“But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites. The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.” 2 Chronicles 33:9-10. I’ve been reading a book series lately about the time of the kings. This series covers the reigns of kings Ahaz, Hezekiah and Manasseh and showcases Judah’s flow of destruction to prosperity to destruction. The determining factor of this flow is one simple question: will the king lead the people to do what is right or evil in the sight … [Read more...] about Nickelodeon and the SBC (Selah Illin)
I Agree with Al Mohler – 25 Years Ago
Dr. Al Mohler’s theological evolution on the issue of women in ministry has been a wonder to watch over the last 25 years. Dr. Ken Hemphill pointed it out in his recent article, but as a certified old fogey in the SBC, I’ve watched it happen. When the BF&M 2000 was adopted, Dr. Mohler was clear that we were not adopting an authoritative creed that would seek a stranglehold on the inner workings of local SBC churches, but a broad consensus that defined where conservative Southern Baptists agreed. The Senior Pastors of Southern Baptist Churches would be men. That would be our hard and fast … [Read more...] about I Agree with Al Mohler – 25 Years Ago
Baptist Review’s Presidential Forum 2026
If you are still undecided about your vote for president this year at the SBC, Baptist Review is offering a Presidential Forum at 9 PM on Monday with both candidates, Josh Powell and Willy Rice in attendance. Free tickets are required, at Eventbrite. (NOTE - free). The event is taking place in hall WD1. Check for further information when you get your FREE ticket. This is a great chance to hear from both candidates and educate yourself. Thank you to the Baptist Review for putting this together. … [Read more...] about Baptist Review’s Presidential Forum 2026
The SBC can always be relied upon to make messes messier
Give Mike Law credit. He didn't like his kids to look up and see a woman behind a pulpit so he found out how to fix that. He was straight up about it even though ridiculously zealous and wild eyed. He even admitted that the women (whom he patronizingly called "sisters living in disobedience," as if they were shacked up somewhere) were saved. Neither Lottie Moon nor Bertha Smith would have been amused. He failed but you can count on the misogynists/sexists/chauvinists in the SBC to keep at it. Juan Sanchez failed. Well, he admitted he knew nothing about the deep weeds of amending our … [Read more...] about The SBC can always be relied upon to make messes messier
Gonna nail down this women thing once and for all (or maybe not)
The "Truth and Unity Amendment" sayest the SBC's formerly smartest person, Al Mohler. The truth and unity concerns females in the SBC serving as pastors, overseers, and elders or exhibiting any of the functions of a pastor or an overseer or an elder or preaching to the assembled church or using any other job title such as minister, associate/assistant, shepherd etc. depressingly etc etc. This is the most laughable, cynical, and absurd title applied to any of these recent similar efforts concerning women who serve in SBC churches. The last attempt was by a guy who said he wasn't qualified to … [Read more...] about Gonna nail down this women thing once and for all (or maybe not)
How Do You Rebuild the Reputation of Your Church in the Community?
“How do you rebuild your church’s reputation in the community?” Steve, a pastor in Kentucky, emailed me after my last post. Like me, he had to adjust from church planting where the pastor builds the reputation to leading a church whose reputation is already built. Here is what I told him: I've been here for 5 years in June. Much of what you described for your church is true here. I've actually apologized to some people for how our church treated them. I haven't seen the massive shift in how our community sees us that I hoped to see yet, but we are trying to do consistent, faithful basics … [Read more...] about How Do You Rebuild the Reputation of Your Church in the Community?
The Conservative Resurgence and Southern Baptist Seminary – A Personal Memoir (Dr. Mark Terry)
Most Baptist historians mark the beginning of the Conservative Resurgence in 1979. In that year, the messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting elected conservative pastor Adrian Rogers as president of the SBC. His election came about through careful planning by Paul Pressler and Paige Patterson. In the years leading up to 1979, they developed a strategy to take control of the SBC. The key element in their strategy was to elect conservatives to the presidency of the SBC for many consecutive years. They accomplished this by mobilizing conservative churches to send messengers … [Read more...] about The Conservative Resurgence and Southern Baptist Seminary – A Personal Memoir (Dr. Mark Terry)
Is Anyone Really Still Confused? (Matt Johnson)
As we head into the home stretch leading up to the SBC Annual Meeting, we are once again hearing familiar voices espousing familiar positions that have had familiar results. Baptist Press is once again reporting that one of our entity heads (who seems to have a lot of time on their hands to be running the flagship seminary) is once again bringing the issue of women’s roles in the church to the front and center of a meeting which is supposed to be about missions. The claim states there is still confusion over the role of women. Is there? After expelling some of our most influential churches … [Read more...] about Is Anyone Really Still Confused? (Matt Johnson)
Population Decline and the Future of the SBC
Fifty-four years ago, I sat in Dr. David Garland’s Old Testament Introduction class at Southwestern Seminary. When we came to Genesis 1:28—“be fruitful and multiply,” Dr. Garland declared this was the only biblical commandment that people had consistently obeyed. Well, he spoke the truth fifty years ago, but today birth rates are plunging in all the developed countries. In recent days several articles have appeared on the internet explaining how the low fertility rate in the USA will affect our future as a nation. It seems appropriate to consider the effects on the Southern Baptist Convention … [Read more...] about Population Decline and the Future of the SBC
Varied and Vacuous Opinions & Observations by Dr. Mark Terry, Part 7
On Easter Sunday, I thought back to my years as a pastor. I can guarantee that every pastor has thought/wished this: “Maybe they’ll all come back next Sunday.” Of course, the attendance the next Sunday reverts to the usual level. Still, a pastor can dream. I was sad to learn Steve Gaines passed away on March 20th. He was formerly president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of the famous Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis. I first met Steve at Southwestern Baptist Seminary when we were students in the same PhD seminar. At that time, he was pastoring in Lake Dallas, and he invited … [Read more...] about Varied and Vacuous Opinions & Observations by Dr. Mark Terry, Part 7