A Eutychian Moment

At least he wasn't sitting in a third story window.

Former President Bill Clinton nodded off during a worship service with MLK III at the pulpit. Unfortunately, he happened to be on the platform at the same time. Those platform chairs can be comfortable, maybe too comfortable? Ahh, the perils and prestige of a public figure go hand in hand. Never underestimate the mixture of a long, dull sermon with an exhausting schedule. He might not have been the only one asleep in the pew that day. I've heard this guy speak a little bit, and even younger men and women would have trouble staying in the zone of consciousness.

Falling asleep in church is something ministers and laypeople alike joke about. Seeing this photo makes me wish we had a kind of "fan cam" similar to what is in football stadiums to capture the behavior of certain fans. It would be interesting to document ways church folks pass the time in a worship service, other than the appropriate way of staying riveted to every word from their inspiring preacher for the day. Anyway, I was reminded of what happened in Acts 20 when the great preacher Paul spoke through the midnight hour. . . "There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seating in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on (emphasis mine). When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead" (v9). The story ends on a good note as Paul came down and brought him back to life. I guess that's as good a way to end a sermon as any, but not too many preachers can pull that off.

I've sat through some sermons that made me feel like I needed to be "brought back to life." It's a miserable feeling for the eyelids to falter as the preacher is making his 12th point in alliteration. Sometimes the poem never comes and it is even more disheartening when you see the preacher pass up numerous chances to "bring the sermon in for a landing." When I was a teenager, I recall our pastor preaching through Exodus on Sunday nights. There were times I actually felt like I was in the wilderness; it was a dry, tiring experience. It left quite an impact on me, yet probably not the one desired.

It's pretty amazing that Eutychus got his name in the Bible for falling asleep during a sermon. And this was Paul the apostle at the pulpit. But even his great oratorical skills were no match for a warm, dimly lit room around midnight and this "young man" couldn't take it anymore and left the building. Falling asleep during the sermon is not the most notable accomplishment, and there have been many who have followed his example. Even former presidents. I've even had one or two church members tell me that they "take medication that makes them fall asleep" when they get still. I guess they picked it up from some deacons in the foyer. Fortunately, this kind of behavior hasn't been shown to be life threatening, only a little embarrassing. Just make sure to watch the snoring and find a place somewhere else than behind a large preacher and the pulpit to catch a few z's.

I've tried to remember the adage: "be sure to finish preaching before the people stop listening." It's a goal anyway, and so far we haven't had any fatalities due to sermon duration. But, I'll be watching for some nodding and stretching during inappropriate moments.

One Hundred Years of Praying

This Sunday, January 20, marks the beginning of the centennial anniversary of the Week of Prayer for Christian unity. I received some information from the ABC-USA and also came across an article in the recent issue of Baptists Today that referred to the subject. Until recently, I had never heard of such a recognition. This isn't really all that surprising when you consider my denominational upbringing. I've been in Southern Baptist churches most of my life and can't recall ever hearing about the need to be unified with followers of other denominations. There were, however, warnings to avoid too much association with them because there were significant issues that were "non-negotiatable" which prevented our fellowship. We had to be careful not to compromise our beliefs by being around them. Southern Baptists, in particular, have had this mindset and this influence had an affect on me early on. This view has been reinforced time and agains, and most significantly with the SBC's withdrawal from the Baptist World Alliance. Fortunately, I came to realize that they (we) were not "God's last and only hope" as the Bill Leonard book title indicated.

Although there won't be an elaborate celebration, our church will be told about such a recognition and I'll be preaching on unity from John 17. Jesus prayed for all persons who would come to faith through the message of those early followers. That includes us of course, and his desire was that we would be "one" so that the world would know that he came from the Father. Unity is so important for God's people that Jesus prayed for it to occur among his disciples.

One lesson that I've had reinforced in my preparation this week is that Baptists haven't set a very good example in the spiritual unity category. We're much better at being legalistic, judgmental, and occasionally self-righteous in our belief that we have a corner on the truth. Our reputation has tended to be one of "what we're against" than "what we're for." It is possible to have our doctrinal ducks in a row and be unkind and condescending to those who disagree with us. Oftentimes it has seemed that Baptists didn't need anyone else to get the work of Christ done. I recall a Southern Baptist mindset that was subtle yet real during conventions and pastor's conferences. Humility hasn't been in abundant supply.

Fortunately, I now travel in different Baptist circles and among people in a church who embrace ecumenism rather than fear it. Yes, we have our Baptist distinctives and these are precious to us. We believe in cooperative missions without controlling institutions and the spirit of volunteerism is encouraged. But, it is refreshing and liberating to be part of a Baptist presence that appreciates the diversity of denominations. I am grateful to be Baptist, but much more so to be a Christian. I've realized that some of the beliefs I've held through the years were rooted more in Baptist tradition than Bible. Time, study, and meeting believers from other theological rooms have caused me to rethink some of these previously "non-negotiable" positions.

We may not experience the unity Christ mentioned in this life. There is too much denominational turf to be protected and yes, there are significant theological truths that should not be compromised. Christians may agree on biblical authority but interpretation remains a sticking point. But it doesn't mean there can't be love and partnership among all of God's followers. I remember the words of my theology professor when challenged by his students on particular theological views: "I think I'm right about this position. But, when I get to heaven, and if Jesus tells me I was wrong, I'm not going to argue with him at that point."

The familiar refrain is worth repeating: "In Essentials, unity. In Non-Essentials, liberty. In all things, charity." Happy 100th anniverary, and let's keep on praying.

Florida Church Catches Fire

It's a sight no pastor or church member wants to see: their church going up in flames. Members showed up on Sunday morning and were faced with the smell of smoke and smoldering ashes. Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church was devastated by a fire only days before Christmas. The Jacksonville congregation gathered in their gym on December 23rd for worship, stunned by the devastating loss of their sanctuary. This is a terrible thing for any church to go through, not to mention the timing of the blaze. It is a blessing that no one appeared to be hurt in the fire, and that some areas of the building could be salvaged.

Pastor Kyle Reese has only been at the church about 18 months, but has shown remarkable courage and leadership during this crisis. His words to a shocked and hurting family of faith on that fourth Sunday of Advent are memorable: "In our strategic planning process," says Reese, "we've been trying to think of ways to reach out and embrace our community. But this morning we've seen how the community has reached out and embraced us." He expressed gratitude to businesses and other members of the faith community for their expressions of support. While on one would have wished this terrible event on the 50-year old congregation, it's encouraging to see that Reese is on the right track in bringing his church family together. It is a tough way to begin a pastorate. He will be faced with challenges and decisions he could never imagine.

I've been thinking a lot about this church, which happens to be a leading moderate congregation in Florida and the CBF in general. When the smoke clears, Hendricks Avenue will have the chance to live out their faith through adversity and difficulty. This situation has thrust them into their community in an unexpected way. This wasn't part of their planning process. What I'm reminded of through these images is that the church isn't the building, but the people. The Lord can use tragedy as a tool for bringing his people together and reaching a community in need of the Good News. Grief and loss are powerful emotions, and as this church works through them they will identify in a real way with individuals who have walked through personal valleys of their own.

Sometimes it's takes a tragedy to make us realize what's truly important in life. I've seen pictures of church members hugging one another and weeping over their church building. It's understandable. I'm sure there are members who are living with the loss of a place that has held special significance to them. Weddings, baptisms, and special services were held in that sanctuary. It's incredibly sad. But, they still have each other. I'll be hoping that they come together and "catch fire" with the power of the Holy Spirit. They will experience healing and growth with the sensitive leadership of their pastor. It will take time, but Hendricks Avenue will rise from the ashes to be stronger in their love for each other and for their community.

Christmas in the Ozarks

Christmas brings about a variety of emotions, and among these have to do with events that have taken place during the year. It's been an exciting, challenging, and eventful 2007 for the Chisholm family. We've made new friends and are getting settled into a new community and church family. We have been blessed. There is great peace in knowing that you are in the right place at the right time.

One aspect of the move that has been somewhat amusing is the number of times people have asked me "what do think about Ozark weather?" I think back to our first weekend in Springfield when it rained, sleeted, snowed, and afterward the sun came out. This past weekend we had snow and it looks like we're in for some more this weekend. I've been told that if you don't like the weather, just wait about 20 minutes and it will change. At least there are seasons.

Another interesting feature of the move has been the reaction to my "accent." I got wind that this was going to be a recognizable attribute when looking for an item in the store. The associate on duty, as she walked with me to the designated area of the store, said "you're not from around here, are you?" I've also had people comment about it over the phone, so this is another evidence that I'm not in the south anymore (the familiar phrase "we're not in Kansas anymore" would apply too, but now we're not far away from that state!)

One fear that we had moving to southwest Missouri never materialized, and that had to do with Southeastern Conference Football and Auburn football in particular. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that there is a station that carries the Lincoln Financial game of the week and on top of that most of the AU games could be seen there or ESPN. A sidebar story related to Missouri's football team doing so well and playing in the Big 12 Championship game. Our local university, Missouri State, even had a 6-5 season which was their best in quite some time.

Today is Cally's 10th birthday, and we celebrated this milestone last night with a small gathering of folks over at the house. A few of her friends were on hand, and the excitement is continuing with her first sleepover away from us. She was looking forward to the experience and this is another example of her growing up. I am proud of her work at school and her being so brave in meeting new people and making new friends.

Lucy will be five years old on the 29th, and has had a good year in pre-Kindergarten. She is outgoing and spirited, and is learning all the time. She will be in Kindergarten next Fall, which means she and Cally will be at the same school for the first time. Matt is 3 years old and is going half days at an elementary school to help him with his speech. He is adjusting well and has his friends too, especially now that Sam and Will are in the neighborhood.

Christmas is definitely about family, and I am grateful for mine. We're also thankful for a church family who has received us and welcomed us into their lives. It has been a busy 7 months, and I believe we are off to a good start with our mission and ministry together. We have a good staff, strong laity, and overall positive energy going into 2008.

I've enjoyed observing the Advent season at University Heights Baptist Church. We are lighting the Love candle this Sunday and then the Christ candle on Christmas eve. These are truly "holy-days" and I am doing my best to enjoy every moment without getting caught up into the commercialism of the season. This can be a challenge. In thinking about getting and giving gifts, however, I am reminded that the greatest is still that "the Word became flesh." Jesus is the reason for the season, and for EVERY season for that matter.

To those of you who drop by from time to time, let me say that I am doing well, staying busy with home and work duties, and doing my best to enjoy what I've been given. May you all be blessed with the hope, peace, joy, and love that only Christ can give. Merry Christmas from the Ozarks!

Joey Tatum: July 13,1968--November 26,2007

I never thought I'd be putting this in a blog entry, but Joey Tatum died last week. It had been a while since either Lori or I had heard from him, but he was one of those people with whom you could pick right up where you left off in a friendship. Joey had been part of a circle of friends at seminary who made things better just by being around him. He loved to play the guitar and sing, and made a great impact on young people in particular with his ministry to them through the church and youth camps.

We made a herculean effort to travel to Picayune for the funeral and back in a 48 hour period, with great appreciation to friends here who cared for our children in our absence. They dropped everything to help us. Travelling to Mississippi proved to be a trip down memory lane for us, since we hadn't seen those kinds of interstate signs in a very long time. It was unusual being back at Roseland Park Baptist Church for the funeral, as the last time had been for Joey and Cindy's wedding.

I knew Joey had been sick, but had no idea that he could have a heart attack. Diabetes is rough, and Joey battled that disease and gave himself insulin shots. He lost an eye along the way but never made a big deal about his sufferings. His boyish charm and kind ways will always be remembered. I consider him among my closest friends and my life is better for knowing him.

Joey leaves behind his devoted wife Cindy and 6-year old son Zeke. His brother Brian is also in the ministry, and I will be remembering him also. It will be a Christmas like no other for the Tatums this year. Their emphasis on faith and family is truly an inspiration. The funeral, while very emotional at points, pointed to the Christ that Joey dedicated himself to serve. He was humble, winsome, and an all around good guy. We will miss him terribly.

A teacher, a teddy bear, and a temper

Gillian Gibbons, a private school teacher in Sudan, has found out the hard way just how much trouble naming a teddy bear can be. Gibbons was arrested for allowing her class of 7-year olds to name a teddy bear "Mohammed." Those making charges are accusing her of enciting hatred toward those who practice Islam. Those with a more realistic view of things are calling this a harmless incident, and that Gibbons had no intention of causing such panic.

The 54-year old teacher didn't even name the fuzzy creature, but allowed a student to suggest the name. Mohammed is an accepted name for men in the Middle East, but apparently giving an animal such a name is blasphemous.

This situation would border on absurdity except that the penalty for this kind of offense is pretty stiff: 40 lashes and a year jail sentence. It's hard to imagine that Gibbons, who was a new teacher at the school, could suffer in a severe way for a seemingly innocent action. The British government is involved as well as some women's rights groups.

It's important to show sensitivity toward all religions, and I would like to think that Gibbons could have avoided this whole mess if she had known how offensive giving a Teddy Bear the prophet's name could be. So much for a class project. I am very sympathetic toward her situation and hope it can be resolved without her suffering any more.

The whole incident raises another issue, in that I wonder whether the Prophet Mohammed would have acted this way toward someone who did this. Islam is a religion that we'd better come to understand, because there are adherents whose militant ways have already been demonstrated all too well. Christianity has its fundamentalists too, and there has been outrage directed at toy companies who are making a "Jesus doll" in time for Christmas. However, I don't think there will be any jail time for this offense. I couldn't imagine Jesus asking for 40 lashes to be given to someone who gave a teddy bear the same moniker. Besides, Jesus was in the business of taking lashes.

Freedom of religion (and from religion) is a precious right we Americans have and it is difficult to understand a worldview with such hostility toward a teacher of 7-year olds. Yes, there should definitely be respect for other religions. Perhaps an apology would help matters. And, in a season of "peace, good will toward all people" a gesture from both Gibbons and the government in like manner would be in order.

Auburn 17, Alabama 10

Well, on a wild and exciting football weekend, Auburn won its 6th straight Iron Bowl. Arkansas knocked off LSU, Missouri topped Kansas and seems headed to a BCS Championship game. Folks are getting excited about it up here in the show me state.

Congratulations to the Tigers, the Missouri kind and particularly the Auburn variety.

War Eagle!!

Thank You Dr. Howe

It's been a long time since I've thought about seminary days. Every now and then I'll glance up at my diploma and wonder where the time went. I came through NOBTS at a good time (1990s), as most of my professors have either retired or moved to other positions. I am deeply indebted to the theology and history department at the seminary in particular because this turned out to be my area of emphasis for Ph.D. work. I couldn't get the same education today as I received back then.

One of the professors that I remember is Dr. Claude Howe. He served as chair of the division for decades and taught history like it was literally the back of his hand. There is no way to measure how many Southern Baptist ministers were taught church history by this giant. The one thing I remember about him was his delivery style, as he dictated to the class his notes from memory. You could buy his notes in the bookstore and then highlight them as he recited them word for word. He had a fantastic memory, even when interrupted by the occasional question from a student. He'd answer, then look upward and pick up where he left off. He wouldn't miss a beat.

Hearing of Dr. Howe's death reminded me of taking History of the Baptists as my last Master's level course. He taught it at 2pm, and I have to say it would one of the more difficult classes I needed. So much was memorization: people, places, and dates. I also had a few doctoral seminars with him, and can locate those seminar papers if needed.

He and other professors like him meant so much to my spiritual and educational development. They represented the Baptist tradition in ways that are lacking today. Thank you Dr. Howe, for your devotion to the work and sweet spirit.

Building Bridges in Memphis

To use a CBF phrase, "it's time" to start planning for the CBF General Assembly to held in Memphis, TN this upcoming summer. I've already made hotel reservations and am looking forward to reconnecting with the larger Fellowship family in 2008.

It was quite an effort to get to Washington D.C. last summer, especially since my family and I were navigating a relocation to Missouri about that time. The presence of the ABC Biennial Convention alongside the CBF Assembly provided a unique opportunity to get a taste of both organizations.

This time, this trip will be a lot shorter and the attendance should be better due to its location in closer to most CBF churches. I believe that the Fellowship, like any teenager, is going through growing pains in determining its identity and direction. There is the ongoing discussion about whether the CBF will become a denomination at some point, but I really don't see that as an urgent decision. The Fellowship began as a movement of the Spirit, and should continue in that manner. It's a faith journey, an exciting and hopeful one. I expect that the meeting will truly be a time to celebrate our unity in Christ and build bridges of missions and ministry.

Arkansas Baptists remain Closed on Communion

It's been a while since I thought about open or closed communion. I've been fortunate to have served in churches who have for the most part welcomed all believers to participate in the ordinance of the Lord's supper. This practice is called "open" because non-members who happen to be attending a local church's worship service may participate in receiving the elements of bread and juice.

"Closed" communion refers to the view that only members of the church may take part in the Lord's supper. This latter view has its roots in the Landmark tradition, and I didn't know there were many Southern Baptist churches that held to this position. The Arkansas Baptist Convention's annual meeting revealed otherwise.

Messengers voted to maintain a little known provision in their Constitution that opposed open communion. The messengers failed to garner the 2/3 majority required to remove this exclusive language. Of course, state convention provisions are not supposed to be binding on the local congregation. But, it does make me wonder how many Arkansas Baptists are in compliance to the closed communion stipulation of the convention.

At a practical level, it raises the question of whether a believer in Jesus Christ who happens to be in a worship service in an Arkansas Baptist church would be welcome to partake of Communion. I don't recall ever hearing a pastor instruct the congregation that those who weren't members should let the plates of juice and wafers go by. It makes me wonder how Christians would feel about inviting their non-member friends to church only to see them excluded from a meaningful part of worship.

At a deeper and theological level, the Lord's supper is truly that--the LORD's supper. We gather around his table as the people of God, and all people should be welcome. It is an opportunity to show unity not necessarily as Baptists but as Christians in giving thanks for the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The Lord's supper should be an extremely meaningful time in the life of a local church, but this does not mean that fellow believers who aren't members should be left out. Even if believers aren't sitting in the pews of their home church, they don't cease to be believers in Jesus Christ.

The Lord's supper provides a unique opportunity to express our togetherness as a church. The community experienced and expressed around the Lord's table has more than local significance. It means that there is a connection and unity with fellow believers around the world as well. After all, the church belongs to the Lord too.

The Other Saints

Ok, so this isn't about Baptist life or the church in general. But it does happen on Sundays, and these folks are called Saints, so perhaps it isn't too much of a stretch to talk about football.

After an 0-4 start, New Orleans has turned things around and are on a four game winning streak. It's hard to imagine, but they haven't lost a game in a month. Looks like the playoff talk is alive and well.

I really enjoyed the ride last year, and am looking forward to an exciting finish this year. I don't get to watch them much since we live in MO, but with them playing the Rams this weekend that should change at least this Sunday. St. Louis is winless thus far. Let's keep their streak alive for another week.

Mentioning New Orleans and the NFC Championship game in the same sentence means the Saints have come a LONG way. I remember when fans put bags over their heads in disgrace. Those days appear to be over, and it's a new day in the Crescent City.

It's incredible how the Saints have energized the city and the entire region. Katrina dealt a devastating blow to the Gulf Coast, and folks have been looking for something to give them hope. A sports team can do that, and a brief period of time each weekend everyone can put their woes on the shelf and cheer for Saints. I'll be one of them.

Thank You Martin Luther

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posed his 95 theses on the castle church doors. He indicated many areas of disagreement with the Catholic Church, especially the practice of indulgences. The Church didn't care for Luther's views and booted him and his supporters out in 1520. The Church's action helped launch the Protestant Reformation, and of course, the rest is history.

It would be hard to deal with the practice of buying people out of purgatory, plus the fact there might be some people that might cost more to get out than others. The people were at the mercy of the Church. Indeed, this practice was a significant money maker for the Church and it's understandable why the powers that be would be upset with Luther. His views of sola scriptura and sola gracia could have devastating effects in that the common folk didn't actually need the priests or the Church to forgive their sins.

Baptists emerged out of what has been called "the radical reformation" and it was out of this period that our views of congregational autonomy and believer's baptism by immersion developed. This is a greatly abridged history lesson, but suffice it to say that we Baptists wouldn't be where we are today without Luther taking a stand on the Word of God.

It must have very difficult for Luther to stand up to the Church and refute the doctrines that had been taught to the people for years. I have read that there were times that Luther deal with depression and struggled with what was going on around. That really is an understatement, and the fact that someone actually had the courage to say that the Church was wrong in what it was doing truly is incredible. I admire Luther for his gall as he spoke during the Diet of Worms: "Here I stand (on the Word of God), that is all I can do. God help me."

That statement was good enough for Luther and it's good enough for me. Today I give thanks for him and others who laid the groundwork for the rest of us. This is truly a day for us to give thanks. My prayer is that Baptists will continue to take a stand on principles that have been tried and true through the years. This might cost us fellowship in some denominational circles, but the price is definitely worth it. May there always be individuals who are willing to stand up for our historic Baptist distinctives. Baptists have been free and faithful. May we always be.

Keeping the FUN in Fundamentalism

The Save Our Convention (SOC) folks are organizing a slate of candidates to run at the next Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). These are persons who believe the MBC has been taken over by ultra-conservative types who are excluding persons from service. I received a letter to that effect today from a church in town whose pastor is running for one of the positions. Never mind the fact our church isn't in the state convention anymore. Good to be remembered I guess. Apparently, the current powers that be are eligible to be elected to a second term but the SOC group feels it is too important not to offer an alternative.

The letter indicated that the SOC candidates believe in the inerrancy of Scripture and that the issue is not alcohol. It's not about the lawsuits against the five Missouri agencies. It has to do with Cooperative Program giving and not prescribing a certain level of giving for a church to allow them to have involvement in the convention. It concerns Roger Moran and that he and others of the Project 1000 crowd have too much control. It's ironic that many SOC sympathizers were part of that 1000 earlier on. There are other issues as well, but for the most part there seems to be disagreement over the "spirit" of the convention at the moment. The letter indicated there might be some who felt like "walking away" from things due to discouragement.

I came across an article in the Word & Way recently that mentioned the same things. It appears that those in control now sought to "save the convention" from the moderates and liberals. For some reason that didn't suffice. Now there is another group who once belonged to the group in power now who feel compelled to save the convention once again (confusing, isn't it?). This isn't about liberalism or being moderate, they can't blame us for those things this time. It is about another classic example of fundamentalism.

There is great humor in this for this outsider, whose church was asked to leave the convention a few years ago along with 17 other congregations. Didn't that fix everything? Now there is dissension in the ranks once again. Big surprise. Fundamentalists have to have an enemy, even it has to be within themselves. I honestly don't see the big difference between the SOC and those who are in control now. They are theologically, politically, and philosophically identical. Perhaps some are angrier about things than others.

Baptists have always been a schismatic people, and disagreements are bound to come up in the local church as well as parachurch groups. Watching this dispute unfold has to be somewhat satisfying to those who once called the MBC their denominational home. The irony and hypocrisy concerning who is qualified to lead a convention makes me laugh. I suppose this latest argument will fuel another period of struggle for the soul of the state convention. Maybe it will increase attendance at the annual meetings.

I don't see anything new in this latest crisis. It does exemplify why many Baptists in the pew get impatient with pastors and lay leaders. There is always something to fight about or "save" and this is the latest episode. Anytime you send out letters to churches with a slate of candidates you've heated up the political climate. Electing the SOC candidates will supposedly turn things around. Around to where I don't know. It's not going to matter much in the grand scheme of things. Evidently a fundamentalist can be too fundamentalist. That has to be an oxymoron.

The SOC might have in mind putting a kinder, gentler face on the state convention. It won't matter. Fundamentalism is still fundamentalism. The narrowness of scope and spirit of exclusion will continue. The struggle for control will never end no matter who is in charge. These fundamentalist types will turn on one another and devour themselves. Pretty soon there won't be any convention worth saving, once everyone gets kicked out. At least I won't have to be involved and can watch this Baptist battle from a comfortable distance.

Trouble in Tulsa

Richard Roberts, President of Oral Roberts University, has requested and been given a leave of absence amidst allegations of misspending university funds. Three professors are suing ORU for wrongful termination of their jobs, alleging that they were fired because they wanted to reveal the misuse of funds. Roberts' wife, Lindsay, is also under scrutiny for lavish spending of school funds plus spending time with a male student after stated hours for curfew. There are , apparently, photographs of her smoking with this same student in the president's home. She is also accused of spending more than $50,000 in university funds and having $800 a month cell phone bills along with her daughters. This too supposedly with university funds.

It's quite a story. I was reminded of Oral Roberts' locking himself in a tower and declaring that God would kill him if he didn't raise one million dollars. I recall that he eventually got the money from a man who owned a dog racing track. Oh yes, "Something GOOD is going to happen to you!" Oh well, I digress.

I am continually amazed at ministers who get in trouble with excess spending, either them or their spouses seem to take special liberties with money that doesn't belong to them. The ORU story sounds like what politicians do with tax dollars when they fly to the Bahamas for a leadership conference. Here we are waiting to find out what will happen with another minister who has problems with money. I'm not overly interested in the outcome but won't be surprised if there are real problems. The behavior and allegations are suspicious enough to make me wonder if there isn't some truth to them. If nothing else, an investigation should definitely uncover some very poor judgment.

What should prove very interesting is how the university responds to the Roberts family during and after this investigation. If there is validity to the charges, ORU will be faced with what to do with a president who bears the name of the institution. Regardless of whether they are true or not, these allegations create a bad perception of the school and those who support it financially may whether their money is going toward a shopping spree for the president' s wife. There will be an accounting and explanation forthcoming for sure.

This whole incident is a shame. It's a shame for the university, the family, and the community of faith. I also wonder how the students are responding to all this bad press. What bothers me more on a personal level is that there are many ministers who labor in obscurity, minding their own business and keeping their reputations intact the best way they know how. These servants don't get credit for living the right way and setting good examples. It can be a dangerous world for ministers, and there are any number of temptations and land mines out there to avoid. Any time a prominent religious leader comes under scrutiny, it adds to the perception that Christians are a both of hypocrites and that the church is always asking for money. It remains to be seen if the Roberts are cleared of wrongdoing.

I won't hold my breath though. I would be surprised if Roberts keeps his presidency. And the situation with Lindsey is such that this too might not have a happy ending. What I gain from the mess at ORU is that Christians and ministers in particular should do whatever they can to avoid the appearance of evil. It doesn't look like Roberts was particularly concerned about doing this. I would imagine there is a lot of pressure on university officials to handle this quickly and vindicate their president. Those professors who lost their jobs during this time frame will have interesting stories to tell also.

Religious leaders should observe this situation not so much with a judgmental eye but with an appreciation of their position before a watching public. Jesus instructed his followers to pray "deliver us from evil." The position of power and prestige should lend itself to this kind of simple request. No one is exempt from temptation, but staying away from questionable conditions will go a long way toward keeping us out the kind of trouble Roberts is in.

Rob Nash Visits UHBC

Our church hosted Rob Nash at a reception this evening. He is the Coordinator of CBF Global Missions and is making his way through the state getting acquainted with Fellowship folks. We had good conversation and response from our church. I appreciated being in the loop for such an important tour.

Things have changed among Baptists during the last 25 years (a supreme understatement). Consequently, a paradigm shift is taking place in regard to how we fund and support the missionary enterprise. Part of this necessity relates to how well CBFers support global missions on a financial basis, the other relates to local churches getting involved personally rather than merely commissioning individuals to do the work for them. Vocational missionaries remain the "backbone" on the missions effort but other approaches are being incorporated as well. For example, self-supporting "affiliates" are being commissioned by CBF and being sent to the mission field. This is a new model for me; I have been raised to think that missionaries should be fully supported by the denomination. There is still merit to this approach, in that missionaries don't have to fret about their financial stability. The other aspect is that church members can be lulled into a sense of false security because they are "paying" someone else to witness for them.

Another development in missiology is that there are so many nationalities represented at our doorstep that the world has literally come to us. I was glad to hear some of our members talk about how we can connect to international students across the street. We are making progress in this area already, but have work to do. It is so important to respect persons of different religous backgrounds. One truth that I am trying to communicate (and absorb) is that every member is a missionary. This is an exciting and sobering thought. More members are getting involved in missions personally, and for this I am grateful.

I was glad to hear that no vocational missionaries have been recalled due to financial reasons. It appears that there is enough support to maintain our current missionary force, unlike what I've heard among from other Baptist groups. I do see more CBF and ABC partnerships, recognizing that we can do more together if cooperate rather than compete with one another. Nash hinted as the possibility of partnerships across denominational lines. This would certainly be a new approach for us Baptists, and I look forward to see whether or not this notion takes root.

"Missions is God's idea," I recall a Director of Missions saying years ago. The world is changing and getting smaller, making is both easier and more of a challenge to share the Good News. I hope more congregations catch the vision of what God is doing in the world, beginning with the community around the church building. It's easier to send folks away to do missions than get involved with people who might actually visit the church on Sunday morning. It's also easier to give money and excuse yourself from getting involved on a more personal level. Both actions are needed, and hopefully our church will continue rising to the challenge and calling of missions.

Carter, CNN, and the NBC

Well, there's no misunderstanding former President Carter's position on the Bush administration. He appeared on Wolf Blitzer's "The Situation Room" today and pretty much blasted Bush, Chaney, and those in leadership for torturing prisoners and setting their own human rights standards. While the criticisms aren't necessarily surprising, especially in a political season, they do make me wonder more about the upcoming gathering of Baptists early in 2008.

The Celebration of the New Baptist Covenant is scheduled for late January and there has already been a lot of publicity about it. The sessions are falling into place and keynote speakers have been secured. Good people are involved and it should be an exciting event. The Celebration has been hailed as a historic occasion for Baptists to come together across racial, political, theological, and social backgrounds. Organizers are estimating 20,000 in attendence. This should be the largest gathering of North American Baptists in quite some time. You'd have to recall some of the Southern Baptist Conventions during the height of the "controversy" to get that kind of number for a meeting (I really don't expect the SBC to be involved, but they are invited to attend).

What concerns me is that the event is being touted as non-political ,yet the most visible proponent of the Baptist get together has been quite visible and vocal in his criticisms of the President. Carter has a right to do this, but it makes me wonder how he will be able to get all these people to Atlanta without turning the event into a promotional tool for getting a Democrat elected as President. I'd have the same concerns if Carter were Republican, or if former President Bush (41) was organizing a gathering of Episcopalians or another denominational group. It truly is remarkable to hear a former president so openly critical of a sitting president. I don't recall hearing this sort of open criticism before.

It is not clear what the outcome of the Celebration of the NBC will be, but the expectations have been raised so high that I wonder if it's impossible to meet them. The focus of the Celebration is Unity, so it makes me question how Carter's rhetoric will impact the participants and news coming out of Atlanta that weekend. As November 2008 approaches, more pressure and publicity toward the presidential election is expected. It will be a challenge not to import some of the political positions of the season into this meeting. Presidents Carter and Clinton will be in attendance, and I will be interested to see what Republican presence turns out to be.

I'm not suggesting that there aren't differing and emotional disagreements out there about the direction of our country. There is a place for dialogue, debate, and the exchange of ideas. One example of this has been provided in a DVD by the Baptist Center for Ethics. It's entitled "Golden Rule Politics" and includes interviews of Baptists who happen to be Democrats. It might be a good discussion tool. Pastors and church leaders should learn how to be prophetic without partison, and this is easier said than done.

My hope is that issues can be discussed without making the Atlanta gathering a partisan affair. This is an obvious concern for those suspicious already of that many Baptists getting together under one roof only months before a presidential election. Time will tell if my concerns are unfounded. I hope that they are. The Celebration should be about our unity as Baptists rather than a platform to push a political agenda. It might be more helpful to this cause if Carter promoted the New Baptist Covenant first and focused on the politics of the season afterwards.

Tennesee Church Supports Pastor

Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville decided to keep its embattled pastor. Jerry Sutton, former candidate for SBC President, survived an attempt by some members to oust him for alleged misuse of church funds. A law suit against the church added to the bad publicity. Sutton received about 80% affirmative vote from members who participated in the decision (1101-286).

There are a number of conclusions to draw from this situation, and I make no pretenses to have any knowledge of the inner workings or motivation of those disgruntled members who levied these charges against the pastor. What I can say is that this is a classic example of a Baptist church exercising its autonomy in taking care of its own business. I'm sure there are other less prominent examples of churches making decisions about a staff person's future, but the size and location of Two Rivers make it an obvious case study. No judge would intervene in the church's decision to have such a vote, even though the idea itself reminds me of other churches who exercise an "annual call" to their pastor. Pastors in these kinds of churches live year to year having to endure another vote on their call. It's a tough way to live.

Still, 286 people wanted to remove their pastor. That's worth considering. This is a good sized church in most places, and it will interesting to see what happens next with these individuals who came out on the losing end of the vote. I dare say that other Baptist churches have folks who'd like to vote to vacate the pastor's spot too. Sutton's having 80% support after being at the church several years should encourage him. The people who opposed him might have had other incentives besides the money mismanagement issue. Regardless, the church called the vote in order to put this situation to rest. Whether this occurs remains to be seen.

One interesting truth which may not relate directly to the Two Rivers story is that the majority is not always right. There are times that the minority position is the better one but there aren't enough voices and votes to carry the day. This is an unfortunate reality in Baptist churches, and there is always the risk of making a wrong decision. It isn't a perfect approach, but it does involve the people and everyone has input who chooses to participate in the process. No one said being a Baptist was easy or the most efficient way to do business. But if I wanted efficiency I'd be in the Catholic Church and let the bishops and priests run the church. I prefer to take responsibility and participate in the decision making process, even when it gets difficult or depressing.

I commend the church for moving forward with this vote. The notoriety, media coverage, and desire of the pastor to clear his reputation might have contributed to the decision. It might have appeared that this issue wasn't going away by itself, and the church had to take a stand. I suspect also that the leadership determined that they were not going to allow a faction in the church to have their way. If more churches took similar stands for their pastors and staff, our congregations would be much better off. We might lose some people, but the overall result would be healthier and happier congregations.

Calminian Baptists

Last Wednesday after our Bible Study I had an interesting conversation with a student who has been visiting with us over the last several weeks. He is learning about us and asked a question I hadn't heard from someone attending our church. It was in regard to where our church came down on the Calvinism/Arminian divide. This was a good conversation starter and got me to thinking about the larger issues related to this discussion.

I've been wary of Calvinism, at least the five point variety. The biggest attraction that I see in TULIP is that it is a logical system that utilizes a lot of Bible. Calvinists also find security in the fact that everything can be explained in relation to the sovereignty of God, which unfortunately can be taken to the extreme by removing the freedom of choice when it comes to our salvation experience. There is a lot more to this presentation, but my reaction to my friend was that our church was neither Calvinist nor Arminian. There may be a few individuals that have differing viewpoints on this spectrum, but I think I'm on target here. We believe in missions too much to take away the freedom of persons to respond to the gospel. I told my friend that we might be better described as "Calminian" a term I heard in seminary that seems to pull in some elements of both views.

God is sovereign, and is Lord over all creation. Human beings also have free will and can decide to accept or reject the gospel. Yes, we are all sinners in need of a Saviour but are not predestined to salvation in the sense that we have no choice in the matter. The "logical" conclusion is that God predestines some to heaven while others to hell. This "double-edged" predestination is what I find particularly dangerous. I cannot imagine a loving God allowing persons to come into the world only to condemn them to hell. This is a difficult axiom to accept and is inconsistant with a loving God. God's sovereignty must be affirmed along with the freedom of humans to determine their own response to the gospel. This paradox is not logical, but it is biblical.

Nothing is more fundamental than an understanding of what it means to come to faith in Jesus Christ. There is a mystery that cannot be explained away, how God LOVED the WORLD so much that he gave his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Calvinists do not accept the truth that Christ died for ALL persons, but rather he died only for the elect. Dying for the reprobate would be unfair to Christ and he would take on more penalty than he needed to provide salvation for the elect. Here again is another case of being logical but not biblical. Calvinism is very much based on a legal viewpoint of redemption.

There is lot more to the debate, but suffice it to say that Calvinism should be considered a threat to our local Baptist congregations. It is possible to diminish the importance of evangelism with this approach. I suspect this is a growing concern especially for Southern Baptists who will be looking for something to fight about pretty soon. At least in this regard I can agree that church members need to be educated about the perils of this theological system, and regrettably some congregations have found out too late. Some churches have found out the hard way what happens when a closet Calvinist is brought to the pulpit.

Despite our challenges and shortcomings, we ought not allow Calvinism to be one of them. John 3:16 is enough of a response to keep Baptist churches focused on missions and telling people about Jesus.

Have Baptists lost their Minds?

Years ago there was a commercial that had to do with advancing the cause of higher education among minority students. The caption at the end of the segment read "a mind is a terrible thing to waste." Even now that statement remains with me, and still makes sense when applied to life in the church.

We sang an interesting hymn last Sunday morning entitled, "We Praise You with our Minds, O Lord." It went well with our emphasis for the day, as we hosted Dr. Molly Marshall, President of Central Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition to hearing a challenging message on the importance of theological education, I was given several additional remarks from church members about this hymn. There is a consensus at UHBC that God expects us to continue thinking and growing in the faith.

You don't hear much about "praising God with our minds" in some Baptist circles. I remember Dr. Fisher Humphreys giving one definition of theology as "loving the Lord with our minds" which definitely fits with Jesus' instructions to love the Lord your God with all your "heart, mind, soul, and strength." The Apostle Paul instructed believers to have "the mind of Christ." And what a mind that must have been! Jesus never was at a lack for words in responding to challenges from the religious establishment of his day. He was the greatest preacher and teacher who ever lived, and quoted frequently from the Pentateuch. He could match wits with anyone, yet knew how to relate to even the most uneducated with stories that could instruct and entertain at the same time.

It grieves me when I hear preachers downplaying the importance of education. I have found that most of these individuals never put in the mental and emotional effort required to earn their theological stripes. For some reason, these same pastors who warn against folks with earned doctorates also do whatever they can to get a "Dr." in front of their name by going to a degree mill institution. I sat in seminary classrooms and watched in disbelief as men who came to school in cowboy hats openly criticized the positions of professors who had decades of study and reading under their theological belts. The ignorance of these men was exceeded only by their apathy toward learning anything that might challenge some of their presuppositions. Why attend seminary if you already know everything?

It's not easy to be open to learning a new theological trick or two. And it doesn't necessarily mean sending your belief system down the river without a paddle. I do think it means approaching our faith with an open Bible and an open mind, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. This is not always an easy task, and requires prayer, reading, reflection, and dialogue with believers and non-believers alike. This can be a frightening prospect, especially for those persons who think they know it all already. Pride can be a real obstacle to learning, and a little humility never hurt anyone. Discussing a theological position doesn't necessarily mean that you accept it as your own position. It also doesn't mean you have to villify the person who disagrees with you.

Unfortunately, Baptists haven't really been known for loving the Lord with our minds. Some folks might question whether Baptists have any mind at all based on some decisions that have been handed down through the years. One notable piece of evidence relates to Dr. Adrian Rogers who once said that if Southern Baptists believed pickles have souls, then that's what they should be teaching in the seminaries. There are also examples of seminaries treating women like they don't have a mind at all. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, for example, is giving academic credit to women for taking homemaking courses in food preparation and hospitality. This is important as some level, but surely not at a seminary where there is a brief window of opportunity to instruct people about biblical studies, theology, church history, ethics, and pastoral ministry.

It's possible to be a loving, caring, and thinking follower of Christ. We don't need to "check our mind at the door" when we enter the church house for worship. Now, more than ever, Baptists need to be a thinking people. With the diversity of religions out there, we ought to treat the faith questions of searchers very seriously. The church hasn't had an unblemished record through the years, and we haven't always done justice to the teachings of Christ. We all have some learning to do.

Blessed are those Baptist churches where honest theological searching takes place is a loving, safe atmosphere. It is more challenging to lead this kind of congregation, but the effort is well worth it. We must always remember to lift up Jesus Christ rather than a set of propositions about the Bible. Ours is a living, dynamic faith rather than a cold, dead orthodoxy. The church that is always being reformed and changing is one that is still growing. We don't need to codify our beliefs into a set of propositions or insist upon compliance from our members in order to work together for the cause of Christ. Nobody said being a Baptist was easy, especially a "thinking Baptist".

Let's make sure the term isn't an oxymoron.

Convictional, Conventional, and Cooperative Baptists

Two years ago the Missouri Baptist Convention dismissed 18 of its churches for having affiliations with non-SBC entities. I didn't think too much of it at the time, but now that I am serving as pastor of one of these renegade churches it is reason for pause. The MBC's actions haven't affected the way we do business, only in the sense that we are officially not part of the MBC. Our people continue to give, serve, pray, and work to expand the Kingdom of God just like they did before this action was taken. We can thank the state convention for helping us direct our energies toward ministry partners we can support with our convictions and our dollars.

This is old news of a sort, and I revisit it only to remind me of how good it is to be part of a church that puts its convictions ahead of belonging to a convention. Baptist life is Missouri is an interesting case study, and it is taking a while to sort through the different dynamics. One thing for sure, and that is Baptists are a schismatic people who possess a rugged individualism which makes it difficult for one Baptist to tell another what to do. One basic Baptist conviction relates to the autonomy of the local church, meaning outside influences cannot tell a congregation what to do. It is true that autonomy in convention life exists on the association, state, and national level. With all the diversity out there and the need to work together, I cannot understand why a church's ministry partners is the business of the convention.

I don't have to be a "convention" Baptist, especially if it means sacrificing our local church autonomy distinctive for the sake of conformity. It's possible to be a "convictional" Baptist and not have a denominational home. There are many who fall into the "none of the above" category when it comes to this issue. Recently I started wondering where I might put myself if pressed for a label, and what I've come up with are the ideas of convictional and cooperative.

I'm a convictional Baptist in that I maintain the historic distinctives of local church autonomy, priesthood of the believer, soul competency, and religous liberty. I believe in the authority of God's Word and making missions a central part of all that we do. I'm moving into the missional concept, recognizing that the world is coming to America and the local church is the headquarters for the Lord's work. This is why I am also a cooperative Baptist, not only in the CBF sense but also willing to partner with other groups to spread the gospel.

Baptists should have an ecumenical spirit in dealing with other denominations, recognizing that we don't have a corner on the truth and that we can do a lot more when we don't care who gets the credit for it. Cooperation, not control, should be the operative word when extending our influence through organizations already up and running. Baptists don't have to reinvent a ministry tool if another faith group has something that is already working. It's okay to work together without having to put a denominational label on it. This requires humility and unfortunately this attribute runs in short supply among some Baptists.

So, let's have convictions that are rooted in the Bible and carried out through our distinctives. These have served Baptists well for centuries and are still relevant in the 21st century. Let's also do all we can to be cooperative in our mission and ministry. This might not be acceptable to every person across the state, but it will be for those of us who remain free and faithful Baptists. Being Baptist isn't for the faint of heart, but I maintain that it is still worth the cost.