Do you know how many people the Southern Baptist Convention baptized last year? I am guessing that in this knowledgeable, astute group, most know the correct answer. ZERO. Churches baptize. Conventions don't. We are a convention of independent churches who fellowship and cooperate to do Great Commission work together. The work that matters most in our convention does not take place in Nashville or Alpharetta or Richmond but in churches across North America. Our churches – big and little, old and new, traditionalist and trendy, young and hip or old and stodgy – that is where the rubber … [Read more...] about The Nationalization of the SBC: Challenging Convention Orthodoxy
The Importance of Networking for the Pastor’s Wife (Leigh Powers)
A new study from LifeWay Research indicates that while most pastor’s wives (PWs) love the ministry, loneliness and isolation are also part of their experience. It’s not a surprising finding. My answers to the survey questions would have been in line with most of the answers given by the respondents. And their answers line up with what I’ve heard from many ministry wives over the years. We love our husbands. We love our families. We love our churches. But church conflict, life in the fishbowl, and the pace and pressures of ministry take a toll. When ministry life gets hard, we have few people … [Read more...] about The Importance of Networking for the Pastor’s Wife (Leigh Powers)
Baptist in the Spirit, Part 3: The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
I began this series before I headed to Africa. I brought some kind of bacterial infection home (at first, we thought it might be malaria, then a parasite, now the thinking is a bacterial infection) that gave me a pretty miserable week, which I will not describe. I hope to get back to writing a couple of these a week. The Holy Spirit did not suddenly appear in a blaze of glory on Pentecost, baptizing believers and filling them for the grand task Jesus had given them. He has always been active among the people of God since he hovered over the face of the deep as God was creating the … [Read more...] about Baptist in the Spirit, Part 3: The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Is God Judging America?
I hear there is another hurricane brewing in the Atlantic. That means there will also be another bevy of voices pronouncing God’s judgment on this sinful nation. It happens every time there’s a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, snowpocalypse, or any other natural or man-made disaster. Some Christian identifies it either as a fulfillment of prophecy or an outpouring of God’s wrath against our manifold sin. Of course, many scoff at such an idea. A God of love in an age of grace would never send a hurricane to hurt good, innocent people. He is a God who loves, blesses, and encourages. He does … [Read more...] about Is God Judging America?
Our IMB and conservative fiscal management
The IMB's report of their recent trustee meeting included information about their budget for the coming fiscal year, October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. The total budget is $262 million. The Board's budget is by far the largest of all Southern Baptist entities and is slightly more than the combined totals of all six seminaries plus NAMB. My grandson would call it "ginormous" if it was on his radar. The budget is described as "balanced" and "conservative," terms that should assuage all Southern Baptists who drop their hard-earned money in the offering plates Sunday after Sunday to … [Read more...] about Our IMB and conservative fiscal management
A post-Labor Day SBC smorgasbord
My church had a big anniversary celebration this past Sunday. In what was likely the SBC culinary outrage of the year, there was not a single piece of fried chicken available but there was plenty of bbq. Here's a smorgasbord of SBC items of interest: Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is going full bore in response to the two big hurricanes that have hit the US. This is one of the best things we do cooperatively. While we do not minister in this way for the public credit that follows, it would be beneficial if we had a better publicity system. There is an SBCDR Facebook page. NAMB has a … [Read more...] about A post-Labor Day SBC smorgasbord
Tell Your 9/11 Story
I am back from Africa with a souvenir virus/bacteria/parasite that my doctor will try to ID today. I hope to add some real stuff soon. But I was reading social media posts where people were giving their 9/11 stories. I remember exactly what I was doing when I heard about JFK. On September 11, 2001, i had a pastors' meeting in my home. Awaiting their arrival I flipped on the TV at the moment the second plane hit the tower on live TV. America has never been the same. Share your stories, thoughts, feelings. … [Read more...] about Tell Your 9/11 Story
DACA Revoked, DREAMers Face Deportation. Will Southern Baptist Pastors/Churches Speak On Their Behalf?
DACA has been revoked with a 6 month hiatus. Congress can address this if they want to. It is their job to address this legislatively. So, here's the deal: Evangelicals can speak on behalf of Immigrant DREAMers (those brought here illegally as children) and ask Congress to pass legislation to allow them to stay legally, or, We can do nothing, sit back, say it isn't our problem, and whatever happens happens. If we do that, then DREAMers will lose their protection, lose their jobs, not be able to go to school, and will be eventually deported. Those are the choices before us. Dr. … [Read more...] about DACA Revoked, DREAMers Face Deportation. Will Southern Baptist Pastors/Churches Speak On Their Behalf?
Baptist in the Spirit, Part 2: Overview
We Baptists have some genuine strengths. We tend to love and (in theory, at least) be moored to the word of God. We have programs, curricula, and ministry resources that are unmatched in the denominational or parachurch world. Our Sunday Schools, VBS ministries, youth and discipleship ministries are used even by other denominations. In spite of our statistical woes, we still love the Gospel, the word, and we still preach Christ crucified. Of course, there is the Cooperative program and a sterling worldwide missions program. But the Holy Spirit? Him, we struggle with. We don’t like to admit … [Read more...] about Baptist in the Spirit, Part 2: Overview
Natural Disasters, God’s Judgment, and Our Response
My heart has been breaking over the scenes that have come out of Houston and the surrounding areas in Southeast Texas from Hurricane Harvey. I've kept up with friends there on social media and have prayed as flood waters have risen around their neighborhoods. I praise God for the thousands of rescuers, volunteers, and regular citizens who are helping their neighbors. And, I am incredibly grateful for those who responded quickly to people in need and didn't pontificate over whether or not Hurricane Harvey was God's judgment on Texas. I remember standing in front of a crowd of tired, hot, … [Read more...] about Natural Disasters, God’s Judgment, and Our Response