By George Bullard North America has at least 350,000 religious congregations. Every year about one percent of them die. That means that 10 years from now, 35,000 congregations will no longer exist. Will your church be one of them? What…
On House health-care bill, one Democrat speaks freely
By David Sanders Before the raging debate on health-care reform began, most folks outside Arkansas would have been hard pressed to identify Rep. Mike Ross. But over the past few months this Democrat, who represents a congressional district that stretches…
Great awakening versus cultural captivity
By Marv Knox If — as some observers claim — flames of spiritual awakening are fanning across the globe, then why have they seemingly lept over the United States? Titles of two great books provide a clue: At Ease in…
In strong support of the House health-care bill
By David Gushee From a Christian perspective aiming to advance human dignity at every stage of life, the version of the health-care bill that passed in the House Nov. 7 was a remarkable public-policy victory. It is stronger than the…
Job, the Coen brothers and ‘A Serious Man’
By Amy Butler I have a bone to pick with the Coen brothers. After preaching a 3-week series on the book of Job, I was looking forward to a new take on Job’s story when I went to see the…
Uzbekistan trip makes religious-liberty concerns real
By Kyle Reese On a typical day, the July 29 Associated Baptist Press headline I read, “Uzbekistan charges Baptist camp with crimes,” would catch my attention, but quickly give way to other matters. However, this particular July 29 was no…
A lesson about race and the church
By David Sanders My father, the Rev. Ronald F. Sanders, began pastoring Southern Baptist churches well before I was born. Like many who proclaim the gospel Sunday after Sunday, he was called to ministry at an early age. He graduated…
Rush Limbaugh, Jeremiah Wright, and the race conversation
By William Dwight McKissic Sr. Controversial quotes regarding race made by Jeremiah Wright and Rush Limbaugh were used in efforts to thwart a presidential campaign and the purchase of an NFL team. Responses to the Wright and Limbaugh quotes reveal…
Urgency, creation care and theological advance
By David Gushee Under the impact of a globally recognized ecological crisis, Christianity finds itself today in the midst of a major theological transition. Globally, it is moving from a religion generally uninterested in ecological concerns to one whose major…