From time to time, people move from one Christian tradition to another. This is not a new thing, although sometimes it can be painful and unpleasant as one pulls up anchor, says goodbye to friends and loved ones, and heads for another shore. These things happen. And the best that we can do after all the conversations are done and attempts to persuade are over is wish each other well with as much grace as possible. That is why it is usually not necessary to comment publicly on such departures. But Southern Baptists have just witnessed a departure that unfortunately may require some comment. Dr. Matthew Barrett, well-known SBC seminary…
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About the thing that happened at that Coldplay concert…
About the thing that happened at that Coldplay concert, I have seen countless memes and jokes about it online. I even saw a major grocery store chain create an ad out of it. This text from Ephesians comes to mind: “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Eph. 5:3-5).…
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How a Christian Patriot Loves His Wayward Nation
If you’ve never seen G. K. Chesterton’s reflections on being a Christian patriot, I encourage you to read “The Flag of the World” in his classic work Orthodoxy. Chesterton contends that love of one’s homeland is not like house-hunting—an experience in which you weigh the pros and cons of a place and choose accordingly. He writes: A man belongs to this world before he begins to ask if it is nice to belong to it. He has fought for the flag, and often won heroic victories for the flag long before he has ever enlisted. To put shortly what seems the essential matter, he has a loyalty long before he…
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Defending the Moderator
I have been watching certain people online criticize pastor Kevin DeYoung for the way he moderated a debate last week at the recent General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of America. The body was debating a motion about whether to retain the current leader of Mission to North America (MNA). At the end of the allotted time for debate, teaching elder Timothy Brindle rose to speak against the motion (watch here). Brindle says that the leader of MNA had supported race-based “affinity” groups in the past, including worship services designed to serve only one racial grouping. Brindle said, “Friends, if the coordinator of MNA believes he’s not safe in space…
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Resurrection Hymn
O Jesus, Savior of my life, My hope, my joy, my sacrifice, I’ve searched and found no other one Who loves me more than you have done. So I denounce my lingering sin Whose power You have broke within My ever weak and faithless frame. Its vigor’s crushed in Jesus name. For your death did at once proclaim, The Godhead’s glory and my shame. And you did seize my cup of guilt And drank all that the chalice spilled. No condemnation now I dread Because you went for me instead To bear the curse and wrath and rage, To pay the debt I would have paid. Yet your work finished…
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The Ground of All Human Assurance before God
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The Innermost Meaning of the Cross
“But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.” -Isaiah 53:10 “God put [Christ] forward as a propitiation in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness.” -Romans 3:25 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us– for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.’” -Galatians 3:13 “It is those who cannot come to terms with any concept of the wrath of God…
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The Gospel on Joe Rogan’s Podcast
I just finished listening to Joe Rogan’s stimulating interview with a Christian apologist named Wes Huff. It really is a fascinating conversation, and I want to commend it to you. The occasion for the interview is Wes Huff’s “debate” with atheist Billy Carson late last year. I stayed up late last night and watched the debate. Huff dominated with facts and evidence, and he did so in a kind and winsome way. It was so one-sided, that Carson subsequently tried to keep the debate from seeing the light of day and sued Huff. It’s a big mess and has gotten a lot of commentary online, which is how Joe Rogan…
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How a Christian Patriot Loves His Wayward Nation
I love G. K. Chesterton’s reflections on what it means to be a Christian patriot. If you have never read it, I encourage you to read “The Flag of the World” in his classic work Orthodoxy. Chesterton contends that love of one’s homeland is not like house-hunting—an experience in which you weigh the pros and cons of a place and choose accordingly. He writes: A man belongs to this world before he begins to ask if it is nice to belong to it. He has fought for the flag, and often won heroic victories for the flag long before he has ever enlisted. To put shortly what seems the essential…
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Should we add the Nicene Creed to our confession? Yes, but not like this.
There is a proposal on the table to amend the Baptist Faith & Message from the floor of the convention in Indianapolis next month. The measure specifically calls for adding the Nicene Creed to the end of the Baptist Faith & Message. While I fully affirm the Nicene Creed, I have concerns about this specific proposal and likely won’t vote in favor of it. Here’s why: 1. I think it is imprudent to amend the BF&M from the floor of the convention. It happened at last year’s convention, and I expressed my alarm about it at the time, even though I agreed with the amendment. Our SBC seminaries and mission…
