by Bret Capranica | Jun 24, 2009 | Southern Baptist Issues
What an enjoyable day it has been today at the SBC – primarily a day to celebrate the Lord’s goodness in the 150th anniversary of The Southern Baptist Convention. Our day began with the consideration of resolutions. This is generally a very lively event as it is an opportunity for people with strong convictions to attempt to have the convention publicly agree with those convictions. The most notable resolutions of the day were: 1. The resolution addressing Barak Hussein Obama. It was a good balanced resolution affirming Scripture’s call for us to pray for those in leadership over us. It also acknowledged his obvious love and commitment to his wife and children. The resolution was also clear in its call for the President to abandon his commitment to those policies that he promotes and Scripture directly opposes. 2. The resolution on adoption was a joy for me to affirm. It was also a joy to see Russell Moore with his three adopted sons with him as the Convention unanimously affirmed it. I enjoyed having him sign his recent book on adoption. Very little business seems to be conducted this year from the floor. Which made for a fairly positive Convention overall. The key preacher of this year’s convention was David Platt. His message this morning was a passionate call to keep our focus on the key issues of meeting the needs of others through the gospel and proclaiming the greatness of God. The afternoon for us was spent at Southern Seminary for the annual luncheon afterwhich we toured the campus. We watched the chapel service from Heritage Hall and...
by Bret Capranica | Jun 24, 2009 | Southern Baptist Issues
Today was one of the best days at the Southern Baptist Convention I’ve had in a long time. There was plenty to get the blood pumping – both good and bad. Dr. Danny Akin began the day with a great review of 3 John and an exhortation to those at the Founders’ Breakfast. Here’s his words of caution: 1 Don’t make Calvinism such a priority that you cannot work with other confessional Christians for the Great Commission. 2 Take the high road in your rhetoric even if others don’t. 3 Avoid being a theological elitist. 4 Be known as a Great Commission Calvinist. 5 Cultivate a passion for the nations and go to them. 6 Get involved in church planting. 7 Do not be known more for following Jesus than John Calvin. The next event was the opening of the Convention. The highlight of the morning session was the CEO of the Executive Committe, Dr. Morris Chapman’s report to the SBC. He came out swinging at everyone. While always gracious in his demeanor, he proceeded to attack virtually everyone in the room. The Calvinists seems to take the bulk of his invectives. I do not believe Dr. Chapman is completely ignorant of what Calvinism truly believes, so I have to think that he knew that he was setting up and knocking down the poorest of straw men. He suggested that Calvinism taught that God was so sovereign that man had no responsibility to believe and repent. How sad. He went after those who supported the Great Commission Resurgence and while gracious, nonetheless went off on a tangent. His report...
by Bret Capranica | Jun 23, 2009 | Featured Articles, Southern Baptist Issues
Here’s more on the current trends and debates in the SBC in advance of this week’s annual meeting. Perhaps this is a generationally driven debate. Younger generations (I still wistfully place myself on the senior end of this group) are questioning the viability, reasonability, and rationale of being a part of a denomination that appears more and more irrelevant to the daily life of the local church. I don’t think what I have said is an overstatement. You need only listen to this generation speak of their experiences with denominational life. Other groups are rising up who are more streamlined and focused on what matters biblically and how they can assist churches to accomplish it. The Great Commission Resurgence group is rightly focusing on the downward trend of the next generation’s involvement and commitment to an old and waning way of cooperation among churches. Personally, I believe there are good reasons to remain committed to the Southern Baptist Convention. I believe our cooperative way of funding missions allows us to do much more than we could any other way. Yet, herein lies some of the problem. Doing more tends to bring about more bureaucracy that lessons more action. I think we need to define “missions” biblically and root it fundamentally in the local churches. Yet, if focused and streamlined, I believe our missions agencies could be increasingly on mission and less self-focused and self-promotional. If local churches were headquarters for the mission organization and seen, not merely as a pool from which to draw people and money for their own program, but rather seen as the center for missions,...
by Bret Capranica | Jun 23, 2009 | Ordinary Pastor, Pastoral Ministry, Southern Baptist Issues
Yesterday was a day of travel-not much interesting to report. Justin and I flew in to Louisville on different flights. It was fun introducing him to the Cracker Barrel. His life will never be the same. We picked up Pastor Stephen Jones (his flight came in after ours). Fun stuff, huh. Travel. You can visit the convention web-site for the aftermath from the Southern Baptist Convention Pastor’s Conference. However, Justin and I did have the opportunity to attend the 9Marks at 9 session this evening. 9Marks is the ministry headed up by Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Dever opened the meeting (after 9:30 p.m.) and three decisions crucial for the church to make if it is to thrive: 1: We need to decide if we are going with the spirit of the age and treat the church as if it has ADD or put everything on expositional preaching. God’s word has always made God’s people not vice versa. 2: We need to decide to recover the corporate nature of the church and resist the rampant individualism that is defining modern Christianity. 3: We need to decide to grow our church either by seeing the customer as king or pursue true spiritual growth. We pursue spiritual growth through 3 accountabilities: a. Accountability to each other: expressed through membership. b. Accountability to our elders – Hebrews 13:17 c. Accountability of the pastor to God – Hebrews 13:17 Great stuff. In reality, the Convention has not yet begun. It officially kicks off tomorrow morning. Here’s a brief look at our schedule today: 6:30 a.m. – Founders’...
by Bret Capranica | Jun 16, 2009 | Southern Baptist Issues
Perhaps you heard the comments or read about them. Wiley Drake, longtime vocal Southern Baptist pastor from Buena Park, CA, told Alan Combs that he is praying for President Barak Obama to die. Below is a link to friend and fellow pastor Stephen Jones’ response and he also links to Pastor Walter Price’s response. Be sure to check out the comments on Stephen’s post – very insightful. One question to ask and consider: Should Southern Baptists publicly rebuke Wiley Drake at next week’s annual meeting? I’ve heard rumors of a motion or resolution to potentially make its way to the floor. Thoughts? The Desert Chronicle: Imprecatory...
by Bret Capranica | Mar 28, 2009 | Ecclesiology, Seeker-Sensitive
This was taken from Pastor Rick’s News and Views – Saddleback Church. Dear Saddleback Family, I’m not sleeping much. I’m too excited. THIS SATURDAY, March 28, will be THE GREATEST DAY in Saddleback’s history. OVER 2,000 people have already signed up to become members of our church family on a single day! They’re joining me for: BREAKFAST, BAPTISM & CLASS 101 WITH PASTOR RICK THIS SATURDAY AT 8:30 AM TO NOON IN THE WORSHIP CENTER. SIGN UP TODAY! Two thousand years ago – the Day of Pentecost was the first day of the Christian Church. Acts 2:41 tells us, “About 3,000 people were baptized and joined the church that day.” If you’ll join us this weekend, history could be repeated at Saddleback! Want to make history? Which of these requirements do you need to complete this Saturday? 1. Open your heart to Jesus Christ. Click here to learn more. 2. Attend Class 101: Discovering Your Church Family. Sign up. 3. Sign our membership covenant (explained in class). 4. Be baptized the way Jesus commanded and modeled for us. (Many of us were baptized as kids on our parent’s faith. Jesus modeled believer’s baptism at age 30 when he was baptized in the Jordan River) It would be my privilege to baptize you after Class 101. YOU CAN FINISH ALL 4 REQUIREMENTS IN ONE DAY – THIS SATURDAY! EIGHT REASONS TO JOIN THIS SATURDAY & NOT PROCRASTINATE: 1. I’m personally teaching Class 101 for the first time in ten years. 2. I’m personally baptizing after Class and you’ll receive a photo & baptism certificate. 3. You’ll get a free one...
