IN FOCUS: Do we really mean, ‘Come as you are’?

Sheila and I recently worshipped at the Cowboy Church of Marshall County in Albertville, Ala. We were invited by our nephew, Bob Johnson. Most of the many guests there were invited by friends and relatives. We were greeted at the entrance of the parking lot by the trademark cowboy and cowgirl sitting on horses welcoming all who entered. The church was a converted feed store where Sheila had gone as a child with her dad to buy feed.

Ten percent of Baptist General Convention of Texas baptisms come from a relatively small number of western heritage churches. I’ve been told that 75 percent of these baptisms are adults. What is their secret? When they say, “Come as you are,” they mean it. You don’t have to hide the fact your life is a mess behind church dress and religious clichés.

At the Alabama church, even though we sat in folding chairs in a barn-like structure without air conditioners, we felt comfortable and at home. Before the service and during the service, we heard stories from ordinary people who had been rescued by Jesus. When the interim pastor, Travis Brasell, learned we were Texas Baptists, he affirmed from the pulpit the assistance the BGCT has given this Alabama church start and especially the help from Charles Higgs and Ron Nolen.

The service ended as they often do, with baptisms in a water trough. The stories of the baptismal candidates were those of everyday people who found forgiveness and hope in Jesus. As the cowboy churches expand and mature, I pray they will remain humble and simple and remember that evangelism is just “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”

This Christian movement contrasts with what many people feel about some churches. I was startled this week when a new friend shared that when he was considering moving to Texas from another state, he was asked how he would be able to manage all those Baptists in Texas. I didn’t take that as a compliment. Unfortunately, some of the negative impressions outsiders have of Baptists come from listening to our conversations and watching our lives.

One Baptist layman, who contributed thousands of dollars to missions, complained about the kind of youth who attended his church. He said church is one of the last places his children could be with other kids like themselves. Apparently, when we sing, “Just as I Am,” we are inviting others just like us to come.

Jesus spent very little time proving his orthodoxy to religious leaders, but he spent much of his life proving to sinners that he loved them.

If baptisms are going to increase in our churches and communities are going to be transformed by the grace of Christ, we will have to spend more of our time building meaningful relationships with outsiders and less time trying to convince each other of the rightness of our beliefs.

Our world needs the gift of Christ’s love that we have to offer.

Randel Everett is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board.