PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (BP) — Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults think the Bible is “just another book of teachings written by people,” the American Bible Society (ABS) said in its latest release from the 2025 State of the Bible. More people are skeptical of the Bible’s teachings than those who think the Bible is “totally accurate in all the principles it presents,” ABS said Oct. 14 in releasing the study’s seventh chapter focused on trust. “A half-century ago, Americans generally trusted the … [Read more...]
U.S. urges release of jailed Chinese pastors
BEIJING (BP) – China falsely claimed Oct. 13 to protect religious freedoms after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged the country’s government to release several pastors arrested in house church raids. “The Chinese government governs religious affairs in accordance with law, protects the religious freedom of the citizens and the normal religious activities,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Monday at a regular briefing, MSN reported. “We firmly oppose the U.S. interfering in … [Read more...]
Amid incivility, reaffirm liberty of conscience
The assassination last month of Charlie Kirk brought many Americans face-to-face with a gruesome reality encountered all too often across the globe: namely, that a man might be killed simply for expressing what he believes to be true. “It would be a safe but sad bet that someone, somewhere in the world, is killing someone else at this very moment in the name of religion or ideology,” Os Guinness wrote in the first lines of his 2008 book, The Case for Civility. During the past century, … [Read more...]
Nik and Ruth Ripken encourage believers to follow Jesus, no matter the cost
by Leann Callaway LOUISVILLE , Ky. (BP) – As retired International Mission Board missionaries Nik and Ruth Ripken speak in a variety of small group settings, churches and conferences, they desire to share practical insights with prospective missionaries about what to expect mentally, physically and spiritually. They especially want to prepare people for those areas where believers face extreme persecution and suffering. That’s a story they know all too well. Originally from … [Read more...]
‘Prince of Peace’ only hope for Israel and Hamas, Messianic and Christian leaders say
TEL AVIV, Israel (BP) – Avi Mizrachi, a Messianic believer and founding pastor of Adonai Roi Congregation in Tel Aviv, finds it difficult to commemorate the Oct. 7 second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. “It’s a sad day, because we remember that so many people have been killed, so many people have been slaughtered,” Mizrachi said. “People are crying. “Every Israeli, believer or not believer, we want the war to end. We are tired. For two years, we are tired.” When Mizrachi … [Read more...]
Research reveals factors causing pastors to say, ‘I quit’
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Lifeway Research) – Few pastors step away from the pulpit, but what compels those who quit? Lifeway Research found only 1.1% of all U.S. Protestant pastors leave pastoral ministry before retirement age each year. Analysis comparing Lifeway Research’s studies of current and former Protestant pastors reveals factors that predict the likelihood of leaving pastoral ministry. “Experts can theorize what keeps pastors in the pulpit, but only a comparison of pastors who … [Read more...]
Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition arrives at Museum of the Bible
WASHINGTON (BP) – Dead Sea Scroll fragments and hundreds of other artifacts will be on display starting Nov. 22 at the Museum of the Bible’s “Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition,” brought in partnership with the Israel Antiquities Authority. “The exhibition provides an extraordinary window into the life and faith of ancient Israel, Jewish faith practices and the early Christian church,” said Carlos Campo, CEO of Museum of the Bible. “Visitors will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to … [Read more...]
Evangelical support for Israel constant, but future shift indicated, new study finds
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. (BP) – U.S. Evangelicals are as supportive of Israel as they were four years ago, Infinity Concepts and Grey Matter found in their latest poll, although findings portend a possible generational shift. The 49 percent of evangelicals who view Jews as God’s chosen people is statistically unchanged from the 51 percent who said the same in 2021, Ron Sellers, president of Grey Matter Research Consulting, told Baptist Press. “Even with all of the various things and how … [Read more...]
Americans’ beliefs about God revert to pre-pandemic norms
Two in 3 U.S. adults say God accepts worship of all religions; many display confusion about Trinity BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Lifeway Research) — U.S. adults don’t think God changes. Their beliefs about the divine have basically stayed the same, as well. The latest State of Theology study from Lifeway Research and Ligonier Ministries finds significant stability across a wide range of theological beliefs. Societal changes following the COVID-19 pandemic led to several theological shifts in the … [Read more...]
SWBTS chapel service celebrates 1700th anniversary of Nicene Creed
FORT WORTH, Texas (SWBTS) – The Sept. 9 chapel service at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary was a celebration of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which gave Christians a foundational statement summarizing biblical truth about the Trinity, and especially Jesus Christ. Malcolm Yarnell, research professor of theology at Southwestern who has written and spoken extensively on the topic, preached a message drawn from passages in Paul’s letter to the Colossians. In … [Read more...]
First-Person: ‘Why Am I A Southern Baptist?’
EDITOR'S NOTE: Recently, Midwestern Seminary & Spurgeon College hosted a chapel panel discussion on the topic, “Why We are Southern Baptist.” This article by Jason Duesing expands upon his comments during the chapel session and is based on his course lectures and essays written over the last two decades. Watch the full panel here. Why am I a Southern Baptist? This is one question I ask students taking the required Baptist history class I teach. I ask it because every generation of … [Read more...]
State of the Church: Gen Z and Millennials attend church more than older adults
BOULDER, Colo. (BP) – For the first time in decades, Gen Z and Millennials are attending church more frequently than older adults, Barna and Gloo reported Sept. 3 from its latest State of the Church research. But despite the rise, the average Christian still only attends church 1.6 time per month, or twice every five weeks, researchers said. “We were able to analyze our data in a fresh way to show what many pastors feel — that even really regular churchgoers do not attend that often. … [Read more...]
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