Twenty-five years ago, Lyle Schaller told a group of ministers in North Carolina that if we wanted to stay conversant with what was happening in the country and also peek around the corner at what might be trending next, simply…
REVIEW: ‘Gravity’ opens doors to discuss the spiritual nature of grief
The story in Gravity appears to be about a space flight gone wrong. But there is much more going on here than just a movie with some exquisite special effects. The space flight becomes the stage for a much more…
OPINION: The glorious weight of gravity
Gravity is being hailed as a must-see movie. The IMAX experience is one of incredible beauty and thrilling danger. Most of us who see this movie will go for all of the tail-end-of-summer action adventure that it promises, but I…
Tax-exempt status for churches and other religious organizations has historical context
Because of a senator’s action in 1954, churches have been included with certain other tax-exempt organizations restricted from electioneering — publicly endorsing or working against candidates for political office. The prohibition against political campaign intervention by nonprofits that qualify under…
Endorsing political candidates endangers churches’ tax exemption
During the last election cycle, Pastor Smith included in an article for his church’s online newsletter that he personally supported a specific candidate in his bid for the Senate. Did he endanger his church’s tax-exempt status? Yes, if the Internal…
EDITORIAL: As moves go, this is a good one
As they have done for nearly two centuries, messengers to the Baptist General Association of Virginia will gather in annual session in Fredericksburg to celebrate successes, identify challenges, engage in worship and conduct business. This year they will consider a…
SBC leader says Halloween a moral issue
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist leader and scholar says Halloween is a good time for Christians to remember that evil spirits are real and to make decisions on whether or how to celebrate the holiday accordingly. Albert Mohler, president…
Tom DeLay says he’s on divine mission
By Bob Allen A month after a Texas appellate court overturned his conviction of corruption charges that ended his political career, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay says he is on a mission from God. DeLay, who accepted Christ during…
Sermons stretch as biblical literacy wanes
By Jeff Brumley Religious literacy has declined to the point where modern audiences would be baffled at films like Monty Python’s 1979 The Life of Brian, A British Broadcasting Corp. official said recently. Comedians are also affected, Aaquil Ahmed told The…
Pastor in Central Asia faces year in prison
By Bob Allen A Baptist pastor in Kazakhstan faces up to a year in prison after refusing to pay a fine equivalent to about two months’ average salary for conducting worship without government permission, the international news service Forum 18…
Pastor resigns amid abuse allegations
By Bob Allen An independent Baptist pastor has resigned his church in Georgia after allegations of sexual abuse 18 years ago in Michigan resurfaced on the Internet. Leaders at King’s Way Baptist Church in Douglasville, Ga., confirmed in a letter…
Immigration ‘personal,’ Baptist leader says
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist Convention official says evangelicals are galvanizing around immigration reform because increasingly if affects someone they know. “A primary motivating factor for us is this has become personal for us,” Barrett Duke, vice president for…