Editor: When I read about Richard Land's recent meeting and his apology, my first thought was to wonder what Pastor Dwight McKissic thought about it. I was thrilled that he offered this post with his reflections for our consideration. Thank you, Dwight! God said, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14) It was my contention that Dr. Richard Land needed to publicly apologize—own and disown his words –as it … [Read more...] about HEALING THE “LAND”: AN APOLOGY I CAN FULLY ACCEPT (By Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.)
Social Media and the Fine Art of Self-Promotion (by Josh King)
Josh King is the lead pastor of Sachse's First Baptist Church in Sachse, TX, and has a blog called JoWiKi. I am grateful for this post which he shared with us. Social media is a strange beast. The lines between what is socially acceptable have not yet been clearly defined as it relates to twitter and the like. While that is the case I am growing increasingly concerned with the way many young ministers seem to use it in the fine art of self promotion. I am not an expert and have probably crossed the line a time or two but I have put some thought into this. See if you agree with this list … [Read more...] about Social Media and the Fine Art of Self-Promotion (by Josh King)
Instituting Calvinball in the SBC (by Chris Roberts)
(Chris Roberts has a brilliant suggestion for the current conflict in the SBC. Let's turn it into a game - a competition. Then, there can be a clear winner and loser! My blood is already pumping faster at the prospect. Chris blogs at "Seek the Holy.") History has seen fit to bless humanity with two significant individuals carrying the name Calvin. One, John Calvin, was a theologian of some repute. The other, simply known as Calvin, was an imaginative, well-behaved (by relative standards of behavior) six-year-old boy. Because the SBC is currently involved in a controversy over the first … [Read more...] about Instituting Calvinball in the SBC (by Chris Roberts)
SBC Resolution on Unity
This resolution was submitted by Chris Roberts for consideration at the SBC 2012. Whether or not this resolution makes it to the floor for a vote remains to be seen, but this forum provides us an opportunity to discuss the resolution. I appreciate Chris, and the men and women who labored to form this resolution. Let's give it some discussion and consideration prior to SBC 2012 in New Orleans, LA. RESOLUTION ON A SPIRIT OF COOPERATION IN MISSIONS AND EVANGELISM DESPITE THEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES WHEREAS, our nation and world continue in a state of moral and spiritual crisis which … [Read more...] about SBC Resolution on Unity
WALKING THROUGH LAND MINE(S), A WAY OUT: A FOLLOW-UP TO THE LAND “REPUDIATION” POST By William Dwight McKissic, Sr.
Editor: This powerful follow-up article to Dwight McKissic's equally powerful article last week was originally posted on his blog, Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr. "New Blog for a Pneuma Time." There are three questions that have surfaced to the top in response to my Richard Land “Repudiation” Post that I want to address in this article: (1) Do I believe Richard Land is a racist? (2) Should Richard Land’s entire career be judged by fifteen minutes of commentary? (3) How do we resolve the “Land-mine” and the racial divide surrounding this issue? How the SBC responds to the Land racial … [Read more...] about WALKING THROUGH LAND MINE(S), A WAY OUT: A FOLLOW-UP TO THE LAND “REPUDIATION” POST By William Dwight McKissic, Sr.
A Historical Look at a Theological Divide (by Drew Wales)
(Drew Wales has a new blog, called "SBC Heritage" which examines the current SBC in the light of its history. It's a blog worth reading. Drew offered this to us and I am grateful that he did!) There is a fault line forming in the Southern Baptist Convention that I am afraid is about to split wide open. It seems that every day in the SBC blogosphere there is discussion over the theological divide in the SBC and some are less than pleasant. Some articles I have read have not been much more than emotionally charged, misrepresentations of the “other side” and some of the comments I have seen … [Read more...] about A Historical Look at a Theological Divide (by Drew Wales)
WHY THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION NEEDS TO GO ON RECORD REPUDIATING THE LAND RACIAL REMARKS By William Dwight McKissic, Sr.
Richard Land’s racial remarks against the backdrop of the Trayvon Martin tragedy are the most damaging, alienating, and offensive words about race that I’ve read or heard, rendered by a SBC personality, in the twenty-eight years that I’ve served as a SBC church planter/pastor. The pain that Richard Land inflicted upon Blacks in the SBC is a pain that would be only felt greater by the pain inflicted upon Trayvon Martin’s family by George Zimmerman. In his non apology—apology, he blames those of us who responded to his racial views, for the pain we felt. The opening line in his letter of … [Read more...] about WHY THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION NEEDS TO GO ON RECORD REPUDIATING THE LAND RACIAL REMARKS By William Dwight McKissic, Sr.
So, how do we expect NAMB to spend our money? (by William Thornton)
(William's blog, the SBC Plodder, has had some insightful commentary on state and national entities and their spending priorities. Here is another entry from the Plodder questioning the questioners - those who are not happy with NAMB's current spending priorities. Worth a read!) The North American Mission Board is Southern Baptists' second largest entity with a budget for 2012 of $115 million. NAMB gets the second largest slice of Cooperative Program money, about ten percent. Their annual mission offering, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, totaled over $56 … [Read more...] about So, how do we expect NAMB to spend our money? (by William Thornton)
Don’t like changes at NAMB? Here’s a novel idea… (by William Thornton)
(The SBC Plodder has been ruminating and cogitating, and has some wisdom to share with us.) In the past decade or so, it seemed that you couldn't type or say the words "North American Mission Board" without appending the word "dysfunctional," or worse. In my view things have changed and I support the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering without the serious reservations that I have had the past few years. Evidently, others feel the same way since the AAEO was significantly up for 2011. NAMB has been the SBC's main newsmaker the past few years and I know of no SBC entity that has undergone … [Read more...] about Don’t like changes at NAMB? Here’s a novel idea… (by William Thornton)
of fans and bandwagons… (by Ricky Kirk)
(Ricky Kirk blogs at Panta ta Ethne and was one of the Final Four in our recent Blue Collar Blog Madness. Thank you, Ricky.) So the University of Kentucky achieved another win to add to their already stellar basketball program and legacy. Give credit where credit is due, but some know, and everyone will now know, I am not a UK fan. Yes, I was born and raised (for the most part) in Kentucky. For some reason I just never jumped on the bandwagon and became a fan, much less a follower. Speaking of bandwagons, what is it that makes a person decide to be a fan only when a team is … [Read more...] about of fans and bandwagons… (by Ricky Kirk)