Last week’s editorial pointed out that Baptist churches are part of what many call the "free" tradition of worship. Basically, this means each congregation interprets the Bible’s meaning of worship for itself, arranges the orders of worship and decides the style of worship best suited for its people. Last week’s editorial pointed out that Baptist churches are part of what many call the "free" tradition of worship. Basically, this means each congregation interprets the Bible’s meaning of worship for itself, arranges the orders of worship and decides the style of worship best suited for its people. This free style of worship has been a strong shaper of our history and a key component in our ability to establish and grow churches among all educational, social and intellectual people groups. This approach to worship also has encouraged most Baptist churches to avoid any worship exercise or activity that could be identified as liturgical or high church. About as close to high church as most Baptist churches came in the past was singing the doxology during every Sunday morning worship and praying together the Lord’s Model Prayer. This has not included all churches, because in the free worship tradition, churches … [Read more...]

Seminary Extension will celebrate its 50th Anniversary next June at the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans. State conventions, associations, Extension Centers and churches will have their own 50th Celebrations anytime between now and the end of 2001 - honoring past and present students, teachers and administrators. Seminary Extension will celebrate its 50th Anniversary next June at the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans. State conventions, associations, Extension Centers and churches will have their own 50th Celebrations anytime between now and the end of 2001 - honoring past and present students, teachers and administrators.   Right now I am collecting information about some of the early Seminary Extension students, so they can be honored at these celebrations. One of these is Seminary Extension’s first student, Wayne Upton, a serviceman, who enrolled in Old Testament as a correspondence student in September, 1951.   Perhaps a reader can provide me with information and/or a photograph of him. I also want information and photographs pertaining to Louisiana’s Seminary Extension students, teachers and events that took place in the 1950s and 1960s.   Your readers can … [Read more...]

I am writing a letter to every pastor in the Louisiana Baptist Convention encouraging them to set up a voter registration table in each church. Voter registration is very easy. It involves one simple form to be mailed to the local parish clerk of court. I am writing a letter to every pastor in the Louisiana Baptist Convention encouraging them to set up a voter registration table in each church. Voter registration is very easy. It involves one simple form to be mailed to the local parish clerk of court.   A recent survey has revealed that only 50 percent of the Christian population are registered to vote. Of the 50 percent that are registered, only 50 percent of them vote. This means that only 25 percent of our Christian population participate in the election process.   Regardless of your party affiliation or the candidates for which you plan to vote, each of us should register and cast our vote in every election. T.C. "Tommy" French Jr. President Louisiana Baptist Convention … [Read more...]

RE: Sunday, September 17 Anti-Gambling Day in the Southern Baptist Convention.   I understand it is not primarily to prevent Southern Baptists gambling that one day. RE: Sunday, September 17 Anti-Gambling Day in the Southern Baptist Convention.   I understand it is not primarily to prevent Southern Baptists gambling that one day.   What can Southern Baptists and other religion groups do about gambling? Quit, pray about yourself and others, preach about it, teach about it, vote about it every opportunity, talk with state representatives and other leaders, minister to people with the problem and don’t get used to it.   It’s a loser! In 1998 people lost $50 billion dollars in legal gambling, and more in 1999. Add to that the accompanying costs in unemployment benefits, welfare benefits, health problems (mental and physical), theft, embezzlement, unpaid debts, bankruptcy, domestic violence, child abuse, suicide and loss of self-esteem. I have seen firsthand what it does to individuals and families, and you have, too.   What’s bad about it? The National Research Council estimates "as many as 1.1 million adolescents between 12 and 18 exhibited pathological gambling … [Read more...]

Re: Scott Shaver’s letter to the editor, Baptist Message 8/24/00   Wow! Let me see if I understand what is being said here. ... Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leaders admit that some CBF funds are being used to support the pro-homosexual "Baptist Peace Fellowship." And then Scott Shaver excuses this, trying to shift blame by saying that Cooperative Program funds are being used to support the Baptist World Alliance. Re: Scott Shaver’s letter to the editor, Baptist Message 8/24/00   Wow! Let me see if I understand what is being said here. ... Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leaders admit that some CBF funds are being used to support the pro-homosexual "Baptist Peace Fellowship." And then Scott Shaver excuses this, trying to shift blame by saying that Cooperative Program funds are being used to support the Baptist World Alliance.   Sounds to me like that is what the argument presented boils down to.   So, since when do two wrongs make a right?   Some Southern Baptists are working very hard to correct such problems rather than tolerate, excuse, or condone them. This is the purpose of my motion, presented to the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando this past June. … [Read more...]

Each year, hundreds of ambitious actors, singers and entertainers look for a sign - the Hollywood sign, to be more specific.   They leave their homes and familiar surroundings to venture into the murky waters of the Los Angeles film industry. Many eventually fail in their attempts to fulfill dreams of fame and fortune. Each year, hundreds of ambitious actors, singers and entertainers look for a sign - the Hollywood sign, to be more specific.   They leave their homes and familiar surroundings to venture into the murky waters of the Los Angeles film industry. Many eventually fail in their attempts to fulfill dreams of fame and fortune.   But while many Christians avoid Tinsletown altogether, there is a growing number who have moved out west not to be discovered but to answer a call bigger than any casting director could make. These include Jimmy Duke, assistant director at Inter-Mission, a Christian film organization.   A 1998 graduate of Union University in Jackson, Tenn., Duke said the entertainment industry is a mission field that has been neglected by Christians for far too long.   "Christians are always complaining about the content of television and film, … [Read more...]

Hollywood often is criticized in religious circles as lacking moral scruples - but there is a contingent in the entertainment industry that takes right and wrong seriously.   Indeed, nearly 200 people in the entertainment industry - many of them committed Christians - gathered last month in Beverly Hills, Calif., for a first-time conference titled "Content and Conscience: Toward Ethics of Screenwriting." Hollywood often is criticized in religious circles as lacking moral scruples - but there is a contingent in the entertainment industry that takes right and wrong seriously.   Indeed, nearly 200 people in the entertainment industry - many of them committed Christians - gathered last month in Beverly Hills, Calif., for a first-time conference titled "Content and Conscience: Toward Ethics of Screenwriting."   Most participants were writers, but a smattering of producers, directors and actors also came to wrestle with complexities of producing honest and compelling entertainment that affirms Judeo-Christian values in the secular media.   "The Columbine (school shooting) incident was a watershed moment for this industry," conference coordinator Jimmy Duke said. "It made … [Read more...]

A 24-member Baptist cycling crew set out from Kingsport, Tenn., on June 24 with one mission in mind - to ride their bicycles from the eastern corner of the state to the western one, sharing Christ along the way.   "When we first started, we all basically knew each other, ... but by the end of the week it became not just about us," says Mary Beth Hettinger, a recent high school graduate. "It was about everybody finishing, and it was about the team." A 24-member Baptist cycling crew set out from Kingsport, Tenn., on June 24 with one mission in mind - to ride their bicycles from the eastern corner of the state to the western one, sharing Christ along the way.   "When we first started, we all basically knew each other, ... but by the end of the week it became not just about us," says Mary Beth Hettinger, a recent high school graduate. "It was about everybody finishing, and it was about the team."   The idea of a youth team biking across Tennessee started in the heart and mind of Rick Wiggins, a member of Brentwood Baptist Church in middle Tennessee. Wiggins professes a love of racing bicycles - and this spring, he conceived the idea of a cross-state bicycle trip.   However, … [Read more...]