SBC Issues

100 stinking push ups. That’s what one of my coaches in High School made me do because I called him Kareem Abdul (insert his last name).  Apparently, I should have called him Kareem Abdul COACH (insert his last name).  He clearly derived his identity as “coach”, even down to his early 90’s coach mustache.  So, a mouthy freshman teasing him about his less-than-stellar hook shots must have insulted his identity a little too much.  So he figured making the scrawny kid do a hundred girly looking push-ups ought to teach me to respect not only his ‘stache and his hook shots but also his identity … [Read more...] about Mustache Coaches and Pastoral Identity

In the story recorded in Acts 5, the Sanhedrin was furious and bloodthirsty. In defiance of the Council's command the Apostles continued to proclaim Christ and that set them off. Called before this intimidating body, Peter was anything but timid. He called them to account for the death of Jesus, proclaimed the resurrection and announced his intentions to obey God rather than to cower before them. This insolence infuriated them and they were determined to squash that annoying sect. Enter Gamaliel. He was one of the more influential teachers and leaders in Jewish history, even being quoted in … [Read more...] about The Gamaliel Solution: A Way Forward in the Calvinism Wars?

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. - 1 Corinthians 1:10 Can Baptists talk about anything except for Calvinism/Non-Calvinism these days?  Why is this happening? I have never seen the Baptist Blogosphere this bad.  I mean it. And, I've been around from the beginning back in 2005. This is the worst that it has ever been. All sides are warring and everything becomes a fight and we are willing to destroy other people to prove a … [Read more...] about Can We Please Stop the Fighting? (by Alan Cross)

We spend a lot of time on blogs arguing over issues that exist within the gray areas of theology - doctrines that folks who love God and love his Word have disagreed about for centuries. But there are some issues that are absolute and clear in the Bible, but are often simply ignored. Too many disregard the clear teachings while we obsessively dipute the gray areas. I'm asking you to consider one of the clear teachings of the Bible today - a common and consistent theme in the words of Jesus and the writings of the Apostles.  Let's look back to the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the … [Read more...] about Loving our Enemies: A Matthew 5:44 Challenge

Jeff Christopherson is NAMB’s regional vice president for Canada and the Northeast. This excerpt is from his book Kingdom Matrix: Designing a Church for the Kingdom of God (Russell Media, 2012). Proceeds from the sale of this book will go to North American missions. We are grateful that Jeff shared this with us! This story, my story, changed my view of success. Allan and Helen Christopherson, married June 4, 1960, in Prince Albert. With only an eighth-grade education, Allan supported his young family cleaning beer storage tanks at Molson’s brewery. His salary package included only one … [Read more...] about Re-defining Success, by Jeff Christopherson

Editor: Marty gave me permission to repost this.  To All Media Outlets, Reporters, Writers and Editors: It is abundantly clear to most Americans that the “Westboro Baptist Church” is neither “Baptist” nor a “church” according to any commonly accepted meaning of either word. As a Christ follower, and a long time church attender, I enter this plea to stop using the phrase “Westboro Baptist Church” in favor of the more accurate “the Westboro cult.” The journalistic profession has turned out a small number of plagiarists whose words were stolen from the creativity and hard work of … [Read more...] about A plea to all media outlets re: ‘the Westboro cult’ (by Marty Duren)

The following post, originally published at From Law to Grace on August 7, 2012, has been updated to include additional facts and information pertinent to this case. After Christians came out in droves to eat some good fried chicken at Chick-fil-A this past week, a Phoenix pastor and his lawyers apparently thought that Christians would also rise up (i.e., donate money) to defend the rights of all Americans to have a Bible study anytime and anywhere — existing zoning, building, fire, and safety codes be d***ed. Both the pastor, Michael Salman and his lawyers, John Whitehead and Nisha … [Read more...] about Phoenix Pastor Jailed Because He Flouted the Law!

I headed out to work this evening, doing a little missionary-ing. I left the apartment and ventured down to Avenida 10 de Agosto, walking the quarter of a mile to the nearest trolley stop.  It was not yet exceptionally crowded, so I only had to wait for the third trolley before I was able to board.  The attendant shoe-horned me into the last available spot just barely inside the vehicle, making sure the doors didn’t pinch me as they closed.  I’m about 6’ tall, not exactly gargantuan, but most Ecuadorians are far shorter, somewhere around 5’ 5”.  For me, a bus or trolley ride is usually an … [Read more...] about Potato-Based Missions

I am pleased to publish for our readers this statement from the First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs, MS, in which they express repentance over the racism that existed in the church.  Here is the text of the statement that was read Sunday.  According to BP, the church stood in affirmation of the statement after it was given. A Statement of Restoration and Reconciliation We the members of the body of Christ known as First Baptist Church Crystal Springs do this day affirm our unchanging belief that Jesus Christ is Lord of the church. Our church is indeed His church. We recognize that He, … [Read more...] about Affirming First Baptist Church, Crystal Springs, and Their Repentance

So you all know by now that I am not a Calvinist, I am a Wovenist, but as a Wovenist, there are some attributes of Calvinism that I agree with.  Wovenists affirm election and predestination without destroying man's choice and responsibility.  In my Bible Reading, I am continuing to develop the theological points of Wovenism as I find how God continues to intersect with us. One of the things I have always been torn about is Limited Atonement.  I know and believe that Christ died for the whole world, and His blood could cover the sins of every person who ever existed.  The the other hand, the … [Read more...] about A different perspective of Limited Atonement