baptist press with a log in its eye...

i have posted several times about the large contrast between the southern baptist convention's reported membership of over 16 million, and the actual reported attendance of just over 6 million. [see here] and here]

the past two years at the annual sbc meeting, the executive committee has decided *not* to allow a vote calling the churches to integrity in church membership.

if almost 2/3 of our "members" on the rolls do not attend, why do we count them as members?

yet when mentioned in national media reports the SBC, is always described with the "16 million member" designation.

for an example, see this article written june 16 of this month, note the "16.3 million-strong" designation in the second paragraph.

16.3 million strong? how is it "strong" when over 10 million out of 16 do not go to church?

where do these media outlets get this number?

from the SBC.

with this in mind, i find it interesting that the SBC's own media outlet, baptist press, chose to run an article on the lack of honesty in the reporting of numbers in another baptist denomination [read story here]

hello, pot?
meet kettle.

when i read this article, i couldn't help but think of jesus' words in matthew 7:2-5 :

For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by
your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye,
but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how
can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of
your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You
hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then
you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

may the lord grant our denomination the integrity to be honest about our own numbers, and humility when seeing the same lack of in others.

[HT: tom ascol/founder's blog]