Culture Archives - Baptist & Reflector

CHICK-FIL-A ANNOUNCES NEW APPROACH TO CHARITABLE GIVING

December 3, 2019

By Josh Wester
Baptist Press

NASHVILLE — The popular U.S. fast food chain, Chick-fil-A, Inc., recently announced a new policy concerning its charitable giving. According to an online statement, the policy, which will take effect in 2020, will focus the company’s charitable donations on the areas of hunger, homelessness and education.

In 2019, the Chick-fil-A Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, donated to upwards of 300 charitable organizations. Under the new policy, the foundation will distribute $9 million dollars in pledged donations next year and will limit its partnerships to only one charity for each of its three initiatives. [Read more…]

CHRISTIANS SHOULDN’T BE INTIMIDATED BY OTHER VOICES

November 14, 2019

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

In 2015, Tennessee legislators passed a state law that authorized local school boards across the state to put policies in place allowing students to be excused during the school day to attend a class in “religious moral instruction.”

The freedom to have release time for biblical or moral instruction actually has occurred for more than a century and possibly longer. It was contested in 1952 and the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Bible Release Time (Zorach versus Clauson, 343 U.S. 306). [Read more…]

MILE HIGH MISSIONARIES

November 13, 2019

Tennessee church planters, volunteers shine light in Denver

By Lonnie Wilkey & Chris Turner
Baptist and Reflector

DENVER — If you love hiking and skiing and other outdoor activities, Denver is the place to live. If you love Jesus, you might get lonely.

People are flocking to Denver and its surrounding communities. In 2018, it was recognized as the fifth fastest growing large city (more than 300,000 residents) and 34th overall in the country by WalletHub, a financial services website, according to thedenverchannel.com.

Since 2007, Denver has become “Mecca” for Millennials (those born between 1981 to 1996), observed Dave Howeth, Send City Missionary for Denver with the North American Mission Board. [Read more…]

THE ABCs OF GEN Z

October 10, 2019

TBMB leads seminars on how to reach this easily-distracted demographic

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

SHELBYVILLE — “Does anyone know what a slo-fie is?” asked Donna Blaydes as she glanced around the classroom filled with adults.

After a few moments of mostly blank stares and silence, Blaydes explained that the term, which is only about three weeks old, refers to slow-motion “selfies” that can be recorded with the latest version of iPhones.

The response to Blaydes’ question perfectly illustrated the point that she was making: Technology is moving so rapidly that it can be challenging for parents and grandparents to keep up. [Read more…]

10 CHARACTERISTICS OF GEN Z

October 9, 2019

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

SHELBYVILLE — While leading a breakout session called “Parenting and Grandparenting Gen Z Kids” at the TBMB’s conference, Debbie Doane revealed 10 common characteristics among Gen Z-ers. Doane then discussed ways in which these characteristics shape relationships with this demographic. By learning more about their world, it becomes easier to open the lines of communication, she said.

1 They’ve always been ‘wired’

Gen Z kids have been surrounded by screens their whole lives. With the commercialization of the internet in 1995 — the year that many consider to be the start of Gen Z — and the influx of cell phones, Gen Z is seemingly always connected to something. [Read more…]

GOVERNOR’S CALL TO PRAYER DRAWS BAPTIST LEADERS’ SUPPORT

October 7, 2019

By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has asked the state to join him and his wife Maria in an official day of prayer and fasting Oct. 10.
-Facebook video screen capture

NASHVILLE (BP) — Southern Baptists across Tennessee told Baptist Press they support Gov. Bill Lee’s plea for the state to fast and pray Thursday (Oct. 10).

Tennessee Baptist Mission Board President Randy Davis, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee President Ronnie Floyd, Tennessee pastor and former SBC President Steve Gaines and others told BP it’s beneficial for governmental officials to invite citizens to pray and fast.

“Christ followers need to join our governor’s call to set aside Oct. 10 as a day of fasting and prayer,” Davis told BP. “I call on Tennessee Baptists to lead in covering our beloved state in prayer.” [Read more…]

GENDER NEUTRAL DOLLS: MATTEL MUDDIES THE WATERS

October 2, 2019

By Todd E. Brady
Assistant Professor of Ministry and Vice President for University Ministries, Union University

In 1949, George Lemer invented the Mr. Potato Head doll — a plastic body of a spud that could be decorated with various interchangeable parts like ears, eyes, shoes, a hat, a nose, and a mouth. As a kid, I had a Mr. Potato Head. My kids have a Mr. Potato Head. It’s funny to design silly faces with different pieces. Lemer, who died in 1995 probably never imagined that people would be picking and choosing preferential parts and specially-designing their own human being dolls. If he were alive, he’d probably laugh that there are actually people who are serious about this.

With Mattel’s latest line of dolls called Creatable World, that seems to be exactly what is happening. Mattel once divided the doll world into Kens and Barbies, but now they are putting forth gender-neutral dolls for “boys, girls and children in between.” These dolls are “designed specifically to have a youthful gender neutral appearance.” [Read more…]

WHEN A TOY IS NOT A TOY

September 30, 2019

The world is getting crazier by the day.

When I was a kid, toys were a luxury. You usually received them on Christmas and birthdays. Now, kids get toys year-round, mainly from grandparents who spoil their grandkids (and I confess that I am among that number). Shame on us.

But one toy my grandkids won’t be receiving is the new gender-fluid Creatable World doll from Mattel (see BP story). Barbie, Hot Wheels and countless other toys have worked well for Mattel for years. The long-time toy company certainly didn’t need to join the gender debate. [Read more…]

2020 ELECTIONS: MOST EVANGELICALS WANT TO PLAY NICE

September 30, 2019

By Aaron Earls
Baptist Press

NASHVILLE — Most American evangelicals believe Jesus’ Golden Rule — “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” — applies to politics. Some, however, see the political realm leading up to the 2020 elections as no place for niceness, according to a new study.

A LifeWay Research study sponsored by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (ERLC) conducted in November of 2018 explored the perspectives of American evangelicals on civility, politics, media consumption and how likely they are to engage with views different from their own. [Read more…]

SURVEY REVEALS 90 PERCENT OF CHURCHES MEET ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

September 17, 2019

By Aaron Earls
Baptist Press

NASHVILLE — What began as midweek prayer meetings in the 18th century have become an accepted part of congregational life in the vast majority of Protestant churches in America, a study released Tuesday (Sept. 10) shows.

Nine in 10 Protestant pastors say they have some type of activity on Wednesday night, according to LifeWay Research’s survey. Only 10 percent say they have no regular events on Wednesday evening.

“Church leaders frequently discuss the difficulty of getting people to participate in church activities multiple days each week,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. “Yet the vast majority of churches are still open and active on Wednesday nights.” [Read more…]

Tennessee church planters, volunteers shine light in Denver

TBMB leads seminars on how to reach this easily-distracted demographic

1 They’ve always been ‘wired’

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