Homecoming

I have made it to Amarillo and found the registration booth at the Amarillo Civic Center. It has been 13 years since attended an event and my how the place has grown. The parking lot we used in 94 is now another building. I dropped by the Amarillo Livestock Auction where I used to buy and sell cattle and found it had changed as well. Gone are the Monday crowds and a parking lot full of trucks to haul cattle back to the ranches. Where once upon a time they would sell 10 to 15000 head per week, I understand they now sell only 3 to 4 thousand now. The registration total at 12:15 was 1756 and it looks to be far short of the numbers from 1994.

My first impressions have been interesting. At the registration desk we were given a goody bag two times the size of last year's bag. As I walked through the exhibit hall I realize why. The marketing team from the BGCT has done a remarkable job of supporting the East Texas timber industry where I now reside. The ballots we are to use in the business meeting are a full 8 1/2 x 14 so we will be easily spotted while voting yes or no.

Missions is the theme for this convention and disaster relief is well represented. Texas Baptist Men have an incredible ministry in this state and DR trailers are all over the parking lot and in the exhibit hall. This ministry has carried the Gospel around the world through humanitarian aid in times of crisis.

I saw a couple of interesting booths in the exhibit hall. LifeWay has been granted a place yet I failed once again to find that Southwestern had been given the privilege. Of course the Smith Helwys booth and Baptist Way press booth were both much larger than the LifeWay booth. I saw the evangelism booth and looked for my friend Jon Randles who is now the team leader for the BGCT in evangelism. I will pray that Jon and staff will find success in returning an emphasis on evangelism to the BGCT.

Our first meeting is just a few moments away and nominations for officers are likely to be presented during this session.

Committed

As regular as clock work I received the annual propaganda piece printed by Texas Baptist Committed delivered just prior to the annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. David Currie, the chief general for TBC and editor of the publication, pulled out the big Texas guns once again to influence elections. I must add that I have not subscribed to the paper or asked for the paper. They send it of their own free will. The closest I have been to endorsing or participating in anything TBC or CBF was when our fine accounting folks at the BGCT sent some funds from our church to the CBF by mistake.

Of particular interest in this years campaign publication, is an article by Ken Hall. Some suspect he is in the running for the EC and I would venture a guess that if it comes to pass, there are leaner days for the BGCT. The part that really caught my attention was his not so subtle comparison of the valley scandal to giving to Lottie and Annie. Ken's call is for a Texas Mission Fund that allowing BGCT folks to give to Texas Missions rather than SBC missions. Why leaner days? While the article speaks of a wider tent in Texas and cooperating with more people, should his vision come to pass, I would expect more churches to defect from the BGCT to the SBTC. Essentially, the BGCT would be by expectation excluding the churches that David Lowrie says we again need to include in BGCT life.

I have said before and I will say it again, it is not the SBTC who is luring churches away, it is the moderate leadership of the BGCT who is driving them away. This is why I continue to believe we must elect David Lowrie as president of the BGCT. Truthfully, the BGCT president can do little to change the tide. However, electing another president who serves on the TBC board endorsing the views of Ken Hall, is a sure fire way to continue the drift toward making Herbert Reynold's dream for a national convention become reality.

Return to the Scene

It is rather ironic that the SBC met in San Antonio this year and so many looked back to the last time the SBC met there and in the same year the BGCT is again meeting in Amarillo the same place where a major division in BGCT life was cemented for years to come. I went to that convention sympathetic to the moderate camp and left very sympathetic to the conservative camp, or as moderates would rather say, the fundamentalist camp. I watched the moderate camp perform every stunt I had seen the conservatives criticized for by that reliable state paper called the Baptist Standard. I could write the things that most disappointed me during that meeting, but why bring up sour grapes. The irony is this year’s presidential election.

In 1994 the battles within the BGCT were raging. TBC was working hard to protect against a substantial opponent. Even in the midst of division, much was being accomplished in Texas. The evangelism conference was the greatest testimony to unity around evangelism and fellowship of pastors. The year was one of great victory for the moderate camp that has controlled the BGCT since even before that historic convention. We return to Amarillo this year a weaker convention in terms of cooperation and evangelism suffering from an exodus of churches and a lower budget than last year. We must be reminded that there was victory in Amarillo in 1994. No, in reality, both sides lost in Amarillo.

It is ironic that charges were regularly being made about that small band of conservatives who were controlling the election process in the SBC. Today, even TBC admits to doing the same thing in Texas. It seems as though it was wrong in SBC life but accepted in the BGCT. What is unethical in one circumstance, we might conclude, is ethical if you are on the winning side. That same small band made sure of a rise in theological education in Texas with seminaries surfacing in Abilene and Waco. I seem to find myself all alone in thinking if they were really BGCT seminaries, wouldn’t they have been at least sanctioned by an official meeting of the messengers? Perhaps I am missing this, but as my memory goes, these seminaries were started by Baptist colleges who in turn came to the BGCT to ask for funding. Many BGCT leaders turned a blind eye to this move and are only now beginning to question the methods of leadership that led to such events. At the same time some cry foul over the SBC seminaries establishing undergraduate schools. I love consistency.

The presidential election in Amarillo this year presents an opportunity for change. Perhaps the BGCT could lay down her denominational war banner and again pick up her evangelistic war banner. Some have called for the lapse of an organized group such as the TBC to cease in the election of candidates. Such pleas misunderstand leadership in organizations such as the BGCT. These organizations cry out for uniting leadership. The TBC has been effective because it united a group around a vision even though it is a negative vision. If the BGCT is to move forward from its quagmire, it will require a leadership group who can garner a sizable portion of the pastors in the BGCT to support its vision. Yes, vision is the key. Not a vision of being anti SBC but a vision of being up with Kingdom progress. As long as the vision is one of defense from an enemy that left the battle in 1998, ten years ago, the quagmire will continue. This vision will only emerge from men and women with great convictions. It will not come from the so called fundamentalists who remain in the BGCT. If their convictions would have motivated them to action, they would have either left for the SBTC or have been a constant source of irritation. It won’t come from the moderates or the TBC could have led us out of the quagmire years ago. It will come from some folks who will sit down and come up with a plan, take it to the churches and not just the executive board or annual convention, preach it, teach it, live it, and give their lives to it. Where are the statesmen who will rise up? Some have suggested David Lowrie to be one who could begin this type movement. He will not be able to do it alone. It will take several Baptist statesmen who can reach out to the silent majority of the BGCT and motivate them to action. It will take several who can reach out to the moderate camp that supports the TBC and those in the conservative camp who continue to support the SBC. That would be an anointed group and that would be a miracle. Do you still believe in miracles?

I am afraid it is not the current blogging world. This world is not captivated by vision, it is captivated by what it does not like about certain people. As long as we are battling people, we will not move forward. We must advance a vision made up of dreams and ideas. As long as we focus on fighting people, there will always be plenty of enemies to go around. Isn’t that what we have been warned about in fundamentalism? Is it also happening in the moderate world? The whole idea of circling the wagons to guard against the fundamentalists was due to fear. I think it was Avery Willis who said “fear is faith in the enemy.” If we are to move forward as the people of God, we must walk by faith, not by fear. Walking by faith, now I think that is a biblical concept.

Female Convention Presidents and the BGCT

It is being heralded as a historical event and the Dallas Morning News has called the election 30 days before the convention. No one seems to be asking a question that may deserve attention in light of falling budget numbers in the State convention coffers, "what will be the fall out?" "Will there be any fallout?" My years of experience in church life scream, there is always fallout!

The actions of the paid and elected leadership of the BGCT in recent years have created the falling budget and diminishing numbers of churches. The most costly action was to reduce funding to the SBC seminaries and place a cap on those funds in 2001. The biggest gainer was the SBTC who gained heavily in church numbers and have increased steadily in budget since that year. Will the election of Joy Fenner as BGCT president be one more of those actions? Will the election of a female president cause another drop in giving to the unified budget of the BGCT? I have more questions than answers and am not suggesting right or wrong to her election. I am simply raising a question that some may feel like is an elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about.

I, like many other Baptists, viewed the little Baptist church of my raising to be a mainstream Baptist church. We had a lady who lead music and a male pastor. All the deacons were and are to this day male and likely will be for any foreseeable time in the future. Ladies did not teach men beyond the age of about 12 and I was taught that no Baptist ever believed in predestination. My first week in an SBC seminary in the mid 90's destroyed any assumption that all Baptist churches believed the way of the church of my raising. Had I returned to them as a pastor preaching women's ordination as many of the seminary professors in that day taught, I would have quickly been removed as a pastor (and likely would be today). I am not sure many Texas Baptist are really ready for a female president of either the USA or the BGCT yet they may have to live with both.

Due to lack of posting in the last few months, my hits have dwindled significantly so this may be read only by the author, but I am curious to know if anyone believes electing a female president of the BGCT will further diminish giving to the unified budget. I am also curious to know if anyone also believes that a Fenner presidency will be another building block for the SBTC. It is possible that the egalitarian crowd would object to my questions and comments. I am not seeking here to deal with such an issue, only the reality of how Texas Baptist will respond.

Some have suggested to me that the most effective way to entice churches to leave the BGCT to join the SBTC is simply to let the moderate leadership continue to drive the BGCT ship. Is this one more example of the fulfillment of that prophecy?

John 4:1-14 Rising Expectations

The following are notes I made some years back in preparation to preach from John 4. They aren't fresh out of the study but will fill my blog with something not previously posted. Any spelling or gramamtical errors reflect the fact that they are actually only notes for personal study and have not been edited.

John 4:1-6

As you read these verses can’t you anticipate the unfolding drama as it continues? More people were following Jesus than were following John, Jesus was on His way back to Galilee, He had a reason to go through Samaria, and He is now resting at Jacob’s well near Sychar. If this were a movie or a TV show I am sure the camera would highlight the tired look on Jesus face. We would see the heat of the Middle East. Perhaps there would be a flashback to the digging of the well in Jacob’s day to excite our anticipation by jogging our memory. Clearly in our minds is the reality that has been proclaimed, this man at center stage has come to bring others life. Each encounter with this man by others results in a decision bringing life, or remaining death. Daily Jesus intersects each of lives yet without expectations of meeting Him; we often hurry right past Him without a second thought. Often we never grace the pages of His book, we neglect our prayer life, and we can’t seem to find the time for personal worship. Could it be we, like the Samaritan woman, have no expectation of meeting Jesus today?

John 4:7-14 Tradition

The camera would certainly be zooming in for a close up for the reaction of this Samaritan lady as Jesus spoke to her. I would expect to see a bewildered look of amazement and at the same time a glimmer of curiosity to be seen in her eyes and perhaps in her smile. As she rose for the day and carried out her many tasks, she probably never imagined that a Jew would ask her for a drink. But here He is, as big as life, seeking to carry on a conversation with a lowly Samaritan. By tradition, maybe she should ignore Him and walk away. Maybe she should respond with a sharp tongue and say no. She could justify some straightforward words reflecting past years of mistreatment and hate between the Jews and Samaritans. It is often difficult to pinpoint when and why traditions are started and even more difficult to change or even operate in a realm just outside them without feeling like a traitor or being condemned by the status quo. Jesus continually challenged people to go beyond their traditions and make sure of the security of their relationship with Him. That relationship is daily tested as we interact with others. Can we not only be cordial but also sacrifice and share with others in love as we take the Gospel to them? Can we lay aside political party differences if they cause us to not love someone else? Can we lay aside race differences? Can we lay aside socio economic differences? Are we willing to help those who won’t help themselves?

John 4:7-14 Understanding

Not only was this Samaritan amazed that Jesus would even speak to her, she was also confused by His words. She was darkness seeking to comprehend the light. Jesus spoke of an eternal stream, which would spring up inside of her if she believed she sought water that would quench her physical thirst. Many of our common problems stem from spiritual problems. Bitterness, unforgiveness, and anger can cause physical and mental problems. These are spiritual problems first and they become physical and mental. That does not mean every physical or mental situation we encounter is set up by the spiritual, but many are. The Bible says they lead to death. If we accept the Bible as truth, we must accept these teachings as well as the ones that tell us calling upon the name of Lord will assure us a safe passage into glory. This lady's understanding of Jesus was confused by her need to meet the daily necessity of water for her physical body. Jesus was actually promising the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that would spring up to meet the spiritual needs of those who believe. Even Christians today, have a hard time grasping the truth that Jesus has given us a well springing up with love, joy, and peace (fruits of the Spirit). Instead we often want to feel dissension, sadness, and turmoil. Maybe we are taking some of life to seriously or maybe we lack faith that God is at work in the midst of the situation. Would you pray that today God would open your eyes to understanding?

John 4:15-30 Sin

Confrontation makes great drama. In the movies we sometimes watch and the TV shows that invade our homes, confrontation is often at the center. In this way the creators draw us into the story line and piques our interest holding our attention in order to keep us there until they can present us with a product through an advertisement. Jesus confrontation was abrupt and gives evidence of the ingredients high drama is made from. On the surface the issue is a husband. At the base is the problem this lady has with making and keeping relationships. Her spirit is being fed by the sensual or sensationalism. As the excitement around one relationship has died out she has sought another. Perhaps her emotions have been on a roller coaster and she, like most of us, enjoy the height of the experience and do not want to go through the low. Somehow she has been discontent with one man so she has gone to another until in her current male relationship she has avoided the legal commitment. Jesus confronts the sin and she realizes He is more than a mere man. The sin separated her from God. By her response we assume the barriers separating her from God are removed. What a joyous occasion. Today might just be a great day for you and me to approach God and ask Him to reveal any sin in our life that separates us from Him.

John 4:20-30 Worship

Life is rather ironic when something we normally do to enhance our relationship to God actually serves as a barrier to keep us in the dark concerning His presence. That seems to be the picture concerning Jewish worship versus Samaritan worship and the place in which it took place. The Samaritans had the Holy Mountain while the Jews had the temple. The Samaritans accepted the first five books of the Old Testament while the Jews accepted the writings of the prophets as well. How easy it is for us to fall into the same trap. The buildings we build, the organizations we set up lay that trap, and even the songs we sing. Jesus cut through it all saying you shall worship in spirit and in truth. The worship must come from the heart. With your entire being you must love God and in all of life your motives must be true. In such a frame of mind and heart, true worship will pour out from the soul whether you are in Jerusalem, Samaria, the church, or alone in the quietness of your home. Seek today to let your spirit worship God throughout your activities.

Are secular politics invading SBC blogville?

It has been going on for months now, savvy political leaders have been trying to figure out who will run for president of the United States on the opposing party’s ticket, and then proceed to turn up dirt to prepare for an all out attack. It is a nasty game and the one who now runs for political office pays a dear price because the status quo is one of public smear.

Since the San Antonio SBC of 2007, many have speculated that Al Mohler will be nominated for president in 2008. No official announcements have been forthcoming. To my knowledge, Mohler has neither agreed nor ruled out allowing his name to be placed in nomination. In the land of SBC blogville, various bloggers regularly blog of what they considered to be an obscene response to the so called Garner motion. On other occasions his leadership has been seriously called into question publicly. There may be no connection between the political maneuvering of the blogger group and what appears to be an attempt to discredit a candidate prior to his decision to be nominated. What, no maneuvering you say? Hasn’t this group publicly taken responsibility for Dr. Page’s election? Of course, the same can be said of those in secular politics who are employing the same tactics. Are some already campaigning negatively toward the 2008 convention? Will future SBC presidential candidates face the same kind of politicking we are currently experiencing in US politics? May God save us!

Bloggers and Witchcraft

What is the difference in being rebellious and taking a firm stand on convictions? The answer to that question is a very serious one to a biblical conservative. 1 Peter 2:13-17 explains that we are to live in submission to every human institution. Using our exegetical and hermeneutical skills we quickly compose a list of exceptions to this imperative. But from the Old Testament we have a stronger word in 1 Samuel 15:23, “rebelliousness is as the sin of divination.” At the same time, we applaud John the Baptist who called out those in authority because of their immoral lifestyle. Was John being rebellious or taking a strong stand on convictions?

This question is important today because of what goes on in the name of Christianity. It is important because over the years Christians have refused to do many things in the name of biblical teaching. Some have refused to serve in the military and others have refused to pay taxes. Some clergy have opted out of social security on religious grounds. Some have killed abortion doctors who were operating legally.

This topic is important to me for two reasons. First, I am preaching through 1 Peter and this was my text last Sunday morning. Second, tasks and time have kept me away from the blogs for the last several weeks. I have been able to read a few but my response time was limited and my posting time was zero. After reading a few blogs I realized about all I missed was the 7/11 chorus, seven words sung 11 times. The discussions were the same, the respondents the same, and probably no one convincing anyone else of the error of their ways. What I did notice is that a few bloggers on each side of SBC issues appear to be sincere in what they are writing and why they are blogging. Others appear to simply be rebellious. I do remember Jesus words about judging and so I offer my words today as mere speculation based on outward appearance.

If our blogging or responding to others is in rebellion, it is simply sin. No, simply is a somewhat shallow concept. It is like witchcraft. That is much more serious than simple. The conclusion is this; a rebellious spirit is of the devil. It is fed through a channel that reaches straight into the pits of hell. How could I ever claim it to be simple?

As I prepared to preach this Scripture, I was reminded that Paul was standing on conviction when he preached the Gospel and went to jail. His response was not one of picket signs and protests. He and the others broke out in a hallelujah chorus while in chains. God shook the place, received tons of glory, and saved a whole household. Is there a connection between rebellious spirits and declining evangelism? Purely conjecture? May all our blogs be of firm convictions given by the Holy Spirit and void of rebelliousness.