Editor: William Thornton is the SBC Plodder and a keen observer of SBC life. This is a repost from his site. Yesterday he posted the part one. "Why the CP has been Dropping Like a Rock, Part One." These are not in order of magnitude or importance: 9. It is too hard to change the allocation formulas. We just went through a heavy movement called the Great Commission Resurgence. If successful, international missions will get a little trickle of additional funds through the CP. Lots of effort, little result. 10. The Cooperative Program doesn’t allow the convention to easily adjust to … [Read more...] about Why the Cooperative Program has been dropping like a rock, Part Two (by William Thornton)
Grace for the Journey and Wisdom from the Battles – A Review of “Surviving Sexual Brokenness” by Thom Hunter
Since getting reacquainted and in the loop at SBC Voices, I have come to appreciate each time Thom Hunter shares a new post. His writing is always penetrating and frequently takes a tack that few will ever ponder or dare to do, usually because it is born of personal and often painful experience of the sort that few are willing to share about transparently with others. This is the main reason that I jumped at the offer to review Thom's book, Surviving Sexual Brokenness. If I were required to describe the book using a single word, I would go back to that same idea: transparent. This isn't … [Read more...] about Grace for the Journey and Wisdom from the Battles – A Review of “Surviving Sexual Brokenness” by Thom Hunter
The Mercy of Hell
If it's ok with everyone (hope so, cause I didn't ask), I want to jump on the bandwagon of talking about Hell. Now I know Rob Bell ruined it for us, but I want to take a different spin if I could. You see, aside from theology, I have some things in common with Rob. We are both from the same generation, we are both Gen Xers, he is slightly older than I am. We both ask many questions, and we both question the established system. That is where we depart, I headed more towards Driscoll, he went towards McLaren. That being said, I see the meta-narrative approach, and I understand where Bell … [Read more...] about The Mercy of Hell
Why the Cooperative Program has been dropping like a rock – Part One (by William Thornton)
Editor: William Thornton is the SBC Plodder and a keen observer of SBC life. This is a repost from his site It follows up on the discussion of the two previous articles he posted here, "SBC Presidents and the Cooperative Program" and "Dropping Like a Rock: The Cooperative Program." My humble conjectures about the decline of the once mighty Cooperative Program. Every Southern Baptist is a denominational pundit. Plodder's punditry, not in order of magnitude or importance: 1. It’s the moderates’ fault. Sure, SBC moderates were generally very strong givers to the cooperative program and were … [Read more...] about Why the Cooperative Program has been dropping like a rock – Part One (by William Thornton)
We’re Called His Brothers (and he is not ashamed)
We give the idea lip service—the church is the family of God. When we gather and sing songs and pray, we gather with our brothers and sisters. Yet, can you claim you know the people worshiping next to you as well as you know your brother? Is your house open to share your life with them and theirs to share their life with you? One of the riches we find over and over in the Bible is that by coming to Jesus and his church we come to a new family. Hopefully our physical family can come with us as believers as well, but even if they don’t—even if they reject us for our faith—we have a new … [Read more...] about We’re Called His Brothers (and he is not ashamed)
Sometimes God is Deaf
(This post originally appeared at my blog Borrowed Light) A sure way to ensure not having an audience with me is to trash my wife. If some person decides that they want to speak ill of my wife to me (and this rarely happens) they quickly realize they made a foolish mistake. They’ll never win. You know why? Because I am decidedly on her side. In an even greater way this is the case with the Lord when Satan brings accusations against us. When he starts dogging on God’s Bride (see Zechariah 3) Satan is met with a sharp rebuke. It is the same case with believers today. Written … [Read more...] about Sometimes God is Deaf
Suffering, Comfort, and Biblical Illiteracy
Sound theology--a clear understanding of God and His Word--are bedrock foundations that answer every significant question of human existence. However, that does not mean that when tragedy strikes we should tell someone to "take two verses and call me in the morning." If you look at the circumstances of suffering Job in the Bible, the best thing his friends did after calamity struck and his life was in shambles was to sit and be silent with him for 7 days. After that they opened their mouths and began to ponder what secret sin he had committed for God to punish him as they presumed He had. … [Read more...] about Suffering, Comfort, and Biblical Illiteracy
Blogging, Networking, and Purpose
I sat at my computer today and cringed. In light of the recent (uh, hmmmn), blog competition in which I failed, I was forced to wonder about my writing. Not because I did not make it to the next round of competition. No. Actually, I received a record collection of votes for a little old grandma from the plains of Oklahoma. All the more a marvel, since my competitors are well-known, highly educated men of God in the theological and religious world. Competing in the "Madness" was more for recreation and frivolity. I knew I stood no chance. I had fun badgering my Facebook buds who had … [Read more...] about Blogging, Networking, and Purpose
Autonomy of the local church?
The Arizona Southern Baptist Convention provides sample bylaws, articles of incorporation, property deeds, and other legal documents for church plants. One of the clauses in these documents is a reverter clause which transfers all the church's assets to the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention in the case that the church ceases to be a Southern Baptist Church. My own church has such a clause in their bylaws, but they are not nearly as strict as the current templates available. This language is encouraged for all churches and is required for church plants to get support from the convention. I … [Read more...] about Autonomy of the local church?
The Bogeyman Myth of the Hateful Bigot
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Luke 23:34 I have been told the church was mostly silent on that day. Evidence of my ongoing struggle with homosexuality was presented, a vote was taken and I was declared unfit to be a member and removed for the destruction of my soul. I was not there that night, but instead was angry and alone in the darkening end of a long and frightening day, as they proclaimed me unworthy of them. Oh . . . my soul. And all that is within me. Since that fateful vote, I … [Read more...] about The Bogeyman Myth of the Hateful Bigot