Human beings are capable of unspeakable moral evil. We are shocked by such atrocities, but only because we have some distance from the last one. We cannot afford to be shocked when humans commit grotesque moral evil. It tells us the truth about unbridled human sin.

"It is not just churches that have these religious rights, but all Americans who gather in voluntary association for distinctively religious purposes, such as Christian education." Justice Jackson

Asked about the debate about Calvinism that has become prominent in the Southern Baptist Convention in recent months, Luter said he is "still trying to wrap my mind around this thing," noting that he is frequently asked about it. Although he is studying the issue, admitting, "I don't have a handle on it yet," Luter expressed concern about the debate.

It is notable that Synod in years past was in session from the Monday evening worship through Friday evening (or afternoon if we behaved ourselves), and never was there any need for a quorum call. Now we have more churches, more possible delegates, more ministers, more reports to deal with, and instead of four days of work, we have only two scheduled, and we cannot even commit to attend that.

"They are positive inclinations to active disobedience and they are also negative – that is, inclinations not to bother about moral and spiritual issues. That kind of inclination used to be called sloth, spiritual laziness."

Just as John Owen interpreted the conflict between the English Puritans and the Scottish Covenanters in eschatological terms, so Edwards believed the wars between the French and the English in 18th century North America were instances of the great conflict between Jesus and Satan

Southern Baptist Seminary President Albert Mohler, a young-earth creationist, has called the attempt to reconcile evangelicals to evolution a “direct attack upon biblical authority.”

Meeting in-person demands a way of relating that allows for better pastoring. Sitting across the table from someone, I am forced to see the person as a human who has a story filled with hope, joy, and pain.

“I’ve just come out of a pulpit-selection process in which I have been quizzed and questioned by people who knew what their church believed and were anxious to know whether I measured up to their doctrinal position. They pulled no punches as they probed my answers, listened to my sermons, and read my responses to make sure there was a unity in the truth." -- L. Goligher

Think of almost any issue: if you can find a victim, you can make a case. If not, you’ll likely end up the victimizer. So Christians can get quick traction in society by opposing sex trafficking. The oppression is obvious; the sin is scandalous. But we get little traction in opposing premarital sex and great pushback in opposing homosexual behavior.