My maternal grandmother thought Billy Graham was a saint above all others. You simply could not say anything negative about the evangelist in her presence. She held the same regard for Jimmy Carter, because she considered him a godly man…
Billy Graham and politics: Woe to us
By Mark Wingfield My maternal grandmother thought Billy Graham was a saint above all others. You simply could not say anything negative about the evangelist in her presence. She held the same regard for Jimmy Carter, because she considered him…
The problem with people …
If it weren’t for the people, church ministry would be easy. That’s the problem with being called to be a shepherd—you’ve got to learn to like the sheep. Most of the time, that’s easier than you’d imagine. But sometimes, only…
‘Love Your Neighbor with Your Vote’
We don’t put out political yard signs at our house. For 21 years as a journalist, I could not take a publicly partisan stand on political matters. And now as a pastor, I should not take a public partisan stand….
The Church’s great rummage sale
Once more with feeling: The demise of traditional Protestant congregations has been greatly exaggerated. Yes, mainline denominations have been losing members for a number of years. Yes, many churches are dwindling in number and resources and even closing. And yes,…
Where’s the mystery of God anymore?
By Mark Wingfield In a world of “Ten Steps to Effective Christian Living” sermons, what’s happened to allowing some room for the mysterious ways of God? The self-help mentality that has invaded churches may have produced the unintended consequence of…
Reflections on CBF General Assembly
It’s no secret that I’ve been a friendly critic of the apparent lack of clear direction afflicting the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in recent years. A challenging column of mine published in another Baptist news journal last year elicited everything from…
Contemporary worship no salvation for all
By Mark Wingfield Here’s an underreported factoid: Throwing out tradition and trying to “go contemporary” has failed in as many or more established churches as it has succeeded. That’s right, contemporary worship hasn’t saved every church that has given…