May 4 was my last day at Louisiana College, where I had taught Old Testament and Hebrew for the past four years. I left because of how the school handled what seemed to me to be a clear example of the type of theological system that undergirds the current sexual abuse crisis in the Southern Baptist Convention. It was February 14, 2019, just a few days after the Houston Chronicle released its stunning, sickening series of articles on sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches and how that abuse had been covered over for years. That day in chapel Joshua Dara, the dean of the school of human … [Read more...] about Misogyny in Baptist Higher Education (by Russell L. Meek)
Deborah: An agent of God’s compassion and deliverance (by Ashley Blosser)
Why is it that we only hear of Deborah during debates on complementarian doctrine? On the one side she’s held up as evidence that women are permitted to hold pastoral positions over men in the church, while the other side seemingly has no idea what to do with her. As one who has run in “hard” complementarian circles for most of my life, I’ve heard every attempt to explain away Deborah’s story in Judges ranging from “there were no men in Israel fit to lead” to “Deborah was a sign of God’s judgment on His people”. Interestingly, Deborah is sandwiched in a roster of all male judges. There are … [Read more...] about Deborah: An agent of God’s compassion and deliverance (by Ashley Blosser)
The Fall of All the Mall Walls: Definitions in the Age of Social Media (Dean Treloar)
Recently, I was talking to a friend about a mishap he had experienced on twitter. This friend of mine, a pastor, was defending a biblical view on social issues when, presumably due to the language used, was miscategorized by a reader as being an advocate for a trending political controversy. The misunderstanding of tweets as a result of language — in this case, language that happens be shared in hot-button topics in our current political bipartisan divide — is all too common. Consequently, my friend and I spent a great deal of time talking about the phrases we use and the words we select to … [Read more...] about The Fall of All the Mall Walls: Definitions in the Age of Social Media (Dean Treloar)
Above Reproach: A Study of the Ordination Practices of SBC Churches (Jason A. Lowe)
Note: This post provides an overview of the SBC Ordination Practices Report. You can download the full report here. “An overseer must be above reproach…” 1 Timothy 3:2 Southern Baptists, we have a problem. Actually, we have multiple problems brought to light by a recent investigation by The Houston Chronicle, which uncovered a horrific litany of sexual abuse among Southern Baptist churches, with more than 700 victims over the past twenty years and more than 250 offenders since 2008. This has led to some difficult, but necessary conversations among Southern Baptists, … [Read more...] about Above Reproach: A Study of the Ordination Practices of SBC Churches (Jason A. Lowe)
The Christian Effectiveness Officer (C.E.O.) (Clayton Pruett)
Over the last few years, a stunning shift has taken place in church culture. Successful, influential, and powerful pastors are being dismissed from their churches. Not for the typical moral failures or money scandals but for unhealthy leadership practices. Why has this become such an issue? Understanding the problem The simplified version is that decades ago as the church began to lose new generations and influence in the culture the church began to adopt a more complex strategy to compete with society. Basically, everything the culture offered people, the church tried to make a … [Read more...] about The Christian Effectiveness Officer (C.E.O.) (Clayton Pruett)
Perspectives from a Seminary Wife: Spiritual Growth, Academics, and Where the Church Falls Short (Rachel Reeves)
When it comes to involvement in ministry, church attendance, and overall biblical knowledge, I would venture to say that I would land with the majority of churchgoers, and many (specifically in the Bible Belt) would likely share numerous experiences with me. I was raised in church. My parents ensured that I attended, they were involved as leaders in a variety of ways, and they taught me to value and hold fast to my faith. They did what any good Bible-believing parent would do: they instilled in me the importance of the Church. They taught me these things, which was new territory for them, … [Read more...] about Perspectives from a Seminary Wife: Spiritual Growth, Academics, and Where the Church Falls Short (Rachel Reeves)
The Church, the Gospel, and the LGBTQ+ Community
Following the special called General Conference of the United Methodist Church, Adam Hamilton, pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, held a discussion with his church about the future of Methodism. In the hour-long video Hamilton argues that the Bible contradicts itself on many issues and that it promotes views of marriage and sexual ethics that conservative Christians in our culture would find deviant, especially polygamy. He also argues that certain passages of the Bible prove harmful to certain people, and we should question such passages in light of modern understandings. When asked if … [Read more...] about The Church, the Gospel, and the LGBTQ+ Community
Addressing Abuse in the SBC: A Proposal (by Keith Whitfield & Malcom Yarnell)
Earlier this week, the Houston Chronicle published three articles – “Abuse of Faith,” “Offend, Then Repeat,” and “Preying on Teens” – concerning some 200 ministers in more than 700 abuse cases occurring in Southern Baptist churches over the past 20 years. These articles properly sparked numerous conversations about how Southern Baptists might respond both as local churches and through our cooperative structures. These conversations increasingly call for both immediate and longer-term responses. Immediate Responses As SBC president J.D. Greear urged, our first immediate response must be grief … [Read more...] about Addressing Abuse in the SBC: A Proposal (by Keith Whitfield & Malcom Yarnell)
The Forgotten Theology of Rights & Revolution (Ken Hamrick)
Was the American Revolution a sinful undertaking? Were the “unalienable rights” written about in the Declaration of Independence not really “endowed by [our] Creator?” It seems to me that the Evangelical church may be forgetting the theological basis upon which our independent nation was established. Triablogue featured a linked video of an interview of John MacArthur by Ben Shapiro, in which Rev. MacArthur denied that Christians ought ever to be involved in revolutions. Shapiro asks, (at 17:04), “…So, early on, you mentioned that you weren’t sure that the American Revolution is in … [Read more...] about The Forgotten Theology of Rights & Revolution (Ken Hamrick)
Ministering to Sex Abusers: What to Do? (Dean Stewart)
If we as Christians believe anything about God it is that He has the power, the ability to transform our lives. Every one of us who have walked with Christ for a period of time can humbly testify that God has changed our lives. The transformation begins suddenly at our new birth and can be drastic at the beginning. We all know people who were instantly, radically changed when they were saved. The difference was stark. However, the sanctification process is not over with that initial change. God does a sanctifying work in our lives. He uses other believers. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron … [Read more...] about Ministering to Sex Abusers: What to Do? (Dean Stewart)