I have been thinking about how to eloquently describe my thoughts in regards to the recent Joshua Convergence and its place in comparison to the Memphis Declaration. As I was working my thoughts out, Joel Rainey has beaten me to the punch. I’m not interested in simply repeating thoughts when they’ve already been well said and so I want to encourage you to read Joel’s recent post as a source of information. You can find it here.

There is a movement underway, and has been for a few years, to highlight prayer for Muslim evangelism during this time known to Muslim’s as Ramadan. Ramadan is the holiest of months for Muslims and they spend the month in fasting and spiritual reflection. Interestingly enough, a coalition of evangelicals - nay Baptists - are condeming the efforts. While I’ve considered there arguments (found here) I find them to be lacking. I, for one, applaud these efforts and plan to engage in concerted prayer during this time, myself.

What do you think?

This evening I concluded a series of revival meetings with my good friend, David Kaster, at the Faiport Baptist Church in Fairport, Missouri. FBC is a fantastic example of God’s blessing on a church. They are located in a town of 60 ppl and yet have grown to run 150 in worship and are building a new worship facility to accomadate the people. God blessed our meetings and I thouroughly enjoyed my time with them. At the conclusion of the service David presented me with a gift which I sincerely appreciate and also am astonished about. He gave me his copy of the 15 volume “Spurgeon’s Expository Encyclopedia” that was presented to him by his former pastor. This is a collection of over 7500 pages of Charles Spurgeon’s sermons. I can’t say enough how greatful I am for this gift. Tonight, I am truly blessed!

I want to direct your attention to the newly refurbished, online home of Missouri Valley Baptist Church. Thanks to the tireless efforts of one Mr. John Stickley, the new site is up, running and ready for business. Note that it also includes an interactive portion of the site entitled, the “Family Room.”

There has recently been a pattern of disputes within organizations being aired through the blogging world. Blogging has been used as a means of accountability and most anyone who reads this blog will know that I am in favor of using it as such, as long as there is accountability on the part of the bloggers as well.

Recently, though, we have seen a new pattern emerging. In at least 4 instances over the past year, disputes within local churches have caused some in membership to create blogs as a method of trying to force accountability in the local church. This article describes what is currently happening at Adrian Rogers former church, Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, TN.

I’m curious to hear everyone’s thoughts on this activity. In my honest opinion, I’m not altogether in favor of it. I know that may come as a surprise to some. It seems to me, however, to be excessive in the case of the local church/organization. Let me explain. Blogging has been used to hold bodies accountable in the past, which is commendable. The necessity of using blogging up to this point has been created by the large scale with which our disagreements have encompassed. In other words, personal interaction and face to face meetings would always be the preferable method, but in the case of the SBC, for instance, the body is large and so spread out that coming together for personal discussion is impossible. The move to blogging, therefore, has been necesitated by the scope of our questions and disagreements.

The local church, however, is a different issue. It is an experience that can be dealt with on a local level, in personal encounters. Face to face interaction is possible and should be utilized. Beyond that, the local church issue does not involve the span of individuals who are reached by blogging. SBC issues, on the other hand, involve people from a worldwide reach and therefore the convenience of blogging makes their involvement possible.

In all things those who we struggle with should be contacted initially, and dealt with in a personal fashion, prior to taking our concerns to a larger audience. In the case of those blogging on these SBC issues, that I’m aware of, this process has generally been followed, though I am aware that at times it has not - and I am opposed to that activity. While I don’t know, personally, it appears that this method of working in the local level could easily circumvent this biblical process.

So, what do you think? I don’t want to sound as if I’m straddling the fence. I’m not trying to endorse an “Ok for me but not for you,” mentality. In your opinions, is this appropriate for the local church dispute?

I am always excited about churches working outside the box to provide outreach opportunities to their community. This idea is novel, exciting! Coastal Community Church should definitely be commended!

Click here

It has been interesting to me to listen to the conversation about the changes that “need” to happen in the life of the International Mission Board. One of the changes that seems to be feared the most is the “need” for the IMB to restrict women from performing baptism and the Lord’s Supper. This position is eloquently defined in the 2nd White Paper that was issued by Dr. Keith Eitel. This 2nd paper was written with the assistance of Drs. Paige Patterson and Robin Hadaway. Dr. Hadaway is my current missions professor and it’s important that you understand that I highly value him and his wisdom. I love his cl!
asses and have gone out of my way to take more of his electives than any other professor because I enjoy his knowledge and teaching style. I do, however, disagree with him in this area.

I’ll be honest from the start. I see no problem with women accomplishing either of these tasks. Now, before you jump all over me and accuse me of being a liberal you should also know that I do believe that women are biblically restricted from holding the position of pastor. I do, however, see a distinction in that I do not see either baptism or the Lord’s Supper as an experience that is limited to leadership by a senior pastor. In all my years as a Southern Baptist (almost 30 now) and my 5 years in a Florida Baptist college, my time with the IMB, the two Southern Baptist churches that I’ve served and my 3 years at a Southern Baptist seminary, I’ve never once heard someone teach that women can not lead in these experiences. As such, it was confusing to me as I’ve heard, over the past 4 years, many complaining about the practice and demanding a change. So I’d like to hear from you. As I’ve continued to study I continue to see scripture affirm my thoughts that women are certain!
ly available to perform these two activities. I’ve yet to hear a cogent, compelling argument to the contrary. So I’m opening it up to you. I would like for you to help me understand your thoughts on the topic. Am I right? Am I wrong? If I am wrong, why am I?

I look forward to the dialogue.