Danny Akin began his report by saying something to the effect that Paige Patterson does not owe me an apology for sharing the gospel and fulfilling the Great Commission. Ditto for me, Danny. Now, I’m pretty much a rules guy. I believe in asking permission, not forgiveness. Clearly, Patterson made an executive decision he was […]
Baptist Methods and Money
A man walks up to a bank teller and asks, “Can you give me change for this one hundred dollar bill?” The teller says, “Sure. What denomination?” And the man replies, “Baptist—Southern Baptist if you’ve got it.” No, there is not really such a thing as Southern Baptist money—except for the fact that there is. […]
One Simple Question
Specifically and in the greatest level of detail humanly possible, can somebody please explain the precise nature of the partnership between Southern Baptist Theological Seminary—with which I am necessarily affiliated as a Southern Baptist—and Sovereign Grace Ministries—with which (quite by intention) I am not personally affiliated in any manner whatsoever?
Pick A Number and Fix the Cooperative Program, Part Three
In Part One, I explained that despite its worthy intentions, the One Percent Challenge does not satisfy the test of a specific and measurable goal, advocating that Southern Baptists pick a number high enough to meet our ministry obligations and promote it so our churches might measure themselves against it and determine if they are […]
Pick a Number and Fix the Cooperative Program, Part Two of Three
In Part One, I explained that despite its worthy intentions, the One Percent Challenge does not satisfy the test of a specific and measurable goal, advocating that Southern Baptists pick a number high enough to meet our ministry obligations and promote it so our churches might measure themselves against it and determine if they are […]
Pick a Number and Fix the Cooperative Program, Part One of Three
The magician says, “Pick a number—any number,” before identifying it and astonishing the crowd. Like the Cooperative Program itself, the trick is simple, marvelous and works like magic, but only if someone bravely decisive truly does pick a number, and lately, any Southern Baptist doing so has drawn heavy rounds of not so friendly fire. […]
Pledging My Unfriendly Cooperation
The Convention will only deem a church to be in FRIENDLY Cooperation…which…has not intentionally operated in…opposition to the doctrine expressed in the [BFM2K]. —EMPHASIS Mine I am committed to cooperating with Southern Baptists no matter how the convention might choose to characterize that cooperation. While I prefer the designation friendly cooperation, if my choices are […]
Charging Elders With Charging Elders
Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. (1 Timothy 5:19, ESV) Recently, certain deeply flawed and overly broad interpretations of the above verse have come to my attention. At best, they enable ministerial misconduct. At worst, they are themselves literally criminal. This essay seeks first to set […]
Victims of Soteriological Dishonesty
Reprinted below is a letter I recently received from a Southern Baptist layperson struggling with the changes taking place in her church. Following the letter is my reply. Certain details have been removed in order to protect her anonymity. From time to time, all churches face conflict in making decisions and seeking God’s will, but […]
Don’t Fritter Life with Twitter Strife!
Different strokes for different folks, And so on and so on and Scooby dooby doo-bee. (Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone, 1968) I get it. You are more than capable of making your own decisions concerning social media. Because I am profoundly committed to the idea that you possess free will, you do […]
Memo From SBC Headquarters
We’ve all heard it hundreds of times—SBC Headquarters is the local church and not some denominational agency. If this line is nothing more than a misleading notion humbly tossed out under the pretense of sounding spiritual, then we should stop saying things we do not really mean. However, if it is indeed true, since I […]
The Greatest GCB of All Time
This is the story of the two GCB’s whose unfailing legacies will forever define the Summer of 2012. In a year when the Mayans had predicted that everyone and everything on the face of the earth would completely vanish into thin air, we can all agree that both of these GCB’s […]