I’ll go with just these three, mainly because I didn’t keep a record all year. There is a tipping point, though, at which genuine advocacy slips into routine outrage, especially regarding a large and lumbering religious system that has managed to ride by most cultural reforms on the backs of those who have preserved a […]
Notable SBC deaths of 2019
Bill Tolar, December 29, 2018 (late year death not reported until early 2019). Longtime SWBTS professor. Rick Stanley, January 7. Step-brother to Elvis and evangelist. Jimmy Allen, January 9. Last of the moderate SBC presidents, 1977-1978. His successor was Adrian Rogers. The changeover was permanent. One of the most energetic and capable SBC presidents. A […]
Top Ten Voices Articles for 2019
These are in order from the most popular. Doctrinal Concerns of Southwest Baptist University Alumni. SWBU Alumni. This and the one below were of intense local interest. Not on my radar and not of much impact to the SBC as a whole. This follow-up article added to the controversy but was not as well read […]
Will this be the Last Christmas for Syrian Christians?
Guest Post by Dr. Eric Costanzo, pastor, South Tulsa Baptist Church. In Syria, this may be the last Christmas for Christian communities who’ve been there since the first century. If the U.S. fails to act, ancient Christian communities dating back to the Book of Acts might soon be deserted. Since the first mission movements of […]
SEBTS is to mission sending as Detroit is to the auto industry
The great automobile companies have historically been in the Detroit area. There’s no good reason for that, seems to me. It’s cold up there. But the big company plants are there, along with scads of ancillary manufacturers, services, and the like. Detroit isn’t the Motor City for nothing. The area functioned as a magnet for […]
Finally! Winter Solstice is here
That’s right. At 11:19 PM Eastern is the moment the the sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky. OK, genius, you explain how the sun is at it’s lowest when it’s dark outside. It’s an astronomical thing and SBCers don’t do astronomical things well, excepting perhaps megapastor salaries. Being a keen […]
Top SBC News of 2019, Part Two
To tidy up and finish my list. Add these four and you get twelve, a good Bible number. Forsuchatimeasthis rally in Birmingham. It was a big newsmaker nationwide. Paige Patterson and SWBTS sued over rape case. The litigation is ongoing. Kathy Litton elected registration secretary. If you don’t include the two vice-presidents, officers who are elected […]
Tom Ascol Plans to “Take the (SBC) Ship”
In the long history of the SBC, we’ve faced many crises. Historians with greater expertise than I have can argue what periods are golden and which are not, but we have had many lamentable times that demonstrate that we exist by the grace of God, not the merit of Southern Baptists. What was the worst […]
“Pastor” ain’t what it used to be
In the recent incident in which a female reporter was slapped on the derriere (and arrested and charged with sexual battery, a misdemeanor), reports labeled the guy a “youth pastor,” “youth minister,” “youth group leader,” along with other various non-church related titles. The church says he is a volunteer worker. So, how do we get […]
Maybe they can get a dead cat bounce out of the movie
Watched or listened to the whole Founders movie, almost two hours. I’m retired and free to waste time as I see fit. There’s no grass growing right now that needs watching and, not being all that energetic, there’s no drying paint to gaze upon. There are some interesting things in this and some points that […]
Week in Review: ‘Twas the Night Before Impeachment
It’s time for the week in review, and since there was very little happening in our Baptist world, I give you “Twas the Night Before Impeachment.” ‘Twas the night before impeachment, And all through the house, Adam Schiff could be heard Starting to grouse. The charges were written. They claimed they were fair. In hopes […]
Ten New Testament Principles on Polity
Last week I posted an essay on Baptist church autonomy. As I did the research for that essay, I found some interesting material in Howard Forshee’s Broadman Church Manual. This manual is quite helpful, and I’ve given copies to several new pastors. In his book Forshee quotes from Lee McCoy’s book, Understanding Baptist Polity, sharing […]