Al Mohler: God's judgement is upon the Southern Baptist Convention

[Cow Poke]

That's interesting. What gave me this thought was when the incoming SBC president claimed that they have higher numbers of black membership than all the mainline denominations (which tend to make a bigger deal about racial issues). I come from a mainline background, and I think the only black pastor at the several such churches I remember was an existing pastor who moved here from Africa. It bothers me since I think churches should look like a cross section of society. In his Bible book, James assumes that a church will have both rich and poor members worshipping side by side, for example.

What's sad, though, is "getting black people". When I was in another Church, we'd have a black couple visit, they would be treated very well, even commenting on how much they were loved, but "there aren't any black people here". It was the most frustrating thing - I'd say, "well YOU are here....", but sooner or later, they'd drift away. That seems to be changing a lot lately, cause we have a good variety of people. And the "Church I bought" started off as an African-American congregation, then drew some mixed-race couples, then before you knew it, they're more "multi-cultural" than they are "black", with a black pastor.

I have two black couples who are Nigerian (been in the states for quite a while, but came here from Nigeria). I love them to death, because their culture has EXTREME respect for the office of pastor.

[KingsGambit]

What's sad, though, is "getting black people". When I was in another Church, we'd have a black couple visit, they would be treated very well, even commenting on how much they were loved, but "there aren't any black people here". It was the most frustrating thing - I'd say, "well YOU are here....", but sooner or later, they'd drift away. That seems to be changing a lot lately, cause we have a good variety of people. And the "Church I bought" started off as an African-American congregation, then drew some mixed-race couples, then before you knew it, they're more "multi-cultural" than they are "black", with a black pastor.

I have two black couples who are Nigerian (been in the states for quite a while, but came here from Nigeria). I love them to death, because their culture has EXTREME respect for the office of pastor.

That is sad, but I get it. I admit I probably wouldn't feel comfortable in a church where I was the only white person (maybe this makes me a bad Christian but I'm just being honest).

The church I grew up in (which I left because the pastors were endorsing transgenderism and homosexuality) was getting a fairly sizable minority population around the time I left. I think the key there was they were getting a lot of mixed race couples (that presumably weren't going to go to an all black church), and that built up enough of a base of people so that new members weren't "the only one".

[Cow Poke]

That is sad, but I get it. I admit I probably wouldn't feel comfortable in a church where I was the only white person (maybe this makes me a bad Christian but I'm just being honest).

The church I grew up in (which I left because the pastors were endorsing transgenderism and homosexuality) was getting a fairly sizable minority population around the time I left. I think the key there was they were getting a lot of mixed race couples (that presumably weren't going to go to an all black church), and that built up enough of a base of people so that new members weren't "the only one".

That seems to be a bridge, yes.

Quick story....

Black churches are really big on "building dedications" - when they have a new sanctuary, it's full blown "all day preachin and dinner on the grounds".

They invited my youth group to come sing (35 white kids) and our kids sat in the middle section, second couple rows from the front.

When it was time for them to sing, the pastor, a good friend of mine, stood up and, in a purposely 'very negro' manner, said, "now we're going to have a youth choir from the First Baptist Church... " (and he put his hand up to his head like a "lookout", searching all corners of the sanctuary, and continued) "would the young people from First Baptist please raise their hands so I can see where you are?" (I was busting a gut inside)

I looked down the row, and all these kids had their hands up, waving, like "we're RIGHT here!" He feigned surprise, and said "OH, there they are RIGHT here!".

He was a lot of fun.

And, yeah, we were pretty much the only "white bread" in the house.

[Cow Poke]

Since things are a bit slow...

this same pastor (he was 5 foot 20 and about 300 lbs - GREAT big guy) invited me to preach at that same service, and I was just a kid - 19 or 20, probably.

He told me "now, if you preach less than an hour, they feel cheated". It didn't take long to figure out if you say something they like, they shout it back at you, you repeat it, and it's easy to turn a 25 minute sermon into an hour.

ANYWAY, I was just getting into my sermon when a woman stood up and started 'dancing in the spirit' and speaking in tongues. I had never seen anything like it (this was way back before (or at the beginning of) the tongues movement)) It kinda startled me, and I just stood there staring. Pastor Brown was sitting on a bench behind and beside me, and all of a sudden he was standing next to me, gently nudging me aside, and he pointed and nodded to some of his ushers*... They took the lady and gently guided her to the back of the auditorium, her still dancing and speaking in tongues, and led her out of the room.

Pastor Brown then 'positioned' me back in the pulpit, and said something that, to me, was absolutely profound.... he said "The Holy Spirit Don't NEVER interrupt Himself... go back to Preachin, brother"

I have to admit I was still a bit startled, and didn't even know where I was. He put his finger down on my Bible right where I stopped, and said, "you were right here!" He gave me a big hug, and too his seat, and I commenced to preachin'.


*later found out these were his "armor bearers".

[One Bad Pig]

That's interesting. What gave me this thought was when the incoming SBC president claimed that they have higher numbers of black membership than all the mainline denominations (which tend to make a bigger deal about racial issues). I come from a mainline background, and I think the only black pastor at the several such churches I remember was an existing pastor who moved here from Africa. It bothers me since I think churches should look like a cross section of society. In his Bible book, James assumes that a church will have both rich and poor members worshipping side by side, for example.

There's little more homogenous than an Orthodox church. In the same general locale you'll have a Greek church, a Russian church, a Romanian church, an Antiochian (Arab) church.... They all use more or less the same liturgy, and have identical beliefs, but meet separately because they want to be in *their* culture. Most of them will even acknowledge that it's highly irregular, and there should be an American Orthodoxy, but no one wants to give up their own cultural identity. The Antiochian church I attended when I visited Sparko actually had a decent mixture of different cultures, including some Ethiopians; they're the most welcoming for converts. The Greeks tend (not all of them) to be like, "Why are you here? You're not Greek."

[KingsGambit]

The Greeks tend (not all of them) to be like, "Why are you here? You're not Greek."

That's perhaps the worst possible ethnicity to say that given what Paul wrote.

[demi-conservative]

Basically. He doubled down last month on an absolute prohibition on divorce in the case of abuse, which didn't go over very well. http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2018/...n-to-step-down

If that is Scriptural, it is. Libs can scream all they like!

Something about the way Mohler presents this troubles me, and I can't figure out why. It's like he's trying too hard to distance himself from #MeToo, or trying to hard to be sure he condemns this....

I really don't get that the whole of the SBC is under the judgment of God because of Patterson's moral failure, or even the really poor manner in which this appears to have been handled. I personally know both Mohler and Patterson. This doesn't sound like Mohler at all

Sounds to demi he doesn't want to be thrown under bus too.

[Cow Poke]

So, here is Albert Mohler giving the annual report on Southern Seminary at the annual meeting last week, boasting (and rightfully so) about how God is blessing Southern Seminary, and he's playing nice with the messengers, in spite of his doom and gloom "God is judging...."

And, though, as I said, I was unable to attend this year, all reports are that it was a very united and harmonious annual meeting.