To promote our identity and heritage
as Christians and American Baptists

Why is that a regional goal? The cynics among you may simply say, “Yeah, yeah – it’s just the company line.” While I am aware that I am vulnerable to such charges, I sincerely believe there is more to the goal than “brand loyalty.”

May I suggest at least three kinds of reasons this is a relevant goal for the Region? Those reasons are: theological, ethical, and practical.

We are Christians, and we are American Baptists. Without degenerating into fruitless arguments that are essentially “my god is better than yours,” and “I’m right, but you’re wrong,” there is some theological content to the meaning of “Christian” and “American Baptist” that deserve wider discussion.

The dominant culture in which we find ourselves is not Christian. It is full of fictions and misconceptions about what it means to be “Christian.” (I suspect there are even some in our churches who are not clear about what it means to be “Christian.”) It is not necessary for us to become adversarial and arrogant, but we should be clear about who we are and unapologetic in explaining ourselves. Indeed, one of the most significant outcomes of such clarification and reflection is that we ourselves become stronger, more mature disciples.

In that process, we discover that there are other Christians with whom we share considerable family similarities. While Baptists are not Methodists, we are both rooted in a common faith. We need not deny who we are in order to learn from others and to cooperate, where possible, for the Kingdom of God.

Still, there are some significant distinctives about being “Baptist,” and, in particular, in being “American Baptist.” We have a rich heritage, that is full of both good and bad. We should lift up the good things we have learned, and surrender the not-so-good. Just as we can learn things from other Christians, they can learn from us. But only if we know ourselves well enough to tell them!

Promoting our identity and heritage also has an ethical component. It seems to me that it is deceptive to deny or cover-up who we are.

It has become faddish to minimize denominational connections, or to be “non-denominational,” so that signs, bulletins, newsletters, etc., never fully identify a church. Sometimes this is done with the intent of opening doors for persons who are outside a particular community of faith. That may be well-intended, but how long does a person need to participate in a church before they discover the church is Lutheran, or Mennonite, or American Baptist—and what that means?

Promoting our identity and heritage is a practical necessity. Much conflict is rooted in ignorance about who we are.

Because our culture is full of misconceptions and ignorance about what it means to be American Baptist, many who join us in the pilgrimage of faith bring baggage and false presumptions with them. (Remember that “welcoming 25,000 new believers” goal?) New fellow travelers may have roots in another religious tradition, or even no tradition. They may presume those same traditions and norms operate in their new-found family of faith. If they are not “imprinted” with a new culture these presumptions persist, only to erupt later in conflicts over theology and polity.

If we are going to be serious about welcoming new believers, faithful in discipleship, and diligent in our concern for the Body, then we must know and teach our identity.

printer friendly pdf | Current Thoughts Index  |  GRR Home |

 

 

Current Thoughts Archive

© American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region
Permission to copy for noncommercial use is granted

Please visit us at  www.abcgrr.org