T4G, theological education, and the continuing Great Commitment Resurgence

The current gathering of 7,500-8,000 in Louisville, Kentucky for Together for the Gospel (T4G) displays a work of God among His people. It seems to be the direct result of the long and hard fought battle for conservative theology among the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) seminaries in the 1980s and 1990s. Now, 20 years later, a new generation of students have graduated from SBC seminaries, transforming the landscape of churches all across the U.S.

The Conservative Resurgence among Southern Baptists had a transformative impact on the SBC seminaries. A conservative swing among these seminaries was particularly felt by the mid-1990s. With more conservative approach to biblical interpretation came a greater emphasis on biblical approaches to fulfilling the Great Commission. Now, rather than emphasizing "Seeker Sensitive" churches, church leaders are becoming more "Scripture Sensitive."

As biblical scholarship became more conservative, the Calvinism-Arminianism debate also resurfaced. In 2012, as a response to this impending division, President of the SBC Executive Committee, Frank Page, named a Calvinism Advisory Group who crafted a well-balanced report upon which all on the committee could agree. They decided that the fulfilling of the Great Commission was too important to allow disagreement over election to disrupt SBC unity.

Today, approximately 20 years after the Conservative Resurgence greatly reshaped the six SBC seminaries, the landscape for the gospel looks dramatically different. A new generation of students has been trained in what are now half of the largest seminaries of the United States.

The success of this year’s T4G conference provides a mile marker as to the impact of this Conservative Resurgence. Between 7,500 to 8,000 seminary students, pastors, and church leaders are right now gathering in Louisville, Kentucky, to discuss the importance of being “Unashamed” about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are witnessing a new movement toward biblical evangelism that has become prominent in the last 5-10 years. Thank the Lord for His sovereign moving in history!