The task force recommended that the legal name “Southern Baptist Convention” be retained, because of the legal liabilities, name brand equity, and huge costs of changing the name. At the same time, the task force also recommended that it be supplemented with a non-legal or auxiliary name (or descriptor of our mission) of “Great Commission Baptists.”  Each church could decide which name identity best fits its identity and needs. Task force members Ken Fentress, Pastor of Montrose Baptist Church in Rockville, Maryland, and Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary spoke on behalf of the recommendation.

The task force understands this proposal to be a fairly innoculous change, one that is a “win-win” for both those who want to retain the historic Southern Baptist Convention name, and for those who want a more contemporary and non-regional name. Perhaps this is the best solution for a convention that includes so many diverse perspectives.

The recommendation will go to the administrative subcommittee of the Executive Committee tomorrow, and possibly to the full Executive Committee tomorrow. In order to be presented to the SBC in New Orleans, the SBC Executive Committee will need to approve the proposal (possibly either this evening or tomorrow, but perhaps right before the SBC in June). Since the Convention’s Constitution or Bylaws are not being changed, it would not have to be approved in two consecutive SBC annual meetings, i.e., this year in New Orleans and next year in Houston. Just one vote would be necessary.

According to published reports in the Missouri Baptist Pathway and Baptist Press, the trustees of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) Friday accepted the resignation of seminary president R. Philip Roberts effective Feb. 29 during a called meeting at an airport hotel.

Robin Hadaway, associate professor of missions at the seminary, was named acting president, according to trustee Kevin Shrum of Madison, Tenn., interim chairman of the board who acted as the sole spokesman for the meeting. Former chairman Wayne Lee of Southlake, Texas, resigned but remains a board member, Shrum said.

Rev. Fred Luter, Pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, announced to his congregation Sunday that he was willing for his name to be placed in nomination for President of the Southern Baptist Convention. Luter has served as Pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church for 26 years (since 1986). During that time, the church grew from 65 members to become one of the largest churches in Louisiana, with several thousand attending the New Orleans church, plus satellite campuses in Baton Rouge and Houston.

The Southern Baptist Convention will be holding its annual convention in Luter’s home town of New Orleans on June 19-20, 2012.

Click to read An Interview with Rev. Fred Luter.

Technorati Tag: Fred Luter

This video is taken from a gathering in Times Square on the Sunday evening it was revealed that Osama Bin Laden was dead….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4__MYjh64YE

The demise of this terrorist, the man behind financing the bombing of the World Trade Centers, brings with it a mix of emotions for me. Therefore, there are aspects of his demise that sadden me as well as aspects that gladden my heart.

The Aspects that Gladden my Heart

Many aspects of this capture/killing certainly gladden my heart. It certainly is a just war theory that brings about the searching for and destroying of al-Qaeda. It is also a principle of war that if one cuts off the head of the snake, the snake dies. While al-Qaeda is certainly a freak of nature in that other heads seem to be a part of this snake, the death of Bin Laden certainly has dealt a tremendous blow to the organization. Bin Laden is no longer among the living so can never again plot such a despicable, diabolical deed as the one this nation endured.

I am also glad that justice seems to have been meted out for the families of the victims in the World Trade Center, The Pentagon, and the victims on the airplanes. Forty some passengers lost their lives, in a Pennsylvania field, trying to recover Flight #93. Their lives, while thwarting an attack, also meted out justice for those who had hijacked the flight. The best selling book authored by the wife of one of the passengers, Let’s Roll, expresses how Todd Beamer’s children were only 3, 18 months, and one still in the womb. Today we have children nearly 14 years old, 12 years old, and 10 years old that will only know their dad through published accounts. These are the children made famous because their mom had the where-with-all to put her emotions and thoughts in written form. What about those children whose parents never came home? What about those spouses who never came back that morning? What about that loved one who walked out of the house that day and the first thing their loved ones found was the half empty coffee cup left on the counter? These people have experienced just a small piece of justice with the death of Bin Laden.

I am glad that we have a President that made the call. This is a shock to many that know me as I have not always been one that believed in our current Commander-in-Chief. However, when the call needed to be made, he made it. Many have argued he used this for a political advantage. Others have chastised the media for giving our President credit when it was the Navy Seal Team 6 that went in. Whatever argument one comes up with, one only needs to be reminded this invasion would not have been possible without an affirmative word from the President of the United States of America. Thus, I am glad our President made that call.

I am glad that our nation, for a brief time, was brought together. For a brief time on that late Sunday night speech our nation was no longer Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or Independent. For that brief time on that Sunday evening we were Americans. We were not African-American, Mexican-American, Asian-American, Native-American or any other adjectival American; we simply were Americans.

The Aspects that Sadden my Heart

As the story grows about the invasion and killing of Bin Laden I am saddened on various fronts.

First, it is the spiritual front. I am sad that Bin Laden did not know the true living God–Jehovah. Bin Laden devoted his life to the false God, promoted and adhered to by the Islamic Prophet Mohammed. Mohammed proclaimed the false God, Allah, as one who holds in balance the works of man. According to the Quran, Allah rewards good deeds and punishes evil deeds. Thus, Bin Laden had a life of works he depended on to get him to the false prophet’s heaven. I am grieved and saddened that Bin Laden has to spend eternity in Hell separated from the love of the one true God, our Heavenly Father. This separation is not due to Bin Laden’s lack of good works it is due to his rejection that Jesus Christ is God.

Second, I am sad by the way some have responded to the news of Bin Laden’s death. As a Christian I am instructed by the Bible not to take pleasure in the death of the wicked. It gives me no pleasure to see a wicked person die. Should they die in order for justice to be served? Yes, they should. Should I shout and holler praises for someone’s death? No, I should not. It is this type of celebration that brings me to another reason I am sad.

Third, I am sad that various celebrations across America seem to delight as if some sort of vigilante justice has been achieved. The celebrations in the street, such as the one in the video, appear to be out of vengeance instead of patriotism. Yes, they are shouting “USA,” but it is in response to a man being killed, not the war on terror being advanced. Patriotism in America was founded on justice, not vengeance. The American Revolution was a revolt against the king for the right to separate from the Crown; it was not a result of a vengeful heart. Certainly December 7, 1941 is a day that will forever live in infamy. However, we entered WWII, not to revenge the attack on Pearl Harbor, but to see that justice was meted out on those responsible. Navy Seal Team 6 was sent into that compound, not to seek vengeance, but to implement justice.

If we are attributing our celebration to the death of Bin Laden then we are failing miserably in understanding the theory of a Just War. This theory contains within it, not only the criteria for entering a war, but also the criteria in the manner by which we fight the war.

a)     Just Cause – A war is not justified merely for revenge or to punish those you believe have done wrong, but only when there is an immediate threat to life.
b)    Just Intent – A war is not justified by hatred or economic advantage, but only by the effort to secure justice and peace.
c)     Last Resort – A war may be begun only after every other viable alternative, peaceful solution, conflict resolution, or negotiated settlement has been attempted and proven futile.
d)    Legitimate Authority – A war cannot be declared by just anyone, but only by duly elected officials and leaders of a country who secure the appropriate approvals to initiate the war.
e)     Proportionality – The benefit of waging the war must be proportional to its cost.
f)     Comparative justice — The injury suffered by the offended nation must be sufficiently one-sided as to justify the cost of the war in life and property.
g)     Limited goals – The battles must be only for military aims, not for total destruction or for disproportionate civilian casualties.
h)    Probability of success – There must be some reasonable chance that the evils can be redressed by the war; it cannot be a futile effort to exact revenge.
i)      Avoid Hurting Noncombatants – Every effort should be made to avoid hurting or killing noncombatant civilian populations, such as bombing civilian residential areas.

If the killing of Osama Bin Laden was the purpose for America entering the war on terror, we have failed miserably in fulfilling the criteria for a just war. America never enters a war merely to destroy or remove a dictator or terrorist. Unless, by removing that dictator or terrorist, the criteria of a Just War has been satisfied.

Conclusion

How does one respond when the emotions are at such opposite ends of the emotional spectrum? One responds carefully and cautiously. Carefully because one certainly wants to remember that people died and there needs to be some justice regained for those who lost their loved ones. Let’s not forget as one who did lose a loved one said; “Bin Laden’s death will not bring back my son.” Cautiously, because the hurt we experienced as we witnessed the carnage of the Twin Towers falling, the Pentagon’s gaping hole in her side, and the burned area of the plane crash in the Pennsylvania field has the ability to bring about a bitterness of spirit.

Let us be glad that we have taken down one who had no problem killing his fellow Muslims and certainly took pleasure in killing Americans. But, let us be filled with grief that a human being had paid the ultimate price for his destructive, killing spree. While his deeds are too terrible to mention in some places those Navy Seals are reported to have placed their hands over the eyes and ears of the children in the room. They did this because they had compassion on those children and they did not want the last image of their father to be one of a bullet going into his head. That is what makes us Americans; we show compassion even in the process of meting out justice.

As Americans, we do not place the lives of innocent civilians in jeopardy to fulfill some sort of gratification of vengeance. America entered the war on terror under the Just War Theory for alleviating the world, not of Osama Bin Laden, but of a terrorist network that has infiltrated many of the Middle Eastern countries. Thus, if our celebrations are due to Osama Bin Laden’s demise we are no more than Wild West vigilantes. Let us celebrate that Bin Laden’s death is a milestone achieved in the war on terror and let us remain resolute to rid the world of terrorist organizations.

Maybe you haven’t seen this video of a young man making this poetic “speech” about being sorry for being a Christian.  He even uses the F word a couple of times in his “poem.”  It makes you wonder why he felt the need to use the F word in a poem, where he was going after Christians and others for all the ills of Christendom that he sees.  You can see his “poem” on this site  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EieFdXy_HwM on youtube.  I warn you now that he has a potty mouth, and he uses the F word.  But, he recites this “poem” to the jeers of the crowd.  They’re especially happy, and you can hear the laughter, when he apologizes right off the bat for being a Christian.

Well, I’m not sorry for being a Christian.  I’m not sorry for calling sin what it is…sin.  I’m not sorry for saying that sin will be judged by God.  Why am I not sorry?  Because a lost man’s sins will be judged by God.  And, the lost crowd needs to hear that.  How can a lost man be saved, until he sees his need of a Savior?  He cant.  So, why would I apologize for calling sin what it is, and for telling people that God is not happy with our sins?  I know that some lost people will call that intolerance, and they’ll think it’s mean and narrow; but it’s the truth.  The truth shall set you free.

Also, I’m sad about the loss of life at the hands of the Crusaders and the Catholic Church.  But, why should I apologize for the Crusades that happened hundreds of years ago.  I wasnt there.  I didn’t do it.  So, why should I apologize for something that happened hundreds of years ago.  Why, it wasn’t even my Church that did this thing.  It wasn’t a Southern Baptist Church.  It wasn’t any Churches that came out of the Reformation.  So, why should I, a 48 year old Believer, apologize  for something that some misguided people did a long time ago?  Why would any Christian feel the need to bring this up and apologize for it?  Why would this make anyone be sorry that they’re a Christian.  I’m not sorry that I’m a Christ Follower, just because of what some knights did back in the dark ages.

BTW, while we should love gay people, I’m certainly not sorry for calling homosexuality what it is.  It is sin.  It is sin that God will judge.  Now,  I know that God will also judge the adulterers and the liars and the thieves and all other sinners.  But, this young man seems to be saying that he’s sorry for calling homosexuality a sin.  Well, young man, it is a sin.  And, those people, who die in this sin, will go to Hell.  They need to be saved, and I do pray that they’ll be saved and go to Heaven.  I love gay people.  I do not hate gay people.  I wish that everyone of them would get saved today.  I certainly hope that I get to spend eternity with all the gay people in this world, because they repented and put their faith in Jesus.  I really do.  But, should I apologize for calling homosexual sex what it is?  A sin.  Never.

Also, I hate that there are homeless people, and I really hate that some men beat their wives.  I wish every homeless person had a home, and I wish that every wife beater would have to spend 30 minutes with CB Scott in a locked room by themselves.  But, you know what?  There will always be homeless people. Jesus said that the poor will always be here. And, some people are homeless because of the bad choices they’ve made in life, and people will continue to make bad choices, and do things like drink alcohol, use drugs, gamble, etc.  And, these choices will cause them and their family to suffer financially, and in many other ways.  Why should I, as a Christ Follower, apologize for the homeless?  I didn’t make them that way, nor can we give them all a home.  Some of them dont even want a home!  Also, why should I apologize and be sorry that I’m a Christian, because of what some drunken, mean man did to his wife?  Christians didn’t make this man into a wife beater.  Christians cant stop men from being wife beaters.  There will always be mean, ornery men out there, who will beat women and children.  That’s just a sad fact of life, and a result of the fall of man.  So, why would this make me be sorry for being a Christian?  I don’t get it.

Also, what Indian tribe was wiped out in the name of the Church?  I thought it was done, because white men wanted the land.  Some of it was done, because white men thought that gold was on the land that the Indians claimed belonged to them.  Why bring the Church into this?  Was General Custer a Christian attacking Indian tribes for some Church?  I mean, really; is some school out there teaching young people that the Church wiped out Indian tribes in America?

As I listened to this video, I was also left wondering if all Christendom should be blamed for the child abuse that has happened in  some Churches?  I was left wondering if preaching the Gospel was something that a Christian should apologize for?  And, did Christians bring in the plague?  Really?  And, maybe he doesn’t know about all the 15 year old girls and others that have been helped by all of the Christian pregnancy centers and Christian counselors that have helped women deal with the awful affects of abortion? Another thing, did Christians start wars between the nations?  Did Christians start WW I; WW II; or the Gulf War?  I don’t recall Dr. R. G. Lee declaring war on Germany.  I don’t recall Dr. A. T. Robertson declaring war on Japan.  Do yall?  What’s this guy talking about in this poem?  Why would anyone say that this poem is something that needed to be heard by all Christ Followers?  What’s the point of this young man’s poem?

This poem reminds me of my college days, where we had some flaky people floating around, who were anti-Church.  You know the types.  They don’t belong to a Church.  They don’t like to commit to anything.  They’d rather show up at a college, Bible study group every now and then; but they don’t get into commitment.  They’re unsound in their doctrine, and they really don’t like for anyone to help them understand the Bible better.  They’d rather complain and whine about all the bad things that they see in their minds about the Church.  Every thing is looked at thru negative glasses concerning the Church and sound doctrine.  I saw many young people on my college campus, back in my college days, who were just flaky and out there, in deep center field, on the fringe, who just saw everything negatively.  Everything was bad, and they were the ones, who could fix it, of course.

Well, I’m glad to be a Christian.  When I look at how most of the hospitals and orphanages in our world were started by Christians, I rejoice.  When I look at all the institutions of higher learning that Christians started, I rejoice.  When I look at all the people who’ve been helped by Churches and Pastors and Christian counselors, then I rejoice.  When I look at all the millions of people, who’ve been saved thru the years, by the witness of Christians and missionaries, I rejoice.  When I look at all the people, who have been ministered to by the prayers of faithful Christian people, I rejoice.  When I look at all the marriages that have been not only helped, but saved, due to the grace of God coming thru a Pastor’s sermons and counsel and prayers and encouragement, then I rejoice that I’m a Christian.  When I look at the people, who were at the brink of suicide, but some Christian helped them find hope in the Lord Jesus, then I rejoice.  When I think of the disaster relief teams that go out in the name of Jesus from SB Churches, and they help people in incredible, heartbreaking disasters, then I rejoice.  When I think about all the people that have been fed, their electric bills paid, their water bills paid, clothes bought, etc. ; paid  by Churches all over the USA and the world, then I rejoice.  And, I’m talking about every week, SB Churches in little towns and big cities all across this land, helping people keep the lights and the heat on; feeding children, etc.; then I rejoice.

I’m not sorry for being a Christian.  I’m thrilled to be a Christ Follower.  I’m excited about being a child of God.  I’m ecstatic about what God is doing thru the Church.  I’m delighted that God uses Christians to do so much good in our world.  Sorry?  Apologize?  Why?  Why should we apologize for being a Christian?  Aren’t you glad to be Christian?

We need to pray for our nation.  We need to pray for God to watch over us.  We need to ask God to give our national leaders some good sense and wisdom.  And, we need to look to God for our strength.  Also, in November, we need to remember who it was that tried to lead our country into socialism and bankruptcy.   At the next Presidential election, we all need to remember who it was that caused our nation to take such a drastic step in the wrong direction.  We need to remember who these people were who wanted our tax dollars to fund abortions.  We need to remember the ones who wanted our country to make this big change in direction towards socialism, and higher taxes, and more government control over our lives.  I will remember.  Will you?

Let me begin by saying that Pastor Ronnie Floyd’s church, The Church at Pinnacle Hills, was a gracious host to this meeting.  The meal was excellent and the fellowship was good.  I was able to attend this meeting with good friend and fellow SBC Today-er, Wes Kenney.  I also ‘ran into’ old friends from Missouri and Oklahoma and met new guys with whom I had only previously interacted online.

The meeting was, as others have described it, interesting.  The four person panel selected to represent the task force included, Pastor Ronnie Floyd, Pastor Johny Hunt, Pastor Al Gilbert, and Dr. Al Mohler.  Rather than report for you a ‘blow-by-blow’ discussion of the event as it took place, I encourage you to visit the website (pray4gcr.com) and listen to the audio of the meeting (here) or watch the videos of the meeting (part1 & part2).

The highlights, as I saw them…

Pastor Floyd’s statement that we need to move the headquarters of our convention from a focus on a central building or a city back to the local churches.  AMEN!!  We are a convention of local churches which have chosen to cooperate together for the purposes of greater ministry, including discipleship, evangelism, and missions.  Our conventions, both national and state, as well as our associations exist to serve the local churches, regardless of size or ‘influence,’ not vice versa.

Pastor Hunt’s statement that the Great Commission Resurgence needs to be a personal GCR.  Pastors must take to heart and live out this truth among the people we have been called to disciple and equip for these very ministries. Again…AMEN!!  As a pastor, I am called of God to not merely teach but to exemplify the life God commands and commissions us to live.

Dr. Mohler’s personal testimony and thankfulness for the impact Southern Baptists have had on his life through the Cooperative Program.  He stated that every significant event in his life as a Baptist had been made possible through the cooperative ministries and giving of the people in our churches.  And, yes, I once again say… AMEN!!  While the CP and our commitment to ongoing cooperation throughout our convention is taking a serious beating (more on that in a moment), I am thankful for the privilege we have as Southern Baptists to support our state convention ministries, seminaries, ERLC, North American missions, and international missions through the Cooperative Program.

The involvement of so many, by task force accounts 400-500 pastors, trustees, and laity, in the question and answer session.  The openness of the task force to listen to input from various Southern Baptist voices is a source of hope for me concerning the future recommendations they will bring to our meeting in 2010.  I hope that the remaining meetings they have will include further luncheons like the one I attended.

The lowlights, as I saw them…

The vague, general answers given to a number of the questions that were asked.  When a gentleman asked about what role local associations would take, the panel replied with ‘get churches to get their people to pray for the task force and to get messengers to Orlando in 2010.’

That leads me to this other thought.  Maybe the GCRTF was not fully ready to take their show on the road.  Maybe they are not fully settled on exactly the scope their work will take.  At the point of the luncheon, they had only met one time.  Their second set of meetings followed on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday.

This fact may have contributed to the confusion I saw in the panel seemingly being dismissive of the importance of the Cooperative Program as part of our Great Commission identity and then lamenting that seminary students who are in the IMB pipeline are unable to go because our CP and Lottie Moon giving is down.  This strange dichotomy prompted me to ask a question seeking clarification of the matter.  Is the Cooperative Program still a significant means by which we as Southern Baptists will support our combined ministry efforts (including seminaries, ethical & social issues in our world, LifeWay, and our mission entities) to which our churches should be encouraged to give (even increase giving), or should it be disregarded or seen as passe’ in favor of…something else?  Unfortunately, I do not believe my question was adequately answered (an opinion not expressed solely by me).

There were a myriad of other questions voiced at the meeting, some of which had no bearing or relevance to the meeting or the task of the task force.  When will we as Southern Baptists figure out when and where discussions which need to take place should take place?  Too many of us have our pet issue and just can’t wait to give voice to it anywhere and everywhere.  This crusaderism (is that a word? Must be the Yogi’s influence) needs to stop.  And so, I will stop on this thought, too.

Yet, here is where I will hearken back to the title of this post… It ain’t over ’til it’s over.  I pray that as the task force continues to work together the questions people ask will have more clearly defined and cogent answers.  I pray that the focus of the task force will be laser-like, as Dr. Mohler expressed.  I pray that the highlights will remain the highlights and the lowlights will be diminished.  Let us all remember to pray for the members of the GCRTF and the future ministry of our local churches in cooperation as the Southern Baptist Convention.

Sola Gratia!

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Below are some links to the items we discussed in this episode. See you next week on the podcast.

• Trevin Wax’s blog discussion with Romanian Baptist leaders
• Oklahoma’s ultrasound law struck down
• Tornado warnings
• Richard Dawkins equating evolution skeptics with holocaust deniers
• Southwestern prof resigns to retain membership in Broadway Baptist Church
• National health care as moral concern