The next big thing in the Calvinism debate within the SBC has arrived. Ever since it was posted over on SBC Today, “A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation” has been gathering attention in comment streams and many blogs, including this one. This Statement attempts to define a common doctrinal statement about salvation for non-Calvinists within the SBC. For all of us who’ve debated these issues at length, we should applaud this effort. All of us should be able to agree that “non-Calvinist” is not a very helpful descriptor of this group’s … [Read more...] about Exclusive Claims on Traditional Southern Baptist Soteriology?
A Calvinist Anthem
Though it’s quieted down a lot regarding Lifeway’s The Gospel Project, I thought I’d stoke the fires again. All the concerns about how some subtle Calvinistic influence will confuse church members and cause frustration and discord in otherwise non-Calvinist Baptist churches because of this material are a little melodramatic. After all, I’m quite confident that every one of those non-Calvinist Baptist churches has used one Calvinist work for years without complaining about its influence before. And no, I’m not talking about Romans 9 and Ephesians 1. ;-) I’m talking about a very Calvinist … [Read more...] about A Calvinist Anthem
Calvinists and The Gospel Project
I’ve been seeing a lot of criticism of Lifeway’s new curriculum, The Gospel Project, and it all revolves around Calvinism. Of course, I have yet to read a critical article from someone who actually claims to have read any of the materials that are posted online or cited them to prove their accusations. Many claims are made about the curriculum, it’s authors and editors, and Calvinists in general. I’ve identified a few of the more prominent ones: 1. Calvinists are incapable of writing with a broad appeal Judged solely from the negative comments, I’d guess that The Gospel Project is a … [Read more...] about Calvinists and The Gospel Project
Lot’s Lament: A New Take on the Direct TV Commercials (Gen 13, 19)
When you trust in wealth more than God, you move to a wealthy wicked city. When you move to a wealthy, wicked city, you don’t quite fit in. When you don’t quite fit in, people want to molest your house guests. When people want to molest your house guests, God destroys your city with sulfur and fire. When God destroys your city with sulfur and fire, your daughters think it’s the end of the world. When your daughters think it’s the end of the world, they seduce you into siring your own grandchildren. Don’t sire your own grandchildren. Don’t trust in wealth. Trust in … [Read more...] about Lot’s Lament: A New Take on the Direct TV Commercials (Gen 13, 19)
A Look at Jesus Messiah
For a while now I’ve thought about doing a special discipleship group or evening presentation about some of the songs we sing and what they teach us about God, the church, and the gospel. I’ve written once or twice about what songs communicate, and I’d like to look at another one that many of us have either heard on the radio or sung in church: Jesus Messiah by Chris Tomlin. Video | Jesus Messiah by Chris Tomlin Verse 1 This verse is made up of just a few short statements, each of which tells a fundamental truth of the gospel. The words themselves are drawn from 2 Corinthians … [Read more...] about A Look at Jesus Messiah
Sixteen Reasons Not To Read any More Articles on the Name Change (or Why the Lone Ranger Didn’t Ride a Hobby Horse)
1 SBC Name Change: What I HOPE Happens Today 2/20 2 My Wife Lucretia 2/20 3 Legally: SBC // Informally: Great Commission Baptists 2/20 4 Observations on “Great Commission Baptists” 2/20 5 The “Great Cop-Out Baptist” Convention 2/21 6 How Nicknames Work 2/21 7 Skirting Southern Sin 2/23 8 Why I Like “Great Commission Baptists” 2/24 9 Informal Descriptor or Officially Approved Optional Replacement Name? 2/24 10 Did the Task Force Violate SBC Bylaws? 2/25 11 The “GCB” Debate: An Apology, a Plea, an … [Read more...] about Sixteen Reasons Not To Read any More Articles on the Name Change (or Why the Lone Ranger Didn’t Ride a Hobby Horse)
Work Matters: A Book Review
Work Matters: Connecting Sunday Worship with Monday Work. Tom Nelson. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2011. 234 pp. $15.99 Work Matters is a welcome addition to my digital bookshelf because Tom Nelson, writing as a pastor, has effectively bridged the gap not only between Sunday worship and Monday work, but between the pastorate and the laity. I’ve met many seminarians working “secular” jobs who view their work as a necessary evil until they can find a full-time pastorate somewhere. They live with no sense of calling to their current place of employment and almost feel as though they are … [Read more...] about Work Matters: A Book Review
Musings on Resolutions (updated)
This post is modified from one that appeared two years ago on sbcIMPACT. “Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.” Thus begins the list of Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions, written prior to his fame or the Great Awakening, at the end of his Master’s studies. I seldom if ever write out resolutions for the New Year. I fear I’ll give up or forget partway through January, merely calling criticism on myself for failing to … [Read more...] about Musings on Resolutions (updated)
“Pleased as man with men to dwell”
This line from the song “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” is one of my favorites from all Christmas songs. This line, from a later verse of the song, speaks of Christ in a rather poetic (and memorable) fashion that makes the ear tingle and the heart raise. I think one of the reasons why hymns have been losing their edge in public worship, besides the style of music itself, is the work it takes to understand them. Just singing the words “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see” is impossible to understand without a thinking brain rearranging the words to get: “See the Godhead veiled in … [Read more...] about “Pleased as man with men to dwell”
Applying Lessons from Penn State to Pine Chapel
The news and the general blogosphere have been giving a bigger emphasis to issues of child abuse and criminal sexual misconduct since the Penn State scandal broke loose. Within a short period of time Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, updated the school’s policy regarding the obligation to report instances of child abuse: I discovered yesterday that the policy handbook of the institution I am proud to lead calls for any employee receiving a report of child abuse, including child sexual abuse, to contact his or her supervisor with that report. That changes … [Read more...] about Applying Lessons from Penn State to Pine Chapel