Does pursuing cooperation in missions with churches in Texas and outside of Texas compromise doctrinal soundness?

This is annual meeting season for our local Baptist associations!

I had the pleasure of participating this last week in the Lubbock Area Baptist Association’s annual meeting at the Bacon Heights Baptist Church. Among the great things that were celebrated, we recognized Jerry Joplin, who has directed the association for the last eleven years and is retiring this year. We are grateful for his leadership and for the partnership we have shared with LABA.

Multiple Texas Baptists staff members are scheduled to be at our associational annual meetings around the state. Local associations are vital partners in the kingdom work that we do. We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate in church starting, leadership development, missions and other areas. We are also excited about offering churches affordable insurance.

As we continue the conversation regarding our GC2 Strong emphasis, some have asked if pursuing cooperation in missions with churches in Texas and outside of Texas compromises doctrinal soundness.

Texas Baptists exists for the purpose of cooperating for missions. Together, we can do more than any church or Christian organization can do by itself. The Great Commandment and Great Commission task call for a big tent.

So how big can the tent be? Where do we drive the stakes? The answer is doctrinal affinity. 

While we cherish the priesthood of the believer and the autonomy of the local church, we choose to cooperate with those who hold to orthodox Christian doctrine and historic Baptist principles.

Doctrinal affinity is not the same as doctrinal uniformity. While there are Christian doctrines and Baptist principles that are non-negotiable, there are beliefs and practices where local churches have freedom. It is enough for a church to hold to Christian orthodoxy and historical Baptist principles to collaborate with Texas Baptists for the cause of missions.

A few years ago, the executive board approved the GC2 summary of faith, which was also approved and amended by the messengers to the 2021 annual meeting in Galveston. This summary was not intended to replace any statement of faith, but to express in a summary fashion the essentials for cooperation.

Because we are a big-tent convention, some believe the 1963 statement is controversial. Others feel that the 2000 statement is controversial. The GC2 summary was an attempt to remove some of this stigma while still communicating that we are a centrist convention. Ironically, it became controversial, too. That is why it is not presently being emphasized.

Statements of faith have been the focus of controversy for the last 40 years or so. In my opinion, while some of the concerns have been legitimate, much of the fighting has distracted us from what Christ has commanded us to do: love God, love people and make disciples. The doctrinal controversies of the late 20th century led us to forget “Bold Mission Thrust!”

Regardless of the version of these declarations, none of them is inspired or infallible. The only inspired, authoritative, infallible and reliable guide for faith and practice is the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.

The preamble to The Baptist Faith and Message states, “That any group of Baptists, large or small, have the inherent right to draw up for themselves and publish to the world a confession of their faith whenever they may think it advisable to do so.” It is legitimate for Baptists to do so! There is freedom as well.

That is why we do not impose any single version of The Baptist Faith and Message on our churches. It is enough for a church to affirm either the 1925, the 1963, the 2000 or a similar Baptist statement of faith in order to work together for the sake of the lost.

Neither of these groups is inferior or superior to the others. Neither should any of them seek to impose their version on the rest. After all, the Bible is our final authority.

Doctrinal soundness is important. Doctrinal affinity is necessary. Seeking doctrinal uniformity can distract us from the mission of God.

Let us stand on sound doctrine, on Baptist principles and let us work together as Texas Baptists!