Much has been written and discussed about how many people are rejecting - or sometimes re-interpreting - the gospel message these days. In a time of "fashion-your-own-religion" and "whatever-works-for-you philosophies," it is a concern. Much has been written and discussed about how many people are rejecting - or sometimes re-interpreting - the gospel message these days. In a time of "fashion-your-own-religion" and "whatever-works-for-you philosophies," it is a concern. However, Alan Streett has an additional concern - about the disregard evangelicals themselves are showing the true New Testament gospel these days. "If Jesus and the apostles walked the earth today, one wonders if they would recognize the gospel being preached by most American evangelicals," said Streett, chair and professor of evangelism at Criswell College, in Dallas. Indeed, the central focus on the New Testament gospel is largely absent from the message being presented by many American evangelicals, Streett maintained. In short, no one is talking about the kingdom of God. "While the kingdom of God was the central theme of all gospel preaching in the New Testament, it has … [Read more...]
Targeting missions
Targeting missions: Louisiana Baptist women gather for annual meeting to celebrate past year, focus on challenge of taking the gospel to the world Cindy Townsend challenged Louisiana Baptist women to share the gospel at home and beyond during the recent annual state Womans Missionary Union meeting. "As we focus on celebrating missions, lets think about those who have gone before us in recent days that God has called home," said Townsend, Louisiana Baptist Convention director of womens missions and ministries. "We are here to celebrate missions but were also here to remember. And when we remember, we reflect." Townsend spoke on Friday evening, the first of three sessions held at First Baptist Church of Pineville. The LBC womens missions and ministry office estimated that 800 to 1,000 persons registered for the annual meeting, which featured testimonies, reports, music and interpretations on the "Targeting Missions" theme. The meeting focused on Acts 1:8 - sharing the gospel with others in ones community, in the state, in North America and in the world. The meeting also featured a party honoring Girls in Action on its 90th birthday and a commissioning service … [Read more...]
Act responsibly
On March 16, I was one of the concerned supporters demonstrating on the lawn of the Louisiana College Alumni Center, standing in support of academic freedom for faculty... On March 16, I was one of the concerned supporters demonstrating on the lawn of the Louisiana College Alumni Center, standing in support of academic freedom for faculty, to encourage students and to pray for decisionmakers in wake of the turmoil, including the resignations of school Vice President Ben Hawkins and President Rory Lee. My concern for the college escalated when I became aware that a trustee tried to call a special meeting of the board (March 19), during which a permanent president of the school could be elected. I am appalled that consideration could be given to electing a permanent president only days after the resignation of the president. To elect a president while bypassing the search committee would be a clear violation of the college bylaws. I hope and pray that LC trustees will take very seriously the matter of searching for a president, as well as all other matters impacting the faculty and students. We cannot ignore that a crisis exists. We must act as responsible … [Read more...]
Joining the list
I want to add my name to others like Grace Lee, Rebecca McCullin, Diane Reeder and Janet Hoffman who oppose the Southern Baptist Executive Committee decision on Baptist World Alliance. I want to add my name to others like Grace Lee, Rebecca McCullin, Diane Reeder and Janet Hoffman who oppose the Southern Baptist Executive Committee decision on Baptist World Alliance. I am not in favor of past decisions to withdraw from other world Baptist groups. As a convention, we certainly ought to be able to work with others. Shirley Williams New Orleans, La. … [Read more...]
Maintain fellowship
Withholding of funds and ultimate withdrawal from the Baptist World Alliance is like driving backwards. Just when the secularists and Muslims all over the world are clearly "them" and Jesus people of all Christian identities are the "us," we need to affirm "Jesus is Lord" together, not with prideful separation. Withholding of funds and ultimate withdrawal from the Baptist World Alliance is like driving backwards. Just when the secularists and Muslims all over the world are clearly "them" and Jesus people of all Christian identities are the "us," we need to affirm "Jesus is Lord" together, not with prideful separation. In 1970, my wife and I, along with many other Baptist military chaplains had the privilege of attending the Baptist World Alliance Congress in Tokyo, the first time for such an event in an Asian city. Baptists from more than 80 countries presented their flags, set in orderly display. It was an awesome experience. But when the Soviet flag was presented, an agonizing voice behind us and farther up in the "nose-bleed" section, cried out "Stop! Stop! That flag bears the blood of your Christian brothers! Stop! Stop!" We learned from some of his Australian brothers that he had … [Read more...]
‘A historic event’ – new Bible translation unveiled
New Bible translations are a rarity - there only have been seven pure translations in the past 570 years. That made the recent unveiling of the complete Holman Christian Standard Bible something special. New Bible translations are a rarity - there only have been seven pure translations in the past 570 years. That made the recent unveiling of the complete Holman Christian Standard Bible something special. "This is a historic event for us, and we pray future generations will see this as a profoundly historical day as well," said James Draper Jr., president of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. "This just doesnt happen that often." Earlier this month, Draper and other officials joined to celebrate the first major English-language translation of the Bible in more than 30 years. Although there have been numerous revisions of existing translations of Scripture, the Holman Christian Standard Bible is an all-new translation directly from the original biblical languages. The 20-year project involved an international team of 100 translators, editors and biblical scholars representing 20 denominations and non-denominational … [Read more...]
‘The people trail’ – tracking where the money goes
The following guest commentary is offered in scheduled observance of Cooperative Program Day in Southern Baptist churches on April 18. It was written by John Kyle, director of Cooperative Program development for the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. Note: The following guest commentary is offered in scheduled observance of Cooperative Program Day in Southern Baptist churches on April 18. It was written by John Kyle, director of Cooperative Program development for the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. The story is told of a little boy who badly wanted $100 and prayed for two weeks, but nothing happened. He decided to write God a letter requesting the money. When the postal authorities received the letter addressed to God, U.S.A., they decided to send it to the president. The president was so impressed, touched and amused that he instructed his secretary to send the little boy a $5 bill. The president thought this would appear to be a lot of money to a boy. The little boy was delighted with the $5 and sat down to write a thank you note to God. It read: "Dear God, Thank you very much for sending the money; however, I noticed that for some reason you … [Read more...]
You may not always be able to sit in the shade of a tree someone planted
Come on, honey, let’s help little Jake and Jessica plant a little tree. They will be able to come back when they are adults and see how it has grown." Come on, honey, let’s help little Jake and Jessica plant a little tree. They will be able to come back when they are adults and see how it has grown." There must have been a lot of Jakes and Jessicas living in my neighborhood 35 or so years ago. Our neighborhood is blessed with boulevards divided by 8-feet wide, curbed, dirt-filled mediums. The effect helps one notice less he or she is in a featureless subdivision and not a countryside. The mediums serve several purposes, the main one of which is being a receptacle for all kinds of odds and ends that people put on them. There is the understanding that if anyone finds them usable, they can pick them up. All they need do is beat the garbage trucks to them. Sort of like a free garage sale. The mediums served another purpose years ago. If some homeowners had plants left over, rather than waste them, they could plant them in the mediums. So, the mediums have stuff growing in them. The forestry service must have had an abundance of pine seedlings left over one year a few … [Read more...]
Weekly Briefs
For the week of April 29, 2004 Golden anniversary Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary recently marked 60 years of preparing ministers for churches in the West. Chancellor William Crews said the seminary "exists and thrives today because of a compelling dream, articulated by visionary leaders and pursued by literally hundreds of men and women who have given their lives to the pursuit of that dream, a dream that came true." During recent Founders Day ceremonies, Crews noted, "When we see what God has done with this vision in the past 60 years, who knows what he will do in the next 60 years," Crews commented. Golden Gate was launched in Oakland and Berkeley before moving to Mill Valley in 1959. It has opened additional campuses in Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, Arizona and Colorado. It also has established ethnic leadership centers serving more than 600 students in California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Arkansas. Missouri lawsuit A Missouri judge who recently dismissed a lawsuit against five Missouri Baptist agencies will not allow the plaintiffs to amend the suit. Judge Thomas Brown ruled March 11 that the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board … [Read more...]
Churches with smaller membership need pastor paradigm shift
The math seems wrong. Most Southern Baptist churches are smaller in membership. Yet, most Southern Baptist pastors say their preferences are not to pastor churches smaller in memberships. The math seems wrong. Most Southern Baptist churches are smaller in membership. Yet, most Southern Baptist pastors say their preferences are not to pastor churches smaller in memberships. One result is that smaller churches often have a difficult time finding pastors who want to serve them beyond a short term as a stepping stone to a larger pastorate. To date, this has not caused a crisis for smaller churches, but in the years not too far in the future, it likely will. Why pastors prefer to serve larger churches is not that difficult to explain. One of the major reasons is practical - smaller churches generally do not pay a large enough salary to support a pastor at an acceptable level. If a man serves as pastor of a smaller church, his wife usually must work to supplement the familys income to a level that provides the basics. Her job must often provide benefits such as healthcare insurance. If the pastor has younger children - and, most smaller churches have pastors the ages to have smaller children - the wives … [Read more...]