Baptist Ordination: No Standards? No Problem!

Last updated on: May 17, 2025 at 8:58 am By Gregory T. Smith

Southern Baptist church autonomy (read: anarchy) causes problems for the ordination of ministers. They’re like, “No standards? No problem!” Nobody likes to be told that they’re doing something wrong—but, SBC Churches, you’re doing ordination wrong! On my thirtieth anniversary of ordination, I’m reevaluating a few things that make Baptist ordination problematic. Ordination’s Fallibility If you haven’t already, I invite you to bookmark this page, and go read the first two articles in this three-part series. Then, return here when... Read more

Rethinking Ordination: Power, Purpose, and Problems

Last updated on: May 17, 2025 at 9:00 am By Gregory T. Smith

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What is ordination? Does the Church still need it today? Rethinking ordination, we’ll look at its power, purpose, and problems it may cause. In my last article, I detailed my experience from my call to ministry to my license to preach, and then to my ordination. I discussed both the problems and the joys along the way. My next article will continue to investigate the challenges inherent in Southern Baptist ordination. In addition to the challenges, I will suggest... Read more

Am I Still a Minister? The Baptist Ordination Dilemma

Last updated on: April 4, 2025 at 11:54 am By Gregory T. Smith

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“Are you still an ordained minister?” my friend asked me. I hesitated. “Well, that’s a long story. Because Baptists make it complicated.” “My short answer is yes,” I told her. “I’m still ordained as a Southern Baptist minister. Although, if I had been ordained in nearly any other denomination, I’d have to say that I was ‘former clergy.’ But, because of the Southern Baptist structure, I’m ordained for life—unless the church that ordains me decides to revoke my ordination. There... Read more

Jesus & Lao Tzu: Finding Order in the Chaos

Last updated on: March 20, 2025 at 6:35 pm By Gregory T. Smith

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In life’s turmoil, Lao Tzu says you can find divine creation within. The eternal Christ brings order to chaos and silences your storm. When darkness hides your faith, and anxiety threatens to swamp your boat, where do you turn for comfort? For those who know God as Tao, sometimes it can be difficult to find faith in your circumstances. While the Tao may sometimes bring reassurance in its seeming impersonal nature, only as the Logos of Love can the Tao... Read more

Demonic Possessions: When the Things You Own, Own You

Last updated on: March 18, 2025 at 4:02 pm By Gregory T. Smith

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The term “demonic possessions” suggests devils enslaving people. But it’s really the demonic grip a hoarder’s possessions have on them. I have walked with people through some of the toughest times in their lives. Grief, loss, mental illness, addiction, and heartbreak take a toll on even the healthiest of people. One of the most misunderstood struggles that I’ve seen is hoarding disorder. Many people consider hoarders to be lazy, disorganized, gluttonous people. But there is something far deeper. Hoarding is... Read more

Renaming God as Wellspring & Source

Last updated on: March 20, 2025 at 6:37 pm By Gregory T. Smith

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The Bible depicts God as a divine Wellspring, the Source of all that is. Renaming God as Wellspring and Source can lead to liberation. In this series, “Renaming God,” we discuss the benefits of finding alternative names for the Divine. For one thing, many people find traditional names for God difficult because of their cultural background, theological issues, religious trauma, or other reasons. Some people want to believe in God but feel they must abandon the language of patriarchy and... Read more

Missionaries Getting Squicky: Faith, Fashion & Appropriation

Last updated on: March 10, 2025 at 6:19 pm By Gregory T. Smith

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Hudson Taylor said that Missionaries should live and dress like the people they seek to evangelize. Is this just squicky cosplay? I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church that elevated the idea of missionaries above all else. There almost seemed to be a hierarchy of Christians. Sure, you could respond to the Great Commission as an ordinary believer who occasionally invites others to church or tells them about Jesus. If you were really serious about saving the lost and... Read more

Jesus & Lao Tzu: When the Spiritual Life Feels Lonely

Last updated on: March 1, 2025 at 4:43 pm By Gregory T. Smith

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Do you feel misunderstood because of your spirituality? When the spiritual life feels lonely, Jesus & Lao Tzu understand. Lao Tzu often writes about the difficult life of a sage. He suffers ridicule and feels he is blown by the wind. Or, at least, he is aware that people regard him as unstable. Yet, Lao knows that he possesses a sage’s wisdom. This insight comes from his ability to refrain from differentiating between yes and no, good and evil, light... Read more

Why Are Evangelicals Feeding the TikTok Croc?

Last updated on: February 22, 2025 at 10:09 am By Gregory T. Smith

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Feeding wild animals teaches them to treat you as a food source. Or as the food itself. So, why are Evangelicals feeding the TikTok Croc? On a recent vacation, our Mexican resort boasted wild monkeys, coatis, and crocodiles. The sign said not to feed the animals. We saw what happened when tourists ignored the signs and fed the monkeys and coatis. Those hungry creatures came to associate humans with food, accosting them from the restaurants to the beachfront. What would... Read more

Renaming God: The Way, The Tao, & New Perspectives

Last updated on: February 20, 2025 at 7:44 pm By Gregory T. Smith

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Are old names for God limiting your faith? Renaming God as “The Way” and “The Tao” can open new spiritual insights. Why Would You Want to Rename God? Recently, I rewatched Stuart Hazeldine’s movie The Shack (2017), based on Wm. Paul Young’s novel of the same name. In this amazing story, Mack feels God has abandoned him. Because of his childhood trauma and a recent devastating loss, he misunderstands God’s nature. Instead of a loving parent, he views God as... Read more