THE TEST
by Dean Dickens

Few of us have heard of Molly Ryan of Ballycastle, Northern Ireland. Molly built a fully functioning artificial heart using only household items. For whatever it’s worth, she made her artificial heart using plastic tubing, dental floss, cigarette filters, and a modified vacuum cleaner motor. Total cost was $28.48. It worked at least three years in Molly’s old dog Seamas.

I have this sneaking suspicion that the medical world has a few concerns about further testing.

Texas Baptists should be interested in a few tests.

In the year and half I have co-chaired Texas Baptists Committed with Mauriece, it has been exciting to watch the work of Texas Baptists. The BGCT demonstrates such a wonderful focus on building the Kingdom of God. Gratefully, Texas Baptists Committed plays what many of us feel is a critical role in assisting the convention toward keeping this focus. Other groups may whine about better organization and winning elections—but the only reason these things ever become important is if they lead to undergirding people who are committed to keeping Texas committed to Kingdom business.

Local churches exist to further the Kingdom. Christian schools have their part in Kingdom business. Mission organizations exist for that reason. And it should remain our own focus. But now, I begin to sound like the fundamentalists (want to sound).

My point is that as believers, our goals, actions, and plans should focus on building the Kingdom of God. That “Kingdom Test” should be applied to out agencies and institutions, to the Southern Baptist Convention, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, to BGCT, and to Texas Baptists Committed. If those entities are committed to fulfilling Kingdom Business, we shall be wise enough to support them. If not, let’s not.

When you attend our convocation in Fort Worth on May 31-June 1 at the Ramada Downtown Hotel, listen to what we are addressing. Look at what we want to be doing. Does the agenda of Texas Baptists Committed advance the Kingdom? Check us out. And if you believe we pass the “Kingdom Test,” I hope you will feel confident enough to help TBC through your influence, your financial gifts, and your prayers.

It’s a far cry from Molly Ryan’s artificial heart, but Kingdom Business is still a matter of the heart.

April 1996