WOW!! I'll prep with our personal experience: our mother church is a part of this denomination and we have been blessed beyond measure by this church. However, as we felt the Lord calling us to bring our children home to be educated, calling my husband to be the primary spiritual leader in our home and calling us to worship more as a family, we were shocked that our church was not supportive of this conviction. As a matter of fact, they seemed to be at work against us, keeping us separated most of the time and/or just too busy to deal with one another. We were called away from the church for other reasons, but we were not strong enough to take this discouragement so we did not return to this church when we had the opportunity. We were not the only family who experianced these same concerns.
We went to another SB church where we were met with the same challenges.
The SBC as a whole seemed to share philosophies and promote programs that, though at first glance may seem good, in reality divide Christian family fellowship.
This is why this new Great Commission declaration is so encouraging, as it already has more than 3000 signatures thus far, and not once does it mention sending your children to youth rallies or children's church. The part pertaining to the Biblical family is the most fascinating to me, and is marked as section X. Check this out!! It is incredible!!!
X. A Commitment to Distinctively Christian Families. We call upon all Southern Baptists to build gospel-saturated homes that see children as a gift from God and as our first and primary mission field. (Deut. 6:1-9; Psalm 127, 128; Eph. 6:4)
The family is the first institution ordained by God and the foundational institution in all human cultures. Unfortunately, in our own time we see the family attacked on a number of fronts. Too many Southern Baptists have embraced unbiblical notions about marriage and family. Too often we believe that children are a burden rather than a blessing and smaller families are more “responsible” than large families. Too many believe that motherhood is not valuable as a woman’s unique and primary calling and is not as “fulfilling” as other occupations. Too many believe that husbands and fathers are not uniquely called and gifted for leadership in the home and that biblical gender roles destroy authentic equality.
We believe that distinctively Christian families are characterized by a deep love of Jesus Christ above all things and a desire to honor God as a family. We believe that Biblical truth is loved, taught, and lived out in healthy Christian homes. We believe that godly families cast a vision for spiritual greatness and equip every member, including children, to live for God’s glory and pursue great things for His name’s sake. We believe that strong Christian families are characterized by an atmosphere of love, fun, service, humor, faith, and fellowship. Southern Baptists must continue to reject the cultural status quo and seek to be a counter-culture for the common good when it comes to building God-centered, gospel-driven, Great Commission-loving homes.
I practically highlighted the entire thing!!! :) Love it!! Thank you, Pastor Hunt!!
