NEW ORLEANS (BP)–In celebration of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s Founders Day, longtime pastor Nelson Price from Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., said the foundation of the Christian faith — and that of the seminary — rests on Christ alone.
Price, who recently announced his retirement after 35 years of ministry, noted how many academic institutions have swayed from their original intentions to honor Christ as their foundation, while New Orleans Seminary has stayed true to its purpose.
He shared excerpts from original purpose statements of some of the most well-known universities in the United States:
“Students should know the Bible from cover to cover.”
“Jesus the only foundation for learning.”
“Engage the children to know Christ.”
Tragically, these institutions have forgotten their foundation, Price lamented in his Oct. 3 chapel sermon. Though they started teaching on the foundation of Christ, their focus changed to rationalism, existentialism and Unitarianism. Today it is the New Age, he said.
“That is what happens when an individual, institution or nation forgets the solid foundation of Christ,” Price continued. “When a decadent nation turns its back on God, it turns back to the gods of decadence.”
Conversely, NOBTS has remained faithful to her original calling, Price observed. Noting that NOBTS had great predecessors of faith, he referred to the seminary’s original purpose statement in 1918, which stated that “this institution shall center around the study of the Bible as the Word of God.
“That should be the foundation of your life and my life,” Price exhorted.
Referencing 1 Corinthians 3:11, Price emphasized that no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. “I appeal to you to study the Scripture. [There you’ll find that] the sovereignty of Jesus Christ is the foundation for our lives.
“Meditate on Jesus Christ constantly. Think the thoughts of Christ,” he urged.
Price also pointed out the responsibility Christians, particularly ministers, face in overseeing their flocks. “Someday I will have to kneel before Christ to account for my time as overseer of my congregation for 35 years,” he said, pointing to the Acts 20:28 passage which admonishes leaders to take heed to feed the church.
“I start every sermon with the same two words … Jesus Christ. If I have my congregation’s attention for three seconds, they will have gotten the message,” he said.
Pointing to the parable of the sower, Price encouraged the chapel congregation to remember the seminary’s heritage and the seeds that have been planted for the benefit of today’s generation. “You can be the key to roots growing in prosperity or roots that are withering,” he challenged.
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