What is a Christian?

I find it amazing that for a few months out of every four years the nation begins to discuss Christianity. The discussion does not focus on the object of the faith nor does the discussion address the One who secured salvation for those who believe. The discussion focuses on which of the candidates are Christians and which is more Christian.

To me, the discussion is a bit troubling. The media, those we do not know what they personally believe, candidates, and political pundits begin to establish the boundaries of the discussion and they begin to define the terms of and in the discussion. So, my question for the day is, what is a Christian?

This question can be broken down into more parts but for today, what is a Christian? To the few readers of this blog please feel free to discuss.

If we change it (The name of the Southern Baptist Convention) will they come? Part 2

This past week several articles were written that discussed the potential name change of the Southern Baptist Convention. Yesterday I began a response to that possibility. My first part of the rersponse was more of practical in nature. My next point may seem to be more theological in nature.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians,

"For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."  1 Cor 1:22-24 (ESV)

My question to those who find it difficult to plant churches that are located out of the southern region of these United States, "Is the name Southern Baptist" more offensive to the non-believer than the content of the Gospel itself? Yes, we can become offensive by the way we approach people. yes, our demeanor can be offensive. Our attitude toward non-believers can be offensive and that should never be. Christ did not look unto the masses with contempt but with pitty. He looked unto the masses as those who had no shepherd. These folks were not being fed with the Truth. They were not being led to believe in Christ as the Annointed One by their religious leaders. These people saw their leaders reject Christ and therefore reject the One who sent Him. He wept for them. He did not treat the masses with contempt. But His message stayed the same. And at times this message offended those who would follow Him.

The struggles I have had ministering in what use to be called as the "pioneer areas" has not been with the name Southern Baptist but with the call to embrace The King of the Kingdom. The stuggle has been with calling folks to embrace not the name but the practice. I have had more reject the message because of the need to be immersed following profession of faith than to the name Southern Baptist.

I put forth to this online community that our name is not the stumbling block that we think. The Gospel is more offensive to the sinful nature of man than what we call ourselves.

To be continued...

If we change it (The name of the Southern Baptist Convention) will they come?

A few days ago I received an email expressing the humor of potential name change for the Southern Baptist Convention. I originally read an article in Baptist Press that described the discussion and the actions of the Executive Committee regarding the recommendation to staudy the name change. I persoanlly find this topic interesting. Not interesting because I  believe we should examine the possibility but interesting because since my 1983 graduation from Blue Mountain College of Mississippi my wife and I have served north of the Mason Dixon Line for the majority of our ministry.

We attended Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City and then went on to serve as Church Planter Apprentice and spouse in upstate New York. We have served in the Chicago land area and in other parts of the Midwest and Southwest. In each of the places of service we have thoroughly enjoyed the ministry and the people we have met along the way. I give the background for this reason, in the various minsitries I can say without any hesitation whatever success or failure we experienced cannot be attributed to the name of the Southern Baptist Convention.

We have certainly been quizzed over the name but no one has ever rejected Christ because of the name of the Convention. In fact the the opening to converse with someone has dealt more with the integrity of he local Body than with any national convention.

Before I continue I must let you the reader know:

• I am for change,
• I believe a church does not need the word Baptist in their name,
• I am for the communication of the Gospel
• I am for integrity.

The objections I raise about the possible name change is not because I do not want to change. I raise these objections because I am afraid we can become disingenuous about the possible change. Please allow me to explain.

First, let's suppose the name of the Convention is changed. How then do we explain the organization that the local church is affiliated? At what point are we willing as church leaders or church members tell the prospect (if I can use that term) to describe the Convention (formally known as the Southern Baptist Convention)? (Yes, I am well aware that the "Convention" is only in existence for 2 days out of the year). Then the question arises, do we tell someone that we are who we are?

My family and I live in a medium size midwestern community. We serve a SBC church and there are 4 other viable SBC affiliated churches in the community. There is a rather large (2500 weekend attendance) SBC affiliated congregation that does not seem to know they are SBC affiliated. While speaking to one of their members the comment was made that they are NOT Southern Baptist. If ound myself becoming quiet lest I tell them that their church shows up on the list of affiliated churches.

We have been known to take time off a Sunday or two during the year. That break requires me to search the web for possible churches to attend. While searching one weekend for a church that my family and I could attend that is in like faith and practice I discovered many church web sites that gave the name of the church (creative names), the listing of possible opportunities for worship and ministries that would provide for my young children but it took a while to discover what "denomination" or group or non-group they were affiliated. I found this very disturbing. It said to me that this church was trying to hide something, hide their belief system, hide their polity or even hide their identity. My question is at what point would I as a new attendee learn who this congregation is?What do they believe? What is the history of their greater group?

My question to the Southern Baptist leadership, at what point would we tell people who we are and what we believe? Yes, our past as Southern Baptist's can be seen as tumultuous with the origination, the boycotts, the previous in fighting. Just like family we may disagree with family, we may have troubles in the family, we may even be ashamed of certain family member's behavior but we are family.

To be continued...