Archive for May, 2006
An Opinion and a Weblog…
May 18th, 2006 | 1 Comment | Posted in » Baptist Issues
You know, I read things from time to time that leave me shaking my head. Here’s one such article, an opinion piece written by Ben Brammer, 26-year-old pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, NC, and Ph.D. student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The article appears in the Florida Baptist Witness, and is entitled, “Emerging Leaders or Submerging Servants?“.
Here’s a few of the more interesting (if that’s the word) snippets:
While I am amazed at our potential, I am concerned over a growing attitude that seems to be tainting the reputation of my generation. This attitude is present in some young pastors and others who believe they should be privileged with a voice of leadership in the Southern Baptist Convention. These self-appointed “young leaders†are in disagreement over several methodological and philosophical issues that they believe pervade the older generation of SBC leadership.
I don’t know any of the “young leaders” (which, by the way, was not a label anyone chose for themselves, but arose out of the “Younger Leaders Summit” held at the 2005 convention meeting) who feel they are entitled or privileged with any sort of leadership position in the SBC. I would say, however, that the actions and stances taken by many demonstrate authentic leadership, particularly those who developed the Memphis Declaration.
Some younger Baptists are under the assumption that leadership is a right available to anyone with an opinion and a weblog.
Was this kind of inflammatory, broad-brush condemnation of bloggers necessary?
Leadership is most definitely not a right… I don’t think you’ll find any of the “young leaders” who would argue otherwise. That being said… many of those with “an opinion and a weblog” have demonstrated consistently the ability to lead effectively… not because of their blogging, but because of the people God has crafted them to be.
My generation is blessed to sit in the afterglow of the blazing sun of the conservative resurgence. Those who have gone before us were capable and godly men. Some of them we might even designate as “spiritual giants.†They are men who we should be honored and humbled to sit under and learn from.
Ben… you’re right. Many of those involved with the conservative resurgence were capable and godly men. Many may even be considered as “spiritual giants”. Neither of these things change the fact that many of the methods used in the conservative resurgence (admirable as its goals may have been) not only left an afterglow, but left many of our brothers and sisters in Christ burnt and charred. So… yes… we can definitely learn.
In too many cases, it appears the desire to see denominational change has trumped the desire to see life change.
I wonder just how much Ben really knows about the ministries of many of our “young leaders” to make this judgment. Those whom I know bear fruit in both areas, and actually primarily hope to affect convention change through the local church.
I am troubled when I see some young pastors caring more about whom they know and who knows them than the precious old saint stuck in her hospital bed for several weeks.
Yet another interesting judgment. But what is it based upon? Come on, Ben. This kind of rhetoric is unfounded and unnecessary.
I believe that if we are faithful to our callings, the Lord will take notice and place those whom He desires in more prominent fields when He deems necessary. But I leave that to the wisdom and providence of God.
What if God is doing just that with many of our “young leaders” and their blogging? Do we discount the influence God has granted them simply because they don’t have decades of pastoral experience, huge flocks, advanced theological degrees, or other signs of a “successful” ministry or “faithful calling”? Have we forgotten the many Biblical accounts of whom God chose to use to play large parts in His plan?
Anyway, I could go on and on about this. After all, I’ve got an opinion and a weblog.
UPDATE
Ben apparently originally posted this article on his own blog here. It’s worth your time to read some of the rest of the content on his blog, too.
Do You Have the Time?
May 18th, 2006 | Comments Off | Posted in » Devotions / Bible Studies
Received this via e-mail today from a colleague. I’m generally not very big on forwarded e-mails, but the poem contained within was quite convicting. The title and author were not clear, so if you know where this originated, let me know… I’d like to give credit where it’s due.
I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease…..
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They’d laugh at me I’d fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God! held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
“Your name I cannot find
I once was going to write it down…
But never found the time.”
I’m reminded of Peter when I read this. You know… the rock? The one who told Jesus, “Lord, I’ll follow you wherever… I’ll lay down my life for you”, yet within a matter of hours, denied Him three times?
We don’t necessarily verbally disavow ourselves of Jesus as Peter did, but how often do our lives reflect similar rejection? This poem hits home on that one.
So… won’t you share Christ with someone today?
Dr. Ronnie Floyd’s Blog…
May 17th, 2006 | Comments Off | Posted in » Baptist Issues
In case you weren’t already aware, Dr. Ronnie Floyd (nominee for SBC president) has a blog, entitled “Between Sundays”.
With so many questions surrounding his nomination, why not visit the site and see what he has to say? For that matter, how about submitting a few comments and seeing if you get some answers?
Obviously, we all need to be in prayer about the upcoming election. May God’s will be done!
New Zealand… for Sale… on eBay?
May 16th, 2006 | 1 Comment | Posted in » In the News...
Aw man… I missed my chance… New Zealand was for sale on eBay, and I didn’t get around to buying it…
Wouldn’t that have been the real estate deal of the century?
Teacher apologizes for death assignment
May 16th, 2006 | Comments Off | Posted in » In the News...
Well, St. Joseph was in the national news today… for all the wrong reasons.
Today, it was a VERY poor decision by a teacher. Apparently, this instructor asked his drafting students to write an essay about who they would kill and how they’d do it. Two words: BAD IDEA!
Anyway, here’s the article from MSNBC.com: Teacher apologizes for death assignment.
Why am I still condemned?
May 15th, 2006 | Comments Off | Posted in » Devotions / Bible Studies
Romans 3:5-8
5But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8Why not say — as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say — “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved.
We studied this Scripture passage a couple weeks back in Sunday School (as part of our continuing series in Romans), and I couldn’t help but laugh a bit at the logic Paul pointed out that was being used to justify sin. “If my sin makes God’s glory show more clearly, why condemn me for it?” It sounds so silly, doesn’t it?
Yeah… it does… at first.
Dwell on that for a moment, then get personal. How have YOU tried to justify sin?
(No, seriously. Think about it for a bit.)
Humbling, no?
Our attempts at justifying our sin are often just as silly.
“Well, my sin isn’t as bad as so-and-so’s…”
“But it’s just a LITTLE sin…”
“But it won’t hurt anybody…”
“Come on God… you made me that way… You know I’m genetically inclined toward it!”
Need I go on?
It’s simple, folks. Sin is sin. It doesn’t matter how little it seems, how bad it is in comparison, how tough it is to resist… none of our excuses matter. Sin is still sin (even in this enlightened age of moral relativism), and we still deserve our just condemnation.
Praise be to God that He, our holy and righteous Judge, is also full of grace and mercy.
The Dobbs’ Reply…
May 6th, 2006 | 3 Comments | Posted in » Baptist Issues
Micah Fries has posted a portion of a letter from the Dobbs (the IMB missionary couple who were recently threatened with termination from their ministry to an unreached people group in West Africa). It details some of their concerns with the media releases relating to the situation, and sheds quite a bit of light on things that we did NOT get from just the official news sources.
Check it out here.