SBC OPTIMISM (updated) #SBC26 I am thankful and generally enthusiastic about where we are in the SBC. I am just one man and I don’t claim to speak for anyone else.  10 reasons I am optimistic: 1. We have a strong cohort of hard-working, theologically solid, evangelistically minded pastors in churches of all sizes. Very encouraging. 2. Many of our SBC churches of all sizes are growing and multiplying. There is unprecedented interest in spiritual things right now in our country - especially from young men. I’ve never seen anything like it. Praise God! 3. Many of our state conventions are becoming stronger, more connected, more strategic, and more visible. Glad to see it. The more local the connections the better I think. 4. We have a solid confession that clarifies important doctrines and unifies us - the BF&M 2000. That document provides the boundaries of our big tent. @albertmohler’s amendment will bring greater clarity on the title, office, and function of a pastor. I’m all for it. 5. Our seminaries and mission boards are headed by clear, unapologetic conservatives. I don’t worship these guys and I disagree with them from time to time but I am thankful for every one of them. They have difficult jobs.  6. Our mission boards are doing excellent work. They are not perfect. But I believe they are effective. I am proud of their leadership and proud of the thousands of missionaries and church planters that we get to support through NAMB and IMB. 7. Our seminaries are a tremendous asset. Again - not perfect - but overall - effective. I was educated at SBTS. Almost all of our pastors at Family Church have degrees from SBC seminaries . I am grateful and supportive. 8. I do not believe the SBC has a widespread problem with feminism, liberalism, racism, sexual abuse, or women pastors. I definitely do not believe there is any large-scale “leftward drift.”   9. Every pastor I know wants to protect kids every way that we can. Every pastor I know wants to offer the gospel to every person regardless of ethnicity. There is near-universal clarity and biblical unity on gender, sexuality, and family structure. 10. If an entity leader is out of step (as some have been)? They can be corrected by their trustees. If a church is out of step (as some are)? They can be corrected at the associational, state, and national levels. Ultimately churches can be voted out. The SBC has a proven willingness to disassociate with churches (even large churches with famous pastors) in egregious and consistent violation of the BF&M2000. Must we be vigilant about articulating and guarding our conservative commitments? Absolutely. Are we perfect? Of course not.  Can we make adjustments or tweak certain things to get better? Of course. The thing I am most excited about for our Convention of churches is the unprecedented opportunity for gospel advance. It’s happening right now. We live in the greatest and freeest and most prosperous  country in the history of the world. The SBC is the greatest and most influential network of evangelical churches in the Western World. There is a highly unusual openness to spiritual things in our culture right now. And we have a powerful gospel that really saves. What a time to be alive. What a time to be Southern Baptist. What a time to serve Jesus.