"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]
Thoughts on Andy Stanley’s Recent Sermon
I'm not a huge Andy Stanley fan, to say the least. He likes to stir things up by throwing evangelicals under the bus in an effort to reach those who doubt, who are departing, those who are deconstructing and leaving the church behind. I appreciate his effort to reach people like that, but it seems counterproductive to hit the eject button on the family of the redeemed in the effort. I am not sure the end justifies the means. The latest iteration of "Barbeque Andy Stanley" had to do with a quote he put out on Twitter. He cannot claim he was misquoted or anything, since it was his own tweet. … [Read more...] about Thoughts on Andy Stanley’s Recent Sermon
You Will Die
You will die. Cheerful thought, is it not? But it is the reality we face—we have an expiration date. There will come a moment where we will take a final breath, our passage through this life will have run its course, and we will find ourselves standing before Jesus. (Oh, yes, we always have the hope that maybe Jesus will return before we die. We won’t have to face the veil. If that happens, what an incredible joy it will be, but every generation of Jesus-followers since Paul believed theirs would be the generation of his return. Peter, even writing mere decades after Jesus’ ascension, … [Read more...] about You Will Die
Who can be president of the Southern Baptist Convention?
With the recent announcement that Ed Litton will not be running for a second term as SBC President, rumors have been flying about the open position and who will run for it. Florida pastor Willy Rice has already been announced as a candidate by the man who will nominate him, Clint Pressley. There will undoubtedly be another candidate, especially given the current climate of the SBC. It’s expected that the Conservative Baptist Network will announce a candidate that they choose to support, and there are plenty of names being bandied about. I don’t wish to discuss the relative merits … [Read more...] about Who can be president of the Southern Baptist Convention?
One California Pastor’s Experience with Willy Rice (Christopher Cole)
Willy Rice doesn’t need this California normative-sized SBC church pastor to endorse his nomination for the SBC presidency. Pastors of far bigger and more effective churches have already endorsed this nomination and deservedly so. Anyone at SBC21 with ears to hear and eyes to see realized we heard a timely message from a true man of God as Willy delivered last year’s convention message. Many others know Willy far better and can testify to his giftedness in leading his church and Florida Baptists to effectively engage a lost community, state, and world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Still … [Read more...] about One California Pastor’s Experience with Willy Rice (Christopher Cole)
Ed Litton is NOT Running for Reelection as SBC President
Since the moment Ed Litton was elected, elements of the SBC have been seeking his destruction, fault-finding and nit-picking in ways that are not of Christ. They did manage to find a fault, one Ed readily admitted to and apologized for, and one for which certain segments of the SBC showed absolutely NO grace. They dragged him through the mud. This is a good man, a godly man. Not a perfect man, but one who has served Southern Baptists well. A message to the SBC. https://t.co/RWMBfTWeZr — Ed Litton (@EdLitton) March 1, 2022 I deeply regret not being able to vote for him a … [Read more...] about Ed Litton is NOT Running for Reelection as SBC President