Opinion Column Archives - Page 3 of 69

ANTI-ABORTION TO COMPREHENSIVELY PRO-LIFE

July 22, 2019

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

This one has always been clear cut for me. Any person with a moral compass, common sense and even a little knowledge of abortion’s horrors is against the taking of a life in the womb.

Unfortunately, we live in a culture that not only demands the right to murder these sweet gifts of God, it celebrates the murderous practice. The image is seared in my mind of celebration that followed New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s signing into law late-term abortions up to the point of birth. How perverse is that? I never want to see that celebration in Tennessee, and as Tennessee Baptists we not only have an obligation to our Lord to protect unborn children, we have an opportunity to stand and be counted for life. [Read more…]

RICH, YET POOR

July 12, 2019

By Jerry Drace
Evangelist and senior pastor, Friendship Baptist Church, Friendship

This article is written from two perspectives: one from the experience of having been a vocational evangelist for 38 years and the other from the experience of currently serving as a pastor for the past eight years.

The latest statistics from the Annual Church Profile (ACP) of the Southern Baptist Convention have just been released and were published in the June 12 issue of the B&R. Guess what? The time for rhetoric is over. We have had enough motivational sermons, church growth conferences and restructuring. [Read more…]

LIFE IS PRECIOUS

July 10, 2019

Thirty-five years ago today (July 10), my wife Joyce and I went to the local hospital in Lebanon, expecting that we would give birth to our first child. We did, but not the way we anticipated. David Randall Wilkey was a stillbirth.

My wife and I were devastated, but God carried us through that valley in our lives, as He always has.

As I reflect on the anniversary of David’s birth, I can now see some “good” that came through his death. [Read more…]

DEALING WITH THE DOUBLE STANDARDS OF CULTURE

July 10, 2019

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

At times, culture makes no sense. We live in a society where animals are better protected than unborn children.

Yet, culture itself doesn’t even follow its own rules on unborn children.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a “Before It Hits the Press” column about a young woman (Sierra Cahoon) and her 2-year-old child who were intentionally rammed by a driver and killed. Mrs. Cahoon (whose husband Matt is an athletic trainer at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City) was also pregnant. The unborn child died too. See the column here. [Read more…]

A NEW AND EXCITING FUTURE FOR CARSON-NEWMAN

July 9, 2019

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

Charles and Sandra Fowler, center, were introduced June 10 as the new president and first lady of Carson-Newman University by David Ogle, left, chair of the presidential search committee, and Harry Brooks, right, chair of the board of trustees.
-Photo by Charles Key.

Charles Fowler admits he was surprised when he was informed last fall that his name had been put forward as a nomination to be the next president of Carson-Newman University. When I heard the news, I wasn’t the least bit surprised.

I’ve known Charles for years. He is a gracious leader possessing a long and strong identity with, and understanding of, Tennessee Baptists. He has outstanding academic credentials, a pastor’s heart and a theologian’s mind. The CNU presidential search committee did an outstanding job of cultivating excellent candidates for the position and diligently prayed over and vetted each candidate. Just as I wasn’t surprised by Dr. Fowler’s nomination, I wasn’t surprised at the news of his selection. He started his new role July 1. [Read more…]

WHAT JULY 4th MEANS TO ME

July 3, 2019

By Chap. Lt. Col. Larry M. Kirk, USAF (Ret)

Independence Day is that day of celebration on which I hang my heart. My heart rejoices that while our country wasn’t founded as a Christian nation, our forefathers did instill Godly values into our document — The Declaration of Independence.

Our forefathers rejected the idea of a state-run church in favor of freedom of religion for all. Our government cannot dictate how or when we worship. Our founding fathers recognized God established the government; the government did not establish God. This government assures us that we are free to live where we please, move about as we desire and vote as we want, without government infringement. [Read more…]

MAN’S BEST FRIEND

July 1, 2019

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

I have heard that a dog is a “man’s best friend” for most of my life.

As a child growing up, dogs were not my best friends. I didn’t like dogs and dogs didn’t like me, as evidenced by being bitten several times by “man’s best friend.” Dogs were a part of God’s creation that I thought I could do without. [Read more…]

HUMBLED: BEING COCKSURE IN A COCKEYED WORLD

July 1, 2019

By Johnnie Godwin
Contributing Columnist, B&R

Someone supposedly asked Daniel Boone if he ever got lost. As I remember it, he replied, “No, but I did get bewildered in the woods for four days one time.” I identify with the answer to the question.

At age 82, I know where I’ve been and where I’m going; but often I don’t have a clue where I am in the midst of life. Oh, I’ve still got all my marbles and don’t need a compass or a GPS. Well, that’s only partially true. When I lived in West Texas, I could drive to whatever point I could see. But east of the Mississippi for the last 50 years has caused me to feel bewildered in a world that is cocksure of most everything without realizing the world is cockeyed. [Read more…]

DOING THE RIGHT THINGS IN THE RIGHT WAYS

June 28, 2019

By Todd E. Brady
Vice president for university ministries, Union University, Jackson

After the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention recently in Birmingham, Ala., I returned home grateful, encouraged and even more eager to invest in the next generation. Southern Baptists are not a perfect people, for I am one.

However, our denomination is seeking to be both convictional and compassionate in our mission — ensuring that our actions are indeed congruent with our proclamations. This year, in particular, our leadership has provided excellent guidance concerning the importance of our mission, the clarity of our vision and the integrity of our practices. [Read more…]

THE SOUND OF A COIN IS THE SOUND OF DESPAIR

June 27, 2019

By Chris Turner
cturner@tnbaptist.org

DUSSELDORF — I heard the distinct sound of a thick coin hitting the bottom of a tin box. It was a toneless plop. I snapped my head to the left to see a neatly groomed man of about 30 looking up into the face of the statue rising above him. He crossed himself, lowered his head and touched the saint’s feet as he intently mumbled a prayer. He finished, kissed his hand then touched the kiss to the feet as he turned to go. With that, he faded into the crowd and disappeared.

I’ve long made it a point to visit cathedrals when traveling so the coin’s thud was familiar. For me it is always a jolting expression of spiritual desperation. It represents countless people hoping their indulgence buys them favor with a saint who holds sway with Jesus or God; or Mary, Jesus’ mother. The offering never pays off, but who’s to say it won’t the next time, or the next. They keep trying. It’s a fruitless cycle but there is fear in breaking from superstition. [Read more…]

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