The founder and President of BBN is Lowell Davey. The Lord has used Lowell in a unique way and his vision of taking the Word of God and sound theological instruction to the ends of the world has been fulfilled in a way that I don’t think even Lowell could have anticipated.
A couple of years ago, I enjoyed a tour of the BBN facilities (which have since relocated.) At that time, they were just entering the field of internet radio full bore and the testimonies of folks in communist countries and remote parts of the world listening to their programming via the internet were encouraging.
Over the years, several Charlotte-based BBN employees have been members of Northside Baptist Church where I pastor. All but a couple of them have cycled out of our church having either relocated or left for a church where the music is more in-line with the extremely conservative style which is part of the identify of Lowell and the BBN ministry. Some of the folks who left were genuinely wonderful people and we miss them. Others took the opportunity to leave with a “parting shot” related to our “contemporary” music or “music drift” as they like to put it. (For the record, we use a blended style of worship music with a full orchestra that includes percussion. People who really know what “contemporary” church music sounds like today would laugh over the tag being placed on our music and there’s been no drift. I’ve never taken the position as pastor that there is only one style of music that is acceptable in church and I was very clear about that before I became the pastor of this church.)
BBN is a private and independent organization. They raise their own funds from the listeners and the programming reflects the individual beliefs of Lowell Davey which is absolutely their right. I don’t listen to BBN’s music, nor does anyone I know under the age of sixty – though being as close to Bob Jones University as we are, I’m sure there are many who might. In our Bible-belt area, we have many choices in “Christian” music (I actually don’t listen to much music at all thanks to XM Satellite Radio and FoxNews) and the biggest radio stations in our area are WMIT 106.9 which is the Billy Graham station and which offers middle-of-the-road blended music (the station to which I listen when I do listen) and the more contemporary New Life 91.9 which is owned and operated by Columbia University and which is the favorite of most folks under forty in our area.
But (and you knew there was going to be a “But…” didn’t you?), recently something happened at BBN which I feel compelled to address publicly. I don’t feel it’s a particularly appropriate topic for discussion in a church service, so I’ll use my second most popular means of communication – my blog.
The reason I feel like commenting on it is because a) so many people have asked me what I think as they expressed their disappointment with BBN; b) so many of our folks received copies of a letter that Lowell Davey sent out to Dr. David Jeremiah and the people on the BBN mailing list and c) I’ve received an “anonymous” (pronounced cowardly) copy of the letters in the mail with a carefully typewritten message suggesting that we should listen to Lowell’s message and go to the style of music that meets his approval. (By the way, I rarely read unsigned letters because my assistant is under instructions to throw them away before I see them. The reason I got this one to read was because she knew I was wanting a copy of the letter Davey had sent out and it was included in the envelope.)
So you will know exactly what Davey said in his letter to his constituents, I’ll include it in its entirety here….
We at BBN know that you are concerned about this radio ministry, (sic) we wanted to pass along to you a copy of the enclosed letter so you will understand why we have made such a very tough decision. This is a decision you hope you never to make however, we have no question but that it was the right thing to do. Over the past 35 years, BBN has made some tough decisions in regards to programming and music, however, we have carefully monitored the results, knowing of all the implications both physically and spiritually that are involved. I, along with the staff, am confident these decisions have all been the right moves for BBN.
We believe the “Contemporary Christian Music” would better be referred to as the “Contemporary Religious Rock” music. It will prove itself a major devastation, not only to many great churches in America, but to many homes. Many church members who sacrificed and prayed to build their church will see it destroyed right before their eyes. We have received hundreds of phone calls and letters telling us the tragic demise of their church because of this rock music. One lady wrote this week saying, “Our church bought into the CCM/User Friendly movement. It really worked. We lost half of our congregation.” You seldom hear this side of the story, it is happening more than they want to admit.
We at BBN are committed to use this tool of radio. First to teach the Bible and also share great music that edifies the believers and glorifies our Lord Jesus Christ. It is this music that ministers to the hearts of people and evangelizes the areas where God allows us to broadcast.
I have said, enough, the decision has been made. Please pray for BBN as we are at the crossroads of many lives each day around the world, no wonder we fight the battles – but we will obey Eph. 6:10-18.
Thank you for your prayers and financial support that allows us to daily “Give theWinds the Bible Voice.”
Because of Calvary,
Dr. Lowell Davey
President
(Multiple technical errors have been left “as is” within the letter.)
Also for the matter of public record, I will also include the attached letter Lowell wrote to Dr. David Jeremiah of “Turning Point.”
Dear David,
This is a letter I hoped I would never write. We have enjoyed a great working relationship and personal friendship over the many years since we met at Word of Life in New York and launched Turning Point on BBN. It has expanded across the Americas and we are thrilled how God has blessed your ministry.
As you know you and I have debated the issue of Contemporary Christian Music and I have shared materials with you to clarify BBN’s position though I knew you disagreed. I sincerely believe it will prove to be devastation to the Church of Jesus Christ. I have had several people over the past few years that have visited your church and were very surprised at the music. They personally told me, “Do not visit Dr. Jeremiah’s church because if you do, you will drop his program.”
Having carried your program free on BBN for many years, though you have shared some special gifts with us, we felt we were a part of your ministry and it was our joy to provide the free time twice a day to Turning Point. You are a gifted Bible teacher and have been a blessing to many; however, we have received very few new radio programs from you over the mast couple of years as most have been replays of past broadcasts.
Knowing for some time you played the CCM music at Shadow Mountain Church we evaluated it as a staff and determined it was your decision to be “defensive” of CCM in your church. That certainly was your choice. However, your recent events in areas of BBN radio stations with your new music director, who is a very strong advocate of CCM, and I am sure with your approval, is using the dominating sound of CCM to represent Turning Point. It has now caused us to become “offensive” (sic) to what we both believe and program over the air, and you have caused us to make a decision we did not want to make.
I recently reviewed Exodus 32:17-35 and the similarity of what I see today, in my opinion, is parallel to the direction Israel chose at Mt. Sinai. Since CCM is your choice of music in your ministry and that is a clear direction you have chosen, then we must respond accordingly. BBN has publicly made our position clear regarding CCM and the support of our listeners has been overwhelming positive with the words, “Do not change your music.”
Therefore as of March 31, 2006 BBN will be terminating your radio broadcast on our networks. Amos 3:3 ask (sic) the question, “Can two walk together except they be agreed” and you and I both know that the line of separation has been drawn. We appreciate the years we were co-labors (sic) together and trust His continued blessing as you seek to serve Him.
Sincerely,
Lowell Davey, President
With those two communications laid out for you, I want to tell you my thoughts on this issue. First, a few caveats. I believe Lowell Davey has the right to put whomever he wants whenever he wants on his radio broadcasts. I’ve given money to BBN in the past as has our church (though we won’t be doing so in the future and haven’t for some time), but it is HIS show and I believe he has every right to do what he pleases. But I also believe I have every right in the world to confront the mischaracterizations, false claims and legalistic attitude that he exhibits personally and as seen in this letter. It is no small thing to publicly rebuke an elder such as David Jeremiah. Lowell Davey is not a pastor – he’s a businessman and a very successful one at that. Again, that’s his right. Lowell Davey and I have only met two or three times, but each time I sensed some latent hostility or least discomfort directed toward me. David Jeremiah does not know me except as an acquaintance. He has spoken at Northside at least twice. I have visited his church only once (and it was recently – March, 2006). Many folks in our church listen to Dr. Jeremiah’s broadcast and are encouraged by it. Thankfully, WMIT 106.9 carries Dr. Jeremiah’s broadcast and I have directed many of them to start listening to him there now that he’s off of BBN.
But let me lay out some observations and counter-points to Lowell’s letters.
First, rhetoric is just that – rhetoric. Sometimes rhetoric is true. Often it isn’t. Such as is the case with much of the knee-jerk argument from those who believe that there is only one Biblical music style acceptable to God (spelled – T-H-E-I-R-S). Lowell immediately stoops to that low-class argument by pronouncing “Contemporary Christian Music” as “Contemporary Religious Rock”. Surely a man who makes his living in broadcasting music is not that willfully ignorant. “Contemporary” does not necessarily equal “Rock” unless you buy into the idea that anything with rhythm or syncopation is automatically “rock”. I can tell you that I’ve never heard or seen a legitimately “rock” song offered up at Shadow Mountain or at a Turning Point rally.
There was a day when the (now) classic song, “Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul” was a contemporary song. You might be amused over an anecdote involving a (still-living) well-known fundamentalist pastor who apologized to his congregation the first time that song was sung during a special meeting at his church due to it’s style which he found offensive. Today, it’s considered a wonderful lilting expression of celebration and gratitude in the gospel song genre and I’ve heard it played in his church more than once. Contemporary simply means recently emerging from the current culture. Indeed, some “contemporary” songs are “rock” – many are not. Some are ballads, some are praise songs, some are upbeat-but-not-rock.
Davey’s tactic of lumping all modern music into one category is intellectually dishonest and appeals only to the ignorant or those who have already sipped deeply from the Traditional-Music-Only Kool-Aid. By the way, I was taken through the music room of BBN during my tour a few years ago and noted with amusement that most of the music was being transferred off long-play vinyl record albums – hundreds of them. It just so happened that one of the records had the smiling face of a man who had been arrested and imprisoned for child molestation. But his music style was apparently acceptable. I digress however.
Secondly, Davey makes it sound like Dr. Jeremiah’s church services are rock concerts lead by Elton John or something (We call the previous “hyperbole” for those who are hyper-ventilating.) The “new music director” to which he so ominously alludes is Charles Billingsly. Charles grew up in the great First Baptist Church of Jacksonville and that is where his career as a Christian musician began. More recently, he has been at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg and with Liberty University. Charles’ musical style has been all over the place. I watched 5,000 preachers jump to their feet in celebration one time after he sang “Beulah Land.” He often sang Southern Gospel. In more recent years, he has entered the broader genre of “pop Christian” or CCM (as a broad category). In all honesty, I’m not a fan. I know people who are. As I’ve confessed previously…I’m not a big listener of music. But then again, I don’t have to like the song or the singer in order to appreciate the fact that others may enjoy it. But he’s not an apostate, he’s not some out-of-control rock-n-roller and he’s not the enemy. He’s a brother in Christ being used by the Lord in a variety of ways.
The week I was at Shadow Mountain Community Church, the music was wonderful. The choir sang a blend of traditional songs and praise and worship music. The piano solo was beyond incredible. The praise team that lead in the worship was energetic and celebratory, but not in an offensive or distracting way unless you’re just used to BJ Vespers and find anything other to be unbiblical. It was balanced. The audience was filled with people older than me who were participating and enjoying the music. The choir was majority over forty. But even the 25 teens I had with me LOVED the service. There was something for everyone and, make NO mistake – the Lord was the subject AND the object of the worship. Lowell is guilty of grossly negative insinuations.
I would also add that the sermon preached by Dr. Jeremiah the week that I was there was as sound an exposition on the authority of Scripture including it's infallible, plenary, inerrant inspiration as I've ever heard. It was just powerful and filled with scholarly exigesis. Too bad that Lowell might have missed the power of his message because someone in the choir might have raised a hand or because the audience clapped along with the praise songs.
As far so those who came to him “with reports” about how he would be offended by the music and would likely drop the program if he knew. I would say first that the Bible has many verses for tale-bearers and gossips – whether you listen to them or spread them. In addition, Lowell Davey has known good and well what kind of music David Jeremiah has had in his church for some time.
When Dr. Jeremiah came to Charlotte to do a radio rally under the umbrella of BBN, our church – which has a large worship center with state of the art sound and lighting – was asked to host it. We were happy to do so. Lowell, who treated me coldly all evening, repeatedly insisted personally and through his assistants to our folks and Turning Points folks that we were not to play the (outstanding) video of Shadow Mountain’s choir we had for a prelude and they were very much in control of everything musical which was done. I vowed after that rally that it would be the last time I would host something for BBN as they showed no respect for the autonomy of the church and were generally demanding and cold to our team. The way they treated the staff from WMIT who also promoted the rally because they carry Turning Point was rude at best. WMIT received it graciously and did not want to do anything that caused Lowell consternation, but I saw it with my eyes and it perturbed me.
Lowell has a double standard for what he finds “offensive” on the part of the musical philosophy of his guests. Go to their website and look at the other speakers that they feature regularly. Joni Erikson Tada (female Bible teacher), Chuck Swindoll (hardly embraced by most secondary separatists and many fundamentalists), Erwin Lutzer (of Moody Church – home of MANY CCM concerts), Focus on the Family (look at their magazines for teens) and Pastor Stephen Davey.
Stephen Davey is the nephew of Lowell and pastor of one of the Carolina’s truly GREAT churches – Colonial Baptist in Cary, NC. Stephen has spoken for me and if I lived in Cary and was looking for a church home – his would be at the top of my list. But make no mistake, the music that you will find in his services, youth and singles meetings, special events, etc… is just like David Jeremiah’s church uses (and ours.)
Obviously, Lowell believes in secondary and tertiary separation….but only when it comes to music? Many of those on his radio broadcast would clearly fall into the dreaded category of “new” or “neo-“ evangelicals --- a term which brings instantaneous cries for separation among many who also hold to his musical standard.
So, why then is David Jeremiah being selected out for cancellation?
Again, I don’t mind BBN asking who they want to be on their broadcasts or dropping them for whatever reason – including music. But shouldn’t they be honest and consistent if they are doing so and nationally announcing it?
Lowell’s use of Exodus 32:17-35 as a parallel between what actually was occurring in Scripture and the “Music wars” that plague fundamentalism today is an egregious misuse of Scripture. In fact, I could make the case that this passage – which describes the idolatry of the Children of Israel while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments – would be a better parallel to those who elevate music to a higher position of significance than Doctrine and the Word of God as it is taught and preached. Is there such a word as “musiolotry”? I’ve watched people leave our church over music in the past to join churches that don’t even believe in eternal security but who only use a piano or organ. Absurd.
Another offensive argument that Lowell uses is the whole “As goes the music, so goes the church” tactic. Someone once said that if you tell a lie often enough, people will eventually accept it as truth. If music leads you away from the Scripture, then you simply didn’t know Scripture in the first place. Music may well reflect where we are, but it doesn’t always lead us somewhere else. I dare anyone to give one stitch of empirical evidence that supports that often-regurgitated claim. If your kid goes bad, you can blame it on music all you want – but there was something major league wrong in your home other than having your teen sneak around listening to “Casting Crowns.” Music does not destroy churches or kids all by itself. It might well be a warning sign of something deeper, but it’s just MUSIC. Quit confusing the symptom as a cause.
I don’t happen to believe that all music is neutral, for the record. I also believe that some music that might be “acceptable” in one’s car or home is not necessarily “appropriate” for use in a church. But I also believe that Satan has used good people to induce an unnecessary point of division that is based far more on personal preference than a Biblical basis to distract us from the study of the Word and the Work of the Gospel. I know of no other issue that has been more divisive in otherwise Bible-preaching churches than the issue of music. While Lowell cites examples of churches that he says were damaged by “CCM”, I’ll match every one of his examples plus five of churches who were split, deadened and destroyed by old-guard and long-time members who sit with sullen looks, crossed arms and critical spirits judging every song in the service with a Garlockian attitude that sees evil or drift or compromise in any song that doesn’t meet their personal standard of preference. If they would ever go to another country, worship with folks who aren’t all lily-white, tried looking for a vibrancy of spirit among young people and new believers – they might actually get a glimpse that there is more than one way to musically express worship.
I’ve gone on too long, but I decided to rise up in defense of David Jeremiah and Turning Point. I’ve decided that I’m no longer going to let error guised as sound application go unchallenged. I’ve decided that hypocrisy needs to be exposed when it is deliberate and flagrant.
I hope BBN flourishes in spite of the aging demographics of their audience. I hope they go into new countries with the Word of God and good teaching. I hope that people who enjoy their style of music will be blessed and encouraged by it. I also hope that they’ll get off their pious high-horse and stop smearing good men with good ministries who hold fast to the fundamentals of the faith but don’t line up with their narrow definition of musical styles.
As always….it’s just MY opinion. Feel free to disagree.|W|P|114608666656705430|W|P|A Look at the Bible Broadcasting Network's Decision to give David Jeremiah the Boot|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com
Dan Burrell|W|P|At 12:16 PM, sowrong said... This should be called "Windbag views with Dave Burrell"
Thanks, "So Wrong" for elevating the level of discussion and debate to a higher intellectual level. Keep reading....eventually you'll learn something.
Unknown|W|P|Agreed!I've always wondered what worship would sound like if we always refused "contemporary" music. At one time Gregorian Chant was contemporary...and then there was Handel and Bach...and...goodness me...how did the church survive!?
Gordon|W|P|I agree with your assessment of this %100. I have been a life-long listener of BBN (off and on according to availability)and have always had concerns about their philosophy towards music.While there are extremes in music (on both ends of the spectrum), I find it troubling that Davey's philosophy toward the church is that it is so vulnerable that it could be "devastated" by music. The church belongs to God and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.
Thank you for your balanced and gracious approach to this matter.
David C. Kanz|W|P|There are a couple of other issues with regard to David Jeremiah that might provide a better basis for not carrying his radio program on a network: (see www.vcyamerica.org/files/images/turningpoint.htm)However, a few years ago I attended a National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville, TN at the Opreyland Hotel. A reception was held there sponsored by Turning Point. As we approached the reception a live orchestra was playing Jazz and Big Band music. (and not Ralph Carmichael.) I thought we were going to the wrong reception. We were not. It was the Turning Point reception for broadcasters of the program.
I think this type of blending is really indicative of an ethos----onw which apparently the radio network of which you speak is uncomfortable. Religious Broadcasters have the continual pressure of providing to their audiences "what sells," particularly those that are commercial in nature.
Maybe we aught to give Mr. Davey the space to not pander to the tastes of the Christian culture today. Just a thought.
Dan Burrell|W|P|Paidagogos,Let me offer you some counsel, my friend. In the upper right corner of my blog is a small square box with an X in it. If you click it, I go away.
Seriously man, three diatribes in nine hours? Are you feeling better?
I won't take the time to answer all your accusations and insinuations. I will say this, if I made (according to you) an "ad hominem" attack on someone, you just elevated it to an art form. Let's see, you mock my education, question my motivation, mischaracterize my statements (Quote: "you have caricatured Mr. Davey as some old Fundamentalist troglodyte who is somewhat ignorant, outdated and perhaps a little bit sleazy."), denigrate my scholarship (Dude, this is a commentary, not an academic article. There IS as difference.), assume you know my own personal tastes and preferences in music (you don't), extrapolate my terminology to the point of absurdity and then, in a laughable swirl of rebuke, pull out the ol' "Judge not, lest ye be judged" cliche' that's the tool of last resort for those who can't intelligently refute the position someone else might take that is critical of someone else. I'm guessing that "He who is without sin cast the first stone" can't be far behind if we're going to go into a festival of overused and mis-assigned Biblical quotations. (And let's not overlook your out-of-context and misapplied Matthew 18 suggestion.)
In the end, you have proven my point rather well. Those who live on the extremes of fundamentalism, end up resorting to irrational hysterics to defend the indefensible further isolating themselves while failing miserable to make any points beyond loud pontificating. You failed to refute any point I made. You simply took the cheap and easy way out -- attack the messenger and ignore the facts.
I hope you didn't burst a blood vessel. I suspect there is a "story" behind the scenes here, but I'm too disinterested to look for it.
patrick mitchell|W|P|to "isreformationalive" & "paidagogos"just for the record "isreformationalive" ...
if you do some research you will find that an overwhelming majority of modern worship is totally God-centered. much more of a majority than you will find in the average hymnal. there are some AMAZING God-centered hymns...but they're DEFINITELY not the majority in the average hymnal and usually written my the real old-schoolers like martin luther, etc... i don't think it would be good to bring the issue of substance into a debate over modern/traditional music. i would encourage you to check out any of the sixsteps lead worshippers = david crowder, chris tomlin, matt redman, charlie hall, also - christy nockels, delirious, kristian stanfill, etc... these lead worshippers (or "ccm" artists, whatever people call them) will blow you away with how God-exalting/centered they are...unlike many of the hymns i have heard sung in churches today.
i think from reading your short comment that we would probably agree when it comes to worship...you would seem to agree with me that worship should be "God-centered". you and i may have different preferences, but that's exactly how God made all of us, so glory to Him for that.
and paidagogos... i would probably have to disagree with most of what you said, so i will only reply to one sentece of 1 comment. you said = "It has been no small point of amazement and interest to observe that those who roundly argue for tolerance toward CCM are on the other hand so vicious, biting, and hatefully toward those who hold only to traditional Christian music. Whereas they plead tolerance for CCM, they ridicule and blast anyone on the opposing flank. This, I believe, is called hypocrisy. Why can’t the CCM proponents go their merry way and leave the traditional music folks alone. No, it’s in your face confrontation—you must accept me and my music."
***are you sure you didn't switch the terms "ccm" and "traditional"? you seem to be describing many in the "traditional music only" circle. i honestly don't know of ANY "ccm" advocates who are "vicious, biting, and hatefully toward those who hold only to traditional Christian music". i've NEVER seen that and i've been around A LOT of "ccm" advocates. on the other hand, the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of "traditional music only" advocates could NICELY be described as vicious, biting, and hateful! i would say that we modern worship proponents are going our own way and leaving you alone. we're just all about worshipping God and lifting up His fame and renown. i would suggest you do the same.
patrick
Wednesday night, Dr. Billy Kim addressed the conference. We had a good crowd that night as it was the peak for the attendees of the conference and we had many Northsiders there (in spite of the fact it was Spring Break week for us). The Northside Celebration Choir and Orchestra absolutely brought the house down with their renditions of "End of the Beginning", "He's Alive" and "Only the Blood". Dr. Kim is the retired pastor of one of the largest Baptist churches in Korea. A graduate of Bob Jones University in the 1950's, his testimony was a tremendous challenge. He had a five point sermon on how the church in Korea has flourished and managed to get through "Prayer" and "Preaching" when he decided he'd preached too long and told us he'd come back to deliver the final 3 points at another time. I couldn't believe how quickly 45 minutes had passed and really wished he had finished the sermon. His example of how their church gets up daily at 4:45 to pray together at the church was convicting and powerful. With over 13,000 members, he made sure we understood that it was a church built on prayer. The Lord has done some wonderful things in Korea in this generation and most of the world's largest congregations are located there. Korea is one of the largest sending nations of missionaries as well. (Which makes me wonder why we are still sending Americans there, but that's another topic.)
Thursday morning, Dr. Edison Quieroz from Sao Paulo, Brazil (where I am heading this Friday) gave a tremendous message on how we approach international missions. It had to raise the hackles of some who are locked into the outdated and traditional ways we send missionaries from US agencies these days, but it was a breath of fresh air to hear how we can get personally involved in new ways for reaching the world for Christ.
Thursday morning and later that afternoon we had our choice of workshops again, but the noon hour was reserved for a special luncheon with Dr. Jerry Falwell. Dr. Falwell had a "bug", but joked that he had been invited to speak by Dr. John Rawlings and you just don't stand Dr. Rawlings up when he asks you to do something.
Dr. Falwell spoke for about 45 minutes after a wonderful lunch provided to a full house by our Northside Food Services ministry. The first half of his speech dealt with the Fundamentals of the Faith. He gave us a brief history and then reiterated in no uncertain terms the commitment we must have to these non-negotiables. If anyone got wind of the controversy a month or so ago about the supremacy of Christ for salvation, you had to be encouraged (or rebuked) by his impassioned declarations of "Christ Alone" for salvation. The second half of his presentation addressed the issues that divide us and it was a great reminder that one of the reasons fundamentalism is not as influential as it should or could be in Christiandom is our proclivity for getting side-tracked onto issues of personal preference, cultural tendencies and generational obstacles. I was able to spend a few minutes personally with Dr. Falwell and I could tell that he was not feeling well at all, but you'd never have known it as he spoke to us.
Thursday night was our final service and we were ministered to by the great choir from Grace Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC where Ed Sears is the pastor. Over 100 voices and instrumentalists joined some of the Northside orchestra and the music was just terrific. Then, Dr. Johnny Hunt from the First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Georga delivered a fiery challenge to us that was as straight-forward and direct a call to evangelism through the church as you will ever hear. It was powerful and many came to the altar to pray and recommit to personal evangelism at the end of the service. For those who still like to sit back and criticize the Southern Baptists at every level, I would dare you to listen to his sermon with your eyes closed and recall when and where you had ever heard a more passionate and Biblical sermon on evangelism. The preaching of good Southern Baptist pastors would put what I've heard at many "Independent Baptist only conferences" to shame both in style and (more importantly) substance.
So what is the end of the IBN and the Global Connection Conference? Well, I think we all have a better understanding of how the IBN is going to help us connect for world evangelism in coming years. I would guess that 80% of the attendees were Independent Baptists who are weary (as in SICK OF) the spirit that has warped our meetings and movement in the last 20 years. They want to work with brothers in Christ toward reaching the world with the Gospel. We were introduced to scores of ways to get involved and any sized church from huge to small can be a part of it.
The IBN is worldwide. They had publications from 8 other nations on display at the conference. The Rawlings Foundation is setting up offices and purchasing properties around the globe to help the network get established. This is not an "American" show -- it's truly international with some of the pastors of the largest Baptist churches in the world getting involved. We American pastors have an unique opportunity to meet and learn from and partner with some great works and outreaches in the coming years. I'm encouraged and I'm committed to being part of what is going to be unfolding through the IBN in the future.
The next international conference is scheduled for Brussels, Belgium next year and Hong Kong the year after that. But there is also talk of another American meeting next year as well. I'll keep my readers posted on that development as I learn about it. If you'd like to order CD's or DVD's of the IBN Conference, call 704.596.4856.
As always for more information on the IBN, go to www.ibaptist.net.
Later this week, I'm going to be addressing Lowell Davey's (of the Bible Broadcasting Network aka BBN) decision to drop Dr. David Jeremiah's "Turning Point" broadcasts over the issue of the use of Praise and Worship music at Dr. Jeremiah's church. You'll want to watch for this article.|W|P|114589710509900532|W|P|A Recap of the IBN's Global Connection Conference|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com Nephos|W|P|Thanks for the summary of the meeting. I had hoped to attend but was unable to do so. I too am weary of the way things have traditionally been. It is encouraging to see that there are many others of a like mind.God bless on your trip.
Dan Burrell|W|P|Well, Dave...as an Independent Baptist I don't much get involved with denominational politics. I don't know when Dr. Kim was president of the BWA....I just know that I and most everyone I know who was at the conference don't have the time of day for the BWA and are glad the SBC folks left it. But I'm not a terciary or secondary separatist, so I don't do a background check on folks before I listen to them preach. My views on Billy Graham are fairly well known and have even drawn a reprimand from a radio station that carries me who felt I had taken my criticisms of Dr. Graham too far. I have no idea what the DETS is.But I do know this....
Billy Kim preached a dead on message that convicted my heart and the hearts of many of those who heard it. His testimony of the power and product of prayer was devastatingly convicting. I just left a deacon's meeting where one of my men, who had served for many years with ABWE on a harsh African mission field, shared his testimony of how God used Dr. Kim's message to convict him and change his prayer life. I've had dozens of similar testimonies shared.
I've always been an "eat the meat and spit out the bones" kind of guy. I believe if you teach people the Bible thoroughly and systematically they will be equipped by the Holy Spirit to discern Truth from error. I wouldn't walk across the street to go to a BWA meeting -- I consider them nigh unto apostate in their current form. I don't know what they were like when Dr. Kim was around -- but I suspect that he didn't change his preaching to fit in with them. Either way, I can choose to focus on the truth in the message or I can focus on who the messenger has been hanging out with -- I choose to focus on the truth. He went to Bob Jones --- some would consider that a negative. He led the BWA --- others would consider that a negative. What I heard was great preaching by a man who has been used by God -- I consider that a positive.
I happen to belong to the branch of fundamentalism that identifies with what we believe, not with whom we associate.
But then again, I'm considered by both my friends and detractors to be rather independent. I generally find the air "off the plantation" to be refreshing and challenging.
mb|W|P|I had hoped to attend, but plans changed. I did enjoy watching the live stream. It even took the place of American Idol... I am praying for all involved!
I think of myself as being sentimental, without being a sentimentalist. If that sounds a bit like double-talk, perhaps it is. I don’t want to be one of those sappy, teary-eyed parents who commemorate every single milestone in a kid’s life as if it were some gigantic cosmic moment worthy of a request to make time stand still. At the same time, there are certain moments that I think are worthy of reflection, celebration and commemoration. What those exact moments might be are perfectly open to debate.
I had a cathartic experience seventeen years ago in Washington, D.C. I was there taking a summer symposium as I was completing work on my doctorate with Nova University. Part of my doctoral studies demanded of me a grueling week-long session of seminars and lectures from educators coming from institutions that ran the gamut from Harvard to Cornell to USC and more.
My wife, a “retired” history teacher who loves, (I mean LOVES) Washington, DC, accompanied me with our at-the-time 15-month-old, and then only child. If I was busy, she was a whirlwind. Generally she was up before I was - heading off to a museum, tour or site-seeing expedition and would often come in at night after I had been released for the day. This was pre-cell phone days, so I had no way of keeping up with her, but she was having a blast.
One afternoon, the administrators of the program had mercy on us and gave us the rest of the day off. Julie and I decided to take a cruise up the Potomac River to Mount Vernon to see George Washington’s estate. It was a beautiful day for a long, leisurely cruise and the boat wasn’t particularly crowded. Sitting in the air-conditioning, a young teen-aged boy came by our table and took a particular interest in Nathan, who was just an engaging toddler. There weren’t any other teens on board and so the boy soon started talking up a streak with us.
During the course of the conversation, I discovered that the boy had just turned thirteen. He was Jewish. He was on a trip with his dad who was a big-time lawyer from Los Angeles. This trip was a gift (turns out a bar mitzvah gift) from his dad upon turning thirteen. He could chose to go anywhere in the country he wanted to go with his dad.
Oddly, we actually bumped into this kid and his dad twice more during our trip to Washington…something that had almost insurmountable odds of occurring. Each time, he would come over and “update” us on his trip and his dad would come over as well and we’d engage in some small talk. I could tell they were having an awesome time.
I vowed that I would do the same with Nathan and any other kids we were to have.
It didn’t take long for the years to roll by and Nathan turned thirteen. I presented him with a “gift certificate” explaining the trip and giving him “options” and “suggestions.” At first, he seemed a little non-plussed and I felt disappointed. But as he began debating where he’d like to go, what all we would do, things we could see, he became more excited and so did I. He finally chose California.
So I cashed in my frequent flyer miles and polished up my credit card and off we took. It started off with a bang when we landed in San Diego and got upgraded to a red Camaro convertible for free! We tore off our shirts and went “cruising” like a couple of rubes – which we were. (Actually, it worked out quite well for me, I was able to take Nate on the trip of a lifetime and have my own mid-life crisis adventure at the same time.) We traveled the state from Tijuana to San Diego to LA to Yosemite to San Francisco in eight days. It was a blast. We laughed. We fought. We hiked. We goofed off. We talked. We debated. We just had a great father and son time.
I’m still paying off the credit card bill, I do believe. Since then, Julie has taken Megan (daughter number 1, kid number 2 of 4) and “coincidentally” their trip was to Washington, DC. I’m already looking forward to the next two trips in our future.
But as I look back upon it, I must say that this “rite of passage” trip we enjoyed may well be one of the most important times we ever had together. The benefits have paid off for years and years as we’ve relived and re-discussed those care-free days together.
I’ve seen other “rites of passage” ideas since then. I know of one guy who made a scrapbook of letters and counsel for his son. Another guy I read about, had different friends of his meet his son for a long hike during which they took turns passing on advice to him as they walked together. Yet another idea was a “tribute” dinner where everyone offered “toasts of counsel” to the guest of honor. I still like the idea I got from that little kid on the boat and his dad the best. The boy is now in his thirties and I have no idea whatever became of him. But a brief interaction with this boy and his dad nearly two decades ago sure did a lot to enrich my relationship with my own children.
Having a rite of passage event or two for any child may be something worthy of consideration. It’s a great time to talk about values, principles, goals and future plans. It’s also a great time to talk about nothing, just hang out, make a few memories, pose for a handful of pictures – all of which may bond your relationship for some future moments of stress or trial.
Now Nathan leaves for college in a few months and another rite of passage will occur. One which will separate us and change us and which, quite frankly, I’m really dreading. I guess it also challenges me to make the most of those teachable moments we still have and to not let the days slip away before it is too late.|W|P|114476755680635259|W|P|Rites of Passage – A Tradition Worth Starting|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com Kim|W|P|An awesome, "very sentimental" blog! Most mothers do the senior grieving during the junior year. You, like most fathers, wait until the end. Having experienced it twice, I do believe (for me) that the first time is the most dramatic because you don't know what to expect. After that, it becomes more the norm, always reflective and sappy, but just more "the way life is" -- While you and Nathan may have a "friendship" now, you just wait -- the best is yet to come!! Thomas Pryde|W|P|That is a great idea...I think I will try this as well. I have three years to go (my oldest is getting close - just turned 10). However, I have four more behind him, and I wonder how I will pay for all these trips...Oh dear... Beverly|W|P|Wonderful post. Thanks.
For the sake of the Republican Party, they’d better start taking some swimming lessons or they are going to really be in big trouble in November. With each poll that is released, the news gets bleaker for the beleaguered “Grand Ol’ Party” as they sink further into the abyss. They are venturing into political water that is well over their heads and they may well travel beyond the point of any hope of return in the next 4-5 months unless someone wakes up.
A couple of months ago, my good friend, Bob Byers over at “Watchman’s Words” offered his optimistic view of Republican chances this fall in his article, “Elephant’s Rising”. I, being the eternal pessimist, countered with “Donkeys Rising”. I keep hoping that Bob is right and I am wrong, but if anything, I’m more convinced I’m right today than ever before.
Let me offer some NEW reasons why I think the Republicans are going to be swept out of power in November if they don’t get with it.
Reason #1 – Their PR department is on hiatus. Why in the world aren’t the Republicans talking about our economy? Good grief, folks….the unemployment rate is now at 4.7%. That means that 95.3% of the population is working. When you consider that those numbers take into consideration the number of people who are transitioning from one job to another, those who just aren’t looking for a job all that hard and those who quite frankly no one WANTS to hire – those numbers are phenomenal. In fact, unemployment is so low that it threatens to bring back inflation as employers raise compensation to attract employees, thus setting off upward inflation pressure. 
The Republicans should be standing on the top of the Capitol with bullhorns and shouting – “Look at our economy!” Instead, we hear crickets chirping.
Reason # 2 – Immigration reform. So today, the bill is dead. Even if it has passed, it wasn’t going to address the hard issues. In the process, the Republicans are alienating the Hispanic voting block that was leaning Republican and the Conservatives who watch the growing demonstrations of restless illegal immigrants marching in our streets and out of our schools with a smirk of “I told you so…if not alarm.” The fact that the Republican leadership has been able to work out a solution to our porous borders AND deal with the problem of illegal immigrant who are already here just keeps everyone in all that much more turmoil and that isn’t good for the party in power.
Reason # 3 – The Slime Factor. Libby, Delay, Frist, etc.., etc…the Democrats are doing a masterful job of making the Republicans look like unethical sleezeballs. Add to that the Enron and Abramoff trials and scandals and people are quickly forgetting forty years of Democratic junk. But in the interest of fairness, the arrogance of power does seem to have hit the Republicans by making some turn into crooks and others turn into idiots.
Reason # 4 – A What-Me-Worry Presidential Face. It’s about time that someone in the White House admit that they’ve got a problem in the polls and PR. President Bush has never looked more detached and/or smug. “I don’t read the polls” he likes to say. “Really, Mr. President? Then might I suggest to you that it might be a good idea to do so because the rest of the country sure does and it looks like you don’t give a rip.” The President is good at coming across warm and personable when he wants to. He needs to invest some of his “Personality Capital” on the Republican Party --- and not by flying into an airport somewhere for a boring speech given to bored party loyalists. Get on the TV, give some interviews to key and fair media people, bring people to the White House by the planeload – a week for talk show types, a week for religious leaders, a week for minority leaders, a week for business leaders….wine’em, dine’em and win’em over. They’ll fan back across the country chatting like junior high girls about whatever positive news you give them.
Reason # 5 – What happened to the Red Meat Conservative Issues? – Tax Cuts, Conservative Judges, Abortion Restrictions, etc… Pick a fight over a few of these issues. Even if you lose the fight, you might win the war. Nothing stirs up activists like a good fist fight.
Reason # 6 – Where’s the Drama? – Bush would be well-served to do something to catch everyone’s attention and to remind us that he’s in charge. Fly to Baghdad and meet with the leading officials in Iraq and tell them to get their government formed. Go to Israel and stand alongside of Olmert and dare Hamas to do something stupid. Rattle your saber at little at Iraq. Fire some big names at the White House and bring in some fresh faces who aren’t just exhausted by serving for the last six years. Do something with a flourish and some bravado to remind us that you have a vision and passion. Or just continue to let the Democrats and the media remind us of your short-comings.
Reason # 7 – Where’s the Reason for voting Republican? Develop a two-year agenda. If we keep the Republicans in both sides of Congress (which I doubt we will), what can we expect. Don’t think that keeping Democratic legislation at bay is enough to re-elect Republican majorities. The President can do that with a veto stamp. (By the way, Mr. President….you might want to find that sometime and USE it.) Give us a list of things Republicans will provide. Permanent Tax Cuts. Conservative Judges. Fiscal responsibility. National security. A plan for withdrawal from Iraq. Right now the only reason we’re hearing to vote Republican is because the Republican lack of a plan is better than the Democratic lack of a plan.
Reason # 8 – The Grassroots DO matter and the Republicans seem to have forgotten that. The faithful constituencies of the Republicans are in a lethargic coma. About the only ones we ever hear from is the “Flag-wavers/support-our-troops” folks. The Religious Right is apathetic at best. The business community is riding a bucking economy which is stealing their focus. Local Republican parties are listless and disengaged as well. During times like this, it’s the out-of-power activists that are most active and you can be sure that they are salivating at their prospects right now. The national leadership needs to reconnect to the grassroots troops and quickly.
I’m not a political strategist and even I can see the coming tide. I don’t know that it will be the tsunami of 1994 which shifted Congress with a roar, but it doesn’t HAVE to be a tsunami this time. Republicans don’t hold that big of an advantage and they haven’t been in power for forty years like the Democrats had. A shift of fewer than 5% of the Congressional seats and 10% of the Senate seats will dramatically change the political landscape in Washington.
Does anyone think we could get another John Roberts or Samuel Alito on the Supreme Court with a Democratic majority in the Senate? Do you want to pay more in taxes in coming years? Does nationalized health care and reduced social security benefits for those who actually prepared for retirement sound good to you? These are the things that are stake in the next two election cycles. 
It would be nice if someone who represents a conservative philosophy would wake up and show some leadership before we are all looking at Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, Harry Reid as Senate Majority Leader and Hillary Clinton as Madam President. Come to think of it, maybe that should become the theme of the Republican Party in the coming months.|W|P|114443420534210489|W|P|Can Elephants Swim?|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com CLC|W|P|I agree with you that the Republicans are in trouble. I think, though, that on the whole, a major problem is that we tend to be reactive rather than proactive. That may be a major problem with Christian Fundamentalism as well. CLC|W|P|This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. Gordon|W|P|I may not be as pessimistic as you, but I too am concerned about the future of the GOP. It seems as if, for the last few months, we are being more reactive than proactive. Perhaps this is just the portrayal by the MSM. At any rate, the thought of the lineup of Democratic leadership that you described is more than a little scary.
I've always been of the opinion that there is a special place in hell reserved for pedophiles. Of course, when I think of pedophiles, I have for years had a mental picture of such a creep as a late-middle-aged man with pastey skin, a few strands of disheveled hair, bleary eyes and a beer gut who hangs out in the shadows of adult bookstores. That is NOT the face of today's pedophiles as the news reveals.
Consider what we've seen in the few weeks alone:
Justin Berry, a fresh-faced young college freshman testified to Congress as to how he become a pubescent child porn star, nearly destroying his life, having been tutored by sophisticated business men -- one of whom was one of the developers of the Pentium IV processor.
(For a chilling account of his story, view his testimony HERE. A thirty-second commercial plays before the testimony.)
A New Castle Delaware teacher is arrested for having sexual relations with a young teen student of hers nearly thirty times in one week...on at least one occasion being observed by a friend of the boy's.
A female Florida teacher received no jail time for repeated sexual liasons with a male student who was only 14 at the time.
A Deputy Press Secretary for the Homeland Security Department was arrested for trying to seduce a teenage girl online and sending her pornographic videos over the internet.
Three North Carolina men were recently arrested for performing S and M castrations in their basement/dungeon on men they had contacted via internet websites.
A man was arraigned recently in Charlotte, North Carolina (my hometown) for walking into the girls bathroom of a large private Christian School (not ours). He was arrested for trespassing and trying to film the students privately.
A report on internet sex crimes was published noting that many of the sexual predators targeting children are people who would be deemed by society as "respectable" (ie...pediatricians, teachers, coaches, businessmen) and who are living double lives.
I could expand this list much longer but you get my point.
So, is this just a case wherein we have a rash of perverts being exposed but there is no correlative rise in predatory activities against children or is this the first rising tide in a coming tsunami of pedophilic crime?
I would suggest that it is the latter, rather than the former.
Pornography of every kind is more common on the internet than about any other type of website out there and hundreds of new ones are added each day. There are more pornography outlets in this country today than there are McDonald's restaurants. The computer and high-speed internet has given every pedophile and would-be pervert the three most important components to feed his addiction: it's Accessible, Affordable and Anonymous.
Recent articles have exposed myspace.com to be a cesspool of pornographic images, sex talk and free-wheeling information exchanges dominated by kids and teens who are being trolled by perverts and pedophiles for potential contacts. Kids instant message each other via computer and cell phone billions of times per day while most parents don't have a clue as to what they are saying and to whom they are communicating. The federal government has shown little will and even less success in tracking down those who prey on children and I have a serious question as to whether or not there are enough resources out there to make the risk of getting caught sufficient to slow down the traffic. Technology is such that there are many ways to hide one's identity on the internet anyway.
So, what's a parent to do? What will the long-term social ramifications of this epidemic be? What is the root of all of this?
A few thoughts....
First, we all have to do what we can. Parents MUST be more proactive. I'm not an advocate (generally) of pulling the internet connection out of the wall and hauling the computer out in the yard and using it for target practice. BUT...parents need to understand the potential for harm unfettered internet access has. I own several guns. It's my right to do so and I'm not about to give up that right. However, my kids don't know where I keep them. They are out of reach and carefully monitored and controlled. When it is time to teach my kids how to shoot, then I school them in a very controlled and monitored environment. Computer porn is as lethal to the soul and mind and even body as about any threat available. Inasmuch as I control my guns, I need to control the computer and access to the internet in my own home.
Secondly, we do need governmental help. For all the bally-hoo'ed threat to the First Amendment that pornographers seek to raise at every suggestion that we do something to diminish access to pornography, only the ignorant fool would argue that protection of pornography was part of what our Founding Fathers had in mind when penning the Bill of Rights. Corraling pornographers into a particular section of the internet -- perhaps one with a specific domain assignment like .porn or .xxx -- and which could be blocked much in the same way that porn can be scrambled on cable TV services would be a good start.
Several months ago, I also suggested a tax on pornographic materials which would be used to fund enforcement, addiction programs and recovery programs for the victims of abuse tied to porn. I still think this is a great idea. We tax alcohol. We tax tobacco. We tax lottery winnings. Let's add a new category to the so called "sin taxes". (By the way, my article on this topic posted on "Common Voice" was picked up by several major media outlets and distributed worldwide. It was like kicking a hornet's nest and the vitriole and hatred heaped on me by pro-porn perves was both intense and gratifying. One of them even took the time to set up a website entitled: F*** Dan Burrell which many people have discovered upon doing a websearch for my name on google or yahoo.)
Thirdly, we need to do a better job of educating the public to the addictive nature and destructive consequences of pornography. Some research indicates that for some men, pornography causes a chemical craving that is tantamount to being addicted to crack cocaine. Men who peruse porn websites rarely think of those they view as being real people, but they are...they are someone's little girl, teenage son, mother, sister, daughter. They are real people and they are being exploited and destroyed. And don't give me some insipid little argument that they "want" or "enjoy" their career citing an interview given by some crusading porn star. For every one such "example", anyone can find a thousand who will tell you quite the opposite.
Not only is porn addictive, but it is progressive. It takes more in quantity and graphicness to feed the lust. Ted Bundy, shortly before his death, told James Dobson of the progressive nature of porn in his life that led him from girlie magazines down a path that lead to rape, brutality and eventually murder -- all in pursuit of meeting the growing demands of his destructive lust.
The fact that porn and exposure to sexual messages and images is progressive should cause all of us pause and concern. What we are seeing is the first wave of a generation of people with unhealthy, dangerous and out-of-control sexual appetites and fettishes. Since pornography became available on the web, the rise has been dramatic. Add to it the sexualization of the advertising media, the lowering of the bar of conduct due to the sexual revolution of the 1960's and 70's, the rise of dysfunctional homes wherein fathers were separated from their sons and unable to protect their daughters due to absentee dads, divorce and single mom's, the dumbing down of American attitudes regarding infidelity (thanks largely to Bill Clinton), the mainstreaming of homosexuality, multiple partners, anonymous sex and myriad other perverse practices and other factors and we are now seeing a generation come of age that are willing to "experiment", indulge, pursue and succumb to things that ignore the Biblical, historical, civilized and sacred role of a sexual relationship to be enjoyed exclusively between a man and a woman who are married to each other for a lifetime.
Finally, we all need an big dose of honesty and accountability. If you are hitting porn sites on the internet of any kind -- stop it. Get help. Find a partner for accountability. Join a support group. Talk to your pastor. Don't try to justify it. It will destroy your life.
I fear and even predict, that what we are seeing is going to become a giant destructive wave of dangerous consequence. We will see kids who have been molested and damaged replaying the crimes against them on a future generation as adults. We will see an escalation on the breakdown of healthy family relationships. We will see a dramatic rise in the exploitation of children by people who were once trusted which will rob kids of their innocence and destroy what should be sacred bonds between such people as doctors and patients, teachers and students, pastors and congregants and even parents and children. 
We will see a horrific industry which will feed the burgeoning demands of those who crave more and more perversity to satisfy their sexual appetites. Women and children will not be safe. Rapes and kidnapping may increase. Things that were once considered unthinkable will become common place and even acceptable. We may wake up someday and see modern depictions of the Biblical story of Lot who offered his virgin daughters to appease enraged homosexuals prior to God's destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and then to see Lot go ahead and escape to the mountains where he committed incest with his own children. Could we go so low? Without a doubt. If you don't believe me, go read Romans Chapter One in the Bible.
Ultimately, as with all things, the solution and the cause are related to our spiritual condition. No government can stop the will of rebellious man. No wall is high enough, no law is strong enough, no punishment severe enough to thwart the heart and actions of desperately wicked individuals and that would include all of us.
It's only through God's grace and forgiveness, our repentance and turning to Truth, our accountability and our surrender to God's plan will we ever have hope -- personally or corporately. Some will dismiss those thoughts as moralizing and preaching...but they do so in a blind commitment to having their own way. Scripture tells us that there is a way which "seems right" to men, but the ends of it are death.
Let's hope that we wake up before it's too late.|W|P|114425085243593156|W|P|A Tsunami of Pedophile Predators|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com Nephos|W|P|Pastor Burrell,Once again, you hit a home run.
With the increase in accessibility and social acceptability to porn, this issue is only going to worsen.
We cannot flaunt God's moral law and expect any different.