Andy Hynes is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow him @ABHYNES on Twitter. When you hear my title, I am sure there are many different things that come to mind. What comes to my mind these days is preaching. As I listen to sermons, I continue to hear pastors majoring on the minors. Please understand that I realize that “all” Scripture is God-breathed and inspired. However, I also know that there are major themes and less major themes. When you come to a particular passage there is one main truth that the biblical writer was seeking to accomplish. Our job … [Read more...] about Majoring on the Minors (by Andy Hynes)
It’s Time for the Cooperative Middle to Assert Itself
The debate between Calvinists and non-Calvinists (including Traditionalists) has been dominated in the SBC by the extremes on both sides. It is time for that to end. There are some Calvinists who annoy me - they seem intent on labeling the other side with pejoratives, never admit fault on their side, and come across as condescending and arrogant. There are some non-Calvinists who annoy me - they seem intent on painting Calvinists with dark, conspiratorial motives and appear to be content with nothing less than pinning a scarlet C on every Calvinist and banning them from leadership in SBC … [Read more...] about It’s Time for the Cooperative Middle to Assert Itself
A Blogging Break
I won't be at the keyboard much this weekend. I have to head to Des Moines for a BCI executive board meeting tomorrow, then I am flying to DFW to speak at Cornerstone Baptist in Arlington on Sunday. Sunday afternoon I'm going to be touring several airports for my return trip. And I am not sure I'll have time to do much posting during that time. I don't plan to try. Contributors, if you have something to post, have at it. Hopefully, it won't be about Calvinism! I'm nervous about leaving the site, because some of our discussions have started getting a little chippy. People wonder why we … [Read more...] about A Blogging Break
Under Pressure, Tim Tebow Cancels First Baptist, Dallas, TX Appearance (by Alan Cross)
Alan blogs at Downshore Drift, where this article was originally published. After opposition arose against First Baptist, Dallas, TX and pastor Robert Jeffress for what were called "controversial" stands against homosexuals, Muslims, Mormons, and other groups, Tim Tebow, who was scheduled to speak there, has just cancelled his appearance in a series of tweets. @TimTebow: "While I was looking forward to sharing a message of hope and Christ's unconditional love with the faithful members of the historic...First Baptist Church of Dallas in April, due to new information that has been brought … [Read more...] about Under Pressure, Tim Tebow Cancels First Baptist, Dallas, TX Appearance (by Alan Cross)
Snowmageddon: You Prepare for What You Expect
Micah Fries posted a hilarious picture on Twitter a couple of weeks ago. It was a picture of a patch of grass with a light dusting of snow on it. I joked with him that they probably cancelled school because of that blizzard. Micah surprised me by responding that, in fact, Nashville schools had been closed. We are currently bracing for a major blizzard (though most recent projections are that the snow has gone south and is nailing Kansas City instead of us - sorry, Scott Gordon!). But, if we get the 8 to 12 inches of snow originally projected, life will slow down in Sioux City for a few … [Read more...] about Snowmageddon: You Prepare for What You Expect
A Marriage God Hates
“When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. (Isaiah 1:12-15 ESV) The Lord created marriage. He loves … [Read more...] about A Marriage God Hates
Howard Hendricks Changed My Life: Now He Is with Jesus
I just saw a post that told us that Dr. Howard Hendricks has passed away. I have never had a significant conversation with Dr. Hendricks, but he changed my life. At Dallas Seminary - back in the old days, anyway - one of your first year classes was his "Inductive Bible Study Methods" class. After that class, you proceeded, over your four year course of studies, to do an inductive study of every book of the Bible. Dr. Hendricks emphasized a four-step process. Observation. Interpretation. Application. Correlation. I had been a preacher's kid with a lot of knowledge of the Bible that I … [Read more...] about Howard Hendricks Changed My Life: Now He Is with Jesus
The Social Media Effect: It’s a New Baptist World
I don't have much time today, either to post or to interact with comments. I'm in a week in which I've got a meeting every night, Monday through Thursday, then have to go to Des Moines for a Saturday meeting and fly to Ft. Worth later that day. Unless we have a snow day, I'm not going to be around much at SBC Voices. Hope some of my contributors will put some stuff in the queue for us to read! I'd just like to make an observation about SBC life today. It's a new world, folks, and we can love it or hate, but we should get used to it. Some of our more progressive leaders (I mean … [Read more...] about The Social Media Effect: It’s a New Baptist World
Should I Respond To This Comment?
Early on in my ministry (both writing and in the local church) I felt the need to respond to every criticism. Now I do not. Awhile back I spent some time thinking through how to determine whether or not to respond to a critique. Mostly, this is dealing with online discussions but it has application with a few minor tweaks to local church ministry as well. These three categories have helped me, perhaps they will help you as well. I find it helpful to categorize comments into three categories. First, comment types of which I will never respond. Secondly, comment types of which I might respond … [Read more...] about Should I Respond To This Comment?
Leadership 101: Fix the Problems, Don’t Attack Those Who Identify Them
I've seen it in churches. We have certainly seen it in blogging. And we are currently seeing the phenomenon as the crisis plays out at Louisiana College. None of us likes to be criticized. It is uncomfortable, painful, frustrating and infuriating. And in today's "everything has to be positive," "never admit a problem," "sweep it all under the rug" Christian world, we see the unfortunate response that we are seeing at Louisiana College. Never admit or address the problem. Attack the people who identify the issues. If you have blogged very long, you've seen someone in power respond to … [Read more...] about Leadership 101: Fix the Problems, Don’t Attack Those Who Identify Them