August 19, 2002
BGCT advances Redeemer's kingdom
___While recently rereading the Baptist General Convention of Texas constitution, I was struck by the stately and moving language of our Texas Baptist founders. The object of the convention is "to awaken and stimulate among the churches the greatest possible activity in evangelism, missions, Christian education, and benevolent work and enterprises; to cultivate a closer cooperation among the churches and promote harmony of feeling and concert of action in advancing all the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom."
___This statement about the purpose of our convention is worth remembering and using as a trustworthy compass to guide our journey.
___It reminds me of the Apostle Paul's language as he encouraged the churches to "excel in everything" (2 Corinthians 8:7). He would tell stories about congregations in order to stimulate other congregations to do better. "For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action" (2 Corinthians 9:2).
___The purpose of all our convention does is to advance "all the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom." Not some of the interests, not one or two interests, but all the interests of our Savior. No wonder when the founders listed those things to which they would give themselves, it is no meager, shallow list. It includes those things that mattered to Jesus--evangelism, missions, Christian education and benevolent work.
___Jesus said he came to seek and to save the lost, to give his life a ransom for many, to preach the good news of the gospel (Luke 19:10, Matthew 20:28; 4:23). Jesus sent his disciples out as the Father had sent him into the world (John 20:21), and he commissioned them to go into all the world, making disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all his commands (Matthew 28:18-20).
___This is the foundational conviction of Christian education. It is faithful to the example of Jesus, who poured his life into his disciples for three years, teaching them to love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and their neighbor as themselves (Matthew 22:37-39). Christian benevolence is firmly planted in the life and work of Jesus, who had compassion on the crowds, healed the sick, fed the hungry, gave hope to the poor and taught the rich to share out of their resources. He promised that someday we would give account for how we treat the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the incarcerated (Matthew 25:35-36).
___All who work for the churches of this convention are called to "awaken and stimulate ... the greatest possible activity" in these endeavors. We are to do that by cultivating cooperation among the churches, promoting harmony of feeling and concert of action, in order that the Redeemer's kingdom might be advanced.
___I am working with several committees of our convention to help us move on with the assigned task to advance the Redeemer's kingdom. I want to help us work together in greater cooperation, knowing and loving one another more, so that the full energies of Texas Baptists can be focused on those things that matter most to Jesus. I cherish that calling.
___To that end, we are the presence of Christ in the world.
___We are loved.
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