Guest Blogger

Editor's Note: John Wylie is the pastor of Springer Missionary Baptist Church in Springer, OK, and a frequent commenter here at Voices. I am on the road today (technically on vacation, though I actually did a lot of work while my wife drove yesterday - and a little while I did, but we won't talk about that). I won't be around to moderate comments on a topic that often becomes pretty snippy! So, play nice boys and girls. If things get out of hand, my only recourse will be the dreaded "close comments" option! I would like to say that first of all this article will not be nearly as scholarly as … [Read more...] about The Eternal Subordination of the Son is a Biblical Viewpoint (by John Wylie)

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE SBC REGARDING THE CONFEDERATE FLAG From “Hearty Support” 1863 to “Discontinue the Display” 2016 BY WM. DWIGHT MCKISSIC, SR. At the near beginning of the 21st Century, The Southern Baptist Convention recently made the decision to address a heretofore unaddressed aspect of her history, and that is the SBC's historic identity and complicity with the Confederacy. A vote was taken to ask Christians to discontinue the public use of the Confederate Flag (CF), in order to show solidarity with other Christians, including African Americans. Perhaps this was one of the … [Read more...] about The Transformation of the SBC regarding the Confederate Flag (Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr)

Dustin Lair is a husband of one, father of seven, a pastor, and a child of the King. Ramblings from my first SBC I have to start with the obvious ones. The James Merritt speech and the Russell Moore religious liberty answer were amazing. I felt like I was a part of a historical moment in SBC life. These men’s words brought me to tears and I am beyond thankful for them. Robby Gallaty is a giant man. He can witness to anybody because they’re too scared to not listen to him. I don’t think that I ever saw David Platt blink. I’m not sure he can. He is also so serious that he scares me. On that … [Read more...] about Ramblings from My First SBC Annual Meeting (Dustin Lair)

As a proud son of the South, I agree, there are many, many great values, virtues, and customs embedded and inherent in Southern culture that I too celebrate and appreciate. For some, the Confederate Flag (CF) is a symbol of Southern culture that affirms and applauds a strong work ethic, personal responsibility, fierce independence, state rights, faith, family, the right to bear arms, hospitality, congeniality, sharing, and a Bible-belt, church-going assumption. However, honesty also demands that Southerners admit that the CF—at least in part—represents “a slave society and a society bent on … [Read more...] about Response to Requests to Withdraw The Confederate Flag Elimination Resolution At SBC 2016 By Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.

Editor's note: The person who wrote this article for us has chosen to remain anonymous. “I was born this way.” That’s the experience and the declaration of many in the LGBTQ community. Their sexual attractions are predisposed. They didn’t choose this, they say, so why should they be bound by moral definitions that claim their feelings and actions are wrong? When you move to those who are both LGBTQ and religious, especially those seeking to fit into Christianity, the question is asked: “Why would God make me this way if he didn’t want me to be this way?” Honestly, with all of this, I … [Read more...] about Born Again This Way

Why Christians and African Americans Should Boycott Target By Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr. To compare the plight of a transgender-person (one who chooses a gender identity different from the one on their birth certificate)—to the plight of the African American Civil Rights struggle of the 60’s is not only illogical, but is also racist. It is illogical because you are comparing a matter of choice (transgender-ism) with a matter of consequence (racial identity). Racial Identity is not a matter of choice or feeling, but rather a matter of consequence. One cannot change the race; their race is … [Read more...] about Why Christians and African Americans Should Boycott Target (By Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.)

Joel is a Southern Baptist Pastor and blogs at themelios. Four miles from the site where the church I serve as pastor gathers for worship each week—just across the Potomac River—is Antietam Creek, Maryland.  On that hallowed ground in 1862, Union General George McClellan finally caught up with General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.  The first day of that battle—the first battle to take place on Union soil—became the bloodiest single day skirmish in American history.  More than 22,000 from both sides gave the last full measure of devotion there.  Today, the solemnity of that ground … [Read more...] about The Confederate Flag and the Kingdom of God (Joel Rainey)

JP Williams is pastor of the First Baptist Church of Archie, MO. Remember that time a few of the Disciples wanted to burn a village down? Luke 9:51–56 (ESV) A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus 51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from … [Read more...] about Remember that time a few of the Disciples wanted to burn a village down? (by JP Williams)

Resolution on The Elimination of The Confederate Flag from Public Life Submitted to the Resolutions Committee of the 2016 Southern Baptist Convention By Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr., Cornerstone Baptist Church, Arlington, TX WHEREAS, SBC President Ronnie Floyd has rallied Southern Baptists to “rise up and cry out against the racism that still exists in our nation and our churches,” recognizing we are in a “desperate hour” that calls us to “replace these evils with the beauty of grace and love;”[1] and WHEREAS, the Southern Baptist Convention has repudiated “historic acts of evil such as … [Read more...] about Resolution on The Elimination of The Confederate Flag from Public Life (by Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr.)