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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LSU prof sounds alarm on Critical Race Theory

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Randy Trahan, a tenured 24-year professor with the Paul M. Hebert Law School at Louisiana State University, has publicly denounced Critical Race Theory as a threat to society at large and warned of the risk it poses to evangelicals. Trahan, a member of Woodlawn Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, described himself as an active advocate for Black civil rights, especially as a member of the admissions committee for the LSU law school, and, a former supporter of Critical Theory (the foundation for Critical Race Theory). Trahan decried Critical Race Theory for what he said was its assault on the “sufficiency of Scripture” -- a critical doctrine that says “Scripture itself is supposed to be the sole and final authority to which nothing needs to be added nor may be added” in understanding the human condition and God’s desire for moral behavior. He also dismissed criticisms that this doctrine is “too narrow” -- that it does not allow for general revelation (learning that can be achieved though nature, specifically by observing human nature). He said that these criticisms simply are strawmen arguments to justify what adherents purport are observations about human … [Read more...]

Seminary presidents’ statement against CRT draws criticism from African American pastors, others

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) – The presidents of the six seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention signed a statement, Nov. 30, declaring Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality, theories about racism that arose largely from social activists at Harvard University and the University of California at Los Angeles, as “incompatible with the Baptist Faith & Message.” Their statement was released, they said, in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the SBC’s adoption of the Baptist Faith & Message 2000. In a statement to Baptist Press, Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and chairman of the SBC Council of Seminary Presidents, said the seminary leaders were prompted by widespread complaints raised by Southern Baptists. “We felt that because our brothers and sisters in various state conventions have concern about this issue, they would also want to know what their seminaries actually think, and what we are teaching and not teaching,” Akin said. Tennessee Baptists (2019) and Georgia Baptists (2020) adopted resolutions rejecting the controversial “Resolution 9” that was adopted by SBC messengers at the 2019 … [Read more...]

ERLC shifts stance on federal embryonic stem cell lines

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention has shifted its position on a decades-old policy opposing the use of federal embryonic stem cell lines in medical research. The SBC’s public policy arm has published or promoted multiple position statements in recent weeks, all offering a similar view that it is not morally wrong to take a COVID-19 vaccine developed or tested using established government embryonic stem cell lines. However, Southern Baptists voiced strong opposition against the use of human embryos to advance medical knowledge when in 2001 President George W. Bush allowed federal funds for research on 60 existing stem cell lines that had been produced from human embryos. These no longer contain any of the original tissue taken from the aborted babies that were used to start each respective stem cell line. Instead, generations of new tissue have been grown in laboratories from the original human cells. Then-ERLC President Richard Land said the decision to fund even limited embryonic stem cell research crossed a fundamental moral line. “We must always remember that these existing stem cell lines are … [Read more...]

Congressman-elect Letlow succumbs to COVID-19

By Baptist Message staff MONROE, La. (LBM) - Congressman-elect Luke Letlow died Tuesday evening from complications related to COVID-19, according to his communications director Adrian Bautsch. Letlow, 41, who leaves behind his wife, Julia, and two young children, announced on Dec. 18 he had tested positive for COVID-19. The following day Letlow was admitted to St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe and on Dec. 22 was transferred to the intensive care unit at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, where he remained at the time of his death. Letlow recently won the 5th Congressional District seat to succeed Ralph Abraham, who is retiring from Congress. Letlow had served as Abraham’s chief of staff. "The family appreciates the numerous prayers and support over the past days but asks for privacy during this difficult and unexpected time,” Bautsch said in a statement. “A statement from the family along with funeral arrangements will be announced at a later time." Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that flags would be flown at half staff on the day of Letlow’s funeral. "It is with heavy hearts that Donna and I offer our condolences to Congressman-elect Luke Letlow’s family on his passing after a battle with COVID-19," Edwards said in a … [Read more...]