Publisher's Synopsis
Is the largest Protestant denomination in the world doing all it can to reach the world for the cause of Christ? The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) leaders and members agree that God is calling the denomination to a Great Commission Resurgence-a renewed commitment to "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Retreat or Risk gathers provocative, motivating essays by well-known pastors and scholars that reveal the surprising current situation amongst Southern Baptists, count the cost of reaching out in Jesus' name to a lost and needy world, and urge the reader to a deepened commitment to be willing to forsake all for the call of Christ. "Are we going to die in our religion, or are we going to die in our devotion?" asks David Platt in the stirring introduction. Other noted contributors include Thom Rainer ("Evangelistic Effectiveness in the SBC Since 1979"), Ed Stetzer ("SBC Decline and Demographic Change"), R. Albert Mohler Jr. ("The Future of the SBC"), Ronnie Floyd, Daniel Akin, Al Jackson, and SBC president Johnny M. Hunt. The book's editor, Baptist21.com contributor Jedidiah Coppenger, makes sure the varied topics are easy to follow and also provides a helpful chapter about the functional significance of how the SBC operates.
