About an hour ago a new president of the International Mission Board was elected. \u00a0Dr. David Platt, senior pastor of The Church At Brook Hills, was elected by the IMB trustees in Richmond, VA. \u00a0Leading up to the election today social media and the blogosphere blew up with opinions of Dr. David Platt. \u00a0Why does the President of the IMB matter so much to Southern Baptist? \u00a0The presidency matters because this person presides over the largest missionary arm in the world. \u00a0The Southern Baptist Convention churches directly support the International Mission Board, its missionaries, and its president through the Cooperative Program. \u00a0The Cooperative Program is what SBC churches give to in order that the Gospel may spread around the world. \u00a0It was begun and continues today because of Southern Baptist’s belief that we can do more together than we can do separately. \u00a0I have heard the reasons for opposition to Dr. Platt being the IMB President. \u00a0I know his theological leanings. \u00a0I have seen the reports that the church he pastored did not directly support the Cooperative Program that will now directly support him and his work. \u00a0I am aware of these things and I want to say that this doesn’t matter now. \u00a0We as Southern Baptists entrusted the trustees of the IMB to prayerfully seek God’s man to lead us into fulfilling the Great Commission around the world. \u00a0And the trustees have done just that. \u00a0Now it is time to pray, support Dr. Platt and his family, the IMB, and for the sake of the lost who need the Gospel we must move on!<\/p>\n
I do realize that not everyone is continuing their opposition. \u00a0In fact there is a great article by Dr. Paige Patterson, President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, that is calling on all Southern Baptist to pray for Dr. Platt and trust God’s leading. \u00a0There may be some cause for concern with the new president of the IMB, but if you read Dr. Platt’s books (Radical and Follow Me) or listen to his sermons there is one thing that is undeniable. \u00a0David Platt loves the Lord and has a heart for the lost. \u00a0Isn’t that who you want leading the world’s largest missionary organization? \u00a0Don’t you want the guy who doesn’t just tell you that we should care about the lost and go to the far reaches of the globe to share the Gospel with people, but who himself goes? \u00a0There has been for several years now brewing a showdown in the Southern Baptist Convention over theological beliefs. \u00a0I am here to tell you that if we allow this to add to this tension and boil over the following will happen. \u00a0First, satan will be happy. \u00a0Satan wants God’s children to walk in bitterness, unforgiveness, and division. \u00a0If we are focused on fighting each other, then we are not contending for the Gospel. \u00a0Secondly, the cause of Christ will be harmed because the watching world will see Christians who again love to fight more than they love each other. \u00a0Finally, and the saddest part is many people will die without hearing the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), and their blood will be on our hands. \u00a0I understand the theological arguments. \u00a0I get that both sides are passionate, and are convinced they are right. \u00a0I am not downplaying any of this. \u00a0But at some point we have to ask ourselves, is us being right worth defaming the name of Christ and watching more and more people die and go to hell? \u00a0The bottom line is Jesus Christ did live, He did die on the cross, and He is the only hope for all who are alive. \u00a0There is no other way to heaven except by faith in Christ’s sacrifice. \u00a0That is our message.<\/p>\n
So where do we go from here? \u00a0I would like to believe that as Southern Baptist we will rally around Dr. Platt, his family, and the IMB. \u00a0 We will trust that the sovereign God led the trustees to select His man. \u00a0That we will daily pray for Dr. Platt and all those in authority over us both religious and secular because this is the will of God (Rom. 13:1-2). \u00a0And that we will all be about our father’s business-sharing the Gospel with those we meet until all in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth hear the Good News of the Gospel, believe it for the glory of God and the salvation of their souls.<\/p>\n
By His grace and through His faith may we live for Him<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
About an hour ago a new president of the International Mission Board was elected. \u00a0Dr. David Platt, senior pastor of The Church At Brook Hills, was elected by the IMB trustees in Richmond, VA. \u00a0Leading up to the election today … Read More