Doctrine and Mission

Tag: Church Membership

  • The Great Commission Includes Building Christ’s Church

    I cannot think of anything more important for a Christian to do than share the gospel with unbelievers who are headed for hell. Christ has commanded us to make disciples of all nations, and the eternal destiny of men and women hangs in the balance. Every Christian should be burdened for the lost and eager to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.

    I do not know many believers who would disagree with that.

    Yet there are some who hear this emphasis and respond, “Amen! Let’s focus on the main thing and not get distracted by secondary issues such as church polity, leadership, and ecclesiology.”

    At first glance, that may sound reasonable. But is the structure and leadership of Christ’s church really a secondary issue?

    The same Jesus who shed His blood for the church declared, “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18). The church is not a human invention or a man-made organization. It belongs to Christ. He purchased it with His own blood and is actively building it today.

    Furthermore, the same Holy Spirit who descended upon Jesus at His baptism inspired Paul to write 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. These pastoral epistles are not optional appendices to the Christian faith. They contain God’s instructions concerning how Christ’s church is to be organized, led, protected, and strengthened.

    Therefore, I do not see church leadership and polity as merely secondary matters. I do not believe Jesus, who died for the church and continues to build the church, sees them that way either.

    Consider what happens when the gospel is faithfully preached. By God’s grace, sinners are converted. What then? Christ did not intend for those converts to remain isolated Christians disconnected from the body of Christ. They are to be baptized, taught, and incorporated into local churches.

    And who is to lead those churches?

    The Scriptures answer clearly: qualified men who meet the standards laid down by the Holy Spirit in passages such as 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Christ has not left the leadership of His church to human preference or cultural trends. He has spoken.

    This matters greatly for Southern Baptists as well. Local churches sacrificially give money through cooperative missions efforts because we want the gospel to spread throughout North America and around the world. We want churches planted among the nations.

    But what kind of churches are we planting?

    Surely we want churches that are organized according to the pattern Christ has given in His Word. Surely we want churches led by biblically qualified elders and served by biblically qualified deacons. Surely we want healthy churches because healthy churches are God’s ordinary means of making disciples and advancing the gospel.

    Jesus knows what is best for His church. He knows what is healthy. He knows what produces long-term faithfulness and spiritual maturity.

    In reality, this is not separate from the Great Commission—it is part of the Great Commission.

    Jesus commanded His disciples to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to observe all that He commanded. “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” includes the entirety of inspired Scripture. It includes Romans and Galatians. It includes Ephesians and Colossians. And it certainly includes 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus.

    The Great Commission is not merely about getting decisions. It is about making disciples. And disciples are ordinarily made, taught, shepherded, and matured within healthy local churches.

    Gospel proclamation and biblical church order are not competing priorities. They belong together. We preach the gospel so that sinners will be saved. We gather those believers into churches. We teach them the whole counsel of God. We appoint qualified leaders. We plant more churches. And then we send those churches to preach the gospel to the nations.

    That is not a distraction from the mission.

    That is the mission.

  • When Pride Leads the Church: The Spirit of Diotrephes

    In the short but powerful letter of 3 John, the Apostle John mentions a man by name—Diotrephes. Unlike many biblical characters who are remembered for their faithfulness, generosity, or repentance, Diotrephes is remembered for something else: his destructive spirit.

    John doesn’t mince words. He calls him out clearly and publicly:

    “I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.” (3 John 9)

    In that single verse, we meet a type of person who still exists in churches today—a man who destroys what Christ died to build. Here’s a deeper look at the characteristics of Diotrephes and the warning he presents to every congregation.

    1. Pride: “He loves to be first”

    At the heart of Diotrephes’ behavior is a love of preeminence—a desire to be the most important voice in the room. He didn’t just want influence; he wanted dominance. This kind of pride is deadly in the church because it always elevates self over Christ and self over others.

    This person doesn’t serve for the good of the body or the glory of God. He serves so he can be seen, praised, and obeyed.

    2. Rejection of Apostolic Authority: “He does not accept what we say”

    Diotrephes didn’t just disagree with John’s leadership—he rejected it outright. This wasn’t some secondary issue; John was an eyewitness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. To reject John was to reject the apostolic teaching—the very foundation of the early church.

    Likewise today, those who oppose biblical authority—whether through denying the Word or undermining faithful shepherds—are not reformers, but rebels. A church cannot thrive when those in leadership ignore or twist Scripture to suit their egos.

    3. Slander: “He unjustly accuses us with wicked words”

    Diotrephes didn’t just resist—he attacked. He maligned the character of godly men with “wicked words.” When someone seeks control in a church, they often resort to slander and gossip to tear down anyone who stands in their way.

    This is a weaponized tongue, and James warns about it: “The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness… it is set on fire by hell” (James 3:6).

    4. Hostility Toward God’s People: “He refuses to welcome the brothers and stops those who want to”

    Diotrephes also shut the door to faithful missionaries and teachers. He actively opposed hospitality and cooperation in gospel work, and he even threatened others who wanted to help them.

    This is the behavior of a gatekeeper, not a shepherd. He turns the church inward, dividing and isolating it from the broader body of Christ.

    5. Abuse of Power: “He puts them out of the church”

    Worst of all, Diotrephes used his power to excommunicate faithful believers—not for heresy or immorality, but for disagreeing with him. This kind of spiritual abuse still happens in churches today, where toxic leaders remove those who challenge their authority.

    This is not shepherding—it’s tyranny.

    A Final Word: Don’t Be a Diotrephes

    The church is Christ’s body, not ours to control. If you see these traits—pride, rejection of authority, slander, hostility, abuse of power—in a leader, or even in yourself, take John’s warning seriously.

    John wrote this short letter not just to expose a man, but to protect the church. Let us do the same. Call out sin, defend the truth, and remember John’s command:

    “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.” (3 John 11)

  • Beyond the Conservative Resurgence

    Why Past Movements Were Not Enough—and What the SBC Needs Now

    In the late 20th century, the Conservative Resurgence rescued the Southern Baptist Convention from doctrinal drift. It restored biblical inerrancy in our seminaries, pulpits, and denominational institutions. This was no small feat—it preserved theological faithfulness for a new generation.

    Then came the Great Commission Resurgence, calling us to a renewed focus on evangelism, church planting, and global mission. With declining baptisms and a changing culture, it reminded Southern Baptists that our doctrinal fidelity must also drive missional urgency.

    But as we reflect now, we must ask: did either movement transform the soul of our churches?
    We have right beliefs—and we’ve declared right priorities. But our churches remain divided, disillusioned, and in many places, declining.

    Southern Baptists do not need another branding campaign or strategic slogan. We need a true resurgence—not just of ideas, but of people. A renewal that begins in the pew, not just on the platform.

    Here are six essential resurgences the SBC must embrace to move faithfully into the future.

    1. A Resurgence of Integrity

    The Southern Baptist Convention has weathered doctrinal battles—but now faces a crisis of trust. Many Southern Baptists believe the theological convictions we fought to preserve are being undermined by institutional secrecy, platform protection, and personal ambition. The issue isn’t merely orthodoxy—it’s credibility.

    Why it’s needed:
    In a time when confidence in leadership is eroding, we need leaders and institutions whose lives and practices match the gospel they proclaim. If we lose integrity, we lose the ability to lead.

    What it looks like:

    • Financial transparency in our entities and institutions, with clear accountability to the churches that fund them.
    • Building trust among messengers, not through managed narratives, but through openness, repentance when necessary, and a return to servant-hearted leadership.
    • Leaders who walk humbly, avoiding personal empire-building and resisting the temptation to treat the SBC as a career ladder or political arena.
    • Churches that expect godly character, not just communication skills or charisma, from their pastors and leaders.

    “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” – Proverbs 11:3

    2. A Resurgence of Discipleship

    Southern Baptists have long measured ministry success by decisions and attendance. But far too often, we’ve made converts without making disciples. The result is spiritual immaturity in our churches and generational drift in our families.

    Why it’s needed:
    We cannot build gospel churches on shallow soil. And we cannot expect the next generation to walk with Christ if we do not teach them how.

    What it looks like:

    • Intentional, relational discipleship—not just programs, but people walking with people in the ways of Christ.
    • Family discipleship, where parents—and especially fathers—are equipped to teach, model, and shepherd their children in the faith (Eph. 6:4).
    • Biblical literacy, with churches prioritizing Scripture memory, meditation, and obedience—not just inspirational content.
    • Training lay leaders, raising up deacons, elders, teachers, and counselors from within the congregation.

    “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…” – Matthew 28:20

    3. A Resurgence of Unity in the Gospel

    We are fragmented. Not just politically or theologically—but relationally. The SBC has become a battlefield of tribes, factions, and personalities, where brothers in Christ are treated as enemies because of differing emphases or affiliations.

    Why it’s needed:
    We cannot fight side by side for the lost when we’re firing shots at each other. Gospel unity is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.

    What it looks like:

    • Refusing tribalism—choosing fellowship with faithful brothers and sisters even when we don’t agree on every strategy or secondary issue.
    • Keeping the main things central—like Christ crucified, the authority of Scripture, and the need for the nations to hear the gospel.
    • Disagreeing with humility, rejecting online scorched-earth tactics, and speaking truth seasoned with grace.

    “There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.” – Ephesians 4:4–6

    4. A Resurgence of Church Health

    You cannot send strong missionaries from sick churches. The SBC has focused heavily on church planting and multiplication—which is essential. But far too many established churches are spiritually stagnant, unbiblically led, or dying.

    Why it’s needed:
    The foundation of the SBC is not its entities or its mission boards. It’s the local church. If our churches are unhealthy, our Convention has no future.

    What it looks like:

    • Qualified pastors and elders, who lead with courage, conviction, and compassion.
    • Meaningful membership, where church rolls reflect regenerate believers in real community.
    • Expository preaching and Christ-centered worship, feeding the sheep, not entertaining the goats.
    • Support for revitalization, encouraging faithful pastors of smaller churches and resisting the idolatry of church size or fame.

    “The church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 3:15

    5. A Resurgence of Physical Presence in a World of Followers and Likes

    We live in an age of digital disembodiment—TikToks over tables, threads over truth, clicks over community. The SBC must resist the gravitational pull of the virtual by reasserting the beauty and necessity of the local, visible, gathered church.

    Why it’s needed:
    Online influence has too often replaced in-person shepherding. But the body of Christ was never meant to be a brand—it is a body.

    What it looks like:

    • Churches that prioritize presence: gathering in person, breaking bread, laying hands, weeping and rejoicing together.
    • Pastors who know their people and walk with them, not just broadcast sermons.
    • Disciples who live in proximity, not merely affinity.

    “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” – John 1:14
    “Let us not neglect to meet together…” – Hebrews 10:25

    6. A Resurgence of Clarity and Conviction in a World of Ambiguity

    We are living in a fog of postmodern confusion—about truth, gender, morality, and even salvation itself. Many churches are tempted to trade clarity for complexity, fearing offense more than fearing God.

    Why it’s needed:
    The world is not looking for another vague voice. It needs truth. Spoken with love, yes—but spoken clearly, without compromise.

    What it looks like:

    • Preaching with doctrinal precision, applying God’s Word boldly to cultural lies and spiritual error.
    • Standing firm on God’s design for manhood and womanhood, marriage, and the sanctity of life.
    • Holding fast to salvation by grace alone through faith alone, without theological drift or equivocation.
    • Teaching with theological depth, equipping people to stand firm in a world that is constantly shifting.

    “If the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” – 1 Corinthians 14:8 (KJV)

    Final Word: Not a Platform but a People

    The Conservative Resurgence gave us our doctrinal foundation.
    The Great Commission Resurgence gave us a missional framework.
    Now, we need a resurgence that gives us spiritual formation—in the pews, in our homes, and in our pulpits.

    We need leaders of integrity.
    We need churches that make disciples.
    We need a fellowship built on the gospel.
    We need pastors rooted in real communities.
    We need truth spoken in love and without fear.

    This next resurgence must not be top-down, but grassroots.
    Not powered by politics, but prayer.
    Not about reclaiming influence, but reclaiming faithfulness.

    Let it begin not in a task force, but in your local church.
    Let it begin with us.