This article gives a few ideas on the hold on this identity and the struggles of some to change it.
To distinguish themselves from the Baptists who don’t practice the great commission?
I grew up on Southern Baptist Churches. I think the article down plays the connection between the SBC and its birth through a pro-slavery stance. It takes a long time to recover from history.
Reminds me of a church sign I saw once:To distinguish themselves from the Baptists who don’t practice the great commission?
(ps. the great commission includes the baptism of infants)
I don’t really care about the SBC offering the alternative name of Great Commission Baptists, but I guess that the hope for the Baptists involved, the alternative name would be intended to remind them of the Great Commission that they believe Christ gave them and that they believe they are dedicated to carrying out. They probably also hope that such a name would have a wider geographical appeal.
It may seem that way to you, but the SBC is a worldwide organization with a sizable chunk not located in the southern United States.
Like what? Love of Christ and mission work? You are correct in that.
Like what? Love of Christ and mission work? You are correct in that.
The idea of Southern culture as something to be held onto is an interesting point, though, because Catholics are often criticized for placing too much value on a cultural identity tied to the Catholic Church. In other words, the critique of Catholics is that the doctrines and teachings of the Church are, at least for some populations, secondary (or dicta) compared to the cultural heritage linked to the Church. Communities like this are ripe for evangelism and targeted by NAMB and groups like Bob Tebow’s, with the argument put forward that, “well, that not really Christians - Catholicism is just part of their cultural tradition!”
We should also pray for unity, so that the SBC and GCB don’t become new rivals in denominations that further fracture the body of Christ. In fact, we should pray for Baptists to come back home to the fullness of truth in the Roman Catholic Church!
Like where? I haven’t travelled the whole country but I have been across the Ohio River and when you cross it, Southern Baptist churches are hard to find. I spent a week in Washington state once and, while I noticed several Baptist churches, not a single one was Southern Baptist.
I think I acknowledged there are SBC churches all over the country. But if you think it isn’t a southern thing anymore, you are delusional. There are two states outside the old Confederacy where the SBC has heavy influence–Kentucky and Oklahoma. Two others–W. Virginia and Missouri–where their influence is moderate. Why do you think churches like mine are being asked to go help churches in places like Idaho, Oregon and St. Louis? You don’t see SBC churches from those places coming to the South to help out here, even though the SBC uses the term “partnership” to describe these relationships. The reason you don’t is that they are often too weak to support themselves, much less help in other places.
Like where? You just want me to name one that’s not in the southern U.S.? Here’s a few in New York. cnyba.org/index.php
Again, this leads to a name change. The SBC represents a lot more than the American south.I don’t understand what you’re saying here. Are you a southern baptist? Or are southern baptists asking you for help? As to the SBC being weak in Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri? I can’t say, haven’t been there in years. But years ago when I lived in MO the SBC church I attended was pretty large, and strong.
).Good point. Sometimes the blackbird accuses the raven of being too dark
I think that for many in the South an evangelical type of Christianity is as much a cultural-religious thing as Catholicism might be for an Irish or Italian Catholic from the Northeast, for instance.
