Since getting reacquainted and in the loop at SBC Voices, I have come to appreciate each time Thom Hunter shares a new post. His writing is always penetrating and frequently takes a tack that few will ever ponder or dare to do, usually because it is born of personal and often painful experience of the sort that few are willing to share about transparently with others. This is the main reason that I jumped at the offer to review Thom's book, Surviving Sexual Brokenness. If I were required to describe the book using a single word, I would go back to that same idea: transparent. This isn't … [Read more...] about Grace for the Journey and Wisdom from the Battles – A Review of “Surviving Sexual Brokenness” by Thom Hunter
SBC Issues
The Mercy of Hell
If it's ok with everyone (hope so, cause I didn't ask), I want to jump on the bandwagon of talking about Hell. Now I know Rob Bell ruined it for us, but I want to take a different spin if I could. You see, aside from theology, I have some things in common with Rob. We are both from the same generation, we are both Gen Xers, he is slightly older than I am. We both ask many questions, and we both question the established system. That is where we depart, I headed more towards Driscoll, he went towards McLaren. That being said, I see the meta-narrative approach, and I understand where Bell … [Read more...] about The Mercy of Hell
Why the Cooperative Program has been dropping like a rock – Part One (by William Thornton)
Editor: William Thornton is the SBC Plodder and a keen observer of SBC life. This is a repost from his site It follows up on the discussion of the two previous articles he posted here, "SBC Presidents and the Cooperative Program" and "Dropping Like a Rock: The Cooperative Program." My humble conjectures about the decline of the once mighty Cooperative Program. Every Southern Baptist is a denominational pundit. Plodder's punditry, not in order of magnitude or importance: 1. It’s the moderates’ fault. Sure, SBC moderates were generally very strong givers to the cooperative program and were … [Read more...] about Why the Cooperative Program has been dropping like a rock – Part One (by William Thornton)
Sometimes God is Deaf
(This post originally appeared at my blog Borrowed Light) A sure way to ensure not having an audience with me is to trash my wife. If some person decides that they want to speak ill of my wife to me (and this rarely happens) they quickly realize they made a foolish mistake. They’ll never win. You know why? Because I am decidedly on her side. In an even greater way this is the case with the Lord when Satan brings accusations against us. When he starts dogging on God’s Bride (see Zechariah 3) Satan is met with a sharp rebuke. It is the same case with believers today. Written … [Read more...] about Sometimes God is Deaf
Autonomy of the local church?
The Arizona Southern Baptist Convention provides sample bylaws, articles of incorporation, property deeds, and other legal documents for church plants. One of the clauses in these documents is a reverter clause which transfers all the church's assets to the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention in the case that the church ceases to be a Southern Baptist Church. My own church has such a clause in their bylaws, but they are not nearly as strict as the current templates available. This language is encouraged for all churches and is required for church plants to get support from the convention. I … [Read more...] about Autonomy of the local church?
The Bogeyman Myth of the Hateful Bigot
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Luke 23:34 I have been told the church was mostly silent on that day. Evidence of my ongoing struggle with homosexuality was presented, a vote was taken and I was declared unfit to be a member and removed for the destruction of my soul. I was not there that night, but instead was angry and alone in the darkening end of a long and frightening day, as they proclaimed me unworthy of them. Oh . . . my soul. And all that is within me. Since that fateful vote, I … [Read more...] about The Bogeyman Myth of the Hateful Bigot
Mark Driscoll: “Hell Is the Wrath of God in Effect”
I have heard people talk a lot of trash about Mark Driscoll (mostly insinuation and the rehearsal of old stories). I have to admit that I've not spent hours researching the man, but this I know. Every time I've listened to his sermons or read his teachings, I have been impressed with the theological accuracy, the uncompromising commitment to even unpopular biblical truth, and an amazing ability to communicate. Anyway, here is a clip on our topic du jour. … [Read more...] about Mark Driscoll: “Hell Is the Wrath of God in Effect”
God Does Not Answer Prayer!
Since we've all been discussing heretics recently, I thought I would rework a post I put up over at sbcIMPACT! I hope when you are done, you will forgive me the title! I would request that you put down your stones for a moment and hear what this heretic is trying to say. I do not believe that I am advocating heresy and I am certainly not recommending that we abandon prayer. The title was provocative, and intentional. I risked the wrath of my readers to make a simple point about prayer, one I feel is important. Actually, if you get a hold on this principle, it might actually be a … [Read more...] about God Does Not Answer Prayer!
What It Is to Be Offered (from John Bunyan’s Writings)
(Dr. Roger D. Duke brings us another excerpt from the writings of John Bunyan. Dr. Duke is cowriter with Phil Newton of "Venturing all on God: Piety in the Writings of John Bunyan." This volume is one of in the Profiles in Reformed Spirituality series of Reformation Heritage Press and is slated for publication sometime in 2011.) “WHAT IT IS TO BE OFFERED” A Portion of Mr. Bunyan’s Exposition of 2 Timothy 4:6-8 Taken from PAUL’S DEPARTURE AND CROWN [1] [2] Paul, by saying he was ‘to be offered,’ alludeth to some of the sacrifices that of old were under the law; and thereby signifieth … [Read more...] about What It Is to Be Offered (from John Bunyan’s Writings)
Limiting Your Audience: SBC Pastor’s Conference
This is the second part of a two-part series on how Hollywood and others limit their potential audiences. You can read part one, Limiting Your Audience: Janeane Garofalo and Criminal Minds, on Howell's blog, fromlaw2grace.com. You would think that leaders of the first GCR Era Southern Baptist Convention Pastor's Conference -- scheduled to debut in Phoenix this June -- would desire to have the biggest possible audience for this annual event. Knowing that the southwestern location would itself limit the number of pastors who could attend, one might assume that the Aspire 2011 SBCPC would … [Read more...] about Limiting Your Audience: SBC Pastor’s Conference