How about a little pre-convention demagoguery?

It’s June. The SBC annual meeting is only days away. So, how about a little pre-convention demagoguery?

The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force has done their thing. While I wasn’t thrilled with the composition of the Task Force (two thirds megachurch people) or their decision to have secret meetings (excluding even a Baptist Press rep on background) and while I’m not overwhelmed by the group’s recommendations, I think they have done pretty good, particularly in receiving feedback since February and adjusting their stuff.

I’d vote for the report were I to be present. Others will vote against it for one reason or another. Fine. That’s what Baptists do.

But why demagogue the thing?

I ask, does the GCRTF "attempt to redirect church members tithes outside the Cooperative Program" and "try to get us to designate part of our tithe directly to SBC entites"?

Uh, no. It doesn't. It doesn't say that. It doesn't imply that. It doesn't come close to any of that.

So where does that come from? That wording comes from Les Puryear, resident small church demagogue who once went after the job of a prof because Les didn’t like his views on tithing (read it here).

This is cheap shot stuff.

Folks may not like the idea of employing a new label (Great Commission Giving) on things that tens of thousands of SBC churches already do. Some may even believe that it is not the best way to approach church stewardship and denominational support. Some may fear that this will intensify the decades old trend of churches giving less proportionately to the CP. I don't have such concerns but am willing to listen to those who do and can express it in a legitimate manner.

Some will vote against the report. No problem but we can do without this kind of nonsense.