The Answer or The New Coke?

On Monday evening the Task Force to study the name change of the SBC reported simply that to change the name would be too costly. I agree! But they did not stop there. In an effort to "keep this issue from coming up every four or five years" they recommended that an official moniker be adopted - Great Commission Baptist.

In the words of the task force this new idea would be optional.

The initial response has been mixed at best. Pleas are being made to be cooperative. The full Executive Committee will vote on Tuesday. Proceeding from there is a mystery. Whether a vote will be required is still to be seen. How the whole deal gets implemented will be something to behold.

Why?

The proposal is non binding, unofficial, and not legal. No church has to adopt it. No agency has to adopt it. What will individual churches do? Agencies? I am still trying to grasp it!

Take a typical southern town. Two SBC churches located within 2 miles of each other. One adopts, one doesn't. A family visits seeking a new church home. One is SBC, one is GCB. The family asks the SBC and the GCB church what they believe. Then it happens. The family realizes that both churches basically believe the same but one has chosen to be known by the moniker and the other by the offical name. Why?

Imagine the answers to that question! Try explaining that one in unity!

I remember when Coke tried this. It failed. As a result there is now no New Coke and no Coke Classic - just Coke. No one could get them straight.

Will we?

I am not trying to be divisive and I do understand the history and baggage, the limitations and potentials. I am just not sure how this is going to play out on a local level between two or more churches in close proximity.

And that greatly troubles me!

And for the record, I like Coke Zero! :)