Discouragement is not an emotion with which I am very familiar, but over the past several weeks I have felt it acutely. My sadness has been induced by the steady drip of ministerial sex scandals and the destruction they have wrought. In fact, I have found myself not wanting to check social media, dreading to learn about the next scandal. Most prominently, the Ashley Madison expose has shaken church after church, ministry after ministry, and family after family. And, as Russell Moore has … [Read more...]
Support world missions
Many Southern Baptists have heard about the impending reduction of our missionary force by the International Mission Board. After years of unprecedented advancement in numbers, there will be a large reduction of somewhere around 600-800. Our missionary count will be well below 4,000. My heart is saddened to hear the necessity of this move. All of us want the gospel to reach the unengaged peoples of the world. We have open doors that could shut at any time. Now is the time to be ramping up … [Read more...]
All-consuming praise, not all-consumed pastry
The other morning I woke up thinking…donuts. All thought processes were pretty much completely consumed with all things donutty, sugar-coated, fat-filled and mmmmm. So much so that when I got to the coffee shop, I contemplated eating the top three rows of pastries. Also there were only three rows of pastries. Yes, I wanted all the pastries. All of them. I think I’d just about convinced myself at that point that I could speak fluent Danish. Danish? Get it? And while I’m on the topic (excuse … [Read more...]
‘Stop! In the Name of Love’
The Supremes’ lead singer, Diana Ross, pleaded with her man not to leave her and go to another woman. The lyrics of that 1965 hit cried, “Stop! In the name of love before you break my heart. Baby baby, I’m aware of where you go / Each time you leave my door / I watch you walk down the street / Knowing your other love you’ll meet.” That’s how a lot of small group leaders feel when some of their participants begin to miss, look around for something else, and leave. They want to do anything … [Read more...]
Some of you were like this
This is the seventh in a series of columns about same-sex attraction, adapted from the new MBC resource, “What Every Christian Should Know About Same-Sex Attraction,” available in print at mobaptist.org/apologetics and in Kindle format at Amazon.com. Six passages of Scripture speak directly to the issue of same-sex conduct. This column offers a brief survey of two New Testament texts: 1 Cor. 6:9-11 and 1 Tim. 1:9-11. These passages address moral issues facing the congregation at Corinth … [Read more...]
Bless the man of God – Pastor Appreciation Month
When I opened the outer door to the church office, I could see something had happened. To my left beyond the secretary’s desk, was the door to my study. Normally, I had it covered with funny cartoons. But this day was different. It was covered in cards, cash, scribbled notes and a sign in a large font that said, “Thank you for being our pastor.” I stumbled across a file the other day that still houses those thoughts of appreciation and kindness. When I looked at them afresh, a lump jumped … [Read more...]
Missouri battle brews over religious freedom
Whether or not we think Kim Davis is the perfect citizen to serve as the poster child for the defense of religious liberty in America, in my view, became irrelevant when an unelected federal judge threw her in jail like a common criminal. Adding to the shock was an ABC News/Washington Post poll that claimed 63 percent of Americans thought she should issue the marriage license to same-sex couples – if it violated her conscience and commitment to obey God. If Americans really feel that way, … [Read more...]
‘War Room’ wins with heart, humor
Settling into my seat with my tub of popcorn and a Diet Pepsi that cost roughly half a mortgage payment, I expected “War Room” to be to an affirming, charming movie with a solidly biblical worldview. Confession: Though I respect the aims of “God’s Not Dead,” “Son of God,” “Fireproof” and the like, I thought they failed at being entertaining movies. I expected some stiff acting from “War Room,” and an admirable but predictable moral; I expected to give it a hearty “Meh.” What I didn’t expect … [Read more...]
Paul’s case against same-sex conduct
Six passages of Scripture speak directly to the issue of same-sex conduct. This column offers a brief survey of Rom. 1:26-27: “This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual intercourse for what is unnatural. The males in the same way also left natural sexual intercourse with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty … [Read more...]
U of Missouri focus of abortion probe
University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin – like everyone – would do well to obey James 5:12, particularly the part, “but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.” In other words, just tell the truth. It is disturbing to see a leader do otherwise, especially when it pertains to the babies’ lives and Missouri taxpayers. During Loftin’s recent appearance before the Missouri Senate Interim Committee on the Sanctity of Life, which is … [Read more...]
One team with a mission
At the end of the month, a significant event takes place at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. It is a symposium on the Southern Baptist Convention. September 28-29, “The SBC and the 21st Century: Reflection,” Renewal and Recommitment has the potential to be a defining moment about how Southern Baptists work together to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Big time Southern Baptist leaders are converging on the campus of MBTS to make presentations and engage in … [Read more...]
Soul-survivors are worth the risk
Have you seen any of those survival skills reality shows? They usually involve one or two wilderness survival experts. I guess survivalists are basically people who are skilled in not dying. The experts get dropped into various hostile wilderness environments with little or no supplies and have to survive off the land and their smarts. If that were me? Oh my. How many ways could I die? The survivalists have to beat off jaguars and snakes, poisonous insects and a vicious foot fungus or two. … [Read more...]
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