As old-line Southern Baptist churches struggle, a dying one has an epiphany

Washington Post ^ | 5/30/15 | Stephanie McCrummen

[SoFloFreeper]

Attendance at the Southern Baptist church on Scenic Drive had dwindled to about 15 most Sundays...

There was another congregation...that had been meeting in living rooms and whose pastor carried business cards that quoted from John 4:35: “Look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” Maybe they wanted to buy the church...

.... selling to the Arabic Baptists might be their best hope of keeping the church from closing.

They prayed and then took a vote, and now, a few miles away in a suburban living room, the members of the fledgling Arab congregation were considering an opportunity they never anticipated in a place that never quite anticipated them.....

How an Arabic Baptist church came to be, much less came to be in Murfreesboro, Tenn., is another story of the changing South...the story of Raouf Ghattas, who was born in Egypt and grew up a Presbyterian. As an adult, he came to the United States to work as a nuclear engineer in Charlotte...

....the Lord gave them a mission: “Never rest until you tell every Arab about Jesus.”

Their view of Islam was simple: that all Muslims were in need of salvation, which, as good Southern Baptists, they understood could come only by following Jesus.

So they went abroad as missionaries, living in Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia and Syria. Raouf worked to convert Muslim men to Christianity, and Carol, who speaks fluent Arabic with a soft Southern pitch, wrote Christian-themed novels intended to appeal to Muslim women, such as “Lust Under the Veil.”

[SoFloFreeper]

I've got news for Stephanie McCrummen and any of the liberal media who think white believers think this is a bad thing.

O, no. Jesus is for EVERYONE, and I am pleased to see that Arabic brothers and sisters in Jesus are finding a place to worship in America.

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1)

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3)

[Alex Murphy]

....the Lord gave them a mission: “Never rest until you tell every Arab about Jesus.” Their view of Islam was simple: that all Muslims were in need of salvation, which, as good Southern Baptists, they understood could come only by following Jesus.

Great thread!

[cripplecreek]

I’ve been in some of the middle eastern Christian churches in the Detroit area. There is a lot there to admire.

[LukeL]

I have said we should allow the Coptic Christians, Nigerian Christians and Syrian Christians into the US as religious and political refugees.

[VeniVidiVici]

Only a liberal / Democrat would think that WHITES would have a problem with this.

[demshateGod]

Southern Baptist churches are dying because they left the KJV, started using shallow praise choruses, and went all in with Rick Warren. If you’re looking for sloppy, syrupy, entertainment, there’s always going to be a better venue.

[cripplecreek]

Danny Thomas was Marronite.

[SoFloFreeper]

I don’t think that is what happened to the church in the story.

Do you?

[Bodleian_Girl]

I completely agree with you!

[elpadre]

It seems to me that by combining the two congregation the church might be viable. If the Arabic Baptists want to continue using their own language, have one service for each.

[MamaB]

Mine hasn’t. Our minister has been here since 1978. He preaches directly from the Bible.

[RedMDer]

We need your help to keep the lights on.
FR is funded solely by contributions made by
liberty loving people who enjoy and use it.

Every donation counts no matter how big or small.
If you can donate $5, $10, $20, $100 or more,
it would be greatly appreciated.

Let's Git-R-Done! Monday is June!

[Graybeard58]

Mine hasn’t. Our minister has been here since 1978. He preaches directly from the Bible.

Our K.J.V. preaching Southern Baptist Pastor has been in the same church for 46 years, he's 76 years old and not in the best of health - heart problems.

[Iscool]

I agree with that...

[DariusBane]

What is so special about the KJV? It is a translation in an archaic language. I don’t think you are identifying root causes here. Musty hymns and old music and forms of worship are not the problem. The Greek Orthodox demand greek. The old line Catholics demand latin. What version should Christians in Korea use? How about Armenian Christians?

Are the Persecuted saints in China supposed to use Latin they don’t understand? Or should they use the KJV they don’t understand? Should Iranian Christians sing old english and Scottish hymns? If Turkish Armenian or Greek Christians don’t use KJV does that make them less close to God? Should english speaking Christians be forced to use a lanlanguage they don’t understand? Sing song’s they don’t understand or enjoy? Does that make them less close to God? I think many other causes exist in explaining the demise of the Southern Baptist churches you grew up in. Complex causes. But the nice folks over at Westborough probably agree with you.

All the man made trappings of religion mean nothing without God and without Love.

[Popman]

Southern Baptist churches are dying because they left the KJV

Don't be ridiculous

Thousands of thriving growing churches use non-KJV Bibles to teach and preach from...

Having attended a SBC for about 8 years and finally leaving simply because the Pastor taught at a grade school level.

When I asked him why his sermons were basically for simpletons, he said the Baptist seminaries teach to preach at a 8th grade level not to frustrate people in the congregation and any newcomers.

Not sure if that is universal for all SBC, but it isn't because they use the wrong Bible...

[lightman]

I am pleased to see that Arabic brothers and sisters in Jesus are finding a place to worship in America.

They always have had this blessed "place" in America:

ww.antiochian.org

[huldah1776]

yup, feeding the sheep cookies and candy instead of meat and veggies. Starving and dying.

[demshateGod]

Archaic? That may be true. However, if you fault the KJV for being archaic, you’d have to praise modern English. After that, you’d have to praise where modern English is going. Eventually the Bible will have to use the F word because it’ll be the only way the Idiocracy will be able to understand it.

The KJV’s story is written in blood. It was used to evangelize the world. The new versions came on the scene just before the great falling away.

All other languages should be translated based on the Textus Reseptus. Once they have a version in their language, and it’s proven to be powerful, they should be suspicious of anyone who tries to change it.

[demshateGod]

Once the compromise on the Bible, everything else it easy. We had a great Bible, it was used to evangelize the world. Why did we want to change it? Who would benefit most from changing the Bible? Who has benefited the most?