We get a lot of comments here at SBC Voices. Most are thoughtful and helpful. Some are bewildering, petulant, even mean. A few I have to delete. But every once in a while I read a comment and think it should be a post of its own. One such comment appeared on Thursday, from Randall Cofield. I only read it because I saw Jeremy Parks reference it in our "Reader Comments" sidebar. But I did not hold Jeremy's praise against Randall and I went ahead and read the comment. Wow. Gold medal/Hall of Fame stuff! Here is the comment (made at 11:11 PM on 10/4) from Randall Cofield. Cooperation … [Read more...] about A Comment Worthy of Its Own Post: Fiddling While Rome Burns!
THE MOSS “EPISTLE” vs. THE TREASURE BOX: Equipping Black Christians to Respond to Pro Same-Sex Marriage Pastors (by Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.)
In the aftermath of President Obama’s public affirmation of same-sex marriage, a high profile Black pastor not only supported the President’s position, but also gave a robust defense of the government sanctioning of same-sex marriage. Pastor Otis Moss III serves as Senior Pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, formerly pastored by Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Pastor Moss is making a mark and stamp on the social order, contemporary culture and the Black church at large as did his predecessor and his beloved father, Rev. Otis Moss Jr., a retired Baptist pastor and iconic Civil Rights … [Read more...] about THE MOSS “EPISTLE” vs. THE TREASURE BOX: Equipping Black Christians to Respond to Pro Same-Sex Marriage Pastors (by Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.)
Are Our Spats, Differences, and Personal Goals Worth the Damage We Are Doing to Missions?
At the recent Executive Committee meeting, Tom Elliff really made me angry. No, not like that. I wasn't angry at him, but I was angry at what he said. As he was giving his IMB report, he gave some information that set me off a little. Before I get to what he said, let me share a graphic I saw over at William Thornton's site, along with his Plodder's assessment of the current CP trends. After peaking in the 2006-2007 fiscal year, Cooperative Program giving took a sharp decline over the next three years. The last three years have been flat, but that is encouraging compared to the … [Read more...] about Are Our Spats, Differences, and Personal Goals Worth the Damage We Are Doing to Missions?
Review of “Pursuing Peace” by Robert D. Jones
Call me a nerd but I was very ecstatic about what was going down on Tuesday evening in my little church in Northeast, Missouri. I had been saved for a few months now and beginning to get acclimated into the church. I could not seem to get enough of this life with other believers. So it was only fitting that when there was something on Tuesday night that I would attend. That something in this instance was the quarterly church business meeting. Boy, was I pumped! I figured that this was were we all got together to talk about our evangelism strategies, to share about how the church was … [Read more...] about Review of “Pursuing Peace” by Robert D. Jones
One Thing That Disturbs Me About Propaganda’s Song “Precious Puritans”
I have been listening to Propaganda’s new album and also reflecting on the recent online dust-up concerning his song “Precious Puritans”. If you aren’t hip to the discussion, a little debate has been going on about whether or not Prop went too far in his critique of the Puritans as slave owners. First watch the clip: Now, if you desire to get you caught up (though I’ll warn you it could take a good hour) then you need to check out these articles. First read these two from Joe Thorn: Precious Puritans Part 1 and Part 2. Then go readOwen Strachan’s rebuttal. (Be sure to also read … [Read more...] about One Thing That Disturbs Me About Propaganda’s Song “Precious Puritans”
Revival: True, False, and In-between?
While we are arguing over what often amounts to twiddle-dee-dee and twiddle-dee-dum, there are some pretty amazing things happening in other places on the other side of the world. The other day I came across this 5 1/2-minute video clip: http://youtu.be/MBtBHZtdU78 I’m not sure how many of us in the States are aware of what is going on in places like Nigeria. Certainly, if the events of this video clip happened in the United States, it would be headline news on all the major news outlets. I am by no means defending everything associated with the ministry of Reinhard Bonnke, Daniel … [Read more...] about Revival: True, False, and In-between?
An(other) Open Letter to the Midwestern Board of Trustees
To the Trustees of Midwestern Seminary, I do not envy you the job you have. Dr. Jason Allen has been nominated by your search committee as your next president and it is up to you to decide whether to affirm that nomination or decline it and renew the search. A lot of eyes are on you and there has been no shortage of opinions about the nomination. We are in a new age in which social media gives opinions such as mine and the others you have heard a wide hearing. You have had letters threatening to de-fund the seminary if you elect Jason Allen. You have had more thoughtful letters, such as … [Read more...] about An(other) Open Letter to the Midwestern Board of Trustees
Lessons on Chicken and Waiting
I have a confession to make. Sometimes I hope that Chick-Fil-A gets my order out to me really slowly and botch their service. Why? Because I know if they do then I’ll get a card that entitles me to free awesomeness in the form of a Chick-fil-a sandwich. They screw up and I get rewarded. So, sometimes I secretly hope they jack something up. I won’t complain. I won’t even look disappointed. I’ll just humbly hold out my hand and allow them to appease me with a free sandwich. I’m not always that giddy about waiting though. A few weeks ago I was waiting for about 10 minutes in the … [Read more...] about Lessons on Chicken and Waiting
The Problem with Jason Allen’s Nomination at MBTS is Not Possible Calvinism or Ties to Southern (by Dr. Rodney Hammer)
Dr. Rodney L. Hammer is the Executive Director of Missions for the Blue River - Kansas City Baptist Association and a former IMB missionary. He has submitted this letter to the Trustees and asked that we post it here. Dear Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Trustee, The purpose of my writing is to urge you and the Board of Trustees to seek another candidate/nominee for the next President of Midwestern. I understand from others that Dr. Allen is a fine Christian gentleman, a very sharp and talented brother in the Lord and gifted in many ways. However, he is not qualified to serve … [Read more...] about The Problem with Jason Allen’s Nomination at MBTS is Not Possible Calvinism or Ties to Southern (by Dr. Rodney Hammer)
Table Manners, the BF&M, & Majority Practice
Who has better table manners? That question once again comes to the forefront in Southern Baptist life following the release of a recent survey on Lord’s Supper practices among SBC churches conducted by Lifeway, an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention. While some found the survey results to be surprising and still others, including Voices' own Jared Moore (agreeing with the Kentucky Baptist Convention's Executive Director, Paul Chitwood), passionately circled the wagons around close/closed communion, my own observation is that these results reveal what many believed to have been the … [Read more...] about Table Manners, the BF&M, & Majority Practice