The cultural war over Confederate statues, monuments, and naming colleges, buildings, and other memorabilia after slave masters – is not simply cultural warfare – it is also spiritual warfare. Spiritual warfare is an eternal and cosmic conflict between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. It is also a conflict or battle between Baptist orthodoxy and Baptist heterodoxy. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary was founded in 1859 at Greenville, South Carolina. After being closed during the civil war, it moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1877. President Al Mohler acknowledges that … [Read more...] about Baptist Orthodoxy vs Baptist Heterodoxy: Faith and Fruit Are Inseparable Regarding SBTS Founders (Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr)
SBC Issues
On the pastor having a good reputation in the community
Jay Adkins, occasional contributor here, was honored with an award as Citizen of the Year in his lovely town, Westwego, Louisiana. Well-deserved. Jay is the goateed guy on the left. Some of the pastors I looked up to were of the school where the pastor was not only to represent God in the community but, seemingly, was to make himself odious in the community, since the world is going to Hell and he, alone, is there to fight sin and the devil. Others preferred to be ensconced in their paneled study, alone with the Almighty like Moses, and without the time to mix and mingle with ordinary … [Read more...] about On the pastor having a good reputation in the community
Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Abortion Restrictions
Quick thoughts on today’s Supreme Court decision striking down abortion restrictions (requiring doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospital): First and foremost I’m saddened by the result of this ruling. As someone strongly pro-life, I want every baby given an equal chance at life, and I believe that should be legally guaranteed. Many pro life states have tried to place restrictions on abortion that will pass judicial scrutiny while the pro life movement hopes for the eventual reversal of Roe v. Wade. This tactic has achieved varying levels of success, depending on the … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Abortion Restrictions
Our Response to the SBC Executive Committee’s Statement
Earlier this week, we published How the Conservative Baptist Network took control of the Executive Committee. Yesterday the Executive Committee officers released a statement disputing its interpretation of the facts. Since that statement was released in Baptist Press, there have been calls on social media for SBC Voices to remove the article and issue an apology. After reading the statement from the Executive Committee, we stand by the concerns stated in our article and others we've published. Some have said that the Executive Committee statement proves the article is untrue. The Executive … [Read more...] about Our Response to the SBC Executive Committee’s Statement
Letter to SBC Leaders June 4, 2020 (Rick Armstrong)
Dear SBC Leaders, I recently read your joint statement addressing the death of George Floyd. Calling for the end of racial inequality in how America distributes justice to African American men and boys is appreciated. Unfortunately, your statement is simply not enough. After we have cried out to God in prayer against racial evil and you have posted a statement advocating justice for all Americans, regardless of race or economic considerations, there are some things that the SBC must do to make our Convention better. Who am I that I should be listened to on this matter? I am a Black man, … [Read more...] about Letter to SBC Leaders June 4, 2020 (Rick Armstrong)
The future SBC is more ethnic minority and less white
I don't know if any SBC leader would dispute the title here and I appreciate the timely article from Baptist Press on the subject. I've been looking for it: Southern Baptists report growth among ethnic minorities despite declines in broader SBC Minority ethnic fellowships comprised 22.3 percent of the 51,538 Southern Baptist congregations included in the report regarding 2018, the most recent year studied, using data from LifeWay Research and the North American Mission Board (NAMB). This isn't news in a sense. NAMB has long been active and aggressive in this area, as have many state … [Read more...] about The future SBC is more ethnic minority and less white
The Long History of Baptists and Division (Luke Holmes)
It’s impossible to study about Baptists without talking about division. The old joke that if you ask 4 Baptists you will get 5 opinions seems remarkably true to anyone who’s spent much time around a group of Baptists. As long as there have been baptists there have been splinter groups of Baptists, but some take on different forms than others. The earliest Baptists were themselves an off split of other groups of Protestants. Men like Roger Smyth, John Spilsbury, and others were some of the earliest Baptist leaders. In England, Baptists were split into Particular Baptists and General … [Read more...] about The Long History of Baptists and Division (Luke Holmes)
How the Conservative Baptist Network Took Control of the Executive Committee
It’s a foregone conclusion that the Conservative Baptist Network (CBN) is more than “just another network.” Its own Steering Council members say so. Jim Gregory,[1] went as far as to say, “Get out of our way or get run over.”[2] The reason many are confused is because the CBN’s messaging is often double-minded. For example, CBN Steering Council member Rod Martin in an interview with The Alabama Baptist described the organization as just “a group of Baptists acting together to advance the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.”[3] In other comments, however, Steering Council members said the … [Read more...] about How the Conservative Baptist Network Took Control of the Executive Committee
What Father’s Day Means to Me (Stephan Scott)
Stephan's bio appears below, but he is the son of our friend, Dr. CB Scott. This article appeared originally in Focus on the Family and is republished with permission. Father’s Day is to me is about being thankful to the men in our lives who take on the responsibility and obligations of guiding us through life. Most of the time, taking that responsibility begins at the birth of their child. But, sometimes God gives children their father through other paths. When a man becomes a father, he takes on new obligations and expectations. I do not know this from … [Read more...] about What Father’s Day Means to Me (Stephan Scott)
Have a meeting. Show up in person. Vote.
I'll be glad when we are back to having mass meetings, as in the SBC Annual Meeting. I like the idea of having a real meeting rather than an online one. The moderator or chair ought to have to face real faces. Holding the SBC Annual Meeting either online as a virtual meeting or at various satellite locations is not an option under the SBC's governing documents. May it ever be so. Although annual meetings have been live-streamed for years, the SBC's governing documents require all business conducted at the Annual Meeting be done by "messengers present and voting in person." The COVID-19 … [Read more...] about Have a meeting. Show up in person. Vote.