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...]

By Tom Strode, Baptist Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) – Messengers to the 2015 Southern Baptist Convention adopted nine resolutions – some on culturally divisive issues – with almost no opposition. All the resolutions offered in the Tuesday afternoon session (June 16) at the SBC’s meeting gained passage by unanimous or nearly unanimous votes. The messengers affirmed biblically based stances on such topics as same-sex marriage, racial reconciliation and the sanctity of human life, as well as religious persecution and pornography. Approved resolutions also called for spiritual awakening and celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Cooperative Program. Prior to the convention, the Resolutions Committee received only four resolutions, an unusually small number. As a result, the committee initiated more resolutions than normal, but committee chairman Steve Gaines said finding topics proved no problem. “There are so many pressing issues morally and spiritually in our nation right now, it really didn’t take long to figure that out,” Gaines said at a news conference after the committee’s report. He illustrated for reporters what he meant by pointing to a few of the resolutions. “When it comes to our nation, when you look back … [Read more...]

By David Roach, Baptist Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) – Spiritual awakening, the defense of marriage and the preservation of religious liberty were among key themes addressed by messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 16-17 in Columbus, Ohio. The meeting was highlighted by a Tuesday night prayer gathering led by SBC President Ronnie Floyd, at which an estimated 7,000 Southern Baptists spent two hours asking God for a third Great Awakening in America and the global advance of the Gospel. The gathering was watched by an additional 8,000 people online and broadcast on Daystar television. The 5,407 registered messengers – up from 5,294 in Baltimore last year – also took several actions to advance racial and ethnic diversity within the SBC and celebrated nearly 60 missionaries during the first-ever joint missions service of the International and North American Mission Boards. Floyd, who was reelected to a second term as SBC president, called in his presidential address for Southern Baptists to provide spiritual and moral leadership amid a time of crisis in the world that also is “our most defining hour as Southern Baptists.“ Building on Floyd's address, the June 16 prayer time featured intercession led … [Read more...]