October 9, 2000
TOGETHER:
Ask God to grant Baptists a dose of 'more sense'
___One of my predecessors, J.B. Gambrell, wrote in the Baptist Standard in 1916, "Baptists, on an average, need more sense than people who are not self-governing." It has always been true for Baptists that we need men and women of good will, true faith and "more sense."
___The issues that swirl around us as we prepare for our annual convention in CorpusChristi are enough to cause us to pray earnestly and depend completely upon God. It is similar to what happens in each local church as members come together to decide issues of importance. Usually, the deacons or committees of the congregation will bring a recommendation to the church and ask for a vote on their proposal.
CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___In churches that are not congregationally governed, people accept decisions made by a hierarchy of leaders who may or may not ask for their ideas. But in Baptist churches, members shape the mission and vision of the church and decide how the church will implement specific plans. This means, of course, that if the church is to be successful, its members must be informed.
___Someone said to me, "Even the poorest one of us can pay attention!" In Baptist life, paying attention is almost as important as paying tithes. It is costly to pay attention. One has to spend time, spend thought, spend courage in choosing the right decision, and spend influence in speaking up for the best decision possible.
___This is one of the most awesome things about the Baptist vision. We really believe ordinary church members can be entrusted with the responsibility of looking into matters, evaluating recommendations and making spiritually sound decisions. That is why J.B. Gambrell could say that our Baptist people, on average, need more sense. They are the ones who are asked to make the decisions.
___Is it always easy to do this? Do good friends sometimes disagree? Is it dangerous to the harmony of a church? Is there a better way? No, yes, yes and no. It may be easier to make decisions for people, but if one expects people to unite their lives, efforts and support into a great cooperative venture, then they must be involved in the decision.
___We can be guided by Philippians 2:5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." We are told that Christ is the head of the church, his body.
___ When I was a pastor, as church members prepared recommendations or prepared to vote on proposals, I sought to help them pray: "Lord Jesus, what is your mind, your attitude, your will regarding this matter? Will this help our church be the presence of Jesus in our community and in our world? Will we communicate the glory, the majesty, the loving care, the passion for people, the balance of holiness and mercy, of law and grace which we see in Jesus?"
___We may not personally be ready to do some things we believe Jesus would do, but we can vote his mind. We can offer ourselves as his proxy. We are asking for God's will to be done, the mind of Christ to be known through our submissive hearts and minds. Strictly speaking, when we Baptists vote, we are not asking for one another's opinions but for the prayerful offering of what we believe Jesus would have us do.
___God, give us "more sense." God, give us the mind of Christ.
___We are loved.
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