I was raised in a Baptist family, accepted Christ at an early age, grew up with what I consider a hell, fire, and brimstone pastor, and never heard of the Apocrapha until I was at least a late teen, or perhaps it was even later than that and I was a young adult. I can't put an exact date on it but it was farther back in my years than closer to present at least! I do remember, however, that once I did learn about the existence of the Apocrapha that every time I asked what it was, the answer was almost whispered to me, as if it was a taboo subject. I'm a curious sort and so I kept poking around … [Read more...] about Concerning the Apocrypha…
What is the Biblical nature of the Church?
There is a lot of talk in the Southern Baptist Convention about the nature of the church. Words like organic, institution, movement, centralization, etc.. are thrown around quite often. I have read a few books on the issue and I have to be honest: I take a stand on the 'not as popular' side. What is the nature of the church in Acts? Most agree that the nature of the church in Acts is more of an organic, house to house church setting. In Acts we see the phrase 'house to house' numerous times. Paul addressed and spoke of house churches. Paul went house to house in order to disciple and … [Read more...] about What is the Biblical nature of the Church?
Yokes We Cannot Bear
It is the beginning of the new year and a time, undoubtedly, when we all make resolutions to do this thing or that thing better this year. I was reading scripture in the New Testament this afternoon and came upon a certain verse which says "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" This verse is found in the 15th chapter of Acts, verse 10. Peter wasn't asking about the ridiculousness of new years resolutions of course, but I had to laugh as I read the verse because off an on throughout the day my mind had … [Read more...] about Yokes We Cannot Bear
Blog Debate: Contextualization, IMB, And Gospel Integrity
There is something of a blog debate right now about contextualization and sharing the Gospel in a Muslim context. It began with this post on SBC Impact which is a sample of a contextualized personal testimony offered by anonymous missionary. SBC Today posted a response that raised several issues with this approach to contextualization. Among other things, that response concluded: It is certainly worthwhile to “contextualize the gospel.” The task is difficult, surely. The author of the SBCImpact.net article may well have sought to do something similar to what Paul did in these examples, but … [Read more...] about Blog Debate: Contextualization, IMB, And Gospel Integrity
Does Cooperative Program = Missions?
This is the one question that kept coming up in yesterday's conversation. One commentator even asked, "When did the CP start describing itself as mission work?" Here are a few observations: The domain www.cpmissions.net definitely gives that idea. The title of the website is "Cooperative Program (CP) Missions" The about page states, "a God-given partnership of missions support was conceived—The Cooperative Program." Missions Home & Abroad? This was a second question that kept coming up. I wasn't able to find an authoritative definition, but my instinct is to think … [Read more...] about Does Cooperative Program = Missions?
The SBC & Bleeding Kansas
While looking up some history of the Domestic Missions Board, I came across this resolution from the 1855 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. Resolution On Missions (May 1855): RESOLVED, That the Board of Domestic Missions be instructed to occupy Kansas, as a field of missions as soon as practicable. This immediately brought to mind Bleeding Kansas and the boarder wars over slavery in Kansas Territory. Does anybody know the rest of the story? … [Read more...] about The SBC & Bleeding Kansas
How Much CP Even Gets To The IMB?
Lately, we have been looking into the best way to use our missions money as a local congregation. The more I learn, the less satisfied I become with the Cooperative Program as a "missions" funding tool. Attention LifeWay Research, I'm moving to the minority on this one. Here is the way the math works for our church. We give about $24,000 through the Cooperative Program. The Indiana Baptist Split is (64.5%) 15,480, and the SBC portion is (35.5%) 8,520. Once the money gets to Nashville, the CP allocations gives half (4,260) to the IMB and the rest to other causes (NAMB, Seminaries, etc.). … [Read more...] about How Much CP Even Gets To The IMB?
CP At 91.88% Of Budget After 3 Months
Baptist Press issued some figures about the pace of Cooperative Program giving over the last few months. We have seen hints that it was coming and today we get confirmation. The news wasn't good and we're 5% behind the 2008 pace. But the real headline was buried in the article. For the (2008-2009) SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget, the year-to-date total of $47,251,306.70 is 91.88 percent of the $51,429,208.50 budgeted to support Southern Baptist ministries globally and across North America. Remember, the SBC operates on an Oct. 1-Sept. 30 fiscal year. So, these figures are … [Read more...] about CP At 91.88% Of Budget After 3 Months
Baptists In The 111th Congress
Aaron Weaver, has posted some analysis on the church affiliation claimed by members of the 111th US Congress. He makes special note of incoming legislators affiliated with Baptist churches. He states that 27 House Representatives hold membership in a Baptist church that affiliates with the Southern Baptist Convention. He also lists four SBC affiliated Senators. Southern Baptists in the Senate include John McCain (R-AZ), North Phoenix Baptist Church; Roger Wicker (R-MS), First Baptist Church Tupelo; Tom Coburn (R-OK), First Baptist Church Muskogee; and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Corinth Baptist … [Read more...] about Baptists In The 111th Congress
2008-2009 Cooperative Program Budget Allocation
Earlier today I was looking for the breakdown of CP monies used by the SBC. I had to look through a 1300+ page PDF, but I found it at last. Since I had such trouble finding this data online, I thought it would be good to post it here in a usable format. This information was taken from the 2008 Annual of the Southern Baptist Convention. TOTAL BUDGET ALLOCATION $205,716,834.00 (100.00%) WORLD MISSION MINISTRIES $ 149,741,283.47 (72.79%) INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD $ 102,858,417.00 (50.00%) NORTH AMERICAN MISSION BOARD 46,882,866.47 (22.79%) THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION MINISTRIES$ … [Read more...] about 2008-2009 Cooperative Program Budget Allocation