As we come to the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 we will begin to see the greatest episodes of self-deception given at any time in a given year. More individuals lie to themselves from the end of December to the start of January than any other week. Promises about exercise, diet, moral change, renewed devotion, and the like fill our minds. For most, however, by the time mid-January arrives we find ourselves … [Read More]
The Future of the Southern Baptist Convention (Conclusion)
Recently I was studying the life of the wonderful C.I.M. missionary James Fraser. A brilliant engineer and gifted pianist, he left the comforts of England to spend his adult life in Western China among the Lisu people. Today more than 300,000 follow Jesus! What moved him to make such a radical, life changing decision? It was a small tract entitled “Do Not Say”, placed in his hands in 1906 when he was only 20 years … [Read More]
Molinists and Calvinists: Locked in a Wordy Embrace with the Same Gargoyle
I have put my hand to the tar baby. Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach (Broadman & Holman) came out this month, a book in which I tackle the divine sovereignty–human responsibility conundrum, specifically as it relates to the area of salvation. As the title indicates, the book approaches the issue from a Molinist perspective, which means I advocate a high view of sovereign control but a libertarian understanding of free will (though in a stripped-down version I call “soft-libertarianism”). After grinding my brain cells on … [Read More]
The Future of the Southern Baptist Convention (Pt. 8)
#8) Southern Baptist have a hopeful future if we can devote ourselves to a cooperation that is gospel centered and built around a biblical and theological core and not methodological consensus or agreement. (Phil 2:1-5; 4:2-9)
When I delivered the axioms message at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in the Spring this axiom, for some reason, caused hesitation and concern for some. Therefore, let me take another run at it.
There are essential and non-negotiable components of biblical … [Read More]
Fifteen Factors That Have Changed the SBC since 1979, Part 4
This past summer, I began a four-part series of articles titled “Fifteen Factors That Have Changed the SBC since 1979.” Because of a variety of distractions, I only wrote the first three installments. A number of BtT readers have asked me what happened to the final article, including two brothers in the last three weeks. Well, after a five-month interlude between articles, this installment concludes the series. By way of reminder, these factors are not … [Read More]
The Future of the Southern Baptist Convention (Pt. 7)
#7) Southern Baptist have a hopeful future if we raise up a generation of pastors who lead their churches to see themselves as a gospel missions agencies equipping and training all their people to see themselves as missionaries for Jesus regardless of location or vocation. (Eph. 4:11-16)
The headquarters of the Southern Baptist Convention is the local church. All associations, conventions and national entities exist to serve them not the reverse. Further, these agencies and entities … [Read More]
The Future of the Southern Baptist Convention (Pt. 6)
#6) Southern Baptists have a hopeful future if we have the courage to rethink our Convention structure at every level, clarify our mission so that we maximize our energy and resources for the fulfilling of the Great Commission, and provide a compelling vision that inspires our people to do something great for God.
Are Southern Baptist a Great Commission people? If you listen to our rhetoric then the answer is yes. And yet, though Southern Baptist … [Read More]
Beyond the Rhetoric: A Practical Way to Keep Christ in Christmas
This time of year one of the more common expressions heard in the Christian subculture is “let’s keep Christ in Christmas.” Most of the time I hear this uttered in reference to the use of the phrase “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” in pop culture, the media, and more than a few retailers.
For those of us in the church who worship the babe born in Bethlehem, we would do well to look inwardly … [Read More]
The Future of the Southern Baptist Convention (Pt. 5)
#5) Southern Baptist have a hopeful future if our denomination at all levels begins to reflect the demographic and racial makeup of our nation and the nations.
Southern Baptists were born, in part, out of a racist context and have a racist heritage. That will forever be to our shame. To deny or ignore this is foolish. Actually it is dishonest. By God’s grace and the Spirit’s conviction, we publically repented of this sin in 1995 … [Read More]
Going Home
Children grow up and leave home, and then on occasions return home. “Going home” may involve a trip to the place we’ve known since childhood, a gathering of family for a holiday in a place where part of our family now resides, or the inevitable journey to be with a dying loved one.
I have in the past shared the story of my parents and their illnesses, as well as the struggles of my Mom, who … [Read More]
