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Baptist Identity or Evangelical Anonymity? Part II: Dr. Malcolm Yarnell

    We had an enormous amount of readers for the post entitled "Baptist Identity or Evangelical Anonymity?  Part I".  For Part II, I wanted the voice of an accomplished theologian and churchman to guide our way.  Dr. Malcolm Yarnell, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, graciously agreed to pen for us the following essay. 

I think you will agree his essay possesses both a decidedly Baptist conviction and a commitment to forge and develop genuine spiritual camaraderie with believers of other persuasions  In addition, the passion Dr. Yarnell undeniably projects for the lost cannot be missed.

It is that precise Biblical balance that is so needed today when there are those among us who wish to pursue an unrecognizable conglomerate of ecumenical evangelicals where those ecclesiological traits we have known as distinctively Baptist stand in jeopardy of completely vanishing.   

Thank you, Dr. Yarnell for your informed essay.

With that, I am...

Peter

Please read on...

The Verdict Just In: The Southern Baptist Convention is in Decline

   The  verdict is now firmly set in place:  The mighty Southern Baptist Convention is a convention of Churches in decline.  How do we know? Well, numbers do not lie, do they? 

And the numbers are in, according to Lifeway's Ed Stetzer.  The hot zone that triggered the greatest concern was the loss in Baptisms. This one dip sent a tremble through the airwaves equal to a whopping 5.0 magnitude on a Richter scale.

Dr. Steve Gaines: Bushwhacked by Big Brother

    The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived, published in 2006, lists those icons of pop culture’s fiction whose influence is still most felt today.  Number two on the list is “Big Brother”, the well-near universally known brain spawn of George Orwell’s 1984. 

“Big Brother is watching you” has become the catchphrase for describing the strange feeling that “someone is watching me”—a phenomenon lasting for two full generations of adults since Orwell penned the book in 1948.  I’m quite sure many high profile, Southern Baptist Pastors know the feeling to which I refer.

Baptist Identity or Evangelical Anonymity? Part I

     I was saved in 1977.  To the dismay of many of my Founders' brothers, yes I walked the aisle and filled out a card in response to an invitation the Pastor offered at the service's end.  However, I did not think, even at such an elementary stage of belief, the card added anything significant to my salvation experience; nor certainly did I remotely believe I was saved because I signed my name. 

Indeed I have still yet to meet, after thirty-one years a member in a Southern Baptist Church, the phantom person who believes himself saved because he walked the aisle and signed a card.  Perhaps there is such widespread deception out there as we're repeatedly informed.  I've just never encountered it.

I'm Feeling a Bit Fun & Funky Today

My son-in-law, Jon Radford, is a musicholic.  He may know every band and recording artist ever.  Jon plays in the Worship band where he and my daughter, Kimberly, church themselves in Nashville. 

Every chance he gets, he hooks up with The Dynamites.  Check out the drummer.  That's Jon.  He's got one cool rhythm...

With that, I am...

Peter

A Much Needed Explanation about My Hair: Especially for Steve Grosey

The following video, I confess, bears the inspiration for my hair do that our Australian Brother and Pastor, Steve Grosey ever likes to comment about.  Ricky is my hair-do hero. 

This song is not half bad either for stating a leadership principle:  you cannot please everyone.  So get over it.

With that, I am...
Peter

Hershael York and Paul Harvey: One Thing in Common

   News reporter and commentator legend, Mr. Paul Harvey,  may be the most famed caster of all time.  For over fifty years, he's been known "for the rest of the story".  Listeners could always expect Mr. Harvey to drop an unexpected ending for them to consider.

 

Today, Dr. Hershael York--Pastor, Professor, Trustee--offered what many surely consider "the rest of the story" concerning the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.   

For the last two years, the Board has faced stiff criticism from many, especially from a former trustee of the board. Some have levelled harsh indictments toward the Trustees themselves, claiming their policies constituted a sure form of death for Missions and Missionaries, not to mention cooperation in support for both from Southern Baptist Churches. 

Dr. York's current post is a refreshing, positive analysis of what is really going on in the mission fields around the world.  Know the challenges are still many for missionaries on the field as well as Trustees who oversee the appointment process.  However, the dark, despicable picture painted by a few rogue bloggers has now been definitively neutered by "the rest of the story". 

With that, I am...

Peter

Dr. York's Full Post is a Must Read for anyone interested in Missions

Bashing The Big Church: Is It Becoming An Issue?

  Two years ago, it was not uncommon to hear Wal-mart being bashed routinely in mainstream public media.  Florida politicians were sticking their fingers to the populist wind to see which way to publicly blow their own sympathy:  toward Wal-mart lovers or Wal-mart haters.

I do not know this as fact.  I possess no statistics and certainly have conducted no polls.  This is--right or wrong--strictly intuition.  I get the distinct impression there is a swelling acceptance toward the bashing of the big Church phenomenon, especially, of course, within my own contextual Christian culture of Southern Baptists.

The Lord's Prayer

Here is one great inspiration.  Makes me want to hug my little Sofie. 

With that, I am...

Peter

When Life Hurts, Jesus...

   
    Ms. Debbie Kaufman, a Baptist blogger from Oklahoma and one who frequents this site often grieves with her family and especially her daughter this hour.  Due to a tragic vehicle accident, her daughter's husband was killed.

For them, life delivered profound hurt. And, as believers, we know the only source of real and lasting hope is Jesus.   I'm certain already they've looked to Him. 

To Debbie, her daughter, her family and her friends, we offer our prayer...

A New Candidate for SBC President?

Bart Barber at Praisegod Barebones posted his inner thoughts out loud about the current nominees for President of the Southern Baptist Convention.  Many readers took Bart to the woodshed for even suggesting Les Puryear possibly may pitch his own name into the race. 

Even more gravel was tossed at him for hinting that Les and Wade are buds as far as their denominational political leanings are concerned.

As I read the comment thread, I was reminded of this song and the picture below it.  Grace to all.

With that, I am...

Peter

Bigger Pic

Charlton Heston: A Hollywood Legend

One of the great stars of film is dead.  The following scene is classic:

With that, I am... Peter

Getting Back On Track

    Well, the Big Blogger's Dance ends today.  SBCTomorrow did well until the last round.  Soundly defeated is not even close to being accurate.  We do appreciate Tony Kummer at SBCVoices for the fun.  Perhaps next year it will be even better.  Tony now tracks well over three hundred Southern Baptists who blog.  Who would have thought that?  Moving on...

I want to get back on track.  First, there are at least three posts more I want to do on Wine, Believers and the Bible. We'll first do a recapitulation post. 

Then I will offer some thoughts about some of the OT texts that do not seem to square so well with abstentionism.  Then, we'll look at the NT--especially focusing on the texts in the Gospels and our Lord's association with wine.  As one scholar noted: 

"The example of Christ must be determinative in this matter.  If abstinence was His practice, it is our duty.  If moderation was His rule it may be our custom."  (Leon Fields, "Oinos:  A Discussion of the Bible-Wine Question", 1883, p.2). 

Luke Liechty: All Things SBC

Well, thanks to the faithful readers at SBCTomorrow:  The Final Four we shall go.

Just have to break in: if you planned to vote in the March Madness finals, now is the time to do so.  SBCTomorrow is neck and neck with Micah Fries, who is, by the way, an outstanding SBC blogger.  Our conference is undoubtedly the toughest one as the total votes are tallied.  I appreciate all who voted for us.  I even appreciate those who thought about it but didn't :^)  With that, I am...Peter

Louisiana Pastor Luke Liechty, and heretofore a rather mild mannered commenter on SBC Tomorrow, has literally gone bananas.  He decided to step into the acid waters of SBC politics, with his new site,  All Things SBC. 

Luke, my Brother, understand:  your life will never be the same.  We hope your wife has a great insurance policy on you.

With that, I am...

Peter