Different Opinions but Similar Concerns

Dr. Bart Barber over at Praisegod Barebones has presented an articulate rendering of the reasons he cannot add his signature to the Twelve Axioms of a Great Commission Resurgence. I signed this document as one that is taking this document at face value.  Dr. Barber, while he takes it at face value, presents some convincing arguments for not signing the document.  His most convincing argument stems from his historical discipline. The call for restructuring is an open ended call with no exact reasons other than the bloated bureaucracy.  It seems that we heard that call less than 15 years ago and we still have a bloated bureaucracy.

As I said earlier, I have already added my signature to this document and I am excited about doing so.  I will gladly get on the train.  I certainly do not want to nor need to drive the train, but I surely desire to step up and blow the whistle.  Neither does Dr. Barber desire to drive the train and I am certain he desires to blow the whistle also, but his caution is one worth noting.  As we ride this Great Commission Resurgence train let’s begin defining a phrase like a sufficient guide. On what track will this phrase place this Great Commission Resurgence train? We certainly need to call for this movement to take place in the local churches.  This is the only track that will take this train into the future.  As the Great Commission Resurgence moves the  convention forward the train must be driven by the local church.  Any convention that is led by the bureaucratic servants ceases being a convention and becomes a denomination.  If that happens the convention will then be defined by the leaders of the entities and not the people in the pew.

I believe that Dr. Barber has raised some valid concerns.  He and I do not agree on the signing of this document as I see no problem placing my name on it.  However, we do share the same concerns about the track this train is running.