The SBC Plodder is blessing us again with his unique perspective. Thank you, William. ...if you check the latest job rankings. Clergy are ranked number 110 out of 200 job categories by CareerCast.com which analyzed data from the U.S. Labor Department, Bureau of Labor Statistics, other government agencies, trade associations and private survey firms. Depressed on Monday? You chose this rather meager and unsatisfying career path, but take heart: Your job ranking beats that of attorney (117) perhaps because attorneys slink around courthouses trying to scare up a retainer or two and … [Read more...] about Being a pastor is a pretty sorry job… (by William Thornton)
SBC Issues
A quick note
Ladies and gentlemen, I know you all read Dave Miller's post about heading east. Just a few minutes ago, Dave posted this on Facebook: Totalled my Durango. Uninjured. Stranded in Hermann, Missouri. First of all, prayers of thanks that Dave is ok. Then: Please pray for Dave: 1. He's in Missouri, which always requires prayer. 2. He's totaled his vehicle, needs prayer for guidance. 3. He's not with his grandchildren, which is like depriving him of oxygen and needs prayer for patience. Thanks for praying for Dave. Now, back to Bart's post. … [Read more...] about A quick note
A Few Thoughts about Denominational Hirings and Firings (by Bart Barber)
Bart Barber is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Farmersville, TX, and one of the mainstays of Baptist blogging through the years (Praisegod Barebones). Few things are as controversial among Southern Baptists as the employment status of a teacher or missionary. Counting the topics that have, each in their respective moment, sucked all of the oxygen out of the Southern Baptist blogosphere since 2006, the most populous category involves professorial employment. I'd like to take a few moments of your time to put forward some ideas I've come to embrace about how things ought to be in our … [Read more...] about A Few Thoughts about Denominational Hirings and Firings (by Bart Barber)
CEO No More
This has been said before, and I'm not the first to say it, but today I want to get out a soap box. You can disagree with me, tell me I'm wrong and crazy, but this is something I feel strongly about. In the SBC, we are the "people of the Book" and we say the Bible is sufficient, but there is one area I see we don't live it. I have torn a page out of the handbook for cooperate America and grafted it in our New Testament. That is this fascination with purpose statements, mission statements, vision casting and marketing. It's become ludicrous how much we would rather look like GE or IBM than like … [Read more...] about CEO No More
Pointing My Car East
I just finished preaching and I'm heading east. Plan to drive till very late and make my way toward Lynchburg, VA, sometime tomorrow, to visit with the two cutest and most wonderful grandsons anyone ever had. You don't believe me? Take a gander at this photo. You are jealous now, aren't you? Anyway, I'll keep an eye on things here (evidently, they do have the internet now in Virginia), but I'll be even less involved than I have been around here recently. And honestly, folks, just because your kids and grandkids aren't as cute and wonderful as mine doesn't mean they aren't cute … [Read more...] about Pointing My Car East
That Angel is an Idiot
That title bothers you doesn’t it? It bothers me too. But that is telling. We revere angels—as maybe we should. So I invite you to imagine a scenario with me for a moment. You’re driving home from work. You haven’t had codeine or any other mind-altering substance. You’ve been sleeping well. You didn’t have Indian food for lunch, either. All of a sudden you get this weird urge to pull over to the side of the road. You ignore it for awhile but after it keeps gnawing at your guts you sheepishly veer off to the shoulder. Your car has not been stopped for more than 15 seconds when a man … [Read more...] about That Angel is an Idiot
The Conservative Resurgence: Reflections of a Foot Soldier
I have friends who believe that the Conservative Resurgence in the SBC was a work of God that turned a denomination from the path of ruin which other denominations have followed. I have other friends who think the CR was a political shenanigan, a power-grab that had little to do with theology. They do not admit that there was a genuine problem with liberalism and see the CR as a tragedy which has ruined our denomination. I think there is some truth on both sides. I was a foot soldier in the CR. I attended the Houston convention in 1979 and was thrilled when Adrian Rogers was elected … [Read more...] about The Conservative Resurgence: Reflections of a Foot Soldier
Is Christ Enough for You? (by Andy Hynes)
Andy Hynes is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow him @ABHYNES on Twitter. We live in a society that looks in every direction for assistance, help, and satisfaction. We look to magazines, TV, movies, and the Internet to sooth our hurts, burdens, and disappointments. When problems become greater, we turn to the “professionals” and seek their assistance in calming and settling our hurts, burdens, and disappointments. We are conditioning people to distrust the sovereignty and sufficiency of Christ. Jesus is superior in the things pertaining to salvation … [Read more...] about Is Christ Enough for You? (by Andy Hynes)
If You Desire Non-Confessional Proportionality in the SBC, You Defeat Yourself
Jared Moore has asked us to remove his posts. There are a handful, like this article, which we've turned into a summary and left the comments section posted. At one time there was a prominent argument made by some in the SBC that leadership should be proportional so that theological sub-groups within the SBC were proportionally represented. One quote from Moore's article: Some Southern Baptists argue for a type of proportionality in SBC leadership which goes beyond confessionalism. In their words, "We want SBC leadership to look like the SBC."... They want SBC leadership to reflect … [Read more...] about If You Desire Non-Confessional Proportionality in the SBC, You Defeat Yourself
The Craving of a Generation or Two
Today I was talking to a friend about my faults. I have many, and one of them is my lack of motivation for things I don't see as important or worthwhile. If I have something to do that I know I should do, but fail to see it as valuable, effective or fruitful, I have a hard time doing. I am definitely the student who said "why do I have to learn this if I'm never gonna use it". I am working on just doing what I need to do, even if I think it's pointless, but I find the number of kindred spirits growing. My generation, the Xers and the generations to follow seem more than unmotivated, they seem … [Read more...] about The Craving of a Generation or Two