SBC Voices

Mercutio was caught in the middle of the warring houses of Montague and Capulet.  He ended up getting killed during a battle between Romeo and Tybalt - an unintended but tragic consequence of the blood-feud that had gripped Verona. We are Verona, and the Calvinist Montagues are in battle against the non-Calvinist, "traditionalist" Capulets. Both sides claim the others started it.  Both claim that they are serving God and that the other side is the one responsible for most of the trouble.  "It was them!  We only responded to what they did." This "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" attitude … [Read more...] about “A Plague on Both Your Houses” – The Calvinism Debates in the SBC

Yesterday, "A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God's Plan of Salvation" hit the internet. The discussion that stems from this should be really interesting--to say the least. In the Preamble the motivation behind this document is set forth. It begins: Every generation of Southern Baptists has the duty to articulate the truths of its faith with particular attention to the issues that are impacting contemporary mission and ministry. The precipitating issue for this statement is the rise of a movement called “New Calvinism” among Southern Baptists. This movement is … [Read more...] about Why I’m Opposed to “New Calvinism”

In an ironic twist, there is a new name I can fully embrace this summer in New Orleans. As most readers at SBC Voices might assume, I have already signed A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God's Plan of Salvation. It describes, in a manner completely consistent with The Baptist Faith and Message, the soteriological position I hold dear and boldly proclaim. By drafting the statement, the authors have provided at least one service to Southern Baptists that I believe should not go unnoticed, and it is in the area of nomenclature. While this may not have been their … [Read more...] about I Am A Traditionalist

Editor: I also receive the resolution from Joe McGee that William references, and had thought to respond.  William did it first and did it better!  I appreciate his perspective. You can (and should) read William at SBC Plodder. The Consolation Baptist Association here in Georgia has passed a resolution suggesting that churches cut their Cooperative Program giving by 25-35 percent and designate this to "state missions" or, as explained to me, to their state convention. I learned of the resolution from a comment left on SBC Voices, asked for and received a copy of it, and have had a couple … [Read more...] about Will state conventions be helped by undermining the Cooperative Program? (by William Thornton)

In June 2010, almost two years ago now, SBC messengers defeated a proposal to unseal the records of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force meetings, records which the Task Force itself, unilaterally, took the liberty of sealing for a proposed fifteen years. The strongest argument against unsealing the records had to do with personnel considerations and centered upon the protection of individuals whose testimony about others might in fact jeopardize their jobs. They were promised confidentiality by the task force (who told them they could do that?) and the task force did not want to … [Read more...] about Let’s Open It Early!