SBC Voices

The exalted Rev. William Thornton put up a challenging piece last week on his new blog, "Cooperative Program Observer" and allowed us to repost it here, called "One thing I have never heard concerning the Cooperative Program." He challenged those who criticize the Cooperative Program to devise a better system. I am a big fan of the CP and cannot think of a system that is any better. But in the discussion, questions came up about the requirements for participation in the SBC. A church gets a messenger for every $250 it gives to convention causes through the CP. That formula has been in place … [Read more...] about Is This a Dumb Idea? A CP Suggestion

“You need to stop writing so much and start doing more ministry”. I’ve heard that criticism several times. And it always comes from the same place. Myself. I’m not alone in that criticism, though. I hear the rumbling throughout evangelicalism. (See here for an example). “Writing isn’t doing”. To fight this voice of discouragement I’ve come up with seven reason why pastors ought to be writers. In fact I believe that writing is one of the most important things that a pastor can do with his ministry. Here is why: Writing assists thinking. Forcing yourself to put thoughts to paper will … [Read more...] about 7 Reasons Pastors Should Be Writers

Editor: the blackout is slowly ending, it seems, because of pressure being put on by people horrified at the evil perpetrated by Kermit Gosnell. Here is Alan Cross' article published yesterday at Downshore Drift. I wrote about this the other day, but the Media-Bias-Blackout of the Gosnell Abortion/Infanticide case in Philadelphia continues, by and large. Kirsten Powers wrote about it on Wednesday for the USA Today and she asked the questions that every member of the Media who reported on Sandra Fluke, Trayvon Martin, Newtown, Aurora, or any other story that gained national attention should be … [Read more...] about How to End the Media Blackout of the Gosnell Case TODAY! (by Alan Cross)

Underlying all the recent kerfuffle over Norm Miller, Ed Stetzer, “treason,” and who said this and who said that, was a discussion between Rick Patrick and myself over the value of denominational loyalty within the SBC. Let’s leave the “treason” comment to the side here. I have no interest in pursuing that any further. Rick’s post Ten Traits of a Southern Baptist president over at SBC Today, however, got me to thinking again about an issue that, from my perspective, may well be one of the most significant issues facing us in the SBC today (no pun intended): the relative degree of loyalty we … [Read more...] about Denominational Loyalty and the Body of Christ

William Thornton gained his fame and fortune as the SBC Plodder. One of the strengths of that blog has been his perspective on Cooperative Program issues. He recently started a new blog, called "Cooperative Program Observer" where this article was originally published.  I have heard the Cooperative Program praised and criticized. I've seen it held up as if it were inscribed on stone by God's Own Finger (not to be sinister but His left index finger, anthropomorphically speaking). I've heard many a Baptist offer suggestions - some outrageous, some eminently sensible. But what I have never heard … [Read more...] about One thing I have never heard concerning the Cooperative Program (by William Thornton)

Something of a dustup occurred in the SBC Blogosphere recently when Norm Miller, the Director of Communication and Marketing at Truett-McConnell College (SBC) in Georgia and editor/moderator/contributor for the Traditionalist SBCToday.com group blog commented in a post about the ideal SBC president and who it should NOT be. Miller referred to the Lifeway study called The Gospel Project and its inclusion of writers from Christian backgrounds beyond the SBC. Apparently, Miller thinks it a negative thing to bring in other perspectives to SBC Bible Study material and he blames Ed Stetzer, General … [Read more...] about Should We Be Talking About Treason? Is Christ Divided? What the BFM2000 Has to Say on the Matter (by Alan Cross)

This is a follow-up on the article I published this morning. Most of you young whippersnappers don't know what a hymnal is, but it is a book of songs the church has sung through the years, to teach theology and to lead the church in worship. There is (though many of you perhaps have never seen one - getting the sarcasm?) a "Baptist Hymnal" - one designed specifically for use in Baptist churches. It has hymns by Anglicans like John Newton (Amazing Grace). It has hymns by Charles Wesley (of the Methodist Wesleys!). It has hymns by another Methodist, Fanny Crosby. (To God Be the … [Read more...] about Is the Baptist Hymnal “Denominational Treason?”

St. Peter was showing a new arrival through heaven. (Bad theology and really old joke alert!) He took him through the pearly gates on the streets of gold, showing him the lay of the land. But at one door, Peter stopped and put his finger to his lips. They tiptoed by until they were well past the door. The new arrival queried, "Peter, why were we so quiet there?" Peter shook his head and said, "That's the Southern Baptists - they think they are the only ones here." Now, for a true story. The year was 1979, a big year for theology and for Southern Baptists. I had just come back from Houston … [Read more...] about Southern Baptists and Spiritual Myopia

Andy Hynes is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow him @ABHYNES on Twitter. He also seems to be fairly competent as a predictor of sporting outcomes, having won our recent bracket challenge! Whether we realize it or not we have a ministry mentality.  What I mean is, we all have ideas about the purposes of ministry.   How we view the purpose of ministry will determine our approach.  A lot of the mentality today is the need to exhaust all of our efforts to “attract” people with events and ideas. We plan and seek new ways to invite or convince the lost they … [Read more...] about Ministry Mentality (by Andy Hynes)

This was first posted at Alan's blog, "Downshore Drift." I was thinking recently about how much we simulate the experiences that we would like to have and the life that we would like to live into something that can be approached, bought, sold, and consumed. We often do not want the real thing, but we are happy with a facsimile of what we think would be nice. For example, my favorite Italian restaurant in town is made to look like Tuscany on the inside and has trees growing on the roof on the outside, but in reality, it is in a parking lot in front of a Best Buy on a bypass. I like to listen … [Read more...] about Plastic Living, Plastic Faith (by Alan Cross)