Page 6 - Western Recorder October Issue

6
Western Recorder ǀ October 2020
Staying faithful – even when it hurts
WOODS
By CURTIS WOODS
In this issue of Western Recorder, we were asked to pen encouraging words to our friends living in Kentucky and beyond about being Better Together. If you have paid atten- tion to culture-making phrases within SBC Life, then you are familiar with the notable
trate deep into our souls, forming a heart of compassion and action even when naysayers try to cloud out victo- ry’s voice. I say “compassion and action” because these qualities fit the disposition of one of my favorite weeping prophets — Jeremiah.
Let us consider some lessons from the life of Jeremiah on staying faithful — even when it hurts — so that the genera- tions to come realize we are truly Better Together.
Jeremiad of Jeremiah. Bryan Langlands said, “One of the most characteristic features of the biblical prophets is that they serve God on the margins, not enjoying official sanc- tion by the people.
“The prophets are the ones blessed with the curse of seeing clearly because of God’s divine revelation and calling. They are the ones touched with the ability to interpret the semi- otics of God and doomed with the charge to speak divine truth to people who would rather not hear.
“Thus, the vocation of a prophet is a dangerous one, rife with threats and violence. Indeed, one who speaks the truth to power and suffers the consequences for it is often said to have received ‘a prophet’s reward.’”
This was certainly true of Jeremiah. The members of his community group were named Isolation, Pain and Rejection.
At the beginning of his commission, YHWH made Jeremiah’s calling clear, saying, “Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demol-
anthem Better Together. The words indicate a confessional principle within Baptist denominations concerning covenant making. Each church promises to cooperate with other affili- ated churches to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ world- wide, if the mother entities keep the Great Commandment and Great Commission foremost.
I know of no other Baptist denominations that exemplify the power of missional cooperation between churches more than the Southern Baptist Convention. But, lately it seems that some younger Baptist leaders are questioning the mo- tivations of those who have been given leadership authority on a larger scale within our denomination.
When I counsel these young leaders, I hear pain in their voices because they want to believe we are Better Together — even though they see the squeaky wheels getting the most oil — while they remain emotionally worn out. I listen and lament before leading them to remember all the good work the Lord is doing through churches on the margins who will never have a large platform, but are the bulwark of denominational effectiveness.
As a Kentucky Baptist servant leader, I know we are Better Together when we allow the words of Scripture to pene-