SBC Voices

This was expected. Same court. Same judge. Too late for me to slog through the decision tonight. I'll let some GuideStone and ERLC people on the payroll do that. ...and have a nice weekend.   … [Read more...] about Housing allowance struck down by federal judge, again

*******'s mother told the AJC they had attempted suicide two years ago and had battled depression for most of their life. This line from a story in my local paper about a sad case, and this is the media phrase for it, of "suicide by cop." An individual was in a confrontation with campus police in which the individual was shot and killed by police. It was national news and you probably read about it. The quote above may logically lead the reader to think that perhaps the mother and father had jointly attempted suicide, or maybe there was a Romeo and Juliette, forlorn, forbidden love … [Read more...] about The strange world of gender

I have revised this because my original question was answered. I am told that the automatic weapons that Paddock had were already illegal and were likely illegally modified. Fine. I am going to take my question one step further. I have heard most of the arguments about the Second Amendment (armed militia, protection against tyranny, etc.) Again, I am not in support of repealing the amendment. I will also admit that since I am not a gun owner, I don't know much about laws as they exist. I do know that this guy had dozens of weapons which he easily adapted to become automatic weapons … [Read more...] about A Revised Question: Trying to Understand the Love of Guns

What do you say on a day like today? Predictably, many are calling for stricter gun control in America - that is a given every time there is a shooting like this. Why does anyone need the firepower to cause this kind of damage? Others will be talking about mental illness. Stephen Paddock must have snapped. His brother says there was absolutely nothing in his life that would have given anyone the idea that he was capable of something like this. What led a man to such unspeakable evil? Someone will point out that our "fifteen minutes of fame" culture has led people to seek to go out … [Read more...] about When the Serpent Rages: Pray for Las Vegas

Joel Rainey is the lead pastor of Covenant Church in Shepherdstown, WV. Yesterday, I officiated at the funeral of a Korean War veteran.  He was 90 years old. When we arrived at the graveside, a young sergeant from the US Army honor guard approached me to beg an indulgence.  He and his fellow honor guard members needed to perform their duties before I spoke, as they had another commitment that evening to bury yet another veteran in our state’s capitol of Charleston—4 hours away.  There is only one proper response to a request for granting honor where it is due.  “Sergeant,” I said, “as far … [Read more...] about Flags, Football, and the Kingdom of God (by Joel Rainey)

Dr. Steve Gaines, President of the Southern Baptist Convention and Dr. Jerry Young, President of the National Baptist Convention are signatories on a letter released September 28, 2017, denouncing the Alt-Right and respectfully calling upon President Trump to speak out against the Alt-Right movement, noting “This movement has escaped your disapproval.” An additional thirty-five well known Pastors, professors and religious leaders have endorsed the letter, including Dr. Tony Evans, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Dr. Danny Akin, Dr. Fred Luter, Dr. J.D. Greear, Dr. Joel Gregory, Dr. John Jenkins, Dr. … [Read more...] about National and Southern Baptists Presidents Unite in Denouncing the Alt-Right, and Signing an Open Letter to President Trump to Do the Same

When one points to the admonitions of 1 Corinthians 13 and other passages that enjoin love, unity, gentleness, and peace, he is often met with disdain. Those who are discerning, theological types find all that hippie-dippie, touchy-feely stuff annoying. Talking about those things evidences a lack of conviction, doctrinal weakness, and perhaps charismatic sympathies! But in the recent national anthem debates raging in sports stadiums across the nation, a microcosm of our racial issues in general, a little bit of that flower child stuff might not be so bad! We have gone to the other extreme, … [Read more...] about Demonization, Empathy, and the National Anthem Debate

It was a terrifying moment, so I did what any self-respecting 21st Century man would do. I picked up my phone and started rolling Live on Facebook. June 29 had been a warm, sunny day, but as the afternoon wore on, ominous clouds gathered and it was clear we were in for a storm. The TV stations began to bark that this might be more than just a normal summer thunder-bumper. Jenni took the grandkids down to the playroom in the basement, the safest room in our home, and Deserai, my daughter-in-law, and I poked our heads out the front door to take a gander. I am told that the experts with all … [Read more...] about Messes to Blessings: Walking by Faith and Not by Sight