SBC Voices

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Psalm 133:1 When it comes to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, “unity” may not be the first word that comes to mind. Especially if you spend a lot of time on the SBC blogosphere, you might think that unity is an unachievable goal. Yet, I believe it is not only achievable, but within our grasp. Most of us are not power-brokers in the convention. We will not attend the meeting with any kind of clout (though maybe a few of you might have some name recognition among the faithful blog readers). We come as messengers, … [Read more...] about My personal plan to strive for unity in Baltimore

One of my favorite movies is the classic musical “Fiddler on the Roof.” Earlier this year, my wife and I took a few days off in Minneapolis and went up to Chanhassen Dinner Theatre to see the Broadway version. Fiddler, if there are any who do not know the story, is a struggle of the traditionalist Tevye in a rapidly changing world, and focuses on his three daughters’ marriages. The first daughter, Tzeitel, is matched to an old, widowed butcher, but is in love with the poor tailor Motel. At first, Tevye is outraged, but he gives the matter some thought. “On the one hand.” “On the other … [Read more...] about There Is No Other Hand

Adam Blosser is the pastor of Drakes Branch Baptist Church, in Drakes Branch, Virginia, and blogs at One True Joy.  As you have probably heard by now, Glenn Beck preached a Mormon sermon  (on the campus of Liberty University during a recent convocation service.  I wasn't initially going to write about this as I have no desire to appoint myself as the leader of a new one of those dreaded "discernment ministries."  However, I feel it important that this situation receive the same level of attention that other recent "scandals" have received. It should be noted that I do not approach this … [Read more...] about Reflections on Glenn Beck’s “Sermon” at Liberty (by Adam Blosser)

I bought some shorts last October off the clearance rack in Kohl's. Pretty standard things: plaid-printed shorts with too many pockets.  They were the sort of clothing you'd see in a Sunday circular, modeled by semi-muscular white men surrounded by strategically-placed men of varied ethnic origin.  I suppose a certain obligation existed for me to go full monty and purchase a matching polo shirt and boat shoes, but according to my mother I've inherited my father's non-compliant streak.  Besides, the only polo shirt on clearance was white and had embroidery of what appeared to be two … [Read more...] about The Last Happy Day

We are blessed to have three candidates running for the presidency of the SBC, and I'm glad that all three are running. I have already opinined as to why I am glad that Ronnie Floyd is running. On this blog I mentioned that I am glad that Jared Moore is running, because it is a demonstration of the strength of our convention that anyone from any member church of any size or circumstance can seek any office in our convention (Yes, when some of you were clamoring for me to run, I declared it impractical for a small-church pastor to preside over the convention. I still believe that. But just … [Read more...] about On the Qualifications of SBC Presidents

“It’s time to go to bed, sweetheart,” I say with an optimism that forgets I am raising a sinner. In my mind the little munchkin will say with a refined British accent, “Why, yes, good sir, you are correct. The dawn is upon us and I must head to my quarters.” And with that she’ll march her little tail into bed, close her precious eyes and go to sleep. I’m shocked that my kind request is met with rebellion. “No! I don’t want to go to bed! I want to play with my dolls more!” I change my tone a bit to let this little princess know who bought those little dolls. I’m still calm and kind but at … [Read more...] about Conversation Over

Suppose I say to the wicked: ‘Wicked people, you will surely die,’ but you don’t speak to warn the wicked to stop doing evil. Then they will die because they were sinners, but I will punish you for their deaths. Ezekiel 33:8 This summer marks the end of our time as church planters in South America among the Deaf.  Between us, the wife and I have labored in one form or another in 7 different beautiful countries on the continent.  Languages learned and forgotten.  Beaches and mountains.  Jungles and dust fields. Not everything worked.  We've tried probably 573 different strategies and … [Read more...] about Ezekiel’s Watchman: Did I Blow the Trumpet?

Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift where this post originally appeared.  It has been 5 years since the Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) Task Force was appointed by then-SBC President Johnny Hunt in 2009. The GCR Task Force, chaired by Ronnie Floyd, gave its Report/Recommendations at the SBC Annual Meeting the following year. The Task Force had 22 people on it, including one Asian, one Hispanic, and one African American. Almost all of the participants were from the Deep South. Did this overall lack of ethnic diversity on the Task Force lead to the GCR Report basically ignoring the issue … [Read more...] about Fred Luter, the GCR Task Force, and the Continued Need for Ethnic/Cultural Diversity In SBC Leadership (by Alan Cross)

Two Key Men 2 of 2 Charlemagne As I mentioned in the previous post, the Middle Ages gave us some key figures in the History of Christianity. We may disagree with them on some levels, but we are indebted to their furtherance of Christianity. While we may not like to think about the direct link we possess to them, they do serve as the ancestors that we look back upon. I mentioned in the last post about Gregory “The Great.” He was elected Bishop of Rome in 590 and had significant contributions. Many of them weren’t ecclesiastical, but political. Under the direction of the ordaining work of … [Read more...] about Charlemagne

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us that all things have their proper time and place. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2  a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3  a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4  a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5  a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6  a time to seek, and a time to … [Read more...] about A Time to Marginalize: Some People Need to Be Ignored