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Southern Baptist in NC

Keeping Christ central in the world of Southern Baptists

In one of the greatest movies ever made, Cool Hand Luke, was considered by the United States Library of Congress in 2005 to be “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. The main character was Paul Newman who played the part of a conniving and industrious prisoner locked up in a prison road gang in Florida. The film was based on a time period when Prisoners were seen as being rehabilitated by using extreme discipline measures.  The Prison guards maintained control through fear and harsh discipline that sometimes was inhumane.  It was in one of these scenes where the Camp Captain explained to Luke about the chains where the following exchange took place.

“Captain, Road Prison 36: You gonna get used to wearin’ them chains afer a while, Luke. Don’t you never stop listenin’ to them clinking. ‘Cause they gonna remind you of what I been saying. For your own good.
Luke: Wish you’d stop bein’ so good to me, cap’n. “

After reading the post at SBC Voices that openly states a desire to “marginalize and decrease my tribe” in order to present a “Case Study in Losing Credibility in Blogging”, I must say I feel a little like Cool Hand Luke.  I wish SBC Voices would stop being so good to me.  Proverbs 27:2-4 states:

2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

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Are we Subtly Accepting Rob Bell’s Theology?

Posted by Tim Rogers on October 10, 2011
Posted in CultureDoctrineSalvation 

As a pastor I usually do not debate the eternal destination of one such as Steve Jobs.  The reason behind that is a pastoral reason.  If I were doing a memorial service for one whose spiritual life was as polytheistic as Jobs I would never preach him into Heaven, neither would I preach him into Hell.  The purpose of the memorial service is two fold.  First, I am to make much of Jesus.  I would point out the sting of death has been removed because of Jesus. Second, I am to comfort the family.  It would not show love to a family to pronounce their love ones eternal location is hell.  I would merely point out the reference of Hebrews 9:27.  I would explain that their loved one is being judged based on his response to Jesus’ offer of salvation.  I would then move on and mention some good memories of the loved one. This article is more based on what I am seeing in the discussion instead of trying to determine the eternal location of Steve Jobs.

Rob Bell sent shock waves across the Evangelical world with the book “Love Wins”.  In the book Bell argues that no one knows what happens after we die.  It could be that Jesus forgives someone after they die and thus everyone ends up going to Heaven.

Bell’s universalism argument is not enunciated in Ed Stetzer’s recent article on Steve Jobs, but it does come close.   Read more

This is my last article concerning the question asked of Dr. Al Mohler by Peter Lumpkins.  Unless there are future developments I will, after this article, stop speaking of this matter.  I have presented, what I believe to be, a well reasoned approach that neither takes unfair shots at Dr. Mohler nor allows his statements to go unquestioned.  I do pray that Dr. Mohler will respond to clarify how he sees Southern Baptists practicing a form of homophobia, and to give evidence of past lies concerning the nature of homosexuality.

With all of that said a sad by-line of this matter lies in the coverage, or lack thereof, of our denominational news organization.  When one views the article concerning the seminary reports one will notice something conspicuously missing.  Read more

In Defense of Dr. Al Mohler

Posted by Tim Rogers on June 20, 2011
Posted in CultureDr. Al MohlerHomosexualitySouthern Baptist Convention  | 7 Comments

It seems that many are coming to the defense of Dr. Al Mohler after he affirmed, at the recent annual gathering of Southern Baptists in Phoenix,  a statement where he called Southern Baptists liars and homophobic.  Dr. Mohler has always been clear about the biblical position concerning homosexuality.  His articles and thoughts have been the ones that Southern Baptists, in particular, and Evangelicals, as a whole, have turned for research to position themselves on the side of scripture.  Thus, a quote in a secular article was the catalyst for the question from Peter Lumpkins.  The article attributes a quote to Dr. Mohler that seems to be in disagreement with Dr. Mohler’s position on homosexuality.  How did Dr. Mohler respond to this article?  He wrote an article expressing, not that he was positioned in agreement with Jay Bakker, but that Jay Bakker was using “clobber scriptures” out of context. How did Dr. Mohler respond to the question?  He adamantly affirmed the words were his and then proceeded to re-establish his position that homosexual behavior is a sin, but was more than a choice by the homosexual.

How others Defend Dr. Mohler

In an article on American Family Association Blog Roll by Elijah Friedman writing from the The Millennial Perspective, Friedman states:

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Cultural Eye-Openers–Blackbeard’s Anchor

Posted by Tim Rogers on May 30, 2011
Posted in CultureUncategorized 

Ron Hale is on staff at West Jackson Baptist Church Jackson, Tennessee.  He offers a very insightful analysis of our current culture.

Ron F. Hale, M.A. Missiology

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The sea surrendered her secrets this week off the coast of North Carolina.

The infamous pirate by the name of Blackbeard was again making history after 300 years of silence.

The 3,000 lb anchor from Blackbeard’s pirate ship was pulled from its watery grave by a salvage ship named … the Dan Moore.

Historians believe the anchor has been on the Atlantic Ocean floor since 1718.

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Cultural Eye Openers–Arnold Schwarzenegger

Posted by Tim Rogers on May 27, 2011
Posted in Culture 

I am passing on something that I found very intriguing.  Ron Hale is on staff at West Jackson Baptist Church Jackson, Tennessee.  He offers a very insightful analysis of our current culture.

Ron F. Hale, M.A. Missiology

Cultural Eye Openers–Arnold Schwarzenegger

From beauty shops to broadcast newsrooms, the cheating ways of Arnold Schwarzenegger has caused countless conversations this week.

The actor-turned-politician admitted this week to fathering a child with a woman who served on the housekeeping staff of the Governor.

Sitting on the sidelines, we Americans can only feel sorry for this famous family as we watch this heartbreak unfold before our eyes.

I’ve got a question, what can  we learn from all this?

  • · The Bible teaches that our sins will find us out.  In other words, what is done is secret will eventfully come to light (Numbers 32:23).
  • · You don’t break the Ten Commandments, they break you!

Arnold Schwarzenegger broke the 7th Commandment and today his life is breaking to pieces.

The last lesson is this, we are ALL sinners and we’ve all broken the Law; we’ve all broken the Ten Commandments.

This means that we all stand in need of a Savior!

The Bible teaches, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10; NIV)

We now know from this week’s news that the Governor didn’t keep the Ten Commandments.

His sin points to a Biblical fact that says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

So let me ask you, if God were to judge your life solely on the Ten Commandments, would you need mercy and grace? (Would you?)

Let me ask it a more serious way, If God were to judge your life solely on the Ten Commandments, would you go to heaven … or … would you go to hell?

Does that trouble you?

The Law (the Commandments) shows us our need; that we are sinners.

And this is the very reason for the CROSS!

This is why Jesus lived a sinless life and shed His blood on the cross of Calvary.

Jesus came to save … Sinners!

This morning by turning from your sin (repentance) and trusting Jesus to forgive you and save you, God will establish a personal relationship with you that will last for all eternity.

But you first have to admit something.

You have to admit that you are a sinner.

Will you bow your heads …?

I am passing on something that I found very intriguing.  Ron Hale is on staff at West Jackson Baptist Church Jackson, Tennessee.  He offers a very insightful analysis of our current culture.

Ron F. Hale, M.A. Missiology

Eye Openers – I choose a current national or international news story and seek to draw a spiritual or redemptive analogy for preaching the Gospel.  Relevant eye openers help listeners (especially the lost) see and understand the Truth! 

May 13, 2011

I read this week on the USA Today website (in the religion section) that Billy Graham is in the hospital fighting pneumonia.  My prayers go out to him!

Then I read some of the comments a few of the bloggers wrote about one of my heroes of the faith and they upset me:

One blogger wrote, “This is news?  I thought he was already dead.”

One person wrote, “What is taking that anti-Semitic old coot so long to die?”

Another blogger wrote, “Good Riddance – one less bigot on the planet.”

 

It’s heartbreaking to read words like that about one of God’s great servants.

Then I thought of how our Lord Jesus was … talked about, spit upon, slapped, cursed, and finally nailed to a tree.

People are going to “say” what they are going to say.

People are going to “do” what they are going to do.

How did Jesus respond?

He prayed, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Jesus responded in love and forgiveness.

And, that love and forgiveness is still just as real today as it was 2000 years ago.

I don’t know about you, but I can trust a Savior like that!  What about you?