SBC Voices

In 1900 B. H. Carroll preached a sermon on Baptists 100 Years Ago. It was a historical message telling of Baptist leaders and work in the era around 1800. Carroll (AD 1843-1914), was founder and first president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Following are a couple of his comments about some Calvinists of those days who went to the extreme. “It was a time of strong doctrine, and many Baptists were hyper-Calvinists in their view. But Leland himself tells us how, one day while preaching, ‘his soul got into the gospel trade-winds,’ which so filled his spiritual sails that he forgot … [Read more...] about B.H. Carroll on Hyper-Calvinism (by David Brumbelow)

The SBC world was shaken pretty dramatically last September when our president, Bryant Wright, appointed a task force to study the feasibility of changing the name of the SBC.  As someone who lives outside the South, I've favored such a thing for a long time, so I welcomed this blue ribbon panel to study the issue. They were tasked with answering four questions: 1. Is there value in considering a name change? 2. If so, what would be a good name to suggest? 3. What would be the potential legal ramifications of a name change? 4. What would be the potential financial implications? I … [Read more...] about The SBC Name-Change Proposal’s Coming: What’s Gonna Happen?

I’m from Perry, Missouri.  Less than 1,000 people are housed in her city limits.  Few of them anything but White Anglo-Saxons.  Most of them perhaps not sure what an Anglo-Saxon is; that’s not to insult my hometown—merely to say that in an agrarian society, like Perry, knowing what an Anglo-Saxon is really doesn’t matter. I share all of that to say that my exposure to people of different languages and nationalities for the first 18 years of my life was pretty minimal.  Then I went to college.  Even here “they” were not normal.  Most of my college was made up of white folk.  But my college … [Read more...] about What If You Couldn’t Read Your Bible?

The Baptist churches I grew up in could be counted on to follow the biblical standard for church worship services.  (It had to be biblical, or why would every Baptist church do it the same way?) After someone made the necessary announcements, either the choir would sing its "Call to Worship" or we'd sing a hymn or two (out of the Baptist Hymnal - the repository of all songs holy enough to sing in church).  There would be a pastoral prayer with the appropriate references to thee and thou to demonstrate awe.  Hymns were led by a nicely dress man in a white shirt, tie and dark suit as Moses … [Read more...] about Discussion Topic: When “Special Music” Isn’t So Special

NOTE: I have just released a book which compiles (and edits and expands) these posts. It is called "Disqualified? What the Bible Says about Divorce, Remarriage and Ministry."   It is available on Amazon.com. The Kindle version will be released in the next couple of days - not sure what the hold-up is there. This book reviews the biblical evidence on divorce and remarriage, beginning with the cornerstone in the Old Testament - the twin principles of God's intent of marriage as a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman and the understanding of the brokenness caused by sin. It then lays the … [Read more...] about Divorce and Remarriage in the OT: Deuteronomy 24:1-4 – Establishing Grounds for Divorce

I'm not a little guy.  I stand 6'4" in my shoes and I am trying to diet now to get down to 300 pounds.  Walking a tightrope for me would be a near impossible task.  But it would be easier than finding the balance between speaking the truth and speaking in love - the model Paul gave us for Christian conversation. 1)  There is no question that the biblical warnings about false teachers coming into this world has come true.  Emergent compromise. Blurring of theological lines.  Gospel ignorance and even false gospels abounding. Biblical illiteracy.  It is everywhere..  The idea that we should … [Read more...] about Speaking the Truth in Love: Walking a Tightrope Would be Easier (in a Driscoll, Jakes, Calvinism/anti-Calvinism, Alcohol etc. World)

… [Read more...] about Matt Chandler’s Controversial Sermon at Elevation Church/Code Orange

Mark It’s always been difficult raising Mark.  From a very young age his temper was a problem.  He was kicked out of kindergarten for violent behavior towards the other children.  The screaming was one thing.  The shoving another.  But once he began biting and stabbing other kids with pencils the school’s guidance counselor knew that something had to be done. The rage only got worse through the years.  Mom and dad had been punched, spit upon, kicked, yelled at, threatened, shoved, and had become ninja-like in their ability to dodge flying objects hurled forth from Mark’s angry … [Read more...] about Which Child Do You Want to Parent?