SBC Voices

“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets”  (Luke 6:26) “Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.”  (1 Timothy 3:7) These two verses are not in contradiction.  In fact they are meant to compliment one another.  A Luke 6:26 church (to the exclusion of 1 Timothy 3:7) is not healthy.  Neither is a 1 Timothy 3:7 church (to the exclusion of Luke 6:26) a healthy church. Some churches believe that being persecuted (no matter what reason) is the mark of a true church.  … [Read more...] about Your Church Should Be Hated…But For the Right Reason

In Richard Baxter’s work The Reformed Pastor he discusses the preachers need to “screw the truth into their minds, and work Christ into their affections.”  As I read over that the phrase, “screw the truth into their minds”, Baxter’s unique wording struck me.  Notice that he did not say “nail the truth” or “drive the truth”, he said “screw the truth”.  I think that is intentional. Consider the nail.  A nail will go into a board with one swift blow.  Even a child, with minimal labor, can plunge a nail into a board.  Not so, with the screw.  The screw often requires a power tool.  Screws … [Read more...] about Monday’s Ministry Musing: Screw the Truth

I wrote an article Monday at sbcIMPACT about Harry Potter.  In it, I admitted my deep, dark secret - I'm a fan of the books and movies.  But I'm also a little wary about the subject.  Below is my original post, then some very insightful comments by David Rogers that present a reasonable case for why Christians should be careful about the Potter phenomena.  Both David and I believe this is a matter of liberty and conscience, but that does not mean that Christians should fail to exhibit discernment. So, here is my original post and David's comments.  Let us know what you think. TRUE … [Read more...] about A Christian Liberty Debate: What about Harry Potter?

I have had two conversations recently that revealed a similar concept, that if two Christians disagree on some theological or lifestyle issue, one or both of them is "in sin" and should repent.  Is that really true?  Are differences in doctrine rooted in sin?  Must disagreements be settled by repentance? Dr. Malcolm Yarnell of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary created some controversy a few years ago at the height of the Baptist Identity debate among Southern Baptists.  We believe that baptism is meant to be performed after conversion by immersion - that's why we are called … [Read more...] about Is It a Sin to Disagree? Picket Fence Doctrine: Brick Walls, Picket Fences (8)

I was in the middle of a series of posts entitled “Brick Walls and Picket Fences” a few months ago and got sidelined from it.  I continue to believe that one of the greatest needs in the SBC (and the greater evangelical church) is for us learn to balance the pursuit of doctrinal correctness and unity.  I have previously made 8 posts in this series, and plan to take it up again. You will notice the similarity between this and Dr. Mohler's Theological Triage rubric.  There are both similarities and differences.  The concept of both is that all doctrine is true but that does not mean that … [Read more...] about “Why Build a Brick Wall When a Picket Fence Will Do?” Brick Walls and Picket Fences (7)

At a conference I attended, I heart Alan Hirsch say something I wrote on my white board in my office. "It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows". I am not sure if that is an original quite, but I like it and I remember it for a solid reason. I don't want to become unteachable. Have you met an unteachable guy? I am sure you have. They already know everything, even if they are wrong, they won't admit it, if you show them they are wrong, they will find a way out of it. Most of us (I said us) on blogs tend to lean this way. We are pretty sure of our ideas, … [Read more...] about Teachability

One mustard stain can ruin everything.  It doesn’t really matter that 99.4% of my shirt is clean.  It’s that .6% of mustard stain (or maybe 15% pending on how I tackled that sandwich) that my eyes immediately go to. We are like that aren’t we?  Some more than others.  We tend to focus on the blemishes.  Blemishes have a tendency to register a pretty hefty on the “am I cool or not” scale.  Enough blemishes (whether perceived or real) and you won’t feel adequate even if you have a staff that turns into a snake or a hand that can change from leprosy to healed quicker than a Hollywood … [Read more...] about Mustard Stains and Stuttering Speech

The SBC Plodder is back with another examination of Calvinism. I will put on my Karnak turban and predict a lively discussion. After all, I have ESP-N.   I'm a hacker and a plodder and am no different than the other fifty thousand or so SBC pastors but I do have a thirty year history with Calvinism and Calvinists and, unsurprisingly, have an opinion about it and them. To be candid, while I’m mostly ambivalent about Calvinismm, I'm decidedly wary of Calvinists. Here’s why: 1. Calvinists can be, well, rather arrogant. No, they don’t have a monopoly on such but my observation is that they … [Read more...] about Why I’m wary of Calvinists (by William Thornton)

This prayer has made the rounds and just about every blog has weighed in. Here's your chance. Is this a light and funny moment in which, as Pastor Nelms said, he obeyed the biblical injunction to "in everything give thanks?" Or was this a sacrilege against Christ? Did this Baptist (I'm not sure if he is Southern Baptist - no evidence that he is) pastor seem more intent on seeking God or on entertaining the crowds? Is it appropriate to give thanks for your "smoking hot wife?" And is saying, "In Jesus' name, boogety-boogety-boogety" an appropriate close? I love humor. I love a good … [Read more...] about Best Prayer Ever? Or an Embarrassment? You Make the Call!