SBC Issues

Baptists have a somewhat uneasy relationship to numbers these days. When we were growing and expanding annually, we pointed to our numbers as proof of God's blessing. Our recent realization that our statistical decline is not a mere blip on the screen has been taken as a portent of evil in our midst. Dr. Frank Page's response to the latest report was, "God forgive us and God help us." There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth in Houston this year. This is not a specifically Southern Baptist problem, of course. In a recent article, "Why Millenials Are Leaving the Church", Rachel Held … [Read more...] about Exodus and Numbers: What We Can Infer from Our Statistical Decline

 Ben Simpson is the pastor of West Main Baptist Church in Alexandria, TN and his blog is part of that church's site.  Church membership is on the ropes.  Anecdotal evidence abounds as our church has knocked on nearly every door here in the city of Alexandria.  So many times we’ve heard, “I’m a Christian, but I don’t need to ever go to church.” Compelling evidence also exists in the statistics of our denomination.  The Southern Baptist Convention boasts a membership of over 16 million Christians but at the same time reports that only just over 6 million attend a Southern Baptist church … [Read more...] about Why Is Church Membership Important? (by Ben Simpson)

This is the first time I've written you anything.  I hope I get it right. Who I am is not relevant; identity is not quite as important as you folks think.  You label your eternal selves in temporal nomenclature, hoping your names will grant you a kind of forever that you already possess.  You've distinguished between This and That, twixt Them and Us, when in fact you're all a part of a grand collective. But I digress; my compatriots say it is one of my less endearing characteristics. We've watched you longer than nearly anyone could imagine.  Notes have been taken, observations … [Read more...] about From One Immortal to Another

You've never heard of the Four S Club? I'll bet you have. They are the Secret Society of Superior Saints - the folks who have a hidden or secret knowledge that none of the rest of us poor schlubs know that makes them better than we are. Oh, they know that all who have faith in Christ are saints, redeemed, heaven-bound - they are not gospel-denying heretics after all. They just know something that makes them a little more saintly, a little more redeemed. They have a wisdom that the rest of us just don't have. Maybe it is some insight into the inner workings of the spiritual realm - they … [Read more...] about Dealing with Members of the “Four S Club”

Last week I listed 7 Reasons Husbands Should Pray for Their Wives. It had a favorable response and so I thought that perhaps we should take this a step further. Beginning on August 1st, I want to challenge guys to a 31 Day Challenge of praying for your wife every day. As I’ve thought about this what I believe I really need is to put a FACE on praying for my wife: Focus—I need to know what specifically to pray for my wife or I’ll just keep praying the same things over and over again. Accountability—I need a group of guys to keep me accountable and remind me daily to passionately pray … [Read more...] about Pray for Your Wife: 31 Day Challenge

 The Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics implies that as long as we do not check to see if a sub-atomic particle has decayed (producing radiation), then we must simultaneously assume that the atom both has decayed and has not decayed. In 1935, Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger critiqued this notion by proposing the following: a cat, a flask of poison, and a radioactive source are placed in a sealed box. If an internal monitor detects radioactivity due to a decaying particle, the flask is shattered, releasing the poison that kills the cat.  If the monitor does not detect … [Read more...] about Schrödinger’s Sin

My daughter Bethany, her friend Katie and I played a little game last night and I thought it might be fun for the readers of SBC Voices to play along. The game was simple. I read a tweet from Joel Osteen, from Mark Driscoll, or from Tim Keller. They had to identify the author from the tweet. I've created a quiz for you here. I added in the good Rev. Dr. Ed Stetzer for you Baptist bloggers. There are 5 tweets from each of these four men. A few of them (especially Osteen's) are no-brainers. The rest might be tougher than you think. Your job, if you choose to accept it, is to identify the … [Read more...] about Keller, Stetzer, Driscoll and Osteen: You Make the Call (Revised – with answers)

Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set. Proverbs 22:28 It is my belief that one of the most significant battles in the church today (perhaps second only to the Calvinism wars), is the divergence in attitude, outlook and approach to ministry between us old fogeys and you young whippersnappers. The older, more traditional, more established folks tend to view the youngsters as half-cocked, wild-eyed radicals and the youngsters tend to view us as hidebound, tradition-mired, stick-in-the-muds. Perhaps it has always been this way. It has been a long time (32 years) since … [Read more...] about Respect the Ancient Markers, Whippersnapper!

I have been learning about leadership for the last 10 years in the church culture.  I have taken classes, watched podcasts, heard lectures and speeches, read books and heard it talked about ad nauseum by individuals who believe leadership is next to Godliness.  I have come to the conclusion that leadership is a great thing that often becomes an idol.  Here is what led to that opinion. Biblical leadership is not glamours.  It's hanging out with people while speaking truth, but not really being anyone important.  It's helping and serving and washing nasty feet.  It is without title or … [Read more...] about Some Thoughts on Leadership

So far, 28 men (plus my little baby boy Josh) have signed up for the Fitness Challenge. So, the first question here is: what is your plan? What is your strategy for the "Battle of the Bulge?" I'm headed out for a walk with my wife. My biggest needs are reduced diet and consistent (reasonable exercise). As a former marathon runner, I tend to go at it too hard, get incredibly sore and then can't exercise consistently. I am also trying one more radical thing, for the month of August. I'm carnivorous - I love steak, ribs, etc! But for one month I'm going vegetarian. It's sweet corn and … [Read more...] about Fat Pastor, Fit Pastor Challenge: What’s Your Plan?