Recent Articles
Baptists Cooperate to Spread Gospel Message in Turkey
As they learn skills in management and leadership, Turkish Baptists are working together to make Christ known among needy people in Turkey and are dedicated to social work among Iranian and Syrian refugees.
February 24, 2020
Cleveland Church Raises $40,000 to Help Pay Off Lunch Debt in Nine School Districts (Fox8) Trump or No Trump, US Evangelicals Aren’t Custodians of the World’s Gospel Witness (RNS) Evangelical Christian Sues US Postal Service Over Mandatory Work on Sundays (Christian...
When Dreams Reveal Our Deepest Hurts and Joys
I dreamed I was at a denominational meeting, where male colleagues silenced and shamed me. When dreams reveal our deepest hurts and our deepest joys, perhaps these dreams are not dreams at all but visions of the divine.
South Sudanese Baptists Meet Needs of Fellow Refugees
With peace elusive and a return home uncertain, South Sudanese Baptist refugees have been meeting the needs of their fellow refugees in neighboring countries, providing food, shelter and education for children and youth.
Look Back | 10 Reasons Why Justice is Central to the Gospel
God’s justice and forgiveness are interwoven in the cloth of the gospel. Yet ever since the time of the prophets we’ve needed to clarify for each generation the call to justice. Here are 10 reasons justice is central to the gospel.
February 21, 2020
Ex-Christian Post Publisher, Bible College Convicted in $35M Fraud Scheme (Christianity Today) Bible School Olivet University Pleads Guilty to Two Felonies (ABC14 News) American Christianity’s Largest Export is Nationalism (Sojourners) Clergy Stress: How Religious...
What to Do When Your Sunday School Teacher is Arrested
Betty Jane Crandall is an unlikely lawbreaker. The 80-year-old retired elementary school teacher and preschool Sunday school teacher was handcuffed for committing an act of civil disobedience to call attention to the climate crisis.
Gathering Builds Bridge Between Middle East Christians, Muslims
The Middle East Consultation, organized by the Institute of Middle East Studies, helps equip participants to respond in prophetic and Christ-like ways to the many challenges facing Christians and Muslims in and beyond the Middle East.
Why You Should Be Afraid When Gov’t Abandons Democracy
Be afraid. While fear shouldn’t rule us, we should have reasonable fear of the reasonably possible. Reckless drivers, human-caused climate change or active shooters. And of government leaders turning our democracy into an autocracy.
February 20, 2020
Annual George Liele Day Headed to SBC Messengers (Baptist Press) LDS Church Publishes New Handbook with Changes to Disciple, Transgender Policy (Salt Lake Tribune) Idaho Congregation Struggles with Imminent Split of United Methodist Church Over Same-Sex Marriage...
Is Something in the Texas Wind?
While the tireless work of Texas Baptists to fend off conservative fundamentalists paid off for decades, it seems the Texas winds have changed. Conservative Baptists are inching closer to acting like the fundamentalists of old.
Millions Die, Billions Lost in Productivity from Fossil Fuel Pollution
About 4.5 million people die prematurely each year due to health issues connected to the burning of fossil fuels, a report said, including 200,000 who die in the US alone and 40,000 children globally who die before age 5.
How Changes in Climate Have Driven Religious Revolutions
Whether human-cause or naturally occurring, climate events have a unique connection to religion. Time and again, significant movements or transitions in religious history are linked to smaller or middling climate events.
February 19, 2020
Kentucky Man Wins $150k in Lawsuit After He Was Denied Request to Have ‘I’m God’ License Plate (People) SBC Removes Church With Registered Sex Offender Pastor (New York Times) Historian: Why Sexual Predator Trump is Different Than Reagan, Either Bush, Dole, McCain or...
When Jerry Clower came to Ringgold because we didn’t know any better
By John D. Pierce This is a tribute to my friend and high school classmate Tim Clark, whose life we will celebrate on Thursday afternoon (Feb. 20) at Ringgold (Ga.) United Methodist Church. Like classes before us, the Ringgold High class of 1974 wanted to leave a gift...
Despite Ouster, Baptist Church Stands for Jesus’ Love for All
First Baptist Church of Decatur, Georgia, was asked to leave the Atlanta Metro Baptist Association for ordaining a deacon who is gay. The association’s action diminishes, even dismisses, the depth, breadth and power of Jesus’ love.
Why Our Divided America Needs an Interim President Now
America’s citizens are divided. Some will vote for anyone but Trump. Others will vote for ‘the lesser of two evils.’ We need to talk about who we want to be as Americans. Until then, perhaps we need an interim president.
Reaction and Response: Global CO2 Emissions Stable in 2019
Global carbon dioxide emissions remained stable in 2019 after two years of increases. While several faith leaders were cautiously optimistic, they acknowledged much work is still ahead to reign in carbon emissions.
February 18, 2020
Religious Parents are Remarkably Similar, Even When They Belong to Different Religions (Christianity Today) Jinn, Golems, and Pretas: What Supernatural Beings in Religion Can Teach Us About Ourselves (ABC Australia) They Sold Human Beings Here (New York Times)...
Presidents Day: Celebrating Leaders Who Served the People
The words of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, two iconic leaders we honor on Presidents Day, reflect deeper qualities of character defining the presidency as a service to the people based on integrity, morality and reverence.
When US Christians Surrender Power to Grow the Gospel
Even as US Christians today exercise immense economic, military and cultural power, an example from a Latin American ministry in the ’60s shows what can happen when they give up power to develop strong Latin leadership.
More Mainline Protestant Pastors Affirm Same-Sex Marriage
Nearly half of mainline Protestant pastors agree ‘nothing [is] wrong with two people of the same gender getting married,’ a Lifeway report found. Meanwhile, evangelical pastors’ support remains unchanged at 8%.
February 17, 2020
‘Grassroots’ Conservative Network Launched to Address Concerns About Direction of Southern Baptist Convention (Baptist Press) Top Southern Baptist Leader Finds New Church After Resigning Over Inappropriate Relationship (Tennessean) Top Evangelical Christian Website...
No Religious Tests Allowed, but Religion Influences US Voters
The Constitution prohibits religious tests for public office, but a candidate’s religion is still a significant factor in US voting patterns, a report said. About one-third said they would not vote for Muslims or atheists.
3 Ways Christians Can Bring Peace to Our Politicized Society
Overcoming and healing social divisions in the US requires all of us. To stop and reverse this social-fragmentation trend, we must hold our leaders to a higher standard that humanizes the basic dignity of those on the other side.
Look Back | Happy Valentine’s Day: A Do-Over to Get It Right
Would Jesus tolerate Valentine’s Day? Human love only goes so far in approximating what perfect love is. We’re good at loving those who are close to us. For a holiday do-over, let’s extend God’s love, justice and peace to all.
February 14, 2020
Claims that a Bible in Dalton is Flowing with Oil Undermined by New Information (Chattanooga Times-Free Press) Google and God: How Churches are Using Tech to Reach People Seeking Religious Advice (Fox News) Breaking Out of the White Evangelical Echo Chamber...
February 13, 2020
Pope Frances Won’t Allow Married Men as Priests, Women as Deacons (NPR) Southern Baptist Pastors Threaten Boycott of Over Inclusion of Female Teaching Pastor Hossana Wong at Conference (Christian Post) Progressive Evangelical Group Tries to Convert Michigan Trump...
4 Service Offerings Will Be at Heart of Good Faith Media
When EthicsDaily and Nurturing Faith unite to form the faith-based media company Good Faith Media, our mission will be to offer reflection and resources at the intersection of culture and faith through an inclusive Christian lens.
‘Our Muslim Neighbors’
A vast majority of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims – over 97% – are upright citizens who defy combative, radicalized stereotypes and caricatures portrayed on the news. That’s the point in Victor Begg’s book, ‘Our Muslim Neighbors.’