Guest Blogger

Andy Hynes is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow him @ABHYNES on Twitter. When you hear my title, I am sure there are many different things that come to mind.  What comes to my mind these days is preaching.  As I listen to sermons, I continue to hear pastors majoring on the minors.  Please understand that I realize that “all” Scripture is God-breathed and inspired.  However, I also know that there are major themes and less major themes.  When you come to a particular passage there is one main truth that the biblical writer was seeking to accomplish.  Our job … [Read more...] about Majoring on the Minors (by Andy Hynes)

Alan blogs at Downshore Drift, where this article was originally published. After opposition arose against First Baptist, Dallas, TX and pastor Robert Jeffress for what were called "controversial" stands against homosexuals, Muslims, Mormons, and other groups, Tim Tebow, who was scheduled to speak there, has just cancelled his appearance in a series of tweets. @TimTebow: "While I was looking forward to sharing a message of hope and Christ's unconditional love with the faithful members of the historic...First Baptist Church of Dallas in April, due to new information that has been brought … [Read more...] about Under Pressure, Tim Tebow Cancels First Baptist, Dallas, TX Appearance (by Alan Cross)

Andy Hynes is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow him @ABHYNES on Twitter. Have you ever thought about the difference between “knowing about God,” and “being known by God?”  There is a vast difference between the two.  When the information about God is transformed into a relationship with God, a life change occurs.  Is it possible to know a great deal about God and not be known by Him?  Could our churches or even our pulpits be filled with individuals who have never had a genuine encounter with the true God of the Scripture?  Maybe they have conjured an idea of … [Read more...] about Encountered by God (by Andy Hynes)

Andy Hynes is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow him @ABHYNES on Twitter. You and I have our own theological positions and prejudices.  We have our own presuppositions that we bring to the texts we read and preach.  This will not change; you won’t convince me, and I won’t convince you to make drastic alterations.  In fact, usually what happens is I begin to dig my heels in and try to prove you wrong.  You begin to sling names and associations against me.  What in the world is this accomplishing?  How is the Kingdom being edified and furthered through this kind … [Read more...] about United We Shall Stand (by Andy Hynes)

This post originally appeared at SBC Focus following a post on Gentiles and the law. In a separate post, I discussed the clear, firm, and repeated teaching of the New Testament that the Mosaic law has accomplished its purpose, having been fulfilled in Christ, and recognizing that righteousness and salvation come through faith in Jesus Christ, we say with the apostles and the Holy Spirit that the burden of the law has been lifted. Christians are not called to adhere to the dictates of Torah. Quite the opposite - the New Testament, particularly Paul, speaks long and loud against those who would … [Read more...] about The Messianic Movement (by Chris Roberts)

Andy Hynes is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow him @ABHYNES on Twitter. During some of the most contentious times in SBC life, there is one plea that keeps coming to my mind: that my generation of young men in ministry would grasp and instill Paul’s encouragement from 1 Tim. 4:12 for themselves.  These words are not inconsequential to older men, but challenged to younger.  Nevertheless, they were written to a young man who had great potential.  Paul recognized distinct virtues in Timothy.  After investing in him he sent him out to Ephesus to lead. Greg … [Read more...] about Man Up! (by Andy Hynes)

William Thornton is the SBC Plodder. The list of largest churches in the SBC include just nine with reported weekly attendance over 10,000. My curiosity over just how Southern Baptist these churches really are led me to their public information. Most interesting was Village Church, ninth on the list and a church that has their constitution and by-laws on their website. The SBC at the national level has on occasion kicked out (or taken action to "cease their relationship" if you are picky about the language) churches for being too homosexual friendly and the basis for that action has been … [Read more...] about Elder Rule and the Baptist Faith and Message (by William Thornton)

Alan blogs at Downshore Drift, where this article was originally published. We are witnesses to history. Before our eyes, the Civil Religion of America that consisted of "God and Country" is being dismantled piece by piece. One might blame liberal activists as they go after cultural institutions that Christians have depended upon to bolster morality and the idea that America is a Christian nation. But, is that the right place to look?  Al Mohler thinks so.  Yesterday, he addressed the Boy Scouts for changing their policy of forbidding Gay Scouts and Scoutmasters to participate in their … [Read more...] about Al Mohler, the Boy Scouts, and the Great Unraveling (by Alan Cross)

Bill blogs at "Broken and Undone." where this was originally published. I read a good article yesterday by David Jones over at The Gospel Coalition blog.  The article offered a biblical look at the issue of Cremation or Burial.  If interested, you can read it here. I do not intend to get into that discussion in this post, but would be interested in hearing your thoughts on that article in the comments section. What I would like to give attention to is Jones’ comment in his conclusion.  He said, “…within the Christian tradition funerals aren’t simply ways of disposing of dead bodies, … [Read more...] about The Glory of Funerals (by Bill Gernenz)

Andy Hynes is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow him @ABHYNES on Twitter. This is a question I continue to have concerning the plethora of extremely young children being led by parents or church staff to “ask Jesus into their heart,” or “make a decision to follow Jesus.”  To be honest, what young child that is raised in a “Christian” home and church environment wouldn’t say yeah, “I want to do that?” The problem does not lie in the decision making of the child but the overeager, self-reliant parents and pastoral staff. Infants have historically been … [Read more...] about Paedo Baptists: Is the SBC Abandoning a Doctrinal Cornerstone? (by Andy Hynes)