Southern Baptists report significant attendance drop

Baptist Standard ^ | May 16, 2022 | Religion News Service

[Morgana]

NASHVILLE (RNS)—Anecdotally, clergy have talked about the disruption in worship attendance in this pandemic age. Now, Southern Baptists have statistics to prove it.

The average in-person weekly attendance at Southern Baptist Convention churches declined 18.75 percent, from 4,439,797 in 2020 to 3,607,530 in 2021.

Christian education saw an even larger decrease of 22.15 percent, with Sunday school, Bible study and small groups reduced from 2,879,130 to 2,241,514.

The Annual Church Profile, a compilation from the denomination’s state conventions, was released May 12 by Lifeway Christian Resources, the convention’s data gathering division.

Researchers also blamed COVID-19 for the slowdown in baptisms in the past two years. While there has been a 26 percent annual increase in baptisms at Southern Baptist churches, from 123,160 in 2020 to 154,701 in 2021, overall baptisms are nowhere near the total of 235,748 reported in 2019, the year before the pandemic began.

Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, said the recent rise in baptisms was due not only to churches’ reopening as the pandemic eased earlier this year, but to the increased evangelism the easing allowed.

“Some people could have been ready to be baptized but delayed it until their church was meeting again,” he said. “But we attribute most of the growth to individuals and churches resuming activities where they have shared the gospel with others.”

Willie McLaurin, the SBC Executive Committee’s interim president and CEO, said in Lifeway’s announcement of the 2021 profile that he rejoiced at the “uptick” in baptisms.

“I am incredibly proud of local churches that have stayed steady with evangelism during the pandemic,” McLaurin said. “The increase in baptisms highlights that local pastors and churches prioritize soul-winning, evangelism and discipleship.”

[Morgana]

This is NOT pick on Southern Baptist night I mean it. I just happen to find this article while scanning through all the ones about the abuse/scandal.

I find it kind of odd this story comes out the same week that the files are released.

Any FReeper here actually a Southern Baptist and can tell us what is going on?

[DannyTN]

Well I’m a Southern Baptist. And I haven’t been to a church service since before Covid started.

So I’m part of our covid attendance decline statistics.

I’m still watching the stats. New cases have risen some in Tennessee, so I’m still being careful.

[Jonty30]

New habits, unfortunately.
Stay out of church long enough and you don’t go back.

[Fai Mao]

You should fear God more than COVID. Are you afraid of dying and missing heaven?

Go to church. The disease is not any worse than the common flu. BTW - I have COPD, caused from scaring on my lungs from TB, so I am high risk. Wear a mask if you want or sit by yourself. But go. Quit living in fear. If I can you can.

[Mark17]

I dumped the SBC, for two reasons, though there may be other reasons I don’t know about. Number one reason, is the adoption of resolution 9, CRT, intersectionality and possibly egalitarianism. Reason number two, was the memorial service for the Pulse night club victims, by FBC, Orlando. Now, we know that Jesus Christ, is the chief cornerstone of our faith. This black preacher, got up and said these gay victims of Pulse, were the chief cornerstone. I was utterly shocked, and had to back up the video, to make sure I heard it right. I did hear it right. If I had been there, I would have gotten up, and walked out. Utter blasphemy. You can look that up for yourself, but here is the resolution 9 video. They are going woke.

https://youtu.be/Rq5c_4Fc0KM (Resolution 9)

We know of course, each SBC church is independent. There are still many good churches out there, but maybe some drop out over resolution 9. I would.

[MayflowerMadam]

We’ve attended SBC churches when no others were available in the areas we lived, but have many problems. Even though they’re allegedly independent, a large portion of our offerings were being funneled to the Convention. The local church should control all of the finances.

I’d never heard of the Orlando issue you mentioned. That is DISGUSTING. Homosexuals are the chief cornerstone? Yes; blasphemy. And THAT is the kind of crap that is funded by the money we put in the offering plates.

We had a problem with the missions thing — Annie Armstrong and Lottie Moon. SBC missions are handled by HQ; local churches don’t know their missionaries personally. In truly independent churches the missionaries being supported visit the churches and give reports on their work. If they go off the rails doctrinally or such, the church can pull support.

Our final straw was when the VBS kids got up on the platform in morning worship service and did an entire hip-hop routine including bumps and grinds.

SBC always has had a tug-of-war between the factions of the fundamentalists and the modernists. The woke crowd seems to be winning for the moment.

[Mark17]

Well, here it is. You can watch with your own eye balls. And what’s even worse, those woke people, gave this dude a standing ovation. That’s despicable.

https://youtu.be/-DlHCrtKJEY

[MayflowerMadam]

Satan is alive and well.

[ViLaLuz]

Number one reason, is the adoption of resolution 9, CRT, intersectionality and possibly egalitarianism. Reason number two, was the memorial service for the Pulse night club victims, by FBC, Orlando. Now, we know that Jesus Christ, is the chief cornerstone of our faith. This black preacher, got up and said these gay victims of Pulse, were the chief cornerstone. I was utterly shocked, and had to back up the video, to make sure I heard it right. I did hear it right. If I had been there, I would have gotten up, and walked out. Utter blasphemy.
...............................

Shocking and heartbreaking.

[Babba Gi]

https://apple.news/Amit1rIc3RO6APVLvaDQbYQ

This latest sex scandal is a bit ironic. It’s an inevitable result of a church that emphasizes who they are not, instead of who they are. There’s nothing new here, sinners are going to sin.

I attended some SBC church’s when I was new to an area, looking for a place to land. I never felt the urge to become a member. My family actually went to one for about six months after a discouraging Nazarene church split. It was odd, that this Baptist Church had an unofficial slogan “we’re not like your regular Baptist Church.” I never could figure out why they remained Baptist. Finally, after forty years of different denominations (Pentecostal to Conservative Baptist) we and our two adult children have returned to orthodoxy.

[AppyPappy]

I’m a Methodist and I still go to church. Man up, Baptists. Church isn’t about you.

[Elsie]

This black preacher, got up and said these gay victims of Pulse, were the chief cornerstone.

I guess we need a little BIBLE here!

---

 

We are living in a Genesis 19:9 world...

 

"Get out of our way,” they replied.
“This fellow came here as a foreigner, and now he wants to play the judge!
We’ll treat you worse than them.”
They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door.

 

---

The Health Risks of gay sex.

---

 

And now,  a BIBLICAL Message about homosexuality

---

 

Genesis 13:13

Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.

Genesis 18:20-21
20. Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous
21. that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."

Genesis 19:4-7
4. Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house.
5. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
6. Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him
7. and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.

---

Leviticus niv

18:22 Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.

20:13 If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. 

           They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

 

 

---

---

Psalms 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.

Isaiah 3:9 The look on their faces testifies against them;

they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it.

Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.

================================================

2 Peter 2:13b Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.

They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

================================================

Ezekiel 16:49-50  "`Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom:

She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.

They were haughty and did detestable things before me.

 Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.

 

---

Romans 1     New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

 

 18 The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them. 20 Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; 21 for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 While claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes.

 

24 Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural, 27 and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper. 29 They are filled with every form of wickedness, evil, greed, and malice; full of envy, murder, rivalry, treachery, and spite. 

---

2 Peter 2

1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
5. if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6. if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7. and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men
8. (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)--
9. if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
10. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings;
11. yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.
12. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
13. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

---

What kind of a people are we;

that we allow men dressed in womens clothes

to pervert the minds of little children?

---

But there IS hope!!!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

  9. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:
      Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
10. nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

If you could NOT change, you would be in most pitiful shape...

---

---

 

Psalms 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.

Isaiah 3:9 The look on their faces testifies against them;

they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it.

Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.

================================================

2 Peter 2:13b Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.

They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

================================================

Ezekiel 16:49-50  "`Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom:

She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.

They were haughty and did detestable things before me.

 Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.

 

---

Romans 1     New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

 

 18 The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them. 20 Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; 21 for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 While claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes.

 

24 Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural, 27 and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper. 29 They are filled with every form of wickedness, evil, greed, and malice; full of envy, murder, rivalry, treachery, and spite. 

---

2 Peter 2

1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
5. if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6. if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7. and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men
8. (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)--
9. if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
10. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings;
11. yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.
12. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
13. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

---

What kind of a people are we;

that we allow men dressed in womens clothes

to pervert the minds of little children?

---

But there IS hope!!!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

  9. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:
      Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
10. nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

If you could NOT change, you would be in most pitiful shape...

---

---

[Elsie]

Jesus would have turned over the money tables.

[moovova]

Zoom for Christ!

[Mark17]

Satan is alive and well.

Yes, wokeness has made its way into the SBC, and some say, it can’t be fixed. We shall see.

[Morgana]

Elsie how long does it take you to type these long fangeled posts?

[SouthernClaire]

Dang IT. I am so glad I didn’t see what you did. I’d need a new t.v. or computer.

We are really getting to witness the separation of true believers from false. Not so difficult to see the differences anymore, is it? The false just keeps getting ... falser.

[Rebelbase]

Ping.

[Mark17]

I just saw a short video by Voddie Baucham. 3 guys in the beginning, asked how could anyone destroy Christianity? The other said, make them woke. Voddie Baucham is NOT into CRT and intersectionality. That is wokeness.

[punknpuss]

I’m a Lutheran (Missouri Synod) and have not returned the past two years because my church was more interested in enforcing state masking mandates than preaching the gospel. I get a cowardly, quisling-like vibe from my church that is repugnant and distasteful. I may never return. I know Christ, so I’m OK with that.