In April 1906, through the work of many, especially Rev. J. H. Summers of the Charleston Baptist Association, a church was organized in Edna, MO (now Scott City). At that time, the need for a gospel-preaching church was great. Records from July 1905 indicate that Edna had already completed its fifth saloon, with plans underway for a sixth—clear evidence of the community’s spiritual need. From the very beginning, this church was grounded in truth, as its Articles of Faith were read and adopted, establishing a firm biblical foundation.
Over the past one hundred and twenty years, the First Baptist Church of Scott City, MO has stood as a gathering of people who love the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been born again (John 3:3), saved through repentance and faith in Him, and brought into His body by the Holy Spirit. We long to see the lost saved and believers discipled to grow in their faith in Jesus Christ.
The same need that existed 120 years ago remains today, and how we respond will determine our future. At this moment in history, three options stand before us as a church: we can shrink back in selfish preservation, stand still in self-congratulation, or strive forward in holy determination.
Selfish Preservation: “We Can’t!”
We could choose to shrink back in fear. We can look back with appreciation, look forward with trepidation, and conclude that our best years are behind us. As we look at our world, we throw up our hands and say that we cannot do anything meaningful moving forward. We are just a small church in a small town. We don’t have the funds or the people in order to really make a difference in our community, much less the world. The world is too far gone; therefore, we are just going to wait out the time as best as we can until Jesus returns or calls us home. A church with this attitude becomes a storm shelter in which the members just try to ride out the storm until help arrives.
This attitude is exemplified by the disciples when Jesus asked them “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” (John 6:5). They replied in desperation, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them… there is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they for so many?” (John 6:7-9). In other words, “We can’t do much to help. The problems are too much for us to handle. Might as well send the people away.” If we make the choice to shrink back in fear, we dishonor our Lord who has called us to be salt and light in this world. As a result, we will see a rapid decline culminating in a day where we close our doors as a church and transfer all our property and assets to another Baptist organization. The need is too great for us to shrink back.
Self-Congratulation: “We’re Fine!”
We could choose to naively stand still. We can look back with gratitude and look forward with complacency. We conclude that we should not do anything different. We convince ourselves that we don’t need to change because we are doing well enough. We can grow apathetic and say things such as, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” or “The people of our community know where we are located and what times we meet. If they want to be saved, they will come.” We may even think, “Other churches are struggling because they are not as good as we are.” A church with this attitude becomes a cruise ship where members contentedly float toward their destination simply waiting for their reward to come.
This attitude is exemplified by the Pharisee who prayed, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess” (Luke 18:11-12). In other words, the Pharisee had a very favorable assessment of himself while looking down on others. He thought he was doing great, but did not realize that he was not justified before God. If we make this choice, we dishonor our Lord who has not sent us here to be comfortable but, while there is still time, to storm the gates of hell. If this is our decision, we will see a slow decline culminating in a day where we close our doors as a church and transfer all our property and assets to another Baptist organization. The time is too short for us to stand still.
Holy Determination: “We Must!”
Instead of shrinking back or standing still, we can look back with appreciation and forward with anticipation, knowing that the task is not finished. We can conclude that we must continue to make disciples of Jesus. Our time on this earth is short and there is no greater endeavor that we can commit ourselves to. We cannot shrink back in fear because “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7). We cannot naively stand still because we must “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14). We must strive forward in faith. We must humble ourselves before God and commit ourselves to passionately follow Jesus. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). We cannot do anything without the Spirit of God indwelling and empowering us. We pray for God to stir up our hearts with a desire for ourselves, our families, and our community to be transformed by Jesus Christ. The need is too great to shrink back and the time is too short to stand still. We must make disciples who make disciples. We must live by faith and die in faith.
We must live by faith (Rom 1:17)
God is always calling His followers to live by faith. This means we walk by faith (Rom 4:12), take up the shield of faith (Eph 6:16), and stand fast in faith (1 Cor 16:13). We need courageous people like Caleb who followed the Lord. Caleb knew the Lord wanted him to take the land for the people of the Lord. He said, “Give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day…it may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said” (Josh 14:12). Like Caleb, we need people who will say, “Give me Scott City!” Let us pray that the Lord would use us to transform these people from those who reject God to those who worship Him! Let us live by faith.
We must die in faith (Heb 11:13)
God also calls His followers to die in faith. Death is a consequence of sin (Rom 5:12). It is described as an enemy (1 Cor 15:26). But, we are told “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28). We need bold people like Paul who said, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). Isaiah 57:1-2 says that when the righteous die, they are “taken away from evil. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” It has been wisely said, “You are not prepared to live until you are prepared to die.” We can become so afraid of dying that we shrink back in fear or naively stand still. Christians can become so fearful of death that they fail to live for Jesus. Let us have boldness and faith to follow Jesus. We must be faithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We must humbly pray and commit ourselves to Jesus and ask Him to guide us in the way He sees fit. Let us boldly go forward in faith, making disciples for the glory of God.
First Baptist Scott City, MO 
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