Articles

Why the BF&M is Sufficient But Not Comprehensively So

Jun 18, 2007 | Southern Baptist Issues

The debate over the Executive Committee statement regarding the Baptist Faith and Message is being hotly debated in the blogosphere since its adoption this past week. For some interesting reading regarding the ways this adopted statement is being viewed, the dialogue at Wade Bruleson’s blog and Hershael York’s blog will provide some helpful information. Here’s the statement as it was adopted: “The Baptist Faith and Message is neither a creed, nor a complete statement of our faith, nor final and infallible; nevertheless, we further acknowledge that it is the only consensus statement of doctrinal beliefs approved by the Southern Baptist Convention and such is sufficient in its current form to guide trustees in their establishment of policies and practices of entities of the Convention.” What I Think Is Good About This Statement The statement reflects what Baptists do indeed believe about confessional statements: they are not creedal statements that bear authoritative weight over local churches and they do not address every possible element of what Baptists (or Christians) believe. The BF&M is not the final and only word on key doctrinal issues limiting debate or discussion, nor is it an infallible statement (such is reserved for Scripture). Also, the BF&M is indeed “the only consensus statement of doctrinal beliefs approved by the SBC.” We have a statement of which local churches can affirm historic Christian doctrinal truths and particular issues that make us Baptisticly unique from other denominations and religious groups. In fact, in our church we have every potential member read this statement and in a pastoral interview, ask them if there is any area of disagreement or... read more

Convention Activities

Jun 17, 2007 | Southern Baptist Issues

Since arriving home from San Antonio, I was like many pastors who attended the Convention: behind. So, I have done little to post my thoughts and reflections on the convention. Though behind, I have been watching the SBC blogosphere and taking interest in the discussions. I hate to say it but I’m better educated post-convention than pre. I do plan to do all I can to be at the Convention each year. There is much for which to be present. I also plan to keep myself more abreast of what is happening. I glance at Baptist Press each day as it is e-mailed to me, but haven’t been reading it closely. I syndicated few SBC bloggers until yesterday when I populated my Feedreader with 23 that I plan to keep up with. Though I’ve been behind on my real world life (pastor as opposed to Convention Watcher), I plan to give a brief report to our congregation this evening, and tomorrow I hope to post a review of the week from my personal perspective, and also a review of what I think about the Baptist Faith and Message statement that was adopted. I do this for the sake of those in our congregation who read this blog and have interest on what is going on within the world of the... read more

By the Way

Jun 11, 2007 | Southern Baptist Issues

If you would like to follow the proceedings of the convention, check out the live feed at http://www.sbc.net.  Also, I and Pastor James Billings will be blogging on the convention over at our new Pastors’ Perspectives blog.  Check it... read more

From the Shrine of the Motherland

Jun 11, 2007 | Southern Baptist Issues

That’s right, I’m blogging today (and hopefully through Wednesday) from the shrine of Texas Independence, San Antonio, Texas. While I am rooting for the Spurs to take it all, I’m actually here to attend the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. I have the privilege to attend this year with a fellow pastor, James Billings and a brother church member, Justin Peters. After a long Lord’s day, actually ending into early this morning and a few hours sleep, I joined my two other convention cohorts to make it to the Ontario Airport and begin our flight to SA via Express Jet (a new airline deserving of an entire blog-post – actually quite positive). This convention will be a little bit of a reminiscent one for me. I attended my first SBC in 1988 in San Antonio. It was amazingly memorable. Adrian Rodgers was the President, Jerry Vines was elected to become president. W. A. Criswell preached his famous “skunk” sermon, a motion was made to have a woman preach the annual sermon (it was booed and shouted down) and a small group of moderates marched out of the convention hall and down to the Alamo to publicly burn a resolution affirming pastoral authority in the local church. What a time. From what I have been reading on a number of blogs over the past week (really, over the past year), this year may not be as bombastic as the 1988 Convention, but it is beginning to heat up. For those of you who know, tell me if I’m reading things right. There is an old guard (the leaders... read more

Expository Convictions – part 9

May 31, 2007 | Preaching

So – I left off on this series a few months back and never posted what I do to actually construct an expository sermon – only what I do to study a passage. I suppose I became too busy putting sermons together to actually keep writing about how I do it. So, here’s my attempt at getting back on the saddle and finishing out how I put together expository sermons. Here’s the previous posts: PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4 PART 5 PART 6 PART 7 PART 8 Bridging from Exegesis to Exposition The next portion of my study consists of bridging from exegesis to exposition. I try to begin this process on Thursday, but it will probably happen on Saturday (I take Friday off). Here I will refine the original “main idea” statement as a result of my further study. Then I begin to write down words and terms that summarize in a contemporary way the main point of the passage. I begin constructing a one sentence summary of the point of the passage, thinking about how this theme or subject or idea could best be communicated to my particular congregation. I then construct a one sentence, present tense, contemporary statement that communicates the main idea of the passage. The most frequent way I organize and arrange my sermons is around a plural noun propositional statement. Rarely have I preached inductive sermons (i.e., a sermon where the main point is not revealed until the end of the message). I am intrigued with the idea of preaching more inductive messages, but I find that this method fits... read more

Interpreting the New Testament Text

May 29, 2007 | Bookreviews, Hermeneutics

Earlier this year I finished a very good and helpful text on the subject of New Testament exegesis (I mentioned it on this blog late last year): Interpreting the New Testament Text, edited by Darrell L. Bock and Buist M. Fanning. In this post I want to provide a brief review of the book that I hope would cause those of you who are series about exegesis to pick up the book and interact with its suggested methods and approach in deepening your exegetical studies. Interpreting the New Testament Text: Introduction to the Art and Science of Exegesis (INTT) is a seminary level text-book edited by Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) professors, Darrell L. Bock and Buist M. Fanning. The two editors collate contributions from fellow DTS professors and former students of current DTS professor Harold W. Hoehner (9, 18). The book is somewhat of a festschrift in honor of Dr. Hoehner and his years of faithful exegesis and Bible teaching ministry. The purpose of INTT is “to discuss the methods of exegesis that make it a skill that can be taught, while also giving samples of exegesis that reveal what exegesis looks like in the hands of mature practitioners” (24). Exegesis is defined in INTT most broadly as “a high-definition form of reading and studying the Bible” (17). More specifically, exegesis is defined as “setting forth the authors’/text’s meaning by interaction with the original language through the use of sound hermeneutics with a view to applying the text to the contemporary church and the world” (24). INTT summarizes the product of exegesis in three different outcomes: (1) to understand... read more

How God and Satan Are Involved in Temptation

May 23, 2007 | Christian Living

In Kelly Kapic’s and Justin Taylor’s edition of three select writings from John Owen, the second book included is entitled, Of Temptation: The Nature and Power of It. I began this second book recently in my quiet time reading. Here are a few excerpts from today’s reading: The Special Nature of Temptation . . . temptation in its special nature, as it denotes any evil, is considered either actively, as it leads to evil, or passively, as it has an evil and suffering in it (152). . . . actively considered, it either denotes in the tempter a design for the bringing about of the special end of temtatin, namely, a leading into evil; so it is said that “God tempts no man” (James 1:13), with a design for sin as such – or the general nature and end of temptation, which is trial; so “God tempted Arham” (Gen 22:1). And he proves or tempts by false prophets (Deut 13:3). The End for Which God Tempts: He does it to hw unto man what is in him: as to his grace or corruption (153). God does it to show himself unto man and that – in a way of preventing grace in a way of renewing grace We shall never know what strength there is in grace if we know not what strength there is in temptation (154). The Way God Tempts He puts men on great duties, such as they cannot apprehend that they have any strength for, nor indeed have. By putting them upon great sufferings. By his providential disposing of things so that occasions unto sin... read more

Discerning Between God’s Voice and My Own

May 17, 2007 | Christian Living

What Owen dealt with in the 17th century is nothing less than the same questions I hear and personally consider on a weekly basis. Here Owen answers hypothetical questions brought up about his directive to make sure we do not speak peace to our hearts too quickly, but wait for God to do it. How shall we know when we go alone ourselves, and when the Spirit also does accompany us? he will not let you always err (123). When God speaks there is not only truth in his words, that may answer the conviction of our understandings, but also they do good; they bring that which is sweet, and good, and desirable to the will and affections; by them the “soul returns unto its rest” (Ps 116:7) (124). We speak peace to ourselves when we do it slightly. Whoever speaks peace to himself upon any one account, and at the same time has another evil of no less importance lying upon is spirit, about which he has had no dealing with God, that man cries ‘Peace’ when there is none (125). When men of themselves speak peace to their consciences, it is seldom that God speak humiliation to their souls. When may we take the comfort of a promise as our own in relation to some peculiar wound, for the quieting the heart? When God speaks it, be it when it will, sooner or later (126). When God speaks it, we must receive it, that is true; but how shall we know when he speaks? There is, if I may so say, a secret instinct in faith, whereby... read more

Don’t Speak Peace Too Soon

May 16, 2007 | Christian Living

Back to Kapic and Taylor’s edition of John Owen’s Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers Chapter 13 Owen’s ninth directive in mortifying sin: Do not speak peace to yourself before God speaks it, but hearken to what God says to your soul. [God] yet reserves this privilege to himself to speak peace to whom he pleases, and in what degree he pleases, even among them on whom he has bestowed grace (119).     As God creates it for whom he pleases, so it is the prerogative of Christ to speak it home to the conscience. Men certainly speak peace to themselves when their so doing is not attended with the greatest detestation imaginable of that sin in reference whereunto they do speak peace to themselves, abhorrency of themselves for it. When men measure out peace to themselves upon the conclusions that their convictions and rational principles will carry them out unto, this is a false peace and will not abide... read more

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