I was engaged in a Facebook discussion today with two eminent Southern Baptist scholars who said some of the most inane, silly things in defense of the National League's refusal to join the 20th Century (yes, I know it's the 21st Century) and adopt the DH. They were not even persuaded by the fact that David Worley agreed with them - which should have been a warning to them. I think it is high time that we focus on the things that matter in America and take a strong stand here. I'm having a World Series hangover and am not ready to give up baseball until February, so let me stir the pot a … [Read more...] about Time to Take a Stand: Make the Designated Hitter Universal
Baptist in the Spirit, Part 5: The Spirit in the Life of Jesus
Why did Jesus need to be filled with the Spirit? Luke 4 records the temptation of Christ and the beginning of his ministry here on earth. In verses 1-2 we are told, “Then Jesus left the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days to be tempted by the devil.” Then, when the forty days were over, verse 14 tells us how Jesus began his ministry. “Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity.” Jesus was led by the Spirit and empowered by the Spirit from the beginning … [Read more...] about Baptist in the Spirit, Part 5: The Spirit in the Life of Jesus
What Should We Think about Pastor Platt?
David Platt, the President of our International Mission Board, recently became the preaching pastor at the Mclean Bible Church, a megachurch in the DC area. There has been a lot of confusion and misinformation about the whole process, and there many who are troubled by this development. Platt is a polarizing figure. There are some who will support him whatever he does and some who will relentlessly criticize him no matter what. But this is troubling even to many who are otherwise sympathetic to much of what Platt has done at the IMB. I was brought into this controversy months ago by a … [Read more...] about What Should We Think about Pastor Platt?
A Great Book that Shouldn’t Need to Be Written!
We arranged with Jews for Jesus to have a full seder at our church on the Wednesday night before Easter and they sent a man named Avi Snyder to lead us. Sometimes you hit it off with another and that is what happened that night. He showed up early and we talked. We arranged to go out for breakfast again in the morning and spent some more time fellowshipping together. He demonstrated that he is a man of wisdom and insight - we agreed on so many things! He told me he had a book coming out soon and promised to send it to me. I promised him I'd write a review of the book here. I am only about 12 … [Read more...] about A Great Book that Shouldn’t Need to Be Written!
Talk Amongst Yourselves: What Is Going on in the SBC?
Would that it was not so, but controversy drives SBC blogs. We try to write on a variety of topics here. I am doing a series of posts on the Holy Spirit, which is not exactly breaking records - but I forge ahead! We write devotional posts, theological posts, political posts. We write about sports (if the Yankees come back against Houston, just wait to see how I blast Barber and Blosser. If it keeps going bad, sports will be banned). But when there is some kind of denominational brouhaha, our traffic explodes. We set records earlier this year due to some of the controversies going on in the … [Read more...] about Talk Amongst Yourselves: What Is Going on in the SBC?
Baptist in the Spirit, Part 4: Old Testament Pentecostal Power?
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Those were the last words Jesus spoke before he was taken up into heaven, a promise of power that was fulfilled ten days later at Pentecost when the Spirit baptized the church with the promised power and its Great Commission work commenced. We focus on certain words in Acts 1:8. Power. Witnesses. The Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth progression. But our focus here will be on two words in the first … [Read more...] about Baptist in the Spirit, Part 4: Old Testament Pentecostal Power?
Are You Celebrating the Reformation?
Evidently, it's nearly 500 years since old Martin defaced the door at Wittenberg. A lot of Baptists are celebrating this anniversary of the Reformation. There have been conferences and symposiums (symposia?) honoring and studying and analyzing every aspect of the work of Luther, Calvin, and the rest of the bunch. From my social media feeds, I can tell you that Sola Sermon series are all the rage in Baptist pulpits across the land - five-week series of five-point messages, I would assume. (with tulips decorating the pulpit?). On the other hand, several have been questioning the … [Read more...] about Are You Celebrating the Reformation?
A Revised Question: Trying to Understand the Love of Guns
I have revised this because my original question was answered. I am told that the automatic weapons that Paddock had were already illegal and were likely illegally modified. Fine. I am going to take my question one step further. I have heard most of the arguments about the Second Amendment (armed militia, protection against tyranny, etc.) Again, I am not in support of repealing the amendment. I will also admit that since I am not a gun owner, I don't know much about laws as they exist. I do know that this guy had dozens of weapons which he easily adapted to become automatic weapons … [Read more...] about A Revised Question: Trying to Understand the Love of Guns
When the Serpent Rages: Pray for Las Vegas
What do you say on a day like today? Predictably, many are calling for stricter gun control in America - that is a given every time there is a shooting like this. Why does anyone need the firepower to cause this kind of damage? Others will be talking about mental illness. Stephen Paddock must have snapped. His brother says there was absolutely nothing in his life that would have given anyone the idea that he was capable of something like this. What led a man to such unspeakable evil? Someone will point out that our "fifteen minutes of fame" culture has led people to seek to go out … [Read more...] about When the Serpent Rages: Pray for Las Vegas
Demonization, Empathy, and the National Anthem Debate
When one points to the admonitions of 1 Corinthians 13 and other passages that enjoin love, unity, gentleness, and peace, he is often met with disdain. Those who are discerning, theological types find all that hippie-dippie, touchy-feely stuff annoying. Talking about those things evidences a lack of conviction, doctrinal weakness, and perhaps charismatic sympathies! But in the recent national anthem debates raging in sports stadiums across the nation, a microcosm of our racial issues in general, a little bit of that flower child stuff might not be so bad! We have gone to the other extreme, … [Read more...] about Demonization, Empathy, and the National Anthem Debate