SBC Issues

Yesterday, Baptist Press reported that Fred Luter will nominate Alabama pastor Ed Litton for SBC President this summer in Nashville. Litton becomes the third announced nominee along with SBTS president R. Albert Mohler and Georgia pastor Mike Stone. In his announcement, Luter cites his relationship with Litton that grew from pursuing racial reconciliation together, but even more so his shared commitment to evangelism and discipleship. Luter explains, “That’s why I am honored to nominate Ed Litton as the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention. With Ed’s commitment to the Great … [Read more...] about Pastor Ed Litton to be nominated for SBC President

More accurately, both my wife and I are getting the first of the two shots today and it has been a strange journey to get to this spot. The way it has worked here in Georgia, the health departments had the vaccines. You had to go sign up, which, seems to me was a waste of time. I don't know anyone who got a call back. Word of mouth told us that you had to talk to someone which meant holding for hours while the software told you where you were in line ("You are number 54...45...22..." etc.). Several times my wife got down to the single digits ("You are number 6") and then the call was … [Read more...] about I’m getting the COVID vaccine today. Ouch!

The hallmark of our country's governance has always been the peaceful transfer of power. The capitol insurrection was an utter disgrace and the most serious challenge to the transfer of power in our history. (Well, we did have that other insurrection 160 years ago.) Utter disgrace. The more that is know about it the uglier it gets. The profaning of the halls of government. I didn't vote for Joe Biden but I will support him in every way, except in policy decisions where I cannot. He is the legally elected president of our country. It may be considered providential. Deal with it, … [Read more...] about Inauguration this week; prayers for the new administration

Recently, our pastor stated, “Antioch was a great church. I wish our church could be like the church in Antioch.” Of course, he meant the church in Antioch of Syria. (The other one was in Antioch of Pisidia.) His statement caused me to ask myself: What made Antioch such a good church? Clearly, Luke considered the church in Antioch quite important. The first seven chapters of Acts focus on the Jerusalem church, but the following chapters emphasize the ministry of the Antioch church. Antioch became a great church for several reasons. 1. First, it was a multicultural church. Acts 11:19-23 … [Read more...] about What Made Antioch a Great Church?

In 2006, Dr. Jim Richards, the recently retired (2020) executive director of the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention (SBTC), made a startling statement regarding pastors in the SBT—which included me—who believed in the continuation of all the gifts of the Spirit listed in Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and I Peter 4, and their practice in the life of believers and churches today, gifts that are particularly often exercised in private worship. The backdrop of Dr. Richard’s comment was in response to a sermon that I preached in chapel at Southwestern Seminary in August 2006 entitled, … [Read more...] about We Are Getting OFF the Bus (Dwight McKissic)

As a young boy I read a book about the race horse "Man of War." As a small child growing up in the big city, I didn't know anything about horses, and as a baptist I especially didn't know about horse racing.  But the book told me all I needed to know about the infamous horse.  He was incredibly tall at over 16 hands, weighed over 1100 pounds, and ate over 12 quarts of oats everyday.  He was more than just his looks though, as he dominated almost every race he was in.  He won 20 out of 21 races and was named "Athlete of the Year" in 1920, sharing the honor with Babe Ruth.  When he retired to … [Read more...] about In Praise of Plow Horses

The chances aren't at absolute zero for this but are pretty close. But, let's dream and speculate anyhow. ____________ Those who want to take over the SBC will privately gripe and grumble over the delay in their well-laid plans. Those who see themselves as The Lord's SBC Kingmakers will privately fume, since they believe they are doing the Lord's work to orchestrate who gets or doesn't get the top SBC positions. Those who consider themselves experts will declare that the single staff guy is not capable of handling the responsibilities of the office even though the things required … [Read more...] about What would happen if the SBC elected a single staff pastor as president?

It's a Southern Baptist cliche: "We are a convention of small churches." We are indeed. The median SBC church will have 70 souls in average weekly worship attendance  this coming Sunday which means that around 25,000 SBC churches have a pastor who looks out when he preaches at no more than a few dozen hearers. The pastor almost certainly is the only clergy staff member in the church although he may have a part time paid or volunteer music leader, student or children leader. This would be the place where there is a church of people who all know each other. This would be the place where … [Read more...] about The unsung heroes of the SBC: Single staff pastors

I suppose I'm known as a state convention critic, with good reason. All that is for another time. I can recall three times my state convention helped me and my church. Here they are. Volunteer mission trip. Way back when state conventions had formal partnerships with various countries around the world, through IMB and their personnel of course, my state had a partnership with Kenya. Trips were scheduled. State staff led trips. Those who could put together a team led trips, probably with their trip leader expenses paid. I was an average sized church pastor. Neither me nor my church had the … [Read more...] about Three times my state convention helped me greatly

This is the winter of our discontent, our division, our depression, our discouragement. It need not be. After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, Therefore … [Read more...] about A week of edification, encouragement, and affirmation.