Culture Archives - Baptist & Reflector

N.Y. ABORTION BILL: ‘ALARMING IN EVERY SENSE’

January 30, 2019

By Tom Strode
Baptist Press

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs Reproductive Health Act (RHA) into law Jan. 22, legalizing abortion until birth for the mother’s “health,” which is not defined.
Flickr photo from Gov. Cuomo’s press office

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York may have re-established itself as America’s leading abortion state by enacting a law that critics say goes beyond even the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) into law Jan. 22 shortly after the state legislature completed passage of the controversial proposal. Enactment of the legislation came on the 46th anniversary of the high court’s decision striking down all state bans and legalizing abortion throughout the country. [Read more…]

GOD CAN’T BE PLEASED

January 4, 2019

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

-Image: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

This morning I was reading over yesterday’s Baptist Press stories and this one caught my attention: “Third gender option takes place in NYC, California.”

I immediately began recalling Scripture from my somewhat limited memory. I just could not remember where it says, “And on the third day God created man, both male and female and Gender X.” [Read more…]

‘I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS’

December 19, 2018

By David Green
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed (and this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria). And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David” (Luke 2:1-4, NKJV).

What does it mean for you to be home for Christmas? I believe we all know what it meant to Mary and Joseph. They returned to Bethlehem to be home that first Christmas to be counted in a census. [Read more…]

SURVEY FINDS AMERICANS WANT MORE CHRIST THIS CHRISTMAS

December 11, 2018

By Aaron Earls
Lifeway Research

NASHVILLE — Most Americans want more religious meaning to the Christmas season, and for some that includes the seasonal greetings we say to each other.

A new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research found two-thirds of Americans (65 percent) say, “Christmas should be more about Jesus.” [Read more…]

ANSWERING THE CALL IN ASIA

December 7, 2018

Jackson pastor leads Hispanic mission team to other side of globe

Jackson pastor Daniel Tuchez has been making a difference in Southeast Asia, according to an official with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. Tuchez was featured in the IMB’s Week of Prayer for International Missions.

Editor’s Note: The Week of Prayer for International Missions is underway through Dec. 9. Every December since 1888, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering has empowered Southern Baptists’ international missions work. The goal for this year’s Lottie Moon offering is $160 million.

By Grace Thornton
Writer, International Mission Board

RICHMOND, Va. — Daniel Tuchez remembers the day he got the call.

“Jason called me and said, ‘I need you to pray about this city in Southeast Asia, because it is going to be opening up, and maybe there are opportunities,” relayed Tuchez, who serves as pastor of Iglesia Bautista El Shaddai in Jackson, Tenn.

It was a big deal. But the call itself wasn’t a surprise. In the years before, Tuchez had accompanied Jason Carlisle, the IMB’s director of Hispanic mobilization, on many trips. [Read more…]

AMERICANS DIFFER ON HISTORIC CHRISTIAN VIEWS

November 6, 2018

By Carol Pipes
LifeWay Christian Resources

NASHVILLE — Six in 10 Americans say religious belief is a matter of personal opinion. For 7 in 10 Americans, such religious beliefs include one true God existing in three persons — Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But an increasing majority of Americans deny Jesus has always existed and many say the Holy Spirit is a force rather than a personal being.

Those are among the findings of a new study of American views on Christian theology from Nashville-based LifeWay Research.

“When the majority of Americans believe religious belief is more personal opinion than objective truth, then we expect to see contradictory beliefs as well as beliefs that change over time,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research.

The survey of 3,000 Americans was sponsored by Orlando-based Ligonier Ministries. Titled the “2018 State of Theology Study,” it is the third in a series of surveys examining Americans’ theological beliefs. Previous surveys were conducted in 2016 and 2014. [Read more…]

CITY SETTLES WITH FORMER FIRE CHIEF

October 25, 2018

Baptist Press

Kelvin Cochroan
-BP file photo

ATLANTA — The Atlanta city council has agreed to a $1.2 million settlement with former fire chief Kelvin Cochran over his January 2015 termination for his views about marriage and sexuality.

The city council voted 11-3 after an executive session Oct. 15 during which city attorneys recommended a settlement and legal fees negotiated with the religious liberty organization Alliance Defending Freedom, which has handled Cochran’s court case, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. [Read more…]

REMEMBER THIS: NOT VOTING IS NOT AN OPTION

October 23, 2018

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

We no longer live in a simple Democrat or Republican world. It’s no longer about whose policies are best for the greater good of the country. We have transitioned into a government where it is liberal versus conservative. It’s morality versus amorality.

Americans will go to the polls on Nov. 6. This is the last print issue before the election.

As editor of a religious publication I have no right or authority to tell anyone to vote for any individual and certainly not any political party. But I do have a moral responsibility to encourage our readers and members of our Baptist churches to vote. [Read more…]

A CRAZY WORLD

September 25, 2018

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

Screen capture/YouTube

If you ever doubted we’re living in a crazy, mixed up and definitely sinful world, just read this latest article from Baptist Press about popular Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie.

Bert and Ernie and Big Bird and all the gang have been around for decades. My children are ages 33 and 29 and they watched Sesame Street faithfully as preschoolers and young children. I watched it with them at times. [Read more…]

Jackson pastor leads Hispanic mission team to other side of globe

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