ISOLATIONISM
The years prior to the outbreak of WW II (i.e. the 1920’s and 1930’s) are notable not just for the Depression that rocked the entire world. During those years, Americans in general were leaning into an approach of non-intervention in the affairs of other nation-states. Of course, Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939, found most European nations and Great Britain completely unprepared. Only the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941 drew the United States into what quickly became a war engaging most of the world.
The isolationism of those years has reared its influence once again. No, I’m not talking about the arena of US Presidential politics. I’m referring to the isolationism I’m observing among Southern Baptist pastors and churches. Since the late 1970’s I have served churches and associations affiliated with the Northwest Baptist Convention (Washington, Oregon, Northern Idaho, a handful of churches in Northern California). It really wasn’t until the early 1990’s that I engaged in denominational affairs.
Now, nearly 30 years later I’m seeing what might be called a great reversal. Churches that were once connected via their local association, their state/regional network of churches, and the national SBC are withdrawing at all levels. Some pastors and church leaders are frustrated by what appears to be inept leadership at the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. Some are just frustrated with denominational infighting. Others are cautious, wondering if the current direction to only allow the word ‘pastor’ to be defined as a male, preaching/senior pastor will immediately be a reason for disfellowshipping a church. Some, maybe just in the West, are so accustomed to doing things alone that there seems to be little reason to collaborate with anyone else for any reason.
Whatever the reason, isolationism has disastrous consequences. It means churches are often unprepared for the cultural shifts that few, if any, saw coming. COVID didn’t really change what was going on in churches. Rather, COVID revealed fractures and flaws that had been building beneath the surface.
One specific issue still keeps me awake at night. When COVID shuttered our church we were totally caught off guard by the physical cost. We (or I) had not paid attention to the need to develop new leadership for family ministries. Some of our older adults, who had been essential preschool and children’s workers were impacted by health issues – not specifically COVID, but issues aggravated by COVID.
Another consequence of the drift to isolationism is the degradation of our communication. Have you been on X (formerly known as Twitter) lately. It’s often embarrassing to see how people, who claim to honor Christ as Lord, talk at and to one another.
Finally, this drift to isolationism will be catastrophic to smaller (yes, I know I’m supposed to use the word ‘normative’) churches. Associations and in some cases the regional/state conventions used to provide resources that allowed these churches to receive top notch training from various experts from around the country. As a younger pastor I thoroughly enjoyed hearing from pastors of mega-churches around the country at our associational and regional events. The drift toward isolationism has cost us many of those opportunities.