SBC Voices

This article originally appeared at Tim's blog, "Southern Baptist in NC". It was 2006 and many were pushing for leadership to come from churches that had ten percent of their undesignated funds being given to the Cooperative Program (CP).  The Executive Committee (ExComm) was entertaining a motion to come before the convention by the State Executives that year calling for trustees of entities to be from churches that give 10% to the CP. A small group met in Memphis calling for public repentance and holding trustees accountable to the convention’s sacred trust. This call was more loudly voiced … [Read more...] about Dr. Ronnie Floyd: Putting His Money Where His Mouth Is (by Tim Rogers)

Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. (1 Timothy 5:19, ESV) Recently, certain deeply flawed and overly broad interpretations of the above verse have come to my attention. At best, they enable ministerial misconduct. At worst, they are themselves literally criminal. This essay seeks first to set firmly in place some appropriate boundaries for the application of the verse. Second, it seeks to identify the proper biblical context of the verse. Third, it seeks to define exactly what constitutes a charge, and perhaps more importantly, what does … [Read more...] about Charging Elders With Charging Elders

Today Baptist Press announced that Albert Mohler will nominate Pastor Ronnie Floyd for the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention this year in Baltimore. In my judgment, it would be inappropriate for me as a sitting officer of the SBC to make any sort of an endorsement in the upcoming elections. I suppose it is possible that I might even be moderating the meeting during the election itself, in which case my impartiality would be of some small measure of importance. So, let me make it clear that I am not endorsing Ronnie Floyd by this post. We don't even know whether anyone else will … [Read more...] about Why I’m Glad Ronnie Floyd Will Be Nominated for SBC President

It has certainly been a lively day at SBC Voices, hasn't it? We will probably end the day with numbers that we usually see only in the run up to the convention or when there is some kind of scandal at one of our entities. I have said often, "I am so tired of the Calvinism discussions." But the fact is that there are evidently quite a few people who are not tired of it. Many have an almost insatiable appetite to either promote or denigrate Calvinism. I am about to, as I said this morning, close comments on the topic. I thought it might be fair if I floated my own beliefs on the topic as the day … [Read more...] about What I Believe about the Calvinism Issue

My brother and sister, the dead horse has been beaten beyond recognition. Every day I see on blogs and twitter and posts fight and arguments about Calvinism and Traditionalism. I think the scripture points out where we are today in Titus. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Titus 3:9 Friends, we are there. This conversation has become without value. Most of what I see has become hostile on both sides. There have been words used like "evil" or "heresy" or "satanic". Both sides have declared that … [Read more...] about It’s Time to Let the Dead Horse Lie. Let Calvinism Go.

What you will find below is neither an argument for the Calvinist view nor one for the Traditionalist view of atonement. Both ends of the spectrum have been asking the wrong questions, and the best perspective transcends that old debate. By emphasizing that Christ stood in our place, the debate has perpetually turned on the question of whose place Christ stood in---all or only some? But what has been missed by such an emphasis is that Christ stands in us--- and until He stands within a sinner through the Holy Spirit's indwelling, nothing that He did is considered to have been in that sinner's … [Read more...] about Toward Theological Reconciliation: Atonement (by Ken Hamrick)

Reprinted below is a letter I recently received from a Southern Baptist layperson struggling with the changes taking place in her church. Following the letter is my reply. Certain details have been removed in order to protect her anonymity. From time to time, all churches face conflict in making decisions and seeking God's will, but the special sense of betrayal felt by this woman appears mostly related to two issues. First, during his candidacy, her Pastor denied his reformed theology. Second, reforms were not implemented openly as one might anticipate in a church business meeting, but … [Read more...] about Victims of Soteriological Dishonesty

It is no secret that I am sick of Calvinism discussions. But there are quite a few commenters and some of our contributors who feel that discussions of Calvinism - both pro and con - are important. Just because I do not share their enthusiasm for these discussions does not mean that SBC Voices will not post them. My motto for this site is "All the Angles on the SBC." The purpose of this site is not just to promote my views, but to be a place where ideas can be shared and even opposing viewpoints can be discussed. So, today is all about Calvinism. We are posting a series of posts on the … [Read more...] about Calvinism Thursday