challenged the church to act, not the government, Luter said.
“Church, listen to the challenge of Jesus and notice the challenge is not to the government – it’s not [gonna] happen. The challenge is not to the president – it’s not [gonna] happen. The challenge is not to the governors, or the mayors, or the police chiefs – it’s not gonna happen.
“The text says, ‘Jesus said to his disciples,’ not to the Republicans [but] to the disciples; not to the Democrats [but] to his disciples. Not those riding the donkey [but] to his disciples. Not those riding an elephant [but] to his disciples. Not those who are pro-Obama [but] to his disciples. Not those who are anti-Obama – Jesus challenged his disciples,” Luter said. “He challenges his children. He challenges his sons and his daughters. He challenges the church.”
Luter called on Southern Baptists to accept Jesus’ challenge and follow his many examples.
“Let’s accept the challenge of Jesus. Let’s accept the challenge of the Southern Baptist Convention, that we will continue to be a convention that’s known for the Great Commission and for the Great Commandment,” he said.
“That we will continue to be a convention that’s known for evangelism, that’s known for discipleship, that’s known for our concern for the lost. Let’s accept the challenge by showing America that we care for them. Let’s accept the challenge by showing our states that we care for them. Let’s accept the challenge by showing our world that we care for them.”
Luter emphasized the phrase in Matthew 9:36 that Jesus was “moved with compassion,” noting the Lord’s humanity.
“Don’t read that too fast – notice the human side of Jesus. Notice the humanity of Jesus. Yes, he was divine because he was fully God, but he was also human because he was fully man,” Luter said.
“When Jesus saw the people, the Bible [says] he didn’t look down on them. He saw their predicament – and was moved with compassion,” Luter said. “In like manner, Southern Baptists – if we’re going to reach this generation, if we’re going to really care about this generation, we must, we must, we must have compassion for them.” – BP