BUTLER, Ala. (BP) – A former Alabama pastor and the rural congregation that terminated him last July 31 have offered varying reports to media outlets regarding the role racism played in the 31-0 vote to dismiss him. Mt. Sterling Baptist Church in Butler, Ala., was the subject of news stories by WTOK television in nearby Meridian, Miss., the AL.com news website and other media outlets when it fired pastor Jonathan Greer, 26, over what Greer described as “pushback” against his intention to … [Read more...]
Setting the world straight in 2016
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (BP) – Political leaders, social activists and the entertainment industry are ballyhooing for extreme reform in this rather chaotic era, as if trying to reconstruct our nation ideologically. Sadly, I'm not sure the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election will get us into balance. Then what will? Hollywood plays to humanity's narcissism and love of gadgets, and a growing anger that seemingly calls for anarchy. Many of us who see the Bible as the inerrant Word of … [Read more...]
St. Louis Association calls, equips churches to love refugees
ST. LOUIS – Nearly 20 years ago, Missouri Baptists here missed an opportunity to reach the nations, but the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association is preparing for a second chance at gospel impact. Beginning in the mid-1990s, thousands of Bosnians—many of them Muslims—fled for refuge to St. Louis after the collapse of former Yugoslavia. Today, tens of thousands of Bosnians live in the area, making St. Louis the home for the most Bosnians worldwide, outside of their native homeland. Today, … [Read more...]
‘God is in control,’ Mo. police chief says amid shootings across the nation
CAPE GIRARDEAU (CE) – Wes Blair had planned a quiet sunrise walk on the beach July 8. Instead, shootings in Dallas the night before prompted the vacationing chief of police of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to reflect on events in his former hometown. Blair and his wife learned of the tragedy about 3 a.m. via Facebook. At dawn, Wes headed to the beach solo. “I think that was God’s design. If [my wife] had been with me, we’d have had a conversation.” Nor would Blair have had his cell phone, … [Read more...]
House protects rights of pro-lifers
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. House of Representatives approved July 13 a bill to protect the conscience rights of individuals and institutions that refuse to be involved in abortion. The House voted 245-182 almost totally along party lines for the Conscience Protection Act, which bars the government from discriminating against health-care providers with objections to participating in or providing coverage for abortion. The Senate has yet to vote on the legislation. Pro-life and religious … [Read more...]
Pro-life efforts continue 1 year after release of PPFA videos
WASHINGTON (BP) – Planned Parenthood remains a target of a Capitol Hill investigation but retains its federal funding a year after undercover video first revealed the abortion giant’s trade in baby body parts. A special congressional panel issued an interim update July 14 on the one-year anniversary of the release of the first video showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of organs from aborted children. The series of secretly recorded videos featured Planned Parenthood … [Read more...]
On life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” – Second paragraph, Declaration of Independence of the United States In one 48-hour span, the U.S. Supreme Court threw “Life” and “Liberty” under the steamroller of political correctness. Instead of interpreting the law, the Court advanced a political social agenda that grieves … [Read more...]
Violence brings cry for ‘true way of our Lord’
NASHVILLE (BP) – The collision of fear and mistrust has driven the violence upon violence that killed two black civilians and five police officers in three separate states in as many days, Southern Baptist pastor Lee Wesley told Baptist Press. "There is a fear on the part of police officers when they go into the black community, and that fear heightens their approach to these problems," said Wesley, whose pastorate Community Bible Baptist Church is in Baton Rouge, La., where two white … [Read more...]
Pastors seek biblical politics
ST. LOUIS (BP) – Proclaiming Scripture instead of promoting controversy is their approach when addressing political issues, pastors said during a June 15 panel discussion at the 2016 Southern Baptist Convention. Five Southern Baptist pastors explained to Ronnie Floyd, now former SBC president, during the afternoon session how they handle political issues in their churches. The panel discussion – titled “Pastors and the Church in American Politics Today” and moderated by Floyd – came during … [Read more...]
Resolutions address culture, ministry
ST. LOUIS (BP) – Messengers to the 2016 Southern Baptist Convention, in addition to repudiating the display of the Confederate battle flag, approved 11 other resolutions on a variety of culture and ministry concerns. For Stephen Rummage, chairman of the Resolutions Committee, a resolution calling Southern Baptists to evangelize was central to the 10-member panel’s deliberations in presenting the 12 measures to the messengers. The resolution on evangelism “might just seem like a standard … [Read more...]
Abortion, trafficking, pro-life endorsements
June 27 was another sad day in America for women and the unborn. That was the day the U.S. Supreme Court struck down provisions of a Texas law requiring abortion clinics to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers and requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital in case of medical emergencies. This disastrous ruling will mean the unnecessary deaths of babies and leave mothers exposed to serious health risks. The ruling is bad news for Missouri, … [Read more...]
Born This Way? MBTS prof critiques the science of homosexuality
KANSAS CITY – Discussions of homosexuality in the public square often hit a brick wall when those in the pro-camp dismiss Christians who point to the Bible’s teachings, and those Christians in turn dismiss the scientific “proof” that homosexuals and transgendered people are simply “born this way.” Sexuality and identity is as innate and predetermined as skin color, so the thinking goes. Midwestern Theological Seminary ethicist Alan Branch attempts to knock down that wall with his new book, … [Read more...]
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