Guest Blogger

The theology of Andrew Fuller, as set out in his greatest work, The Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation, is centrally located between those Calvinists who see sinners as walking corpses---no more able to believe than a dead body is able to raise itself from the dead---and those of the other side who see sinners as fully enabled by God's grace to choose (their will being the determining factor). To Fuller, men are able to believe, but will nonetheless remain unwilling until God does a supernatural work of grace to reverse their unwillingness. Regeneration only causes a man to do what he otherwise … [Read more...] about Unwillingness & Inability: A Summary of Andrew Fuller’s Solution (Ken Hamrick)

THE SBC AND RACIAL UNITY: DO FLOYD, MOORE AND LAND REPRESENT A SEA CHANGE? BY WILLIAM DWIGHT MCKISSIC, SR. Jesus taught His disciples to pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The apostle John described a picture in heaven of every racial, ethnic, and language group praising God together in unity. If heaven is a picture of racial unity and tranquility, shouldn’t—at least among God’s kingdom citizens on earth—there should be a demonstration of racial unity and peace? The Psalmist said, “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm … [Read more...] about SBC and Racial Unity: Do Floyd, Moore and Land Represent a Sea Change? (Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr)

Dale Pugh graciously took a break from celebrating last night's Heisman Award to write a review of the recently released "Exodus: Gods and Kings." Thank you, Dale."  Let me get this out of the way right up front:  Ridley Scott messes with Moses’ story in Exodus: Gods and Kings (EGK).  It seems almost inevitable that Hollywood just won’t stick to the facts.  I suppose that it does the moviegoer well to remember that producers and directors are not necessarily concerned with commitment to a text.  Their goal is to put a story on the screen in order to make money. Ridley Scott has done his … [Read more...] about Exodus: Gods and Kings – A Review, by Dale Pugh

The SBC Plodder is back! What do Kanye West, Lady Gaga,  Hollywood superstars, and mega-paid athletes have in common with clergy? They are all targets of retiring Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn's report on special tax breaks. There is a group of several hundred such breaks set to be extended by congress. While the housing allowance we clergy receive does not need any legislation to be extended, it's locked in brethren, it is of the type Coburn assails as being a special giveaway that clutter our mammoth tax code and that should be eliminated or adjusted. Ah, the company we clergy are … [Read more...] about US Senator: Wealthy musicians, athletes, clergy exploit tax loopholes to drive up rates for rest of us (William Thornton)

Pastor Dwight McKissic blogs at "Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr: A New Blog for a Pneuma Time."  Our nation is ill-at-ease. The number one item purchased on Black Friday was guns. Ebola, ISIS and terrorism are threatening us from afar. Questionable and controversial Grand Jury decisions have erupted into civil unrest within. Race-relations; family life; definition of a family; church attendance; economic wellbeing; and optimism about our collective future are all undergoing serious revisions, doubts and uncertainty daily. It seems as if foundations are crumbling. Land marks are being removed. … [Read more...] about Russell Moore, The Gospel of the Kingdom and Eric Garner (by William Dwight McKissic, Sr)

William Thornton is the SBC Plodder.  I'm a numbers guy and find these numbers about pastors to be interesting: 1 in 4 One in four pastors acknowledge that they have struggled with a mental illness such as depression. Since this is a self-reported statistic (LifeWay Research asked pastors, 1000 of them by a telephone survey earlier this year), it is not at all surprising that, anonymously, one in four pastors would report such a struggle. I'm guessing that some of the other three in four lied by not admitting some level of struggle with a mental illness such as depression. Any pastors … [Read more...] about SBC Pastors and mental illness…by the numbers (by William Thornton)

Here are some links I promised to provide. In a strange way, I am believing God to bring healing and unity out of what appears to be division and doubt at the moment. I sense God is up to something. And I am on the tip-toe of anticipation about what God is going to do in the days to come. BLACK-ON-BLACK VIOLENCE: PASTOR VODDIE BAUCHAM’S ASSAULT ON BLACK PEOPLE http://drewgihart.com/2014 /12/01/black-on-black-violence-pastor-voddie-bauchams-assault-on-black-people-by-austin-channing-brown-christena-cleveland-drew-hart-and-efrem-smith/ A BLACK MAN IS KILLED IN THE U.S. EVERY 28 HOURS … [Read more...] about Important Links Concerning Ferguson (from Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr)

Although I disagree with the Darren Wilson verdict as I understand the facts of this case, I am committed to the notion that a jury verdict must be respected and responded to with civility and restraint, even when there is vehement disagreement. Therefore, I deplore and decry the rioting, looting, violence, burning, anarchy, and acts of disrespect, rebellion, and violence exhibited toward police and civil authorities in Ferguson, and elsewhere. I am absolutely convinced that Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin would both be alive if the persons that killed them had not profiled them. Darren … [Read more...] about Keeping the Faith in Spite of Ferguson (by William Dwight McKissic, Sr)

Louis has been a regular and respected commenter at this site.  November is the month that our church celebrates “Missions Month.” It is a great time of emphasis on international, domestic and local missions work. We highlight the work of the International Missions Board, other mission agencies, and local work. We hear testimonies from missionaries and people who work with other Christian organizations. At the end of the month we take up an offering, which we use for funding missions activities during the year. I believe strongly that the Church is to fulfill the commission that Jesus … [Read more...] about What’s In a Name? (by Louis)

This is the SBC Plodder at his curmudgeonly best! (He used that term, I just stole it!) It has been almost two full years since I put up a post about how our International Mission Board's Journeyman program, the two to three year overseas program for single college graduates aged 21-26 is completely dominated by females. My humble 2012 post: Young, male, restless conservative SBC seminarians: SNIVELING WIMPS The irreverent phrase that not-so-gently stepped on the little twinkies of our young, single, male seminarians was, "SNIVELING WIMPS." How impolite, and impolitic of Plodder to call … [Read more...] about A personal mission for David Platt in regard to young, male, sniveling wimp SBCers (William Thornton)