Dear Southern Baptists,
My name is T Elliott Welch and I have been a Christian for
six years and a Southern Baptist for two. I am a student at Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary and I have recently been appointed as an ISC Missionary
to Ghana, West Africa by the International Mission Board of the Southern
Baptist Convention.
I have only been a Southern Baptist for a couple of years;
however, God has ignited a flame within my heart for the Southern Baptist
Convention. I am in agreement with the BFM 2000 as well as the ecclesiology
which permeates every aspect of Southern Baptist life. I am in agreement with
local church autonomy, soul competency of the believer as well as a strong
advocate for the cooperative program. In fact the cooperative program is an
aspect of the SBC which I admire the most. The cooperative program has allowed
Southern Baptists the ability to unite for the cause of evangelism, church
planting and missions under the banner we can do more together than we ever could apart.
I have been encouraged by the wonderful things which
have taken/are taking place within Southern Baptist life. I was encouraged as I
studied and researched the Conservative
Resurgence. The dedication and bravery of the men who took a stand for the
Bible is awe-inspiring and God used the stories of their courage to solidify
within me a desire to preach the Word! I was encouraged last year with the
Great Commission Resurgence and the commitment of the majority of Southern
Baptist churches to fulfill the Great Commission and dedicate more resources to
the Cooperative Program. Finally, I am encouraged this year as there is a strong
probability that the first African American president of the SBC could be
elected. Yes, these are great days to be a part of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Which is why the current controversy which is taking place
within the SBC is disheartening. I am broken-hearted over the conversation
which has taken place concerning a “A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist's Understanding of God's plan of Salvation." I have read numerous tweets and blogs from both sides of the
debate and neither side has represented the other in a fair light. At a time
when we should be united, we have fractured into warring parts! I am both
encouraged and disheartened by the state of SBC life. On the one hand I am
encouraged by the Great Commission Resurgence;
however, on the other I am discouraged over the tribalism and how the SBC appears to be splitting
into tribes with Calvinists on one side and Arminians on the other. I am
encouraged in the area of race relations within the SBC with the election of
Fred Luter; however, I am discouraged over the emphasis on secondary issues
(Calvinism vs. Arminianism) while neglecting the primary issue (evangelizing
the world). I am encouraged by the numerous State Conventions which have moved
to giving 50% of their funds to the National Conventions; however, I am
discouraged over the lack of unity amongst brothers and sisters who worship the
same God (yes, we disagree about the extent of the atonement, and where to
place regeneration, but, should that be enough to splinter us?)
As far as I can tell
the Southern Baptist Convention has always been a convention made up of
Calvinists, Arminians, and those in-between. The SBC has grown to 44,000
churches (largest Protestant denom.), sent out the largest number of
missionaries, and reached thousands of cities for Christ because of our ability
to unite under the cause of evangelism, missions and reaching the lost for
Christ. Cooperative program giving is at an all time low. The Lottie Moon
Christmas Offering and Annie Armstrong Easter Offerings have been at low levels
for years. The North American and International Mission
Boards have had to make substantial cuts and send fewer individuals to share
the Gospel and ALL we can think to do is sit around and attack each other.
It is time for those of us in the SBC to stop sitting in the dug-out taking pot shots
at each other and instead stride out onto the mission field. We (Calvinists and
Arminians) must stop arguing and once again cooperate together in order
to reach the world for Christ! The SBC must once again unite under the theme
which has made us the largest Protestant denomination; the theme being we can
do more together than we ever could apart!
Serving Him,
T Elliott Welch
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