A Good Resolution

Posted by Joe Thorn - 20/02/06

Last year I posted a “resolution on gluttony” as a discussion starter. I have not planned on submitting that one myself, though I am considering putting something else together. Is anyone planning on submitting a resolution to the SBC this year? If so, it must be done 75 days prior to the meeting.

Instead of rolling our eyes at resolutions that say little and merely push SBC programs, why not participate? How about a resolution concerning the crisis in Darfur? Certainly there is room for a resolution like that between the one ending our boycott of Disney and the one on reducing teen smoking. I think one of the reasons the reading of Resolutions can be like listening to Ferris Beuller’s teacher is because they often say what we have said so many times before, or they are completely unnecessary. How about one concerning cooperation and diversity within the Convention, or redemptive cultural engagement, or a call to greater works of mercy by our local congregations? How about one calling us to repent of our sins as a Convention (we’d have to be specific here)?

Submitting a resolution can be a good, simple way to show that we care about the Convention, are making an effort to be involved, and can bring some important issues into the foreground for discussion. Look, if no one steps up, we might wind up being resolved to make 2006 another “Year of the Bible.” God help us.

7 Comments

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  1. Hey, why not make a resolution on our history as SBC (Calvinist, Reformed, and Cathecism).

    Comment by Joel Cortes — February 20, 2006 #

  2. Joel,

    That would be good for giggles, but it would never pass. I also tend to think that our confessional ID is currently taken care of via the BFM2K. But I think there is merit to the idea of a resolution calling for cooperation citing our theological history and diversity.

    Comment by Joe Thorn — February 20, 2006 #

  3. What about a resolution that changes the emphasis from baptisms to church planting?

    Comment by Joe Kennedy — February 20, 2006 #

  4. Bro. Joe,

    Why don’t you just become an independent Baptist?

    Comment by glenn — February 20, 2006 #

  5. Glenn,

    That is a good question.

    First, because every Southern Baptist Church really is independant. Nobody gets to tell my church what to do. We have been accepted by our local and state organizations without any trouble despite our Calvinism, elders, deacons/deaconesses, theology pub etc.

    Second, I believe that Jesus’ intention is for the church to be unified. While some see denominations as a splitting of the body of Christ, I tend to see them as a means of coming together - if in part. It is a way, not the way, of working as Jesus calls us to.

    Third, I believe that this established unity allows us to work together to accomplish Christ’s mission. The SBC is one way to do that, and one that can do great work. They supported our church plant back in 2000 for three years. Paid by salary, insurance, and ministry start up, and lots of encouragement.

    To be honest, it is possible that some day our church wil not be aligned with the SBC, but I hope that never happens. We give 10% of our general offerings to the SBC and have no plan of changing that (we also give beyond that to a missionary not in the SBC). But depending on where the Convention winds up going, we will either stick with them, or bail. If they begin hindering work like ours at the planting stage, I imagine our church will say - “enough!” But for now, we are prayerful and hopeful for great things in the future of our Covention.

    Comment by Joe Thorn — February 21, 2006 #

  6. [...] A Good Resolution A CP conundrum? [...]

    Pingback by Interregnum » Blog Archive » Links of the Past Week — February 25, 2006 #

  7. Good Work!h

    Comment by foti — December 26, 2006 #

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