Is the Cooperative Program Worthy of Sacrifice?
by Nathan Finn and Micah Fries
We are concerned. As we look across our beloved Southern Baptist Convention, we see a problem that is significant, and is growing. Sadly, statistics inform us that this is an issue across the entire spectrum of SBC life, regardless of location or age and type of congregation. This issue is no respecter of persons. Our shared commitment to the Cooperative Program (CP) is on … [Read More]
Is the Cooperative Program Worthy of Sacrifice?
Q&A 19: What is the greatest strength of the SBC? The greatest weakness?
Question: What is the greatest strength of the SBC? The greatest weakness?
Reply:
I think the answer to these 2 questions is the same: our fraternal and family orientation. We gain great strength by being a family or convention of Southern Baptist churches united by a passion for international missions, North American church planting and theological integrity. Those are the three things that I mentioned in the “Axioms of a Great Commission Resurgence” message which I believe … [Read More]
Q&A 9 (Part 1): What Are Your Thoughts About Calvinism?
Question: Just what are your thoughts on Calvinism? Exactly what do you believe and think?
Reply #1: I appreciate the questions very much. I am often asked my thoughts about this issue, and I am more than happy to share my perspective. This is a complex question, and so I will take several posts to respond. Hopefully, I can bring some clarity to the issue and even help move the agenda forward for the glory of … [Read More]
Helpful Interview about Pastor-Theologians
The primary reason I’m a professor is because I want to help equip a generation of collegians and seminarians to be pastor-theologians, particularly in a Southern Baptist context. In fact, my SEBTS students have sometimes accused me of using my church history and Baptist history classes as a platform for teaching pastoral ministry and theology. Guilty as charged. But don’t let them fool you; most of our students, including those who don’t feel a calling to … [Read More]
Southern Baptists, Evangelicals, and the Future of Denominationalism
In October 2009, Union University hosted a conference titled Southern Baptists, Evangelicals, and the Future of Denominationalism. The conference was held in conjunction with the four hundredth anniversary of the Baptists. It also revisited an oft-asked question: what is the relationship between Southern Baptists and American evangelicals? You can listen to the conference audio at Union’s website.
For those who are interested, the proceedings of that conference are also now in print. Southern Baptists, Evangelicals, and … [Read More]
Kevin Ezell and NAMB: A Great Day for Southern Baptists
My family and I moved to Louisville, KY in 1996 to assume a position at Southern Seminary. Those were eight wonderful years for all of us. During that same time, we also had the joy of being members of Highview Baptist Church, sitting under the pastoral ministry of Dr. Kevin Ezell. During that time all of us came to greatly love and respect Dr. Ezell as a wonderful man of God and a tremendous leader … [Read More]
Reflections on the 2010 SBC in Orlando
The record may reveal that the 2010 Convention in Orlando was a historic moment for the churches of the SBC. Only time will tell. From my perspective it was a wonderful Convention as Southern Baptists affirmed overwhelmingly how we wish to chart our future. What were the crucial happenings and their significance at this year’s convention? Let me highlight several.
First, and by far the most important, was the adoption of the GCRTF Report. By a … [Read More]
Al Mohler on Whether Or Not We Will Flinch
For those readers who appreciate wisdom and eloquence, I happily refer to you Al Mohler’s recent piece on the upcoming SBC 2010, “A Moment of Decision: Will Southern Baptists Face the Future, or Will We flinch?,” which is posted at www.pray4gcr.com and www.conventionalthinking.org.
David Platt: Why I Wholeheartedly Support the GCRTF Report. . . and More
We at BtT want to make you aware of David Platt’s new blogpost, “Why I Wholeheartedly Support the GCRTF Report. . . and More,” published at http://www.pray4gcr.com/. Below is a sneak peek (the first paragraph) of Platt’s post:
“In what follows, I want to express why I wholeheartedly support the final report from the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force of the Southern Baptist Convention. Since the report was released, much discussion has ensued concerning whether or … [Read More]
Why We Believe the GCRTF Report is Good for the Future of the SBC (2b): Making Our Values Transparent (Unity, Relationships)
By: Danny Akin and Steve McKinion
The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force has proposed the adoption of eight Core Values. We wrote about why we believe the first two of those are important in an earlier post. In this article we want to demonstrate why the next two Core Values are key to ensuring that the agencies and institutions of the Southern Baptist Convention will be more effective in fulfilling the Great Commission.
Value 3: Unity. We … [Read More]
