By Marv Knox Hailed by conservative Christians as a victory for religious liberty, the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision provides points to ponder, as well as occasion for both celebration and concern: • Since the court previously ruled corporations may…
Baylor’s alumni association plans defense in lawsuit filed by university
By Marv Knox The Baylor Alumni Association plans to “resolutely — not defiantly” defend itself against a lawsuit filed by Baylor University June 6. The university filed the lawsuit about five months after its lead attorney called on the Baylor…
How do we respond to slumping church attendance?
By Marv Knox Americans are kidding themselves — or maybe kidding each other — about church. The Public Religion Research Institute asked Americans how often they attend church. Is it “weekly or more,” “occasionally” or “seldom or never”? The answer…
So, what about preaching and plagiarism?
By Marv Knox Pastoral plagiarism is back in the news. Actually, pulpit pilfering happens so often, it never goes completely away. But it made headlines again this month, when Religion News Service published an article asking, “Is pulpit plagiarism on the…
When ideology trumps theology
By Marv Knox Sometimes, life is so upside-down you couldn’t make it up. For example, Paige Patterson has emerged as an ecumenical leader among Baptists. You may remember Patterson. He’s the president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In the past…
Texas Baptists, Baylor agree to sale of Baptist Building in Dallas
By Marv Knox and Ken Camp The governing boards of Baylor University and the Baptist General Convention of Texas have approved the sale of the convention’s Baptist Building in Dallas to the university. Baylor regents affirmed the sale May 16,…
Faiths can build bridges of understanding, BJC’s Walker tells Harvard audience
By Marv Knox Rights, responsibility and respect provide the infrastructure for bridges of understanding between faith groups, Baptist religious-liberty advocate Brent Walker stressed in a symposium at Harvard University May 1. Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for…
Joining God as co-creators
By Marv Knox Creativity is older than dirt. Literally. Just look it up. The first verse of the Bible says, “In the beginning, God created … .” According to Scripture, creativity started eight verses before the arrival of dirt, which…
America’s God-awful perspective on God-absent prayer
By Marv Knox Imagine you’re God, and you care about what happens in Anytown, USA. It’s Tuesday evening, and you’re ready for someone in Anytown to request your guidance over the city council meeting. The mayor calls on the ministerial…
‘What’s mine is yours’ defines ‘kingdom economics,’ New Testament scholar insists
By Marv Knox Jesus’ perspective on economics can be up summed in four words — “What’s mine is yours,” New Testament scholar Hulitt Gloer stressed during the annual T.B. Maston Lectures in Christian Ethics. And while such a standard may…
Baptists’ way forward — repentance & forgiveness
By Marv Knox Reading the cover of the latest edition of The Christian Century felt a bit like yanking the scab off an old wound. Two conversation bubbles square off on a blue-and-red page. “Conservatives are closed-minded,” one insists. “Liberals…
What’s so beautiful about America?
By Marv Knox The blogosphere, Facebook, Twitter and, no doubt, millions of e-mail accounts just about melted down lately, thanks to a Coca-Cola commercial. Maybe America needs to hold a can of Coke up to its collective face and chill…