SBC Issues

Alan, who blogs at Downshore Drift, reflects on the SBC 2012 meeting.   Last week, I was asked by Iowa pastor and editor of SBCVoices.com, Dave Miller, to give his nomination speech for 2nd VP of the SBC in New Orleans. It was an honor to do so. Dave was not supposed to win. He threw his hat in the ring on Friday evening, June 15, with the convention starting just a few days later. Also running for the position was Eric Hankins, pastor of First Baptist Church, Oxford, MS and author of the infamous Traditionalist statement on Baptist soteriology.  The convention was in Louisiana, the home … [Read more...] about Why Dave Miller Won 2nd VP of the SBC (by Alan Cross)

I think that if I was growing up today, I'd have been diagnosed with ADD and probably medicated. I am easily distracted from the work I am supposed to be doing.  I tend to lose interest in discussions after a certain length of time. So, I don't know if it is my attention-deficit or what, but I can tell you this: I am sick to death of this discussion of the Traditionalist Document. Could we beat that thing into the ground a little more? We've devoured it, sucked out the marrow and gnawed the bones, have we not? I am sick to death of talking about Calvinism and variations of non-Calvinism, … [Read more...] about A New Approach to this Soteriological Debate

“For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice…”  Proverbs 7:6 I do not believe that it is an accident that Solomon’s advice comes from the window instead of on the streets.  Previously I noted from Proverbs 7 the path of seduction.  I also noted that if you find yourself on this path, according to the Proverbs, there is great likelihood that you will end up gutted like a deer in a tree.  That is because the battle against seduction is often won from the window instead of on the streets. Though we can find help by looking at 7:11-23 it is not in those verses that the … [Read more...] about Battling Seduction From Your Window Instead of On the Streets

If you're just joining us, you'll want to read part 1 of this little series here. We'd all like the approval and support of our families, right?  We all want to make hard choices, especially about missions, confident that our parents and siblings will be right there with us every step of the way.  We want to be Samuel, given to the Lord's service by grateful parents.  We'd like to be Samson, brought into the world with the understanding that Mom and Dad would prep us for ministry.  Heck, we would even accept Gideon's fate, supported by an idol-worshipping father who at least stood up for … [Read more...] about Call to International Missions, Part 2: Familial Approval

The appeal for unity by Southern Baptist Calvinists makes perfect sense to me. Let's put our differences behind us for the sake of our witness and cooperation in the gospel. We may have slight differences in soteriology, but we agree that Jesus is Lord, the Bible is inerrant and God wants us to tell a dying world about Him. Fine. Really. The suggestion by Southern Baptist Calvinists that Traditionalists may believe in heresy is much more troubling. Traditionalists who affirm Total Depravity reject Total Inability. Traditionalists who affirm our sin nature in Adam nevertheless reject that we … [Read more...] about Of Unity and Heresy

Is it possible that in our passion as Southern Baptists to defend the veracity of the Bible we have ignored one of its most powerful teachings? We battled and struggled to defend sound doctrine and the perfection of Scripture, but perhaps many of us forgot that the Bible we love proclaims the importance of unity and love in the Body of Christ. To desire and seek unity is not evidence of a lack of biblical conviction, but a desire to obey God’s commands. We must always be vigilant against the false teachers the Bible promises would come in our midst; the wolves who would walk among the … [Read more...] about Unity and the Heart of Jesus: John 17

There is no question that there are differences between Calvinists and non-Calvinists - it would be foolish to attempt to make the argument that those differences do not exist. But the differences may not be as stark as we sometimes try to make them. In the last few weeks, there has been a rather forceful debate on the "Sinner's Prayer."  Lots of heat has been generated by these debates, and often little light. I think you may see in the Sinner's Prayer debate an example of why we have such a hard time with the Calvinist/non-Calvinist debate in the SBC. This is something of a tempest in … [Read more...] about The Sad Effect of the “Sinner’s Prayer” Debate

And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait. She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, “I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen; I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love till … [Read more...] about The Path of Seduction, Or How You Ended Up Gutted Like a Deer in a Tree

“Ahh, it’s wonderful!  Magnificent!  Heart-warming and soul-inspiring! “The call of God on the life of a Christian to go to the world and preach His name!  To give up America and its comforts, its air conditioning, its Walmart and Moon Pies!  Oh, how sweet to give our all, knowing God will reward our sacrifices by giving back to us much more than we ever gave up! “Who?  Grandma?  No, she won’t be giving up anything.  She’s staying here in the US.  We’re the ones leaving, not her.  She and Grandpa will be fine.” Yeah, right. Eventually, all missionaries must admit their call and … [Read more...] about Call to International Mission, Part 1: Familial Rejection

… [Read more...] about Could This Soteriological Innovation Save the SBC?