Does the love fest between the rabid Cals and the formerly militant, though now meek, Trads extend to Great Commission Giving, the SBC giving category that can't get any respect? I'm just trying to manage all the consequences of recent SBC political developments that have my head spinning. You'd think my Christian, Baptist, Southern Baptist colleagues would have more respect for their elders than to jerk their head this way and that with convention politics. Fantasyland, SBC style. So, the Trads love their presidential candidate, longtime follower of Jesus and John Calvin, Tom Ascol. I like … [Read more...] about Great Commission Giving. Trads and Cals now love that giving metric?
Hard Work and Harvest
My wife loves to garden. When we bought our house four years ago, one of her “must-haves” was a yard big enough for a garden. Then, our first spring together in our home, I went out to a patch of grass with our tiller, tore up the ground, and built a box around the churned dirt so she could have her garden. There is no question, though, that gardening is work as much as she enjoys it. Prepping the ground isn’t a one-time thing. You have to do it every year: Pull out the weeds, break up the dirt, ready the rows, plant the seeds, provide enough water, pull out more weeds, chase off the bugs, … [Read more...] about Hard Work and Harvest
If Anyone Remembers Me, I’m the Guy in Africa
There was a time when my trips to Taiwan or Israel or Senegal created something of a problem here at SBC Voices, since I was active on a daily basis. Such is not the case now, but I thought I would let folks know I am taking my 11th trip to the villages of the Casamance in Southern Senegal. Plan to return April 3. We walk from home to home telling Bible Stories and sharing the gospel. For many of these folks, it is their first exposure to the true gospel. Would appreciate your prayers. I have gotten sick the last few times I have gone and we have been encountering some resistance in … [Read more...] about If Anyone Remembers Me, I’m the Guy in Africa
Tom Ascol, Voddie Baucham and what a time to be in our Grand Convention!
While the SBC isn't 'woke' it may be drowsy at times and the joint announcement of the campaigns of anti-wokesters Tom Ascol and Voddie Baucham should rouse any sleepyheaded SBCers. When I've heard Tom Ascol, he has always handled himself well, at least on the floor of conventions. There has been a bit of a downgrade recently, recall the scurrilous trailer presented in Birmingham. Not his best moment, but, as Shelby Foote says, "Longevity conquers scandal every time." Ascol is the original rabid Calvinist and to the surprise of many is now allied with the old Trad anti-Cal faction. I … [Read more...] about Tom Ascol, Voddie Baucham and what a time to be in our Grand Convention!
His Name Is Derek
I was a junior in college, a brand-new student to the University of Oklahoma as a transfer from a school in my home state. I had grown up in a Christian home and given my life to Jesus at the age of five, with as much understanding as a five-year-old can have. Looking back, I don’t doubt the sincerity of that choice, but it took me a while to truly come to own my faith. I wish I remembered where I heard this recently: It was a conversation about how people come to faith. The testimonies we hear are often like Paul on the Damascus Road. The person was walking in spiritual darkness, then … [Read more...] about His Name Is Derek
Look for the lone, the sole, the indefatigable stalwart ONE AND ONLY pastor in most US congregations
"And, behold, I looked and saw a vast number of churches in the United States of America. I looked again and, behold, in most of these churches there was a single, solo, lone pastor serving them." I love these religion in America studies and surveys. This one presents what we all think is the ideal and normative US church: a rather small church that has a pastor, and only A pastor, not a team of pastors, not a lead/chief/senior/CEO pastor and a gaggle of sub/assistant/associate pastors. The National Congregations Study from the non-basketball side of Duke University has more data that you … [Read more...] about Look for the lone, the sole, the indefatigable stalwart ONE AND ONLY pastor in most US congregations
The Ghost and the Soul Friend
Ghosting, we’ve all experienced it at one time or another. It’s bad enough when it happens with a supposed friend or love interest. It’s even worse when it happens in church. Ghosting is when two people seem to have a relationship on some level deeper than mere acquaintance, and one person seems to vanish. There are no goodbyes, no replies to communication attempts, and no closure. Ghosting hurts. When it comes to church, relationships are meant to be more meaningful. Jesus talked about how true family is more than flesh and blood. It’s about our relationship with him and with each other … [Read more...] about The Ghost and the Soul Friend
Why?
Why? It’s a simple question, just three letters and a question mark. It’s something that my son has started to ask more frequently (he’s two, by the way). Why? In a way, it’s a question that cuts to the heart of almost everything. We tend to be curious. We want to know the reasons behind our realities. We want to know the motives. Why do people do what they do? Of course, if we don’t like something, we will assume they have some nefarious motivation, some evil purpose behind their decisions. Even if we agree but don’t like the person, we assume they’re doing the right things for … [Read more...] about Why?
Rekindle the Gift
You've felt it, haven't you? I know I have. One day, your heart is burning, your soul is on fire—you're alive for God. Jesus is your great passion, and you have faith that you can be like those in Acts who were turning the world upside-down. It's a great mountain-top high. It's a wonderful belief that you have significance and a calling. You have an eternal purpose. But then… But then comes a moment where the flame dwindles, and the fire fades to embers. You still feel a soft heat, but what can you do with that? It barely warms your fingers; how could it set the world on fire? A … [Read more...] about Rekindle the Gift
There be three SBC things that are an embarrassment, yea, four an absurdity [by William Thornton]
The Baptist Faith and Message. What is an embarrassment is that so many SBC entities and institutions feel compelled to append multiple paragraphs and inferior paragraphs that were composed by a self-appointed, unelected small groups of Southern Baptists. No church has to affirm the BFM, certainly not approve or adopt any ad hoc add-ons to qualify as a cooperating Southern Baptist church. It's been almost a generation since Adrian et al put this together. Time to start denominational WWIII and clean it up. Or, we can just 'wink-wink' our way forward. Some say we can rally around it. Hasn't … [Read more...] about There be three SBC things that are an embarrassment, yea, four an absurdity [by William Thornton]