Baptist Church Decline: Balance Both Sides of the Great Commission

Recently I have heard of offices closing, properties sold, and positions eliminated. We are told to expect more closings, losses and declines. The costs may reach a previously unheard of level. The projections are based on annual data reports that are difficult to interpret accurately. Some say we got here because of leaders and their organizations focusing on primarily one side of the balance sheet. I must be talking about the current economic crisis in the United States, right? Well…no; I’m talking about the statistical reports regarding the Southern Baptist Convention churches, but certainly all congregational polity churches must take note.

Projections suggest that many churches will close in the next 20 years as those congregations fail to reach their immediate communities. Indeed the reasons are more complex than one or two issues. However, I believe one of the primary problems is a failure of churches and leaders to focus on both sides of the Great Commission balance sheet…evangelism and teaching. Remember what Jesus Christ said in his Great Commission:

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV) ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Baptizing is one side of the discipleship equation and teaching is the other side. I remember Bobby Welch saying, “Evangelism will fix any problem the church may have.” I definitely agree with his supposition, however I fear that many churches are failing at the teaching side of making disciples and the tragedy is that they either don’t know it, don’t care, think they are doing adequately, or simply do not know what to do differently. The answer is usually, “Let’s do more evangelism,” or “Let’s try harder at what has not been working for the last twenty years.” Now the statistics are beginning to forecast a genuine crisis that does not have to happen.

Statistics show that the growth in baptism rates is slowing year over year, even with greater denominational emphasis. This story is worse that the bottom line would indicate. My study indicated that Baptists are theologically committed to believer’s baptism, which is complete immersion of the professing new believer in water after he/she makes an intentional decision to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. Another part of believer’s baptism is that the person receiving it must be of sound mind and maturity to understand their decision. This is why Baptists are of the Believer’s Church Tradition and historically have vehemently rejected the baptism of infants or those too young to comprehend the event. Consider:

Baptists have never favored infant baptism, but a lack of commitment to believer’s baptism appears to exist for Baptists today. James Leo Garrett acknowledged a major problem within the Southern Baptist Convention regarding believer’s baptism. He pointed out that Southern Baptist churches are baptizing increasing numbers of young children. In 1970 SBC churches baptized 1,278 children under six years of age. In 1989 Southern Baptist Convention churches baptized 3,043 children under six years of age. According to the 2001 Annual Church Profile report of the SBC, 4,106 children under six years of age were baptized. The same report stated that 46,050 children between six and eight were baptized and 68,276 children between nine and eleven years of age were baptized. The total number of children baptized in SBC churches in 2001 constituted 30% of the total baptisms numbering 395,930 (Strategic Information and Planning Section, 2001 Annual Church Profile Statistics:
Number of Baptisms by Age Divisions (Nashville: LifeWay Christian Resources, April 22, 2002) online, available from http://www.namb.net/atf/cf/%7B9CC58E0D-862A-4913-9908-B961BB084B99%7D/Baptisms_ by_Age_Divisions_2001.pdf.). No data is available to identify the age of youngest of those baptized in Baptist churches. To be sure, virtually all of the leaders of the churches that performed baptisms of children would certainly claim these were “believer’s baptisms.” Once Baptists were on the offensive regarding baptizing children, but now they are defending baptizing younger and younger children. The question emerges regarding the age of the baptismal candidate. What criteria are used by pastors and churches to determine that a child truly comprehends sin, repentance, salvation, and baptism?
A North American Mission Board, SBC report illustrated an increase of baptisms of children under six from 1,899 in 1971 to 4,574 in 1999 (North American Mission Board, SBC, Strategic Planning Indicators-Baptism: A Publication of Strategic Planning Support, No. 2, Summer 2000, 3, online, available from http://www.namb.net/atf/ cf/%7B9CC58E0D-862A-4913-9908-B961BB084B99%7D/Baptisms_by_Age_Divisions_2001.pdf.). (Thomas Cocklereece, Assessing The Doctrinal Beliefs Of The Active Resident Members Of Shady Grove Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia, As A Component Of Church Health, 2008)

The data inspire further questions and soul-searching for pastors and leaders. Are Southern Baptists of the Believer’s Church Tradition? Are Baptists as committed to believer’s baptism as we once were as a fundamental of faith? Are Baptists losing their doctrinal distinctiveness? What may be done to address both sides of the Great Commission balance sheet for making disciples? Are denominational leaders ready to propose solutions instead of promoting old programs? What about innovation and new ideas?

A focus on Baptist church doctrinal distinctiveness and a new commitment to making disciples will go a long way to head off the probable crisis. Establishing high-expectations in the churches will attract people as Dr. Thom Rainer has found in his research. It should not be easier to become a Baptist church member than it is to join the Kiwanis Club.

Yes, the fundamentals (theology, people, churches, mission passion) are strong for Baptist Christians, leaders, churches, and their supporting denominational agencies, but a new paradigm for discipleship is needed. The answer to every problem is not just more evangelism. I contend that a fully discipled Christian is a better evangelist.
Simple Discipleship is a new paradigm developed around Simple Church principles. The projected coming crisis in Baptist life does not have to happen. Prayer, evangelism, and a new commitment to teaching are key ingredients to address the perceived Baptist identity crisis and the close of many churches that serve as salt and light in their communities.

SD Blessings,

 

Dr. Tom Cocklereece

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