Though it’s quieted down a lot regarding Lifeway’s The Gospel Project, I thought I’d stoke the fires again. All the concerns about how some subtle Calvinistic influence will confuse church members and cause frustration and discord in otherwise non-Calvinist Baptist churches because of this material are a little melodramatic. After all, I’m quite confident that every one of those non-Calvinist Baptist churches has used one Calvinist work for years without complaining about its influence before. And no, I’m not talking about Romans 9 and Ephesians 1. ;-) I’m talking about a very Calvinist … [Read more...] about A Calvinist Anthem
SBC Issues
A Plea for Sanity…and Unity
At another blog there is a post up about a church that is hurting. And let me preface everything else to come by saying: a hurting church anywhere is a cause for all of us to weep. This church is in pain because of the specter of disunity and division. We should take the words of our Lord to heart from John 17:23, “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” If we truly believe what Jesus says, then we truly believe that disunity and factions in church are ultimately a hindrance to the spread … [Read more...] about A Plea for Sanity…and Unity
Pray for Kaitlyn Stetzer!
Ed Stetzer's 7-year-old daughter is hospitalized with serious but as yet unidentified illness. Please pray for her and for the Stetzer family. Ed is updating his site, so you can go there for the latest information. … [Read more...] about Pray for Kaitlyn Stetzer!
A Great Help for Bloggers, from Martin Luther
I saw a link to this today and thought that it was an amazing asset for bloggers. It is a listing of graphic insults from Martin Luther's writings. I do not know who compiled this list, but this is a great boon for us. Instead of making up our own insults, we can just generate one from Luther himself! Here is the link: The Lutheran Insulter This does tell us that the kind of interaction we often bemoan in blogging is not new at all! Here are a few choice entries: You are like mouse-dropping in the pepper. You are worthy only to be mocked by the words of error. You do … [Read more...] about A Great Help for Bloggers, from Martin Luther
Proverbs for Christian Blogging: Am I Sowing Discord?
A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing. There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among … [Read more...] about Proverbs for Christian Blogging: Am I Sowing Discord?
Divorce, Remarriage and Ministry: What is a “Husband of One Wife?”
NOTE: I have just released a book which compiles (and edits and expands) these posts. It is called "Disqualified? What the Bible Says about Divorce, Remarriage and Ministry." It is available on Amazon.com. The Kindle version will be released in the next couple of days - not sure what the hold-up is there. This book reviews the biblical evidence on divorce and remarriage, beginning with the cornerstone in the Old Testament - the twin principles of God's intent of marriage as a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman and the understanding of the brokenness caused by sin. It then lays the … [Read more...] about Divorce, Remarriage and Ministry: What is a “Husband of One Wife?”
Oh The Humanity!
An unborn child is considered a human being for White House security purposes but a mere product of conception for abortion purposes. Would it be too much to ask for a little consistency here? http://bit.ly/JtjCYf … [Read more...] about Oh The Humanity!
The Exchange, Ed Stetzer: The Story of Scripture – with Trevin Wax and George Guthrie 2PM (CDT) Today
If you have time at 2 PM today (Central Daylight Time), "The Exchange" will be featuring a discussion with Ed, Trevin Wax and George Guthrie concerning the "Story of Scripture." Go to Ed Stetzer's blog to watch the webcast live. Should be well worth your time. While you are at it, pray for Ed's seven year old daughter Kaitlyn who has been very sick and in the hospital! … [Read more...] about The Exchange, Ed Stetzer: The Story of Scripture – with Trevin Wax and George Guthrie 2PM (CDT) Today
One notable, relevant thing about Fred Luter (by William Thornton)
The SBC Plodder is back with his insights into all things SBC. We always welcome and appreciate his thoughts. Thank you, William! Fred Luter (image from BP) is expected to be elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention in just a few weeks in New Orleans. If I am there (and it's not looking like I will be) I would be unhesitant in casting my vote in his favor. His election will be notable because he will be the first black president of the SBC. That's good. But there is something more notable about Fred Luter that is acutely relevant to the SBC. He is a megachurch pastor and … [Read more...] about One notable, relevant thing about Fred Luter (by William Thornton)
The Danger of Assuming
“Dear, can you find my face-wash? It’s in a small bottle with a fuchsia colored lid on the dresser,” my wife lovingly requests. I hurriedly look through a conglomeration of numerous bottles that I am totally unfamiliar with. I am only vaguely familiar with fuchsia. I know it isn’t blue, so I quickly eliminate everything in the blue family. Same goes with white, black, and maybe green and yellow. I think it’s in the purple or red family. So now I’m looking for something in a small bottle---quickly giving up hope. “I don’t see it in here,” I shout back at her—not a mad shout, mind you, … [Read more...] about The Danger of Assuming