SBC Voices

I loathe country music. No, wait, that’s not strong enough. I loathe that detestable sounding genre of twangified non-sense that is filled with beer-drinkin’ truck-drivin’ rednecks bellowing on and on about their lost puppy dog or how nice a beer and a lady is in a pick-up truck down an old gravel road. Other people—and I’m told they are real actual breathing people with valid opinions—actually enjoy this horrid sound. And I’m even told…shudder…that followers of Jesus like this type of music. And these same people would write terrible things (untrue, of course) about my musical tastes. I … [Read more...] about Why Do People Like Country Music

The social media world was afire this week with questions about Liberty University's "partnership" with faith-healing huckster Benny Hinn. When I first saw the reports, I was slain in the Spirit with shock, and I think I heard ol' Jerry spinning barrel rolls in his grave. Of course, some of the more angry "discernment" ministries jumped on this and heaped condemnation on Liberty University. A once-biblical ministry had partnered with one of modern American Christianity's most shameful charlatans - one more piece of evidence of the spiritual decline in our land. There was a legitimate … [Read more...] about Liberty and Benny Hinn – The Dangers of Uninformed Anger

Note: I published this article back in July of 2013, not long after the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Houston. I am editing this post slightly, mostly in the last section, "Solutions" by adding a few of my more recent thoughts.  At the most peaceful and drama-free SBC in recent memory, there was one bit of news that had things stirred up - a fresh set of evidence that the SBC's statistical decline was not just a blip. It is a real problem. We are a shrinking denomination. One seminary professor has described it as a "free-fall." While that may be hyperbole, it is not wholly … [Read more...] about The Bleak Future of the SBC?

I saw an article listed by Trevin Wax (to be fair, I didn't read it) called "How to Preach with Unbelievers In Mind." When I read the title, my first thought is, should we? Should we preach a message to speak to unbelievers? I think many would say "yes, of course. Those unbelievers need an opportunity to hear the gospel". I want to take a moment and press the other side, just for a second and let us discuss. Should we focus the time we call a worship service to cater to lost people? Should that be the focus of our worship service, or do we want to focus on worshiping God. Now, I understand … [Read more...] about Should We Preach for Unbelievers?

You read somewhere that it is a good idea to blog daily. So, you made that one of your blogging goals for the new year: post something every day by noon. And it worked. You started out invigorated. Ideas kept rolling from your noggin to the computer. With increased writing your traffic naturally increased. Before you know it a handful of people who didn’t give birth to you are actually following  your blog. And you are actually becoming a better writer.”This writing daily thing is easy”, you tell yourself. And then you hit a brick wall. Nothing comes to you. You don’t feel like … [Read more...] about How to Improve Your Daily Blogging

The Five Influential Councils Say what you want about Constantine and the conversion of the Roman Empire to a form of Christianity, but one thing we should be grateful for is the May 20, 325 Council of Nicaea. This was the first of five Ecumenical councils that involved bishops from all over the Roman Empire. Each council was assembled to help provide greater clarity on the biblical approach to the person and nature of Christ. Now that was not the only reason each council met, but it was a significant one. As decades went by following a council’s decision, new and heretical views … [Read more...] about Five Councils that Shaped our Doctrine

Adam Blosser is the pastor of Drakes Branch Baptist Church in Drakes Branch, VA. He blogs at ONE True Joy.  Ok, this post may not be popular.  I am a Christian.  I was supposed to love God's Not Dead.  Well, I didn't.  The movie was not all bad as I said in my last post.  It wasn't even mostly bad as this post may seem to indicate.  The idea behind the movie was good, but I must quibble with some of the details.  Below are a few of the things with which I took issue. 1. All of the non-Christians were portrayed as evil numbskulls. This is an unhelpful characterization.  Professor … [Read more...] about Movie Review: God’s Not Dead – Part 2 (by Adam Blosser)

Paul Thompson blogs at "The Bridge." When did divorce and remarriage become so accepted among Christians? I’m not going to attempt to even answer that question, but more the question of how do we return to the “ancient ways” that promise rest? I get that grace is big. It’s bigger than I am likely able to comprehend. It’s not that divorce can’t be forgiven, it can and is forgivable. It’s not that a marriage to another spouse while your original spouse is still living can’t be forgiven, it can and is forgivable. Before you read anything else I have to say reread the previous paragraph and … [Read more...] about Divorce and Remarriage (by Paul Thompson)

Adam Blosser is the pastor of Drakes Branch Baptist Church, in Drakes Branch, VA. He is trying to clean up the mess Dave Miller left when he pastored that church from 1987 to 1991. Adam blogs at ONE True Joy. Yesterday I went to see the movie God's Not Dead.  I took the youth group from my church because many of them had heard about the movie and wanted to see it.  Afterward, we went out for ice cream and had a discussion about the contents of the movie. I read a review of the movie before going to see it and was made aware of some potential problems in the movie.  I am writing now to … [Read more...] about Movie Review: God’s Not Dead – Part 1 (by Adam Blosser)