Why We Need Jesus at the Center

Why We Need Jesus at the Center BY ED LITTON

More than anything else, the SBC exists to reach the world for Christ. Our churches are driven by a passion to see the Great Commission fulfilled. It’s why we call ourselves Great Commission Baptists. As a convention, our churches cooperate together, combining our efforts, talents, and resources, to accomplish the goal of getting the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Back in August, I was privileged to visit Anaheim, California, in preparation for the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting. I know it seems early, but June is coming yet again. While I was there, in a room full of pastors, ministry leaders, and laymen, I was pleased to unveil the theme I’ve chosen for next summer’s Annual Meeting. As you might have read by now, the theme for our gathering will be “Jesus: The Center of it All.”

I’ve drawn this theme from the opening chapter of the book of Colossians. In that epistle, Paul proclaims the majesty, power, and primacy of Jesus. He tells us that all things, “visible and invisible,” were created through and for Jesus (1:16). Paul also declares Jesus is “before all things” and that “in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:17). Further, he says that Jesus is the “head” of the church, “the firstborn from the dead,” and “preeminent” in all things. This is the Savior we worship and proclaim.

One thing that God has reminded me of recently is the distinction between fruits and roots. We usually think of fruits as good things that we desire. But we sometimes forget that these good fruits do not exist apart from strong healthy roots. I love and share the zeal of our convention for the Great Commission. We must reach the world for Christ! Yet to do so, we must also remember that mission is a byproduct of something else. In other words, Great Commission zeal is itself a fruit.

I’ve chosen this theme to challenge all of us to fix our eyes on Jesus, to look to him and only him with a renewed sense of desperation as the root and source of our zeal and strength. Our love and passion for Jesus drive us to mission. With dependence and desperation for him we work to make Jesus known among every tribe, tongue, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9). As Jesus himself told his disciples, apart from him we can do nothing (John 15:5).

All of us live busy lives. It can be so easy, even as we work to spread the gospel and see the kingdom of God advance, to get caught up in the work and lose sight of the one we worship. God has laid it on my heart to challenge our convention to place Jesus at the center. We need every part of our convention, every local church, every association, every state and national entity, and most importantly each one of us, to renew our burden and commitment to make Jesus the center of all that we are and all that we do. If we truly want to reach the world for Jesus--and I believe with everything in me that there is nothing we desire more--the world must see Jesus in us.

I want to encourage you to make plans to join us in Anaheim next June for the annual meeting. But let me also encourage you not to wait until June to take up this challenge. Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God. We need our hearts and lives to be ablaze with passion for Him. Pray that Jesus would be the center of our Convention. And join me in begging God to use our passion for Jesus to bring salvation to the world.