Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Why, “But the Bible says…,” often rings so hollow
By John D. Pierce It doesn’t mean much to say one believes the Bible. Just consider all the conflicting and often awful stuff said over the centuries, and even recently, by those claiming biblical authority. Not...
Great Reasons Abound to Feel Baptist Pride
Baptists have been my spiritual tribe as I walked my faith journey. From running through the halls of exciting Eastwood Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and attending Baptist summer camps to being trained by Baptist...
Free Micro Docs Will Shine Light on Women in Ministry
"We are 500 years passed the Reformation," says Rev. Alyssa A. Aldape, "and it is about time we highlight the good and faithful work of women who have graciously, and at times quietly, served as pastors in...
Breakfast at CBF Launches Network for LGBTQ Inclusion
It was 6:30 a.m. June 14, and a historic moment was minutes away. Nathan Russell and I met outside the Reunion E Conference Room at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Dallas. We were co-leading the creation of the Affirming...
‘First Reformed’
Being a pastor means that if a movie comes to the local theater about a pastor, I have to go see it. Paul Schrader's "First Reformed" presents a pastor who has lost his way. Ethan Hawke is Rev. Ernst Toller, a pastor...
June 21, 2018
Analysis: Why Churches Continue to Connect with CBF (Baptist Standard) In Trump’s America, the Conversations Turns Ugly and Angry, Starting at the Top (New York Times) The Christian Right Adopts a 50-State Strategy...
Up to our ears — in dirt
Today the Jezreel dig team traveling through Campbell University Divinity School and Nurturing Faith Experiences finished our last day of serious digging: tomorrow involves lots of brushing, cleaning, photographs, and...
Profiles in Goodwill: Tambi Swiney
Tambi Swiney is the associate pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. 1. Where did you grow up? I was born in Jackson, Tennessee, and my family relocated to the Nashville area when I was 10 years...
Why Many in America Can’t Handle ‘Too Much Jesus’
What does comprehensive immigration reform look like? I don't know, but I know what it does not look like. What if we treated every desperate person at our borders who was at the end of their rope as if they were a...
‘Faith: A Journey for All’
One of my birthday presents this year was accompanied by a great compliment. My son gave me Jimmy Carter's new book, "Faith: A Journey for All," and said, "Dad, this sounds like you." It was an over-the-top compliment,...
June 20, 2018
Cooperative Baptist Leaders Join Chorus of Voices Against ‘Outrageous,’ ‘Heinous’ Border Policy (CBF) Trump Cabinet’s Bible Study Minister Justifies Child Separation as Consequence of Immigrants’ ‘Illegal Behavior’...
Dear Young Ones,
By: Ginger Hughes Dear Young Ones, I know you’re scared. I know you’re scared because you’ve been pulled away from your mom or dad, grandmother or grandfather, tears flowing from their eyes, a look of terror on their...
Dig these stories … Part Four
Here's another in our series of reflections from participants in the Jezreel Expedition archaeological dig traveling with Campbell University Divinity School / Nurturing Faith Experiences. Dale Belvin is a 2009...
Separating Families Causes Life-Long Trauma for Kids
The indigenous peoples of the U.S. were forced to relocate to Indian Territory after President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act in 1830. The removal and relocation policy toward Native peoples led to...
When Christians Don’t Speak Truth to Political Power
News about Vice President Mike Pence's address during the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Dallas last week has been widely publicized at this point. His campaign-style speech asked for the "strong...
Death Penalty Support Goes Up for First Time in Decades
Support for the death penalty increased for the first time in more than two decades, according to a Pew Research Center report released on June 11. When asked, "Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose...
June 19, 2018
Study: Intolerant White People More Willing to Ditch Democracy and Accept Authoritarianism (Big Think) How Trump Won the 2016 Fear Sweepstakes (Christian Century) What Would Jesus Do? When it Comes to Trump,...
Good gathering
By John D. Pierce Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Nurturing Faith exhibit at last week's Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly in Dallas, where we offered copies of Nurturing Faith Journal and Bible...
No, AG Sessions, You Can’t Use Bible to Excuse Cruelty
No, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, you may not use Paul's words in Romans 13:1 to justify the heinous separation of children from their parents. That text was abused by church officials who ordered the brutal Crusades...
To Obey God, Can You Give Up Time-Honored Beliefs?
EthicsDaily.com's E3 Initiative - educating, engaging and empowering people of faith - has prompted some thinking about just what happens when the educational dimension of discipleship is embraced, engaged and put to...
9-Year Study Reveals Higher Recidivism Rate among Inmates
Eighty-three percent of U.S. inmates were arrested at least once within the nine years following their release from incarceration, according to a U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) report released on May 23. Many...