EDITOR’S NOTE: This article first appeared online at www.ftc.co. J. Alan Branch serves as professor of Christian Ethics at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. KANSAS CITY – “The Bible includes cannabis as part of the worship of Yahweh!” Marijuana advocates often repeat this claim in an effort to gain leverage for the moral permissibility of smoking pot. The claim is so strange and peculiar, pastors, church leaders, and parents can be caught off guard and find themselves ill-prepared … [Read more...]
Pity isn’t the answer
“If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” – Matthew 5:29 (NKJV) How do we feel when we see someone who is mentally or physically challenged? Is our first feeling one of pity? What does our pity do to help the individual? There are many parents wondering, “Why me?” “Why did God give me this child to raise? Is He punishing me for something I … [Read more...]
Why your state convention is important today? (part 3)
Why a state convention? As we learned in the last issue, a state convention plays an important role in what the Lord is doing among a network of Bible-believing, evangelistic, mission-minded churches. Specifically, the state convention is an Ephesians 4 ministry that facilitates the networking of our churches to do “effective working” of those kinds of ministries that are larger than one congregation. Historically and pragmatically, there are seven unique functions cooperating churches … [Read more...]
Missouri bill addresses threat to religious freedom
I recently told a Missouri lawmaker, who advocated that LGBTQ rights take priority over freedom of conscience, that under no circumstances would Missouri Southern Baptists allow their First Amendment rights to be replaced with flimsy statutory “protection” by state law. The response: crickets. Ever cordial, I shook his hand as I departed. Negotiations ended. Only God – not the state – is Lord of the conscience. The free exercise of religion clause (freedom of conscience) in the First … [Read more...]
Delight for the Takety-Take-Taking
I feel you should know that if you hand me a tennis racket, it’s already a pretend guitar. And though I’m not a hard-rocker, my pretend guitar only plays imaginary hard rock. No matter how incongruent that looks on me, I will play it. With eyes-closed and unmerited confidence. I won’t play tennis, mind you. But I have no choice but to rock that racketar like I’ve never in my life been a mature adult. It’s sort of a visual joke. And yes, I do know the joke doesn’t totally work. But somehow … [Read more...]
Things that are free
There are few words that capture the attention of price-conscious shoppers more than the word FREE. Buy-one-get-one-free has its own acronym, BOGO. Even my healthcare provider has gotten into the act, with a “free digital thermometer” when one comes in for a checkup. Baptist Homes & Healthcare Ministries is not giving away free thermometers. However, we do have some great resources for you and your church that are free. • Pulpit supply. Our leaders and campus pastors are available to … [Read more...]
Why your state convention is important today? (part 2)
In this issue we continue to ask the question, “Why?” Like inquisitive children, every organization needs to examine the “Why?” What do they do that no other organization does at that level? Churches need to ask that question, too, but for entirely different reasons. One reason is so that churches stay on their biblical mission mandate – namely, to make disciples. Churches are engaged in reaching new people with the gospel, and they also are engaged in engaging new and older saints in … [Read more...]
Media outrage explodes over governor’s ‘Christian values’ statement
Never has so much been said and written about so few words. Say something that the liberal news media dislikes and a piranha-like frenzy commences. Take, for example, words articulated by Gov. Mike Parson: “Missourians know that I share these beliefs and would not have nominated someone who does not share the same Christian values.” This “micro-aggression” triggered an outrageous onslaught, implying something patently false. It is yet another example of why the public does not trust the … [Read more...]
Are you in shape?
It’s the new year. The time of year we should all ask ourselves, “Am I in shape?” No, not that kind of shape. (Although, as Pa Grape of the old Veggie Tales cartoon insisted, round is a shape.) I am referring to your fiscal shape, not your physical shape. While you should fully recognize your physical shape may impact your fiscal shape. We are all aware if poor physical health is not one of your priorities, then you may expend more financial resources on medical bills than you intend. … [Read more...]
When can churches safely return to the mission field?
EDITOR’S NOTE: Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Multiplying Churches Director Rick Hedger oversees MBC partnership missions efforts. Below, he answers the question, When can Missouri Baptists safely return to the mission field? JEFFERSON CITY – I receive frequent inquiries regarding the activity status of our Missouri Baptist Convention international partnerships in regard to COVID-19. As we all know, even from our own ever changing CDC reports, this has been a difficult situation … [Read more...]
A-MAZE-ing Grace
I think about 87% of my shopping at a couple of my fave department stores happens in the maze of a checkout line. Through the labyrinth, the marketing geniuses who came up with this merch-maze lure me left and entice me right. They all but twirl me and whirl me through what must be three miles of displays and shelves, all full of every magical item I never knew I needed but suddenly realize I can’t, no cannot, make it to the register without. Cannot make it through life without. Recently … [Read more...]
Parenting can be tough
“Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” – Psalm 127:4-5 (NIV) The Bible tells us that children are a gift from God, but sometimes it is tough to parent that gift! None of us would want to give up those precious little ones, but raising them is not always easy! My husband and I worked on the Navajo reservation in the late 50’s and early 60’s. He was responsible for the children in one dormitory and I was … [Read more...]
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