The church is the church is the church. Right? Ecclesiology is the study of what the church is. At our present hour, one cannot study the church without hearing the word ‘inclusion.’ In books, sermons and articles people consistently write and speak about a need for greater inclusion. For many Christians, being inclusive has become synonymous with being a Christian. In fear of losing what they think or claim is church, groups have formed within congregations and denominations to... Read more
I was in the library at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary when I got the call. Though I had known he was sick, death was in his voice and he needed me. Time after time, my Southern Baptist mentor called and chatted with me about all sorts of subjects. I had heard the call before, but never like this. The doctors treated my grandmother’s cancer a few years ago and she made it out fine. Why couldn’t my mentor just... Read more
*These reflections are taken from pieces of the last words of the last 40 persons executed in Texas. Tommy Sells- Silence. Tommy Sells was a serial killer. Do you realize this system of execution makes you one too? In the silence of Tommy Sells, I invite you to repent: Silence. Amen. Read more
*These reflections are taken from pieces of the last words of the last 40 persons executed in Texas. Anthony Doyle- Silence. Anthony Doyle refused to speak in his final moments. Will we remember the silence that we caused? In the silence of Anthony Doyle, I invite you to experience the silence caused by capital punishment: Silence. Amen. Read more
*These reflections are taken from pieces of the last words of the last 40 persons executed in Texas. Ray Jasper: “…stay strong and faithful to God.” Sometimes we deny our own strength. Unbeknownst to us, God has placed deep reservoirs of strength within every person. Upon the culmination of many hard years on death row, Ray Jasper knew about these reservoirs. In encouraging faithfulness to God, Jasper wanted everyone to know the source of his strength. For Jasper, God and... Read more
*These reflections are taken from pieces of the last words of the last 40 persons executed in Texas. Suzanne Basso- Silence. Suzanne Basso refused to speak. Have you ever wondered why women are consistently silenced? I invite you to ponder the oppression of women around the world in the silence of Suzanne Basso. Silence. Amen. Read more
*These reflections are taken from pieces of the last words of the last 40 persons executed in Texas. Edgar Tamayo- Silence. Mexican national Edgar Tamayo decided to remain silent during his execution. After looking back at other cases, I realized that a considerable amount of persons being executed in Texas that have remained silent are from Mexico. I have to believe that Mexicans exercising silence in the execution chamber is emblematic or an expression of the oppression faced by Mexicans... Read more
*These reflections are taken from pieces of the last words of the last 40 persons executed in Texas. Jerry Martin- “God is the ultimate judge” Why do we worry so much about the opinions of others? If God is the judge, then none of the finite opinions floating around us matter. Our job is to please God not humanity. In his last words, Jerry Martin wanted everyone to know that he feared God more than the judgments of humanity. Do... Read more
I graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2009. Though I have kept only a small portion of the theology, I still occasionally read material from people I knew there. Earlier today, I came across an article by my old ethics professor Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission President Dr. Russell D. Moore entitled, Left Behind in America: Following Christ after the Culture Wars. For a second, I resisted reading the article. Some old wounds take a... Read more
*These reflections are taken from pieces of the last words of the last 40 persons executed in Texas. Jamie McCoskey- “And if this takes the pain away, so be it.” While in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus kept asking God if there was any other way to take the pain away. Jamie McCoskey used similar words. There is something divine about giving our bodies to others. Though McCoskey didn’t have a choice of whether or nor to die, he wanted... Read more
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