SBC Issues

"We need to be less confrontational in our evangelism efforts.  We need to avoid offending people.  You catch more flies with honey that with vinegar, after all." I've heard this a thousand times.  Sometimes, a fellow-believer expresses their fear of witnessing because they know that sharing the gospel will offend their family, friends and neighbors and they do not want to be the bad guy.   We look for ways to share the saving message of Christ without offending those with whom we share. A church in my community has found a way to avoid offending people.  At their version of VBS they invited … [Read more...] about An Inoffensive Gospel is No Gospel At All

"You are arrogant to say that your way is the only way." "Christians are unloving because they do not respect or accept those of other faiths." We hear this all the time.  Our critics are right - we make a bold truth-assertion about our Savior.  We say that Jesus did, in fact, speak the words of John 14:6 "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me." We believe the words of Acts 4:12, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." He is the only hope of every human being on … [Read more...] about If Jesus Is Not the ONLY Way, He Is A FOOL!

We have a wide-open and free debate policy at SBC Voices (one which I often enjoy and also very often regret - especially the last couple of days). But recently, every single comment thread has been turned into an interfaith dialogue about whether Jesus is the only way to God, whether other religions are equally valid to Christianity or whether we all worship the same God regardless of our faiths. I just want to make something clear. The gospel is a non-negotiable, Brick Wall doctrine for me. There are several regular commenters who do not believe the biblically-revealed gospel of Jesus … [Read more...] about The Gospel is NON-Negotiable

(Editor:  Dan Barnes is the Associate Pastor of Heartland Community Baptist Church  in Sioux City, Iowa.  He has some interesting perspectives here, so enjoy the discussion and play nice.) I am excited and encouraged by the movement taken by the Southern Baptist Convention with the Great Commission Resurgence.  I am excited to see so many coming together to focus on reaching the lost and touching the down and out.  I am excited to see where God’s Plan for Sharing takes us during this decade and I am optimistic.  I do have some concerns, however, that I think are holding us back.  More than … [Read more...] about What Is Holding the SBC Back?

I plan to devote the next several days to activities that do not involve blogging.  May get back to it Monday or Tuesday.  If someone else writes something, I'll try to post it. But let's go home, get comfy and wait for CB Scott to deliver presents to all the good boys and girls! Seriously, Celebrate Jesus! … [Read more...] about Merry Christmas!

There was a father who loved his children very much and he was willing to do whatever it took to make them happy.  If they wanted something, he got it – nothing was too good or too expensive for his son and his daughter. But no matter what he did, his children were not truly happy.  Christmas was coming, but still his children had no joy.  They complained and whined.  They fought and called names. The father sat in his easy chair one evening, thinking. Why can’t my children be happy?   I have given them everything they could possibly want.  What more can I do?  Suddenly, a thought … [Read more...] about The Perfect Gift: A Children’s Story

(Editor's Note:  I came on Anthony Russo's blog a while back and was impressed with his writing.  His last post was about Burger King and McDonald's, and Calvinism - all juicy subjects.  This one is important for every one of us who has a computer - as since this is a blog, that is ALL of us!) Death by double-click.  It's that easy.  For millions of us the internet is a necessity of daily living, like our car, our credit card, or cell phone.  We may joke that those things are “necessary evils”, and maybe they are, but not in the same way the internet is.  Our cars don’t throw provocative … [Read more...] about (At Least) 9 Ways to Stay Pure on the Internet

Do you ever find yourself wondering at Christmastime, “What’s it all about?”  Why do I go through all of this?  Why do I brave the insane crowds at the mall, or the traffic on the streets?  Your schedule is so busy that there is little time to enjoy the season.  There are concerts and parties and gatherings galore.  Is it really worth it? I want to affirm that there is something worth celebrating during this season.  There is more to it than decorations and presents and trees.  There’s certainly more than egg nog or fruitcake (that stuff is disgusting).  And there is way more than Santa and … [Read more...] about Don’t Celebrate Christmas. Celebrate Christ!