Religious references OK on flag certificates. Americans who ask for a flag to be flown over the U.S. Capitol now will be able to include religious references on the accompanying certificate under new guidelines. Some House members were angry after…
SECOND OPINION: Authentic evangelism, virtual or otherwise
The X-Box game Halo 3 was released recently and it is huge, with more than $300 million in sales in the first two weeks; it is expected to generate more than $1 billion in revenue. Within the Christian world, however,…
New about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for Oct. 25
STAFF CHANGES • Scott Covington, to Berea Church, Fredericksburg, as pastor. • Gwynn Davis Jr., to Chester Church, Chester, as interim pastor. • Whitney Jo Clarke, to Mount Hermon Church, Danville, as minister to preschool and children. • James L….
RIGHT OR WRONG?
Christians call themselves New Testament people. I hear so many moral arguments based on the Old Testament, though. Is there any way a layperson can find some kind of consistency here? I want to be biblical in my thinking and…
OUTLOUD
“As a Christian I am completely opposed to the doctrines of Mormonism. But I'm not voting for a preacher. I'm voting for a president. It boils down to who can best represent conservative American beliefs, not religious beliefs. … This…
Stumbling blocks
Some time back, I read about stumbling blocks and little ones and being thrown into Hell with a millstone around my neck, and got very frightened. So I cried out to God, to explain to me what a stumbling block…
Young people see Christians as judgmental, study shows
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Young people have graded Christianity, and so far, the report card doesn't look good. Majorities of American young people describe modern-day Christianity as judgmental, hypocritical and anti-homosexual. What's more, many Christians don't even want to call themselves “Christian” because…
Scholars say evangelicals and their votes are shifting
WASHINGTON (RNS)—The face of evangelicalism is changing, two authors at the Pew Research Center said, and with that change comes uncertainty about who evangelicals will vote for in next year's presidential election. Using the AIDS crisis as an example, Michael…
Prominent S.C. pastor endorses Mitt Romney, then regrets it
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (ABP) — Don Wilton, a prominent megachurch pastor in the key early-primary state of South Carolina, withdrew his endorsement of Mormon presidential candidate Mitt Romney Oct. 23. Wilton, pastor of First Baptist Church in Spartanburg and former president…
Churches use podcasts, RSS as portable outreach tools
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (ABP) — Little white headphones that have revolutionized the way Americans listen to music may also revolutionize the way they learn about God. Hundreds of churches and Christian institutions are using podcasts or other easily downloadable audio and…
Opinion: How the Bush administration’s circular reasoning allows torture
Statements by Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey, along with comments by Mitt Romney and his new national security adviser, have brought the issue of torture to the surface in troubling new ways. It is quite clear that this issue is…
Southwestern Seminary creates center honoring ethics leader Land
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Officials at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary have announced plans to create a Richard Land Center for Cultural Engagement, honoring Southern Baptists' public-policy guru. Land joins another well-known conservative Baptist activist, Paul Pressler, in becoming a…