SBC Voices

Critics: 5 Tips for Engaging Them

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If you spend any time in ministry, you will have critics.  People might criticize your appearance, your preaching, your leadership style, your personality, or how you spend your time.  Whenever we encounter criticism, we are tempted to become defensive or discouraged.  There are times where we might also become angry and lash out at our critic.  While such times can be painful, and some criticism might be invalid, there are occasions where constructive criticism can help us grow in our ministries and leadership. I’m reminded of Solomon’s words regarding criticism and correction.  He wrote, … [Read more...] about Critics: 5 Tips for Engaging Them

Plagiarism/schmagiarism, how about the whole religious/church industrial complex?

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So everyone says at some level,"Hey Ed, cut that stuff out" even though he (a) obtained prior permission, and (b) apologized. The number of heroic virtue signalers are legion in this matter. A few of my favorites: Don't do anything your homiletics prof would not approve of. Good luck with that. Can we note the difference between the classroom and the real world? Good profs recognize that some weeks the typical single staff pastor will not have 20 hours for sermon prep. And if you re-preach a sermon to the same audience, isn't that called something? Laziness? Phoning it in? I'm … [Read more...] about Plagiarism/schmagiarism, how about the whole religious/church industrial complex?

Taking a look at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

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The ERLC lacks a permanent leader at the moment, Russell Moore having resigned earlier this year after leading the organization for eight years. I always liked the demeanor that Moore brought to the ERLC. The acting President is Executive Vice President Daniel Patterson and the ERLC trustees have appointed a search committee for the new leader. I do not know him but presume he and all ERLC employees are wonderful people and represent the SBC well. The ERLC President has the toughest job in the convention. Severe criticism is guaranteed, some will be vicious and unchristian. A few … [Read more...] about Taking a look at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

Camp: Three Reasons It Helps Your Student Ministry

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I have a confession to make: I love youth camp.  God began calling me to surrender my life to Christ at youth camp.  As a camp counselor and program director, I began to sense God calling me into the ministry.  As a youth pastor, I saw my students’ lives transformed while they attended camp.  I also began to sense God calling me into Christian higher education while taking my students to a camp hosted by a Christian university.  Camps have played a pivotal role in my walk with Christ.  I also believe that camps can have a major impact on the spiritual lives of your students. There are three … [Read more...] about Camp: Three Reasons It Helps Your Student Ministry

A History of the Formation and Function of the Executive Committee

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The SBC Annual Meeting in 2021 is one that will be remembered in history as an important one for some time.  While it’s easy to get lost in the respective highs and lows of the meeting, it’s also important to remember that the actions of the SBC when it gathers can have lasting actions. One such meeting happened in 1916 when the actions of one messenger still affect us today.  The Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives records it this way.    In 1916, M. H. Wolfe of Texas proposed to amend the SBC Constitution “to create one strong executive board which … [Read more...] about A History of the Formation and Function of the Executive Committee

Elders: Are They Baptistic?

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Elders are the subject of arguments raised by some Southern Baptists on social media who are opposed to a plurality of elders. Here are some of their points of contention: Churches with a plurality of elders are more Presbyterian than Southern Baptist. Pastors who believe in a plurality of elders are playing semantic games with the current Baptist Faith and Message 2000, which mentions “pastors and deacons” as the offices of the church. A plurality of elders is not a Baptistic approach to church government and is not supported by the history of the Southern Baptist … [Read more...] about Elders: Are They Baptistic?

How should the Ed Litton borrowing sermons situation be handled?

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I believe there are significant concerns that have been raised regarding Ed Litton’s use of JD Greear’s sermons. I don’t like the way the concerns first came to light. None of us should be prowling the internet seeking someone to devour. I’ve been guilty of doing that before. It wasn’t right then. And it isn’t right now. We already have an adversary who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. When Christians seek to devour one another, they image the devil, not Jesus. But legitimate concerns shouldn’t be ignored just because they came to light by illegitimate means. That’s the same argument I … [Read more...] about How should the Ed Litton borrowing sermons situation be handled?

The Southern Baptist Convention: What’s in a Name?

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I remember during the 2012 Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting being somewhat perplexed.  A motion came forward to change the name of the SBC.  As my memory serves me, the thought process behind the motion was to help Southern Baptists who plant churches in the northern states and in other parts of the country not located in the South to avoid geographical baggage that might accompany the current name of the SBC. Rather than change the Convention’s name, the motion proposed that the Convention allow these church planters and any Southern Baptist congregation to use the name Great … [Read more...] about The Southern Baptist Convention: What’s in a Name?

Peacemaking: 4 Lessons Southern Baptists Can Learn From Whitefield and Wesley

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Peacemaking. It’s a word that probably won’t get this post many views or likes. It seems that we currently are like the drivers who frustrate the stew out of me on the interstate. They slow down traffic while passing an accident scene to rubberneck and see the carnage from the collision. Or perhaps we are like sharks who participate in a feeding frenzy after they sense blood in the water. We have a frustrating tendency in the SBC to distract ourselves with fights over tertiary issues rather than focusing on the Great Commission. As I read recent posts and comments on social media arguing … [Read more...] about Peacemaking: 4 Lessons Southern Baptists Can Learn From Whitefield and Wesley