(We'd like to ignore it, but sexual abuse is a reality in every part of society today. The SBC Plodder's perspective here is good advice.) Some time ago in a deacons' meeting, I was speaking on the subject of sexual abuse of children in churches and our church's policies on the same. The sordid subject was in the news as a result of the Roman Catholic scandals and not a few cases of SBC churches and clergy involved in such things. While we have adopted policies in our church, nothing made the matter more clear to the deacons than when I said, "Here's what we do if someone comes to me with … [Read more...] about Pick up the phone. Call the cops. (by William Thornton)
Latest Research Backs up Bible about Booze (by David Worley)
(David Worley, "Volfan007" is a frequent commenter here and sent me this today. I know this is a hot-button topic and David never shades his views on things! But this is new information about a new study, so here it is. I'm guessing this should be a lively discussion. It is absolutely important that we not ridicule David for his silly position - I'm talking about the support of the Tennessee Volunteers, of course.) I don't know if yall have heard the latest study about alcohol, or not; but it's not very conducive to the moderationists position. Only the tee-totallers will rejoice in this … [Read more...] about Latest Research Backs up Bible about Booze (by David Worley)
Feel Better about NAMB? (by William Thornton)
(Our friend the SBC Plodder gave me permission to republish this reflection on the recent workings at NAMB. Thanks, William.) Our North American Mission Board has been the closest thing to a completely dysfunctional agency that Southern Baptists have ever had. Well, let's go ahead and say that NAMB has absolutely been dysfunctional for most of the 21st century. Informed SBCers, even those who love to argue anything and everything, will likely not argue that point. Along came the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force and report and, more than any other SBC entity, NAMB was singled out for … [Read more...] about Feel Better about NAMB? (by William Thornton)
The Established Church is Worth Fighting For! (by Josh King)
(Josh King is lead pastor of Sachse's First Baptist Church in Sachse, TX, and a contributor to Looks Like Reign: A Commentary on Theology, Culture and the Gospel. We are grateful to have this excellent guest post today!) “NationsBeGlad Desiring God Int'l It's easier to birth a baby than to raise the dead - plant new churches, don't focus on dying churches. @edstetzer #dgnc” I am a big fan of Dr. Ed Stetzer and would love to be at the Desiring God National Conference. Because I am not there I cannot fully know the context behind this specific tweet. This obviously hampers my ability to … [Read more...] about The Established Church is Worth Fighting For! (by Josh King)
Frank Page’s One Percent Solution (by William Thornton)
(Our favorite Plodder has another insight into the workings of the SBC that he has generously shared with us.) Lost in the highly increased internet SBC talk on a possibility of a potential unnamed name change for the Southern Baptist Convention is another action taken by our Executive Committee. Baptist Press reports on XComm President Frank Page's challenge to churches to give another 1% to the Cooperative Program. The recommendation from the EC's Cooperative Program subcommittee asked executive directors of the 42 Southern Baptist state conventions to "encourage their churches to give … [Read more...] about Frank Page’s One Percent Solution (by William Thornton)
The Name Change Won’t Matter Unless We Have a Heart Change (by Alan Cross)
(Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift) Juliet: O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet. Romeo: [Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? Juliet: 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet; So Romeo would, … [Read more...] about The Name Change Won’t Matter Unless We Have a Heart Change (by Alan Cross)
SBC Megachurches…(by William Thornton)
...love them, hate them, or be ambivalent about them. According to Thom Ranier, head of LifeWay there are 177 of them in the SBC. That is, 177 churches that report on the Annual Church Profile an average primary worship attendance of at least 2,000 weekly and who give something to the Cooperative Program. Not all churches reported, so there's probably a few missing from this list. Some that are on the list are probably only nominally SBC. Some observations on the 177 megachurches: About 0.4% of SBC churches are megachurches but on an average Lord’s Day of the 6.2 million people that … [Read more...] about SBC Megachurches…(by William Thornton)
NAMB and Restoring Lost Trust (by William Thornton)
(I saw this over at SBC Plodder and thought our readers might like it - so I stole it. Don't tell William.) Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong have always been one-two in special offerings for the churches I have pastored over the last three decades. We didn't have to pray about it, think about it, decide about it; come December and March it was Lottie and Annie and that was that. Then NAMB's head took a private jet to a movie in London, at our expense, and Spending God's Money came along, more revelations about wasting money, a hasty resignation followed by SBC heavyweights putting out … [Read more...] about NAMB and Restoring Lost Trust (by William Thornton)
The P-Word: Part 1 (by Jim Gifford)
Hi all, Today I want to discuss a theological word that has become more familiar to the Evangelical and Baptist world over the last couple of decades. That word is perichoresis. I’ve spent a fair amount of time around this word and I want to share some of my findings with you. Perichoresis is a word that describes, primarily, the relationship enjoyed by the persons of the Trinity. Though the word is not found in the Bible, and not found in theological literature until the fourth century, the concept is very biblical. Several times in the writings of John, and most notably in chapters … [Read more...] about The P-Word: Part 1 (by Jim Gifford)