Cooperation for the sake of the gospel

I pray you are doing well. Today marks, for many, the beginning of a 40-day period of reflection, contemplation and prayer leading up to Palm Sunday. Christians of different traditions observe it in different ways. Some do not. Yet we all look forward to celebrating Resurrection Sunday!

Regardless of how we may or may not observe this season, we are thankful for the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for ministry. We are reminded that there is no resurrection without suffering, self-denial and the cross.

As we reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice during the coming days, whether we fast, increase our devotional life or do not do anything differently during these 40 days, may we develop a deep concern for those who have not experienced salvation.

This is a great season to fervently pray for our city, for our country and for the nations. Perhaps this is the best time for you to sign up for the BLESS App and join other Texas Baptists in praying for your neighbors!

As I mentioned in last week’s update, I spent a week in San Diego meeting with other state executive directors. The theme for the retreat was “The Future of Cooperation.” We discussed the history of cooperation among Southern Baptists, the biblical and theological bases for cooperation and heard reports about the trends in Cooperative Program giving.

One common theme for the state conventions and for the SBC at the national level is the decreased giving through the Cooperative Program. At the national level, it is a 35-year trend. Every state convention and the national convention are figuring out what the future looks like.

In addition to decreased CP giving, the population in our state, in our country and in our world continues to grow at a fast rate. There are more people who don’t know Christ today. The need for our gospel witness is greater than ever before!

Many churches are on the decline. Our churches need resources. We also need more churches to reach more people. Many of our current churches don’t have pastors. We need more pastors. And pastors need to be healthy.

In other words, while CP giving decreases, ministry needs increase.

The other factor is inflation. If giving were to stay flat, we would still lose buying power. When you combine giving levels with inflation factors, it almost cuts our ability to do ministry with CP funds in half.

While the trifecta of decreased giving, increasing needs and inflation can sound overwhelming, we realize that our response should be neither fear, nor a fixated focus on dollars, nor indifference, nor a lament that things are not the same as they were a generation ago.

Where we need to focus is (1) the biblical foundation for cooperation, (2) our heritage of cooperation as a Baptist people, (3) prayer for God to bring about renewal to churches, associations and conventions and (4) a commitment to collaborate for the sake of God’s mission. When we do this in faith, God will provide what we need for the task He has given us.

I recently meditated on Numbers 2:2 (see above). The beauty of the Israelite camp in the wilderness journey was their unity in diversity. Each tribe and family retained their particular identity and banner while they recognized they were one people around the worship and presence of the covenant God. 

The church today would honor God most and would be most effective when every local congregation retains their identity and uniqueness while recognizing that we are one body in Christ. Churches need each other! That’s biblical, regardless of church size.

We don’t have to agree on everything to be on mission together. We are not called to be tribal. We are called to unity in diversity for the sake of God’s glory.

The Israelite camp instructions are a beautiful illustration of what cooperation looks like for the people of God.

That’s who Texas Baptists are. That’s who we need to be. Let’s rally around the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.