Baptist Leader Says SBC Must Re-Emphasize Lifestyle, Soul Winning
by Allie Martin
May 4, 2004
(AgapePress) - An official with the nation's largest evangelical denomination says believers need to remember their citizenship in God's kingdom and practice lifestyle Christianity in their daily lives. Dr. Jimmy Draper is president Lifeway Christian Resources, a ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention. He says for years many churches in the denomination have experienced a waning sense of urgency about reaching people for Christ. However, he believes soul winning is a significant part of Baptist identity that needs to be re-emphasized.
Draper says some people look at Southern Baptists and say, "All we know about you Baptists is what you're against." And he willingly admits that "there are some things we have to be against because we're a biblical people, and there are certain things that the Bible says are inappropriate activities, inappropriate lifestyles. We have to take stands on these things."
But Lifeway's leader says it is what Southern Baptists are for that really counts. "Really, what we're for is fulfilling the great commission and helping people come to know Christ. To know him is eternal life -- that is a quality of life now as well as the duration of life," he says.
The SBC is made up of more than 43,000 churches representing more than 16 million members. Draper says the denomination will be focusing on the great commission during it 2004 annual meeting, which is set for June in Indianapolis, Indiana. The theme for this year's meeting is "Kingdom Forever."
Draper says the concept of the kingdom of God is one that is central in scripture, and one that needs to be central in the life of every believer. "We just need to realize that we're part of God's kingdom," he says, "and the kingdom affects everything about our lives. It's lordship in our lives, and it's in our working together to communicate the gospel and to lead churches to realize that the kingdom was the very heart of the New Testament message."
According to Draper, the only way the Church can have a positive influence on society is by influencing the culture for Christ.
