There's another epidemic raging through our fair land. In addition to COVID-19 and variants there is a highly infectious strain of alternative communication making deep inroads into our Christian subculture. Here are just a couple of examples: Some ministry leaders don't just resign but "step into a substantial season of reordering." Indeed, marching into a summer, winter, spring, fall, presumably a globally climate change enhanced "substantial" season, not just a normal season. I recall (from reading, not from personal experience) the year without a summer, 1816. Now that was a … [Read more...] about Why can’t some followers of Jesus just talk normally?
Army Chaplains: Clearing Up Some Myths
There is a good bit of misinformation circulating around the internet regarding military chaplains in general and Army chaplains in specific. I’ve seen posts that claim that Army chaplains cannot pray in Jesus’ name when they conduct their worship services. Some people claim that chaplains are forced to conduct services for other religions. Hopefully this post will help clear up some of these common myths related to military chaplaincy. Myth #1: Chaplains Cannot Pray in Jesus’ Name This myth stems largely from confusion regarding military ceremonies versus worship services. Attendance at a … [Read more...] about Army Chaplains: Clearing Up Some Myths
Suggested Ethics for Online Theological Discourse, Part 2 (Phillip Powers)
In my previous post, I began to outline the general contours of a biblical ethic for theological discourse. The ability to discuss questions of theology and biblical interpretation Christianly, especially where there is disagreement, is a primary indication of a person’s maturity in Christ. However, in this current cultural climate, godly virtues like humility, gentleness, kindness, love, and grace are glaringly absent from most (online) theological discourse. As Christians, we are certainly called to contend boldly and vigorously for the truth, and sometimes this necessarily includes calling … [Read more...] about Suggested Ethics for Online Theological Discourse, Part 2 (Phillip Powers)
Should SBC employees be allowed as messengers at the Annual Meeting?
There's been some discussion lately about the appropriateness of employees of SBC entities serving as messengers to the SBC Meeting. Much of this was sparked by a post on Twitter from Tom Buck. Undeniable fact: If the votes of SBC employees were removed from the vote in Nashville... and only the votes of everyday SBC pastors and church members were left... Mike Stone would've won in a landslide. — Tom Buck (Five Point Buck) (@TomBuck) August 12, 2021 While it's impossible to know the truth of Pastor Buck's statement without assuming the motives and votes … [Read more...] about Should SBC employees be allowed as messengers at the Annual Meeting?
What was lost has been found: Spurgeon’s earliest sermons
The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon are back in production after a nearly two-and-a-half-year hiatus. Originally planned as a 12-volume set, the project will only produce 9 volumes — one per notebook of Spurgeon’s earliest sermons. I reviewed Volume IV earlier this year and noted what had changed under the new editor and research team. With the recent publication of Volume V, I think the trajectory for the final four editions is set. I asked Broadman and Holman Publishers for a review copy, and here’s what you can expect from it and the series going forward. As with each previous edition … [Read more...] about What was lost has been found: Spurgeon’s earliest sermons
Autonomy, abuse, and the Executive Committee
While the subject is before us, it may be helpful to provide some context. The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention is critically important even though it has a small budget (around $6 million, set at 2.95% of Cooperative Program national receipts) and a small staff. They do a lot. But here's what they don't do: They don't ordain ministers (and, thus, they cannot revoke ordinations). They don't assign pastors to SBC churches. They don't supervise pastors of any SBC church. They don't fire pastors or staff of any SBC church. They don't supervise … [Read more...] about Autonomy, abuse, and the Executive Committee
Bunyan’s Badman: Why buy the cow when the milk is cheap?
John Bunyan is one of the most famous Baptists in history, though I suspect he’s less well-known today than at any other time in the last 50 to 100 years. Google would seem to agree. In case the name is unfamiliar to you, Bunyan is famous for writing Pilgrim’s Progress. This is a beloved Christian allegory first published in 1678. It has been translated into over 200 languages. (By comparison, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone has been translated into just shy of 90.) I’ve read Pilgrim’s Progress a few times, and it’s widely available in modern and children’s editions that update … [Read more...] about Bunyan’s Badman: Why buy the cow when the milk is cheap?
The independent Sex Abuse Task Force: Questions and observations [unusually long, but read it anyway].
The Sex Abuse Task Force authorized by convention motion in June is living and active and has a website with updates. On June 16, 2021 the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, TN overwhelming passed the following motion: “I move that the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting June 15-16, 2021, in Nashville, TN, ask the newly elected president of the SBC to appoint a task force within 30 days of the date of this Convention that shall be comprised of members of Baptist churches cooperating with this Convention and experts in sexual abuse and the handling of sexual abuse-related … [Read more...] about The independent Sex Abuse Task Force: Questions and observations [unusually long, but read it anyway].
Time Keeps Ticking Away: 8 Steps to Time Management in Youth Ministry
While deployed as an Army Chaplain on Operation Enduring Freedom in Europe, God taught me some lessons about time management. While my unit was not in a combat area, the deployment made me think about the brevity of my life and how I had spent my time up until that point. I grieved over time I wasted and committed that I would seek to try to make the most of each day, seeing each day as a stewardship God gave me with which to make Kingdom investments. I vowed that I would not waste my time. Scripture communicates the importance of managing our time well due to the brevity of our lives and the … [Read more...] about Time Keeps Ticking Away: 8 Steps to Time Management in Youth Ministry
Obituaries and news reports in the COVID-19 era
A well-known Southern Baptist evangelist died yesterday of pneumonia and COVID-19. While I wasn't acquainted with the 51-year old man, the Baptist Press report of his death quoted a couple of pastors local to me. It was a tragic death that is being mourned all over the SBC. I join those who pray for comfort and peace for his family and friends. Notable in the Baptist Press article was this sentence: "Baptist Press was unable to confirm whether he had received the COVID-19 vaccine." Vaccination, I have been reminded, sometimes brusquely, is a personal choice and a private matter. I don't … [Read more...] about Obituaries and news reports in the COVID-19 era