Is the Independent Baptist Movement at a Crossroad? Part 3

A New Generation

Because of Trinity Baptist College and Trinity Christian Academy, I have the privilege to be around many young adults and teenagers. I can't begin to tell you how refreshing and energizing it is for me personally to be surrounded by young people who want to serve Christ with their life. Last week I spoke of a transition, which has already begun, and which many of us will likely experience over the next 10-15 years. This is not a move of style, methodology or doctrine, but of something much more natural.

Much of the leadership in our independent Baptists churches is older (50+). This is not a negative thing, in fact in most cases it is very positive. I recently turned fifty, so I am included in this category. Many of our pastors have served faithfully for years, and in some cases decades, teaching, preaching and developing people into committed followers of Christ. The experience and wisdom of our senior leadership will continue to guide us and should be a resource for all of our churches in the days and years ahead. I think that it is important that we respect the work of these men and honor them for their faithful stand for the word of God.

I am also finding it energizing to see young men emerge as leaders in our movement. They have a passion for ministry and a desire to do great things for God. The fact is, we are going to see the rate of change in churches increase over the next few years. Just the demographics of our people and the shear size of the upcoming generation indicate this is happening. We must take a hard look at how we are transitioning from one leader to the next, and how we are preparing for change both for the younger generation and also for our churches.

I'm convinced that this new generation of leadership in our independent Baptist churches is as committed to sound doctrine, the gospel and the Great Commission as any previous generation. I do at times sense some resistance by our established leadership as these new leaders take a fresh look and approach to ministry (some of these sentiments have also been reflected in comments of previous posts). My challenge to all of us is to embrace the transition; there's too much at stake.

The week that I turned 33, I became the pastor at Trinity. I have learned the importance of respecting and honoring older men of God, and I also learned to appreciate the older men that God used to encourage me even when my approach was not identical to theirs. I have experienced the generational tension first-hand. I remember moving our Sunday night service from 7pm to 6pm, only to have Dr. Lee Roberson preach at our church weeks later that a church should never move their Sunday night service to an earlier time.

Although I look back humorously on that situation, at that time it represented a different approach to ministry, even though the change was minor. I was speaking with Dr. Elmer Towns this week and he reminded me of a saying that I have heard and quoted many times. “Methods are many, principles are few, methods may change, principles never do.”

This kind of generational transition is also taking place in the local church. Just this past month, we elected 26 new deacons ranging from their 20’s to their mid 70’s. As they stood in front of the church at their installation it was obvious that we are bringing some younger men into the leadership of our church. I am thankful for a church that is multi-generational and willing to make room for young people to emerge in leadership.

We are going to need the ideas, methods, energy and passion that young leaders bring to help us build strong churches and fulfill the Great Commission. As younger leaders develop, they will need the experience, wisdom, guidance, encouragement and support of the established leadership. There are two options: we can work together in a spirit of unity -- or --  further divide, fearing and disrespecting what each group brings to the table. I'm excited about what I see God doing in the lives of young church leaders around our country.

Again, your comments are encouraged and have been helpful to further continue the conversation. In the next post, we'll look at the current state of church planting and missions, and the opportunities and obstacles in front of us.

Comments

[Joshua Hamilton]

Unity and the understanding of unity is vital. Unity is not everyone in agreement. That is a cult. It is a unified goal. Older leaders need to allow younger leaders to emerge and make their mistakes. From this will come growth and maturity. I'd much rather have someone that launches out and makes mistakes than someone that has to get all his ideas from XYZ Bible Conference/Leadership Meeting every year. Younger leaders need to heed the advice of Proverbs and draw out the counsel in the hearts and minds of the older generation. They've been there and done that. Learn from them. Find the principles they have learned and apply them to your practices. Practices change. Principles remain. Understand that without Holy Spirit guided and Biblical principles, we're ultimately destined for failure. Then, when each individual church and church member becomes fixated on the goal of glorifying God and sharing His love with as many as possible, then true unity is reached. From this unity will come growth. And really, if a "church" is not growing people, is it really a church?

[Gabriel Spence]

I will be one of the first to say a huge thank you to the generations of Baptists before me. I was raised in a church and Pastor's home that gave me good doctrine, taught a strong work ethic and a passion for serving Jesus. For this I am eternally grateful. I was raised and trained in ministries with strong theological positions and certain methodological preferences.

I have not been in ministry long but I can say I have observed a marked divergence between this generation and the last in certain areas of ministry. You might ask… "does this generation of ministers not live for Jesus, adhere to strong doctrine, or treasure and share the gospel?" Thankfully that is not what the generational divergence is. I speak for many in my generation when I say that we deeply love Jesus and are committed to seeing the gospel preached and Christ formed in people.

Today I believe the great generational divide revolves around style and methodology. We all would agree heartily on the same doctrinal and Biblical distinctives but come to different stylistic and methodological conclusions. This is not a bad thing, though some would claim it is. We are ministering in a very distinct context and will face challenges that are very different from those that the last generation faced. I am not different from them just to be different. I am different because the context of my ministry is different.

My message to the generation before me is this: We need you, we need your support and your encouragement. Please lend us your knowledge and wisdom of years in areas of strong doctrine, theology, and gospel centeredness. Guide us to walk with God, build strong families and see Christ formed in people. Please encourage us to reach people with effective methodologies and contextualized approaches though our style may be different than yours. Let us try, fail, succeed and be what God wants us to be for the glory of God and the sake of the gospel.

[Bert P. Williams]

Is the Independent Baptist Movement at a crossroad? Part 3
A New Generation

Bro Tom,
Where Trinity Baptist Church, College, and Christian Academy will be in the next 10 – 15 years that you mentioned will largely depend on the leadership you provide. By leader I mean – a person who rules or guides or inspires others. Genuine spiritual leadership has powerful results. The results of Jesus’ leadership can be seen today in the millions of people who call themselves Christians, followers of Christ.

Spiritual leadership is the ability to stand up to peer pressure. A spiritual leader must have the ability to follow God when no one is following him. Spiritual leaders must be able to point people to God. This can’t happen if he is following the crowd. Spiritual leadership is a God given ability to lead God’s people. We can gain a lot of insight about the people God uses as spiritual leaders. Let’s be careful not to read our own cultural concepts of successful leadership into biblical standards when we are choosing or
recognizing our spiritual leaders. Becoming skillful in the use and application of God’s word takes more than a Bible Fellowship class background and a brief quiet time each day. There must be a devoted heart set on the study and obedience of God’s Holy Word.

Bro Tom you stated “My challenge to all of us is to embrace the transition; there’s too much at stake”. I keep hearing these words being pushed over and over from the leadership at Trinity Baptist Church, change, diversity, preferences, transition, change diversity, preferences, and transition. Just a few short years ago these same words were bundled together under the term “The New Age Movement”. New age writers argued people should follow their own paths which included older spiritual beliefs and an individual approach to spiritual practices (diversity/preferences) which eventually led to the rejection of God and biblical doctrine.

When you start hearing people say we are in a new era, be alert. When all that is talked about is change, diversity, preferences, and transition this is New Age talk. These change agents and their desire to become like the world will prove devastating to themselves, their families, churches, and our country.

One of the major changes will be the desire to stray from the Kings James Bible. When preachers were preaching out of the same bible, God’s word was not open to confusion and speculation as to meaning. But like most things when modern progressivism (change, diversity, preferences, and transition) takes over anything goes.

My prayer is to let people like Joel Osteen do the changing, have their preferences, provide the diversity and make the transition while Trinity Baptist Church thru your leaderships gets back to basics. Seems like I remember reading somewhere the correct way to minister is Matt 28:19-20 and by the foolishness of preaching. In the same book God said “I change not”.

Bert P. Williams January 22, 2010

[Greg Mann]

Pastor,
The passion and intensity of the previous writer (Mr. Williams) illustrates the emotional nature of this discussion. People struggle with change. I am reminded of a story I was told about a time at Trinity in the mid 1950's when a little black girl was presented for believer's baptism. When she was allowed to be baptized a large percentage of members left the church. This was not a Biblical issue (although some might attempt to make it so), it was a matter of "change," which some were not willing to make. (Today Trinity has membership of great ethnic diversity - to the glory of God!) Trinity has faced other changes people were not comfortable with, (rescue mission, bus ministry, academy, saturation evangelism, etc). I remember when Trinity dropped the regular Thursday night visitation in favor of saturation evangelism. Even though the change allowed us to reach more people, there were those who said Trinity was on the road to compromise. I appreciate your ability to see the big picture...DOCTRINE does not change, but METHODS are flexible. I have never been in a church that more faithfully preaches the word in a Spiritual, Biblical, expository fashion.

As far as change is concerned, here is my observation about Trinity after almost 20 years of connection with the ministry. The church still preaches from the Bible, the same doctrines, and the same focus of winning the lost and developing them into followers of Christ. We may have "changed" from visitation to Saturation Evangelism, and Sunday School to End Zone, budget mission giving to Faith Promise, but in the end the core of who we are and what we believe and where our focus is has not changed.

I am passionately in love with God and devoted to his Scriptures; I do not detect a New Age spirit or a tendency toward compromise at Trinity Baptist Church.

By the way, it is true that God does not change, that is because he is perfection. However, God and His word are the only things perfect and beyond the need for change.

Blessings!

[Paul Brooks]

As I see it, in all these comments the men here all have a desire to be closer and obediant to God. the argument from what I have seen is less about change "methodology" and more about defining what the new methodology is. Put it out there measure it againsed Gods word and see. For example Faith promise giving was commented on. I will be the first to say, this has tremendousley helped the missions outreach but is it biblical Num 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
Deu 23:21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.
Deu 23:22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.
Deu 23:23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.
Ecc 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
Mat 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Mat 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Mat 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Mat 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

So if I promise to give an amount and loose my job and cant, is it not sin unto me, only because I promised it? Is it better not to vow, and instead be sold out for God and give as he leads.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Example of change "methodology"
a church supports 100 missionaries for $50 a week
change / same church cuts down number of missionaries and supports them 100%. Instead of being on debutation they spend a year in that church and show their true charachter. All I ask is we define the change.

[Paul Brooks]

Sorry I did not intentionally leave that off without an alternative to "Faith Promise Giving" how about "Grace Giving" we wright a number down and say sacrificially with Gods providing I will give this amount and if God provides it I will give it if not I won't. If God blesses me with a $5000 a year raise, through grace I give more, or do I say well I promised $5 a week so I won't change the amount until next missions conference.
Which method lines up better with Gods word? Principals, Patterns, and Precepts. Thats what we have to go on.
The Bible is of no private interpretation.

Lets grow and be obedient together.
In Gods service.

[Branden]

Pastor Tom,
We talk about change as if it is just now starting. Where has everyone been? This change has been going on for a while in our modern day churches. Earlier on, one group desirous of change were modernists or liberals. Needless to say I should hope that we are not talking about embracing that "transition". the next change came along with the Newevangelical movement. That transitional movement sounds a lot like what is being spoken of in these blogs. So this isn't really a new transition but a continued downfall of pastor's young and old willing to compromise. I am a young pastor, for the record. I'm not interested in embracing this type of change for the sake of unity. Unity, for the Independant Baptist should be based on doctrine. Ok, ok I know what you are thinking and I know what Pastor Tom wrote, "This is not a move of style, methodology or doctrine, but of something much more natural." What so many in this movement who call to "embrace change" forget is that there is a doctrine of holiness. Not being conformed to the world is as much doctrine as the vicarious atonement or the virgin birth. No, no, this is not a "new", "young pastor" change. It is actually Satan's ole temptation for compromise. I do agree, Pastor Tom, that this is a "natural" move. I prefer though to stick with "spiritual" moves. Be passionate! Be Holy! Change! But only change to be more like Christ. Please believe me too when I say this writer seeks only to deliver the "truth in love" God bless!

[Scott Shubert]

Recently, Domino's Pizza came out with an admission that there pizza was lousy. Now they weren't saying that pizza was lousy. They were saying their pizza was lousy. Italian food isn't the problem. Pizza isn't even the problem. The problem was their particular type of pizza was lousy. So, in a bold move they admitted their mistakes. Took responsibility for them (instead of blaming the ones who came up with that pizza) and changed everything that was lousy about their pizza. The IFB's are in a similar situation. The problem is not the Gospel. The problem is not the Church. The problem is their particular "pizza" is lousy. They could take a cue from a billion dollar company, admit their product is lousy, take responsibility for it and fix what is lousy about it. -- But they won't!

[Gabriel Spence]

Hey I agree with you Scott. Good analogy!! Church isn't broke. Gospel still works - we just have ideas that were cutting edge in the 60s and 70s. Time for new pizza... maybe some new toppings...

Good thoughts.

[Greg Mann]

It is interesting that we are having this discussion about methodology on the internet. When I got saved there was no such thing as the internet, we all had to wait on Al Gore to come along :) . The internet is a great example of a new method that can help proclaim the old old story.

If we try to elevate methodology to a level equal with doctrine we get oursevles in trouble. Let me give an example. As I look in Acts 13 when Paul launched out on his missionary journey he made a beeline to the local Jewish Synagogue in Salamis. Preaching in the Synagogue was a method, not a doctrine. When I minister to the Indians in the jungle of Guyana I cannot meet them in the Synagogue, they don't have any! The point is that we should go to where the people are and get the truth to them. This will require different methods in different places, and yes, different methods during different periods of time. None of this implies compromise with the message.

There was a time when radio (method) became a very effective way of broadcasting truth to millions. Although radio is still effective in many areas, now we have internet and sat. tv (new methods). The point is that the methods come and go, but the message stays the same.

The gospel is too important to not think of every possible means to get the message out.

Blessings!

[Kimberly Wells]

Are you kidding me? I am going to bed tonight surrounded by millions of Muslims that need the Gospel and if I change the method of evengelism to reach them I might as well get in bed with Disney to sell kiddy-porn to pedophiles? Get real.

During the Revolutionary War men stood shoulder to shoulder to shoot their enemies fully exposed in an open field. The Cause: Freedom.

Today super-sonic jets fire on their targets and are gone before the dust settles on the crater where the enemy used to be. The cause: Freedom.

Talk about a method change!

Change is necessary or we die...physically or spiritually.

There are a lot of spiritually dead churches clinging to the past, refusing to change..and slowly funeral by funeral they are emptying out - And you want me to believe THAT is the mark of "spirit-filled" believers standing for truth? Sorry, not buying it.

Reality check:

Did Jesus have a bus route? Did Jesus establish services times, order of service or musical selections? Did Jesus sing songs from "Soul Stirring Hymns"? No, no and no...he told the disciples to "go and teach" - he did not mention flannel-graph, Powerpoint, or visual aids of any kind for that matter...ever wonder why? It was NOT an issue.

Method has nothing to do with the Cause.

I am in a country where the Independent Baptist Movement's 1970's methods for world evangelism WILL NOT WORK. Church planting, public tract distribution, hymn singing on the corner, starting a bus route, or open "witnessing" of any kind will lead to death, arrest or deportation. I guess I could go out a martyr having reached zero people for Christ or simply change the method of evengelism to reach Muslims in a "restricted-access country". That is not "falling away from the faith" it is just plain smart.

Pastor Messer, you are right...there is a huge vacuum of leadership in the church today. I am sick of men (and women)that would rather cling to their muskets than fly jets.

We need leadership that can take the principles of the Bible and make them matter in the gauntlet of cell phones, facebook, H1N1, AIDS and global terrorism not leadership that has put their hand to the plow and can't stop looking back.

[Sunshine]

Okay,
Plain and simple, we are not to conform to the world. There are different ways of reaching different people, but churches now are taking the fear of the Lord out of thier methods. I think too many christians forget to fear God. Funny also how some people get so mad and use so few scripture references to back up what they are saying. Use the word to show people what you are talking about, not your OWN opinion. We all have to answer to God in the end!

[Blog Administrator]

Blog Administrator:

The comments of this post are being closed.

Recent comments and the resulting discussion are leading away from the post topic (generational transition in the church), and are not in the spirit of this blog, as stated in the existing Comments Policy - http://www.tommesser.com/tom-messer/comments-policy.html

A variety of viewpoints and discussion among readers are welcomed as long as they are delivered within the guidelines of the Comments Policy.