WASHINGTON (RNS) — For evangelical author John MacArthur, the best way to explain a Christian’s relationship to Jesus is what appears to be a simple metaphor — one often used by the Apostle Paul himself. “To be a Christian is…
Museum to feature treasure trove of biblical artifacts
WASHINGTON (RNS) — An evangelical businessman from Oklahoma has planned a multimillion-dollar, high-tech, interactive museum of the Bible. The plan was announced first amid 130 biblical artifacts exhibited at the Vatican Embassy and later at a conference at Baylor University…
Baptist lecturer at Wake Forest defends religious freedom for Muslims
GEORGETOWN, Ky. (ABP) — A Baptist church-state expert criticized arguments used by opponents of building mosques in the United States that Islam is not a religion and therefore undeserving of protection of the First Amendment. Melissa Rogers, director of the…
BaptistWay publishing offers mp3 and Kindle Bible study resources
DALLAS (ABP) — BaptistWay Press, the publishing arm of Texas Baptists, has launched digital resources in an effort to meet the changing Bible study habits of believers. BaptistWay recently started offering its Bible studies in a format that is downloadable…
Fiscal responsibility, with moral sanity
By David Gushee Progressive activists, including some of my Christian friends, have staged hunger strikes to dramatize their objections to proposed budget cuts in Congress that would affect the poor. I care deeply about such cuts, but I have not…
Ministering together the first step toward intergenerational community
Churches often segregate their members along age lines. Sunday morning usually sees children in one wing in age-graded Bible study, with adults in another area and often split up age segments. But many congregations will cross age barriers in ministry,…
Relationship-building vital to bridging gulf between generations at church
A gap exists between generations in the church, experts seem to agree — and building strong relationships may be the way to bridge it. “There is difficulty in reaching across generations,” said Chris Gambill, congregational health service manager for the…
Common values, mission draw Christians together across lines of age
Community usually is defined by the word “common.” What do people hold in common that draws them or binds them together? The way believers “do” or embody the church often is defined in communal terms. Whether they cross generational lines…
American Baptists denounce Quran burning by Florida pastor
VALLEY FORGE, Pa. (ABP) — American Baptist leaders joined at regional and national levels in a joint statement April 8 denouncing the burning of a Quran at a Florida church. The general executive council of American Baptist Churches USA called…