It is a gospel issue. We must understand in no uncertain terms that to capitulate on the issue of same-sex marriage or “Gay Rights” legislation as has been proposed in Springfield is to abandon the gospel. This is not a civil rights issue. This is not discrimination. This is not bigotry or religious fanaticism. The acceptance of homosexuality as a legitimate alternative lifestyle is a rejection of the gospel. The Bible teaches very clearly that God created everyone and everything that … [Read more...]
Is divorce equivalent to homosexuality?
This week my denomination, through its executive committee, voted to “disfellowship” a congregation in California that has acted to affirm same-sex sexual relationships. This sad but necessary move is hardly surprising, since this network of churches shares a Christian sexual ethic with all orthodox Christians of every denomination for 2,000 years. One of the arguments made by some, though, is that this is hypocritical since so many ministers in our tradition marry people who have been … [Read more...]
Reacting to NFL controversies
By now you’ve undoubtedly heard about the horrific video of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocking his then-fiancée unconscious inside a casino elevator. The Ravens have terminated Rice’s contract, and the NFL has placed him on indefinite suspension. Rice’s actions were reprehensible, and the NFL’s handling of the matter at this point has been questionable at best, and shameful at worst. Now, what should Christians make of all this? The first thing is perhaps the hardest but … [Read more...]
Children reflect home, church
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – II Tim. 2:15 As children return to school, they will demonstrate their upbringing at home. Those who attend church will show their church teaching as well. Most teachers can tell, rather quickly, the kind of environment and teaching a child has had. Our church children are a witness – either a good witness or not. If parents and churches want their children to … [Read more...]
What comes next is tyranny
The concepts of human rights and liberty as we know them can all be traced back to one history-changing idea; an idea that began with God’s revelation to the Jews and was brought to the world by the Christian Church. And that’s the Imago Dei, the idea that man is made in the image of God. In fact, it was the Christian concept of the Imago Dei that conquered pagan Rome. The Christians said that women, slaves, children, all had eternal value. Talk about revolutionary! This belief in … [Read more...]
Amidst the fire, fury, our hope is in the Savior
KANSAS CITY (BP) – This morning started with an uncomfortable conversation with my son. On the second day of school, his personal clothing choice was a bit sloppy and involved a hoodie. It shouldn’t have been a big deal. But it is. My son is an African-American young man. We talked about the tragedy over the weekend. A young black man died. Now Michael Brown’s name joins others like Trayvon Martin. We don’t know what led up to the shooting. We might question why the officer … [Read more...]
God works in us, therefore we work
From the earliest days of the church Christians have been debating the relationship between the power of God and our responsibilities as human beings in living the Christian life. Is the Christian life essentially a matter of passive trust, of getting out of the driver’s seat and letting Jesus take the wheel, or is it active obedience, just applying more discipline and effort to spiritual matters? Is living the Christian life all of God, all up to us, or some combination of both? This isn’t … [Read more...]
Five time-tested discipleship models
Editor’s Note: The following material was first introduced several years ago in a Discipleship Training Resource entitled, “Becoming a Disciple-making Church” by Steve J. Williams. It has been updated and is used by permission. This is the final of three articles. This week we will look at five models for disciple-making: Just over a generation ago most churches did disciple-making the same way. They did it in ongoing, age-graded groups that studied dated quarterlies and met on Sunday … [Read more...]
Plan to make disciples
Editor’s note: The following material was first introduced several years ago in a Discipleship Training Resource entitled, “Becoming a Disciple-making Church” by Steve J. Williams. It has been updated and is used by permission. This is the second of three articles. This article will look at four steps for making disciples: Step 1 – Refine your vision. All great disciple-making begins as a vision in someone’s heart. Every church needs a vision for disciple-making. It needs to be written … [Read more...]
Here’s offering four things disciple-making is not
Written by Mark Donnell, MBC Sunday School/Discipleship Specialist Editor’s note: The following is adapted from“Becoming a Disciple-Making Church,” by Steve J. Williams. It has been updated and is used by permission. This is the first of three articles. 1. Disciple-making is not a program. Some churches have equated discipleship and disciple-making with a church program for so long that it’s hard for them to think any other way. That’s too bad because biblical disciple-making is just too … [Read more...]
Vocationally called by God
In the Lord’s Prayer we are told to pray for our daily bread (Matt 6:11). This prayer is a model of what it means to trust and ask God to meet our needs, our physical and spiritual needs, by asking God to provide our most basic need, the need to eat. But how does God normally give us our daily bread? None of us got up this morning, went outside, and collected the daily bread that God deposited on our doorstep while we were sleeping. We either went to the refrigerator or drove somewhere to … [Read more...]
Christians and governments that criminalize homosexuality
By Doug Elders As an SBC pastor I am very disappointed in the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission’s recent article, What Should Christians Think of Governments That Criminalize Homosexuality? I strongly disagree with its perspective. I have been a Southern Baptist for nearly 40 years and have been so because we stand firmly on the unchanging authority of Scripture. I believe this article undermines very clear Biblical teaching about the abominable nature of homosexuality and … [Read more...]