Young Baptist preachers chart different courses

If we make up our mind that there's only one way to "do" church, then we'll only reach one type of person. I'm glad that there are preachers doing church different ways. The method isn't as important as the message.

As for some churches dropping "Baptist" from their signs, I don't really get all bent out of shape over that.

 

Awesome church! Sounds like the church I attend here in Indy. Come in your jeans last Sunday the pastor wore a polo shirt, blue jeans and flip flops thats his usual garb another church I have tried here in Indy or on the outskirts has a pastor that rides a harley and wears jeans and boots to preach. I love the whole come as you are atmosphere of those churches the guy I am dating hates the whole church thing but has an awesome relationship with God so a few weeks ago I took him to my church and he thought it was awesome with the band and the people in shorts and flip flops and everything. He was pleasantly surprised church can be like that and not all traditional and everything because I am not a traditional type person. The messages they preach--wow they blow you away!

 

To be fair to JD, whom I've spent some time with when I was a teenager, here are his thoughts behind this interview, specifically the global warming:

http://www.jdgreear.com/

There are more things he clarifies about what him signing the document means, and doesn't mean. I just don't want to put a huge block of his blog on here. So I encourage you to read the entry.

 

To use the old adage, it merely sounds to me like

"Different Strokes for Different Folks."

This apparently is the case for those both in the pulpit and in the pews, here.

It was also the case with the Biblical writers and personalities, as well: The 'refined' Samuel and Elisha, as well as the rough-shod Elijah all 'ran' the same 'seminary' (called the sons of the prophets), at various times, and it was still around when Amos was preaching, for he specifically said he had not attended. Moses was very educated, even with an apparent speech impediment; So was Daniel. Jonah was the most obnoxious and greatest bigot in history, and Amos was a sheepherder. Yet God used all in His own providence.

Paul and Apollos were very 'learned' individuals, with Paul holding the modern day equivalent of an earned doctorate; Peter and John were fishermen who had only their 'life-experiences' for their 'degrees'. Yet, again, God used all the above in a mighty way.

I suspect He can and does use the "traditionalist', as well as the "non-traditionalist", in the same manner. Same with the uses of Bible versions. My pastor normally uses a fairly modern flavor of the KJV, and sometimes the NKJV (the one I, EdSutton, normally use); others prefer the NIV (my bride) :love2: ; ASV (also a former pastor of mine, from whom I learned more about Revelation than from any other individual); NASB; HCSB (as some preaching at the SBC did); the KJV1611 and/or Geneva Bible (EdEdwards on the BB); or another version.

So what??

To all of the above, both as to personalities, "worship styles", and Bible versions!?

The real issue is never the 'manner(s)' of the individual, but the message that is being proclaimed. May that message always be Biblical!! :thumbs:

Ed

 

From An Old Southern Baptist

Actually, I am not that old...soon will be 60. I have been a full-time pastor for 35 years. In the eyes of most people I do not qualify to be called an young SBC pastor. But I can assure you I am young at heart! lol

My church just celebrated its 150th anniversary. During my 12+ years the church has never resisted change. We have transitioned from all traditional to a blend, with the scales tilted toward contemporary. On Sunday mornings I wear a polo shirt or a nice sport shirt. Seldom do I wear a sport coat. Even less often do I wear a suit. Sometime I don't even stand behind a pulpit! Oh, my! What is this world coming to? On Wednesday nights you just might find me in a pair of jeans and sneakers. I drive a Vette. Got rid of my Yamaha Road Star last year. I don't always preach through books of the Bible. Sometime I use topical series of messages. Nobody in town would call me a "stiff-neck preacher." I don't holler and spit when I preach, though I do get excited. I don't preached against short dresses and beards. I use the NKJV most of the time, but also use the NIV on occasions. Unless there is an emergency situation, I play golf on Fridays...sometimes in Sunday afternoons! I like most of what Rick Warren espouses. My church does Upstreet (Northpointe Community Church model) for kids. We do AWANA. We have a student band that plays really loud music!!

So, that's me in a nutshell! I said all of this to make the point that I am all for the younger SBC pastors. I love most of what they do! I get energy from being around them.

If the SBC unbrella is large enought to encompass the Calvinists, the Charismatics, etc., then surely there is room enough for the "younguns!"
Amen?

 

AAAAMEN!

Brother, you and I would get along fine.

 

Great post. Thanks for revealing a little of yourself to us all. I'm young, and am part of those who change things up a bit. However, you're an example to me to be willing to change when the next generation begins to lead and are wanting to change the way I do things!!

I hope I can do it as gracefully as you!!

 

All I can say is it proof there is great diversity in the SBC, but to take "Baptist" off the church name is compromise.

 

Great point there, dan e.
Some things that seem cutting edge to me seem old to my kids. I have changed a lot for the desires of the current 30-45 year old group. I am not sure that collectively they will be that willing to change their ways for those who are now 15-30.
(I am just talking in general about surface issues, such as some musical preferences, not doctrinal matters.)

 

I once had a fence sitting Pastor who wore a Uniform on Veteran's day.

The left side of the Uniform was Blue
The right side of the Uniform was Grey

When He turned around to talk to the chior (in red robes) -- BOTH SIDES shot him

 

How so?

Is there something "sacred" about the name "Baptist" on the church marquee? I thought we were 'determined' by what we believe, not what name we use as a body. FTR, if we really want to be 'Biblical', wouldn't we style our churches by names found in Scripture? I can think of at least four 'Biblical' designations, for the church(es), or 'members', off hand, in addition to those having to do with 'location', and none of which are "Baptist".

They are:

1.) "church of God" (the most often used) (Acts 20:28; I Cor. 1:2)

2.) "churches of Christ" (Rom. 16:16),

3.) "church of the Living God", (I Tim. 3:15) and

4.) "Christian". (Ac. 11:26; I Pet. 4:16);

Ya' oughter run across some of those with "Baptist" on the church sign that I have seen, over the years. In fact, ya' oughter run across a few I've met that even call themselves "SBC", for that matter. There are some that are far closer to what I believe than some that call themselves either of the above. Is there something wrong with that, somehow? Certainly not that I see. I have read every word of the BF&M (all three flavors), as well as some other 'Confessions'. I did not see that the name "Baptist" was a "requirement" of any of the above. I see nothing wrong with that, by any stretch.

Ed

 

dh, you sound like the kind of person I would want for a friend but alas, I would not attend your church, especially with the loud music.

 

A preference I would say. How about if they were to cut the audio volume of the music by, say, a third? Would you attend then??

(FTR, I have no clue as to who dh1948 is, so this is not a personal opinion, here, although he was apparently born in a very good year, and should also take up table tennis.) :laugh:

But his local church is definitely one of them "Johnny-come-lately" types, from the perspective of ours, as we are now going on our 226th year. :thumbs: :laugh:

Ed

 

You are wrong.

 

C'mon! Don't beat around the bush so much, and tell us what you really think. :laugh: :laugh:

Ed

 

Thanks, JD and Dan!

Glad to know we are of kindred spirit.

I didn't know my post had so many typos! Normally I check my grammar before posting. The one time I don't, I really mess up. lol

On another note, I am wondering if the churches in the day when the New Testament was written had "Baptist" on their church signs. Food for thought. I know...I know. :smilewinkgrin: