I would like to respond with an answer for the concerns of the “What next?” question posed on the Courier’s front page (April 30). It seems that the lack of attendance at the Southern Baptist Convention meetings by ministers under the age of 40 is now becoming noticeable to the leadership.
I first want to say that I am a pastor in a Southern Baptist church, and I am 26 years old. The church that I serve is a traditional one that has been established for close to 100 years.
The fear in the Southern Baptist Convention seems to be the failure, or demise, that it would face in the next generation or two if things don’t change. It is the same issue that our churches are facing as a whole.
Yes, there are those “successful” Woodstock and Jacksonville First Baptists that are making headway in our convention, but the success of our convention cannot be based on the exceptions.
While I love and admire Dr. Hunt, Dr. Brunson, Dr. Vines, and so many other of the faithful pastors of our day and days gone by, the reason for the fall of the SBC will not be because of these men. The fall will be due to the lack of the surrender to the only one – Jesus Christ – who has the ability to sustain it.
My generation has seen the indiscrepancies in the convention and realizes that the only thing to do is pick “the hills to die on” wisely. Tradition is killing the convention, not conservatism.
The ministers that are under 30 today in our convention are some of the most vibrant and committed conservatives to be found, but they seek the truth.
The SBC, while it is correct from a doctrinal standpoint, is full of the “good ol’ boy” mentality. I’m not sure that the next generation will buy into the same old system that has worked in the past.
I hope with the election of Dr. Hunt some things will change while there are still a few of us left to see the SBC churches become effective at reaching this dying culture. We must repent of the sin that has been done and put away the pride so Jesus can be the focus of the convention after all. There is no other name under heaven whereby men can be saved!
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