A Tribute to Voddie Baucham – Faithful Expositor, Friend, Joyful Warrior
The loss of my friend, Voddie, is one of the hardest losses I’ve experienced in ministry. I don’t know that I have ever heard a more powerful preacher of the gospel. Every time I heard him preach, I was greatly impacted. Boy, could that man preach!
However, from a delivery aspect, there are many other great preachers. What made Voddie exceptional was he was not only a great preacher, he was also a great expositor. He didn’t just preach from the text, he was faithful to expound the exact meaning of the text. And that’s what makes someone truly a great preacher. Every time I heard Voddie preach, I walked away better understanding the text and compelled to live in obedience to what it said.
On a personal note, Voddie was one of the best friends I’ve ever had. Anyone who stood beside Voddie knew that his muscles were huge. But anyone who got to know Voddie learned that his heart was even bigger. I cannot count the number of times that Voddie’s love and care was shown to me and my family. But one clearly stands out.
When Jennifer and I went through the attack on our family by the SBC, Voddie stood with us every step of the way. Shortly after BNG dropped its hit piece on me, Voddie called and said, “The man they portrayed in that article has no resemblance to the man I know.” I wept. And Voddie showed love and care for my wife through it all as well. Jennifer adored Voddie! When you go through a crisis, you never forget the ones who stood with you!
But one thing I will miss most about Voddie isn’t what he did for me personally, but the warrior he was in standing for the truth of the gospel. Voddie loved and was loyal to people, but there was something and someone he loved and was more loyal to – the gospel and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Voddie’s stand for truth against social justice cost him dearly. Some of those who now cozy up to him in his death ostracized him while he was alive because of the stand he took. But Voddie was a joyful warrior. He never backed down in the fight, but he also never became bitter against those who attacked or marginalized him. He just spoke the truth and kept on going with a joyful heart.
I will miss his preaching and working with him to train men to be preachers. I will miss his friendship. I will miss his laugh. And I will miss his faithfulness in fighting the good fight.
When I think of Voddie, two words Paul wrote to Timothy come to mind.
In life, Voddie exemplified 1 Timothy 6:12: “Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
In death, Voddie modeled 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”
Farewell, my friend! See you in Glory!
I watched only snippets of the Charlie Kirk memorial, but I'm overwhelmed with gratitude to God.
No living person, I suspect, has seen so many high public officials testify so clearly to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I am grateful for Tucker Carlson's exhortation to repent, starting with me.
I'm grateful for a Vice President, a Secretary of State, and a Secretary of Defense who talk openly about Jesus, the incarnate Son, exalted now to be King of kings.
Like many, I was stunned by the words of Erika Kirk: Forgive, rather than nurturing revenge. Love, not hate. Love your enemies and those who persecute us.
Pray this isn't a one-off. Pray those who testified to Jesus speak and live and rule as disciples of Jesus. Pray that President Trump really hears what he heard on Sunday.
And, for now and above all, give thanks to our God and Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Who killed Jesus?
• Material cause: The Romans, wielding hammer and spear.
• Efficient cause: The Jews, delivering Him up.
• Final cause: The Father’s will to redeem.
• Formal cause: My sin, which demanded His death.