Crossing Over

Our proclaimed faith in Jesus Christ is intended to produce fruit to the honor of His name. As James puts it, good works proceed out of our relationship with Jesus. James chapter 2 says:
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

There is no amount of "works" that can result in our being ushered into the Kingdom of God - except one...that is, the accept Jesus as the Lord and Savior of our lives.  That's it - we cannot earn the grace of God nor work our way into salvation. But, once we are saved, we are called to be His disciples, placing ourselves into His hands and allowing the Holy Spirit to do Christ's work in our hearts and through our lives. 

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1 Peter chapter 4 contains some powerful words that can influence our mindset as servants of God. We can read:
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The Southern Baptist Convention occurred recently in Nashville, and while procedures and policies, which are very important, mind you, received the lion's share of attention, there was a component of the Nashville gathering that was consistent with the moniker that the Convention is using that declares that they are "Great Commission Baptists."

The work of evangelism has traditionally been a key aspect of the SBC, and at the annual meeting, for a number of years, there has been an event called, Crossover.  This year, according to the Tennessee Baptist newspaper, the Baptist and Reflector:

Crossover Nashville featured a wide variety of large-group gatherings, with churches in Middle Tennessee hosting block parties, concerts, outdoor worship services, ice cream socials, family movie nights and other events.

The report went on to say that:

Mark Miller, baptism/discipleship team leader and Sunday School specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. “We are so thankful for the churches who participated, and we were glad that Middle Tennessee was saturated with gospel conservations.”

Miller said the final numbers from the week had not yet been tabulated, but said the early returns from Crossover Nashville showed more than 100 professions of faith and 150 additional decisions. It is estimated that more than 3,300 gospel conversations took place.

Roy Vargas was one of the participants, along with almost 100 other seminary students.  He was quoted by Baptist Press as saying: “People were just at the place where we could see that the Holy Spirit had been working in their lives...As we were sharing the Gospel, people were getting convicted of their sinful nature, and they were coming to Christ. My team was able to share the Gospel and see the fruit of eight different conversions for the glory of Jesus Christ.”

The article notes that a collaborative effort was taking place "between national, state and local Southern Baptists." Churches that held special events included Shelby Avenue Baptist Church and New Season Church. The article relates:

Shelby Avenue hosted local vendors and provided food for those in their community as members of FAITH Riders, a national group of Southern Baptist motorcyclists who share the Gospel across the U.S., assisted the church.

In East Park in Nashville, New Season Church partnered with the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists (COSBE) and the Nashville Baptist Association as they set up inflatables and invited those in the area to attend. COSBE president Richard Hamlet presented the Gospel and invited people to put their faith in Christ.

New Season held a baptism service on Sunday morning, and the church "went out into their community" after its conclusion.

This is a prime example of the church going into the world.  In the city of Nashville on Saturday, June 12, churches were going into communities, setting up where the people are, in order that Christ would be exalted.  We have to make sure that we are not complacent, expecting people to come to us.  We can realize that we have been sent, we have been dispatched, to be a shining light for Jesus in this world. 

While our church buildings can serve as "ministry centers," equipping and edifying believers and sharing the love and truth of Christ with unbelievers, it can be unrealistic to think that people will necessarily come through the church doors. That why the idea of the Church being "sent" or "on mission" is so important.  

And, we ourselves have to be careful not to completely be consumer-minded in our interaction with the local church.  Our position as members of the body of Christ means that we not only receive from the Lord and grow in Him, but to not keep that to ourselves, to realize that He gives our lives meaning and purpose, and we can derive satisfaction through service to our King.