October – particularly today on Halloween –brings out all manner of spookiness. In keeping with the general theme of the season, I want to talk about a particularly spooky development in theology: The historic practice of selling indulgences, and how that has informed an equally influential branch of evangelicalism today.

Beginning in early 1555, Queen ‘Bloody’ Mary as she is now known, oversaw the execution of several prominent Protestants. By October, two church leaders had been arrested in Oxford: Bishop of Worcester Hugh Latimer (1487-1555) and Bishop of London and Westminster Nicholas Ridley (1500-1555).

While Broadus has maintained a reputation as one of the greatest preachers to have been a part of the Southern Baptist Convention, I want to focus today on a quote Broadus made about regarding another preacher.