Dave Miller

I grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where dealing with racism was on the back burner because Iowa is one of the most lily-white states in these United States. Back in the 60s, it was even lilyer-whiter than it is now, since the influx of Asians, African refugees, and a large number of Hispanics (yes, many of them undocumented). Ours was anything but a racist home. In fact, my dad was a racial trendsetter back in the day. We had an integrated Southern Baptist church (dad was one of the first SBC pastors in Iowa) and he worked to build bridges with local black pastors. We would sometimes drive over … [Read more...] about My Three Stories: A White Man’s Racial Journey

I had a conversation with Jonathan Greer today and I'd like to share a few minutes ago and I've, frankly, done little else since I got up today. I also received some other information from two sources. 1. Jonathan's story has been confirmed in general by other sources. Of course, none of us can know exactly what happened in the church meetings, but the fact that this was about race and not about visitation has been confirmed independently. Unfortunately, those sources have not given permission for their names to be used, but they are knowledgeable and reliable. Those of you who want to … [Read more...] about Follow Up: A Conversation with Jonathan Greer

I've been voting since the first time an unelected president ran for reelection. You politics geeks can figure that one out, right? By my count, I've voted for president 10 times and I'm batting .500. This was going to be a tie-breaker election for me but now I'm seriously considering whether I should even vote at all. I know that offends some who consider voting a sacred duty, but so far I've found absolutely no options for me. So now, post-convention, in this break before the real electioneering fires up, I have a few things to say. After I say them, it is my intent to retire from writing … [Read more...] about NONE of the Above: An Examination of Our Election Options

Is it possibly a sign of our partisan ways that one of the most divisive things in the SBC today is the Sinner's Prayer? I attended a men's breakfast this morning where a nationally known sports figure was the featured speaker. Around 800 men (well, there were a few women who crashed the testosterone party!) ate a hearty meal then listened to this man share his life story and make a gospel presentation. All in all, I would say it was a biblically grounded message - I don't think even some of the angriest of the discernment bloggers would have found too much to quarrel with in his testimony … [Read more...] about A Modest Proposal about the Sinner’s Prayer

I'm not sure if Perry Noble and Newspring church still consider themselves SBC or not, but they have parted ways. Perry Noble has either resigned or been removed as pastor because of a problem with alcohol abuse that is ongoing and evidently has become severe. Ed Stetzer has an article at Christianity Today that was released this morning. I've never been much of a fan of Perry Noble, but I think we all have to say that one more black eye for the evangelical church is something that is going to hurt us all - at least in the public perspective. That church is likely to suffer the kind of … [Read more...] about Breaking News: Perry Noble Is Out at Newspring

I'm not a fan of buzzwords. If a word becomes such you can pretty much bank on it that I'm not likely to use it. I've used the word missions a handful of times in recent years but I avoid it because it's both nebulous and omnipresent. Unfortunately, the word "gospel" has become such a word in some circles. I have come to the point where I almost never use the word unless I am specifically referring to the gospel story of Christ's salvation. If I enumerated my specific complaints it would be counter-productive and we would most certainly find ourselves on several tangents. But chief among … [Read more...] about Not Everything Is a “Gospel” Issue – But Race Is!

I just spoke to someone who was in the room when Steve Gaines and JD Greear settled their decision for JD to drop out and let Gaines become president on the third ballot uncontested. Most considered it a magnanimous gesture by Greear and felt as if that was the best outcome possible after the split balloting the first two ballots. Of course, for some, grace, peace, and unity is not a good outcome and so aspersions must be cast, suspicions must be raised, and deals must be insinuated. According to the person who was there, all of that is fiction. Pure conjecture and accusation - unworthy … [Read more...] about The Truth about Steve Gaines and JD Greear

This will be short. Whether it is sweet or not will certainly be in the eye of the beholder. I do a daily "through the Bible" devotional for my church members to get them reading the Bible. This year, instead of going through the Bible in one year, I did a chronological trek through the New Testament which is going to take 7 months. Today's reading was Titus 2 and 3. I noticed something interesting about Titus 2. Paul opened the passage by admonishing Paul to "teach what accords with sound doctrine." He closes the chapter in verse 15 with this command: Declare these things; exhort … [Read more...] about An Interesting Observation about “Sound Doctrine”

I got a little annoyed by a Babylon Bee article last week – not a lot, just a little. I get a little annoyed whenever people take cheap shots at Dispensationalism. And it happens a lot. I realize that we are fair game. The spirit of the age is that Dispensationalism is a relic of our past, that we’ve evolved past such a view, that it is for rubes and rednecks, but that no serious student of the Bible would actually hold such a doctrine today. I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard someone share how they used to be one of those dispensationalists, but then they “studied the Bible for … [Read more...] about Things Dispensationalism Does NOT Teach