You'll have to forgive me, but I am a bit confused. For a while now we've heard it said that racial reconciliation is not a gospel issue. That's been applied more broadly recently. It's said that doing justice is not a gospel issue. Essentially the argument is this: Salvation is by grace through faith. Jesus lived in your place. He died to pay for your sin. He was raised from the grave three days later. Repent of your sin and believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. If you add anything to that, you are adding to the gospel. And all the people said, "Amen!" I know of no … [Read more...] about Wait…so it IS a gospel issue?
From the ERLC: A note about a recent video
Concern has been expressed across social media about a video published yesterday on the ERLC website. The ERLC has clarified that the video was published by mistake. Please take note of the just released statement below: Yesterday, the team I lead at the ERLC posted a video on our website about the way humans should think about animals. Bottom line up front: this video does not reflect our views on the subject. It was an accident and an honest mistake but an embarrassing one nonetheless, and I’d like to apologize for allowing this video to post and for the understandable confusion it … [Read more...] about From the ERLC: A note about a recent video
SCBC Addresses Aderholt’s Employment and Arrest
Tuesday I published a post here in which I addressed the sexual assault allegations against Mark Aderholt. One of my answers to the question, "What needs to happen now?" was that the executive director of the SCBC must be transparent with its member churches about what he and others responsible for hiring Aderholt knew. If they knew nothing, why? Today the SCBC Exec. Board Chair Tommy Kelly and SCBC Pres. Marshall Blalock released an open letter through the Baptist Courier addressing the situation. Below is the full text of that letter. We are writing this letter to express our … [Read more...] about SCBC Addresses Aderholt’s Employment and Arrest
Silence Is NOT Golden
Surely you've heard by now that a former missionary with the IMB, Mark Aderholt, was arrested on July 3 and charged with sexually assaulting a teenager. The alleged crime took place 21 years ago when Aderholt was a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The IMB learned of the allegations made by Aderholt's victim in 2007 while he was serving with the board. They conducted an internal investigation which determined that "Aderholt 'engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship' with a teen in 1996-1997, that the victim 'suffered as a result' and that Aderholt 'was not … [Read more...] about Silence Is NOT Golden
What Would Chuck Lawless Do?
Chuck Lawless is the Dean and Vice-President of Graduate Studies and Ministry Centers at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also teaches evangelism and missions at SEBTS. If you are not familiar with his blog, you should make yourself familiar with it. The articles he posts are often very informative and helpful. I receive his emails each day and have found them to be a great source of challenge and encouragement. I would encourage you to consider signing up as well. You can do so from the main page of his site. I found his July 2 article particularly helpful, so I thought I … [Read more...] about What Would Chuck Lawless Do?
On Inter-Congregational Relationships
One of the highlights for me of this year's SBC annual meeting was the opportunity I had on the Sunday morning before the convention to worship at both FBC Farmersville with Bart Barber and Cornerstone Baptist Church with Dwight McKissic. Bart and Dwight were gracious hosts, and their congregations were both very welcoming. It was a joy to be able to worship in both churches. As I think about those visits, I am reminded of the inter-congregational relationships that we see throughout the New Testament. A great deal of the Apostle Paul's ministry was devoted to visiting and writing letters … [Read more...] about On Inter-Congregational Relationships
Why I’m glad JD Greear was elected SBC President
I did not vote for JD Greear on the first ballot in 2016. I did vote for him the second time around. I was prepared to do so again on the third ballot, but I was glad when he graciously stepped aside for Steve Gaines to become SBC President. While he was not obligated to do so, I believe it was the right thing for him to do under the circumstances. But the 2016 election has very little to do with why I enthusiastically supported JD in this year's election. I do not believe he was owed the presidency. I am always happy for any candidate who wants to serve in an elected office in the SBC to … [Read more...] about Why I’m glad JD Greear was elected SBC President
Pass us not, O gentle Savior
It's been a tough couple of weeks (really couple of months) in the SBC. Leaders have fallen. Sin has been revealed. There is a heaviness that rests over our Southern Baptist family as we head into our annual meeting this week A friend recently said, "Tell me why I should stay." Those are sobering words. I must admit that similar thoughts have passed through my mind. But I will be in Dallas. I want to be part of the solution. I believe that God can and will continue to use the Southern Baptist Convention. So as I listened to the words of Fanny Crosby, they became my prayer for the … [Read more...] about Pass us not, O gentle Savior
Five Questions Heading into #SBC18
My suitcase is packed. I am headed for Dallas. This will be my sixth Southern Baptist Convention. My first was in Houston in 2013, and I haven't missed one since. I am excited to hear reports of what God is doing among and through Southern Baptists. I am excited to enjoy some tasty tex-mex. And I am excited to get together with friends that I interact with all year but only see once a year. But before we gather in Dallas, I thought I would put together a brief list of questions that I have heading into #SBC18. Surely there are other questions. Surely there are things that will come up that … [Read more...] about Five Questions Heading into #SBC18
One Question for Each Entity Head at #SBC18
The Q&A time after the reports by each entity head at the SBC Annual Meeting can get interesting. There is usually at least one question and answer each year that is worth witnessing. Unfortunately, Wiley Drake will not be present in Dallas to question the salvation of any of our entity heads. The Q&A time is not the best forum for fruitful discussion, but it is a time when messengers can be sure that their question will be heard. The clarity and thoroughness of the answer you receive is, however, at the discretion of the entity head being questioned. When the entity heads are … [Read more...] about One Question for Each Entity Head at #SBC18