The Controversy of the Cooperative Program

Let me say from the outset that I support giving through the Cooperative Program. It is a brilliant strategic administration that has produced far-reaching success for the Kingdom of God. It's not perfect but it is very good.

From the Baptist Press, we learn that messengers to the Convention approved a request from the Executive Committee. The Press writes:

One of the recommendations now encourages churches “to give an increasing percentage of undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program” but no longer specifies a 10-percent goal for supporting the missions and ministries of state Baptist conventions and the Southern Baptist Convention.

Another now encourages the election of leaders whose churches “systematically and enthusiastically lead by example in giving sacrificially and proportionally through the Cooperative Program,” again without mention of a 10 percent target.

Later in the article, we read:

Anthony Jordan, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, told messengers he believes this is one of the finest hours in the history of the convention and church members have a responsibility to step forward and reach the world with the Gospel. But, he added, he also believes the convention is “on the brink of defaulting in our responsibility.”

“In 1980 the Southern Baptist Convention gave 10.7 percent per church of undesignated receipts to the Cooperative Program,” Jordan said. “Today that number is 6.6 percent. In the greatest hour of opportunity, we’re walking away from our responsibility to fund the greatest missionary force in the evangelical history of Christendom.”

This is especially pertinent in the context of this year's convention. One of the major points of the presidential election was the fact that Ronnie Floyd's church gave 0.27% (that's zero point two seven percent) to the Cooperative Program. Our new president, Frank Page, pastors a church that gave over 12% to the CP.

So, what does giving to the CP actually accomplish? I did some "cipherin'" and after carrying over all of my "aughts," I discovered it does not accomplish as much as most people think. Many believe that if a church gives $100 to the CP, then $100 goes to the mission field. That is not true (of course, it is true with the annual "Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Foreign Missions" and similar offerings).

Regarding the CP, let me explain. First of all, churches have four options for the allocation of their funds:

1. PLAN A - 67.5% of the money given by an individual church stays in the state of North Carolina and the rest (32.5%) goes to the national convention. There are no designations - the monies are dispensed by the agencies.
2. PLAN B - The same amount stays in NC but the balance is divided thusly: 10.5% goes to the national offices, 10.9% goes to Baptist colleges in NC, 10.6% goes to special missions and 0.5% goes to the "Adopt-An-Annuitant" program (caring for uninsured retired pastors).
3. PLAN C - The distribution is the same as Plan B except instead of 10.5% going to the SBC, that amount goes to the CBF (Cooperative Baptist Fellowship).
4. PLAN D - Only 49.5% of your church's dollars stay in NC. The rest is divided thusly: 5% goes to Fruitland Bible, 12.5% to special missions, 32.5% to the national convention and 0.5% to the "Adopt-An-Annuitant" program.
   

Now, let's consider PLAN A, probably the most popular plan, by looking at the numbers from a hypothetical church (Note: The percentages are actual numbers from the 2006-2007 budget):

A church gives $100,000 to the CP. Of that amount, a full 67.5% stays in North Carolina for state purposes such as our Baptist colleges ($11,319.75) and Baptist Hospital ($1,302.75) and Baptist Children's Homes ($3,186.00) and the Biblical Recorder ($769.50) and Administrative overhead ($5,967.00) and NC Home Missions ($4,509.00) and Fruitland Bible Institute ($722.250 and adminstrative overhead ($16,773.75) and more.

The remaining 32.5% of the $100,000 goes on to Nashville - $32,500. Of this amount, HALF goes to International Missions ($16,250) and 22.79% goes to Home Missions ($7,406.75).

Our six seminaries get a little over 21% ($6,955.24) and the rest of the $1,888.25 goes to the SBC operating budget, the "Ethnic and Religious Liberties Commission," the Annuity Board, and the Historical Library/Archives.

So, if you are keeping score, out of the original $100,000 given by the church "to missions," only $23,656.75 actually goes to the missionaries. That's less than 25%!

Again, I want to express my appreciation for the CP and all it has done to spread the gospel over much of the past 100 years. There is no doubt that the CP is a great innovation that has helped Baptists through the years do great things for the cause of Christ.

However, the dramatic language used to promote this program could stand to be toned down just a notch or two. The kingdom of God does not stand or fall because of the CP.

Majoring on the Minors!

Morris Chapman encouraged everyone to major on the majors at the Convention and in their churches when they go home. Sadly, that admonition did not truly apply at the Convention.

A very important resolution was offered for consideration from the floor of the Southern Baptist Convention this year. Tom Ascol was the writer of this resolution that called for proper church discipline. Here is an excerpt from the resolution:

Whereas in 2004 the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Church Profiles indicated that there are 16,267,494 members in Southern Baptist churches; and

Whereas well over one half of those members never attend or participate meaningfully in the life of any local Southern Baptist church and are thus no different than non-members; and

Whereas the ideal of a regenerate church membership has long been and remains a cherished Baptist principle; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED that . . . Southern Baptists . . . repent of our failure to maintain responsible church membership, and be it further

RESOLVED that we . . . repent of the widespread failure among us to obey Jesus Christ in the practice of church discipline and be it further

RESOLVED that we plead with pastors and church leaders to lead their churches to study and implement our Lord's teachings on this essential church practice, and be it further

RESOLVED that we commit to pray for our churches as they seek to honor the Lord Jesus Christ through reestablishing integrity to church membership and to the reporting of statistics in the Annual Church Profile.

This resolution is needed and should have been accepted for consideration and debate. However, the reason given for denying this resolution to come to the floor for a vote was:

1. The committee questioned the validity of membership statistics and the assertion that "well over half" never attend or participate and
2. The committee stated that churches should not remove these non-attending members from their church rolls because they were "excellent prospects for outreach" and we shouldn't throw away our "prospect list."
   

WOW! If it is true that these peoplel are our best prospects for evangelism, then WHY are they on our church rolls. With this answer, it appears that the committee agrees that lost individuals can be church members!

As Gene Bridges wrote, it is the height of irony that many call Calvinists "closet Presbyterians" for their soteriological beliefs and these same may be called the same for opening the door for unregenerate church membership (because Presbyterians practice paedobaptism, it is very possible for a member of the church to be unregenerate).

As for majoring on the minors, another resolution did pass: the forbidding of anyone who partakes of alcohol to serve as a trustee for an SBC institution (admittedly just one part of the resolution). Many think this was brought up and ratified as a veiled attempt to remove Wade Burleson from the Board of Trustees of the International Mission Board. Burleson answers that assumption in a very gracious way and even throws in some good exegesis on the whole topic of drinking alcohol.

So, in the mind of this year's convention, it is more of a sin to drink wine during Communion or have a glass of wine at a dinner than it is to have a church with half of its membership heading to hell . . . on the church bus?

Darrell Bock now blogging

Darrell Bock, the professor of New Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary, is now blogging over at bible.org (a most edifying site that I frequent often).

He has written many commentaries and books that grace my shelves in my office. He also wrote the best book on "The Da Vinci Code," in my opinion. His massive two-volume commentary on Luke from the Baker Exegetical Commentary line is superb.

Visit him often. You'll be better for it.

Live-Blogging at SBC

The guys over at Thoughts and Adventures are blogging and updating every little bit as something noteworthy happens. Here are their thoughts on the Mohler/Patterson discussion.

Not everyone could go to the convention so this guy over at Provocations and Pantings is keeping up with all the blogging going all. You can go to his site as a sort of "clearing-house" for all the good blogging going on.

Report on Patterson/Mohler Discussion

As stated long ago, the discussion on Calvinism within the SBC finally took place at this year's Pastor's Conference between Southwestern Seminary president Paige Patterson (my president while I was at Southeastern) and Southern Seminary president Al Mohler. Transcripts of this will be available soon but in the meantime, here is a fair and objective assessment of what went on by Tom Ascol (a truly gracious man).

The comments left at the end of the post were not always so fair but everyone's got an opinion. I did find it troublesome if Dr. Morris Chapman said what he said when he took the podium to deliver the report from the Executive Committee. Instead, it APPEARS that he took the opportunity to scold all the Calvinist meanies in the crowd. If true - that's bad form!

(NOTE: Tom Ascol just commented on the comments by Chapman. He wrote:

Morris Chapman addressed it (Calvinism), not in a mean-spirited way, but in an attempt to be humorous. I was not offended but appreciated what I think he was trying to do. BTW--he also made a negative comment about elders, but again, it wasn't mean. When I saw him later I shook his hand, told him I appreciated much of what he said and looked forward to getting home to discuss it with my elders! We both enjoyed a good laugh. His spirit was great.

Another blogger at the convention took extensive notes during the Mohler-Patterson discussion and writes an abridged transcript here. Sounds like the breakout session was handled very professionally and cordially, as should have been expected by these two men.

If you want the real thing, you can order an audio recording of the discussion here.

Frank Page: New SBC President

Here are the voting statistics from the 2006 Presidential election:

• 11,346 messenger
• 9,005 casting ballots
• 44 disallowed ballots .49%

• Frank Page 4,546 50.48%
• Ronnie Floyd 2,247 24.9%
• Jerry Sutton 2,168 24.08%

If Page had not got the extra 0.4% and finished at the halfway point, there would have been a run-off.

More Caner Critique

Gene Bridges, ever loquacious, enjoins the post-NLJ frenzy and adds a resounding rejoinder (Warning: rather lengthy at 4,500 words) to Caner's article. He goes quote-by-quote through Caner's article and gives answer to each assertion.

I would love for those who read this blog to read both links above and sound off with their reactions and answer to these questions (just curious - that's all) :

1. Is Caner's use of "hyper-Calvinism" correct?
2. Is it acceptable to say "I'm not a Hyper-Calvinist (which means "Calvinist" to Caner). I'm not an Arminian. I'm a Baptist"? If yes, why? If no, why not?
   
3. What do you think happens to babies when they die? Why do you believe that?
4. Do you think God loves every single person who has ever lived and will live in the same way and to the same degree?
5. What is your opinion on "altar calls" (not "invitations" but "altar calls")?
   

By the way, Bridges, one of the best (and lengthiest) writers in the blogosphere, lives in Winston-Salem - not too far from Statesville.

William Lane Craig vs. Bart Ehrman

These two heavyweights engaged in a debate on the resurrection of Jesus at Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts. Here is a transcript of the debate (38-page PDF file).

Ergun Caner and "Neo-Calvinism"

In the recent edition of The National Liberty Journal, Ergun Caner writes the cover story: "Predestined Not To Be a Hyper-Calvinist."

As in his sermon by the same title, Caner continues to make the mistake of equating hyper-Calvinism with Calvinism. The title speaks of HYPER-Calvinism. Several paragraphs speak of HYPER-Calvinism. However, the brunt of Caner's article is a response to plain-jane Calvinism. They are not the same thing. The Dean of a theological seminary should know better.

I'll allow Tom Ascol to handle the evaluation of the article for the time being. Ascol is one of the two men (the other being James White) who will join in debate with Ergun Caner and his brother Emir in October at Liberty.

For a good primer on the actual definition of hyper-Calvinism, go here first or maybe here or here.

I wonder what she said?

WSB-TV News in Atlanta (Channel 2) has this story, which raises some questions: Clara Jean Brown was struck by lightning while standing in her kitchen praying for safety in that very same storm.

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia is a fear found in the Western Christian world, which originates in the belief that the Biblical verse, Revelation 13:18, indicates that the number 666 is linked to Satan or the Anti-Christ. Outside the Christian faith, the phobia has been further popularized as a motif in various horror films.

Now, in June 2006, several are taking the opportunity of Tuesday's date (06-06-06) as a marketing ploy:

• The Omen will open in theaters on this date. This is one movie you can count me OUT of seeing. No way, no how! Not superstitious or anything - just too easily freaked out with stuff like this.
• Tim LaHaye's new book on the Rapture to be released on this date.
• Ann Coulter's new book "Godless" will be released on this date.
  

I guess everyone thinks that God is stuck with using the Gregorian calendar which is based on an incorrect understanding of the birth of Christ (or, if you really must - the beginning of the Common Era. Ha!).

$55,000.00

That's how much a church in Indianapolis is spending on an advertising campaign. Here is some of the ad copy:

"Do you know someone who is homosexual? Would you give your life for that person? Jesus did!"

Would Jesus discriminate?

A future ad will say this:

A Sunday edition of The Star will show a group of Klansmen around a burning cross with a headline, "Remember a time when a symbol of love was used as a symbol of hate?" The subtext: "The Bible shouldn't be misused to justify discrimination against any group, including gay people."

Oh, Lifeway! Why?

I just got a copy of "The Source," the sales paper for Lifeway Christian Stores. On page three are some ideas to "honor the dads in your church with key reminders of their faith." There is a leather bookmark and a keyring shaped like a cross and then this item:


















Here's the ad copy: "Based on Jeremiah 17:7, this tire gauge is a unique way to remind the fathers in your church of God's love. Each gauge features a cross and 'Jesus' is engraved on the handle."

You know, it's one thing to sell air pressure gauges. That is fine and good. However, it is another thing altogether to sell cheap air pressure gauges and slap the name of the Creator of the Universe on it and sell it as a religious item. That act borders on tawdry. No, it doesn't border - it crosses completely over that line.

However, the tackiness of the product aside, what really bothers me is the misuse and abuse of Scripture. The copy says "Based on Jeremiah 17:7." I have to wonder what exactly is based on that Old Testament passage. Jeremiah wrote, "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him."

How can a tire gauge, a flashlight or a keychain be based on this passage? I just don't think the Weeping Prophet had in mind to build in a man the confidence that his tires were properly inflated!

Jeremiah might be weeping all the more now.

Now, if Lifeway could come up with a "TYRE" gauge!!!

Interview with SBC Presidential Candidate - the "other one"

For many people in the Southern Baptist Convention, the election of the president is a foregone conclusion. Several denomination and seminary leaders have already come out in support of Ronnie Floyd. However, recently another pastor has thrown his name into the ring - Frank Page of Taylors First Baptist Church in South Carolina.

Tad Thompson, an SBC blogger in Arkansas, made a name for himself a few weeks back by sending several questions to Floyd that Floyd did not answer. Thompson sent the same questions to Page and got answers to all the questions within several hours. We might just have an honest-to-goodness election this summer in Greensboro instead of the typical coronation!

DAED SI KCAJ

Say it ain't so!

If you watched the season finale of "24" on Monday night, you saw some satisfying scenes: Jack commandeering a Russian sub, Jack teaching an engineer the proper technique to slit a bad guy's throat, Christopher Henderson getting his come-uppance, a really cool stare-down from Jack to the kidnapped President and finally President Logan getting JUSTICE RIGHT NOW!

There was also a tender scene at the end of the show where CTU Director Bill Buchanon gave Chloe a picture of her with Edgar Styles, her friend who died when the Centox nerve gas was unleashed in CTU HQ ASAP PDQ.

However, what you might have missed was the scribbling on the back of the photo. The camera stayed there a little long and I was able to pause the TiVO (thank you, Lord, for my TiVO) and I took some digital photos. Can you decipher the "top-secret CTU code"? Maybe this is why CTU is so easy to infiltrate and escape - they utilize third-grade note-passing codes!!!

Photo 1 - Chloe opening photo - just to show you the context:














Photo 2 - Closeup of "coded" message:














Photo 3 - Closeup of some "secret numbers" (perhaps a Chinese fortune cookie):














Photo 4 - Closeup of Jack. He's got the Chinese right where he wants them!














I called the "fan phone," being the 24-nerd that I am. It connects you to a Nextel phone but it was "full." So, we have seven months to see what happens next to Jack. Hopefully we'll learn more about the Graham and the Bluetooth Gang, the location of Wayne Palmer and Aaron Pierce, the ability of Hal Gardner and vice-president !MIKE NOVICK! to govern the country.

Jack vs the Chinese army - sounds like a fair fight!