Questions for an SBC pastor

I wouldn't sweat it too much at the moment. As someone here (iirc) said, either the churches will reel the convention back in or they'll leave.

 

This is not just going on at the top levels. It is in fact in churches. Not sure how many but there are churches that are employing this stuff.

 

True. I reckon they'll all be welcomed into the CBF after the ship rights itself in Resurgence 2.0.

 

We do not accept membership without a “sit down” with the pastor or designee.

We listen to testimony of conversion and talk giving evidence of the leading by the Holy Spirit in the prospect life.

We discuss what unifies the assembly in standards of devotion, faith and practice.

We don’t get into politics of the convention. It isn't a primary concern at that time.

Should the topic come up, we generally engage by declaration our autonomy from the convention, the supremacy of the Scripture principles, and that if the SBC violates the Scriptures and after seeking to restore will as the Scriptures teach withdraw.

We constantly and consistently emphasize the Scriptures and the life lived conformed to the principles of the Scriptures.

 

I don't think the op is concerned about how the church feels about new members as it is how an individual looking to join and SBC church feels about it or what their concerns might be regarding recent changes in the convention.

 

There were two parts of the sit down meeting to be addressed.

1) a question that doesn’t concern the SBC.
2) a question the prospect may ask.

Because the overall concern of the OP was changes in the SBC, I answered as if the prospect ask or stated such a concern.

Unless something is brought up such as the SBC, we generally are concerned with matters that matter to our local assembly.

That doesn’t mean we are ignoring, but rarely do we look to convention folks unless there is a specific matter we desire input.

 

Same questions you would ask before joining any church. If the church endorses "The Baptist Faith and Message" most of your questions are already answered.

 

Ok, here is one. Do you have to be a born again prior to joining an SBC?

 

Yes. There is probably a church somewhere that is an exception, but 99.999% yes.

 

but you surely remember the parable of the field sown with wheat and tares?

Certainly, there are a greater number than one would like to admit that are not truly born again, but are members merely because tradition, station, advancement, political and business reasons.

How does one gather information of discernment?

"By there fruits you shall know them."

 

Absolutely! Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will bring revival.

 

Then why the disharmony?

 

'Harmony' hymn sung by Southern Baptist youth at W.A. Criswell's First Baptist of Dallas, in the good old days (mid-1970s, before all the discord popped up). If they only knew what was coming!

 

It’s kinda like, “I’d like to buy the world a coke.”

 

They wouldn't be wearing those rainbow striped pullover sweaters today....

 

Wrong thread!