Comments on: Why I am Southern Baptist

By: The Colorado Gregory Gazette » Blog Archive » Why Southern Baptist?

The Colorado Gregory Gazette » Blog Archive » Why Southern Baptist? — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:50:23 +0000

[...] is a very large family and we are glad to be in this family for several reasons. Ed Stetzer has a great post about why he is Southern Baptist which summarizes reasons very well. Check out the comments also. Posted in Missions, Student [...]

By: WHAT’S AT STAKE, REALLY? « sbtcpastors Blog

WHAT’S AT STAKE, REALLY? « sbtcpastors Blog — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:43:01 +0000

[...] encourage you to also read Bart Barber here, here, and here and Ed Stetzer’s post here on “Why I Am A Southern [...]

By: edstetzer

edstetzer — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:25:33 +0000

Bob,

Thanks… and appreciate you. Praying for you and the GCR task force. Thanks for your service there and at the GBC.

By: Why Ed Stetzer is a Southern Baptist? « Trials, Testing, and Transformation

Why Ed Stetzer is a Southern Baptist? « Trials, Testing, and Transformation — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:14:11 +0000

[...] Ed Stetzer is a Southern Baptist? 26Sep09 Ed Stetzer has written a blog post defining why he a Southern Baptist. His primary role is President of LifeWay Research and [...]

By: Bob White

Bob White — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:50:12 +0000

Ed,
You hit the ball out of the park! I appreciate your insightful
and positive comments about the SBC and the Cooperative Program.
Thank you for sharing your heart in this way. It will have an
edifying influence.

By: Les Puryear

Les Puryear — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:06:22 +0000

You asked, “When did ecclesiology and evangelism go into competition against one another?”.

Foundationally and practically, the SBC has always been focused on propagating the gospel. Evangelism/missions has always been the basis of the cooperation of our churches. However, it seems that ecclesiology has recently become a focal point of being a “true” baptist. Some who have a high view of ecclesiology seem to have raised ecclesiology to the point that right ecclesiology is a point of cooperation within the convention.

My point is that, while ecclesiology is important, it is not as important as evangelism and thus, we need to spend more time on that which matters most.

It seems to me that more blog posts are written on issues of ecclesiology than on evangelism. If we’re going to have a Great Commission Resurgence, perhaps our focus should be adjusted to sharing our faith with the lost.

Les

By: Bart Barber

Bart Barber — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:44:11 +0000

Les,

When did ecclesiology and evangelism go into competition against one another? Who’s second on the fight card? Worship vs. Holiness? Soteriology vs. Tithing?

By: edstetzer

edstetzer — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:35:28 +0000

Les,

I will have to write that one next.

Fermin,

Great to see a state exec. come by and comment on a blog. You were the first on Twitter as well! Must be the Silicon Valley influence in California.

Andrew,

Appreciate you.

Thanks,

By: Les Puryear

Les Puryear — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:07:21 +0000

Wow! An entire post on being a Southern Baptist and the word “ecclesiology” is not mentioned. This may befuddle some folks who place ecclesiology above evangelism.

By: Louis

Louis — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:33:28 +0000

Great post! Amen. I became a Christian in high school and started attending a local SBC church primarily because of the solid preaching by the pastor.

I was in the independent world for a few years, but saw the flaws in that and came to appreciate the organizational structure of the SBC. With the CR having corrected the theological slide, I can’t think of any place I would rather be. I do fellowship with Christians from other churches and am familiar with other types of funding mechanisms. But the network and funding in the SBC is the best. I can’t tell you how many nondenom types come around from time to time trying to find out how to go to seminary cheaper or how to go to the mission field without having to raise support all the time.

We need to stop fixating on talking about decline and the weird things that happen in SBC life, and spend our time talking about the good stuff. A positive vision for ministry is what gets people excited and motivated.

Take care.

Louis