By Price Harris, Shreveport Music Evangelist One of my friends asked me about both the new “Descriptor” we have now adopted for our convention and also about the debate regarding Calvinism. These are some of my thoughts on both issues. First of all, as we put this new “Descriptor” in our mission statements and out there for the world to see, let’s be what we say we are. Let’s arm ourselves to tell the story and make “the main thing” in reality the main thing. As I travel to churches throughout our convention, I am finding more emphasis on style and convenience than in “telling the old, old story.” I pray we will get back to building a personal prayer list of friends and acquaintances who need the Lord, and to a dedicated time of personal evangelism in our schedules. Regarding the issue of “Calvinism,” I have no problem with the fact that God knows who is to be saved – He just hasn’t told me who they are. Regardless of our theology, let’s be obedient to the commission that is in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and then repeated in Acts 1:8. I’m more concerned that sometimes I am a “practical Calvinist.” I believe everyone can be saved, but so many times I do not practically make evangelism a priority in my personal prayer … [Read more...]
Letter to the Editor
TO THE EDITOR: It has come to my attention that there is a document by the title of A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation being proposed to the people of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is my understanding this document is an apologetic against Calvinism. May I give a testimony of the effects of Calvinism in the ranks of the SBC? I pastored the Fellowship Baptist Church of Sulphur, Louisiana from 1987 until 1994. It was a Southern Baptist Church at the time. The Lord had allowed us to build the church into a strong soul winning, mission minded, and Bible preaching church. When I left the church we were averaging over 300 in attendance with more than 30 baptisms per year. The church called a man who filled out an application form that indicated he subscribed to all of the items listed above. However, six months after his assumption as pastor he ended the soul winning program as well as the Awana Club and began to preach the tenets of Calvinism. The church began to decline and after about eighteen months the attendance had declined significantly. After two years the attendance was down to between 30 and 40. He eventually changed the name of the church and it … [Read more...]
Raymond Lull: Missionary to the Muslims
By Rex Butler, NOBTS Toward the end of the Crusades, after two hundred years of conflict between Christendom and Islam, a Christian stepped forward with a new plan for approaching Muslims – not with the sword, but with the Gospel. Raymond Lull, considered the first western missionary to the Muslims, wrote, “It is my belief, O Christ, that the conquest of the Holy Land should be attempted in no other way than as Thou and Thy apostles undertook to accomplish it – by love, by prayer, by tears, and the offering up of our own lives” (Contemplation of God). Ultimately, Lull did offer up his life as a martyr in North Africa. Lull (also spelled “Llull” or “Lully”) was born to a wealthy family in Majorca, Spain, in 1232, just a few years after it was liberated from Muslim rule. Because of his excellent education, Lull obtained a position in the royal household and married a relative of the king, Blanca Picany, with whom he had two children. Despite his marriage and position, however, he traveled about as a licentious troubadour, composing and singing love songs. In his young thirties, Lull was converted to faith in Christ by an unusual experience. As noted in his autobiography, Lull amorously pursued a married woman, who did not … [Read more...]
Annual SBC Convention proves to be a ‘historic event’
Submitted by philip on Tue, 07/03/2012 - 01:00 SBC Convention: More than 7,800 messengers attended the 2012 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, participating in an historic vote for the first African American president, Fred Luter Jr. The theme of the convention at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans was “Jesus: to the Neighborhood and the Nations.” By Michael Foust, Baptist Press NEW ORLEANS (BP) – In one of the most historic meetings in the Southern Baptist Convention’s 167-year history, messengers meeting June 19-20 elected the body’s first African American president and voted to keep the convention’s name while approving a descriptor, “Great Commission Baptists,” for those churches that wish to use it. The momentous occasion in New Orleans brought media from across the nation to see the election of Fred Luter, a descendent of slaves who now is the president of a convention whose founders, in 1845, defended slavery. The convention officially repented of its racist past at the 1995 meeting, and has seen the percentage of non-white churches grow, from 5 percent of the SBC in 1990 to 19 percent in 2010. Last year, messengers approved a landmark report encouraging ethnic … [Read more...]
Wright previews SBC annual meeting in video
[img_assist|nid=8151|title=2012 SBC Annual Meeting|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=567|height=640]By Staff, Baptist Press MARIETTA, Ga. (BP) – In his final monthly video as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Bryant Wright offers a preview at www.Pray4SBC.com of the annual meeting in New Orleans, noting that unengaged, unreached people groups and church planting will be the main focuses. “As we prepare for our convention, I want you to know that I’m very excited about coming together with so many of you in New Orleans this year. It obviously will be a historic convention,” Wright said, referring to the anticipated election of the SBC’s first African American president, Fred Luter. The June 19-20 convention also will have a clear theme of Jesus: to the Neighborhood and the Nations, Wright said. “We want to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our neighborhoods and our local mission fields where our churches are planted but also realize as we do that we also want to go to the nations,” Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., said. At last year’s annual meeting in Phoenix, more than 600 churches went forward to commit to embracing an … [Read more...]
Parent summit conference offers encouragement
By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter [img_assist|nid=8153|title=Being Involved|desc=Anna and Adam Horsely swing their young foster son. A recent conference at First Baptist Kenner described how churches can equip parents to be the spiritual leaders in their children’s lives.|link=none|align=right|width=455|height=640]KENNER – One reason children abandon their faith as adults is that parents have relegated spiritual instruction to the church, said Donna Peavey, keynote speaker to Building a Spiritual Foundation for Your Child, the first in a planned series of summits equipping parents to be the spiritual leaders in the home. The recent conference at First Baptist Church of Kenner was co-hosted with First Belle Chasse and sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Peavey is associate professor of Christian education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. “Parents want to be spiritual leaders, but some don’t know how,” said Karla L. McGehee, summit co-founder and co-director. McGehee said the church should play a supplemental and supporting role to parents as they lead their children to faith. “We want to train parents to be the spiritual giants in their children’s … [Read more...]
Debunking several misconceptions on gay marriage
By Kelly Boggs, Baptist Message Editor President Barack Obama announced on May 9 that he favors the government recognition of same-sex marriage. One day earlier, North Carolina voters passed a constitutional amendment stating that only marriage between one man and one woman would be recognized in the state. With the juxtaposition of these events, one of the most divisive sociopolitical issues of modern times has been forced center-stage in American discourse. Along with the renewed discussion has come several misconceptions. One misconception is that North Carolina, along with 31 other states, has banned gay marriage. In actuality all voters in the Tar Heel State did was to establish that the only legally recognized marriages in their state will be those that take place between a man and a woman. I do not know anywhere in America that homosexual couples cannot wed. There are churches in every state that will conduct gay weddings and bless same-sex unions. Homosexual couples are free to marry, but 32 states have voted to not legally recognize those unions. Another misconception is that a majority of Americans are in favor of legalizing homosexual … [Read more...]
Same-sex marriage and the prophetic role of the church
By James B. Law, Senior Pastor First Gonzales I was putting my final thoughts together on this column when Pastor Charles L. Worley’s rant against gays and lesbians went viral on the Internet. Collective outrage and censure rightly followed his merciless rhetoric. Worley’s words have aggravated a conversation that was already shrill between gay activists and those who oppose them. Pastor Worley’s comments have not been helpful in lifting the hate-filled stereotypes leveled against evangelicals by gay activism. The gay agenda in America has been an incredible success story if gauged by advances in acceptability and influence. Gay activists Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen reveal the simplicity of their strategy when they wrote in their book After The Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90s, “Almost any behavior begins to look normal if you are exposed to enough of it.” Gay activism has been relentless in pressing the issues throughout culture, and gay ideologies now have permeated virtually every fabric of American life. What is remarkable is how over the last 40 years, less than 2 percent of the American population has been able to … [Read more...]
Gay Marriage and the Golden Rule
By Reggie Bridges, Pastor First Baptist Zachary One of the most recognized principles in Christianity is commonly called the Golden Rule. The term refers to Jesus’ words: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12 NIV). Within this “rule,” Christ encapsulated the basic ethic of treating people with respect and compassion. A wonderful guide for our relationships, framed in a memorable way! Since Jesus’ declaration, many individuals have appealed to the Golden Rule to inform their ethical conduct, but in recent days, the Lord’s words have been employed to justify public policy. As you doubt know, President Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage recently in a news interview. The President cited Scripture as the primary reason for his “evolution.” Which biblical passage did he refer to? You guessed it, The Golden Rule. Somehow, the President made the interpretive leap from respect to acceptance. In his view, affirmation of the Golden Rule necessitates the approval of gay marriage. This pseudo-biblical approach to the issue has delighted … [Read more...]
Obama’s views on gay marriage and the black church vote
By Eric C. Redmond, Senior Pastor Reformation Alive Baptist Church The question of the black church’s response to President’s Obama’s revelation of his views on same-sex unions should have a simple and direct answer. Congregations of the faithful might consider sending a letter to the president of this sentiment: Dear Mr. President, Your recent expression of your understanding of ‘marriage’ is troubling to us. There are no tenets that can be identified as Christian that allow for anyone to view homosexuality as acceptable. The Christian faith holds to the Bible as the truth, for it has given ample evidence of being the very words of God to man. It is the Bible that reveals marriage to be a union between a man and a woman; it is the Bible that reveals all homosexual activity to be sinful. Therefore we would reject your so-called Christian understanding of same-sex marriage as uninformed and false. Wide is the gap between what you and we are teaching our children – the next generation of American workers and leaders. Christian parents have a responsibility to raise their children to fear the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Because the Bible reveals … [Read more...]
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