Let me make some assertions very clear. I believe there is life after death. I believe life after death depends on Jesus. Those who have the Son have life. Those who don't, don't. I believe in heaven and in the reality of hell. Having said that, I would like to make two observations - one that has, I believe, unassailable biblical support and the other equally unassailable support from our own experience. There is not a single place I've found in the NT where the offer of salvation was presented to someone on the basis of where that person would spend eternity. The gospel … [Read more...] about Is “Where Will You Go When You Die?” a Helpful Evangelistic Question?
An Old Codger’s Advice to Young Whippersnappers
It was one of those moments that is shocking, telling, and yes, abundantly gross. Back in the good old days, the BCI had an annual pastors and wives retreat in the Amana Colonies; a highlight of the year for all of us. After the meetings were over one night I was "fellowshipping" with a group of about half a dozen pastors. Okay, we were hanging out in the large hot tub at the hotel! I told you it was gross. As the chat progressed I had a moment of revelation - I was no longer the young whippersnapper in the group. I was the old guy, the voice of experience. The young pastors were peppering me … [Read more...] about An Old Codger’s Advice to Young Whippersnappers
A Policy Conundrum: The Community and Our Building – What Should We Do?
We've run into a serious question as we have been reworking our policies on the use of our building. Maybe some of you are going through the same thing, and if any of you legal eagles out there want to weigh in, well, free legal advice is always better than paid, right? Backstory Several of the churches in our area try to make bank by renting out their buildings - I can't believe what some of them charge for weddings and other building use. We decided years ago that we'd go a different direction. It didn't necessarily thrill our Building and Properties Team, but we chose to make our … [Read more...] about A Policy Conundrum: The Community and Our Building – What Should We Do?
October 17-23: A Trump/Clinton Free Week at SBC Voices
Like the Pirates Code, many of my rules are more like guidelines than they are actual rules, and I know that articles about Trump/Clinton/the election have been one of my staples in recent weeks, but I think we need to take a break. C'mon guys. Let's talk about the Calvinist conspiracy, or beverage alcohol, or whether strict tithing is still required biblically. Here's the thing: there's a lot of stuff to talk about but there comes a point when we keep saying the same things over and over again. NeverTrump. A vote for Trump is a vote for Hillary. Lesser of evils. Trump is not … [Read more...] about October 17-23: A Trump/Clinton Free Week at SBC Voices
Is There a Path to Post-Election Peace in the Evangelical Church?
Some of those folks out there are really arguing about Hillary, Trump, and the 2016 election, aren't they? I'm so glad I'm not like those folks. I've been amused recently in seeing posts denouncing political discussions. "It's such a waste of time and I hate it." There may be some truth in that, but without fail, those comments come from people who have lobbed bomb after bomb on post after post. I have dropped out of political discussions completely - about a dozen times. Then, "just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in." Is there any sort of path to peace, short of one side … [Read more...] about Is There a Path to Post-Election Peace in the Evangelical Church?
Are We Being Played? Is the Election a Big Con?
My disdain for conspiracy theories is pretty well public here on SBC Voices. Most conspiracies are absurd and assume a big, bad boogeyman running things in a way that usually doesn't exist in reality. But there is a little voice in the back of my head that wonders about this election - is it possible that the mainstream media is working to ensure that Hillary Clinton makes it into the Oval Office? I have some reservations about that premise, three primary ones: Hillary has had a somewhat prickly relationship with the press. Would they really engage in a grand scheme to win an election for … [Read more...] about Are We Being Played? Is the Election a Big Con?
Tulsa, Charlotte, Media Bias, Racism, and the Church: a Moral Morass
I watched this video and got a little knot in my stomach. Oh, no, not again. A black man with his hands in the air is shot to death by Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby. The video has become another Rohrshach test for our racial divide. It is pretty clear that when we see a video like this we tend to see what we want to see while thinking we see exactly what is there. I've watched the video, and the helicopter video, and I've read the testimony of the officer Shelby. I don't know if she's telling the truth or trying to save her bacon. Was Terence Crutcher on PCP? Did he try to reach … [Read more...] about Tulsa, Charlotte, Media Bias, Racism, and the Church: a Moral Morass
Lordship, Liberty, and License: Making Lifestyle Decisions that Honor Our Lord
Are you going to go see that great new movie, “Forty Shades of Yellow?” Is it fit for a Christian to see? How do you go about making a decision like this? At the risk of oversimplying a difficult topic, there are three ways a Christian can seek to deal with lifestyle issues like this. We can walk under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, be guided by the spirit of legalism or give ourselves to license. Which will it be? Preliminary Thoughts I am focusing here on issues often labeled disputable matters. No Christian needs to pray about whether to commit adultery or to engage in murder. … [Read more...] about Lordship, Liberty, and License: Making Lifestyle Decisions that Honor Our Lord
10 Easy Steps to Pastoral Burnout – YOU Can DO It!
I've been there. Burned out, used up, ready to throw in the towel. I've never been diagnosed with depression, but that's probably because I didn't go to the doctor. In my 35 years of full-time ministry, I've been through at least two periods of severe discouragement in which a doctor might have wanted to attach that "D" label to me. I don't really know. I'm not a doctor - I don't even have a degree from one of those diploma mills. But during those times all I wanted was out. Out of my life. Out of ministry. Out my church. No, I've never seriously considered suicide but I've had moments where … [Read more...] about 10 Easy Steps to Pastoral Burnout – YOU Can DO It!
Pastors Conference 2017: We Are Looking for a Few Good Expositors UPDATED: Nominations are OPEN!
NOTE: The Nomination process is up and running. You can make nominations here. It's been almost 3 months since our little band of bloggers were entrusted with this gargantuan task of putting together the 2017 Pastors Conference in Phoenix. I wish I could share all that has happened - it's been amazing how things have come together. Now the time has come to begin our biggest and most important job - selecting the preachers who will deliver the 12 sermons. We ran on a simple premise and everything we are doing is based on this same foundational idea: The word of God is so … [Read more...] about Pastors Conference 2017: We Are Looking for a Few Good Expositors UPDATED: Nominations are OPEN!