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Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Commentary for December 3, 2006

FAITH THAT WORKS  Hebrews 11:1-12:2

In the background passage for this week's lesson the inspired writer declared that believers are "those who have faith and obtain life" (Hebrews 10:39). The writer then continues in our lesson passages to explore deeper the nature of biblical faith. Everyone exercises a measure of faith in daily living. We eat and drink with faith that our food and drink is not poisoned. We sit in chairs with faith that they will hold our weight. But what is the difference between this kind of faith and biblical faith?

After writing an appeal to the Executive Committee of the SBC about Bill Harrell's ridiculous article and receiving the typical top-down brush-off reply I read with hope and gratitude the following article from Bill Curtis, chairman if trustees, NAMB. Read the article below carefully. I agree wholeheartedly and enthusiastically with Bill's position, concerns, and suggestions. Look out, however; after coming out so openly against the powers-that-be and their tactics, he can probably expect attacks from the seminaries and the Executive Committee.

http://www.baptistcourier.com/1009.article

Read the following incredible statements and then look for my analysis at the bottom.

Bill Harrell, pastor of Abilene Baptist Church, in Martinez, GA is the current chair of the Executive Committee for the SBC. In a recent interview in the Christian Index, he shared some concerns about SBC life:

I am afraid that the contemporary church movement gets people into a casual mindset, which can lead to a casual mindset toward spiritual things, toward God. People who have lowered the bar to attract the world, who have embraced a non-confrontational approach where sin is concerned in order to attract the world, have become so much like the world that they are losing their witness to the world.

This line of thinking is not especially surprising, as he also says in the article, “The kind of people we attract [at Abilene] are the people who want to go back to church.” That is to be understood as people who have a churched background, as opposed to the increasing portion of our population who have no Christian memory of any kind. Having proclaimed that particular distinctive, Harrell turns his mind to what ails the SBC. The top tier issues are:

“We have two important issues to solve in our Convention. First, concerning the matter of worship style, we must decide what identifies us as Southern Baptists. This will be difficult, because we are autonomous, but I believe our Convention leaders need to make a more definitive statement about how we identify ourselves in worship and who we are as Southern Baptists.”

“We are never going to be homogeneous, never have been, but there are some lines we should never cross as Southern Baptists,” Harrell added. “There must be something distinctive about us or we will lose our identity.

“Second,” Harrell continued, “we must deal with Calvinism. I have solid Christian friends, some of them pastors who are Calvinists, but I think they are wrong about the tenets of five point Calvinism. In my opinion too much of the New Testament must be ignored or radically interpreted to embrace the five points of Calvinism.”

Harrell further explained, “I think the problem of Calvinism in the SBC could be solved if we establish one ground rule. If a man wants to start a Calvinistic church, let him have at it. If a man wants to answer a call to a Calvinistic church he should have the freedom to do that, but that man should not answer a call to a church that is not Calvinistic, neglect to tell them his leanings, and then surreptitiously lead them to become a Calvinistic church. That is not to suggest that all of our Calvinistic friends do that, but when it is done it is divisive and hurtful.

Does anyone else have problems with this? How long before we submit to inspections from Executive Board committees concerning our worship, doctrine, etc. before being allowed to be in the SBC? Just keep sending the cooperative program monies, but "look like us" or else.

Also, see his inane comments about why America has not experienced revival here. Oh no, it is not because of contemporary worship or calvinism; it is because of immigrants!

Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Commentary for November 12, 2006

Live in Light, Not Darkness   Isaiah 8:18-9:7

Have you ever wished that you could ascertain the future? Especially your own future? You would know what to avoid, what to invest in, which home to purchase, the list could be endless. Many today turn to fortune-tellers, games, or 1-900 numbers to find answers about the future. Where do you go for answers about the future?