Dave Miller

There is no shortage of voices in the SBC claiming that the end is near, that we balance on a precipice over the pit of destruction. I believe most of those voices are mistaken - some out of ignorance and others willfully. Most of the "enemies within the church" they warn us about are bogeymen designed to manipulate us into action, so that they can gain and maintain power. Wokeism is not a huge danger in the SBC. There is a misguided "woke" movement in American politics, centered in our universities, but it is not huge issue in the SBC. The SBC is filled with conservatives - some more … [Read more...] about A Real Danger in the SBC

My life has taken some unfortunate turns in the last few years. My church struggled greatly to recover after COVID and after discussions the leaders thought that a 65 year old pastor might not be their best bet in rejuvenating the church. It was a friendly, cordial, involuntary retirement/resignation/dismissal. Honestly, after nearly a year I still do not know how to describe what happened. People ask what went on and we hem and haw because we do not know how to categorize what happened. They expressed deep love and appreciation and respect for me, then sent me on my way. Now I am  65 year … [Read more...] about You Reap What You Sow – an Exhortation

I have followed Karen Swallow Prior for several years. Though I've never had the privilege of meeting her in person, I've interacted with her often on social media. She is a woman of grace, godly character, and Christlike conviction. I've observed how she has responded to the most vile attacks against her with kindness, returning good for evil, loving her enemies. She demonstrates Jesus daily. Extreme elements of the SBC and Christian social media have attacked her in an organized and evil way. They have distorted her views, lied about who she is, and spread the most vile false accusations … [Read more...] about It Is Time to Stand

Jesus said some brutally shocking things that make us want to dumb his words down or rationalize them away. He told us to “love your enemies.” He couldn't really have meant that we were show love to people who hate us, who tried to hurt us, right? There has to be another explanation. Paul, under inspiration, told us “Don’t worry about anything.” Are you kidding me? In this world? Living in perfect faith and perfect peace without ever worrying about anything? No way. Surely Paul was exaggerating. In Ephesians, he commanded us to "give thanks always for all things.” I have no trouble … [Read more...] about Christ-Active Living: The Key to Forgiveness

Two things can be said about the vast majority of us who are Southern Baptists. We believe that every word of God is true, inspired, and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. We believe that slavery is a deep stain on America's history which was ungodly, unjustified, and evil. That makes certain verses, like Ephesians 6:5-9 troubling for us. Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as you would Christ. 6 Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing God’s … [Read more...] about Slavery and the Bible: How Shall We Respond?

Counterfeiters do not spend a lot of time printing fake bills from failing economies. They seek to reproduce the US Dollar, perhaps the Euro or the Pound – stable currencies. They counterfeit what is real. There is nothing more real, more powerful, than forgiveness. My entire soul hangs in the balance with the reality of Christ’s forgiveness of me, and according to Scriptures – not just one or two, but many – my walk with Christ and the success of my Christian life depends on my obedience to Christ’s commands to love my enemies, return good for evil, and to forgive those who have sinned … [Read more...] about Questions about Forgiveness

My wife and I took a stroll down memory lane on Saturday evening, headed down the street to the Carmike to watch the movie, "Jesus Revolution." I would encourage each of you to go see it, though if you didn't grow up in the 60s as we did, it might not have quite the nostalgic impact it did for us. It was a well-made movie, with good acting. It tells the story of Greg Laurie's conversion, and also the beginnings of the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s, in which many hippies, who had "turned on, tuned in, and dropped out" but found the promises of the flower child lifestyle failing began to turn … [Read more...] about Jesus Revolution: A Primer in Quenching Revival

Due to life circumstances, I am not nearly as involved in SBC life as I used to be. I am content, since the SS SBC is being piloted by the capable hands of the good Dr. Bart Barber. Still, recent actions by the EC have stirred up quite a response on social media. The information in Jay Adkin's "explainer" was tremendously helpful but I thought I'd engage in the conceit of opining on the topic, and related issues. My views have been forged since my first SBC convention meeting, in 1979. Yeah, I'm old. 1. The Convention has changed drastically in the last 50 years. (Duh?) Back in my … [Read more...] about Reflections on the EC Controversy

This is the second in what I intend to be 6 or more posts in a series on forgiveness. I believe the biblical accuracy of my point in this post, but it is generating a strong reaction among some in the survivor community. I intended to deal with some of the issues they are concerned about at the end of the series, but it appears I will need to do this sooner rather than later. In the meantime,  I made some edits to the post to until I state my views on key issues, especially to a somewhat harsh illustration. It made a point, but it wasn't worth the injury it gave. … [Read more...] about Forgiveness is NOT Optional

On June 17, 2015, the SBC Annual meeting was breaking up in Phoenix while the Emmanuel AME church in Charleston, SC was holding a small prayer meeting. A skinny white loner wandered in and was welcomed so warmly that he almost changed his mind about the evil he had come to do. When the prayer service ended, he pulled a gun and opened fire on the mostly elderly congregation. Nine people, including the pastor, entered eternity and the world was in shock. Dylann Roof fled but was apprehended quickly and the next day was brought in to be arraigned. At the arraignment, the story took a turn. … [Read more...] about Forgive As Christ Forgave