Editor: William Thornton is the SBC Plodder and a keen observer of SBC life. This is a repost from his site It follows up on the discussion of the previous article he posted here, "SBC Presidents and the Cooperative Program." A 2007 survey yielded the unlikely statistic that 87% of SBC pastors were "generally satisfied" with the Cooperative Program. Come on, 87% of SBC pastors will not agree that the sun rises in the east...but there you have it - SBC pastors happy with the CP. So, why is it dropping like a rock, a trend over three decades long? We may have more mental angst over … [Read more...] about Dropping Like a Rock: The Cooperative Program (by William Thornton)
Lessons from the Animal Kingdom by Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr
Editor: Dr. McKissic is well-known and respected among Southern Baptists. This article was written in response to issues raised here at SBC Voices and on other blogs. I offered this respected brother in Christ the chance to state his views related to this recent debate. The largest animal the Jews knew in biblical times was a camel, as the gnat was the smallest. Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! …Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23:24) “Straining out a gnat” describes the custom of the strictest sect of Pharisees who strained … [Read more...] about Lessons from the Animal Kingdom by Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr
Evangelism. Storying. Gospel. Sex-Offenders. (by Ricky Kirk)
Editor: Ricky Kirk, a pastor from Ohio, blogs at Panta ta Ethne, where this post recently appeared. Thanks for sharing this with us. Our church as recently been studying/exploring evangelism as we prepare for an upcoming revival and Easter weekend. I am modifying material from several sources and approaching evangelism as something more than the Romans Road or the rote memorization and sharing of a few particular verses. I am also challenging our church to have a greater understanding of God's overarching story of the Bible, so we have covered God, creation, man, fall, Christ, and … [Read more...] about Evangelism. Storying. Gospel. Sex-Offenders. (by Ricky Kirk)
SBC presidents and the Cooperative Program (by William Thornton)
Editor: William Thornton is the SBC Plodder and a keen observer of SBC life. This is a repost from his site. What shall we say about SBC leadership and their support, or lack thereof, for our grand Cooperative Program? Here is a summary of the past SBC presidents and their Cooperative Program support over the past 32 years: Less than 4%: Rogers, Smith, Stanley, Vines, Young, Elliff, Merritt, Graham, Hunt, Wright. Above the contemporary average: Draper (7%), Chapman (11%), Henry (10%), Welch (15%), Page (12%). Between 1979 and 1992, the year the Conservative Resurgence was … [Read more...] about SBC presidents and the Cooperative Program (by William Thornton)
Paige Patterson And Al Mohler “Why Calvinism Should NOT Divide the SBC”
At the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention held in Greensboro, NC, there was a breakout session lead by Paige Patterson, the President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Al Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on "Reaching Today's World Through Differing Views of Election." Here are some quotes from both men... Quotes and implications from Patterson: 1. "My fervent prayer is that whatever your beliefs are about the sovereignty of God … you will join me in taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.” 2. "I would caution my non-Calvinist brethren against … [Read more...] about Paige Patterson And Al Mohler “Why Calvinism Should NOT Divide the SBC”
Christ Jesus: An Advocate Who is Always Ready to Defend the Believer (from John Bunyan)
(Dr. Roger D. Duke is our guest blogger today. The author, though, is the great John Bunyan. Dr. Duke is cowriter with Phil Newton. Venturing all on God: Piety in the Writings of John Bunyan. This volume is one of in the Profiles in Reformed Spirituality series of Reformation Heritage Press and is slated for publication sometime in 2011.) Christ Jesus: An Advocate Who is Always Ready to Defend the Believer[1] A . . . [particular] privilege that they have who have Jesus Christ to be their Advocate is this, He is always ready, always in court, always with the judge, then and there … [Read more...] about Christ Jesus: An Advocate Who is Always Ready to Defend the Believer (from John Bunyan)
Heretics and the SBC Blogosphere (by Todd Littleton)
(Editor's Note: Todd Littleton was one of the prominent early Baptist bloggers. Like most of the pioneers, he has mostly laid down his keyboard for other pursuits. But he has an interesting perspective to share on the TD Jakes/Jamar Jones conflict that went on last week - to which I contributed. Our desire here is to be "SBC Voices" - which means we will have as many voices chime in as possible!) Kenneth Scott Latourette noted, As in the Apostles' Creed, so in the Nicene Creed, painfully, slowly, and through controversies in which there was often lacking the love which is the major … [Read more...] about Heretics and the SBC Blogosphere (by Todd Littleton)
Accepting the Hard Things (by Caison Jones)
(Caison Jones is a contributor at Apologia Appalachia: Theology from Them There Hills. I thought this article would be a blessing to the readers. Another one of their writers was the author of the post yesterdaty about the convention name-change. There is some quality writing being done at their group blog site!) "The trouble is that, nowadays, there are so many who receive the testimony of God only so far as they can satisfactorily account for all the reasons and grounds of His conduct,..." A.W. Pink I've heard this referred to as "Cafeteria Christianity", where we pick and choose only … [Read more...] about Accepting the Hard Things (by Caison Jones)
(Fill in the Blank) Baptist Convention (by Matt McGlamery)
(Editor's Note: Matt McGlamery is a contributor at Apologia Appalachia. I'll confess, I'd never seen that blog until I asked for posts and contributors. They are posting some top notch stuff at that blog. Check it out. We have another guest post from one of their contributors that will be up in a day or two.) The idea of a name change for the Southern Baptist Convention has been discussed for years. A quick survey of the Baptist2Baptist section of the SBC website shows the issue was discussed in 1975, 1998, 1999, and in 2004 when the proposal for a study of a name change was defeated by … [Read more...] about (Fill in the Blank) Baptist Convention (by Matt McGlamery)
Holy Kitsch! (by Jim Collins)
(One of the things I'm learning is that there are a lot of really good bloggers out there. Jim Collins blogs at "Viewed Skewed" and has a great perspective on things. Here's one of his recent posts.) I have not forgotten the Reformation adage of showing unity in the essentials, liberty in non-essentials, and charity in all things. But I wonder if all things means literally everything, or does this apply only to theological matters? I hope it is the latter, because I have trouble being charitable toward some things. De gustibus non est disputandum. There is no accounting for taste. When … [Read more...] about Holy Kitsch! (by Jim Collins)