You are probably aware that a new controversy has broken out about the future of the SBC. Actually, no. A very long-standing conflagration has burst forth from the depths again. For many years, the SBC has been a traditionalist haven. The Pastor's conference was one white man in a blue suit followed by another white man in a blue suit followed by another white man in a blue. They preached typical traditional Southern Baptist sermons - always alliterated as God intended! There is a new breeze blowing in the SBC. This year at the SBC Pastor's Conference, you will probably see more … [Read more...] about It’s Deja Vu All Over Again – The Traditional/Contemporary Battle Flares Again!
Sexual Brokenness is a Survivable Struggle
While it’s probably not a good thing to get too bogged down in the “who am I?” and the “who are you?” questions, they do come up in our minds every now and then. We can’t help it. Who am I? Who are you? God only knows. But, thank God, God truly does know. It took me a long time to admit I was “sexually-broken.” I knew from an early age that engaging in sexual activity with a person of the same sex was wrong. I knew it instinctively, but I also knew it spiritually. God’s Word was clear on the issue. Still, it seemed impossible to resist and yielding to it cost me greatly. Only by … [Read more...] about Sexual Brokenness is a Survivable Struggle
Paige Patterson And Al Mohler “Why Calvinism Should NOT Divide the SBC”
At the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention held in Greensboro, NC, there was a breakout session lead by Paige Patterson, the President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Al Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on "Reaching Today's World Through Differing Views of Election." Here are some quotes from both men... Quotes and implications from Patterson: 1. "My fervent prayer is that whatever your beliefs are about the sovereignty of God … you will join me in taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.” 2. "I would caution my non-Calvinist brethren against … [Read more...] about Paige Patterson And Al Mohler “Why Calvinism Should NOT Divide the SBC”
What Exactly Did Jesus Do to the Deaf Man?
I have deaf friends for whom the passage in Mark 7:31-37 is quite confusing. The Bible seems clear enough. As Jesus was passing through an area, some locals asked Jesus to touch a deaf guy. Long story cut short, Jesus made the man hearing and gave him the ability to speak. Everyone was thrilled. Handshakes and backslaps were exchanged. Everyone went home. The end. What’s so confusing? “Why,” a deaf friend once said, “would Jesus do that? Why would He force this deaf guy to become hearing? He didn’t even ask to be ‘healed’! Being deaf isn’t a disease!” Another pal chimed … [Read more...] about What Exactly Did Jesus Do to the Deaf Man?
Christ Jesus: An Advocate Who is Always Ready to Defend the Believer (from John Bunyan)
(Dr. Roger D. Duke is our guest blogger today. The author, though, is the great John Bunyan. Dr. Duke is cowriter with Phil Newton. Venturing all on God: Piety in the Writings of John Bunyan. This volume is one of in the Profiles in Reformed Spirituality series of Reformation Heritage Press and is slated for publication sometime in 2011.) Christ Jesus: An Advocate Who is Always Ready to Defend the Believer[1] A . . . [particular] privilege that they have who have Jesus Christ to be their Advocate is this, He is always ready, always in court, always with the judge, then and there … [Read more...] about Christ Jesus: An Advocate Who is Always Ready to Defend the Believer (from John Bunyan)
An Open Letter to Bryant Wright and the Committee on Nominations: Let’s Paint with Color This Year
To President Bryant Wright and the Members of the SBC Committee on Nominations, Race has been a hot topic in the SBC recently. Dwight McKissic offered a motion in Orlando last June to include racism along with homosexuality as a sin that will eliminate a church from SBC participation. Johnny Hunt referred the motion to the Executive Committee who has declined to recommend the change to the c0nstitution. According to one person, the belief is that such a move would be redundant. Our stand against racism and bigotry is already encoded in the Baptist Faith and Message statement and … [Read more...] about An Open Letter to Bryant Wright and the Committee on Nominations: Let’s Paint with Color This Year
The “New and Improved” SBC Voices
I put out an appeal for help in posting at SBC Voices and the response was gratifying and overwhelming. I want to tell you a little about what we want this site to become – “the vision thing.” Then, I want to introduce you to our new team of regular contributors. Of course, we will also have guest bloggers on a regular basis. The Plan When I got into blogging back in 2006, it was a Wild West shootout. There were good guys and bad guys, our side against their side. I joined right in. But I always had this nagging feeling that the way we communicated with one another just was not … [Read more...] about The “New and Improved” SBC Voices
Understanding the Science or Making the Throw
Dave wrote such a nice piece about Pujols a week or so ago, that I thought I would return the favor and play up a Yankee analogy. I was sitting around watching SportsCenter and they were talking to Mariano Rivera, the historically great Yankee closer. During the segment, they showed a feature by the "Sports Science" guys about how Rivera's pitches work and at one point there was a split screen and it honestly looked like Rivera was stunned to see the mechanics behind his own pitch. When the announcer asked him if that was really how he did it, Rivera's answer was telling. He said, "I don't … [Read more...] about Understanding the Science or Making the Throw
Two Questions for the Readers of SBC Voices
1) Who is going to Phoenix? I had a great time last year in Orlando, getting to know people I had blogged with (and against). I discovered that rumors that Tim Rogers has horns are greatly exaggerated. I found out that CB Scott is a real person, not a myth. It was great fun. This year, of course, Phoenix is a little longer trip for most of us. But I am wondering who is planning to be there and who wants to hang out. My goal would be to get a wave going during one of the entity presentations. We'll see. Who is going to be there? 2) Do you guys like the nested comments or … [Read more...] about Two Questions for the Readers of SBC Voices
The Racism Motion: A Response from the Inside
I received an email from someone who was "in the know" relative to some of the decisions that I have been critical of here. I'll call him Jason Bourne (Obviously, NOT his real name). He responded in a reasoned and forthright way to some of the comments that I (and others) have made here about Dwight McKissic's motion about racism in the SBC. It is really important to see all sides of things. Jason gently shared a different perspective than the one I had formed and I learned from it. He has asked that I protect his identity but granted me permission to share some of his thoughts and … [Read more...] about The Racism Motion: A Response from the Inside