Review of "The Next Christians" by Gabe Lyons

In his most recent work, “The Next Christians: How a New Generation is Restoring the Faith,” Gabe Lyons shares what he calls “good news about the end of Christian America.” Over the last few years a number of books have emerged that look at the changing face and nature of Christianity both in the United States and around the world. Philip Jenkins, Phyllis Tickle and others have been exposing the shift taking place in the midst of Christianity. Lyons adds his experienced and wise voice to this growing chorus attempting to articulate the restless spirit of a new generation of Christ-followers.

Lyons begins his exploration by confessing his own embarrassment to be called a Christian because of the negative perception the label held for society. Out of this general framework Lyons begins to explore and articulate what is different about what he calls the ‘restorers’ of the faith. Through the book he makes it clear that there is much hope to be had for the future of Christianity and the church. Many of the descriptions of the ‘restorers’ centers around the creation of culture, community and the fulfillment of calling.

“The Next Christians” offers the church a glimpse of hope in the midst of a season of change. Lyons agrees with Phyllis Tickle that a shift is taking place within the faith and in this work he articulates why this shift can be a good thing and not something to fear. Lyons makes it clear that this shift is one towards restoration of the ‘first things’ of the faith. Pastors should especially take note of Lyons’ conclusions.



I received a free copy of this book in return for a review. I was not asked to give a positive review. Look at www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks for more information.

Review of "Seeds of Turmoil" by Bryant Wright

In his new book, Pastor Bryant Wright tackles the sticky subject of the turmoil and crisis in the Middle East. Titled “Seeds of Turmoil,” Pastor Wright explores the Biblical roots of the current state of affairs in the Middle East and specifically in Israel. His analysis begins by looking at the narrative of Abraham and his two sons Ishmael and Isaac. It is out of this basic narrative that Pastor Wright builds his argument that the root of Middle East turmoil has its roots in the the departure of Ishmael from God’s people. He moves from the Biblical narrative and links it with the unrest found between Jews and Muslims.

What Wright does right is offer a Biblical perspective on the historical and textual roots of the Middle East crisis. Instead of building just on sensational claims or fear, Wright works to show that there is a cause to the turmoil. He does this with a clear respect and honor for Scripture and its truth and with a good understanding of history.

The book does not, though, take into account a few vital issues when it comes to the turmoil in and around Israel. First, Wright does not seem to take into account the departure of God’s Spirit from his people during the exile to Babylon and the ‘grafting’ in of the Gentiles through Christ into God’s covenant people. These two basic issues can help shed some light on how we should look at the state of Israel today. If God’s people are no longer defined by ethnic or national boundaries then the question of the physical land in Israel is put in an entirely different light.

Second, Wright equates the survival of the modern state of Israel with the blessings of God through the book. While this may seem fine at first, it exposes some problems when it comes to the actions of Israel towards Palestinian Christians and its brutal techniques in settlement policies. This is not to say that the Palestinian side is free from culpability - far from it. Yet, the actions of Israel when it has come to Christian persecution and settlements has been less than Biblical. These are difficult issues and we cannot give a ‘free pass’ to the state of Israel when it comes to these vital issues. We must ask the question - ‘Who is our Brother in Israel?’ Would it be the Israeli Jew or the Palestinian Christian? These are questions I wish Wright would have explored.

In all, Pastor Bryant Wright offers an informative and important book that speaks directly towards the current turmoil in Israel and the Middle East. Pastors and lay-people alike will be interested in what Wright has to offer.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

State Annual Meeting Thoughts

This last week I have the great privilege to serve as a messenger from Sparkman First Baptist Church to the annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. What a great joy and great honor to be involved with what the Lord is doing through Arkansas Baptists. Through parts of our Southern Baptist Convention I sense grumblings about the state conventions and about the validity of their work. I have heard a few even equate current support of the state conventions with a lessened desire to share the gospel with the nations. With that in mind, I’d like to express a few thoughts about what the Lord did in my life through our annual meeting last week.

First, I was reminded of how partnerships between our state conventions and the International Mission Board. Listening to the report of the Missions Ministries Team of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) was moving and gave the messengers a passionate reminder of what God is doing through Arkansas Baptists all over the world and all over North America. We were reminded of our partnership with Baptists in ‘frontier’ states. We were reminded of our continued partnership with New Orleans and the continued recovery. We were reminded of our continued work in Haiti. We were reminded of what really makes Southern Baptists different. Southern Baptists cooperate when it comes to Missions. Our state conventions links churches, especially smaller churches, with the work of the Spirit all over the world. If there is any confusion about state conventions and International Mission work then they need to come to one of our annual meetings. They will find that support of the ABSC is support for what God is doing all over the world.

Second, I was struck by the deep desire of Arkansas Baptists to reach the people in Arkansas. I was reminded that the majority of people in Arkansas (57%), according to the latest stats, are without Christ. Wow! Personally, I felt and still feel a deep conviction to be more intentional about the relationships our church develop for the glory of God’s kingdom. But I also came to a realization - If Arkansas is to be reached for Christ then we need each other. We need partnership, cooperation and the willingness of Arkansas Churches to work together for the work of the gospel. We need ways to work together like the ‘Across Arkansas’ campaign coming for Easter 2011. Our goal, our commission, is to make disciples. It starts at home and Arkansas Baptists have a lot of work to do. We do that work together. When we stand before the presence of the Throne of God I have a feeling that we won’t be divided by individual churches and their respective ministries.

Third, I was reminded why Southern Baptist work has been de-centralized. There are things that happen in the Arkansas Baptist State Convention that probably wouldn’t happen through a centralized national entity. I think of things like our pregnancy crisis centers, children’s homes, summer camps, missions education for the church and countless other ways that our state convention helps churches to do the work of the gospel.

Finally, I was encouraged by the preaching of God’s Word in my own life. I feel that we are at a point in our conventions (state and SBC) that we have firmly set our foundation on the Word of God and now is the time to move forward with this good theology as our centering. We can cooperate and work together. Will we choose to continue our partnership? If you are confused about what our state convention in Arkansas actually does, begin making plans for our meeting next year. I think you will find that Arkansas Baptists are being good stewards with what God has blessed us with.

Prayer Request

At the moment (10:42 PM Sparkman time) Sherrill and a team from here in Arkansas are on their way to Southeast Asia on a Mission Trip. They are participating with a 'Jericho Prayer March' for a country there. This trip partners volunteers with a people group through prayer walking. The prayer is that Christ would break the barriers for these people. They will be gone until October 30th and will be partnering with some IMB missionaries there.

Please be praying for their safety as they travel. They have another 4 hours until they reach Tokyo where they will have a brief layover before their final flight to the country where they will be praying.

I am so excited that Sherrill is serving on this trip.

I already miss her though!

The trip itself is a picture of Southern Baptist cooperation. It was organized through our Arkansas Baptist State Convention and partners with our International Mission Board.

A Little Perspective

I was a pretty nervous kid. You can ask my parents and they will gladly tell you that I was easy to get nervous. Perhaps one of my more nervous moments was when I took the driving portion of my driving test when I was 16. I lucked out when I realized that any State Trooper could legally administer the test - this was exciting because I went to church with a State Trooper and he was more than willing to help! The test ended up being much less fear-inducing than I first expected and I actually enjoyed this opportunity to talk with this respected member of our church. He even taught me something about driving that I have never forgotten - he taught me about perspective. As we drove he told me story after story about how a little perspective when driving can save lives. He told me to keep my eye on the road, while keeping what is around me in good perspective. He explained that I should always be aware of what is going on. He explained that safe driving begins with having good perspective.

I’m finding that one of the difficulties of being involved in denominational work is the task of keeping good perspective. There are times when I can easily become overwhelmed with the weight of what is happening in the Southern Baptist Convention. There are times when we can look around at the many churches, ideas, competing visions and constant debate and say, “Maybe this just isn’t worth it.” There are times when we can lose our perspective about what we are doing as Southern Baptists. We must keep our eyes on Christ as we take these steps of great faith.

What we do as Southern Baptists is done with proper perspective. I consider it important to talk about the Cooperative Program, State Conventions and Missions because I believe it is part of the work of the gospel. Yet, when it comes down to the bare essentials of faith - it is Christ and Christ alone. I will labor for the Southern Baptist Convention and our denominational future because I believe God wants to use us. Yet, when it comes down to basics of faith - it is Christ and Christ alone. I think it is important for us to support the work of our convention. Yet, when it comes down to it - it is Christ and Christ alone. All that we do as Southern Baptists must be done with a little perspective. The Southern Baptist Convention is part of God’s Kingdom but is must never be equated with God’s Kingdom. As we work within what God is doing in the SBC, we must keep our eyes on Christ. We must make sure we keep good perspective.

It is an incredible reminder to think that one day we will stand before the great throne of God, bowing with the elders of faith, raising our hands in worship of the Triune God. It is an incredible reminder to think of that day - when the words ‘Southern Baptist’ will be but a distant memory, when trustee boards, elections, conventions and CP giving structures will pale in comparison to worshipping God. What a day! What a joy! What a promise! One day we will be with God and he will be with us.

Back to the Original Question

Great Commission Resurgence - these are the three words that have filled the mouths of countless Southern Baptist Pastors, leaders and denominational workers with fierceness and debate over the last couple of years. Personally, at first sight, after reading Danny Akin’s message about a GCR, I was intrigued and interested at how something like that might happen. I felt wrapped up in with the discussion about falling baptisms, plateauing memberships, dying churches and a generation of leaders walking away from the SBC. I had seen firsthand close friends choose to leave the SBC-fold for other evangelical churches. I had felt the sense of desperation churches have encountering a culture opposed to the gospel. I knew the need for this type of renewal among our denomination. I felt, and still feel, a deep longing for revival among our SBC churches. I felt confident that God was going to use us as Southern Baptists. All of these feelings out-weighed my concern about Dr. Akin’s understanding of state conventions and associations. And when Al Mohler presented the motion to form a GCR task force I felt that it was at least worth a shot. Now I am wondering when we will get back to the original question.
Through 2009 - 2010 I struggled, prayed, debated and discussed the proposals of the GCR. The more I learned and the more I studied the less comfortable I felt about the proposals being presented - especially the items of Great Commission Giving and the future of NAMB’s work with our state conventions. I quickly found the call for a Great Commission Resurgence was becoming a call for a change of SBC structure - with a side serving of call for revival, repentance and church-awakening. (Many will disagree with me on this point. I make this point because the focus of the GCR report could never be moved from the structure issue by the nature of the report itself and the will of the Task Force) While I felt deep respect for the members of the task force and the goal (which I share) of having a revival of Great Commission awareness and growth in our church, I was becoming more and more concerned that we were missing the point. I was becoming more concerned that we were not dealing with the original question of the Great Commission.
It is here that I feel deep concern for the future of the Southern Baptist Convention. The influence of the GCR Task Force and its recommendations are being felt from the Executive Committee to NAMB to our State Conventions and Churches. Though I may not fully agree with all of it, we are going to continue to feel its impact. There are many aspects of the GCR that I rejoice about, despite my sincere disagreements concerning some of the recommendations. I rejoice about the specific calls given to churches and leaders concerning revival, Great Commission awareness and denominational service. I rejoice with the concern for reaching the nations with the gospel. I rejoice with the renewed effort to utilize the tools of Southern Baptists. Yet, I fear, we are giving into the belief that structure and policy change will somehow bring renewal to the work of Southern Baptists.
Changing the structure of convention work, removing the cooperative agreements, reducing staff at NAMB and changing CP percentages will never bring revival. We can streamline, shake up and move around the entire Southern Baptist Convention and still Great Commission fulfillment will not be guaranteed. We need to make sure, as things in our convention begin to change, that we do not rely on organization re-structuring to bring the presence of Holy Spirit.

The weight of the Great Commission rests in the presence of each local church. Each church, each family, each member - each Southern Baptist is called to fulfill the work of God’s kingdom. The GCR document made this clear in its recommendations. We need to make sure this translates into our local churches. Changing structure can’t revive us. Changing percentages can’t revive us. Reducing employees can’t revive us. The compelling vision is the vision we have had since the very beginning - Hebrews 12:1-2 - the compelling vision of keeping our eyes on Christ. The work of Southern Baptist has always centered upon the work of the gospel. My challenge for Southern Baptists is to re-focus on this compelling vision of Christ himself. Don’t think for one moment that changing our structure can change our relationship with Christ. Don’t skirt the issue of our Spiritual-apathy by focusing on changing our structure. We can fight the Southern Baptist fight and still find ourselves not fighting the ‘good fight’ of Christ. Let’s get back to the original question of Great Commission revival!

Why I Support our State Conventions

There is a lot of buzz around the SBC world about our state conventions. The upcoming state convention meetings will be especially interesting as state-level GCR committees in Florida and Kentucky will be proposing new CP giving breakdowns as part of their recommendations. (This is a topic of debate because the 50/50 split is a little deceptive since the states often take a portion off the top before breaking the money up 50-50) There are some more extreme opinions concerning the state convention - proposing the complete abandonment of state conventions or proposing a 70/30 split.

Over the last few months I have heard a number of passionate appeals concerning how our state conventions use CP monies and how much of that money is kept within the state. The appeal is usually that we are neglecting our international mission efforts so that we might continue spinning a worthless wheel of bureaucracy in our state convention offices. Some of these appeals make the state conventions out to be money-hungry fat-cats, living off huge salaries and performing imaginary ministries. Before we jump to such extreme conclusions we should take a good look at what is really happening in our state conventions. I, for one, support our state conventions and this is why . . .

1. I support our state conventions because lostness is not just an international problem. I realize that this may not be the ‘trendiness’ topic to bring up but it is something we must reconcile with our current ideology because I feel we may be on the verge of ignoring what God wants to do among our partnerships here in the states. Understand this, before we move on, I heartily support our International Mission Board. At First Sparkman we are passionate about what God is doing all around the world and will continue to show our support through praying, giving and going. That being said, I am convinced that Scripture points us towards a holistic and balanced understanding of mission, especially in Acts 1:8. We must not de-fund or de-support our stateside mission work because America is lost and people need Christ. We must distance ourselves from the type of missionary and theological arrogance that can easily plague our churches. We don’t hold all the answers and what God is doing is global. Global includes where we are - even within the southern states. This does NOT mean that we ignore what God is doing all over the world. This does not mean we should be selfish with our resources. This simply means that we believe God is doing something here that we could never do on our own. We must always be looking at ways to be better stewards with what God has blessed us with. We must always be concerned with what God is doing around the world. We have to come to terms with the possibility that our problem is not really with our structure but with our unwillingness to give sacrificially.

2. I support our state conventions because they help us fulfill the work of the Great Commission. The argument usually goes that we can reduce our support of our state conventions because the work should be done by our churches instead. A couple of things follow this.

a. The work of the state conventions is done by local churches and through local churches

b. The vast majority of SBC churches are small and do not have the local resources to complete all the vital ministries that are supported through our state conventions.

Gospel partnership goes back to the evidence we find in the letters of Paul as he would travel from church to church collecting offerings for the church in Jerusalem. Baptist churches have partnered together, despite our fierce independent spirit, in order to do things we could never do alone. There is misunderstanding when someone says that we are ‘out-sourcing’ our mission work in the SBC. What happens in our state conventions happens through the ministries of churches. The state convention works to support and bolster what God is doing through the local church. These ministries do no replace what is happening in churches. Instead, they enrich what God is doing in local churches.
Being a small church, First Sparkman is unable to sustain ministries like children homes, disaster relief, pregnancy centers or new church plants. When we partner with our state convention, we have a part in what God is doing through those ministries. Our partnership does not stop there. We are able to go and be involved with disaster relief following a hurricane. We are able to go to our Children’s home here in Arkansas and be a part of the lives of the kids that live there. This is far from ‘out-sourcing’ ministry. This is gospel partnership.
There appears to be a disconnect in our denomination’s understanding concerning the work of the state convention. From my experience (and this is only my opinion from my experience and is by no means an official opinion) there is often a disconnect when it comes to church size and resource availability. In Sparkman we really appreciate the ability to call our convention office when we need help. There are many times when we need guidance concerning a ministry, administration issue or vision planning. Our state convention office has helped us promote missions, start new ministries and get through some rough spots in the journey. There are churches that pay thousands of dollars for ministry consultation. For us, it is only a free phone call away. Their work is part of our work. We partner together for the good of the gospel.

3. I support the work of our state conventions because I believe they are uniquely equipped to do certain ministries. There are things our state conventions can accomplish that NAMB or the IMB may not be able to do. There are things our state conventions can accomplish that no one church could accomplish on their own. Through the partnership of a state convention, unique ministries are able to take place. Each state is unique - with certain needs and opportunities. A church-start model that is successful in Southern California or North Dallas may not be suited for rural Arkansas or suburban Little Rock. The work of our state conventions happen because our churches are passionate about these ministries. The ministries that populate the work of our conventions did not just magically appear as a way to spend money. No, they are the result of prayer, partnership and work based upon the call of our local churches.

There are many changes coming in our Southern Baptist work. We must not, in my opinion, ignore what God has done, is doing and will do through the work of our state conventions. We must always ensure that we are using God’s resources to his glory and, in my opinion, that is what is happening in many of our state conventions.

God is working all around the world - even down in Arkansas.

Why I Support the Cooperative Program

How much does your church give to CP?

What was your Lottie offering last year?

Are your promoting Annie during Easter?

Are you bypassing the state convention?

What about ACP reports?

We Southern Baptists are passing around alot of lingo and for a number of years the question of CP giving and support has been at the forefront of debate. When we have a candidate for a leadership position, the conversation quickly turns toward that candidate’s church and their CP support and SBC missions giving. There is a debate going on in the SBC world (which we kinda made up) about the validity of this question. During the Orlando convention this June, some were calling for the end of the CP giving litmus test, proclaiming that we should move to more ‘spiritual’ indicators. Some have, with special passion, explained how CP giving is burdened with an overwhelming bureaucracy and has been made impotent with regards to missions.

How important, then, is CP support? Why are so many people making such a big deal about CP support? Well, here is my take on it. You can take it or leave it.

My understanding of the Cooperative Program has changed drastically in the last few years. Growing up I understood the importance of CP giving but never really saw or understood its potential. CP made sense but since I grew up within SBC culture it was just another thing that we did as a church. When my wife and I came to First Baptist Church in Sparkman, Arkansas, where we serve now, my CP knowledge was greatly increased. I remember my surprise when I first looked at our budget and realized that our church, of about 65 worshippers on a Sunday, were giving nearly 30% of our un-designated offerings to the Cooperative Program. I was also amazed at the monthly gives to our association, Ouachita Baptist University, SBC world hunger fund a a handful of other ministries all around the world. When our first Christmas here came around I almost fainted when I saw that our Lottie Moon offering usually hovers around $15,000. Something was different in Sparkman. They really, really, really supported the Cooperative Program.

Over the last few years I have heard all types of responses to this type of giving. Many have expressed how our church is giving too much or have a bad understanding of missions. Some have expressed joy over this. Either way, people always have an opinion about CP giving. As I have grown here in Sparkman I have learned something wonderful about CP and the SBC - we can do more together than we can do apart. In Sparkman we have obvious limitations to what we can do with missions and church planting. We don’t have the people to start a satellite church in a Sparkman suburb. (That is a joke) We have one full-time staff member (me), no missions pastor or technology pastor or parking lot pastor. (Another bad joke) While we do go on mission trips, our resources are limited in how many ventures we can take. It is here that I see the beauty of CP giving. A tiny church in rural Arkansas is partnering all over the world with what God is doing. We give to the Cooperative Program, in a sacrificial way, because we believe in what God is doing through Southern Baptists. The Cooperative Program gives us an opportunity to join in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. It gives us the opportunity to participate in the fulfillment of Acts 1:8 - with the realization that God’s global mission INCLUDES Arkansas, North American and the entire world.

What much of the debate has centered around in the last couple of years is how CP works and the amount of money that is used within our state conventions. While I believe this is a legitimate concern, I have not been convinced that this is really what is holding us back from fulfilling the Great Commission. Living in Arkansas, I feel blessed to be a part of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. I have looked very hard for proof of bloated budgets, wasted money and unnecessary personnel. Within Arkansas I feel confident that the CP we sent to Little Rock is being used to God’s glory for the advance of the gospel among the nations. I cannot vouch for other states but I know that in Arkansas our CP money is being used appropriately. God’s global mission includes where we are and were we have yet to go. It is a perversion of Acts 1:8 to ignore where we are.

What I fear happening across the Southern Baptist Convention is a weakening of the Cooperative Program based upon poor reasons. I can understand the fear of bloated bureaucracy, misappropriation of funds and lack of vision of focus among our agencies. Yet, I have yet to see justification for totally bypassing the Cooperative Program structure. I find it funny that we Baptists are ready to de-fund any ministry but our own. (We never hear seminary presidents telling us that we need to de-fund seminaries. We only hear them saying that about state conventions) We are willing to build our own ‘mini-denominations’ and spend money on our own ministries and personal goals and then complain about not being able to reach the nations - pointing the blame to our denomination. We refuse to give to the very ministries that can help us, as churches, reach the nation - all the while complaining about where the money is going. It seems the question is really a question of our heart. Is what’s holding us back really a concern about our denomination - or is it the unwillingness and unselfishness of our own churches to sacrifice our personal agendas?

SBC and Your Future

As many of you have heard, this summer has been somewhat unbelievable. I was elected the 2nd V.P. of the Southern Baptist Convention, much to my surprise. Please understand, before we go any future, that I am under no delusion that this position means anything. More than likely, you didn't even know the SBC has a 2nd V.P.

Do I make any decisions? no

Do I make any policy that impacts the convention? no

Do I control any nominations, committees, or such? no

Do I do anything? not really

What I have found, though, is that the 2nd V.P. position offers me a chance to share my perspective and Southern Baptist Experience. I am not your 'typical' SBC officer. I am 26. I Pastor a Church of less than 100 people. I live in a town of 500. I don't like to wear ties. Because of this a-typical situation my desire over the next year is to learn and share.

I want to learn, first of all, about your experience with the SBC. What is your involvement? Why are you Southern Baptist? Why are you not Southern Baptist? What do you foresee for the SBC ? The future of this denomination is constantly in flux and in question, it is the nature of the Baptist ecclesiology and cooperation. What do you think we are doing right? How can we improve? What are we doing wrong? What are you concerns? I want to hear these types of things! Let me know in comments, e-mails or tweets.

Second, I really want to share. I want to share with people why I am Southern Baptist. It is a question I have struggled through and will continue to struggle through. It is a question we always have to ask ourselves about any denomination or group. I want to express my support of small churches, the Cooperative Program and Biblical literacy. I want to discuss these things.

So, here is my favor to ask - tell me what you think about the SBC. Let me know what is on your heart. . .