Why Aren’t Our Churches Remaining Baptist Long Term?

I have spent a number of days running down old Baptist churches in the northern part of Kentucky. Think about it! One of these churches was established while George Washington was still alive. Another one, while John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were living. They are in different circles than I am, but they are still active, and they are still Baptist in name. Why aren’t more of the Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches remaining Baptist long term?

 

I am sure I don’t have all of the answers but here are some thoughts: 

Most of these churches are either Southern Baptist or Missionary Baptists. 

They might likely say that their longevity is attributed to their organizations. I would not agree with this because their organizations are moving toward being non-Baptist.

 

I would argue that many if not most independent Baptists are not, in fact, Baptists. 

I think they are more immersing old-fashioned Methodists. 

 

I think Independent Baptists have, for many decades, been more pragmatic and growth-oriented rather than doctrinal oriented. 

Almost anything goes in these days so long as we can claim souls being saved and churches growing. 

 

Doctrine is not preached as much as “help” messages. 

Too many preachers try to answer the questions people ask rather than informing people of the questions they should be asking.

 

Marvin McKenzie

In the fields

Where To Look For Spiritual Answers

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I read an article this week having to do with the spiritual condition of the younger generation in the United States.

This article suggests that, rather than being atheists, a large number of young people have developed a faith similar to pantheism – the concept that everything embodies a power that is “god.”

“According to Pew Research Center, the percentage of young adults who believe religion to be very important as compared to their elders is greatly lower, dropping a total of 31 percent from the Greatest Generation to Millennials. This is not to say, however, that young adults experience spiritual curiosity at lower rates. Pew Research Center also reports that 46 percent of Millennials feel a great sense of wonder about the universe, … although less intrigued by the thought of a strict religion, hold roughly the same importance to questions of spirituality and the nature of existence as their elders. Combining these ideas of a loose religious fabric with an unceasing sense of wonder opens a door to a new future of religious philosophy, one that incorporates both divinity and humility: an idea known as pantheism.”[1]

This article goes on to suggest that, “As today’s youth adapt to changing religious views while still holding curiosity towards the uncertain, the need for a new religion becomes apparent” and offers pantheism as that new religion.

The offer is in my opinion, laughable because, all through the article, we are told that pantheism is an ancient religion. Hey, I know! Let’s take an old religion, call it a new religion and maybe young, confused people will buy into it from us!

What I think is important to see in this article is the statement that young adults, “hold roughly the same importance to questions of spirituality and the nature of existence as their elders.”

The challenge Christian face today in evangelization has nothing to do with whether young adults believe there is a spiritual world. Every human being knows inherently that there is a life after death.

The issue has always been one of guiding those same people to the truth about that life after death. I remind you that the Bible is the only source for spiritual thought that proves its message by the resurrection of the messenger, Jesus Christ. Every other religious or spiritual idea is only theory – it has no proof and no way to be proven.

You’ll get no argument from me that there have been men claiming to be Christians who have done terrible things in the name of Christianity. That only demonstrates the corruption of man. It in no way invalidates the message or the resurrection of Christ. People have misused the Bible. But the Bible is still where all reliable spiritual answers are to be found.

Marvin McKenzie

In the fields

Footnotes[1]THIS ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY COULD HELP US LIVE MORE HARMONIOUSLY IN THE MODERN WORLD, https://matadornetwork.com/life/ancient-philosophy-help-us-live-harmoniously-modern-world/, accessed 1-7-17

Knowledge, Academics and Leadership

I listened to a man today make the statement that we have plenty of knowledge in the pastorate today, but we have a dearth of leadership. The statement makes some sense when a person realizes where this, now pastor, comes from. The man has no formal Bible training but does have an extensive and successful background in fast food restaurant management. Having managed a large number of McDonalds restaurants as well as Cinnabon stores, both throughout the United States and internationally - he considers himself a successful leader. Having witnessed many years of church planting conferences and hearing the stories of men who more or less thought of themselves as a failure in the ministry, this man, a leader in the corporate world, concluded that their failure was due to a lack of corporate leadership skills. These skills he now believes he can and should pass down to future independent Baptist pastors.

First, I do not fault his passion for both reaching lost people and helping preachers do well. It is heartbreaking at times to hear men express their desperation for the resources to care for themselves and their families as they attempt to serve the Lord. How can we ever give enough money to fully alleviate the needs of so many families do without so much?

Secondly, I recognize that some of my dispute with this manager/pastor could be labelled by some as mere semantics. I certainly do not discount the necessity of leadership in the ministry and I would be the first to decry to idolatry of academia in the pulpit. We are on the same page Brother!

However, I contend that there is more than semantics at work here; there is a rudimentary difference in the philosophy of ministry:

• The one making the ministry a mere product of man.
• The other recognizing that the ministry is about the calling and gifting of God

If all the pastorate needs is to learn how to manage a McDonalds in order to be a successful pastor, is the church a work of God or a mere marketing outlet? What is the difference between the philosophy so criticized in independent Baptist circles, of Bill Hybels' seeker friendly churches and this pastor’s “have it led way” Baptist churches?

I agree; we don’t really need more academics. Whether a preacher can define homiletics and hermeneutics is irrelevant. But knowledge, true wisdom, is an entirely different matter altogether. 2 Peter 3:18 KJV does say,

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
This knowledge is different than academics. This is the intimate knowledge of God. It is developed not through leadership but through true theology, the study of and the getting to know our God. 

We have helped no one if all we have done is assemble a congregation and make them feel well cared for and like they fit in to the community of the church (and I suggest that is a reasonable definition of the function of leadership). No sir! The preacher’s job; the pastor’s duty, is to lead the flock of God to still waters and green pastures where they may be satisfied in Christ. No shepherd can do that unless he knows where those green pastures and pools of fresh water are found and he cannot know that unless he has, himself, been refreshed there.

  

Christianity is More than Philosophy

One of my interests in reading Benjamin Franklin's autobiography has been to learn from Franklin himself what his view of Christianity was. So many things are said about him, in his case we can hear from him personally. I find in interesting, for instance, that Franklin covered his acquaintance with George Whitefield. It was not necessary to his biography, even when considering that Whitefield stayed in Franklin's home. No doubt many stayed whose names are not mentioned. Franklin was impressed it seems to me, with Whitefield's skills, but he does not appear to be overly impressed with the influence he had in America in general. His mentioning him at all indicates some degree of heart tug toward the faith. Franklin also speaks of a meeting house he helped finance for itinerant preachers and specifically mentions that it would have been available to Muslims, should they have requested the use of it. His position was obviously not opposed to non - Christian faiths.

Reading his autobiography has caused me to ponder the relationship between religion and philosophy, and especially between Christianity and philosophy. Franklin was unquestionably a philosopher. He devoted much of himself to improving his own and society in general's morality. It appears to me that Franklin's only real connection with Christianity was in its value toward improving morality.

Associated with my interest in Franklin, I have been doing a little research of philosophy in general. No wonder religion and philosophy are so identified in the academic world; philosophy is an attempt to answer the same questions religion addresses;
• How did we get here?
• Why are we here?
• What will happen to us when we are no longer here?

Philosophy is an attempt to define and bring in to focus our worldview. Religion is the same.

But true Christianity is different, I think. Philosophy (and religion) aim to identify and then mold our beliefs. Philosophy would view all worldviews as equal and then debate the merits of one over against the other so far as the particular world view's ability enhance a man's morality and thereby improve society and the life of mankind in general. True Christianity, however, cannot be debated.

• Philosophy begins and ends with man.
• True Christianity begins and ends with God.

• Philosophy sees the improvement of this world as the aim
• True Christianity sees the kingdom of God as the aim

• Philosophy is a study
• True Christianity is relationship with a Person

•  Philosophy is an opinion
• True Christianity is settled in the indisputable fact of God's Word

Marvin McKenzie
In the fields