I hope that I did not read too much into the statements that were quoted in the November 21 issue of the Baptist Message from LBC President Tommy French. "Anyone who seeks to bypass the local pastors is acting like a pope." I hope that I did not read too much into the statements that were quoted in the November 21 issue of the Baptist Message from LBC President Tommy French. "Anyone who seeks to bypass the local pastors is acting like a pope." Then he says to pastors and church members (probably primarily pastors) "You lead them. They don’t lead you. You teach them. They don’t teach you."   This language disturbs me. I have been a Baptist all of my life and have known lots of preachers — many of them good and Godly men; but I have never known one who knew all of the truth. I taught school for a short time and I have taught Sunday School for approximately 40 years. I feel I have learned a great deal from those in my classes and, hopefully, they learned a little from me. The very best scenario is when we work together and learn from each other for none of us is completely whole. I believe that Paul described the relationship as "fellow-servants in the Lord." We all have our strengths and, unfortunately, … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist churches that wish to obtain a motion picture license to shows movies, videos and video clips at church events have to the end of the year to take advantage of a reduced-rate offer. Louisiana Baptist churches that wish to obtain a motion picture license to shows movies, videos and video clips at church events have to the end of the year to take advantage of a reduced-rate offer.   The Louisiana Baptist Strategy Coordination Office has been offering churches a chance to obtain a license with the Motion Picture Licensing Corporation at an annual fee of $70.   The license is important because of copyright law, which forbids a video intended for personal home use from being shown in public gatherings. That prohibition extends even to churches and non-profit groups, even on videos that are purchased instead of rented and even when one is not charging admission for persons to view the video.   Showing of such videos in public gatherings for "purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain" is a federal crime, current law stipulates. However, even innocent showings could result in civil penalties, including fines of up to $20,000, federal law sets … [Read more...]

How many people attend church services in a given week in the United States? How many people attend church services in a given week in the United States?   For decades, Gallup polls have indicated about four out of every 10 American adults attend a weekly church service.   It is reliable research.   Or is it?   Actually, if one wants to start a polite fight, put a group of religious researchers in a room together and ask them to discuss the whole area of church attendance.   Are the polls accurate?   Are the figures overstated?   Is there any way to find the truth?   It depends on who one asks.   At the annual meeting of the Religious Research Association in Houston this fall, plenty of religious researchers were talking - many with differing theories.   And then there were those who do not even agree that there is a problem with determining American church attendance.   For many years, that was the prevailing view. Indeed, hardly anyone even suggested there was a problem until 1993, when two Southern Baptists and a Catholic took the unprecedented step of actually counting heads in every congregation … [Read more...]

Many studies have shown that women are more religious than men - and at least one researcher is convinced there is a biological reason. Many studies have shown that women are more religious than men - and at least one researcher is convinced there is a biological reason.   Rodney Stark is urging his colleagues to track down the connection between gender and spirituality. "This is a big can of worms, and I think it’s time we open it," said Stark, a University of Washington professor.   The evidence of this gender disparity can be seen in most any church across the nation, Stark said at a Religion Research Association convention this fall.   Churches are filled with more women than men - and always have been, he noted. The trend is found in nearly every other country he has studied, Stark said.   Various non-biological reasons for this disparity have been put forward in the past, Stark said. Some have suggested the gender gap was created because fewer women than men worked outside the home or because they took more responsibility in childcare.   However, no significant difference can be found between the religiosity of working women and stay-at-home women, Stark … [Read more...]

For the week of December 14, 2000 Potpourri •TIOGA — Harmony church: The "S" Files, a presentation combining internet surfing with Old Testament prophecies; Dec. 17, 6 p.m. The Jesus team and Tiny Tones, presenters; Stephen Richardson, pastor. Christmas Programs •HAYNESVILLE — First church: "Welcome to Our World’ musical; Dec. 17, 6 p.m.; Terrell Jackson, minister of music; Shelby Cowling, pastor.   •DEQUINCY — First church: choir presents "How Do You Welcome a King?" Dec. 17, 7 p.m.; Jared Prewitt, minister of music; Eddie Clement, pastor.   •SHREVEPORT — Shreve City church: "In Adoration of the King of Kings" musical; Dec. 16, 3 p.m.; Dec. 17, 10:45 a.m.; Bobby Jones, minister of music; Gene Nix, interim pastor.   •HAYNESVILLE — North Acres church: adult choir presents "The Night Christ Was Born," Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m.; Max Hutto, minister of music; Roy Strother, pastor.   •ELM GROVE — Elm Grove church: choir presents "Smoky Mountain Christmas," Dec. 16-17, 7 p.m.; Charles Anderson, minister of music; Ed Baswell, pastor.   •ALBANY — Blood River church: "The Plane Truth About Christmas" children’s musical; Dec. 17, 6 p.m.; Melanie Roudkovski, director; Viktor … [Read more...]

Hussein El Abed leans against a stonewall on the side of a narrow dirt road. The sun is just beginning to set. He waits. Unlike Christians around the world, this 54-year-old Palestinian shepherd in Bethlehem is not waiting for Christmas Eve to begin. When the sun sets, Hussein and more than 1.2 billion fellow Muslims worldwide will sit down to a meal that breaks their sunrise-to-sunset Ramadan fast.   As evening approaches, not a single star will be visible in the mostly cloudy sky, certainly not like the one that guided the shepherds 2,000 years ago.   Nevertheless, would-be wise men can follow a modern-day light source - car lights - to Manger Square, the traditional site for Jesus’ birth.   Each year, nearly 15,000 tourists - equal to almost a third of Bethlehem’s population - flood the small, not-as-sleepy-as-one-might-expect West Bank town to celebrate Christmas.   But most of the Christians making their way to Manger Square will be coming from somewhere besides Bethlehem. In recent years, Muslims have become the majority in this small town known worldwide as the birthplace of Christianity.   Southern Baptist representatives throughout the Middle East are … [Read more...]

If Joseph and Mary were to venture into Bethlehem this Christmas Eve looking for a room at the inn, they would need a fast donkey to dodge bullets. If Joseph and Mary were to venture into Bethlehem this Christmas Eve looking for a room at the inn, they would need a fast donkey to dodge bullets.   Caught in the crossfire - that is how Christians in the Middle East have felt as Jews and Arabs fight over a homeland. Now that hopes for Israeli-Palestinian peace have collapsed once again into street warfare, the Christians’ sense of living under siege has returned.   That even is true for members of the Palestinian Christian minority, despite their general support for Palestinian statehood. However, since the violence has exploded even they have been denounced by some militant Muslim leaders.   It also is true for American Christians working in the wider Arab world, who must cope with Muslim friends and neighbors who are angry at what they see as unjust United States policy in the region. "In our three years living in the Middle East, we have received many warnings from the U.S. Embassy regarding possible terrorist actions or other anti-American activity," one American evangelical couple … [Read more...]

The majority of the American Medical Association’s House of Delegates place a possible pregnancy in about the same health category as a mild case of the sniffles or heartburn. The majority of the American Medical Association’s House of Delegates place a possible pregnancy in about the same health category as a mild case of the sniffles or heartburn. Earlier this month, the AMA delegates asked the federal Food and Drug Administration to consider making "emergency contraception" available over the counter. These medicines are taken within 72 hours after sexual intercourse and again in another 12 hours. They are commonly referred to as "morning after" pills and are about 75 percent effective in preventing implantation of a fertilized egg, or embryo, into the uterine lining, thus aborting the pregnancy. Apparently, the AMA delegates want to make buying medicines that would abort a pregnancy as accessible as aspirin, antacids or nose spray. Anyone able to buy aspirin could buy the pills necessary to abort a pregnancy. Making available over the counter the medicines necessary to abort a pregnancy would mean there would be no restrictions on who purchases them. The AMA representatives seem to think that medical … [Read more...]

Since they left the Mormon Church, Jerald and Sandra Tanner have spent some four decades challenging the beliefs of their former faith. Since they left the Mormon Church, Jerald and Sandra Tanner have spent some four decades challenging the beliefs of their former faith.   Part of that battle led the couple to post 17 pages of a Mormon handbook on a website. The pages were from a closely-guarded book that is not available to the public or even general church membership. They deal with church disciplinary procedures and how people can get their names removed from Mormon church rolls.   In turn, that led Church of Latter-day Saints officials to sue the couple. Mormon officials claimed the couple violated copyright laws.   The case now has been settled - pending court approval.   Reports say the Tanners have agreed to a Latter-day Saints proposal to destroy copies of a Mormon handbook they posted on their www.utlm.org website, which is part of the Tanner’s Utah Lighthouse Ministry. The couple also has agreed to remove links to - or any mention of - websites carrying the Mormon Church Handbook of Instruction.   In exchange, the church has agreed to drop its claims … [Read more...]

When his mother checked into a nursing home, Travis Collins says he was pleased the short-term rehabilitation did not interrupt her giving to First Baptist Church of Mount Washington, Ky. When his mother checked into a nursing home, Travis Collins says he was pleased the short-term rehabilitation did not interrupt her giving to First Baptist Church of Mount Washington, Ky. The 81-year-old member is one of nearly 20 people or families at the church who have signed up this year for automatic checkbook deductions to contribute to the budget. "That’s one less thing she has to worry about," said Collins, pastor of the Kentucky congregation. "What we’re trying to do is facilitate the giving of offerings." First Baptist Church has joined a trend toward electronic tithing. While the numbers are not clear, a suburban Minneapolis firm that processes such payments for 3,200 churches reports a growing interest in the practice. "The momentum is clearly there," said Len Thiede, senior account manager for Vanco Services. "We’re getting contracts every day." It is not clear how many are involved. Last year, a religious magazine estimated about 5 percent of all United States churches use electronic transfers. But because so … [Read more...]