Dave Miller

NOTE: Jay Adkins has sent in a postscript to his article, in response to some of the comments. It is attached at the bottom of the post.  Jay Adkins is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Westwego, LA, and a trustee of Louisiana College. He has firsthand insight into the sad events that have taken place there in recent months, and speaks with both courage and conviction. I contacted him and received permission to republish his letter in full. You can read it at his site, here. Here is Jay Adkins' statement in full: A personal statement regarding recent events at Louisiana … [Read more...] about True Courage and Conviction: Jay Adkins’ Statement regarding Louisiana College (Postscript added)

I just finished preaching and I'm heading east. Plan to drive till very late and make my way toward Lynchburg, VA, sometime tomorrow, to visit with the two cutest and most wonderful grandsons anyone ever had. You don't believe me? Take a gander at this photo. You are jealous now, aren't you? Anyway, I'll keep an eye on things here (evidently, they do have the internet now in Virginia), but I'll be even less involved than I have been around here recently. And honestly, folks, just because your kids and grandkids aren't as cute and wonderful as mine doesn't mean they aren't cute … [Read more...] about Pointing My Car East

I have friends who believe that the Conservative Resurgence in the SBC was a work of God that turned a denomination from the path of ruin which other denominations have followed. I have other friends who think the CR was a political shenanigan, a power-grab that had little to do with theology. They do not admit that there was a genuine problem with liberalism and see the CR as a tragedy which has ruined our denomination. I think there is some truth on both sides. I was a foot soldier in the CR. I attended the Houston convention in 1979 and was thrilled when Adrian Rogers was elected … [Read more...] about The Conservative Resurgence: Reflections of a Foot Soldier

What makes someone a Pharisee? We have a tendency to use the term as a pejorative, to label those with whom we disagree. It is common for those who lean a little to the left to label fundamentalists and conservatives as Pharisees. The appellation was common, and I believe largely unfair, in the Baptist Identity debate that dominated Baptist blogs a few years back. We tend to put this bullet in the gun and aim it at those on the other side of whatever debate in which we are currently involved. That is not what this series of posts is going to be about. There is little to be gained from … [Read more...] about You Might Be a Pharisee If…You Attempt in the Flesh What Only God Can Do

We live in a world of laws. There is, for instance, the law of gravity – one that I have grown less enthused about as I have grown older and heavier. There are the laws of thermodynamics and physics and mathematics – most of which I do not really understand. There are also laws of human interaction, observations about the way things are in our crazy world. Perhaps the most famous of those laws is the one that takes effect every time I pick up a tool to try to do something mechanical – Murphy’s Law. If anything can go wrong, IT WILL! There is another law, which perhaps, like the pirates … [Read more...] about Am I a Pharisee? (Introduction)

I have written many an article questioning the decisions and actions of those in leadership in our convention. I think it is one of blogging's purposes and, if done rightly, a way that our big ol' blogging mouths can serve the convention well. It is also important that we note leaders who lead well. Dr. Paul Chitwood is one of those leaders. He is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention and is demonstrating repeatedly that he should and can be an important leader for our denomination's future. Last year, he sponsored a conference on Calvinism that attempted to bridge the … [Read more...] about When a Leader Leads: Dr. Paul Chitwood’s Response to Campbellsville University

I've seen it several times recently. "We are following the old paths!" I got an invitation to an "Old-Fashioned" tent revival. As the modern world rushes headlong in new, strange and frightening ways, there is a tendency for us to try to hold on to what is old, what is comfortable - that which we have known. We look back to the middle of the 20th Century as a golden age for the church (well, white Americans do - blacks probably don't remember that era of church-approved racism, discrimination and segregation quite so fondly!). I've known people (lots of them) who think that everything that … [Read more...] about The “Old Path” Is Not Always the Best Path – The KJV Is a Great Example!

J. Lee Grady is a former editor of Charisma magazine and the director of The Mordecai Project, who still writes for the magazine. Charisma is a leading charismatic journal, one with which most of us would have a lot of disagreement. I read a recent Charisma article by him, "No More Pentecostal Popemobiles." It was a great article on its own merits, but it also was an example of what we need to see more of in the SBC. In the article, he suggests that charismatics draw a line in the sand and not put up with any more shenanigans from big name charismatic preachers. NO MORE BODYGUARDS. We have … [Read more...] about The SBC Needs Some J. Lee Gradys!

The exalted Rev. William Thornton put up a challenging piece last week on his new blog, "Cooperative Program Observer" and allowed us to repost it here, called "One thing I have never heard concerning the Cooperative Program." He challenged those who criticize the Cooperative Program to devise a better system. I am a big fan of the CP and cannot think of a system that is any better. But in the discussion, questions came up about the requirements for participation in the SBC. A church gets a messenger for every $250 it gives to convention causes through the CP. That formula has been in place … [Read more...] about Is This a Dumb Idea? A CP Suggestion

This is a follow-up on the article I published this morning. Most of you young whippersnappers don't know what a hymnal is, but it is a book of songs the church has sung through the years, to teach theology and to lead the church in worship. There is (though many of you perhaps have never seen one - getting the sarcasm?) a "Baptist Hymnal" - one designed specifically for use in Baptist churches. It has hymns by Anglicans like John Newton (Amazing Grace). It has hymns by Charles Wesley (of the Methodist Wesleys!). It has hymns by another Methodist, Fanny Crosby. (To God Be the … [Read more...] about Is the Baptist Hymnal “Denominational Treason?”