Dave Miller

NOTE: One of the chief offenders in spreading lies in the SBC is the Capstone Report, which anonymously publishes a string of half-truths and falsehoods, without conscience. They recently made up a story about Dr. Jason Allen that was related to his involvement with "Soros-funded EIT" and to everyone's surprise, had the common decency to retract the story when it was demonstrated to be false. They stand by their lies about the EIT and ERLC and show absolutely no integrity or Christianity in any other area, but at least they had the decency to correct this lie. It is a start.  I have heard it … [Read more...] about Thou Shalt Not Lie: The ERLC, EIT, and George Soros (EDIT – Concerning Retraction by Hate-Blog Capstone)

In the long history of the SBC, we’ve faced many crises. Historians with greater expertise than I have can argue what periods are golden and which are not, but we have had many lamentable times that demonstrate that we exist by the grace of God, not the merit of Southern Baptists. What was the worst of those times? Was it the time of our founders, when slavery was blindly supported as godly in SBC pulpits? Was it the decades during which SBC churches excluded people of color and cheered segregation and oppression. We wandered the first steps on the path of liberalism until we were called … [Read more...] about Tom Ascol Plans to “Take the (SBC) Ship”

*And the rest of you SEC-loving, Alabama Crimson Tide-cheering cretans, whom I love with the love of the Lord, of course! I've never made much of a deal about it, but I'm not a fan of either the Southeastern Criminals (er, Conference - sorry) or of the Alabama Crimson Crud. I don't like to make a big deal of sports, because I'm a uniter, not a divider. But this year has absolutely baffled me. At the end of last season, the Crud was getting steamrolled by a clearly superior team from Clemson, which started the season at #1 and has won all of its games, though one of them was a near-miss … [Read more...] about A Question for Dr. C.B. Scott*

I have loved social media and defended its value against its detractors. Every year at our Annual Meeting I've bristled when our entity leaders and other platform personalities take pot-shots at bloggers, tweeters, and others involved in online communication, especially since most of those making those criticisms have blogs and are active on Twitter. It need not be argued that social media has had negative effects, but there have been some positives as well. We shine lights into hidden places where the powers-that-be do not want light shined. Of course, we also spread fake news, … [Read more...] about Social Media Burnout: Thinking It Through

Since the publication a couple of weeks ago of the admission by Jonathan Howe that the story published by Baptist Press on Jennifer Lyell was not accurate, I've been dealing privately with a man (I won't give any information on him, other than he holds a responsible job at a non-SBC parachurch organization) who constantly wanted to find fault with Ms. Lyell and continue to besmirch her reputation. I finally cut him off, because I was getting so frustrated with his ignorant insinuations. It is hard to imagine the damage done by the Baptist Press's irresponsibility in March when they first … [Read more...] about Expanded Statement by Baptist Press about the Jennifer Lyell Story

A debate has raged on Twitter in recent days that strains credulity - not that the topic is being debated but the force with which it is being argued. The question is whether David's sin with Bathsheba was adultery or did it constitute rape. Did David rape Bathsheba? That is a valid discussion, but as is often the case, social media has turned it into a free-for-all. If you do not share my opinion on the topic your biblical bona fides are called into question. If you believe that David raped, you are putting your emotion ahead of biblical exegesis and don't really love God's word. If you don't … [Read more...] about Only Heretics Disagree with Me about David and Bathsheba

In a statement from the new VP for communications, Jonathan Howe, Baptist Press admitted that their previous reporting on the Jennifer Lyell story was woefully inadequate. When Jennifer told her story, Baptist Press, though it was begged to do so by many, including Jennifer herself, failed to make it absolutely clear that there was nothing consensual about the "relationship" between her and Dr. David Sills. Because of their failure to report the story accurately, many attacked Jennifer, asking why she was not disciplined for her "immorality." (It was disgusting, to ask why a victim of … [Read more...] about Baptist Press Admits Previous Inaccurate Reporting on Jennifer Lyell/David Sills

Have you heard about Carson King? What a roller coaster ride he's been on in the last few weeks. The casino worker attended the biggest event of the year in Iowa, the Cy-Hawk game, in which the good guys from Iowa City prevailed over the evil pretenders from Ames (Iowa beat Iowa State on a weird muffed punt play, 18-17). Carson got tickets to the game and carried with him a hand-painted sign begging for donations that would warm the cockles of the hearts of many of you Reformed guys. He said he needed beer money. Somehow, his sign got on ESPN's "College Gameday" show and what happened … [Read more...] about What Social Media Giveth, Social Media Bloweth Up!

Next summer will mark the 40th anniversary of my first paid ministry job and I consider it an honor to have been called to the service of the Savior, to have drawn my income from ministry for nearly four decades. I wouldn't do anything else. The privilege of proclaiming God's word to people, of telling lost people of the hope there is in Christ, of being a part of people's lives - that is an honor and blessing for which I am eternally grateful. Ministry has also worn me out. I have known the betrayal of close friends, have experienced lies, false accusations, and gossip from the sheep I was … [Read more...] about Loneliness, Despair, Fear: So You Wanted to Be a Pastor?