Ed Stetzer from LifeWay research group recently posted on his blog an article that shows a troubling decline in Southern Baptist Churches in baptisms and membership. Some say it is a “blip” and others say this is a troubling trend over a period of time. See Stetzer’s argument for a troubling trend here http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/.
What the article and research show is a downward trend as a convention. News of this downward trend is troubling, especially with all the resources that we have as Southern Baptist to spread the gospel. I would like to give a few points to ponder that should help motivate us as Christians to be serious about sharing Jesus with others:
1. This is not a battle the Church will lose: Jesus says in Matthew 16:18, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Nothing will be able to stop the spread of the gospel. We should always remember that we are called to be on offense not on defense.
2. The wages of sin is death: Romans 6:23 says, “for the wages of sin is death.” We must remember that hell is very real and it awaits those who die without Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
3. The free gift of eternal life is in Christ Jesus our Lord: I am shocked at the number of people I meet and have an opportunity to share the gospel with, who say, “Hey that is great but I am not worthy of eternal life.” “Great!” I tell them, “No one is, that is why it is a gift.” In our churches is there such a smugness or “high and mighty attitude” that we are actually turning people away from the gospel?
4. The end is near, so get busy: Paul says in Colossians 4:5, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.” Moses cries out in Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Both men understood that time is short, so we must make the most of every opportunity.
Chuck Lawless, the Dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at Southern Seminary said this in the article, “The data show that churches in the Southern Baptist Convention http://www.sbc.net/ are in maintenance mode at best and headed toward decline. Too much is at stake for us to sit by and fade into irrelevance in North America. We desperately need God to move us, change us, and redirect us to Great Commission obedience.”
Well said! May God awaken us out of our sleep, and may we be obedient to the Great Commission!
