Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you'll engage by leaving comments, be encouraged, occasionally chuckle at discovered quirkiness, and even be inspired in faith. Please use the button to subscribe via email so you won't miss a post!
Southern Baptists dead?
We are dying as a convention.
So writes Wade Burleson, trustee of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, in his blog Grace and Truth to you. While probably an engine of hyperbole, his observations and conclusions are deeply provocative. The creedal noose tightens around the neck of a historically embattled denomination….
Related Posts (there are a series of related posts over at Pyro that folks might find interesting:
It began with Dan’s post Red Herrings: Tongues of Angels which provoked Adrian’s response which was looong. Pull up a lawn chair and get a coffee before you embark on it.
Then came Dan’s “Tongues” across the water: response to Adrian, part one, then part 2, part 3, and finally, part 4.
Thank you Bro. Mark for your recent comments. I appreciate your sincerity. May I add to thte comments I earlier made and that is; The Body of Christ is a diverse body. We are many members but one body. We are from many, many different backgrounds and church affliations, but as we all work together, putting aside our many differences, we will make a postive impact upon this city and this nation. I apprecaite very much my other brothers and sisters of all the churches in this great city. I appreciate all they are doing to reach souls for Christ.… Read more »
To TJ and Dr. Spencer: After (re)looking at my first comments this week here at Notes From the Trail, I do think that I unfairly “insinuated” that tongues may be caused by demon possession. It was never my intention to argue for that interpretation, and so the insinuation was rather underhanded. Please accept my apology for those unthoughtful, undefended remarks.
(I have also posted this in the commentary at markVerse).
Greetings Brothers and Sisters. I do offer my apology if I sounded a bit harsh or defensive in my earlier comments. Please forgive me. I do defend my position but wish not to argue or debate. There are many other differences I’m sure we all share but yes we are all in the wonderful family of God. The main objective of us all should be to work together in creative ways to reach those who know not Christ. This would be our greatest acheivement yet. Sincerely
If any church loses it’s purpose, it is entirly possible that God will pull the plug (rev 2:5). If a church is in fact dying, it needs to take a very serious look at itself and rediscover it’s purpose. If they do not, they can count on God getting them out of the way so that someone else can take their place. I’m all for churches forming organizations for mutual support but if that organization pushes them away from scriptural truth, they should flee as fast as possible. Seems so many of the large denominations in the west have been… Read more »
TJ – Thanks so much for your willingness to dialogue through topics upon which we may or may not always agree. Open, exposed sharing is the real reason I am drawn to blogs. Your comments allowed me to see the the “extremes” of my examples. Thanks for you balancing words. Jeff – Thanks for the “New Attitude” advice. I have continued my thoughts on this topic at markVerse, and have made a statement concerning “discourse” that I hope will clarify my own attitudes toward open discussion. I hope that I don’t find my IP blocked from your site tomorrow morning.… Read more »
Found an excellent post over at New Attitude blog. There, they post the following: Here is how I think we disagree in a way that honors the gospel: 1. Be quick to remember that this person is one with whom I will share in eternal glory around the Lamb. 2. Review with them the foundation of our salvation, and review it in detail. Review the stunning grace of God through Christ’s death to undeserving sinners. Spend time reviewing how you each appreciate grace and what new ways it has melted your heart. 3. Be quick to hear the position of… Read more »
There has always been some type of controversy concerning speaking in other tongues. I have been in the ministry almost 30 years traveling as a Evangelist, Missionary and Pastor, and I have been filled with the Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues for that length of time. I have not been brain washed neither possessed by some evil spirit. I am a part of a world-wide Pentecostal movement called The Assemblies of God. I will not get into a deep theological debate with anyone in this type of format just to prove the reality of this experience. My… Read more »
Mark- no offense taken! I appreciate hearing what others say about this topic. Although I completely disagree that tongues (the real thing, not something that is faked like Mark is describing of his friend’s ordeal) are derived from a mental handicap of some kind or posession; we have to remain on a balance of love. I can rant and rave as much about what I see as the extremes of the eternal security doctrine, but it would be completely out of balance since I would be discussing the far extremes. I believe that grouping people who fake a spiritual experience… Read more »
Jeff – Like I said, I know a person…I guess that brings out more a need to defend. The rebuke is well taken (I will repeat love, love, love). Perhaps I HAVE been spending too much time over at Pyro lately, though thanks to you and your “updates” I will now get my coffee and be over there for a while longer reading up on the subject.
I hope no offense was taken. Perhaps I will have to balance the scales by blogging my one “religious experience” someday soon. That was a trip.
Off to read…
Uh, wow. It’s so good that someone else’s post can create such great conversation on my blog. 😉 Mark, uh, you feel strongly about this or something? 😉 I happen to agree with Mark about this; however, it’s so important for us to practice “loving one another” when we don’t see eye to eye on things like this. I, for one, don’t even think this is a doctrinal issue as it is an experiential one. It’s very difficult to base any redeeming church practice (or personal one) on something in 1 Corinthians since Paul spent the entire letter rebuking the… Read more »
TJ – Not to argue, but to clarify. You state that, “There are some who believe many different things about the practice of speaking/praying in tongues.” Yes, there are. I, for one, see absolutely no place in I Cor 14 where it states that praying in a “private language” is a legitmate part of Christian worship. In fact, there is only one verse (verse 14) that specifically mentions “praying” (the rest of the chapter concerns “speaking” where one can be heard by others) and it is a negative statement, stating that the practice is “unfruitful.” I believe that Paul is… Read more »
Being one who has not been raised in a SBC affiliated church, I can see from the outside a “split” in the organization. I see some churches with an excitement for serving the Lord with dynamic services and gatherings where there is healthy spiritual growth happening. On the other hand, you see many others with the “I shall not be moved” mentality – whether they are right or wrong. I dont’ see the SBC dying as a whole, but I believe the organization will either undergo a restructure or a split. I’ve said this about my own fellowship, the Assemblies… Read more »
Convention: “general agreement or consent; accepted usage; custom” also “an assembly of delegates of a political party to nominate candidates and adopt platforms and party rules” As an individual, protestant Christian, I have little care whether or not the current Southern Baptist Convention dies or not. The SBC is merely a delegation brought together for the purpose of organization and maintaining/improving useful non-doctrinal procedures and customs (or should be thus). Once a convention encroaches upon doctrinal issues, which appears to be what the SBC has been doing for years, it might be better in the long run if it did… Read more »