SBC Issues

People sometimes declare themselves to be 4 point Calvinists, or 3 1/2 point Calvinists. I'll describe myself as a 4 point Jurkovichist. That is, I'll fully take three of Jurkovich's five points listed under "our purpose" and half of two others making me a four-pointer. Shoot, I'd join the group but you have to give assent, check a box, about "affirming" the CBN purpose. At this stage in life, I'm all for capital preservation, not wild risk-taking and I'd hate to be tied to every statement that comes out of Brad Jurkovich's mouth. He is the only leader of this group at this stage. Plaudits … [Read more...] about I don’t think I’ll join Brad Jurkovich’s secret group with undisclosed funding

Each year, Southern Baptists gather before the annual meeting for the SBC Pastor’s Conference. During this time, Baptists are treated to some of the best preaching the convention (and often, the larger evangelical world) has to offer. This week, Baptist Press released the speaker list for the 2020 SBC Pastor’s Conference scheduled in Orlando. But before considering the list of names published in Baptist Press, I think it’s worth considering that which is most-needed by the convention family during this time. Our Southern Baptist family is not well. We are wounded. For some, the reports … [Read more...] about Like a Broken Cup and Superglue (Dr. David Norman)

Those of us who follow these things have probably thought that abuse victims and their advocates are in a perpetual state of anger at "the SBC." Two abuse victims wrote here that "There is a tipping point, though, at which genuine advocacy slips into routine outrage..." I thought that to be a cogent statement at the time...but then, cases keep coming forward. There are a number of abuse stories involving the SBC that feature megachurches, celebrity pastors, and notorious cases that are years, decades old. The SBC is a convention of small churches. USA Today has a lengthy story on a small … [Read more...] about Perhaps this is why abuse victims and their advocates always seem to be spittin’ mad at the SBC

Another new Baptist network has formed, purporting to represent the grassroots majority of Baptists who have been disenfranchised somehow (since all our meetings allow open voting) that is going to lead us away from a drift into "woke" theology and liberalism. The networks have formed - some made a big splash and others barely a ripple - and generally faded away. What will happen to the "Conservative Baptist Network" announced today is yet to be seen. The network is a little nebulous at this point, still revealing itself, its structure and leadership, its purposes and tactics. Who knows … [Read more...] about Conservative Baptist Network: Reflections

The best conservative Baptist network that I'm aware of is the Southern Baptist Convention. The SBC is a network of over 50,000 cooperating churches and church-type missions spread all across the United States. These like-minded churches cooperate together primarily for missions and theological education under the banner of a shared statement of faith known as The Baptist Faith & Message. As I teach prospective members in our church's new member class, you couldn't always refer to the Southern Baptist Convention as a conservative Baptist network. There was a time when we had professors … [Read more...] about The Conservative Baptist Network

The Pastor's Conference is the largest and easiest target around. Make all SBCers happy? Sort of like making all of your church members happy. Not a snowflake's chance in Gehenna of that. Back when Adrian Rogers would always close the Pastor's Conference it was a thrilling event indeed. Not so much now. Dave Miller and his gang had the last, best PC. It was innovative, focused on the ordinary SBC pastor rather than celebrities, an authentic grassroots enterprise. It was that PC, one should remember, that actually took money and gave it to a number of pastors who couldn't afford to attend … [Read more...] about Is it worth it? SBC resolutions and SBC Pastor’s Conference

If Randy Adams is elected SBC president this June he will make some history in a couple of ways. It's been a long time since a state convention CEO was elected president of the SBC, maybe never (I'll let some SBC history person fact check me on that). I'm certain that we haven't had a non-celebrity, non-megapastor as SBC president since the 1970s. Adams would be both of those. His only announced opponent, Al Mohler, is a first order SBC celebrity. Either way the election goes, we will have a denominational employee as SBC president. This isn't an issue for me, since his power is … [Read more...] about Randy Adams will make history if elected SBC president

At our church, our staff has discussed what to do about the Sunday evening service. Since I’ve been a member here, we’ve not succeeded in attracting many attenders to the evening service. Our church is a traditional, small-town church in Texas. The church has always held a Sunday night service. Last summer our church staff decided to give the evening service one more try. So, we’ve had Sunday evening services from 5:00-6:00 p.m. I serve as the teaching pastor, and I’ve preached a series of sermons on What Baptists Believe. What more could people want? Nevertheless, we only draw 50-60 people. … [Read more...] about What about Sunday Night Services?

"Near nakedness," you say? "Indecent!" "Not family entertainment!" ...I read in the indignant tweets. Shocking! At a Super Bowl! No wardrobe malfunction, just the wardrobe or lack thereof? I'm a bit flummoxed by all the furrowed brows and pious sniffs over this. I will state that your humble hacker and plodder blogger did not watch one moment, not one nanosecond, of the Super Bowl halftime show. I wouldn't know Shakira from sriracha. I'm told they are both, uh, hot. I watched exactly two plays of the game itself. Big deal. Congrats Chiefs. I'm happy as long as the Pats aren't … [Read more...] about Decadent entertainment, our culture, and the Bible

I spent an hour on the phone yesterday with a kid who grew up in one of my previous churches. I have to be vague because he now works in a high-security Muslim country where it is illegal to share Christ. I was absolutely amazed at what God was doing through him and others in nations that we consider our enemies and which are often seen as closed to the gospel. For lack of time, I will simply give you a list of reactions to our conversation. 1. Don't give up on those annoying kids you minister to at church. Many moons ago, I did Bible drill with preteens on Sunday night before the service. … [Read more...] about An Unprecedented Opportunity among Muslims