I have been a Southern Baptist (SBC) my whole life, all 41 years. Born and raised in a Southern Baptist church (baptized at age 7). I graduated from a Southern Baptist university after 4 years (BS degree), I graduated from a Southern Baptist seminary after 4 years (MDiv with Biblical Languages degree), full-time pastored Southern Baptist churches for 5 years, and have been a bivocational pastor for a Southern Baptist church for the past 2 years. I am knee deep in SBC. I have attended endless meetings and have read the latest statistics (all the numbers are DOWN). I LOVE the SBC and have a deep … [Read more...] about My ideas to help SBC survive for future generations
SBC Annual Meeting
After Baltimore: Two Recommendations for our Trustees on Increasing Diversity in the SBC
One of the under-the-surface themes at the Convention this year was the increased desire among messengers to move past the issue of race and see a growing diversity in SBC involvement and leadership. Among the many positive indications of an increasing racial/ethnic diversity and unity in the Convention, I noted the following in Baltimore: Fred Luter completed his historic presidency as the first non-Anglo leader of the Southern Baptist Convention. A Korean nominee, Dennis Kim, was a serious candidate for his successor and made a strong showing garnering more than 40% of the vote. The … [Read more...] about After Baltimore: Two Recommendations for our Trustees on Increasing Diversity in the SBC
Will Voting in Fred Luter, Jr. Matter?
By the team you read this, Fred Luter, Jr. may have already been elected as President of the Southern Baptist Convention. Most Southern Baptists have prayed for years that we as a convention would atone for our regrettable past in the slave debate and both privately and publicly initiate racial reconciliation on a grand scale. Our prayers have been surely answered as we await and celebrate the presidency of Luter, a descendant of slaves. I'm also proud to say that Criswell College, the school at which I work and study, recently bestowed the honorable Doctor of Divinity on him. With … [Read more...] about Will Voting in Fred Luter, Jr. Matter?
What Must We Do To Be Relevant
With all the problems in the world, we often question who to help and how to help them. We worry about giving and having our hard-earned money being mis-spent. As a child I learned that the money Baptists give to missions is one of the best ways to give and be assured the assistance we give makes all the difference in the world--the difference between clean water and filthy contaminated water. Southern Baptist have been digging wells, stocking streams with fish, and teaching agriculture skills to get more bountiful crops for decades. We have annual offerings for all kinds of things. … [Read more...] about What Must We Do To Be Relevant
A Challenge to the Powers-That-Be in the SBC
Mike Ebert, the Vice President for C0mmunications at NAMB, logged in yesterday to call me on the carpet for my criticisms of Kevin Ezell, the president of the North American Mission Board. He is an effective PR director; adept at dealing with those who challenge Dr Ezell. However, I would like to use his comments to lay down a challenge to Dr. Ezell and other SBC leaders. Mike Ebert's Comments Essentially, Mike accused me of being unfair to such a degree that no SBC leader would ever want to come here. "However, your post provides a good example of why so many in SBC leadership avoid … [Read more...] about A Challenge to the Powers-That-Be in the SBC
A Great Commission Suggestion: Pink Slip the ERLC
NOTE: Dishonest and unscrupulous bloggers, such as those at Pulpit and Pen, continue to use this post without integrity and possibly illegally. As I said in this post, I was willing to be convinced. I was. The ERLC serves the Body of Christ well, despite the lies of the lying liars who lie, such as the author of the post that twisted and deceptively used this post. Since unscrupulous bloggers like JD and those at Pulpit and Pen refuse to repent of their sin or remove their post, I thought I might warn anyone who is deceived by them. They lie. They lack integrity. It isn't personal, … [Read more...] about A Great Commission Suggestion: Pink Slip the ERLC
Interview with Trevin Wax
Trevin Wax, a rising voice in the SBC, is a brother in Christ and has been helpful to me as of late as I learn the ropes of potentially publishing a book. Further showing his unselfish character, he was gracious enough to allow me to ask him a few questions about the SBC without hesitation. His blog, Kingdom People, is one of the most read Christian blogs on the internet today and his book, Holy Subversion, has been acclaimed by J.I. Packer, Al Mohler, Ed Stetzer, and Russell Moore. I first interviewed him on my blog and it was a great blessing and I pray that this will be for the SBC … [Read more...] about Interview with Trevin Wax
Albert Mohler: Why All Southern Baptists are Calvinists
At the 2006 SBC Pastor's Conference, Albert Mohler listed ways that all Southern Baptists are Calvinists: A belief in the inerrancy of Scripture - "It is not by accident that there are no great Arminian testimonies to the inerrancy of Scripture. We really do believe that God can work in such a way that the human will wills to do what God wills that will to do. And that is exactly why we believe in the inerrancy of Scripture. We do not believe that the Apostle Paul was irresistibly against his will drawn to write the Book of Romans.” A belief in the substitutionary atonement - "The logic … [Read more...] about Albert Mohler: Why All Southern Baptists are Calvinists
Assignment for Orlando…
I wish I could go to the SBC. Alas, Orlando is a 3-week wagon journey from where I live and fording the rivers is tough this time of year. It would be fun to meet many of you who interact on this blog and authors of other blogs I check out through the awesome meta-feed going on in the directory page here. (I have to give Tony Kummer a lot of props for putting this whole thing together.) I even kind of like watching Robert's Rules of Order in action. But since I can't be there, I have a little assignment for those of you who will be. Meet a fellow blogger face-to-face. I would … [Read more...] about Assignment for Orlando…
Why I Will Vote for Leo Endel for SBC President
My vote for SBC President is going to go to the least known of all the candidates. Leo Endel is the Executive Director of the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention. After quite a bit of thought, I've decided to cast my vote for him. I'd like to tell you why. In the interests of full disclosure, I will tell you that Leo is a close friend of mine. We arrived in Iowa about the same time and spent a lot of quality time in the state office serving on the Iowa Executive Board. When Leo was elected president of the Baptist Convention of Iowa, I was elected first vice-president. Leo led … [Read more...] about Why I Will Vote for Leo Endel for SBC President