SBC Voices

Here’s a difficult question.  Why would two people saved by the same death of the same Jesus, indwelled by the same Holy Spirit reading the same Bible come up with such different opinions on so many issues? This quandary is used as evidence against the authority or the efficacy of Scripture as a moral and spiritual guide. “Even Christians don’t agree what the Bible says about so many things, how can we act as if it is some kind of authoritative word from God?” It is not a question we should easily dismiss.  The simple fact is that there is only a small amount of doctrine on which all … [Read more...] about Legalism, Antinomianism and Why We Disagree (Brick Walls, Picket Fences 14)

1. Calvinism IS the Gospel. Some of the people who make this statement will capitalize "Calvinism" and fail to capitalize "gospel," which makes me wonder what takes priority in their minds. Are you saved by understanding systematic theology or by knowing the Gospel? Actually, you are saved by knowing Christ intimately with a regenerated, repentant heart. But I still believe the term "Gospel" should be capitalized. Nevertheless, this ridiculous statement may be genuinely believed by a person, but it implies that a biblical interpretation of soteriology other than a Calvinistic one is … [Read more...] about Two Statements That Hinder Baptist Cooperation

I’ll warn you in advance this will not be a neatly written treatise or anything like that.  I simply want to share something, hopefully briefly, that I believe the Lord is showing me.  So…no catchy introduction. Background: I really love my children.  I am very dedicated to my children.  I want to see them grow into a passionate Jesus-loving, kingdom-building, earth moving man and woman.  I want Isaiah to be a good daddy and great husband.  I want Hannah to be a good mommy and great wife. I’m also a sinner.  I have idols.  I have ridiculous self-righteousness.  Part of the reason I want … [Read more...] about Hey Daddy, Chill Out

Preachers like to talk smack about sports. So, here it is. I only ask that we observe a few basic rules of Christian dignity. 1) No trashing the Yankees. Such wickedness is not permitted. Saying nice things about the Boston Devil Sox is considered under the same rule. 2) SEC fans should show some humility - schools like those in the Big-10 spend our money providing an education for our students and so we are not able to pay our football players as you do yours. It is difficult for amateur conferences made up of students who actually attend class to be forced to compete with … [Read more...] about SBC Voices Sports Trash-Talk Forum 9/3/11

Vol put the second video up on Facebook, and I decided to share all three with you. Here's the second one (and perhaps my favorite): And one more: Now, go invite someone to church! … [Read more...] about Things I Stole from Worley’s Facebook: Invite Videos

“I wish my letters may be a bridle to you and yours a spur to me.” Those words came from the pen of John Newton to a much younger John Ryland, Jr.  Newton was almost 50 when he wrote these words, and Ryland was only around 20.  Ryland was just beginning in the ministry and Newton had been converted and laboring for the Lord for almost as long as Ryland had been alive. It seems to me that Newton’s relationship with Ryland should be one that is emulated all throughout our churches. Those that have been believers for quite some time can and engaged in ministry for a decent season can have … [Read more...] about What To Do With “Young Whippersnappers” and “Old Coots”

This post is a continuation of the discussion of Personal Space truth that is found here.  There will be parts of this post that will not make sense unless you have read the previous entry in the series.  In Romans 14, Paul tells us that there are disputable issues on which conscientious Christians can disagree.  Each of us answer to our Lord and it is a serious offense against the Cross of Christ for us to try to assume lordship over one another on these disputable issues.  In this post, we will look at Paul's clear teaching in Romans 14. An Examination of Romans 14 Paul, in verse 1, … [Read more...] about Romans 14 and Personal Space: I Have a Lord; You Aren’t Him! (Brick Walls and Picket Fences 13)

...love them, hate them, or be ambivalent about them. According to Thom Ranier, head of LifeWay there are 177 of them in the SBC. That is, 177 churches that report on the Annual Church Profile an average primary worship attendance of at least 2,000 weekly and who give something to the Cooperative Program. Not all churches reported, so there's probably a few missing from this list. Some that are on the list are probably only nominally SBC. Some observations on the 177 megachurches: About 0.4% of SBC churches are megachurches but on an average Lord’s Day of the 6.2 million people that … [Read more...] about SBC Megachurches…(by William Thornton)

I’m growing, but I still have pack-rat tendencies. There are still a few objects that I have a really hard time getting rid of: screws, bolts, springs, various parts that I have no idea what they are or what they are for, old shirts, ratty jeans, and “important” papers that will probably in reality remain unnecessary until well after Jesus returns. I keep these things because, hey…you never know when you might need them.  Which has proven itself true maybe about three times in my life.  There was that one time that I was able to use a spring, then I needed some ratty jeans for a paint … [Read more...] about Hoarding v. A Daily God

At the sbctoday blog, Dr. Steve Lemke of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is currently writing a series of posts entitled “Distinctive Baptist Beliefs.”  While pointing out the many bridges between Baptists and Presbyterian traditions, he is seeking to also provide a series of distinctives that separate Baptists from our Presbyterian brethren.  The second distinctive concerns the age/state of accountability—a theological idea more readily recognized in the question, “What happens to babies when they die?” Many in both traditions posit that infants (and people, such as those who … [Read more...] about The Age (or State) of Accountability and Original Sin, One Baptist’s Perspective