Unashamedly Christian

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.”  Romans 1:16

Our church is working throughout the community this week in an effort we call Victory in the ‘Ville.  We are seeking to be ambassadors for Christ as we help others through service projects, visiting nursing homes, praying with people door to door, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We have been met with overall appreciation and kindness as we seek to serve our community with the love of Christ.  Although it would be easier to sit in our holy huddles, we cannot hold back the truth that has set us free.  We are unashamedly Christian for these reasons:

The gospel of Christ is good news.  The bad news is that everyone has sinned against God and deserves divine judgment.  The good news is that Christ died in our place to receive the judgment we deserved.  Through turning away from sin and trusting in Christ, people receive reconciliation with God and eternal life.  In the midst of a lost and hurting world, Jesus has come to set the captives free.  This is what the Bible calls the gospel, and it is unashamedly great news.  

The gospel is the power of God.  God has benevolently chosen to act on our behalf by sending His Son to rescue us from ourselves.  This message of grace and mercy has been the divine power which has saved us from our own personal rebellion and its subsequent pain.  Christians now know joy unspeakable and hope immeasurable by the power of God through Christ crucified and risen from the dead.

The gospel saves everyone who believes.  To believe is not mere intellectual agreement with these statements.  To believe is to fully depend upon and completely trust in the saving grace of Christ.  It is this saving faith in Jesus that had the power to change my life and has the power to change yours.  

This gospel of Christ is worthy of faithfulness until our last breath expires, and it is worthy of unashamedly living for the glory of God.

Report to Harvey Baptist Church on Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting 2012 Convened at New Orleans, LA by Messenger Richmond Goolsby

Upon arrival late Monday evening we heard a challenging message from James McDonald, Pastor of Harvest Bible Fellowship in suburban Chicago, during the closing session of the Pastor’s Conference.  The final sermon of the evening was delivered by Fred Luter, Pastor of Franklin Ave. BC in New Orleans.  He preached a passionate and stirring message declaring the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are not ashamed because it is the power of God!  Luter proclaimed, “If the Word of God has changed you, it can change them!”  Frank Page, President of SBC Executive Committee, declared a wonderful message in which he stated that the headquarters of Southern Baptist life is the local church, not the Convention or its entities.  He made an earnest plea for unity regarding the discussions concerning the doctrine of salvation.  

Many motions were made about practices of the SBC and its entities with approximately 7,500 messengers registered.  I will only highlight the few I thought were most significant.  

1. A motion was made by Richard Tribble, Pastor of Emmanuel Southern BC Decatur, Illinois, that the convention “establish a policy and procedures manual for convention officers, including procedures to investigate allegations of misconduct by officers.”  Under current practice any research regarding practices of officers would not occur until the end of their term rather than before.  If I remember correctly, the motion was forwarded to the Executive Committee for further action.
2. A motion was made by Tim Overton, Halteman Village BC Muncie, Indiana, that LifeWay reconsider its decision to sell the 2011 NIV.  The motion asked trustees to allow Paige Patterson and Louis Markos to address trustees on the matter, they agreed to do so.
3. A motion by Channing Kilgore of South Whitwell BC Whitwell, Tennessee, that the convention establish a “historical research committee” to study the views of SBC founders “regarding predestination and election and how they understood these terms”.  The motion was referred to the six SBC seminaries.
4. A motion by Todd Littleton of Snow Hill BC Tuttle, OK, that the Convention agree with Richard Land, president of ERLC, that statements he made regarding the Trayvon Martin killing were harmful and that the SBC “publicly affirm the reprimands” of Land by ERLC trustees.  The purpose stated for the motion was that this would authoritatively speak to our desire for racial reconciliation and prevent newly elected president of SBC Fred Luter from being required to redundantly respond to the SBC’s position concerning the issue.  After much discussion, the motion was ruled out of order.
5. A motion by Luke Johnson of Highland BC Laurel, Mississippi, that salary packages of all SBC entity and state convention employees be disclosed to Southern Baptist messengers and churches.  After much debate, the motion was ruled out of order with the reason stated as the SBC has no authority over the state conventions.
6. A motion by Ron Wilson of Wynnbrook BC Columbus, Georgia, that the SBC president appoint a committee to audit NAMB’s “Mega-Focus Cities: San Diego” program due to a concern of approximately 1 million dollars.  The motion was ruled out of order.
7. A motion by Steve Bailey of Earle BC Arkansas, that “no entity of the SBC be allowed to use the name Great Commission”.  The motion was ruled out of order.

Many resolutions were offered but only some were accepted.  I shall mention 4 that I thought were most significant.

1. On Cooperation and the Doctrine of Salvation.  While Southern Baptists have always represented a variety of views regarding the exact process of salvation we resolved to “celebrate our history of cooperation for world evangelism and missions” and “affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message as a sufficient statement of the doctrine of salvation” and “encourage all SBC churches to continue in faithful cooperation to equip the saints and reach the lost with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
2. On Biblical Scholarship and the Doctrine of Inerrancy.  Since there are some scholars that consider themselves evangelicals and yet deny the doctrine of Inerrancy as well as deny the historicity of Adam and Eve and the fall of mankind into sin, we affirm what the Bible asserts for itself.  It is “God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16), the authors were “moved by the Holy Spirit, men spoke from God” (2 Pt. 1:21), and as such it is entirely “truth, without any mixture of error” and “totally true and trustworthy” (as previously stated in the Baptist Faith and Message).  Therefore, we reaffirm our belief in and adherence to the doctrine of the Inerrancy of Scripture and call all biblical scholars in Southern Baptist institutions to carry out their work in submission to Jesus Christ and in the service of the inerrant Word of God.
3. On “Same-sex Marriage” and Civil Rights Rhetoric.  Marriage is a covenant relationship and an institution established by God rather than a social construct and we affirm the biblical definition of marriage as the exclusive union of one man and one woman.  We deny that the effort to legalize “same-sex marriage” qualifies as a civil rights issue.  We express our love to those who struggle with same-sex attraction and stand against any disrespectful attitudes as we affirm that we must preach the truth of God’s Word on human sexuality, marriage, and purity.  We proclaim that Christ offers forgiveness of sin to those who turn from their sins and believe on Christ for the forgiveness of sin.
4. An Affirmation of a “Sinner’s Prayer” As a Biblical Expression of Repentance and Faith.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ offers full forgiveness of sins to anyone who repents of sin and trusts in Christ.  The “sinner’s prayer” is not an incantation that results in salvation merely by its recitation and should never be manipulatively employed or utilized apart from a clear articulation of the Gospel but it is biblical for a sinner to cry out for the mercy of God.  We promote any and all biblical means of urging sinners to call on the name of the Lord in a prayer of repentance and faith.

Other significant actions occurring during the SBC Annual Meeting were as follows.

1. Jimmy Draper presented a motion as Chairman of a Committee appointed by SBC President Bryant Wright to add the name “Great Commission Baptists” as a descriptor to be optionally used with the name Southern Baptist Convention.  Messengers were reminded that no SBC entity can legally change its name without approval from the messengers of the Convention and that churches already have the option of calling themselves whatever they desire as each church is autonomous.  The reasoning of adding such a descriptor was stated that it would be helpful for churches located in parts of the nation other than the south and for churches of various ethnicities.  After much debate the motion passed on ballot by 2546 (52.78%) affirmative and 2232 (46.27%) negative.
2. Fred Luter, Pastor of Franklin Avenue BC New Orleans LA, was elected President of the SBC.  He is the first African-American President of the Convention and ran unopposed.  He has been a faithful pastor and preacher of the gospel.  The Convention Center was filled with emotion when he was elected.  Although a vote was unnecessary, we were allowed to cast our ballots with a repeated standing ovation granted by a standing-room only crowd.

I greatly enjoyed our participation in the SBC Annual Meeting.  I was challenged and strengthened by some great biblical sermons and discussions with some wonderful brothers in the Lord.  There were a few disappointments but overall I am glad to be a part of a group of churches that are seeking to stand for God’s truth in the midst of a sinful world.  God is blessing our cooperative work in so many ways.  We now have over 16,000 students preparing for gospel ministry in our 6 SBC seminaries and the 2011 Lottie Moon Missions offering was the 4th largest offering ever, totaling $146.8 million.  We are supporting missionaries all over the world who are committed to the inerrant Word of God and the saving grace of the Lord Jesus.  May God continue to be praised and may His work continue through the churches that cooperate through the Southern Baptist Convention!

Respectfully Submitted, 

Pastor Richmond Goolsby

June 24, 2012

A Few Thoughts On Preaching Prophetically

To preach prophetically is to declare the truth of God with clarity and compassion.  One must speak forthrightly and make the truth plain while also extending the love of God to all.  Prophetic preaching is many times predictive in the same way that the prophets of old spoke with divine foresight.  I do not mean that we are to predict stock market crashes, earthquakes, or specific disasters of any kind.  We are to speak predictively the principles of reaping and sowing.  The Old Testament prophets did speak in ways of national and natural disaster, but under a divine inspiration that we do not today experience.  They were writing Scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit.  We are to proclaim what has been written with careful attention not to add to nor take away from God's Word by the illumination of the Holy Spirit.  God says, "do this and you will blessed; don't do this or you will be cursed."  The predictive portion of our preaching should be in accord with these principles.
Beyond the definition of prophetic preaching it is also important to notice the compassion with which God's message should be delivered.  Jeremiah is known as the "weeping prophet" and Jesus "wept" over rebellious Jerusalem.  Divine warnings are intended to protect people from the destruction of sin and drive us to the grace of Christ.  We are to avoid preaching in unrighteous anger or even a righteous anger delivered in a hateful manner.  Our flesh sometimes camouflages the anger issue.  As one wise preacher once said to me, "You will never help people walk in the Spirit if you are in the flesh!"  God will bless the man who is faithful to expose the truths of Scripture with a passionate, "Thus saith the Lord."  But we also must remember the patience God extends to us every moment of every day.
I offer three precepts that have guided me well:
1.  Let the people plainly know God's truth.
2.  Let the people know you care.
3.  Let the people know challenges are real but God is faithful.
While I studied at Southwestern Seminary I sat under the teaching of Dr. Raymond Spencer.  He is now at home with the Lord but his words echo in my mind weekly.  He once said to me, "The people need to know the heart of a pastor so they may hear the thunder of a prophet."  May we do this to glory of God and the edification of the saints.

My Response to Exclusionary Tactics by Calvinists and Arminians in the SBC

I have watched and listened to many people on both sides of the soteriological debate.  I have been misrepresented and caricatured for my honest efforts to exegete the Scripture by those on both sides of the issue.  I believe the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 provides a sufficient statement of doctrinal understanding as to salvation.  Articles IV and V deal responsibly with the biblical text and graciously to those understanding certain details diversely.  The BFM can be accessed here:  http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp.
While people are debating how Jesus saves a person, I am resolved more than ever to expend my energies telling everyone possible that Jesus Saves!  He has saved me, He can save you, and He will save all who repent and believe.
I know we need effective and lucid doctrinal confessions and some of these discussions are iron sharpening iron.  But our swords should be sharp by now, let's use them to remove sin instead of each other.
I am reminded of a story once told of A.W. Tozer.  A young man was coming out of his church in Chicago and headed to Bible College.  The young ministerial student was concerned that maybe he was not well-versed in the Calvinism/Arminianism debate so he sought the advice of Tozer.  He asked the wise pastor what he should do to be better equipped for the conflicts that were sure to encounter him in the academic world.  Tozer wisely responded by telling the young man that he would surely encounter such debates.  The pastor told him that there would be groups studying certain doctrines and emphasizing certain aspects of God's sovereignty and that many would attempt to engage him with a debate.  Tozer told the young man that every time someone sought to enter into these discussions with him he should depart and pray.  At the end of your years they will still be debating, but you will be closer to God and know much more about His sovereignty.

May we do the same.