Opinion Column Archives - Baptist & Reflector

LET’S EXAMINE HOW WE ‘WELCOME GUESTS’

April 19, 2021

By Matt Tullos
Special assistant to the executive director

I absolutely believe that most churches long to be welcoming to first-time guests and new attendees. But there is a gaping chasm between having a desire to reach people and doing the things that must be done to reach people.

Here is a deacon dare, if you will: Ask yourself these 14 questions. Some of them are hard to answer, especially for a longtime member. When you’re a part of one church culture for years, blind spots happen. These questions are laser surgery for culture cataracts.

1. How cluttered is your space?

It’s easy to overlook the useless items laying around your church. Whether it is a Christmas tree in late February unsuccessfully hidden behind a fundraising display that ended two weeks ago or a number of bulletins from past Sundays on your pews ready and willing to confuse the members and visitors alike, take a look around and cut out the clutter. [Read more…]

WHAT TO DO WHEN A LOVED ONE DIES?

April 17, 2021

By Johnnie C. Godwin
Contributing columnist, B&R

Editor’s note: The following column is Part II of a two-part series. The first part was printed in the March 24 issue of the B&R.

In a movie on the apostle Paul, I saw Paul in prison before his martyrdom. Dr. Luke was with Paul but not imprisoned: Luke was free to come and go in making visits to Paul.

Now, Luke wrote almost half the content of the New Testament when you put the Gospel of Luke and Acts together. Mostly we read of Luke’s recording of Paul’s testimony and messages in the Book of Acts. Luke had accompanied Paul as a minister and physician.

In the movie’s most poignant scene for me, Paul and Luke reminisced. Then, in a pause, Paul looked kindly at Luke and asked, “Luke, where would I have been without you?” With loving kindness on his face, Luke replied with just one word: “Dead.” The two looked at each other with joy, despite the fact that Paul faced a martyr’s death. It was obvious they had a peace that passes understanding in knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Paul knew and shared that death would be brief and that life with God would be eternal. [Read more…]

COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS

April 9, 2021

By Randy C. Davis
President and executive director, TBMB

It’s Thursday while I’m writing this and I’m thinking about what Friday represents for the world on this week we recognize as Holy Week. By the time you read this column, we will have had our first in-person Easter gathering in two years. I’m certain I will be hearing reports about how the day was an honoring celebration to a resurrected Christ across Tennessee and around the globe.

I think about the substantial joy of a risen Savior in contrast to our world — and even our denomination — mired in attitudes and cultures of cancelation, agitation, and aggravation. What if we turned our eyes toward Jesus and celebrated His preeminent glory, remember the great thing He’s done on our behalf? That takes intentionality and focus but the lesser things that so easily distract will fall away and be exposed for their worthlessness by comparison. [Read more…]

EASTER DID NOT END AT 11:59 P.M. ON SUNDAY

April 5, 2021

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

One of the aggravating parts of being a biweekly publication is that holidays don’t always fall prior to a print issue. As a result, I did not publish a pre-Easter column. But, here’s the good news. Easter did not end on Sunday, April 4, at 11:59 p.m.

That is why I can write a column in the first issue after Easter (and every other issue of the year if I choose). Easter never ends.

Christians know the story of Mary Magdalene finding the empty tomb and running to tell Jesus’ disciples that He was no longer there. The key word here is “empty.” The tomb was empty because Jesus did what He said he would do — He arose from the grave. [Read more…]

PROVIDING HOMES FOR MISSIONARIES

April 5, 2021

By Norman Ridenhour
Baptist Layman & Retired Journalist

Mission homes, like this one owned by Third Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, provide comfort for missionaries while they are stateside.

Perhaps every Baptist knows about missionaries and the International Mission Board. These are men and women called to serve somewhere in the world to share the love of Jesus and to invest in lives through their sacrifice of leaving home to serve. Their tasks are many, with some setting up schools and teaching English, but most of all, investing in others by sharing the gospel with their new neighbors.

They travel worldwide to deliver that message and fulfill the commandment given by Christ to His followers. “Go tell the good news to the ends of the earth.”

Our missionaries spend two to three years on the mission field, some more, according to their mission tasks. Then they return for six months to a year on stateside leave, to refresh, recharge and catch up with family. [Read more…]

WHAT TO DO WHEN A LOVED ONE DIES?

April 2, 2021

By Johnnie C. Godwin
Contributing columnist, B&R

Editor’s note: The following column is Part I of a two-part series. Although Part I is the joint effort of Allan Legard and Johnnie Godwin, it is mostly Godwin’s writing. In Part II, Legard will identify 10 essential next steps when a loved one dies.

Ideally, all loved ones would die like Abraham; and families would celebrate their lives despite the grief of the parting. Abraham lived to be 175 years old. Then, the Bible says, “He took his last breath and died at a good old age, old and contented, he was gathered to his people” (Genesis 25:7-8, CSB).

But in reality, circumstances vary so much that many of us hardly know what to do first and following the death of a loved one. That is true in times of pandemic but also for families in all eras of life.

Friend Allan LeGard and I put our hearts and experience together for this column to suggest what we hope will be helpful to you when a loved one dies.

What we write is just the tip of the iceberg, but there is voluminous literature on dealing with death, grief, and next steps after loved ones die.

Still, we may be helpful with a few suggestions for the living before they die and for family when death comes. [Read more…]

A DIVINE “PLANDEMIC”

April 1, 2021

By Todd E. Brady
Vice President For University Ministries, Union University, Jackson

Sometimes what we think are the worst things happening to us can end up being the best things for us. What has been a global pandemic has turned out to be a divine “plandemic” for us at Chapel Hill Baptist Church in Milan.

During the time we were hearing words like “unprecedented,” “shutter,” and “social-distancing,” we found the time to evaluate programming, to realize what is really important, and to pursue areas for improvement and spiritual growth. Sure, we’ve taken chairs out and moved them around to ensure social distancing, but through it all we’ve gained a new understanding that it’s ultimately about the people in those chairs knowing God and growing in their relationship with Him.

Many church leaders have felt like life itself was on hold as programs were not able to be conducted, in person appointments were not able to take place, and churches were not able to gather as they once did. Pastors have felt the pressure and anxiety of making decisions related to COVID-19 protocols. There has been much focus on what can’t be done in the church. But what can’t be done is not the issue. COVID-19 has caused us to remember and reflect on what should be done in the church. [Read more…]

COMMON SENSE FINALLY PREVAILS

March 29, 2021

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

Late last week, Tennessee became only the third state in the United States to pass legislation that requires transgender students in the state to compete in sports according to their sex at birth.

Hallelujah! Finally, a law has been passed based on common sense and not political correctness.

According to The Tennessean newspaper, the bill quickly advanced in the state legislature and was signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee on March 26. Supporters of the bill say it will protect women sports by ensuring fairness and eliminating a competitive edge they say transgender women may have over their cisgender (one who identifies with his or her sex at birth) peers. [Read more…]

SLIPPERY SLOPE OF SIN KEEPS SLIDING ALONG

March 25, 2021

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

On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that same-sex marriage is protected under the Constitution and is now legal in all 50 states.

Christians decried that decision then and we still do today. However, there were some who naively believed that was “the end of the story.” Instead, it was just the beginning.

That Supreme Court decision not only did away with the biblical concept of marriage being between a man and a woman, it has opened the door for others outside the traditional roles of male and females to seek government protection of lifestyles that are 100 percent opposite of God’s intended roles for male and females. [Read more…]

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