I think that the following article says enough. Below you will find a post from a Missouri Baptist Pastor stating his views on the recent Pastor's conference at the Missouri Baptist Convention. This year featured Mark Dever speaking on the importance of preaching the Word. Specifically, the necessity of correct, sound, expository preaching.
I have taken out the name of the man that posted this "Letter to the Editor" in the MBC Pathway's article. My desire is not to point out the man that commented, but to give you, a picture of the sad state of the Southern Baptist Churches in our state. I pray that the Lord would bring revival in our state and we would recognize our need for preaching of the Gospel, and rallying behind the truth of the Scripture rather than "man-made" religion.
Pastors’ Conference did not live up to expectations
Sunday evening, Oct. 28, I set my alarm for 5 a.m., excited about the anticipated blessing I would receive by attending the 2007 Pastors’ Conference. I go to the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) annual meeting every year as part of my job as pastor, to allow my church to participate in decisions made at the MBC and receive information I can take back to them about the ministries they generously support through their gifts to the Cooperative Program. But I go to the Pastors’ Conference for me. I love the MBC Pastors’ Conference and the spiritual lift I receive every year hearing sermons designed for where I live by fellow Missouri pastors, as well as pastors from other parts of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Imagine my surprise to discover this year’s Pastors’ Conference had been hijacked. Instead of being blessed by fiery sermons encouraging me in my struggles as pastor and challenging me to be more committed to Christ as I lead my church, I arrived a bit weary from my three-hour road trip to hear a couple of lectures on expository preaching, with the promise of more to come.
When time came to receive the offering, I left the Pastors’ Conference feeling betrayed instead of blessed by the “infomercial” on expository preaching that was substituted for the typical Pastors’ Conference. I did not return.
Who asked for this? Why the sudden change in direction? Can I please have my Pastors’ Conference back? I am certain the presenters had many good things to say about expository preaching. So sign them up for a MBC-sponsored touring conference on expository preaching and let pastors come who want to receive their seminar teachings. I may even come. But, please, return the Pastors’ Conference next year back to a format that will provide encouraging and inspirational preaching worth getting up at 5 a.m. to receive.
1 comment:
Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, meee.
I had read this letter earlier via Said at Southern, but having read it again with some time to think about it, I am extremely concerned about this "minister."
Have you ever heard a more selfish letter from a pastor regarding a conference geared towards pastors? I wonder if he has ever read where Jesus began "with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself?" (Lk. 24:27)
All this guy did was complain how he was not blessed and how he did not return and how he left before the offering. Why would he want to be encouraged in his struggles? Why wouldn't he be more concerned about reaching the lost--it does seem like he is about church growth (although that is perhaps an unfair accusation given I don't know the guy at all)--through a style of preaching the apostles and Christ Himself used?
Oh well, I guess I will just take my immature mind back home and pray that we get more "convicting" sermons next time. Too bad, I really thought we were trying to be more biblical.
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