Anthony Ball

Follower of Jesus. Husband to the amazing Arianne. Dad to Corbin & Noah.

[Anthony Ball @aball17]

https://t.co/aJJpQNGu4Z

[Anthony Ball @aball17]

I read the entire thread before I realized he was joking 😂😂

[Daniel Levine @daniellevine]

People should be asking why Costco is entering this space in the first place.

[Wade Burleson @Wade_Burleson]

https://t.co/UqbAEL4AeN

[Nik Ripken @NikRipken]

10 years ago, The Insanity of God changed everything. This August, we're celebrating — and we want your story.Share your testimony → https://t.co/AucYfZXPyZ

#InsanityOfGod #PersecutedChurch #Missions

[Beth Moore @BethMooreLPM]

Those in the SBC who think I no longer should have anything to say about the SBC profoundly underestimate the power of love. I’d served southern Baptist women for 40 years by the time I left. And when I left, I left directly on their behalf because it became disturbingly clear to me that the SBC as an entity was more interested in protecting shepherds than the sheep entrusted to their care. When protecting the pulpit from women becomes a far greater priority than protecting women (& children) from an abusive pulpit, something is wrong. Which has been the greater problem: women trying to become your senior pastors or pastors misusing or abusing women?

My biggest concern is that what happened with the CRT witch-hunt will happen now in regard to women. The overreach resulted in numerous pastors, teachers and professors dropping the immensely important biblical teachings against racism rather than risk being accused of CRT. I heard from pastors at that time who preached against racism and already had emails Monday morning from people in their congregation accusing them of CRT. Because the difference wasn’t clarified, they lumped all of it into the one category. The aim became: shut every mouth to shut some mouths.

I pled for SBC seminary presidents and leaders to please clarify to pastors and teachers and, thereby, to congregations & students what qualified as CRT and what indeed was the proper and deeply rooted and needed biblical approach to anti-gospel racism.

Crickets.

I see the same potential here. I have never once fought for SBC women to take over church pulpits. I have esteemed and supported the role of male senior pastors. My own pastors would tell you that. If you think I was in the SBC trying to lead a revolution against men, you are clearly not familiar with my materials. What I believed then and believe now is that God has called both men and women to serve their churches and communities and proclaim the gospel. He has poured out his Holy Spirit on men AND on women, calling them to broadcast the good news.

You have beaten the drum loudly about what women in SBC churches cannot do. So, what CAN they do? Clarity here is essential. What is a woman to do who has been gifted BY GOD to teach the Bible, especially if her church has moved to the community group model and there is no Sunday school to teach?

Here is what I see on the horizon. If you leave these matters involving women so vague that it becomes about pastoral roles/actions rather than the title of pastor, it will shift to the subjective rather than objective. I wish I was naïve enough to think that wasn’t the point to some of these leaders but, sadly, I’m not.

What if that senior pastor doesn’t allow a woman on the prayer team to pray over people at the end of the service because he deems she is acting pastorally? What if the pastor sees that a woman’s Sunday school class of WOMEN is getting, in his estimation, a little too big? Can he just decide she acting pastorally and remove her from the role? Can she counsel people with her God-given wisdom and knowledge or would she be acting pastorally? The examples could go on and on. And, of course, I realize many would not use their positions to disesteem women but surely you and I both know countless others would. God only knows how many unqualified, unloving, mean-spirited men are in pastoral positions but the obsession remains the women.

I have no desire to see SBC women leave the denomination. I loved and flourished in that denomination. I want them to be able to flourish in their spiritual gifts. I want them to be esteemed in their serving inside and outside their homes. I want them to be able to serve Jesus and proclaim his glorious gospel.

I know I’m going to get hit here. That’s fine. But you should know I will fight for them to the death. Because I love them. And, yes, whether they love me or not.

[Nik Ripken @NikRipken]

"The day persecution ends is the day when no one is coming to Christ"

#GreatCommission #PersecutedChurch #BoldFaith

[Nik Ripken @NikRipken]

Ten years ago, The Insanity of God changed everything. Now we're gathering to celebrate.
Join Nik & Ruth Ripken — August 28, Fielder Church, Arlington TX. One night only. Free screening + live testimonies.
Register → https://t.co/RerlhitMuo

#GlobalMissions #PersecutedChurch

[Nik Ripken @NikRipken]

The Great Commission is a command, not a suggestion.

[Winston Hottman @WinstonHottman]

What about disfellowshipping churches that affirm, appoint, or endorse unqualified men serving in the office or function of pastor? There are, after all, other New Testament qualifications for pastors. Why are those not grounds for separation? Until we start taking the character qualifications of our pastors just as seriously, forgive me for being more than a little skeptical about some of the motives driving the current controversy.

[Jen Wilkin @jenniferwilkin]

Apropos of nothing:

I’m a big believer in the priesthood of all believers and a big unbeliever in the myth of the omnicompetent pastor. I think healthy complementarity demonstrates a high view of *both* the pastorate and the priesthood of all believers in *both* word and action.

[Anthony Ball @aball17]

@3YearDeacon Friday morning church is a Thursday night decision

[Anthony Ball @aball17]

100% correct, and says it way better than I possibly could. But the unending stream of parasitic networks within the SBC are actually the undoing of the SBC. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Clay Smith @claysmith79]

This has received quite a bit of feedback. I appreciate the dialogue, especially from those who presuppose a charitable intent behind my position.

The biggest counterargument from those who disagree with me is that affinity groups are not bad, so long as they function as helpful affiliates within the larger SBC. I appreciate that view and agree that affinity groups whose mission and methods closely align with those of the Convention are inherently more helpful than those that do not.

Affinity groups, to be sure, can (and do) help plant more churches, promote doctrinal distinctions, send missionaries to the field, and offer supportive partnerships between pastors and local churches.

Affinity groups are also, well... inevitable. The societal collectivism of the 20th century has largely disintegrated into tribalism and balkanization. This issue extends well beyond the SBC and is not going away any time soon.

Yet...

My contention remains: the short-term “win” of the affinity group will inevitably give way to a long-term “loss” of national partnership and cooperation. The point of my tweet is that affinity groups lessen our ability to cooperate "as the SBC." Perhaps I’ll be proven wrong. I’m not a prophet.

The SBC exists first and foremost as a “sacred trust” of cooperation. While some wish the BFM2000 were confessional (I am one of them), the document has largely been understood as a foundation for partnership. When affinity groups add theological particularities and methodological commitments that go beyond the BFM, the long-term result, I contend, will be a loss of confidence in our existing shared trust.

Moreover, the burgeoning organizational structures that blossom from such groups require directors, boards, treasurers, 501(c)(3)s, etc.; all of which demand time and attention from individuals who then usually do not also serve on SBC boards and in organizational leadership. (I know there are exceptions). In many such cases, the affinity group gets your commitment; the SBC gets your curiosity.

Furthermore, we already have mechanisms to partner in our mission. The IMB is sending missionaries. The NAMB is planting churches. Local associations exist to foster relationships and partnerships. (BTW — I think associationalism will be essential over the next 10 years.)

For what it’s worth, I’m not angry at affinity groups. If you desire to be part of them, go for it. Some counter that “affinity groups are actually saving the SBC.” Perhaps they are. Time will tell.

Either way, I pray the SBC will preserve our overall cooperation in order to better send missionaries, plant churches, and train pastors to lead faithful, gospel-drenched local churches.

God is working all over the world, using various churches, denominations, para-church ministries, and mission agencies to fulfill His Work - well beyond the SBC. I am simply advocating for anything we can do to preserve our part - as the SBC - in His redemptive mission.

[Anthony Ball @aball17]

Agreed! The SBC is now pretty much just 3-4 parasitic organizations with wildly differing views on what it means to be SBC. No shade… just reality.

[Clay Smith @claysmith79]

Hot take: affinity groups and networks within the SBC are not helping our ability to cooperate as the SBC.

[Anthony Ball @aball17]

I laughed way harder than I should have at this 😂

[Ben Sasse @BenSasse]

i can still live another 50 years if @Mike_Pence has the courage

[Malcolm Yarnell @MusingsOnChrist]

Today, a different spirit arises. It claims Christ while diminishing his authority. It chants biblical sufficiency but literacy is in free fall. It emphasizes cultural conflict rather than gospel reconciliation. It ignores the sole mediation of Christ and exalts clerical power.

[Anthony Ball @aball17]

@ChefRobCo John Fream was my teenage pastor who was instrumental in discipling me. Whatever you think about his verbiage or strategy, the fact is he is a Godly man and pastor, who I know first hand. Maybe take a break from the shotgun approach of slamming real people you’ve never met 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Anthony Ball @aball17]

@ImKingGinger You need to check out “The Insanity of God” documentary film by @NikRipken! One of the very few Christian movies that is excellently done and has broad appeal both geographically and demographically.

[Clifford Smith @CVernonSmith]

I confess: the mainstreaming of hate aimed at people who adopt children of another race, by so-called "Christians," has had a radicalizing effect on me.

Anyone who tolerates people who do this, let alone actively participate in it, is not fit for a pulpit, nor to govern. Period.

[Nik Ripken @NikRipken]

We want to personally invite you to join us.

On Aug. 28, 2026, we’ll gather in Arlington, TX for the FREE 10th anniversary of The Insanity of God—to remember the persecuted church and the cost of following Jesus.

RSVP today: https://t.co/RerlhitMuo

— Nik & Ruth Ripken

[Nik Ripken @NikRipken]

Around the world, many believers live out their faith in the face of pressure, loss, and opposition.

Again and again their stories reveal the same truth: courage grows where faith is rooted deeply in Christ.

#FollowJesus #ChristianFaith #PersecutedChurch #FaithAndCourage

[Erick Erickson @EWErickson]

Come, friends, it is story time. Let me tell you a story.

As most of you know, my wife has stage 4 lung cancer. With metronomic regularity, my wife has to have scans of her lungs to make sure her tumors are not growing, and the chemo she is on is working.

I tend to forget when the scan days are. They stress me out. Then I wind up forgetting I have to be off work and take my wife to her appointments.

Twice, the way I remembered scan days is because @Mike_Pence reached out to say that he and Karen had been praying for Christy and knew her scan appointments were coming up. Yep, the former Vice President of the United States, once while actively serving as VP, was my reminder that my wife's scans were upcoming.

He and his wife are regular prayer warriors for my wife.

I say all this to note that in the past few weeks, finally having gotten tired of the relentless bullying from the very online @BaptistLeaders E.D. @WilliamWolfe towards other Christians, I spoke out, and now William regularly tries to shame me into not speaking up and not speaking out about faith issues.

I have an actual (largely harmless) stalker and William is rapidly becoming a second one.

William even attacked the former President of the Southern Baptist Convention for pointing out @BaptistLeaders could have worked to resolve issues at a Baptist convention, but instead chose to complain while doing nothing.

A few days ago, while publicly and privately chastizing me as a slob, hypocrite, and fake Christian who needs to repent, William sent me the note attached hereto.

Notice how, for a guy worried about Christianity, it was all political. He is not really concerned about my faith or Christianity. He's concerned about politics, which is why he is not very successful operating within the church.

And, frankly, I'd rather be on an island with "Mike Pence types" who pray for my wife than on an island with the theobros who keep failing to turn Christ's church into an avenue for politics.

When you hold yourself out as some sort of godly Christian and think Mike Pence, an actual Christian of strong convictions, is a pejorative, you are actually the problem.

The @AmReformer project is doomed to fail with very hyperonline guys like William leading @BaptistLeaders because actual Christians can smell the grift and sense the heartlessness of someone way more worried about Twitter ratios and "Never Trump" than the work of the church.

If your project is measuring success by the metrics of how many times you have ratioed someone, you are not actually living in the real world and need to touch some grass. It actually is funny the money spent on a project to change the church that has actually done more to alienate churches from the underlying project just because the face of the project spends more time in rank jackassery towards Christians than any other group.