EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the sixth in a series of articles on the various denominations in North America, written by Robert W. Caldwell III, who serves as professor of church history at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. We begin the this part of our series on “American Denominations and Other Religious Movements” by examining those groups which originated in the United States. The first movement we will examine was an attempt to be an anti-denomination, that is, they were trying … [Read more...]
Barna Study: What do self-described Christian Parents in America Actually Believe?
GLENDALE, Ariz. (Cultural Research Center) – Data released recently from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University revealed not only that America’s preteens are confused by the contradiction between their parents’ actions/lifestyles and their self-identified Christian beliefs, but a staggering disparity between the number of parents who claim to be Christian (67%) and those who actually possess a biblical worldview (2%). So, what do the parents of America’s preteens … [Read more...]
Series on Baptist Faith & Message coming to Pathway, April 26
JEFFERSON CITY – A series of articles outlining the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 is coming to The Pathway, beginning with the April 26 print edition. The series is designed to help Missouri Baptists better understand and teach this historic Southern Baptist confession of faith. During the 2021 MBC Annual Meeting in Branson, messengers affirmed a resolution encouraging all Missouri Baptist pastors “to consistently provide instruction to their congregations on the content of the Baptist … [Read more...]
An ‘Affair of Sausages’: Early evangelicals defended ‘Christian liberty’ during the season of Lent
ZURICH, Switzerland – By 1523, the Protestant revolt against the medieval Catholic church had taken hold across Europe, and evangelicals (that is, early Protestants) in the Swiss city of Basel celebrated Ash Wednesday like never before. In “nine great heaps,” they piled together wooden religious sculptures from across the city, deriding them as “idols” of the medieval Catholic church. And there, according to a report decades later by the English evangelical John Foxe, “all the stocks and … [Read more...]
Media outrage explodes over governor’s ‘Christian values’ statement
Never has so much been said and written about so few words. Say something that the liberal news media dislikes and a piranha-like frenzy commences. Take, for example, words articulated by Gov. Mike Parson: “Missourians know that I share these beliefs and would not have nominated someone who does not share the same Christian values.” This “micro-aggression” triggered an outrageous onslaught, implying something patently false. It is yet another example of why the public does not trust the … [Read more...]
‘Living inside the cage’: Afghanistan tops Christian persecution list
SANTA ANA, Calif. (BP) – The Christian refugee hopped on one of the last flights out of Afghanistan to save his life and family. Since the Taliban regained rule there, Christians are hunted down and killed. “It’s really hard when you want to have freedom of faith and freely read our Bibles, freely share our faith,” he said at a Jan. 19th press conference revealing Opens Doors’ 2022 Watch List of the top countries for Christian persecution. “It’s really dangerous because you know, you’re … [Read more...]
Methodism: John Wesley’s plan to bring Christ’s holiness to the world
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fifth in a series of articles on the various denominations in North America, written by Robert W. Caldwell III, who serves as professor of church history at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. What is Methodism? Methodism is a Protestant denomination that formed in England during the middle of the 1700s. Originally, it was a highly-devotional and energetic evangelical movement which sought to inspire a deep evangelical ethos within the Church of England. … [Read more...]
China asserts more control over clergy through new rules
WASHINGTON (BP) – Regulations issued this year by China have intensified the communist government’s control of clergy among the five state-authorized religious groups and have effectively prohibited the work of pastors and leaders of unregistered churches and other entities, according to a new report. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a bipartisan panel appointed by the president and congressional leaders, released a fact sheet Oct. 29 on Chinese rules that … [Read more...]
‘Here I stand’: Martin Luther’s stand for Bible’s authority inspires Missouri Baptists after 500 years
WORMS, Germany – Martin Luther was as good as dead. In fact, soon after he testified before the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V on April 17, 1521, many people believed he actually was dead. This man, who took his stand on the authority of Scripture and defied Europe’s most powerful rulers, had suddenly disappeared. Controversy begins: Luther’s 95 Theses A few years earlier, on Oct. 31, 1517, Luther unintentionally rocked the foundations of the European church and its leadership in Rome … [Read more...]
God the Son as Creator
This is another in a series of excerpts from “What Every Christian Should Know About the Trinity,” published by the MBC’s High Street Press (visit highstreet.press). In the last column, we explored God the Father as creator. Now, let’s consider the first of several passages that reveal the Son as creator. John 1:3 – “All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” After establishing that Jesus is both eternal and divine, as well … [Read more...]
Congregationalism: Self-governing churches ‘gathered’ under Christ’s rule
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth in a series of articles on the various denominations in North America, written by Robert W. Caldwell III, who serves as professor of church history at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. What is Congregationalism? In church history, the term Congregationalism refers to that form of ecclesiastical polity (or church governance) which envisions the church’s spiritual authority to reside in the local congregation. According to Congregationalists, … [Read more...]
Rise of ‘nones’ might be waning, State of the Bible 2021 suggests
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (BP) – The rise of the “nones” or religiously unaffiliated might be waning, the American Bible Society (ABS) said in findings focused on Gen Z in the 2021 State of the Bible report. Gen Z members also haven’t decided whether Scripture can help sustain American ideals including democracy and justice, nor whether the Bible is truer than the Koran and the Book of Mormon, ABS said in releasing the data Tuesday (Aug. 10). Historically a study of how adults interact with … [Read more...]
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