I know, I know. We at SBC Voices are political progressives who are secretly trying to turn the SBC into a culturally Marxist, Hillary-loving, Blue-state haven. In reality, every single one of us here is politically conservative and committed to what we believe are conservative principles. Some of us have split with the current GOP because of our conservative views, not because we have abandoned them. The stances of the parties have shifted dramatically in the last 50 to 75 years. Southern Democrats were once the party of desegregation and the GOP was involved heavily in the agenda of civil … [Read more...] about Have We (Political Conservatives) Squandered a Great Opportunity?
From the Voice that Matters Most: Ephesians Overview
We share our opinions and insights at SBC Voices, but we believe that the Voice that matters most is the one that comes from God's Word. We present these daily expositional devotions, beginning with a tour of Ephesians called, "Walk Worthy," in hopes of encouraging our readers to remember to Voice above every voice. Passage: Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1 CSB Expositional Devotion: We have all likely experienced something similar, meeting with the family of one recently deceased. "He lived a rough life, … [Read more...] about From the Voice that Matters Most: Ephesians Overview
From the Voice That Matters Most: A Daily Exposition of Ephesians
Tomorrow we will begin a new feature, a daily (Monday-Friday) expositional/devotional walk through the book of Ephesians. We talked about this back before the first of the year but our schedules and my illness have delayed us. We are ready to begin the process. Every morning one of our writers will make a brief examination and application of a passage in the book. Some of you volunteered to write and that got lost in the process. If you are willing to help us, please let us know - you can comment here or email me at dmille3098@gmail.com. … [Read more...] about From the Voice That Matters Most: A Daily Exposition of Ephesians
Seeking David: On Filling our Entity Leadership Positions
Talk about a blow to your self-esteem. The prophet Samuel showed up to Jesse's home to anoint the man who would be the next king of Israel since God had rejected disobedient Saul. Jesse paraded his seven oldest sons before Samuel, bursting with pride that one of the young men before him would be king. But as Samuel reviewed each one, the Lord told him no. "This is not the one." Finally, Samuel asked Jesse if this was all his sons and Jesse finally remembered little Davey out with the sheep. Can you imagine that? David was so insignificant that his own father did not consider him worth … [Read more...] about Seeking David: On Filling our Entity Leadership Positions
The SBC, Racial Reconciliation, and Rhetoric: An Appeal
I have been a fairly consistent and often annoying advocate for racial diversity and reconciliation in the SBC since the day I met Dwight McKissic. It was at the SBC Annual Meeting in Orlando in 2010, and Dwight walked up while I was talking to someone else. I'd heard him speak many years before and he had read some of my posts at sbcIMPACT, where I blogged at the time. Dwight offered a resolution or motion (he can probably remember the details, at my advanced age, I cannot) which failed and I sought him out. He pointed something out to me that day, something I simply hadn't noticed. He … [Read more...] about The SBC, Racial Reconciliation, and Rhetoric: An Appeal
New Accuser(s) Step Forward against Judge Pressler
The lawsuit against Judge Paul Pressler is convoluted and complicated - it is the most bizarre legal document one can read. But the poor quality of the filing doesn't decide the truth of the accusation. It will have to play out in a court of law. A friend made an interesting statement about this case when we were discussing it a few months ago. He said that if the accusations were true there would likely be many more such accusations come out. I don't know how many there will be, but one more has surfaced. An affidavit filed in New York County by a man named Toby Twining makes a clear … [Read more...] about New Accuser(s) Step Forward against Judge Pressler
Crushing the Serpent: A Good Friday Reflection
Ever wonder how long Adam and Eve were in the Garden before the Serpent showed up and everything went south? Was it on the eighth day, the 80th, the 800th? We’ll never know until we see Jesus, but we know they were living lives of blessing in a world of beauty beyond anything we can imagine. Their marriage was all God meant it to be - companionship and pleasure without any of the things that tear people apart today. There was no curse of sin – no allergies or sickness, no disasters or heartaches. No snow. Hallelujah – no snow. Most of all they enjoyed the presence of God, experiencing his … [Read more...] about Crushing the Serpent: A Good Friday Reflection
Tragic News concerning Frank Page
My heart is breaking from the news that has become public in the last few minutes that the retirement of my friend and one of my heroes in the ministry, Dr. Frank Page, is due to a "morally inappropriate relationship" according to a press release from the Executive Committee. I do not know the details, perhaps never will, and it doesn't matter. I hope and pray that Dr. Page finds full restoration and healing in his family and in his faith. While I am not likely to be someone he turns to in a time like this, I would still go anywhere and do anything I could to help this man whom I love and … [Read more...] about Tragic News concerning Frank Page
Frank Page Has Announced His Retirement
Word came across social media this morning that Dr. Page is retiring. No details have yet come down as to when it will be official. I love this man. He has been a peacemaker and truly embodied the role he carved out for himself, "Chief Encouragement Officer." I first met him the day he was elected as President of the Executive Committee. I was having lunch with David Rogers and a couple of others and we saw him at the same restaurant. I knew the EC was voting and, being the blustery big-mouth I am, I went over and congratulated him on his election. He smiled weakly and thanked me. I … [Read more...] about Frank Page Has Announced His Retirement
Guidelines for SBC Presidential Campaigning – Starting the Discussion
Is it okay for a candidate for president of the SBC to campaign for office? If so, what is allowed and what is not? Let's agree to something from the outset. We are Baptists, so autonomy is going to make it impossible to set universal rules. Each candidate, each entity, each entity head is going to have to set boundaries according to the dictates of conscience. But autonomy does not preclude us from attempting to establish some parameters and coming to some kind of agreement as to what is acceptable and what is not. There was a time, during the CR, when entity leaders of the SBC got … [Read more...] about Guidelines for SBC Presidential Campaigning – Starting the Discussion