Editorial for July 21, 2005 By Jim White “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus” (Romans 15:5). Ever lose heart? My guess is you have gotten…
Letter for July 21, 2005
Wake up, Baptists I appreciated your fine column about “What's in a name.” As a life-long Baptist (76 years) I have always been distressed that people are so unconcerned about Baptist doctrine and important theological beliefs and practices! But I…
Resources help churches celebrate freedom without ‘civil religion’
By Greg Warner Three Baptist organizations are teaming up to provide churches with the tools to celebrate American freedoms “without watering down their devotion to God with civil religion.” The First Freedoms Project-led by Associated Baptist Press, the Baptist Joint…
UCC is first denomination to endorse gay marriage
The leaders of one of America's most historic Christian denominations voted overwhelmingly July 4 to endorse same-sex civil marriage and encourage their local congregations to extend religious marriage to gay couples. Meeting July 4 in Atlanta, about 1,000 delegates to…
New book on Southern Baptist martyrs looks at lives of remarkable ministers
By Jesse Lyautey Eight Southern Baptist workers have given their lives over the last three years to follow the call of God to reach the lost peoples of the world. A just-released book, Lives Given, Not Taken: 21st Century Southern…
Air Force names rabbi to oversee tolerance
As Pentagon officials appointed a rabbi to a new post overseeing the Air Force's religious environment, members of Congress and religious leaders disagreed over the extent of religious problems that have created a stir at the branch's academy in Colorado….
Festivals help Luis Palau reach out to the culture with music and sport
By Judith Cebula April Lundholm, 16, showed up for the bands. The skateboarders were great. And the best part? “It didn't,” she says, “feel like church.” The suburban Minneapolis teenager is describing a Luis Palau Festival, an evangelistic outreach that…
European meeting could result in new group
Twelve conservative Baptists from Europe met with nine Southern Baptist leaders July 1-2 in Warsaw, Poland, in what one participant said could be a precursor to a new international organization of “like-minded” Baptists. The participants said their intent was not…
The art of persuasion
Another View for June 23, 2005 By Erich Bridges ‘“Is persuasion dead?” Columnist Matt Miller asked that question in a recent New York Times piece. Like many political pundits, Miller is fighting despair over the sad state of public discourse….