The SBC and the 21st Century: Reflection, Renewal & Recommitment, rev. ed.
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
The Southern Baptist Convention is currently facing issues that challenge its identity, heritage, and future. In The SBC and the 21st Century, Revised Edition, key leaders address critical issues such as:
· Will the SBC grow more unified around shared convictions and mission or will it fragment over secondary concerns and tertiary doctrinal differences?
· Will the SBC be able to maintain a distinct Baptist identity while engaging and partnering with the broader evangelical community?
· Will the SBC be willing to reimagine its structures, programs, and efforts to effectively reach the world for Christ or will it risk being a past-tense denomination?
This volume not only promotes meaningful dialogue, it calls leaders throughout the SBC into action. Extensive thought, research, assessment, and wisdom from some of the SBC’s brightest minds have been poured into this volume with the intent of rendering a helpful contribution to SBC life that will propel forward the collective work of Southern Baptists well into the 21st century.
- Contains descriptions of and prescriptions for the future of the Southern Baptist denomination
- Seeks to move the Southern Baptists towards unity and mission
- Encourages Southern Baptists to continue being people who stand on the Word of God and who move foward together to reach the world with the gospel of Christ
Top Highlights
“Paul Hiebert4 who warned against erecting artificial boundaries that were unnecessarily prohibitive from those outside of the faith from following Christ, the argument ran as follows: if Jesus is the center, the measurement of following Christ is simply directional. Those facing toward Christ and moving toward him are followers, those facing away or moving away from Christ are not.” (source)
“legitimate evangelism takes place—every church must have an intentional evangelism strategy to reach the lost” (source)
“The Western idea of an ‘independent’ or ‘self-sustaining’ Christian did not compute” (source)
“Biblical Diversity Is Increasing—Today ethnic minority congregations” (source)
"Southern Baptists are at a critical moment in our history. Denominationally, our membership is declining, our cooperative giving is down, our global missionary force is being downsized, and our baptisms are at a generational low. Yet there are signs of spiritual renewal among us, evidenced in the ongoing theological renaissance and missional revitalization taking place in SBC congregations all over our nation. This is a time for hope, not despair. I'm grateful that The SBC and the 21st Century brings together some of the wisest voices among us to help Southern Baptists think through how we can best pursue faithfulness for the glory of God, the health of our churches, and the sake of this lost world that God so loves."
Nathan A. Finn, provost and dean of the university faculty, North Greenville University
"Here is a collection of prescient essays on the Southern Baptist Convention, America's largest Protestant denomination, written by a superb team of scholar-activists. Beyond the analysis and perspective offered here, there courses through this volume a common theme: the urgency of declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ to all persons everywhere. This is the historic mission of the SBC and its future."
Timothy George, founding dean and professor of divinity, Beeson Divinity School, and general editor, Reformation Commentary on Scripture
"Baptist and evangelical movements have historically embraced fidelity to the timeless truths of God's Word, as well as flexibility about the best means to reach the current generation. But there is always a temptation, especially for a denomination as large as the Southern Baptist Convention, to become stagnant and nostalgic. This, it is heartening to see SBC leaders tackling such hard questions and contemporary challenges as those in Jason K. Allen's stimulating book. I recommend it highly."
Thomas S. Kidd, James Vardaman Endowed Professor of History and associate director, Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University