This compelling work, led by Jarvis Williams and Kevin Jones, including input from Al Mohler, Walter Strickland, Kevin Smith, Dwight McKissic, and others, is not a book merely to be glanced at like passing a curious situation alongside the highway as you speed by at 65 miles an hour. We must not give mere token acknowledgement to this issue simply because the media highlights a specific circumstance in the ever transitioning news cycle. Ethnic tensions, systemic racism, and latent prejudices remind us of the deep darkness of sin that is always around us. We cry out as Paul did in Scripture … [Read more...] about REVIEW: Removing the Stain of Racism from the Southern Baptist Convention
Why Don’t “Dreamers” Just Get Legal?
"Why Don't Dreamers Just Get Legal?" I hear this question a lot. It often comes from those opposed to legislation benefitting young Immigrant Dreamers who were brought here illegally as children. The insinuation (sometimes blatantly), is that if the Dreamers are too careless, lazy, and unconcerned to apply for legal status and citizenship after all this time, then why should we help them now? The question really doesn't make sense, but I've seen many use it as a "gotcha" type question, as though no one ever thought, "Hmmm, why don't I just go to the Post Office and apply for legal residency … [Read more...] about Why Don’t “Dreamers” Just Get Legal?
And THIS Is Family Values?
Don't you love those reunion videos, where soldiers return home from war and are reunited with their families - everyone hugging and crying? This is not one of those videos. It is a man being torn away from his wife and two children and sent to his parent's homeland, one that is foreign to him. It is a mark of shame against the justice system of the USA. It is heart-breaking and disgusting - that this would happen in America? Too old for DACA, man who spent 30 years of his life in US is deported. Jorge Garcia was 10 years old when his parents brought him to the US. He is now … [Read more...] about And THIS Is Family Values?
Reflections on Dr. King’s Quotes (Dr. C.B. Scott)
Due to yesterday being the MLK holiday, I have been reading some of his quotes. One quote that grabbed my interest was: 1). "We don't have a shortage of preachers who can preach with the best of them; we have a shortage of preachers who are in tune with the least of them." For me to "preach with the best of them" is of little importance to broken and hurting people who need the gospel to come alive in their souls. If my desire is to "preach with the best of them," that is a desire saturated in vanity and pride. I must not let this sin occur in my life. I must preach the gospel and … [Read more...] about Reflections on Dr. King’s Quotes (Dr. C.B. Scott)
Before the #metoo moment: Act NOW to address sexual assault in your church
At this moment in our culture, the sin of sexual assault and abuse and our culture’s failure to address it is being brought to light. Each day we hear another story of past abuse as women come forward to tell their story – "it happened to #metoo." The religious community is not immune to this moment, as God uncovers the hidden sin of sexual abuse and assault in the church. It happens in the #churchtoo! Women are courageously telling their story of abuse and how the church failed to address it, often enabling the abuser and silencing the victim. If there is sexual assault and abuse in the … [Read more...] about Before the #metoo moment: Act NOW to address sexual assault in your church
Would You Have Stood With Dr. King? Or Been Silent?
Monday is the day we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King's life and legacy. I thought I'd post a section of his writings. An excerpt from "A Letter From the Birmingham Jail" But despite these notable exceptions, I must honestly reiterate that I have been disappointed with the church. I do not say this as one of those negative critics who can always find something wrong with the church. I say this as a minister of the gospel, who loves the church; who was nurtured in its bosom; who has been sustained by its spiritual blessings and who will remain true to it as long as the cord of life shall … [Read more...] about Would You Have Stood With Dr. King? Or Been Silent?
A Word about Comments and Moderation (and Grumpiness)
I have been running SBC Voices now since my birthday in 2010. I've written 1276 posts, 13,596 comments (not counting the ones I've trashed) and I've seen this thing grow far beyond what I imagined. I have also sinned more times than I care to recount - losing my cool in the heat of blog discussions! There is no doubt that I am a different man than I was 10 years ago when I was invited to write for sbcIMPACT, or nearly 8 years ago when I started with this enterprise. I think I am wiser, but I'm also less patient with certain things. I don't put up with things I used to put up with. Is that … [Read more...] about A Word about Comments and Moderation (and Grumpiness)
Andy Savage, Sexual Assault, and the Church
Let’s keep talking about sexual assault. We must. The problem is pervasive. It is not just Hollywood. It is not just Washington, DC. It’s the church too. Hence the #churchtoo hashtag on Twitter. While I maintain my point from my article on Monday, that only the church has the answer to a culture that lacks any concept of sexual morality, the reality is that the church has far too often been part of the problem. I had never heard of Andy Savage until late last week when Jules Woodson came forward and I began to see links to her story on Twitter. I read in horror. Ms. Woodson was … [Read more...] about Andy Savage, Sexual Assault, and the Church
Hollywood, Sexual Assault, and Last Night’s Golden Globes
Last night was the Golden Globe Awards. I am of all men the least qualified to opine on the worthiness of the winners. I have no list of losers who were robbed. I don't even know who the winners and losers were. I haven't looked. Truth be told, as I scanned the nominees for the various categories, I recognized very few of the names and have not seen the vast majority of the movies. My wife loves moves. Me? Not so much. The movie better have a great story line with lots of drama and suspense if it is going to maintain my attention past an hour and a half. I find that most movies are … [Read more...] about Hollywood, Sexual Assault, and Last Night’s Golden Globes
Reflections on the Advent of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship (Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.)
A BRIEF AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL REFLECTION REGARDING THE ADVENT OF THE FULL GOSPEL BAPTIST CHURCH FELLOWSHIP By Wm. Dwight Mckissic, Sr. Dr. Doug Weaver, Professor of Religion and Director of Undergraduate Studies at Baylor University, recently asked me to share some insights/reflections that I hold regarding The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. Dr. Weaver is writing a book on The Holy Spirit in Baptist Church Life, and my reflections would simply be a part of his back-story research/information gathering. I found his request delightful, after having enjoyed a meal with him and some … [Read more...] about Reflections on the Advent of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship (Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.)