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The Calvinism Committee Report

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I am flying out today to Boston for a little vacation/grandkid time, so I can only put this out for your discussion. Frank Page's study group has issued its report, and it is well worth the read. While the results are hardly surprising, they do form the basis for a way forward for the SBC through the Calvinism quagmire that has bogged us down in recent years. Here is a link to the full report. The introductory paragraphs the discussion well. Southern Baptists are Great Commission people. We are also a doctrinal people, and those doctrinal convictions undergird our Great Commission vision … [Read more...] about The Calvinism Committee Report

Why Russell Moore at the ERLC is an Important Move (by Alan Cross)

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Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift. The public face of the SBC just changed in a significant way, in my opinion. Putting away the old "culture warrior" Religious Right views often articulated by Russell Moore's predecessor at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Richard Land, the SBC has now chosen a head of its public policy entity who has the ability to mark out an ethic in the public square influenced more clearly by the Gospel of the Kingdom. Moore, former Dean of Theology at Southern Baptist Seminary, in his book, The Kingdom of Christ (2004) says, "As with the fundamentalist … [Read more...] about Why Russell Moore at the ERLC is an Important Move (by Alan Cross)

Unity, Bad Theology and the SBC: The Heart of the Problem

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Let's face it, folks, the unity movement can get a pretty bad rap. I remember a Christian comedian from 30 years ago saying, "Let's forget all this doctrine and just love Jesus." What a perfectly terrible idea! I was warned from childhood about the specter of the "ecumenical movement" that was going to unite the world into a dogma-free one-world-church. When I, or someone else, calls Southern Baptists to tone down the hostility and rhetoric over theological issues of the SBC, especially those related to Calvinism, an assumption is often made that either a) I don't care about theology or b) I … [Read more...] about Unity, Bad Theology and the SBC: The Heart of the Problem

Let’s Talk about Sex

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Yes, I said it. Sex. It's all over the place, in the music, on tv, in video games, all over the internet, on billboards, at the store, it's all over. As I get older, my concern moves to my kids, my daughters and my boys. They are growing up, they are still young but they are hearing about sex at school from friends. It seems like everyone is talking about sex, are we? Sure, the church talks about sex, we have Ed and spouse sleeping on the roof, we have Mark Driscoll writing a book that is full on controversy, but are we addressing the issues?  I was simply told that sex was bad until I was … [Read more...] about Let’s Talk about Sex

Why Ministers Need the Wilderness

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“It takes a crucified man to preach a crucified Savior.” –Alexander Maclaren “I abhor the thought of God being robbed of his glory…” That was part of the response that a young man was giving in one of my seminary classes. I shudder as I type the latter part of his comment. “…and if that means the damnation of infants then so be it”. It’s not my concern to throw this dude under the bus. Truthfully, I see some of myself in him. Getting so wrapped in theology, idealism, and the way things ought to be that I forget the way that things actually are. Grace will likely grab hold of this young man … [Read more...] about Why Ministers Need the Wilderness

Priority #1: Placing “Our People” Atop the “Seven Mountains of Culture”?

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In a recent Christian Post article entitled “How Christians Can Change Our Culture,” devotional writer and conference speaker Os Hillman makes the following statements: "We must realize that making more converts will not necessarily change culture. It is important to have conversions, but it is more important to have those who are converted operate at the tops of the cultural mountains from a biblical worldview. Those at the tops of these mountains are expressing their liberal worldview through these cultural spheres. The more godly the change agent at the top, the more righteous the … [Read more...] about Priority #1: Placing “Our People” Atop the “Seven Mountains of Culture”?

Racially Insensitive Jokes ARE Racist! (Duh!)

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Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods are golfers who don't like each other very much. It's not hard to see why. Tiger is hyper-competitive and arrogant. I cheer for him, but have often been a little bothered by or even ashamed of his behavior. Sergio Garcia is, by most accounts, a whiner. He gets easily distracted and complains about what goes on around him. The tension that has been growing between the two of them over the years has exploded in recent days. They went head to head in the Players Championship a couple of weeks back. The crowd following Tiger made noise that distracted Sergio and he … [Read more...] about Racially Insensitive Jokes ARE Racist! (Duh!)

For the Propagation of the Gospel – Southern Baptist Missions

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Bart Barber has posted two installments of his excellent series, "For the Propagation of the Gospel," about the work of the Southern Baptist Convention. Part 1. Part 2. He graciously asked if I might like to participate, and I offer this as a third installment in the series.  They say that confession is good for the soul, so here is mine. There was a time when I was flirting with leaving Southern Baptists and finding another denominational home. My years at Dallas Seminary had made me aware that though I was a lifelong Southern Baptist there was a great big evangelical world out there for me … [Read more...] about For the Propagation of the Gospel – Southern Baptist Missions

Is There a Nathan in the Land? A Response to President Obama’s Morehouse College Speech (by Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr)

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Is There A Nathan In The Land? Are We Going To Allow One Man To Redefine The Family For Black America? A Response To President Obama’s Speech At Morehouse College By William Dwight McKissic, Sr. May 21, 2013   President Obama spoke with heartfelt identification regarding the plight, promise and responsibilities of young educated Black men; at the all-male Morehouse College 2013 graduation ceremony. He challenged them to: Utilize their training and talents to serve underserved communities and people. Not just be concerned about the good they can buy, but the good they can … [Read more...] about Is There a Nathan in the Land? A Response to President Obama’s Morehouse College Speech (by Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr)