SBC Issues

I was saved as a six-year-old boy.  My dad used to read a book called "Little Pilgrim's Progress" - a children's adaptation of the Bunyan classic - to my brother and I at bedtime.  Actually, all four of us in my family were saved as dad read that book to us.  There is a part about Christian going to the cross and leaving his burden of sin there. I actually have no memory of that.  I barely remember my baptism, but I don't have a lot of memories of those early years.  I struggled with whether an experience I could not remember was real, but as I grew I believe that I was genuinely saved. … [Read more...] about Testimony Time: Tell Us How God Saved You

So it's not a deep theological treatise, but I thought I'd try and put myself there, in Jerusalem. Bear with this one, there's good posts coming later from the other SBCVoices team. I can see myself following behind the disciples and wandering with the crowd as Jesus makes His way to Jerusalem that week. I can see being a little excited about seeing Him do all the stuff He's been doing in Galilee up in Jerusalem (remember, Jerusalem is always "up"). I can imagine soaking up the teaching, the miracles, the cleansing of the Temple. I can see myself being a little sad I was left out of the … [Read more...] about If I had been there

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins. And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stain. Today is not a day for debate or discussion, but for reflection.  This is a holy week, a week in which we think about one thing, one person – the most important thing that ever happened and the most important person who ever lived. I would ask you to celebrate with me, to join in the rejoicing over one fact, that there is indeed a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.  … [Read more...] about The Crimson River: A Reflection on the Power of the Cross

We are going to take a break from our regular programming (unless something huge comes up) the rest of the week and focus our posts on the meaning and power of the Cross, of the glory of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Blogging is by nature divisive and causes us to major on secondary issues.  Let us make the next few days "holy" - set apart for the consideration of the Cross and our Risen Lord. We believe that Jesus is the Divine Son, sent to live the life of perfect righteousness which we could not. We believe that having fulfilled all righteousness he offered himself as a … [Read more...] about Passion Week: Reflecting on the Death and Resurrection of Our Savior

Pastor Vance Pitman graciously took the time to answer several questions about leadership, administration and church growth. I believe the SBCVoices audience will benefit from his words of wisdom and I hope each reader can take something back to their own church to help lead their congregation in God's direction. Vance Pitman is the Founding and Senior Pastor of Hope Baptist Church in Las Vegas, NV. Vance was raised in a Christian home and mentored by his father, a Southern Baptist Minister, Vance surrendered control of his life to Jesus Christ at age seventeen. At age eighteen, in response … [Read more...] about Vance Pitman on Leadership

I attended the Band of Bloggers meeting in Chicago on Tuesday.  It was a lot of fun and instructive.  I had a chance to meet a few people and we had some interesting discussion on the dangers and blessings of blogging.  Before I make my point, let me share some of the things that were discussed. The thrust of the meeting was "gospel-driven blogging" - what could be more noble?  But one of the discussion leaders (I didn't take notes and can't remember who said it) said that "gospel" is in danger of becoming another undefined buzzword, much as "missional" has been.  Actually, this is the … [Read more...] about The Gospel Hammer, the Idolatry Bludgeon, and Blogging Discussions

On Wednesday, SBCVoices published my post, "SBC's New Calvinism & Patriotic Worship: Part 1." Part 2, which is my response to Professor Stam's original letter that was published at B21, can be read here.  Since my initial posts (both here and on my blog, From Law to Grace), I have gotten many responses — both positive (here and here) and negative (here and here) . Based upon this admittedly limited response, one could begin to understand one of the SBC's major fault lines – “majority Baptist theology” vs. “Reformed Baptist theology” – that Dr. Steve Lemke described in his recent post, “The … [Read more...] about SBC Calvinism & Patriotic Worship: A Final Word

Introverts of the world, disband. (It's ironic, because introverts like to be alone and. . . oh nevermind). I'm an introvert, if you hadn't guessed. I'm an introverted Associate Pastor, proving that God has a sense of humor. I am a low I on my DISC profile. Let's be honest, I don't like people. I like individuals, but groups of people are not my thing. I get overwhelmed by large groups, being with people drains me, even my closest friends. Like most introverts, I am surrounded by mostly extroverts who don't get me at all. Their idea of down time is being together. My idea of down … [Read more...] about Jesus was an Introvert!

Doug did a great job filling you on on the goings-on around here. There were just a few more things I thought you might be interested to know. -AR Little Known Fact #8 - SBCVoices has millions of barrels of petroleum reserves in storage that Dave can release whenever he chooses to ease the prices at the pumps. (You might want start being a little nicer to him as you sure-up your summer driving plans.) Little Known Fact #9 - We know what's at Area 51. We know there are buildings, fences, cameras and motion sensors…lots of ‘em. Beyond that is anyone's guess. Little Known Fact #10 - … [Read more...] about More Inside Scoop on SBCVoices

This post, containing minor revisions, was first published at From Law to Grace on April 6, 2011. Should Southern Baptist churches discourage expressions of patriotism in their corporate worship services on national holidays such as Memorial Day and Independence Day?  According to Professor Carl “Chip” Stam and some younger Southern Baptist pastors represented by Baptist21, the answer is apparently yes.  Well, maybe not yes in so many words, but unwise and unhelpful to be sure.  While perusing the B21 website to watch an interview with Nathan Akin (which I still have not been able to … [Read more...] about SBC’s New Calvinism & Patriotic Worship: Part 1