Dave Miller

… [Read more...] about Blair Wingo – “Allow Me to Reintroduce the Christ”

Here’s a difficult question.  Why would two people saved by the same death of the same Jesus, indwelled by the same Holy Spirit reading the same Bible come up with such different opinions on so many issues? This quandary is used as evidence against the authority or the efficacy of Scripture as a moral and spiritual guide. “Even Christians don’t agree what the Bible says about so many things, how can we act as if it is some kind of authoritative word from God?” It is not a question we should easily dismiss.  The simple fact is that there is only a small amount of doctrine on which all … [Read more...] about Legalism, Antinomianism and Why We Disagree (Brick Walls, Picket Fences 14)

Preachers like to talk smack about sports. So, here it is. I only ask that we observe a few basic rules of Christian dignity. 1) No trashing the Yankees. Such wickedness is not permitted. Saying nice things about the Boston Devil Sox is considered under the same rule. 2) SEC fans should show some humility - schools like those in the Big-10 spend our money providing an education for our students and so we are not able to pay our football players as you do yours. It is difficult for amateur conferences made up of students who actually attend class to be forced to compete with … [Read more...] about SBC Voices Sports Trash-Talk Forum 9/3/11

Vol put the second video up on Facebook, and I decided to share all three with you. Here's the second one (and perhaps my favorite): And one more: Now, go invite someone to church! … [Read more...] about Things I Stole from Worley’s Facebook: Invite Videos

This post is a continuation of the discussion of Personal Space truth that is found here.  There will be parts of this post that will not make sense unless you have read the previous entry in the series.  In Romans 14, Paul tells us that there are disputable issues on which conscientious Christians can disagree.  Each of us answer to our Lord and it is a serious offense against the Cross of Christ for us to try to assume lordship over one another on these disputable issues.  In this post, we will look at Paul's clear teaching in Romans 14. An Examination of Romans 14 Paul, in verse 1, … [Read more...] about Romans 14 and Personal Space: I Have a Lord; You Aren’t Him! (Brick Walls and Picket Fences 13)

Do you know a “close talker” - someone who stands too close to you as they talk.  When conversing with a close talker, I find myself slowly backing up, trying to get some distance, to maintain my “personal space.”  There it is; a mantra of our culture.  “Don’t invade my personal space.”  It makes me very uncomfortable when someone stands too close.  Each of us has a sense of territory and we want people to respect our privacy, our personal space. There are a lot of theological close talkers, who are not content to leave others their own personal space on issues of conscience.  On most issues, … [Read more...] about Personal Space Issues: Every Christian Has a Conscience! (Brick Walls, Picket Fences 12)

The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes - from every tribe, nation and language on earth.  We forget that to our own detriment. "The gospel" is also a buzzword among young evangelicals, who talk about being gospel-centered and gospel-focused. Nothing could be better.  We need to understand the gospel and to proclaim it clearly and forcefully. Everything we do must be gospel-centered and gospel-proclaiming. But I have a small problem with the "gospel" talk that goes on.  Of course, there are some who use "the gospel" as a theological wedge.  "My group … [Read more...] about I Have a “Gospel” Problem

I know, we don't have one and don't want one.  We believe in soul competency and the priesthood of the believers.  But the idea of having unfettered power to implement my ideas has its appeal.  Here are some things I would do if I had papal power for a while.  You can add your papal bull (sorry, I couldn't resist that bit of Iowa corn) in the comments below.  Or you can describe your pleasure that I, in fact, have no power. 1)  I would change the way we do seminary edumacation.  I've thought a lot about this one.  I've seen young whippersnappers come out of seminaries with heads full of … [Read more...] about If I Were the Pope of the SBC…

I am not trying to write a doctoral dissertation or even a comprehensive doctrinal analysis, but since we've been discussing this, I thought I would give a quick review of the biblical evidence about elders.  I'm going to present the findings of an in-depth, intense (I'm kidding) search of Logos and the use of the term in the NT. 1)  All 24 instances of the use of the term elders in the gospels (Matthew-Luke, there are none in John) as well as 8 of the 18 uses of the word in the book of Acts refer to the "chief priests and elders" of Israel.  In Israel, the rule by a body of elders was … [Read more...] about An Observation: What the NT says about “Elders”

Elders are a hot topic in Baptist conversations today.  Elder-rule.  Elder-leadership.  Pastors are the elders.  Elders make you Presbyterian.  I've read a lot of these discussions and I have not really entered into most of them.  There is a reason for that. I just don't care that much.  Please, put down the stones with which you intend to stone me for my heresy, and let me explain myself a little bit.  I am not an opponent of elder-leadership in churches.  All of the churches I have served in my three decades as a pastor have been pastor/deacon/committee-run churches - standard, traditional … [Read more...] about Why I Am Apathetic About Elders in Baptist Churches