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...