EDITOR: Timothy Faber serves as Missouri Baptist Convention legislative consultant. The old saying “if you can’t beat them, join them” seems to be the preferred choice for some of our state legislators. There are many good men and women serving in our state legislature, to be sure, but there are some who like to pretend they are fixing a problem when in reality they are spilling a lot of ink and leaving a bigger stain on our state. They dangle a promise of new revenue while trying to … [Read more...]
Hold marriage in honor
Following Christ is somewhat like remodeling a home. As we mature in our relationship with our Master we move from a bassinet to a crib to a twin bed and eventually a double or queen size bed. We move from a high chair to a full size chair at the table. And the swing set in the backyard is replaced with a deck and propane grill. But if we switch our furniture and maybe even change a few walls or replace windows, but neglect the foundation, we will soon find our home in a shambles. The … [Read more...]
The gift of government
EDITOR'S NOTE: Timothy Faber serves as legislative consultant with the Missouri Baptist Convention. All of us have complained about the government at one time or another. Even the perpetually positive Ronald Reagan once quipped “The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help." Everything from taxes, to red tape, to oppressive regulations from un-elected bureaucrats . . . give us something to complain about regarding the government. But … [Read more...]
Gambling does not promote God’s kingdom
Missouri Amendments 2, 5 propose to expand gambling in Missouri EDITOR'S NOTE: Timothy Faber serves as legislative consultant with the Missouri Baptist Convention. One of my many fond memories from being a student at Southwest Baptist University was singing the Lord’s Prayer in chapel services. When Pike auditorium was filled with the voices of 1700 or so students worshipping through the singing of that prayer, it would reverberate off the walls and our hearts resonated the heart of God. … [Read more...]
‘Deliver those being taken away to death’
EDITOR’S NOTE: Timothy Faber serves as legislative consultant with the Missouri Baptist Convention. JEFFERSON CITY – Proverbs 24:10-12 says: “If you are slack in the day of distress, your strength is limited. Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter – oh hold them back! If you say ‘See, we did not know this,’ Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according … [Read more...]
Speak up for the voiceless
EDITOR'S NOTE: Timothy Faber serves as legislative liaison for the Missouri Baptist Convention Ancient Rome was a wretched place. They made sport of people being devoured by wild beasts and cheered as gladiators fought in the arenas. They also had a practice called “exposure” – taking an unwanted newborn to the dump and leaving them exposed to the elements and the rodents. Infanticide. But in the first century AD the church was accused of turning the world upside down (Acts 17:6). In time, … [Read more...]
Yes, one vote can save thousands of lives
EDITOR'S NOTE: Every vote matters. The last day to register to register to vote in the Nov. 5th general election is Oct. 9. Timothy Faber serves as legislative consultant for the Missouri Baptist Convention. This article was updated on Aug. 15. In recent months, 380,000 signatures have been submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office in an effort to add a right to abortion in Missouri’s constitution. The Missouri Secretary of State’s office announced Tuesday, Aug. 13, that pro-abortion … [Read more...]
Child victims deserve justice
EDITOR'S NOTE: Timothy Faber serves as the legislative liaison for the Missouri Baptist Convention. A lot of attention has been given to the attempt to make abortion a constitutional right in Missouri. And that is as it should be. We must continue to fight this effort with much prayer and every other legal means available. However that is not the only issue of importance in our state. Representative Wendy Hausman filed HJR132 back in February and it eventually passed the House on … [Read more...]
First-person: ‘I am opposed to abortion’
“We Did it! We won!" Such exclamations are often used by individuals who had absolutely nothing to do with the outcome. Identifying with a cause in that non-committal, generic sense is often done to show solidarity. They didn’t plan it. They didn’t contribute resources. They gave nothing of their own time or effort. The only way they can rightly shift from third person (they) to first person (we) is by identifying with the cause of others. Each year the Missouri Baptist Convention passes … [Read more...]
MBC’s Faber: Initiative petition reform in Missouri ‘would strengthen our republic’
EDITOR'S NOTE: Timothy Faber serves as the legislative liaison for the Missouri Baptist Convention. Currently, through Missouri's initiative petition process, pro-abortion advocates are laboring to enshrine the murder of pre-born children in Missouri's Constitution. Read more here. After numerous amendments and attempts at amendments, and after a 20-plus hour filibuster and much grand-standing, the Missouri Senate has finally passed SJR74 (Coleman – R, 22). With much less fanfare, the … [Read more...]
The devil’s in the details of state legislation
Life would be so much easier if everything was plain and evident, if there was a direct line from A to B. But Satan is a master at slight of hand, of doing things in secret. That old lion that prowls about, looking for someone to devour (1 Pet 5:8) is also master at hiding in the weeds, ready to pounce on unsuspecting pilgrims. One scheme he often uses is to get us so distracted that we don’t see what he is up to. Like a magician using slight of hand to deceive us and divert our attention … [Read more...]
Legislators fight to restrict marijuana within Missouri
EDITOR'S NOTE: Timothy Faber serves as legislative liaison for the Missouri Baptist Convention. JEFFERSON CITY – Every battle involves both offense and defense. Even in sports there is both offense and defense. But it seems all to often that in the culture war the people of God have been fighting on defense while allowing evil to fight on offense. But with rare exceptions – like a game winning interception in football – battles are not won by defense. Defense may slow the loss, but it will … [Read more...]