SBC Issues

My average sized congregation in South Carolina, ministerially speaking around 100-150 on Sunday mornings, had a Homecoming Sunday. It was a Big Deal. Always on the church calendar for the same date, third Sunday in September. Always a special preacher, mostly former pastors or guys from the church who had been called out to preach. Predictably for an SBC church, a cardiologists dream in regard to food, copious quantities of heavy casseroles, healthy fresh vegetables often seasoned by tasty fatback, desserts galore. Then there was the special hash. In that area of upstate SC some … [Read more...] about The Gospel of the Hash House

The Bible contains 1,189 chapters in total. The question I am asking our Voices readers is this: Which is the greatest chapter in the Bible? Some might say, “Well, they are all great.” For sure, that is true, but it is fair to say that Romans 8 influences our faith more than Leviticus 15. Another might say, “All the chapters are equally inspired.” Again, I would agree with that, but that response does not address my question. In your humble, but accurate, opinion which is the greatest chapter in the Bible? I’m asking you to offer your opinion and then explain why you chose that chapter. So, … [Read more...] about What Is the Greatest Chapter in the Bible?

I have been isolated these days and am not privy to anything going on behind the scenes, but I just saw a statement by the Executive Committee of the SBC. Evidently, this is some part of a settlement but I do not know what went on behind the scenes to make this statement happen. Here is the statement.   Here is what I know. Jennifer Lyell was abused in a most despicable way by a Southern Baptist leader. She did not have a "consensual affair" - she was groomed, abused, and mistreated horribly. Every single one of our leaders who examined the details of her abuse agreed … [Read more...] about The Executive Committee Has Apologized to Jennifer Lyell

I suppose I'll never be on board with these prepackaged, prefilled, partly fake grape juice communion cups. Yeah, I understand it's where we are and perhaps the alternatives, as in real bread and real juice without plastic and foil, are unacceptable to our health and safety conscious worshippers. I'll use them but I don't have to like them. The one pictured in my wrinkly octogenarian paw is from the church service yesterday. I didn't steal it. I picked up two when walking in thinking my wife in the choir would need one. Seems the choir had their own. Call me crazy but I don't think … [Read more...] about Recognize this?

It's guaranteed. If you don't hold the interest of your congregants while preaching, not a few of them will focus on odd things about you - your tie choice (that's been solved by ditching the tie altogether), other clothing and the like. No one has complained about a tie I wore except my wonderful wife, but then if someone gives you a tie you have to wear it at least once, no matter how ugly. I've been a bored listener at times over the past decades and have affectionate, irreverent, yet truthful observations about the quirky preaching habits of my fellow soldiers of the Lord. There's … [Read more...] about The quirkiness of my beloved SBC preacher colleagues

I have friends who think it's impossible, Luddite-leaning folks who think the only holy response to social media is to turn it all off. Many others seem to be without introspection, justifying pretty much every word they say as righteous. I take these next two statements as truisms. 1. Social media can be used for the glory of God and for the advancement of the kingdom.  2. Social media has often been a source of shame and has brought much reproach to the church and to the name of the Savior who shed his blood for that church.  I believe social media has been and can be a great force … [Read more...] about Social Media Engagement that Glorifies God

The history of the SBC includes thousands of missionaries, pastors, workers, and others who often get lost to history.  My goal is to highlight a few of those people in order that we can be encouraged and inspired by their lives and sacrifice.  The evangelist Billy Graham called Dr. Cauthen ''one of the greatest missionary statesmen in all American church life.'' That statement alone ought to be enough to get your attention. But the legacy of Dr. Cauthen can be seen in many other ways besides that testimony. For over 25 years Cauthen led the Foreign Mission Board (now the IMB) in historic … [Read more...] about Baptists you should know: Baker James Cauthen

These are our three main offerings and they account for almost all of the money received by the Executive Committee for distribution. Well, maybe not a record for the CP, that would be unreachable without Bezos and Gates pitching in hundreds of millions, but the CP may actually show an increase this fiscal year. So, explain where ordinary Southern Baptist churches are in this takeover scheme? They are behind our cooperative efforts and the financial channels that fuel them. The few, the disgruntled, the gripers and complainers would have us think there is a mass movement against … [Read more...] about SBC is headed for record offerings to Lottie, Annie, and the CP