Thursday, June 21, 2012

Changed Attitudes Needed

Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. -- Matthew 16:12

Several news stories this week have previewed the Southern Baptist Convention (sorry, the name change doesn’t change anything). Baptisms and membership are declining. The leaders are struggling with it.

I know many members of SBC churches who would lament about our nation’s declining morals. It’s always the fault of others. They would insist that they’re standing firm and refusing to compromise and that’s why so many are turning away.

Too bad they can’t look in the mirror and see themselves as others see them. Because when folks think of a Southern Baptist church they don’t see grace, mercy, forgiveness and love. They see people who condemn anyone who is different and look down on everyone who is not part of their clique.

Now I do realize that there are many wonderful people who happen to be Southern Baptists. And there are few, if any, who do disaster relief better than Southern Baptists. But as a whole, the group is so caught up in their rules that they forget about everything else. They remind me of Pharisees, who couldn’t see the true message because they were too focused on the rules and sins of others.

Okay. Confession time. I once belonged to a Southern Baptist church filled with many fine people. In fact, I was baptized in a Southern Baptist church while I was in college. I’ve seen the good. I’ve experienced the good. And, in some ways, it still feels like home.

But in other fundamental ways, it doesn’t fit at all. I don’t buy into that “interpretation” that women are second-class citizens, relegated to organize and do much of the work while men sit around and make all the decisions. I also don’t believe that people need to be changed before they entered the doors of a church.

Oh, I know. They’d deny that last part. But I’ve witnessed the snubbed noses of too many members looking down on those that don’t “fit.” I’ve listened to preachers lecture from the pulpit on “proper dress” in a church. I’ve watched them drive away good people seeking God, needing Jesus, and yet being looked down on by people who think they are better than everyone else.

I know not all stereotypes fit all people but I also have witnessed too much not to understand why people are leaving Southern Baptists churches. Jesus didn’t look down on anyone. He didn’t snub others. And He didn’t think some were better than others. In fact, Jesus preached that the least would be first and the first would be least.

If SBC wants to increase its attendance, it will take far more than a name change and the election of a black leader. It will take an attitude change, starting in the hearts of its members.