WHEW! A Day Full of Phone Calls
The book I just printed for last week’s Global Independent Baptist Fellowship meeting was a little bit controversial. Not a lot, but a little, and today I fielded several calls and texts about it. If I’m honest, so little of the stuff I wrote about has stuff to do with today, right now, this moment and this year, but it’s about who we are as a church and as a people. It’s about where we’ll be in 20 years, and what kinds of things we’re doing now that will help us BE that when we get there.
It’s about being Baptist, and what being Baptist has meant and will mean in the future. It’s about a style of ministry that I believe is good for our community. I believe Temecula needs Calvary Baptist Church, or else, what are we doing here? We might as well disband and go to other churches if we feel like there’s a better alternative out there! Or, we ought to change and get with the times if there’s something better we could and should be doing!
But I’m not convinced that changing ministry philosophies will lead us anywhere better. I believe the Bible we hold, the music we sing, and the emphasis we place on holiness, worship, God’s Word, and reverence are reflections of a kingdom more than a culture, and it seems to me that GOD ought to have a big say in what His house looks and feels like.
I have a lot of friends who disagree with me on the finer points, and I’m totally okay with that, but I do hope they give a fair hearing to where we are. I hope we’re not doing church just to do church. I do hope we’re in it for the right reasons.
Let’s contend, but not be contentious. That was the title of the book, and although it was written to pastors, I believe it can be a help to you, too. It will give you a little glimpse into the “behind the scenes” discussions I have, as well as what last week was all about.
Plus, a little conflict can be sharpening. I’m thankful for it! Thank you for your support. I love that you love church.
-Pastor Ryan