Home Christian News Southern Baptist Influencers Forecast SBCs Future on Cooperative Program Stage Panel

Southern Baptist Influencers Forecast SBCs Future on Cooperative Program Stage Panel

“In order to win a battle, you have to be on the battlefield shoulder to shoulder fighting a common enemy. Now I feel that in the SBC that we are in the barracks friendly firing at one another. That’s not a war you can win when you are shooting your own brothers in Christ.”

Greear agreed with Gallaty’s assessment about the need for unity around the Gospel.

“One of the reasons that I cautiously say that we are still thriving, is there are things such as the Gospel, the inerrancy of Scripture and the exclusivity of Christ that we will not compromise on,” Greear said. “Then there are others issues where we might say ‘I wouldn’t do it that way, but our Gospel unity is more important than uniformity here.’”

FPruitt took these themes one step further, saying candor with the younger generation about the convention’s condition will be key for a united future.

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“I’m not just thinking about what is an SBC that we all want to be a part of, because we all have kids and all of us are trying to reach college students as well,” Pruitt said.

“What is an SBC that they’ll want to be a part of? I don’t want to give 30 years to this and then it be something my kids and the next generation don’t even want to be a part of.

“We’re praying that Gen Z will become a revival generation, and sometimes what leads to revival is repentance and lamenting. I think we need to be honest with the next generation about where we are and where are we going to go, because they can handle it.”

Greear closed the panel by emphasizing the convention’s true future rests on following the Lord’s leading.

“I think that we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think God has a future and hope for us,” Greear said.

“We know that God does not need us, and we are not God’s last great hope, but we know that there is so much evidence of what God is stirring in us. I think we need to have an attitude and heart posture where the Holy Spirit can lead us. Sheep get where they need to go not because of how amazing and intelligent they are, they get there because of the leadership of the Shepherd. I hope that is what carries us.”

This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.