Our venerable Electoral College votes today in their respective states. Diehards still see options, probably extending to Inauguration Day and beyond. Let them exercise their first amendment rights loudly but peacefully, but Joe Biden won. Donald Trump lost...and lost...and lost...and lost. One need not agree with any of Biden’s positions, policies, appointments, or nominees but Christians do need to pray for political leaders - a clear biblical mandate, not an optional suggestion. The sooner prayers begin, the better. And join me in continuing in prayer for President Trump for the next … [Read more...] about Time to come together and pray for president elect Biden
What’s YOUR Problem with Resolution 9 – Be Specific
I am going to do something a bit cumbersome and pedantic in this post. I have copied the entire text of the controversial Resolution 9 from 2019 which has been the source of so much argument. I am going to comment on it section by section and ask those who are so upset about it to identify exactly what their issue is with it. It should be fairly clear which parts are the text of the resolution and which parts are my comments. Definitions: Defining CRT and I is anything but easy. Here is my attempt. Critical Race Theory - The UCLA School of Public Affairs in an article called "What is … [Read more...] about What’s YOUR Problem with Resolution 9 – Be Specific
Does the future growth of the SBC depend on non-anglo congregations?
For many reasons it appears so, and has for some time. Check the graph recently compiled by the SBC Executive Committee comparing various congregation types over the 1990-2018 period. You may find this and other data in Ronnie Floyd's recent excellent and informative article: A statistical analysis of growth in SBC congregations by race and ethnicity from 1990-2018. To wit: Compare anglo growth, around 11 percent over the period, to non-anglo growth (African American + Hispanic + Asian American + Other ethnic) whose growth rate was over 30 percent. Anglo churches still make up … [Read more...] about Does the future growth of the SBC depend on non-anglo congregations?
The IMB Takes Great Care of Our Missionaries
I’m glad to report that the International Mission Board takes good care of its 3,600 missionaries. In this post I’ll explain the many ways in which the IMB does this. Again, if you did not read my profile, my wife and I served with the IMB in Southeast Asia for 24 years. We retired from the IMB in 2014. Medical and Dental Coverage. The IMB provides 100% coverage for medical and dental services while the missionaries are on the field. If the needed medical care is not available locally (often the case), the IMB pays for the missionary to go to a city or another country where the care is … [Read more...] about The IMB Takes Great Care of Our Missionaries
A Plea to Minority Brothers and Sisters in the SBC
Recent developments in the SBC have provoked a strongly negative reaction among many Black pastors and other minorities, and many who are currently affiliated with the SBC are considering leaving our fellowship. When they express their frustrations and lament the racial situations in the SBC, they are rebuked, chastised, corrected, and labeled by some. Recent Developments 1. The passionate support of Donald Trump by many Southern Baptist leaders who justify his words and actions which many see as racially insensitive at best and racist at worst causes offense. Whatever we think of Donald … [Read more...] about A Plea to Minority Brothers and Sisters in the SBC
On Rescinding Resolutions
I’m seeing a strange suggestion being floated around social media of late and it concerns me. Most recently in the form of a tweet from the Conservative Baptist Network. On December 3rd 2020 someone from the organization posted… The post states, in part, “Furthermore, we look forward expectantly to the presidents’ cooperation with us in rescinding Resolution 9…” I believe the suggestion of rescinding any resolution is a misguided one with significant challenges and unfortunate consequences. Likely well meaning, but concerning nonetheless. For those who have expressed concern … [Read more...] about On Rescinding Resolutions
Why I Have Never Preached Against CRT
In 1 Peter 5:2 we are encouraged to "shepherd the flock of God that is among you." That text has driven me through many hills and valleys within my years of pastoral ministry. I've found this observation from Jared Wilson particularly helpful: "We frequently find ourselves trying to shepherd the flock of God that we want, the one we imagine them to be, the one we want them to be. But God through Peter commands us to shepherd the church we've actually got." (Wilson, The Pastor's Justification, 30) I'd like to add a thought to Jared's. Not only are we prone to try to "shepherd the flock of God … [Read more...] about Why I Have Never Preached Against CRT
Report from ground zero in the existential struggle to save America
It's "bombs away" on Pearl Harbor Day in America in the two Georgia senatorial runoff races. I'm being bombed by political mail. To date, I have received a single, lonely Christmas card and a dozen or more giant, colorful postcards about the Republican candidates, David Purdue and Kelly Loeffler. So far the Democrats have AI that determines that I am not to be one on which to waste their postage. I've received not a single Dem mailout. There's no party voter registration in Georgia but the Dems have ways of finding stuff out. Repubs also. "Urgent notice: your absentee ballot needs your … [Read more...] about Report from ground zero in the existential struggle to save America
Baptists You Should Know: Bertha Smith
In 1887 the famous missionary Lottie Moon was struggling on the mission field in China. She knew that the harvest was great and she was doing her best to reap the harvest. But she also knew that more workers were needed. In that year Moon wrote a letter requesting funds for help on the field. That Christmas an offering was taken that eventually bore her name and continues to make a lasting impact on the work of Southern Baptists around that world. But that wasn’t the only big event in world missions that year. Across the world in the small town of Cowpens, SC a baby girl was born to John … [Read more...] about Baptists You Should Know: Bertha Smith
In Praise of SBC Missions Funding
My wife and I served as FMB/IMB missionaries for twenty-four years, and I’ve taught missions at three SBC seminaries. You can mark me down as a fan of the Southern Baptist Convention’s method of funding missions. The International Mission Board (formerly Foreign Mission Board) receives 55% of its funds from the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO) for International Missions, 40% from the Cooperative Program, and about 5% from special gifts, bequests, and interest income. To explain the last, the IMB receives most of the money from the LMCO in the first three months of the year. So, the IMB … [Read more...] about In Praise of SBC Missions Funding