A Good Word from Chuck Lawless

Dr. Chuck Lawless is Dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism, and Church Growth at Southern Seminary and one of my professors. A pastor and scholar, Dr. Lawless is, in my opinion, one of the best we have among Southern Baptists.

You need to read his editorial at Baptist Press today, entitled, "Why I Love Southern Baptists ... and Why I Am Concerned." It is a wonderfully balanced commentary on the state of our denomination. He addresses our lack of focus on the Great Commission, the sad passing of missions education for children (his comment on programmatic failure and leadership is worth remembering), and denominational identity. He nails the issue when he says that commitment to being Southern Baptist is "a commitment to the Word, to biblical doctrine, and to a unique way of supporting North American and international missions."

Then he brings it home with a call to prayer.

Thanks for the good word, Dr. Lawless.