GIBITNGIL ISLAND, Philippines – To many of the 451 families on the tiny Philippine island of Gibitngil, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Disaster Relief (DR) Specialist Dwain Carter is simply known as “Pastor Dwain.” To Mayor Ricardo Ramirez of nearby Medellin, who oversees Gibitngil, Carter is a welcome sight and a Facebook friend. To those on the island who have watched Carter lead four teams of disaster relief volunteers here since Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the central Philippines last … [Read more...]
Is Mormonism really necessary?
As the official version of the story goes, in 1820, 14-year-old Joseph Smith went into the woods near his home in rural New York to pray. There, God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. Caught up in the Protestant revivalism of his day, Smith inquired as to which of the Christian denominations he should join. None of them, he was told, because they were all wrong. “The Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight,” Smith later … [Read more...]
Thank God for earthquakes
The Lisbon earthquake of 1755 changed everything. In minutes this thriving, affluent city was brought to its knees. Roughly 50,000 people died. The sky turned black. Fires raged. Then tidal waves washed over the port, drowning hundreds more. Later, Voltaire wrote a poem challenging the prevailing view that this was a divine act of judgment. “Whilst you these facts replete with horror view, will you maintain death to their crimes was due?” he penned, adding, “Can you then impute a sinful … [Read more...]
Does the Bible prove preexistence?
Our Mormon friends teach the doctrine of eternal progression. Among other things, it means that all people were born into the spirit world – through sexual relations between God and one of his wives – prior to taking on earthly bodies. As Mormon.org puts it: “Your life didn’t begin at birth and it won’t end at death. Before you came to earth, your spirit lived with Heavenly Father who created you. You knew Him, and He knew and loved you. It was a happy time during which you were taught … [Read more...]
Will a man dare rob God?
If we don’t tithe, are we robbing God? Doesn’t the Old Testament teach tithing, while the New Testament stresses giving? These are important questions, and every sincere Christian wants to get the answers right. The Bible is our authority – and the last word on this issue. While it isn’t possible in this article to conduct an exhaustive study, we may highlight what the Old and New Testaments have to say. The Old Covenant The Mosaic Law required Israelites to give tithes … [Read more...]
There’s death in that box
When the Rev. Jamie Coots died recently, it made national news. The co-star of National Geographic Channel’s reality TV show, “Snake Salvation,” was bitten on the hand by a rattlesnake as he led services at the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus’ Name in Middlesboro, Ky. He died less than two hours later after refusing medical treatment. Coots and his followers represent a sect of Christianity that incorporates snake handling into worship, relying heavily on Mark 16:17-18 for support. … [Read more...]
What good is Christian apologetics?
Apologetics simply is a reasonable defense of the Christian faith. The word is derived from the Greek noun apologia and means “a defense.” Apologia and its verb form apologeomai are used nearly 20 times in the New Testament, often in the classic legal sense, but more importantly to describe the call of God to all believers to defend the Christian faith with gentleness and respect (1 Pet. 3:15-16). But how is sound doctrine applied practically? Put another way, what good is Christian … [Read more...]
The value of painful memories
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that scientists have zapped an electrical current to people’s brains to erase distressing memories, part of an ambitious quest to better treat ailments such as mental trauma, psychiatric disorders and drug addiction. Author Gautam Naik explains: “In an experiment, patients were first shown a troubling story, in words and pictures. A week later they were reminded about it and given electroconvulsive therapy [ECT], formerly known as electroshock. … [Read more...]
When the Bible speaks to Mormons
Lynn Wilder and her husband were quintessential Mormons. Lynn had served for eight years as a professor at Brigham Young University, the flagship school of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Michael was a high priest, temple worker, seminary teacher and Sunday School president. Their eldest sons had completed two-year missions assignments, and their daughter was demonstrating a strong faith in the LDS Church’s founder, Joseph Smith. Then, as Lynn explains it, … [Read more...]
Missouri Missions Offering tops goal
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptists dug deep and gave generously in 2013 to the Rheubin L. South Missouri Missions Offering (MMO). As a result, they surpassed the MMO goal for the second straight year. Receipts for 2013, which are disbursed in 2014, totaled $719,649, exceeding the goal of $700,000 and surpassing last year’s giving by four percent. “Thank you, Missouri Baptists,” said John Yeats, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention. “Your faithfulness in stewardship … [Read more...]
Reading the Bible with misplaced expectations
“The Bible is full of contradictions.” So say many critics of God’s Word. When asked to provide examples, however, critics often reveal a gross misunderstanding of the writers’ purposes, according to Douglas S. Huffman, a contributor to In Defense of the Bible: A Comprehensive Apologetic for the Authority of Scripture. While alleged contradictions come in many forms, one of the most common is that of misplaced expectations; that is, critics approach the Bible from angles that are … [Read more...]
Apologetics e-newsletter coming in January
Thank you, Missouri Baptists, for helping bring to life a statewide Christian apologetics ministry in 2013. Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) churches and associations hosted many apologetics weekends and one-day events that covered topics ranging from “How do I know the Bible is true?” to “What do false religions have in common?” Hosts included Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Jefferson City; Cross Keys Baptist Church, Florissant; Sweetwater Baptist Church, Neosho; First Baptist Church, … [Read more...]
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