Opinion

The headlines that ran last week (April 24) announced a new sexual abuse scandal to roil the Southern Baptist Convention: “Cedarville professor fired over allegations of misconduct.” That’s true, to be sure. But that’s not the headline.

As a social scientist Thomas Reese confesses he is very pessimistic that we can change in time to save ourselves. As a Christian, he knows he must believe in the power of the Spirit to lead us to conversion, for conversion is what we need.

Three moral tests — truth, unity and solidarity — are not only religiously required but also practical and essential criteria for our reopening to a safer and healthier world. And these three biblical principles — truth, unity and solidarity — are now essential tests for the health and the healing of the nation.

A federal judge has let a couple of small independent Kansas Baptist churches conduct in-person worship against the express orders of Gov. Laura Kelly, asserting that by limiting church gatherings to 10 congregants, Kelly in all likelihood violated the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious free exercise. What's going on here?

I love to try new things. Sometimes, however, after I say yes, fear creeps in and I start to feel like maybe I’m in over my head. This is exactly what happened when I learned to kayak.

God has created a world where we have the privilege of interacting with diverse people with diverse experiences and experiencing diverse circumstances. These relationships with people who are different from us and experiences that we would never anticipate are not always bad things.

Last week, Southern Seminary President Al Mohler sparked controversy as he reversed course and endorsed President Donald Trump’s reelection. But should we really expect anything different from a man who continues to affirm the theology of slaveholders who damned people to hell on Earth just because of the color of their skin?

I drove to our local bank this morning and dropped off our application for the Paycheck Protection Program, which is administered by the Small Business Administration to help businesses make payroll while their revenues decline significantly due to COVID-19. Our business is a church. I’m the pastor. 

The coronavirus pandemic has raised a number of difficult questions concerning personal freedoms and public safety, with religion front and center. Should congregations continue to gather in person for worship and other social functions? Can the state restrict religious organizations from fully free functioning?

Although it is still three weeks until Mother’s Day, I am writing today about taking care of Mother Earth. This week marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, so it is a fitting time to think about taking care of our planet.