I feel certain that the prophetic article by Dr. Ed Stetzer (president of LifeWay Research), which appeared in the last edition of The Baptist Courier, saddened the hearts of any loyal Southern Baptist.
He raised the question, “What will it take for the largest Protestant denomination to move from decline to recovery and growth?” This denominational leader pointed out that for five straight years, we have been declining in growth, that the decline will accelerate and is a 60-year trend. We have now joined the major Protestant and Catholic denominations in diminishing losses.
Then he presented what we should do in the face of this reality. First, engage new and fresh leadership. Second, be more united in view of our theological differences. Also, we need to start more new churches. He also mentions greater involvement by reaching out to other ethnicities. (The election of our first African-American president is a heartwarming development.
Southern Baptists have historically been in the forefront of being relevant and well-organized to meet contemporary challenges. I am sure Dr. Stetzer would wholly agree with what I want to say: The fact is that modern pastors are facing a vastly different situation in our country. There is a great moral drift and complete antipathy toward the Christian gospel. Pastors today are facing the difficult task of reaching lost people outside of the church. There is a “biblical ignorance” and apathy that we have never known before.
Our only hope in America is the intervention of God creating a spiritual hunger in people’s hearts. It must come from Him and must reach beyond any additional programs and incentives we might allow.
Perhaps God is moving in a mighty way to bring us to the point of desperation. When we pray “God Bless America,” God’s answer will be, “My blessing will come when God’s people fall to their knees in prayer.” It has been said a thousand times, but let us never forget that prayer must be at the heart of all we do in Jesus’ name. We face an emergency, and join with all other Southern Baptists who are deeply concerned.
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