In a recent column, Cal Thomas commented on remarks made by John McCain's daughter, Meghan. She believes she knows why her father lost the election last year and what the GOP needs to do in the future: Republicans need to be more like Democrats. Thomas writes: "McCain said Republicans needed to look forward, be more modern, forget the past (presumably she means those Reagan and Republican congressional victories) and adopt new beliefs."
Thomas is rightly critical of Meghan McCain and others like her: "Dissing the past is a quality found mostly in arrogant youth who think they know more than anyone who has ever lived and believe only they are sufficiently enlightened enough to tell the rest of us how and what to think. But the past and those who have gone before are great teachers for moderns who would learn. The writer of Ecclesiastes noted that there is “nothing new under the sun.” And there’s also this, “Is there any thing whereof it may be said, ‘See, this is new’? It hath been already of old time, which was before us.”'
Meghan McCain reminds me of some younger ministers today. The Baptist Courier has an article in this week's edition on the need for younger ministers to be involved in SBC leadership. Some of the comments are very insightful, but there was one in particular that caught my attention and reflects many younger than I:
Billy Baugus, 41, youth and children’s pastor at First Baptist Church, Wagener, said Southern Baptists “spend way too much time stuck in the past” and that 1950s-era Sunday school and traditional worship services are no longer effective in reaching what he calls the “now” generation. “We must be willing to change our ways and bring the word of God in relevant means to this generation,” he said.
Bro. Baugus' comments are much like those of McCain's and are not really helpful. Getting rid of traditonal approaches is not the answer to the problems the SBC or any other denomination faces in our post-Christian society. If every church today got rid of traditonal worship and Sunday School, and decided to move in a completely new direction, I doubt very seriously that our baptism numbers would go up sigificantly. The answer to the downward trend in membership and baptisms is to be found spiritually not functionally.
By the way, I'm in favor of ministers of all ages being involved in SBC leadership. I'm also in favor of new methods. I'm not stuck in the past. However, the past always has a great deal to teach us. Some of it is even good.
There are great men of God upon whose shoulders we all stand. I'm thinking we can still learn from them. For what it's worth, I think we can learn from the younger guys too.
2 comments:
I think what Baugus was trying to say was not so much that we need to banish Sunday school (maybe he was and maybe he was wrong). I do think what he meant was this... In many churches today Sunday school is the end all-be all ministry. Amazingly it is expected to be the final frontier in Outreach, Evangelism, Discipleship, Fellowship, and even Worship on some occasions. Many churches are made up of older members who like a more traditional style. Its a good thing to have a rich heritage of wisdom in a church. If all you have is 20 somethings then all you have is a large Sunday school class. However, in my experience I've seen these churches intentionally and unintentionally target simply the ones who are in the seats (the rear seats that is) already. They're very intentional in that most events are geared towards the older crowd. 5th Sunday singings, Southern Gospel concerts, hand bells, grandiose pipe organs, etc. Frankly the younger crowd does not appreciate these on the same level as the older crowd does. In that regard these churches are unintentional about how they seek to minister to them. When I (as a youth pastor) have a hundred kids show up on Wednesday night and 20 show up on Sunday morning it makes me ask questions). The question I ask their parents is "Why don't you come on Sundays?" The answer 99% of the time is as follows, "We go to this or that church because this church doesn't have anything to offer us on Sundays. While ministers everywhere understand that worship style and music are preferences to worship the truth is not everyone has such a grounded understanding of lifestyle worship like we do. Some people just won't come to church unless Skillet is performing. Are they wrong for their assumptions about worship? I think they are. Yet I also know that they do not understand why they may be misunderstood.
Granted, there are churches (lots of them) who do a fantastic job of ministering to an older crowd while also including some preferences of the younger crowd. Usually these are churches who invest. Older people mentor younger, younger encourage and invigorate the older. And you know what... in those churches its almost like everyone is on the same page. Its like they don't understand doing church any other way... it's natural.
Leadership in the SBC isn't an issue of hymns or choruses. This isn't an issue of Sunday school or Cell Groups. This IS an issue of intentionality and vision. At least that is what I've experienced. The SBC need not forget the past. It also need not be frightened of the future though it may look entirely different.
Good words Dr. Patton, Thanks!
Thanks for your comments, Robert. They are very helpful. I certainly agree with the essence of what you've written. We certainly need younger leaders across the board in the SBC. I do not deny that. I do not think, however, the answer to our decline in membership and baptisms is notfunctional (contemporary/tradtional). I believe it is spiritual. A traditional church with a Great Commission heart can reach people of all ages. I also think a contemporary church with a Great Commission heart will do the same.
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