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Nero blamed Christians for the burning of Rome. He retaliated by burning Christians. He justified his persecution and hatred for the early Christian church by campaigning a message that they brought fire and destruction to the great city. Such a medium to carry the message yielded centuries worth of cruelty and malice to the followers of Jesus.
In today’s world, messages are carried by many mediums, many yielding results of chaos, violence, and hatred. We have been bombarded with a litany of hashtags, blogs and even picket signs. Yet, the one message that could yield peace, unity and hope is largely not heard or even seen. Have you ever considered what it would take for the church to be the polarizing voice that is needed within the spiritual wilderness we are now in? I believe that our upcoming annual meeting is poised to be such a meeting that can ready the churches in Texas to be both vocal and visual in their presentation of the gospel. Here are a few reasons why my church and I are attending this year’s annual meeting and why you and your church need to make the Nov. 9-10 meeting in Houston a priority.
Walk in Unity. This year’s theme is one that every Texas Baptist must endorse, not because it is a great theme but because it is a biblical mandate. We are called to walk together in unity. This unity reveals to the rest of the world the worth of our calling and the power and efficacy of the gospel (Eph 4:1–6). If the church could come together unified, no longer divided or segregated as our nation has become, we could provide the public witness and the bold proclamation that every life matters because every person is made in the image of God and Christ died for all. A nation divided does not mean that the church too must be divided. Imagine the message this annual meeting could present—not “White” churches, “African American” churches, “Asian” churches or “Hispanic” churches, but redeemed races knitted together by the Spirit of God through the peace of God, who are now his church.
The Power of Prayer. Texas has been prayed over. This upcoming annual meeting has been saturated in prayer. SBTC Executive Director Jim Richards, prayer strategist Ted Elmore and SBTC President Jimmy Pritchard have traveled all around the state, conducting prayer meetings for the sake of revival in our churches, an awakening in our state, and the power of God to be present at our annual meeting. They have paved the way and set the example for us in prayer, and now it is our opportunity to come alongside them and pray for the same. We have tried to make our voices heard on so many platforms, but the One who has the power to bring righteousness and justice, his ear we must reach. Imagine the message this annual meeting could present—all races present, crying out to the Father for healing, for salvation, for hope, for peace, for Jesus.
Encouragement to Stay Faithful. It was not long ago that some pastors in Houston received subpoenas for their sermons, notes and any other document that might have spoken against the HERO gender ordinance. The rally around these pastors by churches across the country was phenomenal. Our gathering in Houston is poised to be such a rally. The time is coming where being a Christian in America is going to come at a price. We need each other to stand fast, to provide accountability and to encourage one another to press forward. Imagine the message this annual meeting could present—all races interlocking arm-in-arm for the purpose of holding each other up, encouraging one another to stay faithful to the gospel message and to stand firmly rooted in Christ.
It is time that we stop waiting for the politicians, news anchors or weathermen to give us some news that is good. You and I have heard the “Good News,” experienced this news and have been changed by it for the good. Now is the time for us to come together to boldly display the supernatural work of the gospel message and the unmatchable love of Jesus Christ. Imagine the message that we could proclaim—diverse local churches coming together as the unified body of Christ, proclaiming “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all ” (Eph 4:5–6). Imagine the message if you were there.
—Joshua Crutchfield is pastor of First Baptist Church of Trenton.
