Introduction
“We live in a strange time. When the
history of this era of Christianity is
written a hundred years from now,
surely it will be looked upon as an
amazing block of time in the history of
the work of the Lord Jesus Christ in his
Church and especially among us as Baptists.
“It is an age of irony, because ironically
we have the satellite capability of
preaching the gospel to the ends of the
earth but we have too much trouble
trying to decide what we are supposed to preach.
“Ironically, we have lay people of all
denominations wanting to join hands
to tell the world that Jesus saves but
we preachers are too busy trying to
decide which translation to use and be
sure our theology is orthodox to get the job done.
“Ironically, we have watched the Iron
Curtain crumble and the Berlin Wall
shatter with nations crying for the gospel,
but we Christians are using our
energy too many times arguing about
the best way to do missions instead of getting missions done.
“I ask myself the question: ‘What has
happened?’ The only thing I can come
up with is we are in danger of having
lost our focus.”
Heritage Worth Having
“Can I suggest to you that we Baptists have a heritage worth having?
“Have we forgotten that a history like ours is worth the telling?
“How many of us have told our children
that our Baptist forebears in Europe
were executed by drowning because
they insisted on believer’s baptism?
(continued)
“How much have we told our children
that violent persecution all but
drove our forerunners from the continent
because they demanded the separation
of church and state and were therefore regarded as heretics?
“Do we talk much about Michael
Satler who was flayed, had his tongue
torn out, and was burned to death in
May, 1527, because four months earlier,
he had written the articles of faith for the anti-Baptists?
“I suggest to you today that we as
Baptists have a heritage that is worth
having and is worth holding.”
Commitment Worth Keeping
“The second thing I want to say to
you is that we have a commitment worth keeping.
“Our focus is that all the peoples of
the earth may know that Jesus Christ is
Lord to the glory of God the Father and
that everybody in the earth may have
an opportunity to know him as their Savior and Lord.
“While we are at our task, let us
remember that Christ has said, ‘With
you I will build my church.’
“The church of the Lord Jesus is not
to be decorated but demonstrated. It is
not to be idolized but humanized in the
sense that it is fleshed out in the earth.
The church is not to be aloof to human needs but alert to human needs .
“The church is not a platform from
which to point fingers. It is not a throne
from which to wield power. It is not a
stage on which to perform. It is the
Bride of Christ; it is the pearl of great
price.”
(continued)
Legacy Worth Leaving
“I close by saying we have a legacy worth leaving.
“Do you know where I believe God
has placed you and me in this historymaking
generation in which we live —
to grow His church and to build his
kingdom. Right here in the middle of all
the fussing, right here in the middle of
all the fighting, right here under the
nose of the enemy, while some move
and manipulate for power and position,
God has called you and me to move on to the task.
“It is my belief, my sincere and certain
belief that as Baptists Committed
in this room we move from here to
build the Kingdom and to remember
who we are and whence we’ve come.”
“Never mind what someone else is
doing.
Never mind what others might grovel
and stoop to.
Never mind if others might practice
ungodly things.
Let us rise above those things.
Let us be the people of God.
Let us stand in mighty integrity and
stand in strength together.
Let us move into the world and leave
a legacy that we can be grateful to
hand to those who follow.”
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