I have recently moved to Florida and started attending a new church. We
have only been there for about a month, so it is hard at this moment to
decide which of the “Nine Marks” is one they neglect. Therefore, I
thought that it would be helpful to note that within my theological
tradition is the one that has been neglected the most, at least within the
last ten years or so. I am a Reformed Baptist, holding to the Second
London Baptist Confession of Faith and the Orthodox Creeds. So, rich
theological training has been the hallmark of my tradition.
Yet, I have noticed that there has been a neglect of evangelism in the last
few years. This lapse has not been the case for Reformed/Particular
Baptists. Andrew Fuller held to the doctrines of grace and was a stalwart
of evangelism. Not to mention, Charles Spurgeon was the most
evangelical preacher who has ever stepped into a pulpit. Yet, I have
noticed the pride of theological knowledge has taken the place of love for
the lost by the proclamation of the gospel. Dever rightly asks the
question, “And how can we claim to love them if we withhold this greatest
of all news from them, and at such high cost to them?”[1] Another area of
concern, which dovetails on evangelism, is discipleship. While I believe
the new church that I am attending now has a better grasp on
discipleship, my previous church had no vision for discipleship. Finally, I
was a member of a Presbyterian church for about two years, and they had
no real understanding of church membership, primarily because of their
views of covenantal membership. Yet, that is understandable, and I was
in no place to argue because I chose to go to that church. I would rather
disagree with a church over baptism and membership than the
sovereignty of God in all things, definite atonement, the person and work
of Christ, etc. We agreed on the non-negotiables.
It is easier to turn the Titanic in some churches than to get some of the
people moving in a new direction. As to evangelism, I believe it is the
pastor’s job to equip the members to go out and evangelize through the
preaching and teaching of the word. I do not believe that you must have
a program-driven evangelism or discipleship ministry if it is being
demonstrated and emulated by the mature believers in the church.
However, I believe that it is helpful to have a new members class to help
members in the church understand their duties and responsibilities.
[1]Mark Dever,9 Marks of a Healthy Church. 3rd ed.(Wheaton: Crossway,
2013), 139.
