2009 SBC Report

Well, I am fresh off a tonsillectomy and a trip to the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention. While the tonsillectomy was dreadful, the convention was somewhat refreshing. Here is a very brief outline of a few noteworthy observations at this years convention to be followed by a more thorough explanation.

1. Johnny Hunt appears to have been somewhat successful in reinvigorating young leadership within the convention. I saw more young pastors and their families than at previous conventions.

2. The Great Commission Resurgence is well on its way. The call issued by the document to restructuring and belt-tightening on the part of State Baptist Conventions was well received and seems to answer the cries of grass roots Southern Baptists.

3. Calvinism is back in a big way in the SBC. Executive Committee President Morris Chapman scorched Calvinists in his address on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Dr.'s Akin and Mohler blasted Chapman's statements at a Baptist21 gathering, during which Akin apologized for Chapman's statements and Mohler suggested recovery treatment for those who were subjected to hearing the speech.

4. Not surprisingly, a lot of SB's are less than pleased with the apparent alliance between Mark Driscoll and some SBC entities. Driscoll is to speak at Southeastern Seminary in the coming months and his association with Lifeway's own Ed Stetzer is well documented. Driscoll was once known as the "cussing preacher" and recently came under fire from Baptist Press for inappropriate sexually explicit language. Several motions were made regarding Dricoll's participation in SBC life; all of which sought to bring an end to Driscoll's influence in SBC life.

5. Don't miss this one. The IMB is short of funds. Not only do we have God called men and women who will not be sent out we have 400 returning short-term missionaries who will not be replaced. This will be the driving force in the restructuring of our state conventions and mission sending entities.

The entirety of the convention can be viewed at SBC.net.

Is America a Christian Nation?

Much has been made of President Barrack Obama's recent statements in the nation of Turkey where he stated, "We do not condider ourselves a Christian nation," which in fairness went on to exclude almost every faith system or non-faith system as possible descriptions of the religious makeup of America. What do you think? Is America a Christian nation? Is it even appropriate to think of nations in terms of Christian or non-Christian?

True enough, there is a sense in which no nation is Christian. After all, nations are not Christian; people are. However, implicit in the statement is something that means to suggest far more than the presence or lack of consensus when it comes to Christianity. Much of the attention has been given to Obama's statements concerning what we are not in his eyes, but the focus might better be placed on who he actually said we are. Obama stated, "We are a nation of citizens bound by ideals and a set of values." Where do those values and ideals come from Mr. President. This has and will be the battle cry of political, social, and religious liberals. The President and those who share his views put forward the idea that all value systems are equal, in fact, most if not all, are superior to Judeo-Christian values. The President's statements picture America as a nation with a bent toward secularism. This has of course never been the case. However, if the President and others who share his views have their way we will be forced to aquaint ourselves with a new America, an America with no moral anchor, an America best known for its godlessness than for its motto, "In God we Trust."

Listen to J. Randy Forbes refutation of Obama's statement on the House floor.

Historically, who are Baptists?

Since we are a blogspot concerned with Baptist history, and we are 2/3's of the way through a study of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, here are a few Baptist confessions previous to the 2000 Statement of Faith.

1858 Abstract of Principles

1833 New Hampshire Confession

1742 Philadelphia Confession

1689 2nd London Confession

Why this may not be a total waste of time...

"A recent study by the Barna Group found that 45 million Americans are "going digital" to acquire sermons and teaching content. In all, one out of every 4 adults (23%) said they downloaded a church podcast in the last week. another surprising finding was the fact that sermon pod casts cut across generational lines with older adults just as likely as younger adults to listen in." (Rev! magazine, November/December 2008) Wow! I'm impressed. 23% of all Americans are going online to access some form of Christian teaching. I have to admit that I am less than optimistic that much of what is being accessed is the kind of teaching/preaching it should be, but we have to acknowledge the fact that the Internet is quickly becoming America's new Main Street. From politics to spiritual issues, the Internet is the 21st century platform for such discussion.

I personally receive email announcements and updates from a half-dozen or so web-based organizations that I find stimulating. Perhaps the same could be true of our own site. The obvious goal is to provide a platform for stimulating and intellectual discussion of theology, church issues, and other matters of import to our church family and others.

Feel free to comment, but always with tact and gentleness. This may not be a total waste of time after all.

Bro. Wade