RE: Editorial: Tiny fraction of Baptists deciding for the whole
Thanks for the message of this article. It was needed. Here are a few more numbers.
The maximum number of messengers any Southern Baptist church can send to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting is 12, but only if they meet all criteria in Article III of the SBC Constitution.
So, at best, the maximum number of messengers that possibly could attend the meeting is 562,512. Can you imagine? So, the highest possible representative segment of the 12 million-plus SBC membership is only 4.4 percent.
The 10,599 registered messengers to the 2025 SBC annual meeting represent 1.8 percent of the maximum possible number of messengers.
I think the most troublesome conclusion in your article is only 6 percent of SBC churches sent messengers to the 2025 annual meeting. That’s sad.
I’m curious what the highest percentage ever has been. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could get to at least 25 percent? But then, that would be almost 12,000 if every church sent one person.
Dustin Slaton, pastor
First Baptist Church, Round Rock, Texas
‘A people of unclean lips’
The Bible says, “Let no filthy, corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.” From the Oval Office, Pentagon and halls of Congress, to playgrounds, the vilest, filthiest, “corrupt communication” spews forth (Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 3:8 KJV).
Americans are “a people of unclean lips” with “mouths full of cursing”—males/females, Democrats/Republicans, old/young, unbelievers/professing Christians. Profane language permeates TV, internet, movies, music, commercials, radio talk shows, bumper stickers, comics, greeting cards—even pulpits (Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 23:10; Romans 3:13-14; James 3:2-12).
Irreverently using God’s name is so popular that acronyms abound, including names of businesses—such as OMG! Tacos, Shoes, Nails and more.
“O, Lord, thou only art holy.” “Holy and reverend is his name.” Many join God’s holiness with the vilest things. “The foolish people have blasphemed” and “profaned thy holy name” (Leviticus 22:32; Psalms 74:18; 111:9; Revelation 4:8; 15:4).
Others take God’s name and attributes in vain unthinkingly with euphemisms—My Goodness, Good Lord, Gee (Jesus), Gosh, Golly, Gracious, Mercy and others (Exodus 34:5-7).
God’s Third Commandment warns, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7).
The Lord Jesus Christ, “who made man’s mouth” and created “language” said: “Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay. Whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” “Swear not at all.” “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Genesis 11:1-9; Exodus 4:11; Matthew 5:34,37; 12:36-37).
“Let the words of my mouth” “be acceptable in thy sight, oh LORD,” “my Redeemer” (Psalms 19:14; 71:15).
Michael W. Ellis
Belton, Texas
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