SBC Issues

(Josh King is lead pastor of Sachse's First Baptist Church in Sachse, TX, and a contributor to Looks Like Reign: A Commentary on Theology, Culture and the Gospel.  We are grateful to have this excellent guest post today!) “NationsBeGlad Desiring God Int'l     It's easier to birth a baby than to raise the dead - plant new churches, don't focus on dying churches. @edstetzer #dgnc” I am a big fan of Dr. Ed Stetzer and would love to be at the Desiring God National Conference. Because I am not there I cannot fully know the context behind this specific tweet. This obviously hampers my ability to … [Read more...] about The Established Church is Worth Fighting For! (by Josh King)

"There arises defining moments in our personal lives, our churches, and our denomination. I believe we are at one of those crossroads.  In the final analysis we must trust our process, our common goal of bringing the Gospel to the world, and each other." Who was the Southern Baptist statesman who uttered these words and what was the context within which they were said?  None other than Dr. Jim Henry, former Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Orlando and a former two-term President of the SBC, in his endorsement of the GCR.  During his tenure as President of the Convention, Dr. … [Read more...] about SBC Name Change: Silence of Elder Statesmen is Deafening

In previous installments in this series, I have discussed Brick Wall issues, in which Christians should take an uncompromising stand for the essentials of the faith.  I have discussed Picket Fence doctrines on which Christians should hold to their convictions on secondary matters while maintaining friendly relationships with their Christian brethren who have different convictions.  I have discussed Dinner Table doctrine - matters on which we disagree but do not divide at all.  And finally, I have been talking about Personal Space issues - lifestyle issues on which each Christian is supposed to … [Read more...] about “Is It Okay for a Christian to…?” Identifying Personal Space Issues (Brick Walls and Picket Fences 15)

C.S. Lewis once quipped: "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."  (Problem of Pain, 140) I agree with Lewis that this is true most of the time.  But then again, there are times when our suffering causes us to be so broken that we cannot even hear (or respond positively) to the voice of God.  Consider Exodus 6.  God gives a long list of what He is about to do in the lives of the Israelites.  He promises all this: I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians I will deliver … [Read more...] about It Doesn’t Change the Promise

I got into blogging to "fight the power." I did not like the now-infamous IMB policies, which prevented Baptists who were in full cooperation with the BF&M 2000 from serving as missionaries if they did not kowtow to a narrow view of Baptist identity.  I was infuriated by them and motivated to do what I could to make a change.  Since about the only route available to me was blustering on blogs, I blustered. I saw myself as some sort of modern day Don Quixote tilting against the powers-who-were who were trying to take our convention the wrong way.  I was especially put off by the … [Read more...] about My Journey: Changing Views of SBC Leadership

Read this article. A 14-year-old boy was disciplined and suspended by the administration of Western Hills High School in Ft. Worth, TX. He is an honor student who is never in trouble. However, he evidently committed an egregious crime - he expressed an opinion to a friend that homosexuality is a sin.  His teacher, according to reports, went ballistic and sent him to the principal's office where he was given a day of in-school suspension and then two days of full suspension.  Principle James Wellman and the administration of Western Hills evidently prize political correctness over free … [Read more...] about If You Want a Glimpse of the Future, Look at Ft. Worth Schools!

The Yankees are in the playoffs.  Rejoice. In lesser news, NCAA football is being played. And in the who cares category, there is NFL football as well. Talk amongst yourselves. … [Read more...] about Celebrating the Yankees: The SBC Voices Weekly Sports Forum

At Between the Times, Nathan Finn has just posted a powerful call to civility during the discussion of the name-change.  It is called, "The Southern Baptist Convention: Name that Denomination."  If I say "pretty please" will you promise to go read it? He explains his ambivalence toward the name change, and then issues a call for civil debate of the topic. I’m urging my fellow Southern Baptists (even those who don’t want to be called that anymore) to be as civil and Christ-like as possible. I seriously doubt that the overwhelming majority of those who want to change the name are closet … [Read more...] about Dr. Nathan Finn: Words We Need to Hear!

Rick Warren tweeted this in response to Rob Bell leaving his church: Speaking tours feed the ego=All applause&no responsibility.It's an unreal world. A church gives accountability& validity Someone then asked him, "Do u think well-known pastors who leave their churches have more or less impact?" His response: Always less.No base 4credibility I think there is some good truth to this. I am not opposed to itinerant ministries or anything of the sort, but there is no "institution" on earth promised God's blessings other than the church and the accountability factor cannot … [Read more...] about Rick Warren on Rob Bell

Originally published at From Law to Grace on September 23, 2011 Its exact origin is uncertain, but spin doctor is often used to describe public relations experts as well as political or corporate representatives (emphasis added) whose job it is to put a 'positive spin' on events or situations. ("What is a Spin Doctor?") Before most grassroots Southern Baptists (including me) became aware of SBC President Bryant Wright's un-constitutional end-run around the messengers and churches that he was elected to serve, Twitter was all abuzz Monday night with tweets about the "unofficial" Name Change … [Read more...] about Grassroots Guide to Understanding SBC Spin Doctors