Micah works at LifeWay and blogs at MicahFries.com. Living in an area where one is in the religious majority changes the way you see the world. In America, those of us who are Christians often feel like the world is changing, and not in a way that is positive for us, but the truth is we are still part of the largest religious segment in our culture. Often, one of the most difficult things for a member of the religious majority to do is to accurately understand the faith of religious minorities. I see this happen all the time in the US as Christians struggle to understand those of other … [Read more...] about The Faith of Another (Micah Fries)
Anatomy of a Name Change (By Micah Fries)
When the invitation of Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Bryant Wright came to serve on a task force dedicated to deliberating the possibility of changing the name of the SBC, I was thankful for the invitation and excited to serve with other men and women who care about the SBC. I was not sure what to expect, but I found myself surrounded by some of Southern Baptists’ brightest minds from a variety of regions, age groups and ethnic communities. It was a blessing to serve with them - many of whom have become friends through this process. In the end, we recommended to President Wright … [Read more...] about Anatomy of a Name Change (By Micah Fries)
Do Not Give to the Cooperative Program! (Micah Fries)
Do not, under any circumstances, give your money to the Cooperative Program (CP). Seriously. I mean it. To many, I guess, this might seem odd since, Frederick Boulevard, the church I pastor gives 8% of our undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program. Ahhh, but there is the difference. Giving TO the CP, I think, is something entirely different thing than giving THROUGH the CP. The CP is undeniably an impressive vehicle to take our church’s money and help disperse it to missions causes all over the US and the world. It really is genius, if you think about it. It allows our church to … [Read more...] about Do Not Give to the Cooperative Program! (Micah Fries)
I Am Satisfied (from Micah Fries)
(Micah was gracious to share this great piece with us originally published at MicahFries.com, his blog. Enjoy! Jesus says that being a disciple requires denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following Him. If this is true, why is it possible to look across the landscape of Evangelicalism in American and see so little self-denial, cross bearing, following of Jesus? Why is prosperity theology so dominant in the American landscape? Why do Christians seem to struggle so intensely with the presence of pain in their lives? Could it be that we have misrepresented Jesus and His … [Read more...] about I Am Satisfied (from Micah Fries)
When is too much? (by Micah Fries)
One of the best, and worst, aspects of being a Southern Baptist is our firmly held belief that everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. Absolutely everyone should have a platform to share that opinion. The fact that I can write what I’m about to write and publish it on this blog is evidence of that reality. In fact, our polity allows us a unique position among other ecclesiastical bodies that make up the American evangelical landscape. This freedom gives us the confidence of always knowing that our voice can be heard, but I wonder if there are times when we take this freedom too … [Read more...] about When is too much? (by Micah Fries)
Let us not dance on his grave (by Micah Fries)
(Micah Fries, pastor of Frederick Boulevard Baptist Church in St. Joseph, MO, blogs at MicahFries.com.) Osama Bin Laden is dead. After a decade of reining as the most well known face of terror and depravity, Bin Laden will no longer have the privilege of presiding over a culture of terror. As a result of his death, American’s have filled the streets of their respective cities, setting off fireworks and jubilant celebrations. As I think through the implications of Bin Laden’s death, particularly as I thought through how to explain it to my daughters this morning who never lived through 9/11, I … [Read more...] about Let us not dance on his grave (by Micah Fries)
Charting a GCR Future for NAMB
*originally posted here. As I think about what it might look like to be part of a convention of churches which is radically, aggressively, sacrificially giving itself to the cause of Gospel advance I cannot help but be excited! However, thinking through the implications of Christ’s call to come and die as He expects us to “take up our cross and follow” Him, I cannot help but think that we are failing in our effort to advance the Kingdom of God. How else do we explain having the Gospel, in its present form, for almost 2,000 years now and still seeing a third of the globe’s population unable … [Read more...] about Charting a GCR Future for NAMB
Louisville in the Rearview Mirror
Although this is late in comparison to many of my friends and colleagues from around the convention I thought it might still be appropriate to jot down a few thoughts about this year's annual meeting. These are not intended to be comprehensive, but rather something of a snapshot from my mind - which has great potential to be terrifying, I'll grant you, none the less here we go. Positives: First, let's start with what I viewed as good or even great parts of the convention. Pastor's Conference Preaching: I have never been so encouraged as I was this year concerning the … [Read more...] about Louisville in the Rearview Mirror
Has Chicken Little Come To Roost?
Recently a few Southern Baptist writers have begun writing to offer the opinion that in contrast to the preponderance of statistical evidence, the Southern Baptist Convention is in fact not in decline. Evidently the decline in baptisms, convention attendance and CP giving can all be explained if we’ll just listen well enough. What makes these opinions so newsworthy is that they stand in significant contrast to a mountain of statistical evidence that is being offered across our convention, and even outside our convention. It appears that they would instead have us to believe that those positing … [Read more...] about Has Chicken Little Come To Roost?