Southern Baptist Convention president Bart Barber, a pastor in Farmersville, Texas, recently announced on a Twitter video that he expects there will be a motion to amend the SBC’s Constitution and Bylaws along with the motion for the newly elected SBC president to appoint a committee to study both the Constitution and Bylaws and the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.

The proposed amendment from Virginia pastor Mike Law would clarify that the SBC only cooperates with churches that do not affirm, appoint or employ a woman as a pastor of any kind. For the amendment to be voted on by messengers at the convention in New Orleans next week, the SBC Executive Committee will need to advance the amendment at its Monday meeting prior to Tuesday’s annual meeting.

If the EC chooses not to advance it, it could also be considered if a new motion is introduced asking the messengers to vote at this year’s annual meeting. For that to happen, messengers would have to approve voting on it at this year’s annual meeting, then subsequently approve the amendment by a two-thirds vote at both this year’s and next year’s annual SBC meetings. [Read more…]

One of the adventures I love is leading tours of the Holy Land. Seeing God’s Word come alive in people’s lives is something that I really enjoy. Each time I go to Israel, one of my favorite places to go is the boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. 

I seem to always think about that time Jesus came to His disciples walking on the water, and Peter called out to the Lord to walk on the water. Jesus told Peter, “Come!” 

At that point Peter had a decision to make about his faith in the Lord. He had to step out of the boat or sit down in the boat depending on his faith. 

You know it is easy for us to say we believe the Lord, and we put our faith in Him, but it is another thing to step out of the boat and walk on water when He tells us to “Come.”  [Read more…]

Last month a sold-out crowd of satanists descended on Boston for SatanCon 2023 to celebrate The Satanic Temple’s 10-year anniversary. 

Many within my tribe were upset, and I get that. I really do.“They’re not even hiding their satanism anymore!”

Be that as it may, brothers and sisters, “Satan (also) disguises himself as an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14).

So, if we’re going to be offended by misguided souls parading their hostility against God, let us be equally offended by anything that opposes the holy heart of God. 

When Peter pushed back against Jesus’ talk of dying, do you remember what Jesus said? [Read more…]

Editor’s Note: The following column is also available in Spanish here.

The gospel and mental health are closely related because they both address the human condition and our need for  grace, healing, compassion and restoration. More importantly, it also demonstrates how Christians are to respond to a suffering, broken world.

Unfortunately, there is often a stigma surrounding mental health in Christian circles, and many people feel ashamed or embarrassed to seek help or support. 

But the truth is, mental health struggles are common and can affect anyone, regardless of their faith, culture, race or socioeconomic background.

As Christians we cannot ignore the reality that all creation was negatively  affected by the fall. Consequently, our brains are also exposed to encounter damages.  [Read more…]

I have heard all my life that the “squeaky wheel gets the grease.” According to Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia) the phrase is “an American proverb or metaphor used to convey the idea that the most notable (or loudest) problems are the ones most likely to get attention.”

According to a Pew Research report in June of 2022, only 1.6 percent of the United States population identifies as transgender or binary; that is that their gender is different from the sex they were born with — either male or female. That number increases to 3.1 percent of adults age 25 or younger, according to Pew Research.

I am not a math major, but that tells me that at least 95 percent of American adults identify as male or female. [Read more…]