Thomas Magers is the pastor of Tiplersville Baptist Church in Tiplersville, MS and is a student at NOBTS. The movie Noah will feature a disclaimer to announce to moviegoers that Noah is not entirely biblical. The disclaimer reads, “The film is inspired by the story of Noah. While artistic license has been taken, we believe that this film is true to the essence, values, and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide. The biblical story of Noah can be found in the book of Genesis.” The movie has not been released yet, so I cannot comment on the … [Read more...] about Artistic License: Noah the Movie and Biblical Interpretation (by Thomas Magers II)
The Kingdom Family Gathering (by Dwight McKissic)
THE KINGDOM FAMILY GATHERING, 2014 A Gathering for a New Millennium BY WILLIAM DWIGHT MCKISSIC, SR. Waiting in the baggage claim area at the Washington, DC, Airport, I made eye contact with a gentleman who paused, looked at me, then looked at a picture that he was holding in his hand, looked at me again, and then he continued to walk pass me. He made his way around to me again and repeated the previous actions; only this time before proceeding without speaking, he paused to ask—“Are you Rev. Dwight McKissic?” I said, “Yes!” He then said, “You don’t look like your picture.” My assistant … [Read more...] about The Kingdom Family Gathering (by Dwight McKissic)
The Forgotten “N” Word in the Bible (by William Dwight McKissic, Sr)
THE FORGOTTEN “N” WORD IN THE BIBLE By William Dwight McKissic, Sr. The NFL is currently discussing penalizing players who use the “N” word during a game. Two White NFL players, Riley Cooper and Incognito, have been recorded using the “N” word as a slur directed toward African American males. Black NFL players reportedly commonly use the term during games in a myriad of context, some affirmative and some pejorative. Recently, an Anglo female student at the high school in Texas where my daughter teaches—at a school-wide sanctioned event, across a microphone—made reference to all the “high … [Read more...] about The Forgotten “N” Word in the Bible (by William Dwight McKissic, Sr)
A Gospel Moment at BYU (by Paul Thompson)
Paul Thompson blogs at "The Bridge." It was early on Tuesday, February 25, 2014. David and Emily came by the house at 4:30AM to drop their dogs off to stay with Renee because we would be away until Wednesday afternoon. We then met up with Jeff Norton, pastor of NorthRidge Fellowship in Jerome, ID at 4:45am to begin the drive to Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. This would prove to be an historic day for all of us. The drive to Provo, was pleasant. Any time to be in good discussion with family and friends is a good moment. It may be worth just going for a long drive some time; if for … [Read more...] about A Gospel Moment at BYU (by Paul Thompson)
Is the SBC Positioning to Be Able to Oust Half Of Its Churches? (by Alan Cross)
Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift. A recent post on SBCVoices.com raises that question. Bart Barber, current 1st VP of the SBC and a friend of mine writes about a recent meeting of the SBC's Executive Committee. They put forward a proposal to amend Article III of our Constitution which deals with member churches and messengers to the annual meeting. There is the business about trying to raise contribution requirements and a few other things, but what really caught my attention was the part about requiring firm adherence to all points of the BFM2000 to be a participating SBC church or … [Read more...] about Is the SBC Positioning to Be Able to Oust Half Of Its Churches? (by Alan Cross)
Proposed SBC Messenger Formula: Not Very Small Church Friendly? (by William Thornton)
William Thornton is the SBC Plodder. The SBC Executive Committee is considering a proposal to change the messenger allocation formula for the annual meeting. Baptist Press reports on the proposal. Updated qualifications weighed for messengers. This subject erupts regularly at our annual meetings. BP says that motions concerning the messenger allocation formula have been made no less than 16 times in the past 35 years. For the past 136 years messengers have been allocated as follows: One per cooperating church. One additional per $250 "paid to the work of the Convention" or per … [Read more...] about Proposed SBC Messenger Formula: Not Very Small Church Friendly? (by William Thornton)
Dr. Ronnie Floyd: Putting His Money Where His Mouth Is (by Tim Rogers)
This article originally appeared at Tim's blog, "Southern Baptist in NC". It was 2006 and many were pushing for leadership to come from churches that had ten percent of their undesignated funds being given to the Cooperative Program (CP). The Executive Committee (ExComm) was entertaining a motion to come before the convention by the State Executives that year calling for trustees of entities to be from churches that give 10% to the CP. A small group met in Memphis calling for public repentance and holding trustees accountable to the convention’s sacred trust. This call was more loudly voiced … [Read more...] about Dr. Ronnie Floyd: Putting His Money Where His Mouth Is (by Tim Rogers)
How to be Part of a Tribe Without Succumbing to Tribalism (by Joel Rainey)
Joel Rainey is the Director of Missions at Mid-Maryland Baptist Association, an adjunct professor at Capital Bible Seminary and blogs at Themelios (Twitter - @joelrainey). Hopefully, it will surprise no one reading these words to discover that I'm a Baptist. I was brought to a Baptist church for the first time when I was just a few days old. I heard the message of Jesus, and became one of His followers in a Baptist church. I was licensed and duly ordained as a Baptist minister, I'm a two-time graduate of a Baptist seminary, and I lead a Baptist missions entity. So I'm about as Baptist as … [Read more...] about How to be Part of a Tribe Without Succumbing to Tribalism (by Joel Rainey)
Toward Theological Reconciliation: Atonement (by Ken Hamrick)
What you will find below is neither an argument for the Calvinist view nor one for the Traditionalist view of atonement. Both ends of the spectrum have been asking the wrong questions, and the best perspective transcends that old debate. By emphasizing that Christ stood in our place, the debate has perpetually turned on the question of whose place Christ stood in---all or only some? But what has been missed by such an emphasis is that Christ stands in us--- and until He stands within a sinner through the Holy Spirit's indwelling, nothing that He did is considered to have been in that sinner's … [Read more...] about Toward Theological Reconciliation: Atonement (by Ken Hamrick)
When Saints Live in Sodom (by Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr)
How Should Kingdom Citizens Relate to Gays and A New Gay-Friendly America? “My truth is that I am a gay American,” are the words that Gov. Jim McGreevey spoke as he was resigning from the governorship of New Jersey on August 13, 2004 because circumstances forced him to disclose the fact that he was a homosexual. “I am an openly, proud gay man,” are the words of Mr. Michael Sam, who was an excellent football player at the University of Missouri this past season and is expected by some to go as high as the 3rd round in the upcoming NFL Draft. Between the years of Gov. McGreevey’s … [Read more...] about When Saints Live in Sodom (by Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr)