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1/ I am a Southern Baptist for better or for worse. Lately, some of the “worse” circumstances seem to have prevailed, at least on our social media timelines.
2/ Political and cultural differences masquerading as theological division, the mishandling of sex abuse cases, racial tensions, diversions from our shared mission, the dangers of cultural capitulation, a general atheological approach to ministry, and the list could go on.
3/ And yet, I am still hopeful. Hope is anchored in God, after all, not our own merit and abilities. Hope is a function our status as pilgrims: those on the way to Celestial City.
4/ Hope involves the careful balancing of both magnanimity (greatness of soul) and humility (recognizing the superior greatness of God). Hope requires some sanctified imagination of what *could* be, while at the same time not presuming that it *must* be.
5/ With that in mind, here’s hoping for some “better” days ahead for the SBC. I hope for churches where our faith and life are centered on Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who became incarnate for us and for our salvation and who calls us to abandon all for him.
6/ I hope for churches committed to preaching, teaching, and living the truth of God’s inerrant Word.
7/ I hope for churches committed to historic Christian orthodoxy, as outlined in the ancient creeds and councils of the church. I long for this connection to the little-c catholic church to become explicit, not just vaguely and loosely held.
8/ I hope for churches committed to a Word-and-sacrament ministry, where we weekly feast on the preached Word and the gospel banquet laid out for us at the Lord's Table and where our individual spiritual lives cascade from these communal acts.
9/ I hope for churches with kingdom priorities, where we think first about what is good for the saving reign of Christ on earth before we think about what is best for country, party, or personal comfort.
10/ I hope for the healing of divisions--racial, theological, geographic, demographic, and otherwise. The last four years have been trying. Regardless of what happens with this current election, can't we all pray for and work for unity in the gospel?
11/ I hope for churches and entities where abuse victims are believed and protected and supported and where abusers face both legal and ecclesial consequences, even as the hope of the gospel is held out to all.
12/ I hope for churches where unbelievers are not treated at the enemy but as victims of the Enemy, where missions and evangelism are given priority over culture warring.
13/ At the same time, I hope for churches where Christian consciences are formed to bring the gospel to bear on all of life, including the socio-political realm.
14/ I hope for churches that unflinchingly oppose the scourge of abortion and defend the sanctity of traditional marriage but without diminishing the importance of other issues with moral dimensions: poverty, racial discrimination, immigration, the environment, etc.
15/ I hope for a more confessional future for the SBC, where the Baptist Faith & Message is not just seen as a boundary marker but as a tool for catechesis (and where our older confessions like the Second London and the Orthodox Creed are revered).
16/ I hope for a more ecumenical future for the SBC as well. Not the lowest common denominator sort, but a convictional ecumenism where we celebrate our common faith with the universal church across space and time.
17/ In short, I hope for a renewal of SBC life by a return to first principles: Christ and his gospel, as taught in inspired Scripture and received in historic Christian orthodoxy. God grant it. Amen.
