Next month, Baptists from across the Midwest will gather together to celebrate our unity in our "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." Baptists will come together to celebrate our shared calling and mission despite differences in denominations, race, class, worship style, and geography. The historic Baptist Border Crossing being held April 2-4 at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church could create a new era of cooperation among Baptists in order to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
Surprisingly, some Baptists seem unwilling to join hands with their brothers and sisters in Christ. A recent article in a Missouri Baptist publication criticized the Baptist Border Crossing and went to great lengths to distance themselves from it. The publication erroneously attacked
www.baptistbordercrossing.org, a Baptist General Convention of Missouri article, and an
Ethics Daily article I wrote. The inaccurate attack was that these pieces claimed a connection to the Southern Baptist Convention that did not exist. However, the pieces merely said that individuals who are part of the listed Baptist organizations were planning the event. Since there are Southern Baptists involved, the statements are accurate.
The publication also claimed that there was absolutely no connection with the SBC or the Missouri Baptist Convention, although did admit that the event is being held at a church that is part of both conventions. The piece even contacted leaders of the two conventions to declare they were not involved, "do not support this meeting," and would instead do "nothing" for the event. One critic even claimed they did not share the "mindset" of the event designed to bring Baptists together for worship, ministry, fellowship, and missions.
As I read the inaccurate attack piece, I kept wondering, "Well, why not? Why wouldn't you want to be a part of this event? Why work so hard to distance yourself from it? In fact, why not join the effort?" Ultimately, the issue here is not a grammatical conflict over what the statements about the event do or do not claim, but a profound philosophical difference. Why not come together for worship? Why not come together for ministry? Why not come together for fellowship? Why not come together for missions?
Baptists learned long ago that when we work cooperatively, we can accomplish more for the Kingdom. When we come together to celebrate our commonalities--which are greater than our differences--we fulfill the prayer of Jesus in John 17. When we work together in Christ, we live out the biblical teachings to be one body. Jimmy Carter, who will be one of the speakers at the event, explained the purpose well at a similar gathering in Alabama in January. Carter asked the audience, "How many believe that we should put aside our personal differences and work in unity to spread the gospel of our savior?" After those present said, "Amen," Carter added, "The most important fundamental belief is the basic gospel message that we have already mentioned. We are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. ... We, Christians, can and must reach out to each other and stand united." Why not be part of such a gathering that seeks to bring Baptists together so that together we can more faithfully and effectively share the love of Jesus?
The recent inaccurate attack piece on the gathering ends by noting that the BGCM is holding its annual meeting in conjunction with the event in order to encourage participation in the Baptist Border Crossing. That statement is correct. I am excited to be part of an organization that supports such an event. I am excited to be part of an organization that joins hands with our brothers and sisters in Christ as we seek to live out our biblical calling.
Playwright George Bernard Shaw once wrote, "You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not?'" I ask the same question as I wonder why any Baptist would not want to be part of a gathering like the Baptist Border Crossing. Why not come join hands with our African-American brothers and sisters? Why not come for a weekend of worshipping God? Why not hear the inspirational preaching of Tony Campolo or Carolyn Ann Knight? Why not hear the passionate pleas to work together for missions that will come from Baptist World Alliance President David Coffey and North American Baptist Fellowship President David Goatley? Why not fellowship with other Baptists? Why not attend breakout sessions designed to help your church with ministry efforts? Why not attend the Baptist Border Crossing? I cannot think of a philosophically or theologically sound answer. Let us come together and see what God will do. Why not?
