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GCR task force to meet with SBC state convention leaders

Oct 15th, 2009
by GarrettWishall.

As many have said, the Southern Baptist Convention is at a key crossroads in its history. The IMB, NAMB and Executive Committee are all in need of new heads. The denomination is in decline as far as number of members … and the membership numbers are radically skewed (16 million reported; 6-8 million actual most likely).

While it is okay if the SBC ceases to exist, I think it is still very viable as a tool to serve and advance the ministries and missions efforts of Southern Baptist local churches. The SBC remains a great avenue for cooperating together for the purpose of carrying out the Great Commission, of making disciples of all nations. This is why the SBC formed and if this remains the focus of the policies and structures of the SBC then it serves a great purpose.

So, let’s keep it going.

A key, key initiative in the re-focusing of the SBC on its purpose is the Great Commission Resurgence task force. This group has already met a few times, and there next meeting comes up Oct. 27.

Ronnie Floyd, GCR chairman, has details:

Over these next few days, I am asking you to pray for a very important meeting that will take place in Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, October 27. I have requested that each State Executive from our 42 state conventions meet with us. Due to matters of scheduling and some who have annual conventions at this same time, we are very grateful that 22 of our state convention executive leaders will be able to meet with us. I have asked their Chairman, Bill Mackey of Kentucky, to lead their group in a presentation to us about what is on their heart about the Great Commission. Following their presentation, we will dialogue with one another about the Great Commission related to the future of the Southern Baptist Convention. This pivotal meeting may be unprecedented in at least recent history and needs our highest support in prayer and hopefully even a day of fasting. It is my prayer that we can all go together towards a bold, visionary Great Commission future. The need is urgent and calls us to act together now.

Finally, we are listening, learning, and committed to leading our convention towards experiencing this Great Commission Resurgence. We do not have all the answers. As Chairman, I am in desperate need of God and His leadership. There are days I am overwhelmed with this task and feel it upon my life heavily. Our task force is agonizing not only over our desperate need, but also about what we must do to move together towards seeing every person in America and the world afforded the privilege of hearing the Gospel and coming to Jesus Christ.

State conventions will very likely play a key role in the recommendations from the GCR task force. Let’s pray that everyone involved is able to think clearly, have the advance of the Gospel as the forefront thing in their minds and then get to work at these meetings.

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Posted in: Great Commission Resurgence, Southern Baptist Convention.
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Pastors are theologians … but they are shepherds too

Oct 7th, 2009
by GarrettWishall.

I value the pastor as theologian model. I am thankful that there are several guys in training for pastoral ministry around me who value this model. However, I would like to hear more of an emphasis from scholarly-pastors in training on the shepherding element of pastoring, ala Richard Baxter’s “Reformed Pastor.”

In the zeal for robust theology, we must not trample upon the priority of counseling for the lead pastor. Not that the lead pastor has to do the bulk of the counseling…though in a small church he probably will.

I mean more that the lead pastor creates and leads in an atmosphere where biblical counseling is in the air, in the water, in the blood. Where the Bible oozes from the elders and congregation and they have utmost confidence in it.

Ray Van Neste, Associate Professor of Christian Studies at Union University, presented a message on such pastoral care at Union University’s Southern Baptists, Evangelicals and the Future of Denominationalism conference Oct. 7.

Titled “Oversight of Souls – Pastoral Ministry in Southern Baptist and Evangelical Life,” Van Neste made several good points regarding the priority of pastoral care for pastors. A few highlights from Trevin Wax’s live blog of Van Neste’s presentation:

  • Oversight of souls includes both public and private ministry. (Acts 20)
  • The goal of pastoral ministry is to present everyone mature in Christ. (Col. 1:24-29)
  • We do not guard souls in order to preach; we preach in order to guard souls.

I commend the remainder of Wax’s live blog for more of Van Neste’s valuable presentation.

In an interview I did with Greg Thornbury today, he noted that if people aren’t applying theology then they aren’t really doing theology. I agree heartily.

So let’s do theology. Let’s know it well. Let’s study the inns and outs of God’s providence, ecclesiology, the person and work of Christ, the role of the Holy Spirit and even some eschatology.

But let’s also have pastoral ministries where people are helped: where the divorced are ministered to, the abused are comforted and helped in working through their own idols. Where a pastoral staff walks through life w/ its people, caring for them and truly shepherding them.

Let’s have strong pulpit ministries: the strongest in the land. But let’s focus them on the people in our congregation, not the podcasting/YouTubing crowd outside our church walls.

Let’s be theologians. But let’s be pastors, too.

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Posted in: Pastoral ministry.
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Paul Tripp on marriage

Oct 2nd, 2009
by GarrettWishall.

The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) today features an article I wrote on Paul David Tripp speaking on marriage.

Along with Russell D. Moore, Tripp is one of the two best, most concrete, communicators I have heard. His insights on marriage are excellent, as he dissects the human heart and rightly explains why conflict arise in marriage and how it can be overcome.

This article came out of a presentation Tripp gave at Sojourn Community Church at their recent conference on Gospel-centered (biblical) counseling.

Tripp explicates Scripture clearly, faithfully and powerfully. Listen and be helped!

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Posted in: Biblical counseling.
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Walktke: Elisha as a type of Christ

Sep 2nd, 2009
by GarrettWishall.

Bruce K. Waltke has written an intriguing and insightful article on Elisha as a type of Christ for Ligonier Ministries Tabletalk magazine. Waltke serves as professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary.

In the article, Waltke briefly lays out some typological connections between Elijah and John the Baptist and then the transition from Elijah to Elisha and the transition from John the Baptist to Christ. He then moves to the typological connection from Elisha to Jesus.

Here is an excerpt:

But now let’s really swim by comparing Elisha and the Lord Jesus. Both are designated by a prophet, whom the general populace recognized as a true prophet. Both receive the Spirit on the other side of the Jordan (2 Kings 2:7–15; John 1:28); are surrounded by more disciples than their predecessors; are itinerant miracle workers; give life in a land of death; cleanse lepers (2 Kings 5; Mark 1:40–45); heal the sick (2 Kings 4:34–35; Mark 8:22–25); defy gravity (2 Kings 6:6; Matt. 14:22–33); reverse death by raising dead sons and restoring them to their mothers (2 Kings 4: 1–7; Luke 7:11–17); help widows in desperate circumstances; are kinsman redeemers to save from slavery (2 Kings 4:1–7; Luke 4:19); feed the hungry (2 Kings 4:1–7; Mark 8:1–12); minister to the Gentiles (2 Kings 5:1–16); prepare (2 Kings 6:20–23) and sit at table with sinners (Luke 5:29); lead captives (2 Kings 6:18–20; Eph, 4:7–8); have a covetous disciple (Gehazi and Judas); end their lives in a life-giving tomb from which people flee (2 Kings 13:20–21; Mark 16:1–8).

These replications and foreshadows cry out for reflection. As God’s elect children, we too can inherit — can be filled — with the same Spirit as Elijah, Elisha, John the Baptist, and our Lord by prayer and perseverance (Eph. 4:18). After all, as James says, “They were men just like us” (James 5:7). Elisha is a type of Christ’s disciples: elected by I AM; leaves father and mother behind; forsakes everything to be a disciple to his Master; becomes like his Master; perseveres with his Master; does greater works than these (2 Kings 4:31–35; John 14:12); brings life to those who stay close to their Master in a culture of death; and develops disciples for whom they also serve as types.

As we read Scripture, we must always remember that every Word is inspired by God and that all of Scripture moves toward the death and resurrection of Christ as its center, and then looks ahead to His triumphant return. Waltke’s article helps us in this quest.

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Posted in: Christ-centered interpretation.
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Albert Pujols writes about his faith in Christ

Aug 13th, 2009
by GarrettWishall.

I enjoy Albert Pujols. I enjoy his dedication to what he does. I enjoy his attitude and demeanor on the field. I enjoy that he does not take steriods. As a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan from a family of Cardinals fans, I really enjoy that he is a St. Louis Cardinal.

I have heard strains about Pujols walk as a Christian, but not a lot of details. I just read some details.

On his website Pujols has posted an article that details his faith in Christ. Here is an excerpt:

My life’s goal is to bring glory to Jesus. My life is not mostly dedicated to the Lord, it is 100% committed to Jesus Christ and His will. God has given me the ability to succeed in the game of baseball. But baseball is not the end; baseball is the means by which my wife, Dee Dee, and I glorify God. Baseball is simply my platform to elevate Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. I would also rather be known as a great husband and father than an All-Star baseball player. Perhaps one day I could be honored with an invitation into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. That would certainly be a boyhood dream of mine come true, but it is a far greater honor that one day I will be in heaven with God to enjoy Him forever.

Good stuff. Many athletes evoke the name of God and sometimes Christ following good performances on the field. Some of credit God with their ability to play well. But you sometimes wonder if they have a substantive walk with God that is built on true faith in Christ. Pujols seems to be the real deal. He continues:

How do I know that I will spend eternity with God in heaven? It goes back to the original discussion – Faith. The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” It is my faith in Jesus Christ’s work in my life that grants me eternal life with God. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s why the mission of this Foundation is “Faith, Family, and Others.” It is because our faith is at the heart of everything we are and everything we do.

Pujols also talks about Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross in his place and lays out a ten-point doctrinal statement of what he and his foundation believe. The doctrinal statement is biblical and orthodox. Pujols also talks about how winning the 2006 World Series was not the high point of that year for him, but instead seeing some of his teammates and friends come to faith in Christ.

Let’s pray for Pujols’ ministry and all those who proclaim the name of Christ, whatever the profession.

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Posted in: Sports.
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