America has now become a “Culture of the Moral Negative.” I am not talking about “negativity,” the bogie man of the new age. Actually, I am convinced negativity can be honorable. Of God’s ten laws, eight of them are stated in the negative. “Thou shalt not.” That is an 80% negativity rate - from God. Flawed human beings need limits to inhibit our sinful behavior. But that is another topic. I am talking about the kind of negative we used to get when cameras had something called film inside. On the photographic negative, everything was reversed; dark colors appear as light and light … [Read more...] about The Culture of the Moral Negative
Does It Work?
At various times, when they are not busy pushing one side of a political agenda or another, one of our local TV stations will feature a segment on the news about "Does It Work?" They'll pick an item that is currently popular (read that as "Being featured in infomercials on the competing network") or being talked about on social media and buy one. Then they'll try it out, on camera, and tell you if it works or not. This is not quite the same as the "Will it Blend?" guy, though he's more fun. For us as Southern Baptists, we are going through a portion of our "Does it work?" cycle. Most local … [Read more...] about Does It Work?
Halloween—Should We or Shouldn’t We?
Okay…it’s that time of year again. Pumpkins and skeletons are lining people’s houses. Charlie Brown is receiving rocks while Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin. And debates rage—should the kid’s go trick-‘r-treating or do we take them down to the Fall Festival or Harvest Party or just stay at home? I’ll admit—I’ve had my times of being a bit of a brat when it comes to this subject. My last year at seminary, my roommate and I bought Halloween decorations and hung them on the door of our on-campus apartment. I wanted to include the smiling witch’s head but my roommate thought that was … [Read more...] about Halloween—Should We or Shouldn’t We?
An Open Apology to Dr. Land for Unintentionally Misrepresenting His Views on Mormonism by Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.
I offer the following email exchange that will clarify Dr. Richard Land’s views on Mormonism and my response: First message from Sam Dahl: Dr. McKissic, just wanted to send you a quick FYI about Dr. Land’s position on Mormonism. Here are a few quotes from the article linked below that he wrote for The Christian Post that might give some clarity. When the theologically uninitiated hear this answer (that Mormonism is a cult) they immediately think “Branch Davidians” or “Jim Jones,” and there is a cognitive disconnect. When most people hear Mormonism described as a “cult” they think, … [Read more...] about An Open Apology to Dr. Land for Unintentionally Misrepresenting His Views on Mormonism by Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.
Is Your Worship Welcoming to Those Not Like You? (by Dr. David Manner)
Dr. David W. Manner is the Associate Executive Director for the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists. He blogs at http://kncsb.org/blogs/dmanner . You can follow him on Twitter: @dwmanner. Most congregations can answer affirmatively when asked if their worship welcomes those not like them…all are welcome if or when they come. Where the conflict arises is when a congregation changes its culture in order to be intentionally welcoming to those not like them. Welcoming worship loves my neighbor as I love myself even if my neighbor is not always lovely. Welcome is passive. … [Read more...] about Is Your Worship Welcoming to Those Not Like You? (by Dr. David Manner)
Godliness and P90X
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. ~ Paul, 1 Timothy 4:7-8 I’m always looking for ways to help stay in shape and fight the dreaded curse of pounds gained after a Baptist potluck. For the last ten weeks, I’ve been doing P90X, having borrowed it from my nephew who borrowed it from my brother. Granted I have not been diligent in sticking with the recommended diet, I can still honestly say, … [Read more...] about Godliness and P90X
Of Coffee Mugs and Loaf Pans
Some of our best discipleship and evangelism tools belong in the kitchen. Stacy is the family pastry chef, so to speak. She whips up oatmeal cookies, an oddity in Ecuador, and churns out cinnamon bread and muffins. Recently, she's been baking banana bread, also an unknown commodity down here. I find it puzzling, this lack of banana bread, considering that there are so many acres of banana trees down by the coast that we have local banana barons who greatly influence local economies and politics. We own, as you can see in the photo, exactly two loaf pans; wedding presents, I believe, … [Read more...] about Of Coffee Mugs and Loaf Pans
SBC Cooperative Program Curmudgeons (Part 2)
Yesterday morning I reflected on a sad picture that Jon Acuff posted. I closed by promising to answer this question: If an entity no longer serves the local church should they continue giving to that entity? That is admittedly, a sticky question, and one that I believe hinges on the meaning of the word “serves”. It seems to me that the chief purpose of the entities is to serve the kingdom of Christ through serving and strengthening the local church. We give to the CP to build the kingdom. The beneficiaries of that giving then go about doing the work of the kingdom through this … [Read more...] about SBC Cooperative Program Curmudgeons (Part 2)
A Word of Warning about Change in Churches
I was such a young whippersnapper when I went to seminary. I graduated from college at age 20 and from SWBTS (M.Div) at age 23, so I am really not kidding. I was a seminary grad before I could grow any significant facial hair. I had been active in churches and raised as a pastor's son, but I had very little practical knowledge of what it took to pastor a church. I learned a lot about theology, Greek and Hebrew and inductive Bible study (in my days at Dallas Seminary) and I got a lot of "practical" advice, most of which I had no frame of reference to judge. So, being the self-important young … [Read more...] about A Word of Warning about Change in Churches
SBC Cooperative Program Giving Curmudgeons (Part 1)
Recently Jon Acuff, of Stuff Christians Like, posted this sad picture on his site: That is a photo of a voided check for $75.00. It looks as if this curmudgeon was going to give 75 bucks to the church but decided that he’d void the check and keep his money because the drums were way too loud. This might be a reasonable response at a movie theater or some other form of entertainment, but this is absolutely unacceptable for a church. You do not give money to your church to reward them for entertaining you, helping you, or pleasing you. You give money to your church so that as a … [Read more...] about SBC Cooperative Program Giving Curmudgeons (Part 1)