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.
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.
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