Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Groups Rallying ‘Million Voices for Darfur’
A broad coalition of faith-based groups is working to generate one million postcards asking President Bush to take steps to end genocide in the western Sudanese region of Darfur. The "Million Voices for Darfur"...
Creationist Replaces Dembski at Southern Seminary
A young-earth creationist will replace departing intelligent design advocate William Dembski at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's Center for Theology and Science. Kurt P. Wise, a professor at Bryan College in...
Report Says States Omitting Minority Test Scores
An analysis by the Associated Press says nearly 2 million students--mostly minorities--aren't being counted in test scores under No Child Left Behind, creating a false picture of academic progress. The law requires...
The Eight Commandments
A hot topic of discussion in the United States during the past few years has concerned whether or not the Ten Commandments should be displayed in public places, from courtrooms to school rooms. The thought is that a...
Proposed SBC Resolution Affirms ‘Principled Dissent’
A young Texas pastor plans to submit a resolution at this year's Southern Baptist Convention affirming "principled dissent" in the denomination, signaling opposition to recent efforts to suppress criticism on...
NAMB President Resigns Amid Leadership Questions
Bob Reccord resigned Monday as president of the Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board, citing reaction to a critical Baptist newspaper story two months ago, which he said had "created an environment...
It’s Time To Get Serious About Synthetic Gasoline
I went into a cafe for a hamburger but soon discovered that I could not afford it. There was a sign on the wall that said: "Notice: If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10. charge for...
Senate Majority Leader Praises Homeschool Leaders
Senate Majority Leader and likely presidential candidate Bill Frist recently praised a gathering of state homeschool leaders for "helping to make America a better place." Frist was among four senators and eight members...
BCE Offers Free Worship Resource Supporting Public Schools
The Baptist Center for Ethics has introduced a free worship resource to help churches honor the work of public schools. Produced by Acacia Resources, Supporting Public Education: Resources for Worship is published as a...
As Love Comes Full Circle
Most likely, Karen Ann Quinlin, Nancy Cruzan and Terri Schiavo assumed they would survive their parents and never gave sustained thought to the alternative. Yet after 22-year-old Quinlin fell into a "permanent coma;"...
Three Ministers of Substance
It has not been a good time for ministers and their families lately in the media. Within a couple of hundred miles of where I live one awaits trial for the murder of his wife. Another who was accused of child abuse at...
The Meaning of Easter
Listening to the many Easter sermons that will likely be preached this Sunday, a person might get the idea that the central question surrounding the resurrection of Jesus is whether or not it actually happened....
Finding The ‘Real’ Jesus
As Easter draws near, we often hear breaking news of some sensational claim purporting to give us the "real" Jesus. This year, the headline enjoying its 15 minutes of fame is the so-called "Jesus Papers," supposedly...
Lingering in the Darkness
The Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is the often-neglected day of Holy Week. "Dark Saturday" it is sometimes called and, like its name, it is a day that tends to get lost in the shadows. The Saturday...
On The Closing of Our School
The primary topic of discussion at the Courthouse Grill the past few days has been the announcement that the public school here in Carrollton will close this May. The focus of discussion has been on placing blame. Few,...
Former Missionary Terms Possible Firings ‘Witch Hunt’
A former Southern Baptist missionary fired in 2002 for teaching at a seminary in Brazil that his superiors deemed out of bounds of the 2000 "Baptist Faith & Message" said news that a missionary couple in West...
Christian Candies Bring Religious Message to Easter Baskets
Louisa M.R. Stead, the missionary who in 1882 wrote the hymn, "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus," surely had no idea. Apparently feeling that the Easter Bunny shouldn't get all the good publicity at Easter, a number of...
‘Thank You for Smoking’
They say talk is cheap, but the smart, funny satire "Thank You for Smoking" illustrates that talk can also be very profitable—if you're good enough at it and open to the highest bidder. When consummate spin-doctor Nick...
The Gospel According to Rick Scarborough
Southern Baptist minister Rick Scarborough, founder and president of Vision America, has been in the news quite a lot lately. A couple of weeks ago his organization hosted the "War on Christians and the Values Voter"...
Missionary Couple Faces Firing for Starting ‘Baptistic’ Church
A Southern Baptist missionary couple has been asked to resign and expects to be fired for starting a church in West Africa, in partnership with non-Baptist missionaries, that doesn't use Baptist in its name. It...
Baptist Newspaper Gets Scoop in Kember Interview
A British Baptist newspaper and a community weekly scooped major media in securing interviews with freed hostage Norman Kember. Kember, 74, has shunned film producers, playwrights and the national press vying for...