So. Baptist Pastor Exhorts Believers to Emphasize 'Prophetic Preaching'
by Allie Martin
July 2, 2004
(AgapePress) - An Alabama pastor says it is time for Southern Baptists and other Christians to rebuild spiritual walls that have crumbled in America.
In his convention message to the recent meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in Indianapolis, Indiana, Pastor Steve Gaines of First Baptist Church in Gardendale, Alabama, preached from the Old Testament's Book of Nehemiah. He described the Old Testament prophet who answered God's call to repair the ruined walls of his society and who refused to be intimidated by opposition but stayed with the task and saw it to completion.
The pastor told the SBC audience that America today is facing a similar crisis, because sin has left the nation's spiritual walls in ruins. He asserts that, although international terrorism and an uncertain economy may be immediate threats, it will be moral issues like abortion and homosexuality that will "determine the future of America."
Gaines told the Southern Baptists that, like Nehemiah, they have been called to do a great work for the Lord. But he warned that believers need to become more concerned with "prophetic preaching" than they are with many aspects of modern worship and ministry found in contemporary churches.
"I don't know about you," the Alabama preacher said in his fiery message, "but I think America is fed up with drama skits, coffee talks, interpretive dances, operatic cantatas, high-church 'Frankenstein music,' pop psychology sessions from the pulpit -- America is looking for some prophets of God!"
And God is able to supply them. However, the preacher insists that nothing in America will change without Christians first going down on their knees in prayer. "There are some things God will not do, unless we pray. God has called us to be prayer warriors," Gaines said.
The pastor told the denomination's messengers that every deacons' meeting, every staff meeting, every Sunday school meeting and, indeed, every Southern Baptist Convention meeting should be "a place where we pour out our hearts in prayer." Gaines also encouraged his listeners to educate themselves about the issues of the day and to vote their values, allowing God to guide their political choices.