Society & Culture Stories

Ethics

Trump admin seeks stay, dismissal of two more pro-life lawsuits against abortion pill

The U.S. Justice Department is fighting Florida and Texas challenges to the safety of the abortion pill mifepristone, compounding the Trump administration’s resistance to pro-life challenges by at least four other states.
Faith

Lifeway Research finds churchgoers aim to serve in and out of church

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.
Columnists

FIRST-PERSON: Pastors should be able to opt back in to Social Security

The Clergy Act, introduced by Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA-20) and Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) is a bipartisan bill that offers a second chance for clergy members to revoke their previous Social Security exemption. If signed into law, the bill would open a one-time re-enrollment window for two years where clergy could opt back in and start contributing to Social Security. Then, after meeting withdrawal eligibility, including 10 years of contributions for full retired-workers benefits, they can draw Social Security benefits proportional with their contributions.
Ethics

EXPLAINER: Protecting children through the 2026 Chloe Cole Act

The Chloe Cole Act of 2026, named for the advocate Chloe Cole who has publicly shared about the horrors of being pushed into “transitioning” in her early teens, prohibits gender transition procedures for minors through regulating interstate commerce. Cole will visit the Missouri Baptist Convention's Hannibal-LaGrange University, March 25, as the featured speaker for the school's latest Free Society events.
Faith

‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ even better than original

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.
Faith

Group caught amid Iran attacks now headed back to U.S.

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.
Faith

Calls for prayer as U.S. and Israel strike Iran, face retaliation

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.
Ethics

Protesting: How should churches respond?

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. This remarkable action should lead Christians and churches to think clearly about what the Bible says regarding protesting and how churches should biblically respond.
Policy

Bills criminalizing protests during worship services proceed through states

A bill that passed the Alabama House of Representatives on Feb. 24 and criminalizes disrupting a worship service is one of several that states are considering after a protest inside a Southern Baptist church last month.
Policy

Trump talks faith, gender transitions, IVF in State of the Union

The contemporary revival of American society includes revivals of faith and traditional morality, President Donald Trump said Feb. 24 in his State of the Union address.
International

MBC’s Phillips sees third apologetics book translated into Iran’s Farsi language

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.
Ethics

Major medical group comes out against gender transition for minors

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has issued a statement recommending its members delay gender-reassignment surgeries for patients until the age of 19.

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