CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — While some people in downtown Charlottesville may arrive at the office with a briefcase, Steve McVey arrives with two coolers. And when others are enjoying their lunch on the mall or in the office, Steve spends his…
Global Baptist leaders travel to Malaysia for annual meeting
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — Baptist leaders from around the world are traveling this weekend to Malaysia for an annual gathering of the Baptist World Alliance. More than 300 Baptist leaders and delegates will converge on Malaysia’s capital of Kuala…
TRENDING: Balanced relationships
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) I remember the exact spot where I was driving in Charlottesville 15 years ago when I…
EDITORIAL: Aunt Ida discovers the need for pastoral care
Dear Jimmy, While your uncle is outside fumin’ about the garden, I’ll take a few minutes to bring you up to date about what’s been goin’ on around our place. First, it appears that sometime before sun-up, that the big…
FIRST HAND: World War II veterans revisit Okinawa battle site
A veteran — whether on active duty, retired, served one hitch, national guard unit or reserve, deployed multiple times or never — is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The Government…
Civil religion: lowest common denominator or common ground?
Some Baptists see civil religion as bland at best and idolatrous at worst. But others view broadly shared values of liberty, justice and acknowledgement of God’s providential care as a common ground Christians share with a majority of their fellow…
Baptists should understand, teach church-state separation
Because of their historic commitment to religious liberty and separation of church and state, Baptists have a responsibility to educate their fellow citizens what those concepts mean, church historian Jim Spivey said. “Separation of church from state does not mean…
OUT LOUD
“Your prayers should complement, not compete with, proper medical care.” Jeffrey S. Jones The Clackamas County (Ore.) circuit judge was addressing two members of an Oregon City faith-healing church as he sentenced them to 90 days in jail for failing…
VITAL SIGNS: Are you closed?
A friend recently shared with me an interesting story. When his church decided to replace its sign out front, it meant that the old one had to come down. For about a week, there was no sign in front of…
Justices rely on ‘standing’ in courts’ church-state disputes
WASHINGTON (RNS) — As the U.S. Supreme Court ends its 2010-2011 term, legal scholars say one decision is likely to resonate within church-state debates for years to come. The justices rejected a challenge to an Arizona school tuition credit program…
‘One Nation Under God’ — narrow nationalism or proper patriotism?
When American Christians pledge allegiance to their nation and its flag — sometimes in worship services — does that reflect narrow nationalism or proper patriotism? Some Baptists believe it all hinges on how they interpret “one nation under God.” Nationalism,…
Patriotism, spiritual ties may pull Christians in opposite directions
RICHMOND, Va. — When war erupted between Russia and Georgia in 2008, repercussions included more than the 2,000 deaths and tens of thousands of refugees attributed to the conflict. Casualities also included relations between the two countries’ Baptist fellowships, torn…