It is becoming obvious that the generation that is dying off is more committed to systematic giving to their local church than their children or grandchildren. Through the years, I’ve watched Senior Adults tithe on Social Security and retirement while their children spend their tithe on eating out and buying stuff.

The day in which we live will create challenges for the church. A friend of mine has said that he doesn’t believe there will be full-time pastors in American churches within the next two generations. The lack of obedience to Scriptural teachings of giving and sacrifice are going to cause some serious issues. Will we be able to maintain facilities? Will we even have the capacity to build facilities? Will we be able to keep a missions force on the field? Will churches have to shrink the size of staffs? One problem I see is multiple generations want a Tiffany diamond ministry program, but they want to give on a Walmart level. Continue reading →

I grew up in a church where they always gave an invitation. It was what you did. You never asked questions. Even if the preacher was talking about tithing, you had to give an invitation for salvation. It was right to do and nobody questioned it. Of course most of the time we sang two verses, no one came forward, and we dismissed. As Vance Havner said, “The church opened the doors and gave up her dead.” Continue reading →

These have not been good days for the Southern Baptist Convention as a whole. I’ve been a part of this denomination all my life. I’ve watched it survive and thrive in the days following the Conservative Resurgence. Now, I wonder if we will survive. As we are days away from our annual convention meeting, controversy is in the air. We’ve had resignations of major leaders over inappropriate relationships and news stories that haven’t helped at all. Truth hurts. Many of these situations can’t be glossed over or excused. Wrong is wrong. Right is right. Continue reading →

I’m troubled by what’s happening in my denomination. I was born and raised in a Southern Baptist Church. I’ve been a Southern Baptist all my life. I’ve watched our denomination go through the Conservative Resurgence and a return to the inerrancy of Scripture. Yet, there are issues that can’t be ignored and problems that won’t seemingly go away. Continue reading →