The SBC and the 21st Century: Reflection, Renewal & Recommitment

by Jason K. Allen

The Southern Baptist Convention is currently facing issues that challenge its identity, heritage, and future. In The SBC and the 21st Century, Revised Edition, key leaders address critical issues such as:

·        Will the SBC grow more unified around shared convictions and mission or will it fragment over secondary concerns and tertiary doctrinal differences?
·        Will the SBC be able to maintain a distinct Baptist identity while engaging and partnering with the broader evangelical community?
·        Will the SBC be willing to reimagine its structures, programs, and efforts to effectively reach the world for Christ or will it risk being a past-tense denomination?

This volume not only promotes meaningful dialogue, it calls leaders throughout the SBC into action. Extensive thought, research, assessment, and wisdom from some of the SBC’s brightest minds have been poured into this volume with the intent of rendering a helpful contribution to SBC life that will propel forward the collective work of Southern Baptists well into the 21st century.

266 pages, Paperback

Published May 15, 2019

About the author

DR. JASON ALLEN is the fifth and youngest president of Midwestern Baptist Seminary. He has served as pastor and interim pastor of Southern Baptist churches in Alabama and Kentucky over the past fifteen years. He currently serves the church more broadly through writing and preaching ministries, including his own website www.jasonkallen.com, where he writes on various topics including higher education, theology, preaching, and cultural and local church issues. He and his wife, Karen, have five children: Anne-Marie, Caroline, William, Alden, and Elizabeth.

Reviews

[C.J. Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, though some chapters could have been taken out. Specifically, I found Patterson's chapter at the end to be a poor close to the book - seemed like his ramblings, though there were some nuggets of truth and help in there.

If you want a popular-level primer to the Southern Baptist Convention, read this one for sure.

[Matthew Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many good chapters. Some ok ones. Tony Merida’s contribution on Preaching the Word was great!

[Benjamin Brophy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a Resource

This work on the SBC at the turn of the 21st century isn't effective as a resource of any special weight. It is filled with chapters that banally repeat obvious needs and axioms. The church's need to be mission-minded, missions supporting, education supporting, mindful of the future, learning from the past, evangelistic, and defending of core Christian truths is so widely understood as to require little reminder, at least in these terms. Most chapters sought to rally the troops but by using words, phrases, and reminders that the troops have heard time and again. Nothing new here.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A more precise rating for me would be a 3.5. This was not a bad book by any means. Its key strength is certainly in the authors & how they were tasked to address particular topics. Additionally, it’s very accessible & illuminating for any/all Southern Baptists, not just seminary students. Its greatest weakness may be its attitude: it is a book about SBC life written by some of the most invested individuals in the SBC, so it is largely an optimistic advertisement for the SBC. There is much to learn, but not much to consider or disagree with.

[Julian Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I felt that this was a solid book. It covered its topics mostly well, though some chapters felt a bit preachy if you'll forgive the pun or redundant when compared to other chapters.

I do feel it did a good job of describing the troubles the SBC has faced, is facing, and will face in the current century.

Solid material, I don't know if I would recommend it immediately, but I wouldn't tell somebody not to read it either.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certain articles in this book were engaging and thought provoking, and others read very dull. The stronger articles had a better influence on me than those that were more boring. A good look at where the SBC has been, and what it needs to do moving forward.

[Samuel Bierig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read!!

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A niche work. Tony Merida's and Collin Hansen/Justin Taylor's chapters were the highlights.

[Alec Holloway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some excellent chapters, some not as much. David Platt, Merida’s, and the last two chapter were some good ones!

[Jordan Litts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat helpful.

[Tristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book for class. Probably won't read again, but a solid book.

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some killer contributions. Particularly stirring chapters are the ones written by Taylor & Hansen, Duesing, Strachan, Allen, and Mohler. These chapters make me proud to be a Southern Baptist.