GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP)–I am writing this on a plane on the way home from the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. As with any convention, there are people who are happy with the results and people who are unhappy.
But this one meeting seems to be particularly unique. I don’t remember a convention where I had so many friends who disagreed on what should happen. I have great friends who are really pleased with the convention and great friends who are heart-broken. Since I normally write about good news, let me share some of the positive things about this convention that I hope we can all agree on.
— There is very little chance that anyone could be elected today to any SBC office unless they affirm the inerrancy of Scripture. Let’s not forget that this has only been the case for a short time and was a miraculous change. All those running for office were wonderful, biblically sound men and we can all praise God for that.
— There is a clear call for all Southern Baptists to increase their giving to missions. What an incredible message President Bobby Welch preached to end our convention. I was so moved that I determined I would share the Gospel with someone as soon as he finished. Becky, the security guard, was a believer who was deeply moved by watching our convention.
But most people we share with do not know Christ. And we are not giving enough to get the Gospel to all of them. Dr. Welch shared that Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board, had told him that his biggest burden was deciding who would not hear the Gospel, because there was not enough money to go to everyone. Now that disturbed me. I found myself wanting to go home and evaluate all of my own spending. What am I wasting? How can I give more? And how can I encourage my church to give more? As Tom Elliff led us in prayer, he said that we have “an unholy addiction to self.” Wow. He’s right. I want that addiction broken in my life and in all Southern Baptists so that we can bring the Good News to everyone.
— This convention had tremendous appeal to people of all ages. There was an energy among young and old alike this year. What a beautiful example of our diversity in worship to have Cliff Barrows and Casting Crowns sing in the same session. I believe we have a chance to heal the rift between more traditional Southern Baptists and younger leaders. Younger Southern Baptists need to remember that they would not want to be a part of this convention if not for the leadership of those who turned the SBC back to God’s Word. They need to act and speak with more maturity and honor those who have brought us this far. More traditional Southern Baptists need to remember that none of us will be leaders in 30 years. We must pass the baton. We should commit to be more open to methodology that is different and not push away those who share the very theology we fought to uphold. And most of all, we all need to guard our words, speak biblically, and act like we love each other.
— The best part of the convention happened before the first session began. Crossover Triad was incredible. If you missed it, you really need to ask yourself if your focus is where it should be. The most important thing that happened in Greensboro had nothing to do with who was elected or what motions passed. At Crossover, hundreds of people met Jesus! Isn’t that what we are really about? People like my new friends Jimmy and Shawnte just needed someone to talk to, someone to care – and they both came to know Christ! Their lives and their eternities took a complete turn. Nothing will ever be the same for them. And I get the incredible joy that comes with seeing it happen. People came to Christ from at least nine ethnic groups. At least 26 churches are being started. More than 3,000 volunteers took part. Numbers are far from final but more than 820 people came to Christ. Now that’s good news.
However you feel about this convention, let’s remember that none of it matters at all if we don’t take the Gospel to our communities and world now that the convention is over. I sure hope that’s something we can all agree on. Why don’t we all try this? Commit that we will not spend one day talking more to Christians about SBC politics than we spend talking to lost people about Jesus. I think most of our problems will be solved if we simply will make evangelism good news again.
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John Avant is vice president for evangelization at the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board
