Archives for May 2014

A man walks up to a bank teller and asks, "Can you give me change for this one hundred dollar bill?" The teller says, "Sure. What denomination?" And the man replies, "Baptist—Southern Baptist if you've got it." No, there is not really such a thing as Southern Baptist money—except for the fact that there is. Southern Baptist money is the money given by Southern Baptists to promote Southern Baptist causes and build up the Kingdom of God in and through the ministry channels of the Southern Baptist Convention. And herein lies a major problem. The walls clearly delineating our religious … [Read more...] about Baptist Methods and Money

You've probably seen this before, but after a few of our more recent discussions, I thought it might be time to bring back the encouraging words of Martin Luther himself, as a model of Christian civility. The gentle words of Luther will bless us all. … [Read more...] about A Powerful Resource for Baptist Bloggers

Bob blogs at "Eagles Rest", is a good friend and has been around blogging many years.  I just finished reading "When Heaven and Earth Collide ... Racism, Evangelicals, and the Better Way of Jesus". Its author is Alan Cross, a pastor in Montgomery, AL, who happens also to be a personal friend. But before my observations of what I saw in the book, a few notes about the author. I met Alan in 2006 or 2007, as we were involved in some mutual projects involving Bloggers and the SBC. Shortly after, in February 2007, Alan slept on a cot in our hotel room that CB Scott and I had reserved. Alan had … [Read more...] about “When Heaven and Earth Collide”; A Review of a Book and a Pastor (by Bob Cleveland)

One of the most important questions that can be asked is, "What is truth?" As Christians, we believe that God's Word is truth. Thus, if God's Word says something like, "Do not steal," then we know that the truth is that we shouldn't steal. No questions asked. We also know (or should know) that if science suggests a truth contradictory to Scripture, that we should trust in Scripture over science. This is because God dictates scientific truth, not the other way around. This has proven to be beneficial, since God's Word declared scientific truths before science did, such as that the world is … [Read more...] about THE FAITH IN FIFTY YEARS: ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA, AND HOMOSEXUALITY

Specifically and in the greatest level of detail humanly possible, can somebody please explain the precise nature of the partnership between Southern Baptist Theological Seminary—with which I am necessarily affiliated as a Southern Baptist—and Sovereign Grace Ministries—with which (quite by intention) I am not personally affiliated in any manner whatsoever? … [Read more...] about One Simple Question

We were all pleased two years ago when the Southern Baptist Convention took the next step in racial reconciliation, in plucking the roots of racial discrimination and oppression that have dug so deep into the soil of the SBC, by electing Fred Luter as the president of the SBC. But can I be honest? His election was more of a coronation. Somehow, word got out a year or so in advance that Pastor Luter would be nominated and the collective SBC whispered a quiet, "amen." There was no opposition. None. It would have been denominational suicide to run against him. But the question has been whether … [Read more...] about On Ethnic Candidates: Can’t We Just Ignore Race?

Here is the text to our friend Pastor Dwight McKissic's letter expressing his reasons for nominating Dennis Kim as SBC President. Here is a link to an excellent article by Shannon Baker on the nomination. It has a lot of good background information.  WHY PASTOR DENNIS MANPOONG KIM, TH.D, NEEDS TO BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION by WILLIAM DWIGHT MCKISSIC, SR. MAY 20, 2014 If God wanted something other than a family, He would have had us to call Him something other than Father. The first recorded words of God’s Son make it crystal clear that the Father’s business … [Read more...] about Dwight McKissic to Nominate Dennis Kim as SBC President

Our own Dwight McKissic will nominate Pastor Dennis Kim, from Global Missions Church in Silver Springs, Maryland, for the office of SBC President. Details will follow in a separate post. … [Read more...] about Breaking News: Dennis Kim to Be Nominated as SBC President

William Thornton is the SBC Plodder.  The International Mission Board will announce the 2013 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions at the convention next month but is "estimating a $3-5 million increase" over the $149.3 million offering for 2012. This would mean the largest Lottie Moon offering in history, something around $153 million. In 2006 and 2007 the LMCO went above $150 million but not since and never above $150.4 million. While the offering is short of the $175 million goal, the unrealistic goal that was set in 2009 and kept each year since, it is a healthy … [Read more...] about Good news: Lottie Moon Offering expected to be an increase over last year (by William Thornton)