#4) Southern Baptists have a hopeful future if we can unite around and affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as a healthy and sufficient guide for building theological consensus that avoids the equally deadly extremes of liberalism on the left and sectarianism on the right. (1 Tim 6:3-4).
What do we as Southern Baptists agree on doctrinally and theologically? I believe the answer is quite a lot and I would like to pinpoint a number … [Read More]
The Future of the Southern Baptist Convention (Pt. 4)
A Brief Note to Our Readers
We at Between the Times are grateful for each of you who take the time to read our articles. We’ve been blessed during 2009 with a handful of guest contributors, several new regular contributors, and thousands of new readers. It has been a good year. As Christmas approaches, we wanted you to know that we will be closing shop December 25 through the end of the year so that all of us can spend time … [Read More]
The Future of the Southern Baptist Convention (Pt. 3)
#3) Southern Baptists have a hopeful future is we will pursue a genuinely Word based ministry that is theological in content and on fire in delivery. (2 Tim 4:1-5)
We live in a biblically illiterate culture that increases year by year. Sadly, Southern Baptists have not been immune to this spiritual malady. Even with the gains of the Conservative Resurgence, we have not seen a wide spread revival of biblical exposition in our churches. This is … [Read More]
A Challenge to Student Pastors in 2010
I don’t know about you, but 2009 had more than its share of milestones for me. I turned 50. I published the closest thing I likely ever will to a “magnum opus” in my new Evangelism Handbook. Our son Josh turned 21 and our daughter Hannah turned 16, both pretty big deals. Michelle and I celebrated 28 years of marriage, each year reminding me how blessed I am to have her. We also settled … [Read More]
The Baptist Preacher as Prophet: A Lesson Learned in Liberia
This past week, I traveled to Monrovia, Liberia and was reminded of a profound truth while sitting at the feet of a septuagenarian Liberian pastor named Walter Richards. The occasion was the graduation ceremonies of Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary (LBTS), where I was delivering the graduation address. After the ceremonies, I had the opportunity to spend time with Richards, who is currently the chairman of the Board of Trustees for LBTS. From him, I learned … [Read More]
The Future of the Southern Baptist Convention (Pt. 2)
Southern Baptists have a hopeful future if they continually make clear their commitment to the inerrant and infallible Word of God, affirming it’s sufficiency in all matters. (Matt 5:17-18; John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
Southern Baptists won the “battle for the Bible” that began in 1979. Men of God like Jimmy Draper, Paige Patterson, Paul Pressler, Adrian Rogers, and Jerry Vines put it all on the line because they saw what the … [Read More]
What I Hope the SBC Looks Like in 5 Years
I serve on the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Our responsibility is to offer guidance as to how the cooperative efforts of like-minded churches can thrive in the next generation. People often note (correctly) that “denominations” are not in the Bible. That is true, but cooperation is biblical, and “conventions” are a way like-minded Christians can cooperate together. As Jesus taught, we can do much more when all the … [Read More]
The Future of the Southern Baptist Convention (Pt. 1)
Southern Baptists have a hopeful future if we return to our first love and surrender ourselves fully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. (Col 1:15-20; Rev 2:1-7). I have experienced significant grief at how little attention has been paid to this first axiom of my spring 2009 address at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was placed first for a reason. It must be first. It must set and establish the foundation for any future agenda for … [Read More]
On the Owning of Confessions of Faith
(Note: This is a lightly revised version of an essay I posted on my old personal blog a couple of years ago. Most of the confessions referenced below can be found online via a simple Google search.)
Baptists have always been a confessional people. John Smyth and Thomas Helwys, the founders of the General Baptist movement, each wrote personal confessions of faith that provide us with a glimpse into their convictions and probably the convictions of … [Read More]
