I was talking to a Pastor here in Kearney, Nebraska. We starting talking about the church culture here in Kearney, then throughout Nebraska, and then throughout the Midwest.
The pastors name is Mike Sheilds, he is the pastor of Kearney Evangelical Free Church. It is a great church led by a great pastor. He greatly respects the SBC and realizes that the EFCA and the SBC are quite similar theologically. As we were talking he told me that there have been a few different SBC church plants the last couple of years, but all of them were short lived.
It kills me to see my convention be completely ineffective in an entire region in America. Catholicism is the predominant religion throughout the midwest. The Evangelical Free Church of America is the most predominant evangelical denomination that believes in Believers Baptism in the midwest, but they do not do near the missions as we do. It is not that I care about ’spreading our denomination.’ I care about spreading the gospel and getting believers engaged in good churches. The Midwest is very religious, but there are few good churches. The SBC needs to try and reach this region. As of now, we are doing a less than average job.
I do not have any answers so I come to you… (Unless NAMB would like to hire me to lead a church planting movement 
What does the SBC have to do to reach the Midwest?
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
great post. i graduated from MBTS last year, plus some of my friends and former classmates have endeavored to plant churches, so i’m sensitive to this issue.
i have to believe NAMB has a strategy, as well as the Kan.-Neb. convention and the others. one problem might be that so much effort is made to plant a church out in the middle of nowhere. those places need faithful churches too, don’t get me wrong, but i think you have to establish multiple, healthy churches in the larger cities. then you cultivate an atmosphere of cooperation and partnership between churches to reach the outskirts and byways and so forth.
it would be interesting to see just how many of those failed plants were started in the rural areas where no “sister” churches were nearby. to be honest, this is a little beyond me, but it’s the strategy in Acts and one that missions organizations have put to good use.
again, interesting post
mikes last blog post..letting kids be kids, and sometimes batman
Mike,
Where are you now?
I think you are right in the strategy of planting multiple churches in the larger cities is the best way to go about it. Kearney, the town I mentioned in my post. Isn’t a huge city, but it is not rural either. There are other Evangelical denominations that do great in Kearney, but the SBC is no where to be found!
If NAMB would make Lincoln or Omaha Nebraska a target city and plant a few- hopefully at least 5- churches there it would be a great start. Then NAMB could plant in some of the smaller cities in Nebraska to get a solid base before hitting the more rural parts. If the SBC would get 5-10 solid church plants in Lincoln and Omaha those churches could then plant in Kearney, Grand Island, Broken Bow, West Point, Hastings, Beatrice, Freemont, Norfolk, Scotts Bluff and before you know it there is a SBC church in every influential city in Nebraska. Once you get to that point it is only a matter of time until there are SBC churches throughout rural Nebraska. Why is this important? Because most churches in these smaller cities are either catholic, Assembly of God, or very traditional Presbyterian and Lutheran. There are very few good churches with solid theology in Nebraska.
The same could be done in Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Idaho, etc… I think it is best to start in Nebraska because there are more cities and it is in the very heart of the Midwest. If the SBC could target Nebraska it would not be long until there was a solid SBC influence all throughout the Midwest.
Unless of course the SBC just won’t work in the Midwest because of its name…
Matt Svobodas last blog post..Two New Additions to the Blogroll
As a native Carolinian and Southern Baptist who has lived in Iowa for the last few years, I can say that people vastly underestimate the level of similarity between the “liberal” Northeast and the “conservative” Midwest. As for Protestants, the mainline denominations have a near monopoly on most of the towns throughout the Midwest, and many of these seminary-trained ministers have brought their liberal training into the churches they pastor. In the mid-size city in Iowa that I live in, at least half of the Protestant churches are fully and openly supportive of gay marriage — to just give one example, among other problems. I know other good-willing evangelicals from the South who move to Iowa and are truly surprised at how liberal the churches (and schools) are. Evangelical pastors who have tried to do church plants in our city face a rather well-educated and liberally-educated populace. They do not know how to communicate the gospel in this culture, and they hurt themselves when they harp on secondary issues (or non-issues) like evolution or alcohol-use, or when they overly-simplify the Gospel to, “You’re a sinner; I can prove you’re a sinner; confess and be saved!” One EFCA church plant actually goes to the local mall on Saturdays and questions people on “Have you ever lusted, been angry, etc…You’re a sinner…Jesus saves.” I kid you not.
Kevin Daviss last blog post..The Southern Minister
SBC has to do theological triage, and be willing to bend on tertiary issues such as Total Abstinence from Alcohol, which have no scriptural warrant, to reach the non-southern regions of the country.
Matt, one thing “I” could do, that I haven’t done, is pray specifically for the Midwest’s evangelism efforts. After all, I do live in Oklahoma now. Wonder why, exactly, those churches closed. did the pastors give up? did the isolation get to them? do these classmates have a sister church that undergirds and encourages? These are a few of the thoughts that come to my mind. “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me.” Jesus selahV
selahVs last blog post..HOMESCHOOLERS BEWARE: If it starts in one state, it can move to yours.
Our local association helped a church plant in Kerney NE for three years strait. The first year they sent youth and adults to do a door to door survey of the whole city to find out what church they attended, age and number of children ect. They also sent to two crews to do some construction and remodeling on the building. The next year they sent a large group of youth to hold sports camps (vbs) in all the parks in the city. I think the number of salvations was in the 40’s? At the time the church had 10-15 on Sunday mornings. The thrid year they held Sports Camps again with similar results. But the church had not shown any real signs of growth. Also mixed in this three year period were prayer walks and extra fund were sent with more carpenters.
I was not very active in these mission trips. The church I was pastoring was burnt out when I came there, they made three trips the two years prior. I don’t know why the church plant didn’t work out? It wasn’t for lack of trying, help or funds.
As a Southern Baptist I spent 3 decades in the northeast where our problem was our name SOUTHERN Baptist. I came to believe that name alone was the primary stumbling block. It’s illogical, but nevertheless true. How would a “Yankee Baptist Convention” fare in the south? That’s a simplistic answer, but one couched in experience.
I agree wholeheartedly with Kevin. I grew up in Ann Arbor, MI and moved back 3 years ago. Part of moving back was my feeling God’s call on me to pastor or plant in Ann Arbor, an extremely liberal town. As I’ve been reading and praying about God ’s call, I’ve been doing some research about all churches in town. Here’s the page here
http://intersected.org/2009/03/03/ann-arbor-churches/
Notice how many Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic and Presbyterian churches and notice how few evangelical churches there are.
Chris Blackstones last blog post..Ann Arbor Churches
Don, I have to add that the little Southern Baptist church in East Hartford, Connecticut was the sole reason I started going to church after nearly 16 years. I grew up in Virginia and attended a So.Bpt. church there. When I married, I tried several faiths and could not find one that fit my upbringing. It wasn’t until I was so far away from God that I was one step from sinful death that the Lord led my Yankee friend to the FB church in East Hartford. She invited me there and I was united with the Lord and afterwards my Yankee husband, yankee friends, and yankee children were saved. From that church I saw multiple Yankees surrender to full-time ministry and go to Seminary in Louisville, KY, including my husband who attended Boyce Bible School. He then became a minister of the Gospel and served for over 23 years in small to medium size churches in Kentucky. Talk about a culture shock. Move from the north to the south and try to work in a church.
It has nothing to do with the name Southern, in my biased opinion. It has to do with the people’s hearts and the people’s love of Jesus and the desire to share the Gospel. FBC East Hartford began in a YMCA and went on to mother other churches and some grew larger than FBCEast Hartford. East Hartford outgrew its space and location and moved to Manchester, CT to be renamed FBC Manchester. That is where my brother attends today. And his Yankee wife and Yankee daughter were saved.
From East Hartford, a deaf Yankee deacon and his wife were called to minister full-time and went to SBTS to study. He graduated and serves in Illinois. Just wanted to add a different perspective. selahV
selahVs last blog post..HOMESCHOOLERS BEWARE: If it starts in one state, it can move to yours.
Oh yeah, that’s what we need to do….dont preach or teach on anything that might be controversial…like drinking alcohol! Let’s not tell people that they are sinners in need of a Savior! Oh no, my goodness gracious, no. They might not like it. They might reject us.
So, let’s stay away from everything that might be offensive to the lost, “liberal,” crowd in the Midwest. For Heaven’s sake, dont tell them that fornication and adultery is wrong, either. I’m sure that many of them are doing this, and they like it. It would turn them off to your Church plant.
Also, there’s a few things about the Gospel that would offend people who think that they’re ok, and you’re ok, and dont like to hear about Jesus dying for their sins.
By all means, let’s not offend. Let’s be marshmellow, jello, Mr. Milquetoast Christians, who preach like Joel Osteen, so that we can get the crowds in.
David
PS. This sarcastic post was not meant to be hateful, nor mean towards anyone. The sarcasm was made to make a point. I love everybody.
Don,
I wholeheartedly agree that the name Southern Baptist hinders efforts in the Midwest, Northwest, and Northeast much more than most SBCers realize. But old men hate change so I am not sure what we can do about it.
(hey everyone, elect me president and I will fix all the problems the SBC has ever had and will ever have)
(the comment above was indeed a joke)
Matt Svobodas last blog post..The Problem of Plagiarism from the Pulpit
I have the advantage of being Midwesterner – pastored in Iowa now for nearly 20 years.
If we want to establish churches in the Midwest, several things are important:
1) I think changing the name of the SBC would be a great start, but that is not likely to happen. Midwesterners don’t always have the most positive view of the south.
Since our convention has consistently refused to de-emphasize our southern roots, the response in the Midwest has generally been to omit the name. Try finding an SBC church in the Midwest, established in the last 10 years, that has Baptist in the name.
2) As one commenter mentioned above (and was harshly ridiculed by David Worley) – we need to give up legalism and extra-biblical mandates.
I talked to a young Christian who had a brief period of spiritual confusion when he started reading the Bible for himself and realizing that some of the rules he had had drilled into him in Sunday School had no biblical support.
Midwesterners tend to view “Southern” Baptists as legalists – don’t drink, smoke, cuss or chew and do not go with girls who do! That is the perception, and the best solution to that is to be authentically biblical and leave legalism behind when we cross the Mason-Dixon line.
3) this may be most important – good leaders who are committed to working in the Midwest and not just trying to impose Southern culture in the Midwest.
If we establish biblical churches with solid, godly leaders, it will work here as well as anywhere else.
Dave Millers last blog post..Thorns on a Rose: An Analysis of Dr. Yarnell’s Sermon
Dave,
AMEN on your last point. The leaders must have a heart for the reaching the Midwest as is and not want to ‘convert the Midwest’ to typical Southern Baptist culture…
I agree with your assessment overall. All of the points you made are needed in order to successfully plant biblical churches in the Midwest.
Matt Svobodas last blog post..The Problem of Plagiarism from the Pulpit
I wonder if sometimes these church starts begin with B.I.G. dreams and when they meet the reality of small-time, they just give up. Good is good. I don’t know why we always have to feel like we have to have a Saddleback Arena in the middle of a vast farmland to have a good church. The Gospel CAN and WILL stand alone. I think farmers probably don’t care much for all the extra stuff that comes with mega churches. How about a small start with a once a week service that focuses on a time when a farmer doesn’t need to be in his field? How about giving away free seed to farmers on a Saturday afternoon with a dinner and a parable thrown in for good measure? Christ always met people where they were. Sometimes I think we forget that when we try to reach out and minister to folks.
Be blessed,
Sallie
Sallies last blog post..Bright Eyes…
I need to give a shout out to Mike Shields. I did, indeed, misspell his name in the post!
Sorry Mike!
Matt Svobodas last blog post..The Problem of Plagiarism from the Pulpit
“The leaders must have a heart for the reaching the Midwest as is and not want to ‘convert the Midwest’ to typical Southern Baptist culture…”
For all the celebration on how missionally astute southern baptists claim to be, it always amuses me how much sbc “missions” is just transplanting the southern hospitality and cultural Christianity of Tennessee and Texas into the rest of the world. How many sbc churches in the midwest are really just the stomping ground of those southerners in the area who have moved there and want a familiar church culture?
Darby Livingstons last blog post..Real Help for Those Hurting Financially
Let me clarify. Walking into most sbc churches I’ve been to in the midwest is like walking into a time and culture warp totally unlike the neighborhoods where they meet. There is Christian. And then there’s southern baptist Christian. Unfortunately, the sbc has been very good at franchise duplication, even to a fault.
Darby Livingstons last blog post..Real Help for Those Hurting Financially
Darby,
I think the first wave of SBC churches in the Midwest tended to be that way. When a business hired a group of Southerners, they planted a Southern Baptist Church so that they could worship and feel at home. It was Southern Culture tranferred into the north.
The struggle now is sorting out what is biblical and essential from what is cultural and subjective. I think we have sometimes swayed too far one way or the other on this one.
In Iowa, the successful SBC churches have had (besides doctrine, preaching, etc):
1) Focus on their community – they have invested in blessing their community, in being Iowan, not Texan, etc. Its hard to describe what that means, but it is subtle. We do not run as many traditional programs. Sunday School may not be quite the central focus it is in other places. Baptist may or may not be in name and we seldom advertise that we are Southern Baptist. Our church has an Upward Basketball and Soccer program which hundreds in the community participate in.
2) Stable leadership – Iowa churches cannot survive the “3 years and out” pastoral transition that so often takes place. We need stable, godly leaders who stay and build. The pastor has to energize and equip the laity.
3) Cooperative Spirit – Southern Baptists in the south may have the luxury of upholding the “Baptist Identity” view of us as God’s favorites, but it is just not an option here. We have to fellowship and participate with the broader Christian community. There just aren’t enough SBC churches around to do it all. Associations in the South have more churches and dollars than our entire convention.
The Upward ministry I mentioned above is administrated by our church, but is a partnership with an Assembly of God and a MO Synod Lutheran church. We work with them to minister to the families of this city. We just don’t have the option to be exclusivistic like you might have in the South.
4) A Focus on what is real. We HAVE to focus on our real mission, or we will die. In the South, some churches have brand and name loyalty. People have been in an SBC church, or in a particular church, for generations. They might ride out problems and keep things together. Here, there is NO SBC brand loyalty and little church loyalty. If the church loses its way, get sidetracked by in-fighting, stops evangelizing, etc, we are dead meat.
There is no institutional momentum to keep the church going.
5) Mega church? What’s a Mega church? My church runs a little over 300 on a good Sunday. We lead our state in CP giving (neck and neck with another good church). In the South, a church of 300 would be considered a small church. In the Midwest, we are nearly a mega-church.
Its a whole different culture.
I can’t tell you how many churches we have closed in Iowa in my 20 years. Many of them were once running 100 or more on Sunday mornings. The pastor left. The church started fighting. The church forgot its purpose – and five years later, we are selling the property.
Dave Millers last blog post..Thorns on a Rose: An Analysis of Dr. Yarnell’s Sermon
I am considering heading in that direction when I finish school. Well that is considering I don’t get a teaching job right away.
Joshua Stewarts last blog post..What’s the answer concerning Christ?
Joshua,
If you decide to come up this way to do some church planting get ahold of me. That is if you are wanting to stay for a long time rather than getting a teaching job somewhere else.
Matt Svobodas last blog post..Looking Ahead to The Big 12 Tournament
Dave,
Is preaching that adultery and fornication is sin “legalism?” Do you really believe that?
Is preaching about people being sinners in need of a Savior “legalism?” C’mon, Dave.
I guess when someone preaches thru the Bible verse by verse, as I do, then I will have to skip those verses if I’m starting a Church in Iowa?
I’m really interested in hearing your answer to these questions after you scorned me and told everyone to leave this kind of legalism behind…dont let it cross the Mason-Dixon line.
David
David, I have no idea where I said anything about not preaching against adultery or fornicationi. Could you please help me with that?
You seem to think my comment had something to do with you. Other than noting that you were sarcastic and abusive in your previous comment, I did not write in reponse to you.
We need to preach the Bible, not Southern cultural norms. We need to be authentically biblical.
I am just not sure where you got the idea that I thought we should not preach about adultery and immorality. Did you read what I wrote?
Dave Millers last blog post..Without Hindrance: Acts 28:31
To clarify, I did not “scorn” you . I just pointed out that you used harsh ridicule to respond above.
Dave Millers last blog post..Without Hindrance: Acts 28:31
Dave,
I’m sorry, I guess when I read your comment…”2) As one commenter mentioned above (and was harshly ridiculed by David Worley) – we need to give up legalism and extra-biblical mandates,” I just assumed that you were talking about me. I guess you didnt read my PS at the end of my comment, either.
I agree that there are many “rules” in Southern culture that get preached in pulpits that should not be preached across the Mason-Dixon line, nor below it, either. If you’re talking about preaching against smoking, or wearing your hair too long, or not playing cards because it’ll look like you’re gambling, or dont chew tobacco, and dont kiss girls that do, and such. But, to call legalism what Kevin said in his comment when he said…”They do not know how to communicate the gospel in this culture, and they hurt themselves when they harp on secondary issues (or non-issues) like evolution or alcohol-use, or when they overly-simplify the Gospel to, “You’re a sinner; I can prove you’re a sinner; confess and be saved!” That concerns me. Secondary issues like evolution!!!!! Like alcohol use!!! Like telling people that they’re sinners in need of a Savior!!!
And, Dave, did you scorn me. You did jump on my back. When you said that I harshly ridiculed someone…what does that convey? My PS at the end of my comment explained what I was doing. I know that you have a hard time with sarcasm to make a point, or with humorous sarcasm to make a point…but, sincerely, I was trying to be mean to anyone. I was just trying to make my point in a strong way thru sarcasm. Oh well. I’ve got things to do.
David
Volfan, You big bad, chicken-eating, sweet-tea guzzling, narrow-minded, God’s-way-or-the-highway, Meanie! You remind me of a spokesman for some guys who responded to their critics: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obey you rather than God, you must decide (judge). But we [ourselves] cannot help telling what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19,20
Just know if you get locked up some day for doing what you do, I’ll be praying for you. I still believe in angels, too. selahV
selahVs last blog post..SOME QUESTIONS WORTH REHASHING…I THINK.
Selah,
I’m just a big ole, lovable Teddy Bear.
David
haha.. this has gotten weird.
Matt Svobodas last blog post..Looking Ahead to The Big 12 Tournament
Matt, why hello! didn’t know you were reading anything I said. ha ha. things always get weird when folks like Volfan and I enter a stream. We’re like goldfish in a shark tank most times. selahV
selahVs last blog post..SOME QUESTIONS WORTH REHASHING…I THINK.
“Goldfish in a shark tank”
Yeah, that’s exactly how I would describe you guys.
Darby Livingstons last blog post..Real Help for Those Hurting Financially
I grew up in South Eastern Idaho in a town that has a higher percentage of Mormons than Salt Lake City to say that there is a culture difference between home and Texas is an understatement there is a reason I tell my fellow students that it is a foreign mission field. It was quite a shock for me coming from a convention of two states to a state with two conventions. Also coming to a region of cultural Christianity from a region where being anything but Mormon meant you were ostracized was a switch.
To say that we need to plant more churches I feel is a misnomer in my home association and actually through out Idaho there are few towns that do not have a SBC church most of them have been around for over forty years and were started as a mission from a larger church in the area. What we do need is stronger churches that reach the community. The main source of weakness I feel is pastors and other staff members who are hired to our churches in the region who realize that they can’t adapt to the culture and go home. I feel that we need to is more people local people to answer the call to become minsters go to school and come back to the region to serve. Are there still areas the need a church plant yes. But these are small towns that can be covered with the local churches with a little help.
Dave, I agree with you that sinners in need of salvation and evolution are not secondary things but I feel that Kevin is correct when he says that many times there is an oversimplification of salvation. It takes time and usually many conversations to share the gospel with a Mormon you just can’t come up to them and say your a sinner I can prove it and you need to repent 9 times out of 10 that approach will turn them off and shut down any future opportunities. You get much the same reaction from non religious people up there. Independence form anything and stubbornness run deep in the culture. When it comes to other issues though like it or not we do have a tendency as Southern Baptists to be known by what we are against not by what we are for and that is something that needs to be changed.
Darby, I’m so glad you agree.
selahV
selahVs last blog post..SOME QUESTIONS WORTH REHASHING…I THINK.
I always agree with you and David.
Darby Livingstons last blog post..Real Help for Those Hurting Financially
Jon, I had the privilege of witnessing to some mormons who came to my door. We talked and talked. They came three times. I gave them tracts, they gave me their “book” and their video. I do believe God used those visits to plant some seeds. I sincerely pray so. We never were hateful or disrespectful in talking to one another and I’d welcome the opportunity to have them come again. I must admit though that many folks are intimidated by Mormons showing up at their doors. But that is the best way to reach them. If we put doubt in their thinking by our love, our confidence in Christ and Christ alone, and kindness (I gave them water, it was very hot out.), it plants seeds that can take root when they go back to their Utah homes. Wish I was able to come to Utah and plant a church. too old. You folks are gonna have to do it in our place.
It takes a strong man of God who places his entire efforts in God’s hands and doesn’t get discouraged by the slow growth and isolation. I think in today’s world of internet access that we could develop a group of mentoring pastors who could encourage and guide and help the minister who is trying to establish and maintain a church in these areas.
You wrote: “When it comes to other issues though like it or not we do have a tendency as Southern Baptists to be known by what we are against not by what we are for and that is something that needs to be changed.” That is precisely why I believe we need to present the best of our faith rather than the worst. Unfortunately, we spend and inordinate amount of time pointing out every flaw, every iota in which we disagree, rather than living for Jesus and lifting Him up. Satan loves to keep God’s children at odds with one another. He loves to stir up strife, influence nit-picking, drive home wedges of division.
And to me, it simply doesn’t matter whether we’re southern or northern as long as we’re faithful to Jesus. I love New England boiled dinners and I love Tennessee fried chicken. I love Southern Baptist, not because of some cultural idiosyncrasy, but because we believe in Jesus and Him crucified, ressurrected and living in us to give us power over sin, hope in diversity and comfort in difficulty. I love skits, plays, monologues, praise songs, chorus, traditional hymns, prayer meetings, seminars, revivals, youth-led worship, expository preaching, some topical sermons, prayer-walks, foodbanks, clothes closets, VBS, visitation and more. But in all and with all, Jesus must be the focus. Not numbers. Not baptisms. Not more tithes in the storehouse. Jesus. When He is lifted up, everything else takes care of itself. selahV
selahVs last blog post..SOME QUESTIONS WORTH REHASHING…I THINK.
SelahV and David 007,
.
Glad you got Darby agreeing with you
A few of my thoughts about alcohol for the record.
.
I do not believe it is a subject that should be preached on constantly. But it should be preached if you are going to preach the Bible. That is true regardless of the culture.
All cultures seem to have a problem with drugs, including alcohol.
Probably most of the champions for abstinence have been from the north.
It is not legalism, or Pharisaism to preach what the Bible teaches, directly and indirectly about alcohol. It is fascinating how the same argument, that being ant-alcohol is legalistic, could also be applied to anyone who is against slavery.
The Bible speaks plainly and both directly and indirectly against any use of beverage alcohol. Much scholarly evidence can be produced to back that up.
If you disagree, I still love you
Back to the point of the post. Matt, I believe one problem for years has been that some small northern churches have become an outpost for displaced southerners. The churches that break out of those confines are the ones who seem to prosper in the north. I guess I would say it’s OK to have some southerners in those churches, as long as you don’t have too many.
I believe schools like MWBTS, GGBTS and Cedarville University are some of the keys to reaching those areas. Doesn’t Mid-America Seminary and maybe some others also have extension centers in the north?
David R. Brumbelow
Wow. I’m going to have to re-check my bible to find where it teaches Total Abstinence from beverage alcohol. Maybe it’s in the HCSB. It certainly isn’t in the KJV, NKJV, NIV, or NASB. Could somebody point me to the passages that teach total abstinence from beverage alcohol, and the correct translation?
David,
Mid America does have an extension in New York…in the northern part of the state I believe. They are doing well, and Churches are being started up there.
David
Forgive me Matt, I guess I shouldn’t have brought this up. But I wasn’t the first to do so. I know this was not the point of your post and this will be my last comment about alcohol on this particular post.
Guillaume McDowell,
Southern Baptists are not ignorant and have had good reason to be anti-beverage alcohol for over 150 years. This has been based on sound Scripture, medical science, common sense, and love for others. Another time & place I’d be glad to debate all the details. But you challenged me, so I’ll give you a couple of Scriptures.
Proverbs 23:29-35 gives a detailed description of fermented wine and its consequences. The smartest man in the world said not to even look at that kind of wine (23:31). By the way, unfermented wine does not fit the Proverbs 23 description, so you can look at it, and drink it in moderation. That is why God commends some wine (the unfermented kind) and condemns other wine (the fermented, poisonous kind).
1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 commands us to be sober; it even contrasts sobriety and drunkeness. Any amount of alcohol make us less than sober. Moderately drink, and you will be moderately sober. Other verses also command sobriety (1 Peter 1:13; etc.).
My favorite is the NKJV.
One last thought. Do you believe in the sufficiency of Scripture? Are you against slavery? Show me the chapter and verse where the Bible says, “Thou shalt not own a slave.” If you can’t, does that mean we are not to be against slavery? If you can’t and you’re still against slavery, does this mean you are a legalist?
Lest anyone misunderstand, I’m also against slavery and believe the Bible teaches against it.
David R. Brumbelow
I know I’m a little late to the party, but Dave I think a good place to start would be to remove the non-biblical requirements that the Baptist Convention of Iowa places on priority funding for new church plants. The addendum that was added a few months ago and highlighted in our state paper is one of the reasons that great church planters are reluctant to plant a SBC church in Iowa.
Brent Williams