Dave Miller

I asked a question on Alan Cross' excellent post of a couple of days ago - whether the current statistical malaise of the SBC was unique to us, or whether it more of a general problem in evangelicalism as a whole. I got my answer today from an expert on such issues, and it was one that I didn't like. The SBC has a real problem. Evangelicalism as a whole in America is fairly stable, even growing (though defining that term is pretty difficult). Other evangelical denominations are seeing growth. The SBC is at the beginning of a real, significant and scary statistical decline. If this trend is … [Read more...] about SBC, We Have a Problem

First of all, let me define my terms. I'm glad that people who are not able to attend the Annual Meeting of the SBC are able to live stream the proceedings and share their opinions on blogs and tweets and Facebook - that is great. But there has been a big push in recent years to decentralize the SBC, either by having regional sites or by allowing people to be messengers and participate from their homes and offices via computer. I can understand why people say that. It costs a lot of money to attend the convention and offsite participation would allow more people to be a part. If we simply … [Read more...] about Why I Would NOT Support Online Participation at the SBC

I have received word that Bart Barber is going to be nominated by Pastor Steve Gaines as First Vice President of the SBC next week in Houston. I heartily and enthusiastically endorse Bart for that position and think that if he gets elected in spite of my endorsement, he will do an excellent job. But I have to be honest - he really annoys me, for two specific reasons. 1) When I agree with him, I often find myself thinking I wish I'd said it the way he did. 2) When I disagree with him, he is even more annoying, because he argues with unique perspectives and insight that is frustratingly … [Read more...] about Bart Barber to Be Nominated as First VP!

I hate talking about Calvinism on this blog. I hate it. For about 6 months, I pretty much banned it, with a few slip ups that I usually regretted. When the Calvinism committee issued its report, one of the things they called for was constructive engagement. Calvinists and non-Calvinists (including Traditionalists) need to talk to one another, calmly, biblically and graciously. So, I opened the door. And, of course, foodfights ensued! So, with much fear and trepidation, I am going to enter into the fray and try to add a perspective on the subject. I am committed to seeking to build unity … [Read more...] about Maintaining Unity: What Calvinists Must Do!

What is your role at LifeWay? My role is to serve as a catalyst for the advancement of God’s Word, specifically through the recent English translation called the Holman Christian Standard Bible (or HCSB). I have the privilege of working on the Bible and Reference team at LifeWay for the stewardship of this important translation, and I have the joy also of working with ministry leaders, laity, and consumers in general to understand the HCSB's distinctives. Why should people be interested in the HCSB—what are its distinctives? Let me suggest two reasons, broadly speaking: accuracy and … [Read more...] about The Holman Christian Standard Bible: An Interview with Micah Carter

I'm in Boston, surrounded by fans of the Boston Red Evils. I have limited time and no laptop. This old guy finds typing on an iPad to be cumbersome. I will try to keep an eye on the place, process comments, etc. You guys behave. Oh, and I've discovered something interesting visiting family in the vortex of sporting evil (housing the Red Evils, Celtics and the Patriot - perhaps the Bruins if hockey were a real sport). Boston is weird, strange, different, but it is kinda cool. Historic, Maybe there is a spiritual lesson in there somewhere. If a Yankee fan can enjoy Boston, maybe a 5-pointer … [Read more...] about In Enemy Territory

I am flying out today to Boston for a little vacation/grandkid time, so I can only put this out for your discussion. Frank Page's study group has issued its report, and it is well worth the read. While the results are hardly surprising, they do form the basis for a way forward for the SBC through the Calvinism quagmire that has bogged us down in recent years. Here is a link to the full report. The introductory paragraphs the discussion well. Southern Baptists are Great Commission people. We are also a doctrinal people, and those doctrinal convictions undergird our Great Commission vision … [Read more...] about The Calvinism Committee Report

Let's face it, folks, the unity movement can get a pretty bad rap. I remember a Christian comedian from 30 years ago saying, "Let's forget all this doctrine and just love Jesus." What a perfectly terrible idea! I was warned from childhood about the specter of the "ecumenical movement" that was going to unite the world into a dogma-free one-world-church. When I, or someone else, calls Southern Baptists to tone down the hostility and rhetoric over theological issues of the SBC, especially those related to Calvinism, an assumption is often made that either a) I don't care about theology or b) I … [Read more...] about Unity, Bad Theology and the SBC: The Heart of the Problem

Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods are golfers who don't like each other very much. It's not hard to see why. Tiger is hyper-competitive and arrogant. I cheer for him, but have often been a little bothered by or even ashamed of his behavior. Sergio Garcia is, by most accounts, a whiner. He gets easily distracted and complains about what goes on around him. The tension that has been growing between the two of them over the years has exploded in recent days. They went head to head in the Players Championship a couple of weeks back. The crowd following Tiger made noise that distracted Sergio and he … [Read more...] about Racially Insensitive Jokes ARE Racist! (Duh!)

Bart Barber has posted two installments of his excellent series, "For the Propagation of the Gospel," about the work of the Southern Baptist Convention. Part 1. Part 2. He graciously asked if I might like to participate, and I offer this as a third installment in the series.  They say that confession is good for the soul, so here is mine. There was a time when I was flirting with leaving Southern Baptists and finding another denominational home. My years at Dallas Seminary had made me aware that though I was a lifelong Southern Baptist there was a great big evangelical world out there for me … [Read more...] about For the Propagation of the Gospel – Southern Baptist Missions