Baptist News Global

Yes, truth matters

As one who writes and creates with words, fact-checking and truth are second nature. Double-checking credible sources brings us closer to understanding the issue. Unlike writing a diary, I aim to reach the reader and make a connection. Well-chosen words…

Are we still of any use?

“And so it begins.” As nominations for leadership of government agencies are announced by the newly elected American president, the words of Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, written around Christmas 1942, seem startlingly relevant: We have been silent witnesses of evil…

Rising secularism isn’t good for democracy, scholar explains

Many Americans believe increased secularization will minimize religious and political tensions, simmer the culture wars and reduce threats to democracy, author and political scientist John Compton said. Some mainstream commentators argue the continuing move away from religious belief and belonging…

How whiteness protected itself in America’s election

As we close the book on the 2024 election cycle, we should look beyond the campaign promises and headlines to understand what truly fueled this election. It wasn’t just about the economy, gas prices or immigration policies, although these were…

‘Pro-family’ groups like Trump’s controversial nominees to cabinet

In the week since Donald Trump’s election victory, he has announced a number of key appointments — some of them highly controversial — that will shape his administration in a way that pleases “pro-family” evangelical groups. In theory, that will…

The slippery slope of unchallenged lies

The day after the election, a good friend who is a conservative Republican called to check on me, realizing I would be in a puddle of disbelief. My friend, who is a seminary-educated Southern Baptist and very smart, told me…

First Baptist Dallas fire was not arson

Arson was not the cause of the July blaze that gutted the historic sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Dallas. A Nov. 13 message to the church from Executive Pastor Ben Lovvorn says: “The on-site portion of the investigation is…

A divinity student’s post-election playlist: Hymn-singing through times of tension

Amid all the feelings this past political week has drawn out, several of my friends and colleagues lack words. Or have too many words to make sense of. Or fear their words have been ignored or will be silenced as…

Christians who don’t think much of Jesus

A month ago, Carol and I went to the Paley Center for Media in Manhattan for a panel discussion on “The Media’s Role in Combating Antisemitism: Next Generation Digital Storytellers.” The speakers were fascinating. Tova Friedman is a Holocaust survivor…

False prophets have hijacked the evangelical movement

A group of false prophets, most of them independent Pentecostals, have hijacked the evangelical movement. Historian David Fea identifies this loosely affiliated group of prophets as Independent Network Charismatics. The false prophets have a theological mix foreign to most evangelicals….

Court strikes down Louisiana Ten Commandments law

A Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments be posted in every public classroom is “unconstitutional on its face” and may not go into effect Jan. 1 as state officials hoped, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge John W….

Heritage Foundation’s antisemitism effort ignores Jewish groups

When the Heritage Foundation announced its new Project Esther, including a National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, last November, it promised a “new coalition of Jewish, Christian and conservative nonprofits.” But the effort has been hampered by a host of…

Republicans push through more unregulated funding for ICE and CBP

Trump admin defying court order on immigration access

What was there left to argue?

Beauty, ashes and the Southern Baptist Convention