“After a thorough and exhaustive review of Dr. Ergun Caner’s public statements, a committee consisting of four members of Liberty University’s Board of Trustees has concluded that Dr. Caner has made factual statements that are self-contradictory.  However, the committee found no evidence to suggest that Dr. Caner was not a Muslim who converted to Christianity as a teenager, but, instead, found discrepancies related to matters such as dates, names and places of residence.  Dr. Caner has cooperated with the board committee and has apologized for the discrepancies and misstatements that led to this review.  Dr. Caner’s current contractual term as Dean of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary expires on June, 30, 2010.  Dr. Caner will no longer serve as Dean of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.  The university has offered, and Dr. Caner has accepted, an employment contract for the 2010-2011 academic year. Dr. Caner will remain on the faculty of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary as a professor.“

If you’re in the area, feel free to stop by and join us. If you’d like more info, comment here and we’ll get back to you.

Dr. Jackson’s experience, wisdom, and demeanor uniquely qualify him to serve Southern Baptists in this crucial hour. At a time when our convention seems to be fracturing and dividing, his wisdom can help us to unite around our shared convictions.

The length of his service to one congregation reveals a man who knows how to look at the big picture and lead others to see it as well, and the growth of that congregation over the years is surely a sign of God’s blessing.

His service to his state convention, as a vice-president and then as president, his election as a vice-president of the SBC, and his service as a trustee of Southwestern Seminary reveal a man who understands denominational politics, and can be productive and well respected in that environment.

We believe that this combination of qualities, along with his steadfast conservative Baptist convictions, makes Dr. Jimmy Jackson an excellent choice to lead our convention. We encourage our readers who will be serving as messengers from their churches to the convention in Orlando next week to prayerfully consider supporting Dr. Jackson as the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

President Abraham Lincoln recognized there was a need to help mend the battle wounds of the War of the States.  General John Logan, a Southern States General, was the brainchild behind this day.  It was originally named “Decorations Day” and was scheduled on May 30.  The reason May 30 was chosen had to do with the war itself.  It seems that May 30 is the only day there is no recorded battles during the War of the States.  Thus, on May 30, 1868 the nation officially celebrated the first Memorial Day.  In Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address he spoke words 5 years before the first official observance and 2 years before the official end of the War of the States, that still live with us today:

“…that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
– November 19, 1863 – Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address

While Memorial Day was celebrated in one form or another for over 100 years it did not become a national holiday until 1971.  It then became an official holiday to be observed by our nation.  At 3pm local time communities will observe the National Moment of Remembrance.   It is at this time that Public Law 106-579 comes into effect.  It calls for everything to come to a stand still for a moment of observance and remembering those who have fallen.  Amtrak trains blow their whistles and Major League Baseball games are suspended for this moment.

We at SBC Today desire to honor those who have died in service for our country.  We also want to honor those who serve today in order that we may be free. When you eat your hot dog today remember there are those who are standing guard with only MRE‘s to eat so that you and I can freely eat those hot dogs.  When you gripe and complain that our President has chosen to be in Chicago, something I am appalled to think he would do, remember that we have men and women fighting on a foreign field in order for our President to freely decide his place of celebration.  Remember that when you lay your head down tonight and close your eyes, we have men and women standing guard that will not sleep in order for you and I  to sleep soundly and free tonight.

However, there is one other death that we must remember.  It is the death of Jesus Christ that gives us freedom.  Do not ever forget that if His death had not been experienced we would not know what true freedom is.

In this episode, we were able to ask Dr. Jackson questions pertaining to the GCR Task Force final report, his thoughts on appointments to the various convention committees and boards, and how we can best work for unity in the accomplishment of our Great Commission calling as believers in our local churches.

You can listen to the podcast using the player below, or you can subscribe in iTunes by clicking on the image in this post or on the link in the sidebar. Share in the comments here your suggestions for how we can improve the podcast, and take a moment to give us a rating or a review on our iTunes page. Thanks as always for listening, and we’ll be back for more podcasting fun next week.

We here at SBC Today want to thank the Mothers of our Children.  We honor you in a very special way today and want to tell you–Thank You for being the Mothers of our children and allowing us to do the ministry God has called us.  You have, on multiple occasions,  put the kids to bed by yourself while we were at the hospital, or in someone’s home leading another Mother’s child to Christ.  God has a special reward for you.

David & Sherri Worley

Scott & Rhonda Gordon

Debra Kenney & Children

Tim & Gail Rogers

You can listen to the podcast using the player below, or you can subscribe in iTunes by clicking on the image in this post or on the link in the sidebar. Share in the comments here your suggestions for how we can improve the podcast, and take a moment to give us a rating or a review on our iTunes page. Thanks as always for listening, and we’ll be back for more podcasting fun next week.

Dr. Jimmy Jackson

According to Alabama Baptist news Dr. Jimmy Jackson announced he will allow his name to be nominated for President of the Convention in June.  Dr. Jackson has served Whitesburg Baptist Church in Huntsville, Alabama for the past 31 years as Senior Pastor. According to their latest CP, Whitesburg Baptist forwards right at 5% of their six million dollars received in undesignated funds to the Cooperative Program.  Whitesburg also supported the 2009 IMB Lottie Moon Christmas offering at the amount of $236,735.  The ACP also reports that Whitesburg supported the 2009 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering with an offering of $138,548.

It looks like this race just got interesting.

In keeping with the desire expressed by Dr. Caner in the following excerpt from his statement,

This constant stream of criticism, blogging and berating is not acceptable between believers. I am as guilty as anyone else in instigating such things over the years, but these personal attacks are too much.
I shall not participate in this anymore.

We will not be opening commenting on this post.

STATEMENT RELEASED ON 25 FEBRUARY 2010:

Recently a concerted effort has been made by a small group of professing believers, joined with a particular Muslim that posts videos, questioning my conversion, and the conversion of my brothers. And, what saddens my heart immensely is, this small band of professing Christians have now cited the Muslim’s videos as reason to attack my testimony as well. Indeed, the Muslims have used clips that attempt to show that through two decades of ministry and hundreds of sermons there exist discrepancies in my testimony. In all honesty, I probably could have saved them a lot of time and trouble. The truth is, I would be surprised if no discrepancies were discovered, given the hundreds of messages I have given during all that time!

Nonetheless, while normally it is wise to ignore these types of attacks, the Muslim’s videos- now surprisingly being cited by professing Christians- have sadly produced such ardor that I feel the need to speak to the issue. This has been done repeatedly to Muslim converts, but in this instance, I bear some responsibility to clarify.

MY TESTIMONY:

I was born in Sweden, with a Turkish father and our mother who was a Turkish citizen.

I was born and raised a Sunni Muslim, just like my brothers.

I was led to Christ at the Stelzer Road Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio, just like my brothers.

MISSTATEMENTS:

Now, on to the other issues:

Every minister has made pulpit mistakes. Being called a “liar,” however, is a serious charge, especially when it is made by Christians. That would indicate that (1) the accusers can know the motives of the accused person’s heart, and (2) the accused person intentionally misled people.

I have never intentionally misled anyone. I am sure I have made many mistakes in the pulpit in the past 20-plus years, and I am sure I will make some in the future. For those times where I misspoke, said it wrong, scrambled words, or was just outright confusing, I apologize and will strive to do better.

DEBATES:

A second question raised concerns debates. One gentleman believes it is misleading to call my interaction with people from other faiths and world religions “debates.” Since his definition of debate is limited to moderated, formal debates, that is his prerogative. He can call them whatever he wishes. My podcasts are readily available online through this website. If he finds them less than satisfying or helpful, then he does not have to listen to them. I do not offer them for his approval or his attention. Please feel free to look elsewhere. God has been gracious to call many Christians to practice evangelism and apologetics in a variety of ways.

The truth is, several evangelical apologists employ the “formal” debate template and are very effective in their presentations. Norman Geisler, Gary Habermas and William Lane Craig come to mind. Nevertheless, I will continue to do exactly as I have done. In fact, in order to attempt a measure of peace, I am more than happy to call my engagements “interviews,” or even “dialogues.” Since this is historically my method of choice, I shall continue to offer these podcasts here, for the edification of those who care to listen.

However, I would caution all evangelicals that no single method meets consensus. Nor is there only one exclusively biblical model. Certainly there is much good to be found in formal debates, and I also believe that there is enough room for all types of interaction. In fact I believe there is great value to be found in all forms, including conversational and informal methods.

Finally, there is a legitimate complaint which I must address, namely, referencing a Muslim scholar that I have never met. Listening to the audio, I honestly have no idea who I was referencing, but it certainly could not have been the man I referenced. For this unintentional but nevertheless horrible mistake, I repent for saying his name, and I ask the forgiveness of all those who heard it. Sin is sin, and if I am dumb enough to say something like that, I should be man enough to deal with it and aim to never make such a grievous error again. This applies to any time when I wrongly used names. I shall be more careful.

OTHER ACCUSATIONS:

As for the countless other volleys aimed at discrediting the work I do, I am unsure how to respond. If my pronunciation of Arabic phrases is not correct, then I apologize. The language of my lineage is Turkish, not Arabic. Even Arabic dialects differ regionally, such as Jordanian and Egyptian. Indeed, 80% of the Muslim world does not speak Arabic, so I doubt  anyone will be fully satisfied at this juncture. I must add, however, the misguided attempt by Muslim apologists to discredit converts to Christianity is not limited to me; in fact it seems to be standard operating procedure. I do not believe I can do anything to stop these attacks. All I can do is continue to teach as I have for years, and continue to serve the Lord with the best I can give.

A FINAL WORD ABOUT THIS CURRENT SITUATION:

Criticism is many times helpful. In this particular instance, it has enabled me to correct the careless mistakes I addressed above. Nonetheless, I want to be clear about this current situation. This constant stream of criticism, blogging and berating is not acceptable between believers. I am as guilty as anyone else in instigating such things over the years, but these personal attacks are too much.

I shall not participate in this anymore.

This is absolutely of no interest to me.

So, may the Lord judge between us.

To all who are reading this, I want you to know– I am a clear example of a person who is constantly in need of God’s grace. Because Jesus Christ died on the Cross for the world, that includes all of us. He died to forgive my sin, and resurrected to give me life. He did the same for you. When I repented of my sin, and put my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, He gave me new life. He can do the same for you. We  are all sinners, and in need of forgiveness. If you will trust Jesus Christ and turn from your sin, you can find forgiveness and freedom from all the guilt that is upon you. Jesus loves you.

-Ergun Caner