SBC Voices

In the discussions this week of the pastor's housing allowance there was a constant refrain of criticism of pastors who make too much money. William has raised this from time to time because some highly paid pastors have used the housing allowance to provide multi-million dollar homes and to even try to buy vacation homes with the housing allowance. This kind of thing causes problems for all of us. But as I read the comments I found myself wondering - how much is too much to pay a preacher? Most Southern Baptist pastors labor in churches that struggle to pay a living wage, so when … [Read more...] about How (Much) to Pay the Preacher

Jerry Corbaley blogs at "Think the Thoughts?" Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment…Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience… Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Romans 13:1, 2, 5, … [Read more...] about The President, Angry Mobs and We (Jerry Corbaley)

He's ba-ack! The William, the SBC Plodder, is sharing his insights with us once again. One of the eyebrow raisers about David Platt's selection as the new president of the International Mission Board was the fact that his church gave a considerable amount ($100,000) directly to the SBC Executive Committee Cooperative Program Allocation Budget. In doing so his church bypassed the Alabama Baptist State Convention which would have lopped off more than half of that amount. The usual routine is for a church to send their CP gifts to their state convention which keeps most of the money (varies … [Read more...] about Cooperative Program gifts that bypass state conventions (William Thornton)

William is the SBC Plodder. If you run across a general news report on the minister's housing allowance you should conclude that something is going on that might not be good. As long as we fly under the news radar with our Sacred Clergy Tax Break, that wonderful tax benefit by which we clergy may exclude tens of thousands of dollars from income taxes, we may relax. But, if its in the news it is likely because of (a) a legitimate but immensely compensated minister is excluding hundreds of thousands of income from taxes and living in a multi-million dollar mansion, or (b) we are in the courts … [Read more...] about Our Sacred Housing Allowance winds its way through the courts (William Thornton)

Did you hear the latest news? There are 11 missing planes in the Middle East that will likely be used in a 9/11 style terrorist attack. Tupac Shakur, thought to be dead, has been in hiding and recently resurfaced Casey Anthony, the woman acquitted by the courts (though convicted by public opinion) of killing her daughter, is now pregnant with twins and is going to have her own reality show soon. An Ohio church built a ridiculous youth center with all the games young people could want in hopes of being the coolest hangout in town. The coming winter is going to break all records in … [Read more...] about Let’s Stop the Stupid! Dealing with Viral News Hoaxes

This past Sunday, I started a month-long sermon series from Philippians entitled “Joy.” Why preach such a series? First, when you read the list of the fruit of the Spirit joy is listed #2 out of 9, right after love (which we know encompasses the greatest command on which all others hinge). With this, we do remember that it is the fruit of the Spirit and not the fruits. Maybe not exactly in the same proportion, but if we are in the Spirit all these traits will grow and manifest. Still, there’s something to say about joy’s placement. Second, we live in a world where there is a lot of not-joy. … [Read more...] about Joy in Life Beyond Life

I am definitely straying outside my area of expertise here. Foreign policy is complicated today. It was always complicated, but our modern world with all the wars and rumors of wars that abound is a minefield to negotiate. I do not pretend to have an authoritative word to end debate but an opinion to open the floor for your discussion. Among many of my friends, it is almost a given that the US' tendency toward intervention is a disaster. The gulf wars and Afghanistan would be exhibit A in their theory that we have caused more trouble than we have solved with our tendencies to send troops … [Read more...] about In Defense of US Military Intervention

I was blessed to speak at chapel at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on Tuesday. I didn't realize they were doing video (remember the camera adds 135 pounds!). Anyway, here is the video if anyone is interested.   … [Read more...] about At Midwestern 9/2/2014

Another Baptist college has run afoul of the accrediting agency SACS. In a letter dated July 9. 2014, SACS has alleged non-compliance with their Principles of Accreditation in at least 6 areas and Louisiana College now bears the burden of proving why its membership in SACS should not be withdrawn. They are back on SACS probation. Here is a link to the full letter from SACS, released by LC today. (LC SACS (here is another version in case the letter happens to disappear from LC's site). The six areas with which SACS has a problem are: PR 1.1 - Principles of Integrity SACS accuses LC … [Read more...] about Louisiana College Back in SACS Hot Water