SBC Could Learn from VBS

Summer is hot and hectic around here. Just yesterday was a first for DBBC. We had both a funeral and VBS going on at the same time on the same campus. Thankfully, all went well. I had this fear that some class of grade schoolers would march into the worship center and start "hooting and hollering" as we say down in Mayberry. It didn't happen. What was cool though was looking at both ends of life from the same hallway. In one room was a group of mostly senior adults paying their respects to a life well lived. In the other rooms and hallways were children who were being given a boost to live out their lives in a meaningful and powerful witness to the reality of God. 

This weekend there is a motorcycle ride through the country for a bunch of us who ride. Then Sunday is Father's Day and worship. Sunday afternoon Marilyn and I leave for Louisville, Kentucky and the annual Southern Baptist Convention. Three days after I get back from Louisville I go to Gulf Shores, Mississippi with a bunch of our middle schoolers. But what I wanted to share with you concerns the SBC. 

When I first became a Baptist I knew nothing of the Southern Baptist Convention. We just didn't talk about it at church among the common folk. When I became a pastor I was told I was now a part of the largest non-Catholic denomination in North America. I went to my first convention in New Orleans, Louisiana in the early 90's. The city rolled out the red carpet for us. We were headline news and the talk of the town. Not everyone liked us, but they loved to talk to us and about us. Protestors lined up all along the street outside the Superdome. I had never been in such crowds and such excitement. The same atmosphere continued for the next few years and then I began to observe a subtle change. When I picked up the newspaper in the city holding the convention I noticed we were no longer front page news. Sometimes we were buried in the Metro section close to the lodge notices and  wedding pictures. People would remark in cafes and coffee shops that they did not know we were in town. How could this be. Since the 1940's Southern Baptists flooded into cities by the tens of thousands. Bar owners actually complained to city councils that we were bad for their business. Not anymore. What happened?

I think we began to think it was a status thing to be the largest denomination in America. We started being arrogant about who we were rather than Who's we were. We thought, no assumed, that everything we did would be successful. We fought the battle of the conservative resurgence and that boosted our spirits and increased the crowds for a short while. After we kicked out the liberals we began to quarrel among ourselves as to who was most conservative. Reports began to surface that our numbers were diminishing. Baptisms were dropping along with giving to mission causes. No longer did we fill convention centers or football stadiums, but now we roped off upper balconies and half of the floor of basketball gyms. As my mom would say, "We had gotten too big for our britches" and God was allowing our decline. Our fighting among ourselves over insignificant matters had taken its toll. The excitement is no longer in the hallways of the convention center. More and more old timers are talking about the good old days. What's the solution? I think I know and I saw it this week.

When kids get together at VBS each summer there is an air of expectation. It's cool to finger paint and drop Mentos into Coke bottles and watch them explode. They are mesmerized as someone dresses up like a Bible character and speaks from God's Word. You don't have to wow them. You just have to love them. You don't have to be perfect. You do have to be real. They don't care what denomination you are. They do care that you are glad they are there and tell them so. When a teacher tells them about the love of Jesus they don't try and determine from which theological perspective they are coming from. They just listen and begin to wonder if Jesus loves them too. What I like about VBS is that it's cool, but not too cool. You have teenagers working next to senior adults. You have black children playing with Asian kids. They stay for three hours and hate to leave.  At the SBC messengers get up and browse bookstore when someone at the platform exceeds 30 minutes.

I have an idea. Let VBS directors plan the next Southern Baptist Convention. Let's take off the ties and business suits and wear shorts and t-shirts. Even the best of people get irritable in the summer in a tie. Let's tell the simple story of Jesus again. I vote for finger painting over listening to one more seminary president defending their institution. They condemn those who do not preach the way they prescribe. The way, they have determined, God intended. I saw a cross painted by a child in a third grade VBS art class that said more than many sermons I have preached or heard preached by gifted orators. And rather than pointing fingers at others who may not do church just like you do church, wouldn't it be great if we walked together like the kids in VBS. Sometimes hand in hand, but always excited about where they're going. Then maybe, just maybe, the world would notice us again and listen to our story. After all, we have the best news in the world.

See ya,

Pastor Ken  

Comments

[Anne hendrix]

Wow! Well said, Pastor Ken. I have always believed that VBS is THE most important mission emphasis of the church. It is simple and profound all at the same time.

[Melissa]

I have never been to your church and I am currently looking for a church family for me and my kids. I have looked at your website many times before and thought about visiting. I was very motivated by your blog post. I do believe we will be visiting you! I look forward to it!

[Angela]

So very true. Nice post. Now maybe we can make it happen. :) There are others out there who feel the same way.
Much love,
Angela