NASHVILLE (BP) – Americans may be rethinking their affinity for marijuana, evidenced by a New York Times reversal on the issue and a study suggesting scant evidence supporting medical marijuana’s use in mental health. Motives for the reconsideration vary, said Ray Hacke, an attorney with the Pacific Justice Institute, a Christian legal organization. “I don’t know that marijuana is a moral good any more than alcohol is a moral good,” Hacke told Baptist Press. “People are looking at it … [Read more...]
State of the Bible: Growth in Bible use reverses in 2026, but trend uncertain
PHILADELPHIA (BP) — An increase in personal Bible use in the U.S. in 2025 was short-lived, the American Bible Society said in its latest State of the Bible release, with newest engagement numbers receding to 2024 levels. But ABS isn’t ready to call it a loss. Instead, “it’s complicated,” ABS researchers said in summarizing the data from Chapter 1 of the 2026 report. “People who newly opened the Bible last year may have since closed it. But they themselves remain open,” researchers … [Read more...]
‘Almost nobody is tithing,’ Grey Matter finds, but decline in evangelical giving slows
EXPORT, Pa. (BP) – Evangelical giving has stabilized after several years of significant decline, but almost no one gives a biblical tithe to the church, a new study from Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts found. Ron Sellers, Grey Matter Research president, said he finds it sort of “tragically funny” that Christians debate what the tithe is, whether it’s giving to church alone or church and secular philanthropic concerns. Is it based on the net, or the gross income? “And my … [Read more...]
Lifeway Research finds growing number of churchgoers face doubts
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Lifeway Resources) — When facing difficult circumstances, most churchgoers still trust in God’s love and provision. Some, however, begin to question God’s character and involvement in their lives, and their number has grown in recent years. Lifeway Research’s State of Discipleship revealed exercising faith as one of eight signposts that measure characteristics evident in believers who are progressing in their spiritual maturity. The average churchgoers scores 71.6 out … [Read more...]
Facebook, Instagram parent company ordered to pay $375 million for endangering children
SANTA FE, New Mexico (BP) – Meta knowingly misled consumers about the safety of its online platforms and therefore endangered children, a jury decision rendered on March 24. Therefore, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram will pay $375 million in civil penalties, the maximum amount of $5,000 per violation. “The jury’s verdict is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety,” said New Mexico Attorney … [Read more...]
Lifeway Research finds churchgoers aim to serve in and out of church
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Lifeway Research) — Most churchgoers say they’re looking for ways to serve God as well as the people in their churches and communities, but many still struggle to make that a reality. Serving God and others is one of eight key signposts measuring distinct characteristics for believers progressing in their spiritual maturity, according to the Lifeway Research State of Discipleship study. The average U.S. Protestant churchgoer scores 73.1 out of 100 in serving God and … [Read more...]
‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ even better than original
KANSAS CITY – Two things are quite rare in movie theaters: a sequel that is better than the initial film, and a faith-based movie with the cast, story and execution to live up to its admirable goals. I Can Only Imagine 2, I’m quite pleased to tell you, does both. I Can Only Image 2 has a rather … un-imaginative title, but it does let us know what we’re in for. It follows up on 2018’s based-on-a-true story, I Can Only Imagine. That film showed contemporary Christian band MercyMe’s lead … [Read more...]
Group caught amid Iran attacks now headed back to U.S.
CAIRO, Egypt (BP) – After 17 trips to a bomb shelter over 36 hours and a man named Moses leading them into Egypt, a group of weary pastors and their wives are headed back to the United States. Members of the group led by former Send Relief President Bryant Wright had just finished taking rooftop pictures from the Old City in Jerusalem when U.S. and Israeli missiles killed many Iranian senior leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian responses forced the group … [Read more...]
Calls for prayer as U.S. and Israel strike Iran, face retaliation
JERUSALEM (BP) – A group of Southern Baptist pastors and their spouses, including former Send Relief President Bryant Wright, sheltered in place in Jerusalem Saturday morning (Feb. 28) as the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran. Within hours, Iran responded with strikes on U.S. and Israeli targets across the Middle East. Bryant is leading the group of around 27 pastors and their wives, South Carolina pastor Josh Powell told Baptist Press via text. “Early this … [Read more...]
Protesting: How should churches respond?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Read the latest about the aftermath of the unexpected protest inside a church in St. Paul, Minn., here: "Bills criminalizing protests during worship services proceed through states" The Evangelical world was shocked on Jan. 18, 2026, when a group of roughly 30 protestors invaded Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., during a worship service. While Christians aren’t surprised when unbelievers sin, we were shocked to see the sacred space of religious worship attacked so blatantly. … [Read more...]
MBC’s Phillips sees third apologetics book translated into Iran’s Farsi language
JEFFERSON CITY – When Rob Phillips began writing books to help Christians defend their faith he never foresaw some of his titles being translated into Farsi, the modern Persian language of Iran. Following the publication last year of his first book into Farsi, a second is being finalized for publication, and a third – What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus – is being translated from English. The Apologist’s Tool Kit was Phillips’ first book to be translated and … [Read more...]
Church of England abandons pursuit of spiritual blessings for same-sex couples
LONDON (BP) – The Church of England has abandoned a three-year effort to establish church blessings for same-sex couples after voting in early 2023 to pursue such ceremonies, the church reported. The Anglican denomination continues to reject gay marriage, a decision it affirmed in 2023 while instead voting to pursue blessings. The vote to end the pursuit closed three years of work in the broader Living in Love and Faith (LLF) initiative regarding identity, sexuality, relationships and … [Read more...]
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