SBC Voices

The Consequences of Evil…and Social Media

by

I am not an expert in the history of War, but I’ve read articles that said that Hitler had every chance to win World War II, if not for his own bizarre choices. Most criminals who get caught do so because of their hubris, foolishness, and self-destructive choices. Self-immolation is inherent in the nature of sin. The arrogance of turning against the will and ways of Almighty God brings with it a natural outcome. Sin is spiritual suicide and will always bring both God’s active judgment and natural consequences. “Be sure your sin will find you out.” That principle applies to the interactions … [Read more...] about The Consequences of Evil…and Social Media

The EC tackles the question of ‘What is a pastor?’ The Question breaks the tackle, runs for gain.

by

Bottom line right here at the top: I don't see the SBC solving this issue. I commend the SBC Executive Committee and Baptist Press for attempting to clarify or at least give some background on a current controversial issue among us: What is a pastor?  Praise to Jonathan Howe (EC VP for communications), EC Asso. VP for convention news Brandon Porter, and BP national correspondent Scott Barkley for the latest issue of the slick EC publication SBC Life which is mailed to me three times each year. All of the articles are accessible online at SBCLIFE.NET. [The publication is "slick," my term for … [Read more...] about The EC tackles the question of ‘What is a pastor?’ The Question breaks the tackle, runs for gain.

Jon Whitehead’s six ideas for the SBC Executive Committee

by

The SBC Executive Committee is looking for a CEO and lawyer Jonathan Whitehead put his name in for the job. He got a call from the EC that he wouldn't be interviewed. I doubt it will assuage his supporters but I will not be considered and I didn't even get a courtesy phone call. I've never met Jon but we have swapped a few tweets and comments. I'd call him laconic in his interactions with me, but then so is everyone else on Twitter who doesn't want to write a book in a gazillion tweet thread. I rather like Jon, partly because I have an affection for solid Baptists who are disrupters, who … [Read more...] about Jon Whitehead’s six ideas for the SBC Executive Committee

Lottie Moon over $200 million

by

I wrote an article back in 2016, Before We Get Sidetracked, Let's Celebrate Lottie Moon's Big Year. The year was 2016 and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering reached $165 million and was up for the year by almost $13 million. That was pretty impressive. I referenced (on my old blog SBCPlodder) in that article Lottie Moon's Phenomenal Year. That year was 2003 and the offering was over $136 million. What was astonishing about that year was that Lottie was up over $21 million from the previous year, an impressive 18 percent increase. Those were the days of old when bold Southern Baptists … [Read more...] about Lottie Moon over $200 million

Destined for repeated disasters?

by

For the record: I'm solidly, consistently, permanently SBC with zero interest in departing our beloved convention of churches nor being a part of any church that is not SBC. I'd make an exception if I lived in some remote place in Nebraska, Maine, or Nevada that didn't have an SBC church (I'd have a house church but my wonderful wife might get tired of hearing my sermons). I'll be "SBC dead" in 14 years and 5 months although I recognize that the Almighty doesn't consult actuarial tables. In September of 2022 I like some things about the SBC: IMB, our true crown jewel and flagship … [Read more...] about Destined for repeated disasters?

It’s Official: Greenway Has Resigned

by

After some serious whiplash today, it has become official. Dr. Adam Greenway has resigned at SWBTS. It appears that both of the "sources" we reported were accurate to an extent. Mark Wingfield had his facts essentially in order but the reports that the resignation was a done deal were a bit premature. We have suspected since this morning that this would happen but that certain details were being finalized. Anyone who speaks to the "why" of all this is spreading rumors. I think it is safe to say that no one knows at this point. … [Read more...] about It’s Official: Greenway Has Resigned

A Word about a Confusing News Day

by

I am in Cincinnati today and awoke to news from Baptist News Global that Dr. Greenway had resigned. I trust Mark Wingfield as a reporter, though I seldom agree with the opinions of BNG. The story was also being widely disseminated on social media. We report on stories here but generally do not break them. I reported this one with a link to BNG. Again, I consider them a reliable source. I was contacted by another source, authoritative and trusted, who told me that BNG had jumped the gun. Dr. Greenway may still leave SWBTS soon, but I was told it had not happened yet. I also reported … [Read more...] about A Word about a Confusing News Day

BNG Report: Greenway Resigns from Southwestern

by

Baptist News Global has reported that at a trustee meeting,  Dr. Adam Greenway has tendered his resignation after only three and a half years at SWBTS.  According to their report, the issue was financial management. We have enough information to believe this may be an accurate report, though there has been no official announcement or Baptist Press statement. I have appreciated Dr. Greenway's work and respected him. I would be pleased if this turned out to be false but we have every reason to believe it is true.   … [Read more...] about BNG Report: Greenway Resigns from Southwestern

Dr. Mohler’s Growing Political Partisanship

by

Dr. Albert Mohler will have an honored place in SBC history for people like me who lived through the Conservative Resurgence and were pleased to see the tide of our denomination's history turn. I appreciate what he did to restore confessionalism and a more biblical theology at Southern, even if I do not share many of his theological distinctives. I fear his legacy may be tarnished by his recent turn toward a focus on strident political partisanship. Once a noble statesman and a force of unity among us, he is now in danger of being remembered as a divisive political opportunist whose focus … [Read more...] about Dr. Mohler’s Growing Political Partisanship