By Bill Leonard Everybody is quoting the Bible these days. In the church and the public square Bible-based rhetoric and mandates echo throughout the culture, often with varying, even contradictory, interpretations. Such convictions can be deep and culture transforming; they…
Obama appeals to ‘social gospel’
By Bob Allen President Obama denied March 12 that he is “waging a war on religion,” citing his own work as a community organizer before entering politics as part of the “social gospel.” Asked in a White House interview with…
Tornadoes’ paths not random, John Piper says
By Bob Allen An author and preacher popular in Calvinist circles says it is no accident that recent killer tornadoes followed paths that ravaged some communities while others were spared. “Why would God reach down his hand and drag his…
Should America attack Iran?
By Jim Denison Should America attack Iranian nuclear sites? A recent exchange sponsored by Foreign Affairs highlights three options. Matthew Kroenig argues that we should attack Iran now. He recently served as special adviser to the U.S. Secretary of Defense…
Baptist sexuality conference is misguided
By Luke Smith We live in a day where the boundaries of licit sexuality have shifted. Marriage is no longer the boundary of licit sexual behavior. The framing of the upcoming [Baptist] Conference on Sexuality and Covenant co-sponsored by the…
Skipping Alleluia
By Amy Butler It happens every year, and on the scale of church conflict it can only be compared to an adjustment of the coffee-hour punch recipe without a full congregational vote of approval. Without fail, every single Lent somebody…
Preach it, Sister!
By Derik Hamby This month I got to sit in the congregation with my 7-year-old daughter. My wife is in choir, so she usually sits with friends. It was nice to enjoy worship with her. I was exiled from my…
Looking for Christian themes in movies? Here are critics’ choices
By Robert Dilday Hollywood’s century-old repertoire of films offers a rich lode of Christian themes, say some observers who see value in mining for them. While the Oscar-nominated Tree of Life may be opaque, it’s “one of the most powerful…
Deal seriously with violent biblical texts, historian says
By Ken Camp Before characterizing Islam as inherently violent based on selected passages in the Quran, Christians should consider violent verses in the Holy Bible, historian Philip Jenkins told a recent gathering at Baylor University. Philip Jenkins of Baylor’s Institute…
How to interpret the Scriptures
By Mike Smith A church member will sometimes ask how I go about interpreting the scriptures. I am tempted to answer, “On the run,” since I preach and teach several times each week. Thinking more about the question, here are…
Editor warns of encroaching Calvinism
By Bob Allen A recent Baptist state newspaper editorial warned of a “presumable encroachment” of five-point Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention. Christian Index Editor Gerald Harris penned the editorial titled “The Calvinists are here” Feb. 9. Harris noted that…
Joining Baptists in defeating NC Amendment One
By Susan Parker and Angela Yarber A few weeks ago we were invited to teach a class of clergy about North Carolina Amendment One, a measure on the ballot May 8 that would define marriage as only between one man…