SBC or Great Commission Baptists?

[church mouse guy]

Prominent churches and leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) are increasingly dropping the 'Southern' and referring to themselves as 'Great Commission Baptists', to reflect their global scope, and to build bridges for the gospel of Christ. But the timing leads the Washington Post to suggest that the name change has more to do with the BLM (Black Lives Matter) movement. Convention president J.D. Greear says Jesus was "not a White Southerner, but a brown-skinned Middle-Eastern refugee" and "we worship a savior who died for the whole world, not one part of it. What we call ourselves should make that clear."

Bill Whittle wonders why the name change?

GCB? Does this mean that the HQ should move to DC or NYC?

 

[Ziggy]

Not much different from numerous Southern Baptist churches dropping the word "Baptist" from their name.

Apparently they and the denomination are in some way ashamed of their actual and historic Baptist identity.

 

[Marooncat79]

Nope

 

[Revmitchell]

I dont care about the name change. Im not married to " southern" I do care about the why and how.

 

[church mouse guy]

I dont care about the name change. Im not married to " southern" I do care about the why and how.

My personal opinion is that it is not necessary to change the name but at my time of life I don't care. I disagree with Greear that Jesus is a refugee. Where does he get that stuff?

 

[Yeshua1]

Prominent churches and leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) are increasingly dropping the 'Southern' and referring to themselves as 'Great Commission Baptists', to reflect their global scope, and to build bridges for the gospel of Christ. But the timing leads the Washington Post to suggest that the name change has more to do with the BLM (Black Lives Matter) movement. Convention president J.D. Greear says Jesus was "not a White Southerner, but a brown-skinned Middle-Eastern refugee" and "we worship a savior who died for the whole world, not one part of it. What we call ourselves should make that clear."

Bill Whittle wonders why the name change?

GCB? Does this mean that the HQ should move to DC or NYC?

Did the SBC before this think Jesus was just for the White man?

 

[Marooncat79]

Back in the day, the SBC was made up largely of white, southern democrats.

Hope that helps

 

[Yeshua1]

Back in the day, the SBC was made up largely of white, southern democrats.

Hope that helps

So they did see jesus as just being for whites then?

 

[Marooncat79]

No. Often they mandated worship attendance by their slaves

Its hard to understand exactly what some did believe

Some masters even had slaves who preached ie Nat Turner

I too would like a better understanding

 

[Guvnuh]

Refugee? Political garbage from the president of the SBC.
But he must follow the current social justice narrative to remain relevant.

 

[Salty]

Not much different from numerous Southern Baptist churches dropping the word "Baptist" from their name.

Apparently they and the denomination are in some way ashamed of their actual and historic Baptist identity.

Up North there is a reason - The Roman Catholic Church may have over 50% of the population. Granted, many may not attend services. A few decades ago - they were forbidden to attend a Protestant church especially Baptists- even for funerals or weddings. A few may still feel that way.

Thus by inserting the name Bible, instead of Baptist - it is more probable that a Catholic will attend.


OPPS I just corrected the last line - I just put in "Baptist" where I had typed in "catholic"

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Up in the Jerz there was a movement to eliminate the word Baptist from the name. The thinking process was to get Catholics into the church

 

[Ziggy]

Thus by inserting the name Bible, instead of Catholic - it is more probable that a Catholic will attend.

While I am sympathetic to the need for reaching Catholics up north (and even down South), the ones I have seen aren't replacing "Baptist" with "Bible", but are simply removing "Baptist" entirely and renaming the church to something like "Celebration Fellowship" or the like, thereby making no distinction between themselves and a host of nondenominational charismatic churches — and this even while Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Episcopal churches steadfastly continue to retain their distinctive names (so you know what to expect).

That is why I simply will *not* attend some no-name church that just *might* happen to be SBC, but can't really be sure.

 

[Salty]

While I am sympathetic to the need for reaching Catholics up north (and even down South), the ones I have seen aren't replacing "Baptist" with "Bible", but are simply removing "Baptist" entirely and renaming the church to something like "Celebration Fellowship" or the like, thereby making no distinction between themselves and a host of nondenominational charismatic churches — and this even while Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Episcopal churches steadfastly continue to retain their distinctive names (so you know what to expect).

That is why I simply will *not* attend some no-name church that just *might* happen to be SBC, but can't really be sure.

Zig - I have seen the same thing - a local church Northside Baptist Church - is now know at Northside Church.

In our case - our church - Christian Bible Church - was organized as a non-denomination church
When they joined the SBC - they just maintained the original name.

In our publicity - it will state "Christian Bible Church- SBC"


PS - Ziggy - in my post you linked - I made a mistake - I just corrected it.

 

[Reynolds]

I dont care about the name change. Im not married to " southern" I do care about the why and how.

Why? Critical race theory garbage.
How? Rammed down your throat.