People often ask me technical questions about the blog. "Do you use an astrocambio degengalator to massaultify your bacrogoggles?" In fact, I've had people get angry at me as if I was being intentionally unhelpful when they have asked questions and I have responded in ignorance. I am telling you the truth, here, when I say that I am likely the least technologically proficient blog editor ever. I know how to write. Sometimes, when the mood hits, I even edit what I write. I know how to post it and then publish it on a Wordpress format. Beyond that, I'm pretty must lost. I've been … [Read more...] about Crucial Theological Discussion: Are Our Threaded Comments Messing with Your Mind?
Principles of Patriotism and Christian Worship
We had some discussions on this a year ago - some real humdingers. Here are some of the thoughts I had, revised from a previous post. In my previous church, the Sunday before the Fourth was generally a Red, White and Blue Celebration, which people greatly enjoyed. I tried to make sure, in my sermon, that Americans needed God, but that he did not need us, that neither America nor Americans had any special place in God's heart. He loved Ethiopians and Koreans and Brazilians - even Canadians! - as much as he loved us. Tomorrow, I have no plans to preach on anything related to Independence … [Read more...] about Principles of Patriotism and Christian Worship
Division is Easy: Are Southern Baptists Lazy?
I had one of "those" meetings recently. In one of our congregational confabs things got a little chippy. One member basically insinuated that I had not been completely forthright in a previous meeting. It is never easy to have your integrity called out in front of your church family. And (no surprise) I thought the accusation was unfair. I believe I spoke the truth and it was infuriating to have my veracity called into question. At that point of personal insult, I had a choice. One option is easy - simply give in to the flesh and respond with the works of that flesh as defined in Galatians … [Read more...] about Division is Easy: Are Southern Baptists Lazy?
Any Descriptor Sightings?
Having previously listed twenty reasons why I believed Southern Baptists would have been better off NOT giving our blessing to the use of an inwardly divisive and outwardly confusing descriptor, I must now concede the historical fact that, according to the will of 53% of voting messengers in New Orleans (or a total of 2,546 Southern Baptists) who decided to affirm this approach, whether we like it or not, churches and entities may now adopt, with the convention's approval, the optional replacement name "Great Commission Baptists" when referring to the Southern Baptist Convention. I realize … [Read more...] about Any Descriptor Sightings?
Sharing the Faith in the 21st Century (by Chris Roberts)
Chris Roberts blogs at "Seek the Holy." Whatever kind of Baptist you are, there is one thing I already know about you: you live in challenging days for the gospel. Not that there have ever been easy days for the gospel, but there have been periods in which people held a basic level of respect or basic degree of receptivity to the things of God. These days are not among them. Not only has society’s perception of Christianity change, society as a whole has undergone massive revolutions, changing every aspect of how we live and interact with one another. One consequence of these changing … [Read more...] about Sharing the Faith in the 21st Century (by Chris Roberts)
Why Dave Miller Won 2nd VP of the SBC (by Alan Cross)
Alan, who blogs at Downshore Drift, reflects on the SBC 2012 meeting. Last week, I was asked by Iowa pastor and editor of SBCVoices.com, Dave Miller, to give his nomination speech for 2nd VP of the SBC in New Orleans. It was an honor to do so. Dave was not supposed to win. He threw his hat in the ring on Friday evening, June 15, with the convention starting just a few days later. Also running for the position was Eric Hankins, pastor of First Baptist Church, Oxford, MS and author of the infamous Traditionalist statement on Baptist soteriology. The convention was in Louisiana, the home … [Read more...] about Why Dave Miller Won 2nd VP of the SBC (by Alan Cross)
A New Approach to this Soteriological Debate
I think that if I was growing up today, I'd have been diagnosed with ADD and probably medicated. I am easily distracted from the work I am supposed to be doing. I tend to lose interest in discussions after a certain length of time. So, I don't know if it is my attention-deficit or what, but I can tell you this: I am sick to death of this discussion of the Traditionalist Document. Could we beat that thing into the ground a little more? We've devoured it, sucked out the marrow and gnawed the bones, have we not? I am sick to death of talking about Calvinism and variations of non-Calvinism, … [Read more...] about A New Approach to this Soteriological Debate
Battling Seduction From Your Window Instead of On the Streets
“For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice…” Proverbs 7:6 I do not believe that it is an accident that Solomon’s advice comes from the window instead of on the streets. Previously I noted from Proverbs 7 the path of seduction. I also noted that if you find yourself on this path, according to the Proverbs, there is great likelihood that you will end up gutted like a deer in a tree. That is because the battle against seduction is often won from the window instead of on the streets. Though we can find help by looking at 7:11-23 it is not in those verses that the … [Read more...] about Battling Seduction From Your Window Instead of On the Streets
Call to International Missions, Part 2: Familial Approval
If you're just joining us, you'll want to read part 1 of this little series here. We'd all like the approval and support of our families, right? We all want to make hard choices, especially about missions, confident that our parents and siblings will be right there with us every step of the way. We want to be Samuel, given to the Lord's service by grateful parents. We'd like to be Samson, brought into the world with the understanding that Mom and Dad would prep us for ministry. Heck, we would even accept Gideon's fate, supported by an idol-worshipping father who at least stood up for … [Read more...] about Call to International Missions, Part 2: Familial Approval
Of Unity and Heresy
The appeal for unity by Southern Baptist Calvinists makes perfect sense to me. Let's put our differences behind us for the sake of our witness and cooperation in the gospel. We may have slight differences in soteriology, but we agree that Jesus is Lord, the Bible is inerrant and God wants us to tell a dying world about Him. Fine. Really. The suggestion by Southern Baptist Calvinists that Traditionalists may believe in heresy is much more troubling. Traditionalists who affirm Total Depravity reject Total Inability. Traditionalists who affirm our sin nature in Adam nevertheless reject that we … [Read more...] about Of Unity and Heresy