SBC Issues

Howell Scott is an excellent blogger and has a post up today which is well worth reading if you are following this whole discussion.  In it, he takes some issue with Micah's post yesterday.  As always, Howell's article is worth reading. The article is entitled "Jerry Nash, SBC Today and a Chill Wind a Blowing." I would also encourage anyone who has not yet to read Dr. Steve Lemke's four part series on the future of the SBC which appeared at SBC Today.  If you go to SBC Today, there are links to the articles in the sidebar. … [Read more...] about An Excellent Article

I was a student at Dallas Theological Seminary in 1979 when two momentous events occurred.   First, I was able to attend my first SBC Annual Meeting, one that was in every way historic.  Adrian Rogers was elected president and the denomination began several years of struggle and transformation.  Another event transpired that year - the Chicago Council on Biblical Inerrancy convened to define the term that has become such a political and theological hot potato. Back at school in the fall, my theology prof was talking about the findings of the Chicago Council.  I asked him a question.  "Dr. … [Read more...] about Southern Baptist Identity: An Examination and Proposal

The editors of SBC Today have published their response to the controversy that has surrounded the article they published last week in which Dr. Jerry Nash called on Calvinists and non-traditionalists in the SBC to leave the denomination.  I wrote an article last week confronting the Nash article and Micah Fries wrote an article today questioning the involvement of New Orleans Baptist Seminary and the Baptist Center in the blog. In the article, the editors countered criticisms by asserting that they publish a range of viewpoints and that their "About SBC Today" disclaimer made it clear that … [Read more...] about SBC Today’s Editorial Response to the Nash Controversy

This book review originally appeared Wednesday at sbcIMPACT! If you know someone who is entering the twilight of life, or who is facing a terminal illness, you need to see that they receive a copy of Dr. John Dunlop's book, "Finishing Well to the Glory of God" published by Crossway.  It is available from Amazon for less than $11, from CBD for $12, and from Crossway as a download for $10.  It is well worth it. Dr. Dunlop practices medicine in Zion, IL and has come face-to-face with some of the ethical and moral problems that modern medicine has created.  Should we fight death to the finish, … [Read more...] about Finishing Well to the Glory of God: A Book Review

This post originally appeared on my blog August 25, 2010. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.  For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.—2 Corinthians 3:18 Sanctification.  Big word.  Basically, it means that we are in the process of becoming holy—becoming more like Jesus.  When we are justified from our sins we are also sanctified and look forward to being glorified.  But there is a process here in our individual lives.  It’s a struggle that starts the day we are born (born … [Read more...] about the sanctification of the church

So today I am climbing on a soap box. Some of you may disagree, some may agree and some may just plain get mad, but I'm gonna say it. It's a pet peeve, an annoyance, it's dangerous and makes pastors looks dumb (at least I think they look dumb). I really don't care of you think I'm wrong, cause honestly, I don't think most American pastors can exegete their way out of a wet paper bag. There are all sorts of examples for this, passages yanked out of context. Today I want to look at one. I hear this one pulled out of context, used and abused and it's just flat wrong. It's used in sermons, … [Read more...] about Learn to Exegete, you look really lame!

Another "Plodder" examination of the workings of the Cooperative Program.  William Thornton is the SBC Plodder and always has an interesting perspective on the SBC's inner workings. Editor's note:  If you want a good laugh, follow the link and read the Rev. Dr. Thornton's latest post about Theological Triage.  Nice work.  Now, back to the CP I blogged earlier in Cooperative Program Confusion about how state conventions, by utilizing accounting presentation techniques that are perfectly reasonable and understandable to them, probably confuse average Southern Baptists about the distribution … [Read more...] about CP Math: 50/50 = 55/45 or 60/40 (by William Thornton)

This post was originally published on From Law to Grace on May11, 2011. Advocates of a big tent believe that people with a broad variety of political approaches and viewpoints can unite within a single party to advance shared core issues, even if they disagree in other areas. This way the party can attract a large base of support at the polls. (full article here) The "Big Tent" political philosophy remains alive and well in our nation today.  We are beginning to see some Republicans -- particularly supporters of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels -- advocate for the Big Tent.  What these people … [Read more...] about The SBC & a Collapsing Big Tent Philosophy

Les Puryear is in the process of planting a church with very little funding.  At his blog, "Joining God in His Work", he gave some very helpful suggestions how someone might plant a church without a large bankroll behind him.  I asked him for permission to reprint that here. With all the discussion over the funding of church planting, I thought I would share how we are planting a new Southern Baptist church with no outside funding. Yes, that's right; no outside funding. It can be done. Here's how we're doing it. 1. Get a secular job. Don't take any salary from the new church until the … [Read more...] about How to Plant a Church with Little or No Outside Funding (by Les Puryear)