In recent years, many churches have reduced the percentage of their undesignated gifts to the Cooperative Program. The reasons are manifold — the economy, building programs, increased local missions expenses, rise in medical insurance costs, and disenchantment with leadership at the local or national level. At bottom, however, is a fundamental issue: Do we truly believe that reaching the whole world for Christ remains the essential mandate for our local churches?
While there are many ways to achieve this goal, a tested, tried, and true method we have used is the Cooperative Program. The CP is a unified budget plan that allows us to multiply our individual efforts to reach the world. Note these benefits of the CP.
One, our Cooperative Program arrangement is still the best plan developed to have a fully diversified missions portfolio. In Acts 1:8, Jesus gave four target areas for world evangelization — our community, our state, our nation, our world. Few of our churches can reach all four areas effectively. We can accomplish more when we pool our resources. The CP provides ministry resources (human and physical) for reaching all four spheres of ministry. Of the 10 percent a local church forwards to the state convention, as much as two-thirds stays in the state to help reach and minister to the lost people there. Of the percentage forwarded to the national Convention, a full 50 percent goes directly to the International Mission Board for the purpose of reaching the world for Christ.
The marvel is that at each level, while the number of "streams" diminishes, the percentage forwarded increases. This allows our two Mission Boards to keep over 10,000 missionaries on the field; it allows over 10,000 seminary students each year to enroll for affordable ministry education; it helps our benevolent institutions minister in the name of Christ to bruised children and disabled adults; it supports our local universities to underwrite a portion of the educational costs for our students. Do we want to cripple our cooperative efforts to fulfill the Acts 1:8 vision by undermining such a balanced missions portfolio? I think not.
Two, the Old Testament tithe was an expectation of the Lord regardless of who was in office. Israel had her share of great kings and priests. She also had her share of weak leaders. God's command to bring the tithe into the storehouse was not based on the relative strength of the leaders in office; it was an absolute expectation. While it can be rightly argued that a modern Convention does not share the same theocratic status as ancient Israel, it can also be argued that there is a certain timelessness about two things — God's expectation of the tithe and God's command to make disciples of the nations. Is there a more efficient means to bring the two together than the Cooperative Program? I think not.
Three, if we anticipate that members of our churches will tithe even when they hold some ministries in higher regard than others, should we demand that our Cooperative Program giving meet a higher threshold? Our church members have a voice at the regular business meetings of the church. We as messengers to the Convention also have a voice — some directly through sitting on decision-making bodies; others indirectly, through newsletters, letters to the editor, phone calls, and microphones at the annual meeting. Should those who do not get everything they want simply quit giving? I think not.
Four, when we as individual churches start picking and choosing where our Cooperative Program dollars go, ministries which get hit the hardest are the ones we would most want to support. Since our budget is based on a percentage arrangement, all ministries suffer when the budget is not met. Do we want to hurt one ministry which is dear to our hearts simply because we may be disenchanted with another? I think not.
My church by herself cannot make up the difference of those churches who choose to reduce their Cooperative Program giving. Nor can yours. I am sure most churches would like to keep more money at home. But the need is too great, and the task is too demanding. If we all give 10 percent, can God stretch the 90 percent we keep at home to meet all our needs? We who believe in tithing believe so.
The key for us to win the world is not to direct our monies away from the Cooperative Program; it is for us more fully to support the Cooperative Program. With the end so near, we must not lose sight of the big picture — there is a world to be reached for Jesus!
Reprinted with permission of the Baptist and Reflector and The Union University Bulletin.
Vote CP Launches Effort to Close the Gap
Commenting on the figures from 2003 Annual Church Profile (ACP), LifeWay President Dr. Jimmy Draper said, "The incremental growth to me reflects a denomination that's lost its focus. The Great Commission commands us to go into all the world and make disciples. Although we've seen tremendous strides in overseas baptisms, we are not keeping up with the population growth around the world nor in America."
Vote CP is a dynamic campaign that will crystallize the focus of the body of Southern Baptist Churches as to the dynamic purpose of the Cooperative Program in the 21st century. Sponsored by the Cooperative Program Division of the Executive Committee, this fall initiative will take on an election year look, feel, and urgency.
Vote CP will ask churches to take decisive action to close the widening gap between those who have heard the good news of Christ and those who have not by encouraging them to enhance their cooperative efforts to reach the world.
A vote for CP will be:
• A vote for more missionaries. The goal is simply this: never again will a called, qualified missionary candidate hear, "You can't go. We don't have the resources to send you."
• A vote for thoroughly equipped, godly leaders. If God calls you, you will be equipped for effective service.
• A vote for more baptisms. Increased evangelistic efforts through our mission boards, state conventions, and churches will close the widening gap between those who have heard the gospel and those who have not.
Stop by the Executive Committee booth during the SBC in Indianapolis and get the details on how your church can close the gap by voting CP.
Special Bonus! Sign up to participate in Vote CP and receive your choice of the new complete Holman Christian Standard Bible Pocket Edition or the Bible Navigator Software which also contains the complete HCSB!
Can't get to the SBC? Log on to www.sbc.net/votecp, get the details, and sign up online! You will also have your choice of the Bible or software.
Now more than ever — Vote CP.
