The SBC (Southern Baptist Convention) has continued their downward decent in membership with recently published data sadly marking it the 18th year in the trend. With 12.7 million members in 2024 it shows a 2% decline over 2023.

However, while memberships are down, baptisms increased by 10% over the same time period. On a further positive note …

“An average of over 4.3 million people worshiped weekly in SBC congregations, with over 2.5 million being involved in small group Bible study on a weekly basis. Both numbers were around 5% higher than what was reported for 2023.”

Why?

The general explanation for the continuing loss of members is that churches are leaving the convention over its views on women in pastoral roles within the church, and social issues such as their stance on abortion and gay marriage. The most public of these disfellowships was Saddleback Church in 2023 who added a woman pastor to their staff.

Running contrary to an overall loss of members, one should be encouraged that those remaining are attracting new believers into SBC churches to be baptized and to become involved in weekly Bible studies.

The Lord will bring into His fold all those who are truly seeking His will as the sheep are separated from the goats, and the wheat is separated from the chaff.

Matthew 25:33 – And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

Matthew 3:12 – His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

This is not to suggest that those who depart from SBC churches are goats and chaff. But it is to be a reminder that a Christian church which holds to a Biblical worldview in the face of social pressure is honoring God and His Word. One that rejects God’s commands is like a ship without a rudder, the evidence of which can be viewed by the accelerated decline and deconstruction of mainline ecumenical churches and those who drift in that direction.

James 3:1 – Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.