Baptist News Global

OUT LOUD

“Sen. Richard Lugar … is [a] member of our congregation, and I would hope that he would never be held accountable for everything I have said in the last 15 years. Why is there any assumption that a person in…

When the preacher loses his cool, should church members take a hike?

The now-familiar images of Jeremiah Wright, former pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, calling down God's wrath on America raise questions for Christians: What place does rage have in the pulpit? And when should worshippers show their…

Supreme Court to revisit decency standards

WASHINGTON (RNS) — The U.S. Supreme Court announced it will revisit limits on on-air vulgarity in the court's first case on unsavory speech in almost 30 years. After Cher and Nicole Richie used expletives during the 2002 and 2003 Billboard…

RIGHT OR WRONG

More and more, when I treat people as I believe a Christian should, other people dismiss my actions by saying something like, “That's so PC” — politically correct. Even Christians seem to reject Jesus' statement, “Love one another.” How should…

Black liberation theology provides the doctrine behind fiery rhetoric

NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) — Jeremiah Wright's condemnation of the United States — particularly pronouncing damnation on America — looped hundreds of thousands of times on YouTube and news broadcasts. In the process, the pastor preached himself and his most famous…

Obama pastor’s tough sermons just part of long, prophetic tradition

WASHINGTON (RNS) — The longtime pastor of Sen. Barack Obama's black megachurch in Chicago has come under fire for sermons that many have called racist, offensive — and even dangerous. Jeremiah Wright has called the federal government the “U.S. of…

FAITH DIGEST

ACU freshmen get cool gadgets. Abilene Christian University will be the first university in the nation to provide all incoming freshmen with an Apple iPhone or an iPod touch, according to school officials. ACU, which is affiliated with the Churches…

Scholars examine Billy Graham’s legacy

Ecumenist, prophet, peacemaker. Friend of presidents and queens. Evangelical powerbroker who was sometimes too closely tied to politicians. Each description applies to Billy Graham. An official 1991 biography by William Martin called America's foremost evangelist a “Prophet With Honor.” The…

Luxembourg lawmakers vote to allow euthanasia

LUXEMBOURG (BP) — Lawmakers in Luxembourg voted Feb. 19 to legalize euthanasia for terminally ill patients and people with “grave and incurable” conditions. The country joins the Netherlands and Belgium as the third European country to legalize euthanasia. Luxembourg's prime…

UK churches angry over Good Friday betting

LONDON (RNS) — Thousands of betting shops across Britain infuriated the Church of England and other religious organizations by opening for the first time on Good Friday, one of Christianity's holiest days. Gamblers flocked into some 4,000 bookmaker premises to…

Baptist pastor released from jail in Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON — Zaur Balaev, the Baptist pastor from Azerbaijan who was sentenced to two years in prison Aug. 8, has been released. Balaev was freed from prison on March 19. Balaev was convicted and sent to prison on charges that…

BOOK REVIEW: Preaching doctrine that dances

Preaching a sermon in the Internet age comes pretty easily. In fact, spend just a few hours doing some research on your text, copy and paste from a few different sources, squeeze in a personal story or two and you…

What Disclosure Day reveals about evangelicals’ fears

Insufficient

6 ways the Reflecting Pool boondoggle mirrors Trump and MAGA

Pilate asked Jesus, ‘What is truth?’