NASHVILLE (BP) – As news breaks of a federal investigation into the fantasy sports industry, Baptist commentators warn that betting in fantasy leagues is not harmless fun. The Wall Street Journal reported Oct. 14 that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is “investigating [the] daily fantasy sports business model” to see if it violates federal law. A front-page story in the Oct. 15 New York Times stated the fantasy website DraftKings appears to be the focus of the probe, with rival site … [Read more...]
Playboy magazine’s nudity purge addressed
NASHVILLE (BP) – Playboy’s decision to remove nude photos from the U.S. print edition of its magazine, pornography opponents say, in no way suggests the company is moving away from the objectification and exploitation of women. “This decision was not a moral one, it was purely business,” said Charles Beeghley, a Missouri pastor whose proposal to the Southern Baptist Convention Resolutions Committee this summer eventuated in the convention’s statement “on pornography and sexual purity.” “It … [Read more...]
Baptists among ‘top 75 religion bloggers’
NASHVILLE (BP) – At least 10 Southern Baptists are included on Newsmax’s list of the “top 75 religion bloggers” in America, with five appearing among the top 20. “The Southern Baptist leaders who blog regularly have built influence, specifically in the niches they address,” social media expert Marty Duren told Baptist Press. “When compared to peers ... I think our leaders who have engaged are doing very well.” Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. ranked … [Read more...]
Baptists among ‘top 75 religion bloggers’
NASHVILLE (BP) – At least 10 Southern Baptists are included on Newsmax’s list of the “top 75 religion bloggers” in America, with five appearing among the top 20. “The Southern Baptist leaders who blog regularly have built influence, specifically in the niches they address,” social media expert Marty Duren told Baptist Press. “When compared to peers ... I think our leaders who have engaged are doing very well.” Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. ranked … [Read more...]
IRS promise met with caution
WASHINGTON (BP) – The Internal Revenue Service will not revoke the tax-exempt status of religious organizations that object to same-sex marriage, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen has promised at least twice in recent weeks. But some tax code experts say the commissioner’s commitments are not a guarantee of tax shelter for organizations with religious objections to the Supreme Court’s nationwide legalization of homosexual marriage this summer. Michael Batts, a CPA who specializes in … [Read more...]
‘Character is the Key’: Royals GM says about team’s turnaround
KANSAS CITY (BP) — Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore was headed off the field during 2012 spring training when a Royals minor league coach approached him. “Dayton,” the coach said, “God asked me to tell you something.” “Sure, what do you have, kid?” Moore replied. Moore says he will never forget the response: “Do your fighting on your knees.” The coach’s message was impactful in part because of the temptation to lash out at critics. The Royals had lost at least 90 games in … [Read more...]
Presidential hopefuls react to gay marriage ruling
NASHVILLE (BP) -- Reaction among 2016 presidential candidates to the Supreme Court's nationwide legalization of gay marriage is divided largely along party lines, with all five Democrats in the race lauding the decision and at least 13 of 14 Republicans opposing it. As marriage and religious liberty moved to center stage of the campaign, one pastor and former U.S. Senate candidate urged Christians to consider supporting a candidate financially. "There are enough believers in this … [Read more...]
State resistance to marriage ruling dissipates
WASHINGTON (BP) – Three days after the U.S. Supreme Court's legalization of gay marriage nationwide, all 50 states have begun issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and instances of publicized resistance by government officials seem confined largely to the South. Some gay marriage proponents have advocated building on the court's ruling by legalizing polygamous marriages and abolishing tax exemptions for religious institutions. Meanwhile, Southern Baptist Convention President … [Read more...]
WRAP-UP: SBC seeks awakening, supports marriage
COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) – Spiritual awakening, the defense of marriage and the preservation of religious liberty were among key themes addressed by messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 16-17 in Columbus, Ohio. The meeting was highlighted by a Tuesday night prayer gathering led by SBC President Ronnie Floyd, at which an estimated 7,000 Southern Baptists spent two hours asking God for a third Great Awakening in America and the global advance of the Gospel. The … [Read more...]
Gay weddings: who must perform them?
WASHINGTON (BP) -- Legal opinions vary widely on what the U.S. Supreme Court's mandate of nationwide same-sex marriage will mean for pastors and government officials authorized to perform weddings. Some legal experts say government officials charged with performing weddings could lose their jobs for refusing to marry gay couples. But others believe both ministers and government officials likely will have freedom not to perform same-sex marriages that violate their religious … [Read more...]
Naghmeh Abedini calls for husband’s release
WASHINGTON (BP) – The release of Americans imprisoned in Iran should be a condition of any nuclear deal with the Persian nation, the wife of imprisoned American pastor Saeed Abedini told the House Foreign Affairs Committee June 2. Following testimony from Negmeh Abedini and the families of other U.S. citizens imprisoned or missing in Iran, the committee passed a resolution stating, “Iran should release all detained United States citizens immediately and provide any information it possesses … [Read more...]
IMB to align missionary requirements with BF&M
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – The International Mission Board’s (IMB) new policy on missionary qualifications – replacing previous restrictions related to baptism, speaking in tongues and divorce among other matters – represents an effort to keep basic requirements from going beyond the Baptist Faith and Message, IMB President David Platt told reporters May 14. “We want it to be simple and clear that what’s driving us doctrinally is what all these churches [of the Southern Baptist Convention] have … [Read more...]