SBC=>ENCOUNTERS

Dr. Paige Patterson, Muslim in our Midst, and More Controversy by hariette petersen

In my sabbatical from most all things controversial in the SBC, I've happened across a few blogpost titles about Dr. Patterson allowing a Muslim to enroll at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  I had not once considered reading them until yesterday.  Planned on doing that today, but still had not gotten around to it.

I've really tired of the beating and finger-pointing and posturing and simply had no desire to peek into the pages of the latest attack on Paige Patterson.  I've even kinda adopted the same feelings as he shared a few years ago when he was asked to be part of another controversial SBC matter.

When I first read the flying reports about the man I affectionately refer to as Dr. P., I sat back and scratched my head a bit.  However, knowing what little I know about Dr. P., I deeply trusted that he must have an eternal purpose in mind for the situation.  Lord knows the hoary headed old fella is tired of the battles in the convention; he's said so himself when he was dealing with all those young and restless yuppies (my descriptor), wanting to change the name of the convention to Great Commission Baptists/link. (Irony of ironies that the same who wanted to be known as "Great Commission Baptists" now seek to block a non-believer from hearing indepth teaching about the commission itself, isn't it?)

Until reading Peter Lumpkins' post today I didn't know that it be "the man from Enid" who had his knickers in a knot over the situation.  For me, given the source of what Peter describes as "the dumbfounding outrage against Patterson himself for desiring to practice what God knows we all need to practice more—connecting one-on-one evangelistically", I am not surprised there is yet one more attempt to take down the old man in Dallas.  I do wonder if the man north of me enjoys stirring the waters of controversy regarding the honorable Dr. Patterson, though.  I wonder if he has never quite been able to free himself from the chains of ire he has held for Dr. P for nigh onto a decade of my life.

More than the fact that a president of one of our seminaries has dared to allow a professing unbeliever in the midst of we baptized, white-robed and righteous Baptists, it makes me wonder if perhaps doctrine is more an issue with the naysayers than the actual audacity of the white-haired saint in Texas. After all, Dr. P believes we should share the gospel message to all, believing that whosoever believes on the name of Jesus, confesses his sin and turns from his wicked ways will actually receive eternal life provided by the shed blood offering for all who trust in Him.  Jesus.   The cross. The blood. The propitiation. The justification.  The sanctification. And eventually, the glorification.

Is Dr. P's critic more inclined to believe it's already a done deal?  that this Muslim has already been predestined to his lot in life and therefore his presence at our holy of holy seminaries puts both in jeopardy?  That the Word he studies will just come back void, anyway?  Could this Muslim possibly taint the propriety of our seminary's campus? Could he defile the seats upon which he sits in various classrooms?  Could the air he expels in class somehow infect the masses of good men studying how to share the gospel in its wholeness and entirety?  Is SWBTS in jeopardy of being destroyed because we've allowed some "Trojan Horse" into the camp?

I don't think so.  It's no more sinful to allow this unbeliever to study the depths of faith in God than it is to invite a Muslim to our churches to hear the gospel preached and the Bible taught in our Bible studies each week.  I well remember the day I assured a Muslim lady it would be perfectly okay to bring her little Muslim boy to our VBS and equally as proper for her to sit with him in class to help interpret what the teachers were telling him about Jesus each day.  Was I wrong, too?  God knows.

[Another writer weighs in on Paige Patterson's decision to allow Muslim to attend a Christian seminary...HERE]

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Grace As I See It, by hariette petersen

When We Are Weary

Do Low Baptism Records Concern You?

Recently there has been a bit of conversation, on and off the social media circuit. I've also encountered some within the blogging community of we Southern Baptists concerning our dwindling baptism numbers. I even added a quip or two concerning the situation, here and here. This a.m., I read a little thought from Max Lucado (of all people), and this is what he referenced and said:

"Proverbs 16:18 reminds us as humility goes before honor, “pride goes before a fall.”

"Ever wonder why churches are powerful in one generation but empty the next? The Bible says, the Lord will tear down the house of the proud. God hates arrogance. He hates it because we haven’t done anything to be arrogant about. Is there a Pulitzer for ink? Can you imagine a scalpel growing smug after a successful heart transplant? Of course not. They are only tools. So are we. We may be the canvas, the paper, or the scalpel, but we are not the one who deserve the applause.

David declares who does in Psalm 23, “He makes me, He leads me, He restores my soul… for His name's sake." For His name's sake! No other name. This is all done for God’s glory. He takes the credit, not because He needs it, but because He knows we cannot handle it!"

Maybe it's just me, but I found this rather interesting in light of Convention discussions floating around the internet and within the halls of churches. HOW ABOUT YOU? ~selahV

So, the SBC Records Lowest Number of Baptisms Since 1948

Yep, that's what they say.  And one blogger wants to know why we haven't been blowing up the blogosphere with posts about it. If you ask me, that is part of the problem. It's not the blogsophere that is going to change the baptisms... it is the young preacher men and leaders getting out there and beating the bushes and visiting the sick and ministering to grieving families and working with young people and doing one on one evangelism. AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT IS PRAYER. No, it's not the twitter feeds and facebook statuses and blogposts and fingers feverishly pounding out rhetoric that we need to be concerned about. "...It is feet shod with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."

"Set our souls afire Lord, set our souls afire"  Send a great revival to our souls, send a great revival to our souls...let Your Holy Spirit come and take control, send a great revival to our souls. selahV

HERE IN AMERICA, IN GOD WE STILL TRUST

Iran is becoming a global threat with his infiltration in South America/link. Iran imprisons Christian pastors for being Christians. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is persecuting Christians in court/link.  The Benghazi cover-up shows us that our present administration is not as concerned about the death of our American Ambassador and three other courageous Americans as he is about the sensitivities of the Muslim world.  The president of this nation did nothing to come to the aid of those fellow citizens under attack.  NOTHING.

As Sharia law is being honored and now defended by the American DoJ more than the faith of Christian Americans in Tennessee/link, we have to wonder...how much longer will America trust in God?

Southern Baptists need to stop quarreling amongst themselves and get on with being Ambassadors for Christ in our lost world.  We need to be encouraging and strengthening and edifying one anoher.  I do not care whether we are Calvinists or Traditionalists, Arminians, or Bapticostals, we need to be sharing Jesus.  Our world is under worse threat than it has ever been due to the globalization of all ideologies via internet and instant telecommunications.  Riots can be face-booked and promoted in a nano-second.  It is time to stand in the gap and deliver what we still have the freedom to deliver.  Jesus is the only hope, the only way, the only salvation in this crumbling, dying world. 

Our character, words and actions must exemplify we are children of a Holy God.  Our habits and motivations must be consistent with the Spirit of God.  Prayer is our greatest weapon and the Word of God is our shield and sword. All God wants from us is undying, unflinching courage and faith in Him...obedience.  Go ye therefore and tell!

CAN YOU SAY THIS?

We are shopping for our last minute gifts.  We are rushing about baking cookies, wrapping presents.  But what are we really doing for Jesus?

HERE IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO

People are bewildered. They are hurting. They are questioning the world they are living in. They are crying out for answers. They are thirsty. They are hungry. They are broken. They are lonely. They are naked and homeless.  They are imprisoned by their own sin.  And Jesus is pleading: 

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Before I Was Born

TRACT and VIDEO on How To Be A Child of God by David Howell

I encountered an interesting and exciting article when I received my copy of the Southern Baptist Texan this week.  I thought I'd share it with you and see if you think you could use the information.

A Houston businessman, David Howell wrote and published a tract/booklet, explaining "how to be a child of God".  Howell's booklet is being handed out to prisoners by the thousands in Texas. Howell distributed 15,000 throughout Texas and had to print another 10,000.  Chaplains love it, according to the story by David Roach.  Howell is a member of Second Baptist Church in Houston and has a wonderful story of transformation in Christ. 

I hope you can get a copy of the SB Texan and read the whole story about him.  However, you can visit Howell's website and see the online booklet, How To Be A Child of God, the testimonials and a press release if you want.  I copied the embed of his video so you can see it below.  According to David Roach, of SBTexan, one pastor added Howell's site to his church website.   I highly recommend you visiting the site to see if this may be something you think you could use to reach the lost with a simple presentation of the Gospel message.  You may want to share it on your facebook page, too.

According to Dr. David Allen, Dean, School of Theology and Professor of Preaching at the SWBTS in Ft. Worth, Texas:

"David Howell is to be commended for producing a tract that goes beyond what one usually expects! The gospel is clearly presented, illustrated, and with an eye toward discipleship as well. I predict lots of people will take up and read, and may they come to Christ as Savior and Lord!”.

So what do you think?  I'd love to know. 

[SORRY...I just noticed there was a note that none of David's site could be copied in any way. So I removed the video, but you can go to his site to see it. Apologies to David]

MOTHER COMES TO JESUS AS SON PREACHES

I don't know many things as wonderful as having a loved one come to know Jesus.  It's thrilling when our children, and grandchildren give their lives to Him.  We pray for them and guide them and dedicate ourselves to helping them grow as Christians.  But there is something extra-special when a child grows up, prays for a lost parent, and that parent comes to Jesus.  It was during a revival that my mother-in-law came to Jesus at the invitation her son gave as he pastored our third church.  She was baptized along with several others by my husband, her son, a few days later.

That was years ago.  Some have argued lately that evangelism is dying in our Southern Baptist churches.  Some are saying that simply sharing the Gospel in conventional church settings is a thing of the past.  Many say Gospel tracts are useless and door to door evangelism is obsolete.  Many of our leaders are suggesting we need a resurgence of the Great Commission for our churches and convention.  Others are saying we just need to share Jesus, whenever and wherever we can.  We just need to "do it".  I just finished reading a praiseworthy article written by Keith Collier in the CAMPUS NEWS that delivered to me a message which described just that.  It brought back those joyfilled memories of my mother-in-law coming to Jesus so long ago.  It also reinforced what many are still saying in churches across the land.  Just share Jesus; just do it.  What an accounting it is of victory in Jesus.  An absolute MUST read.  selahV

SOWING THE GOSPEL in North Africa (by David Brumbelow)

North Africa had a strong Christian influence in the first several centuries AD. Now for centuries it has not only been mainly non-Christian, but extremely resistant to the gospel.

Normally, missionaries can’t just go to North Africa and start evangelizing. It’s illegal to distribute Christian literature. Sharing the Gospel is a criminal offense. It’s not illegal to own a Bible in North Africa; but it’s illegal to give one to someone else.

Southern Baptists, however, have found a way to fill North Africa with Christian literature and the redeeming love of Jesus. The literature is not distributed in North Africa; it’s distributed in Southern Europe.

Each year hundreds of thousands of North African immigrants to Europe board ferries in Southern Europe to return to North Africa to visit family. In these ports, International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries give Gospel packets to those boarding the ferries. Each packet includes a green, pocket-sized, French-Arabic New Testament, a JESUS film DVD, and other evangelical literature. The ferries then carry the travelers, cars, and the Gospel across the Mediterranean Sea. This is the single largest source of Bibles in North Africa!

This project has drawn the attention of North African countries and made the front page in several of their newspapers. The articles have instructed the people not to accept the packets. An IMB missionary adds with a grin, “That usually makes them want it all the more.” More than 20,000 Gospel packets are given away at the Southern European ports every summer. Hundreds have made a decision for Jesus Christ as a result of this IMB project.

Have you ever given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for the International Mission Board? Does your church give through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program? Ever keep up with, and pray for missions, through Baptist Press or your state Baptist paper? Then you have had a part in sowing the Gospel in the closed countries of North Africa.

Read more about it:

See the stories in Baptist Press at bpnews.net (two stories, NORTHERN LIGHTS;  Imam at Sahara’s Edge; 11-4-2008), or in your state Baptist newspaper.

David R. Brumbelow 

March 23, 2009

David is a pastor and author of The Wit and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow, hannibalbooks.com.