When did Spencer Kimball, LDS President, state that curses against Black people are no longer in effect? Baptist Press cites Tal Davis, a former interfaith witness consultant with the North American Mission Board and now Executive Vice President of MarketFaith Ministries of Tallahassee, FL, making such a claim. Can Davis or anyone else document this claim? According to Joanna Brooks, a Mormon author: “To my knowledge, no Church leader has ever stood at the pulpit and formally renounced the idea that Cain or Ham are the source of racial Blackness and the priesthood ban. Perceptive … [Read more...] about MORMON RACIST DOCUMENTS AND A SBC RESOLUTION By Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.
The (Almost) True Story of the Clark Family (by Chris Roberts)
Once upon a time, a young man named Sam Clark went off to college. While there, he met a young lady named Betty and they were soon married. By the generous grace of God, Sam and Betty Clark had many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, generation after generation of offspring and their numbers continued to grow. As their numbers increased, their geographic spread grew greater and soon you could find members of the Clark family all over the world. With so many people in the family of Sam and Betty Clark, it comes as no surprise that they didn’t all agree on everything. But one … [Read more...] about The (Almost) True Story of the Clark Family (by Chris Roberts)
Unity in the SBC by David Schrock
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37). Israel, what a land! Full of beauty. And full of violence. Whether you are reading the Old Testament, the New Testament, or Haaretz, the daily news source of Israel, you will find both—beauty, violence, and the mysterious love of God. In 2005, when I went with a group of Southern Seminary students on an evangelism trip to Northern Israel, this was my … [Read more...] about Unity in the SBC by David Schrock
The Traditional Southern Baptist (by Drew Wales)
Drew Wales blogs at SBC Heritage Last week, a document was released that generated so much traffic websites crashed. I disagree with many points in the document and I have seen some very well crafted responses to the errors and misrepresentations contained in the document. Eric Hankins’ document does not get to the heart of what it means to be a “traditional” Southern Baptist. The theological position in the document is nothing new so there was little concern on my part with positions brought forward, but I am concerned with the divisive nature of the document. Here is why I disagree with … [Read more...] about The Traditional Southern Baptist (by Drew Wales)
Is the Statement semi-Pelagian? (by Chris Roberts)
Chris Roberts blogs at "Seek the Holy". The recent “Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation” has brought a lot of attention to the theology of human nature. Of particular concern is Article 2 which states: We affirm that, because of the fall of Adam, every person inherits a nature and environment inclined toward sin and that every person who is capable of moral action will sin. Each person’s sin alone brings the wrath of a holy God, broken fellowship with Him, ever-worsening selfishness and destructiveness, death, and condemnation to an … [Read more...] about Is the Statement semi-Pelagian? (by Chris Roberts)
A Resolution on Holistic Ministry for the SBC in New Orleans (by Alan Cross)
Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift. This is a resolution that I have submitted to the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention to be considered in a couple of weeks in New Orleans: A Resolution Affirming Holistic Ministry and Community Involvement By Local Churches WHEREAS, Humanity's greatest problem at the root of all other problems is that we rebel against God and are separated from Him because of indwelling sin and through continual sin; and WHEREAS, The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only solution to our problem as it reconciles us to God through faith and to one … [Read more...] about A Resolution on Holistic Ministry for the SBC in New Orleans (by Alan Cross)
Preach to All Men, Everywhere (by Paul Thompson)
Paul Thompson blogs at "The Bridge" and was a close second in our 2012 "Blue Collar Blog Madness" blogging tournament. A common thing I hear when I'm in the circles of Baptists is a lot of talk about what we think. (Maybe this is true of others, but it is true of too many Baptists.) I'm guilty of this very thing I'm writing of tonight. I have been pondering the need for church planting in the Magic Valley, Idaho and beyond. I've been reading about church planting and various articles on the subject from mission agencies. I'm not sure what to think on some things related to affinity church … [Read more...] about Preach to All Men, Everywhere (by Paul Thompson)
Six ways NAMB can help your church in evangelism (By Larry Wynn)
Larry Wynn is vice president of evangelism at the North American Mission Board. There’s really no better sign of a church’s spiritual health than the evangelistic activity of its people. It always excites me to see Southern Baptists embrace their calling to make Christ known. We’re fast approaching a season of intense, concentrated engagement in reaching communities for Christ. Crossover 2012 in New Orleans will provide citywide evangelism efforts as Southern Baptists engage in outreach leading up to the Annual Meeting in The Crescent City. As summer moves in, SBC churches across … [Read more...] about Six ways NAMB can help your church in evangelism (By Larry Wynn)
Will state conventions be helped by undermining the Cooperative Program? (by William Thornton)
Editor: I also receive the resolution from Joe McGee that William references, and had thought to respond. William did it first and did it better! I appreciate his perspective. You can (and should) read William at SBC Plodder. The Consolation Baptist Association here in Georgia has passed a resolution suggesting that churches cut their Cooperative Program giving by 25-35 percent and designate this to "state missions" or, as explained to me, to their state convention. I learned of the resolution from a comment left on SBC Voices, asked for and received a copy of it, and have had a couple … [Read more...] about Will state conventions be helped by undermining the Cooperative Program? (by William Thornton)
State Conventions Deal with NAMB Changes: A State Executive’s Analysis (by Thomas Law)
Tom Law is the interim executive director of the Baptist Convention of Iowa. He was brought in after our previous executive retired and is trying to help us restructure and refocus our ministries here in Iowa. He is, to say the least, an expert in how NAMB policies are affecting state conventions. On March 19, 2012, Kevin Ezell wrote an article titled “CHURCHES, NOT INFRASTRUCTURE, BEST WAY TO REACH NEW AREAS”. This was his attempt to outline the strategy which the North American Mission Board (NAMB) was implementing with regards to the State Conventions that relate to the Southern Baptist … [Read more...] about State Conventions Deal with NAMB Changes: A State Executive’s Analysis (by Thomas Law)