Archives for 2013

“I need to be made willing to be forgotten.” –R.Murray McCheyne This quote has been jarring my heart for the past few days. In the past I read it with a great deal of stupidity. I read it as if it was sort of tongue in cheek. As if McCheyne is saying, “If I really want to be made great…then I need to be made willing to be forgotten”. The way to greatness is to not really pursue it. And so if you want to secretly pursue greatness the way to do it is to pursue humility and in the end you’ll be made great. Oddly enough that philosophy is probably correct. Scripture is clear that the way to be … [Read more...] about Forget This Post

This has my name at the top, but in reality my father, George Parks, deserves the credit for what follows.  George is a retired English teacher who has filled just about every possible non-paid position in church and is someone who irritated me for years with his persistence that I use my brain.  Recently I told my wife that, after all these years going to church, worship services have come to resemble cheerleading sessions which encourage feel-good attitudes.  As if we are trying to convince ourselves that we’re on the right track and God takes special care of us believers.  Our services … [Read more...] about Cheerleading in Church

Some months ago, I reached my limit on Calvinism discussions here at SBC Voices. We've had a few articles posted here related to the topic, but I have turned down several posts that have been submitted to me that focused on Calvinism - pro or con. Based on my observations of dozens (hundreds?) of posts and thousands of comments on the topic, I formed the opinion that Southern Baptists generally lacked the ability to discuss this issue in a Christ-honoring and productive way. Comments seemed to devolve into petty mudslinging almost immediately. Then Dr. Frank Page formed a Calvinism study … [Read more...] about Toward a Productive Discussion of Calvinism

Hosea’s story is a bleak one. God calls him to marry an unfaithful woman. It’s often debated whether or not she was unfaithful when God called Hosea to marry her, or if she turned that way. The answer to that question probably made little difference in the day to day workings of Hosea’s home. His wife was unfaithful. Period. There are clues to the text that his children aren’t really his, and likely they weren’t model Israelite citizens. Hosea isn’t fundamentally about Hosea. It is about God. But God’s story is told through the deep pain of Hosea. This prophets life would not have been … [Read more...] about If Hosea Prophesied in 21st Century America

This post originally appeared at SBC Focus following a post on Gentiles and the law. In a separate post, I discussed the clear, firm, and repeated teaching of the New Testament that the Mosaic law has accomplished its purpose, having been fulfilled in Christ, and recognizing that righteousness and salvation come through faith in Jesus Christ, we say with the apostles and the Holy Spirit that the burden of the law has been lifted. Christians are not called to adhere to the dictates of Torah. Quite the opposite - the New Testament, particularly Paul, speaks long and loud against those who would … [Read more...] about The Messianic Movement (by Chris Roberts)

I hate when I see churches and Christian organizations engaged in hype, in PR. I think it is contrary to the way of Christ. We are used to hype and PR in the secular world. Lance Armstrong engaged in a massive campaign of PR hype for years, claiming to be clean, to be a victim of a massive conspiracy. Then the truth came out. How many times heave politicians or businessmen or sports executives played the "nothing is wrong" or "deny, deny, deny" game right up until the world crashes around them. And then the truth comes out. Now, instead of following Scripture, the church has bought into … [Read more...] about The Pernicious Effects of Hype and PR in Christian Organizations

    For a man will take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying: “You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule”; in that day he will speak out, saying: “I will not be a healer; in my house there is neither bread nor cloak; you shall not make me leader of the people.” (Isaiah 3:6-7 ESV) In other words leadership is so scarce in the land that if a guy even looks like he could pose as a leader he is called for the job.  That’s like giving some dude a badge, a gun, and a nightstick just because he has a bushy mustache.  Paper … [Read more...] about Giving Badges to Guys With a Bushy Mustache

I suppose it is a story as old as time itself.  Man and woman, thrown together by circumstance.  Man tolerates the relationship while the woman is committed, heart and soul.  Eventually, woman finds a way (she believes) to bind her man to herself, to earn his heart-felt commitment once and for all. A baby. It is a formulaic storyline that fills our movies and programs, and for good reason.  It is a time-honored attempt to earn love, or something that emulates deep affection.  It's also pretty life-like.  Don't believe me? Read Genesis 29:31-34. Leah isn't loved, but she's pretty … [Read more...] about What’s Your Story?