By K. Allan Blume, Biblical-Recorder SHELBY, N.C. (BP) - North Carolina pastor Rit Varriale wants to see churches fly the Christian flag above the American flag as a biblical statement, reversing flag etiquette that calls for the American flag to be flown in the prominent position. Varriale, as senior pastor of Elizabeth Baptist Church in Shelby, N.C., said the church installed its first-ever flagpole in order to raise the two flags in a special ceremony after morning worship on Sunday (July 5) in which the Christian flag was raised in the higher position -- which prompted interviews by Charlotte-area NBC, CBS and Fox affiliates. "If you stop and think about it, [flag etiquette] is inconsistent with what the Bible teaches us," Varriale said. "We are first and foremost Christians who are called to serve the living God." Varriale said the national motto of the United States, "In God we trust," signed into law in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, acknowledges there is a Divine Being who is the greatest authority and to whom each person is accountable. "Before our accountability to government is our accountability to God," the pastor said. "So from a Christian perspective, our flag etiquette is completely … [Read more...]

By Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) - Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee are 1.45 percent above the year-to-date SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget projection, and 1.24 percent above contributions received during the same time frame last year, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President Frank S. Page. The year-to-date total represents money received by the Executive Committee by the close of the last business day of June and includes receipts from state conventions, churches and individuals for distribution according to the 2014-15 SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget. The $143,051,247.48 received by the Executive Committee for the first nine months of the fiscal year, Oct. 1 through June 30, for distribution through the Cooperative Program Allocation Budget represents 101.45 percent of the $141,000,000.00 year-to-date budgeted projection to support Southern Baptist ministries globally and across North America. The total is $1,752,801.88 or 1.24 percent more than the $141,298,445.60 received through the end of June 2014. The Cooperative Program is Southern Baptists’ channel of giving … [Read more...]

by Lisa Cannon Green, LifeWay Communications NASHVILLE (BP) -- In a nation founded on religious liberty, most Americans believe God has a special relationship with the United States, and they're optimistic the best is yet to come. Despite headlines lamenting the global decline of the United States since the Cold War, 54 percent of Americans believe the nation is on the upswing, according to a survey by LifeWay Research released July 1. Only 4 in 10 think "America's best days are behind us," LifeWay Research reported from data in a September 2014 survey. Though the U.S. Constitution makes no mention of God, 53 percent of Americans say they believe God and the nation have a special relationship, a concept stretching back to Pilgrim days. Even a third of atheists, agnostics and those with no religious preference believe America has a special relationship with God. "'God Bless America' is more than a song or a prayer for many Americans," said Ed Stetzer, executive director of LifeWay Research. "It is a belief that God has blessed America beyond what is typical for nations throughout history. I am sure that would spawn many theological conversations” but it's important to note a majority of Americans “think God has a … [Read more...]

By David Roach, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) -- In the days following the Supreme Court's nationwide legalization of gay marriage, Southern Baptist pastors have taken to television, radio, print media and social media in defense of biblical marriage. Undergirding their public engagement is a long line of Southern Baptist Convention actions underscoring biblical sexual ethics and calling for compassionate ministry to persons with same-sex attraction. "Pastors, this is our opportunity to speak into the media, to write into the media," said Mark Harris, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C. The Supreme Court majority "tended to play social scientist. They tended to play counselor. They tended to play psychologist," Harris told Baptist Press. "But the one thing they didn't play was theologian," opening a door for pastors to add a biblical perspective to the national discussion. The day the high court's ruling was released, Harris did four television interviews, one on radio and one with The Charlotte Observer newspaper. The Observer also quoted Milton Hollifield, executive director of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, wrote a blog … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor When the gavel dropped to end the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio, it also marked the fifth anniversary of “a vision for a Great Commission Resurgence” that was adopted by messengers during the 2010 business sessions in Orlando, Fla. In a nutshell, a blue ribbon task force – named by then SBC President Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga., and led by Ronnie Floyd, pastor of Cross Church, Northwest Ark., who now serves as president of the Convention – developed seven components of a plan “to mobilize Southern Baptists as a Great Commission people” with the goal of “penetrating the lostness” in North America and around the world. Theirs was a daunting task, given the extent of the growing lostness in our country and abroad, and the apparent waning effectiveness of Southern Baptists in sharing the Gospel. But, after so much effort was expended to convince somewhat skeptical Southern Baptists (reports varied on whether the “show-of-hands” vote was 60-40, 80-20 or 3-1 in favor) that these actions were “of vital importance to the future of our denomination” and “key to making immediate progress toward a Great Commission Resurgence,” it is … [Read more...]