I want to say from the outset that I would strongly prefer that no elected politician, candidate, or official speak at the Southern Baptist Convention. I would even go so far as to suggest that the host city send a tourism or chamber of commerce representative to welcome us to their fair city instead of a mayor or councilperson. I hope the SBC exec committee will, as a result of the referred motions regarding this, propose a formal nix going forward of our historic practice of inviting and granting space on the platform and/or on the schedule to elected politicians or candidates for secular … [Read more...] about Mike Pence & the SBC – It’s a Mixed Bag (Dave “Tarheel” Cline)
Politics
#SBC18 Losers
Don't take it personally, but... The AC system. The messengers from the North Pole were quite comfortable. Wise pastors know you can never win the thermostat wars. Just shut up and suffer whether it's too hot or too cold. Paige Patterson. We didn't have to go through all this. I suspect it's not over. Committee on Order of Business. Sure, I get that they were put in an impossible position by Steve Gaines shuffling the VP's self-invitation off to them but when a motion was made that might have uninvited him, the chair had to belt out a sermonette on why it was biblical for the SBC to … [Read more...] about #SBC18 Losers
The SBC Has Not Gone Liberal
In the aftermath of our Annual Meeting and the decisive victories on so many issues facing our Convention, I heard more than one person lament to me that the SBC has gone liberal. I thought about that statement and wanted to offer my thoughts to the contrary. I do so in the hope that these brothers and sisters will join me in the hope for a bright future for our Convention and a change in their thinking about the obvious shift in our approach to politics and what that really means for the SBC. The SBC has not gone liberal. Yes, our approach to politics and to political engagement has … [Read more...] about The SBC Has Not Gone Liberal
Some Observations on Religious Freedom
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released it's annual report on April 18th. If you're interested, you can read the full version here, or the abridged version here. If you're unfamiliar with the work of USCIRF, they are responsible for monitoring the conditions of religious freedom around the globe and submitting reports to the White House, and to the Senate. They also lobby for legislation and other political action related to global religious freedom. In the style of fellow voices contributor William Thornton, I am going to offer my observations of … [Read more...] about Some Observations on Religious Freedom
The Looming Civil War in the SBC? A Response to Lorine Spratt and Others
The recent MLK50 Celebration in Memphis was a phenomenal success: Almost 4000 in attendance; over a million have listened online; 25% of the live audience were minorities, predominately African American; incredibly powerful, persuasive prophetic, biblical and redemptive preaching, teaching, panel discussions, fellowship and networking across racial lines. The most diverse gathering in my 40 years of observing SBC Life, with approximately 1000 Blacks in attendance. The Annual Convention of the SBC has nowhere near that kind of Black attendance. Obviously, with a million listeners online, it has … [Read more...] about The Looming Civil War in the SBC? A Response to Lorine Spratt and Others
Planned Parenthood Continues to Be Fully Funded by Government
A $1.3 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill was passed late last night in the Senate after being passed in the House. It now goes to President Trump for his signature, which is expected. There is a lot to this massive spending bill, but of interest to Evangelicals will surely be the continued funding at almost $500 Million per year of Planned Parenthood, an organization that performs approximately 330,000 abortions per year. A Republican majority House, Senate, and Presidency has no impact on the half a billion dollars a year that goes to Planned Parenthood. This is the second year in a row we … [Read more...] about Planned Parenthood Continues to Be Fully Funded by Government
The Resolutions Committee Report for #SBC17
In years where there is no major issue scheduled for a vote, the report of the Resolutions Committee is one of the things most worth watching. Last year Southern Baptists passed a resolution "On Sensitivity And Unity Regarding The Confederate Battle Flag." It was controversial, but passed with the overwhelming support of the messengers gathered in St. Louis. The 2014 convention in Baltimore included a resolution "On Transgender Identity." While that one was not as controversial among messengers, it did receive some discussion from the floor at that year's convention. This year we have … [Read more...] about The Resolutions Committee Report for #SBC17
You Don’t Have to Buy the Whole Load (by John Wylie)
Twenty-five years ago this month I surrendered to the Gospel ministry. In 1992, what became known as the culture war was in full bloom. In fact, 1992 was the very year that Pat Buchanan gave his well known “culture war” speech at the Republican Convention. I was fully immersed in the idea that conservative politics and orthodox theology were synonymous. Twenty-five years down the road, the John Wylie of today is a bit more complex politically and even in some ways theologically. I have learned that monolithic thinking and uniformity are the enemies of honesty, progress (not liberalism), … [Read more...] about You Don’t Have to Buy the Whole Load (by John Wylie)
Tomorrow I will vote, and I will vote my conscience
Tomorrow is election day, and what a year it has been leading up to this point. If anyone back then had said that the two major candidates would be Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the rest of us would have nodded in agreement to the first prediction and shaken our heads and laughed at the second. Yet here we are. To call this election “contentious”, even among evangelicals, would be an understatement. I think most of us are ready for November 9 so we can see the end of robocalls, political ads on TV, and Facebook posts about how civilization as we know it will come to an end if either … [Read more...] about Tomorrow I will vote, and I will vote my conscience
A grown man in the girl’s restroom
We need to be better spokespersons on the issue of transgenderism. It seems the message from conservatives can be boiled down to one question. I’ve seen it all over Facebook, heard it in conversations, and saw that even Ted Cruz was touting it during his last-ditch effort to stave off a Trump nomination: “Do you want a grown man to follow your little girl into the women’s restroom?” In a world of sound bytes and 140 character limits, it’s not surprising that conservatives have settled on this as the summary representative of their argument, thinking that their position is so obvious that … [Read more...] about A grown man in the girl’s restroom