You know the one - the fish emblem that has symbolized Christianity since late in the first century, when believers used it as a code to identify one another in the midst of persecution.   It is a natural symbol. You know the one - the fish emblem that has symbolized Christianity since late in the first century, when believers used it as a code to identify one another in the midst of persecution.   It is a natural symbol.   For one thing, the Bible says Jesus called the disciples "fishers of men." In addition, the early Christians noticed that the Greek spelling of the word "fish" - icthus - is an acrostic for "Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior."   So it was that the fish symbol was pretty much the exclusive property of Christendom for almost 2,000 years - until it began to show up on car bumpers, lapel pins, coffee cups and tee-shirts in this modern, commercial age.   Soon, a challenger appeared. In a tribute to evolution, the familiar fish outline was given feet. And instead of "ICTHUS," the word "DARWIN" began to appear inside.   The fish wars began.   A California designer created the Darwin fish in about 1992. A Santa Cruz mail-order … [Read more...]

AVatican document issued earlier this month is not setting well with Southern Baptists and other evangelicals and Protestants.   The 36-page document declares that persons can attain full salvation only through the Catholic Church and that other faiths - including Protestant ones - have defects that place followers in a "gravely deficient situation" regarding salvation. AVatican document issued earlier this month is not setting well with Southern Baptists and other evangelicals and Protestants.   The 36-page document declares that persons can attain full salvation only through the Catholic Church and that other faiths - including Protestant ones - have defects that place followers in a "gravely deficient situation" regarding salvation.   The document is designed to counter what it calls "religious relativism." It was released by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the principal Vatican body for defining and upholding theological tradition.   Vatican officials said the document is the culmination of two years of study and has the explicit approval of 80-year-old Pope John Paul II. It is entitled "Declaration Dominus Iesus (Lord … [Read more...]

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leaders have resisted calling their organization a denomination - and breaking formally from the Southern Baptist Convention.   However, the time for such a clear break is closer, suggested Daniel Vestal, leader of the moderate/conservative organization. Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leaders have resisted calling their organization a denomination - and breaking formally from the Southern Baptist Convention.   However, the time for such a clear break is closer, suggested Daniel Vestal, leader of the moderate/conservative organization.   The group must build an identity that more clearly distinguishes it from the Southern Baptist Convention, Vestal said recently.   Vestal acknowledged he has resisted the "denomination" title. "I have said we are ‘denomination-like’ in that we provide services that an organized structure, which we have traditionally called a convention or a denomination, have provided."   Despite such reluctance, Vestal said he now senses "a great yearning" among Fellowship supporters "for us to define ourselves and to separate more clearly from the Southern Baptist Convention. ...   "There is this great … [Read more...]

Support for school vouchers is waning, with a majority of Americans now opposing the use of public funds to pay tuition at private schools, according to a recent survey. Support for school vouchers is waning, with a majority of Americans now opposing the use of public funds to pay tuition at private schools, according to a recent survey.   Americans believe the biggest problem facing the nation’s public schools is inadequate funding, according to poll results released Aug. 21. Phi Delta Kappa, a professional education organization, conducted the survey in conjunction with the Gallup Organization, a polling firm based in Princeton, N.J.   Fifty-two percent of those surveyed said they oppose "allowing parents to send their children to a private, or church-related school with the government paying all or part of the tuition." Meanwhile, 45 percent favor school vouchers, according to the survey. Those figures are reversed from last year’s survey, in which 51 percent supported and 47 percent opposed vouchers.   More than three-fourths (76 percent) said if private or church-related schools accept funds from the government, they should be accountable to the state in the same way as public … [Read more...]

A prayer movement is hitting high school gridirons this fall as Christians in numerous states are joining in a recitation of the Lord’s Prayer immediately following the playing of the National Anthem.   The result is igniting a church-state firestorm. A prayer movement is hitting high school gridirons this fall as Christians in numerous states are joining in a recitation of the Lord’s Prayer immediately following the playing of the National Anthem.   The result is igniting a church-state firestorm.   The movement is in response to a June ruling by the United States Supreme Court that ruled school-sponsored prayer before high school games were unconstitutional.   Now, the American Civil Liberties Union is sniffing around the prayer movement for any involvement by school officials, which would run counter to the court’s ruling.   In turn, the American Center for Law and Justice led by evangelical Jay Sekulow is committing itself to defend any school district that is sued for permitting spontaneous prayer at high school football games.   The prayer movement has been promoted by various groups and individuals, including the National Day of Prayer Task … [Read more...]

'People were incredibly candid,some relating experiences they had never shared before'   A new television special examines in detail the Sept. 15, 1999, shootings at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth - and the inspiring testimonies of the survivors. 'People were incredibly candid,some relating experiences they had never shared before'   A new television special examines in detail the Sept. 15, 1999, shootings at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth - and the inspiring testimonies of the survivors.   Titled " ... and a time to heal," the one-hour special was produced by the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board and was released this week to ABC network affiliates nationwide. Individual stations will decide local air dates and times.   The Southern Baptist board produces two television programs each year for network distribution as part of the Interfaith Broadcast Commission. The Wedgwood special differs in its intense emotional impact - as well as the personal involvement of several North American Mission Board staffers who are members of Wedgwood.   One of those is Martin Coleman, author of the script and director of the board’s production team. … [Read more...]

The tobacco industry has taken severe hits during the last decade, and deservedly so. This industry has pushed a product that is a killer and a health wrecker. States and individuals have successfully brought charges against tobacco companies because their officials lied about their own studies that show tobacco is highly addictive and deadly. The tobacco industry has taken severe hits during the last decade, and deservedly so. This industry has pushed a product that is a killer and a health wrecker. States and individuals have successfully brought charges against tobacco companies because their officials lied about their own studies that show tobacco is highly addictive and deadly. So why does the liquor industry waltz down the financial avenue of American with immunity from its liability for basically aping the tobacco industry?   Alcohol kills 100,000 Americans a year from disease and alcohol-related accidents. In 1996, 41 percent of all U.S. traffic fatalities were alcohol related, according to an article in TIME, October 1997. Drunk driving kills 17,000 people a year. Some police officials estimate that as high as three of five of all calls they receive are related to alcohol or other drugs. … [Read more...]

The Ile de France team is seeking to reach out to the executive population of the Paris area. This includes leaders and professionals in business, government and universities. The challenge is how to make contact with this segment of society and to involve those who are not active in any religious quest to become active in seeking the Truth of God. The Ile de France team is seeking to reach out to the executive population of the Paris area. This includes leaders and professionals in business, government and universities. The challenge is how to make contact with this segment of society and to involve those who are not active in any religious quest to become active in seeking the Truth of God.   The Paris team plans to reach out by enlisting Christian Americans living and working in Paris to use their contacts to work with their French counterparts as an outreach effort. One approach among several will be to have American conduct home Bible studies with French work associates and neighbors as a way of encouraging religious inspiration.   We need your help. If you are living or moving to Paris, France and are interested in this work, please contact us. If you know of Americans or other … [Read more...]

Re: Letter dated August 13, titled "Absurd Conclusion" and letter dated August 27, titled "Shifting Blame."   These two authors, both pastors, have a strong focus - apparently to define or save the Southern Baptist religion. Re: Letter dated August 13, titled "Absurd Conclusion" and letter dated August 27, titled "Shifting Blame."   These two authors, both pastors, have a strong focus - apparently to define or save the Southern Baptist religion.   I would like to ask all participants in the mainstreamer vs. fundamentalist ideologies: If you were totally focused on doing the Lord’s will, how much time would you have left to participate in a theological battle? Believers should ponder this question: What does an issue so divisive that it pits believers in Christ against fellow believers in Christ have to do with doing God’s will? If you answered either question and do not like your answer, then good. I believe you are headed in the right direction.   In Revelation 2:4, Jesus tells the church of Ephesus, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast lost the first love." The members of the church of Ephesus apparently lost their focus, and this verse is a stark reminder … [Read more...]

I was both inspired and encouraged by the article in the Sept. 7 issue of the Baptist Message which told of the summer missions trip to Wales by the team from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The pastor of the church in Wales, Rev. Tom McManus, who is, incidentally, a graduate of NOBTS, has shared with me on numerous occasions the great need that exists in Wales, for God’s word to be spread among the people of that tiny country. I was both inspired and encouraged by the article in the Sept. 7 issue of the Baptist Message which told of the summer missions trip to Wales by the team from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The pastor of the church in Wales, Rev. Tom McManus, who is, incidentally, a graduate of NOBTS, has shared with me on numerous occasions the great need that exists in Wales, for God’s word to be spread among the people of that tiny country. Tom and his family were, first, Southern Baptist missionaries to Wales but chose to remain following their tenure with the Foreign Mission Board. There is a tremendous work at Bethel Baptist church but as in every case, so much more to be done. We’ve been invited many times to travel to Wales to share in the work there, so it was with much joy … [Read more...]