WILL LEE DANIELS, BISHOP YVETTE FLUNDER AND DR. FORREST HARRIS CONVINCE THE BLACK CHURCH/COMMUNITY TO AFFIRM HOMOSEXUALITY? ORTHODOX CHURCHES MUST ADDRESS AND ADJUST TO THE NEW REALITY OF A GAY AFFIRMING AMERICA By William Dwight McKissic, Sr. April 1, 2015 Most churches in America were birthed in an era when consensual sex between two persons of the same sex was a criminal offense; same-sex marriage was illegal; and homosexuality was viewed as deviant behavior. Until 1974, the American Psychiatric Association literally classified homosexuality as a mental illness. The old adage is true; … [Read more...] about The Bible-Believing Church in Gay-Affirming America (Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr.)
Remembering who you are…
1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. ~ Romans 6:1-4 In Romans 4-6, Paul keyed on the realities of salvation by grace through faith. Pointing back to both Abraham and David, Paul taught that no matter who you are, Jew or … [Read more...] about Remembering who you are…
General Thoughts On Reading Part 1
I often am asked questions regarding reading, whether it be types of books, formats and mediums of reading and various other type questions. After a few recent conversations about reading, I thought I would give a quick list of thoughts I have on reading and maybe one day soon give some deeper thoughts on the subject. For now, let this suffice: 1. I prefer to read books much more than blogs. Some blogs and websites are much more helpful than many books out there, but the medium of blogging I don’t find very helpful. The content moves quicker, isn’t long lasting and doesn’t give precedence … [Read more...] about General Thoughts On Reading Part 1
America: Where We Deliberately Allow Freedoms to Be Abused
People burn American flags. That's despicable. The Ku Klux Klan holds a meeting. Every time that happens, it makes our society weaker and darker. William Randolph Hearst was able to use his newspaper empire to plunge our nation into the Spanish-American War. What an abuse of power! This parade of horribles represents the price we pay for having a First Amendment. We all know that Freedom of Speech is something that people abuse. We all know that Freedom of Assembly is something that people abuse. We all know that Freedom of the Press is something that people abuse. We consistently … [Read more...] about America: Where We Deliberately Allow Freedoms to Be Abused
Jesus prayed… (a meditation for Good Friday and Easter)
As we approach April, we come to the time of year that we remember and celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the hope we have in this life and for eternity because of it. In John 17, we find a prayer of Jesus just before he was arrested, tried, and crucified. As we think about this time of year, may we reflect on his prayer and how it should shape our prayers. Jesus prayed for four things in particular. First, he prayed for the glory of God (17:1-5). Specifically, he prayed that the Father would be glorified as the son would be glorified in the hour that had come. This hour was … [Read more...] about Jesus prayed… (a meditation for Good Friday and Easter)
The “ideal” Cooperative Program division between state and national
Our venerable Cooperative Program now in its tenth decade and while somewhat diminished in percentages and sums from earlier times, is still a mammoth funding engine without which the SBC at the state convention and national levels would be unrecognizable. In my several decades of pastoral hacking and plodding in the SBC hinterlands I have concluded that almost all laypeople and many, perhaps most, pastors lack the most basic understanding of the CP, that is, that it is mostly a state convention program, and that most of the money given by churches in a particular state … [Read more...] about The “ideal” Cooperative Program division between state and national
A Plea at the Premiere of Presidential Politicking
Ted Cruz has announced his candidacy for the Presidency of the United States of America. And thus has begun both the 2016 campaign and the quadrennial Southern Baptist navigation of it. The 2012 election was a traumatic one for me. Democrats ran the incumbent president with the worst record on religious-liberty issues in the history of the country. Republicans ran not an elephant but a RINO. This I might have tolerated, but for the fact that we also watched as Christian organizations willfully subjugated what they believed about Heaven-and-Hell issues to serve what they believed about … [Read more...] about A Plea at the Premiere of Presidential Politicking
An Open Letter to Dr. Forrest Harris and Dr. Marvin McMickle (Dr. John H. Grant)
An Open Letter Response to American Baptist College President Dr. Forrest Harris And Colgate Rochester Crozer President Dr. Marvin A. McMickle By Rev. Dr. John H. Grant, D. Min., Pastor Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Asheville, NC March 27, 2015 I am affiliated with the National Baptist Fellowship of Concerned Pastors and endorsed a recent letter objecting to same-sex marriage advocates Bishop Yvette Flunder, Dr. Delmen Coates and Dr. Allan Boesak being invited to preach at our American Baptist College in Nashville. If we concerned pastors are guilty of “idolatry of … [Read more...] about An Open Letter to Dr. Forrest Harris and Dr. Marvin McMickle (Dr. John H. Grant)
Thabiti Anyabwile – The Image of God and Racial Reconciliation: A Biblical Theology of Kingdom Diversity
Genesis 1We need a robust doctrine of the image of God (Trillia Newbell). 1. The Original Creation. What does it mean that we are made in the image of Good. Gen 1:26-27 In our image after our likeness. What exactly does "image" mean? Dominion? Communicable characteristics of God? Love? Focus here on the basics. *It sets us apart from all of the rest of God's creation. We are priceless and irreplaceable. By God's design we reflect God's image. Male and female and whatever skin color. Gender is a DIVINE construct. CS Lewis. There are no ordinary people. You have … [Read more...] about Thabiti Anyabwile – The Image of God and Racial Reconciliation: A Biblical Theology of Kingdom Diversity
Trip Lee – Rise: Calling the Next Generation to Racial Reconciliation
Obstacles1. Many millennialist believe that racism is a problem of a generation gone by. but we are not post-racial. It's more subtle, but it's still central. Sneakier. 2. Belief that social media activity is enough. If I put a few things up on social media - a few retweets and posts - I've done my thing. We must actually change how we worship, how we live. 3. Many don't believe that God's Word is sufficient. As if preaching is irrelevant. Solutions - Only the gospel produces the kind of unity we are after. 1. Preach the gospel of unity. The gospel of Christ … [Read more...] about Trip Lee – Rise: Calling the Next Generation to Racial Reconciliation