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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

SBC resolutions include approval of ‘Marxist’ theories as ‘analytical tools’

By Will Hall, Executive Editor BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (LBM) – Southern Baptist messengers attending the 2019 Annual Meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, approved 13 resolutions, including one that was substantially altered to endorse two theories as “analytical tools” that the author of the original resolution called “Marxist.” Twelve of the resolutions passed without much controversy, although some garnered requests to tweak the language. But Resolution 9 was hotly debated because it approved using controversial concepts, in addition to Scripture, for gaining insights about “social dynamics” like race and gender in our culture. This resolution described “critical race theory” and “intersectionality” in neutral terms, suggesting that in some cases both have been misused “by individuals with worldviews that are contrary to the Christian faith” to come to wrong conclusions. However, the two theoretical frameworks actually arose from radicals in academia. Critical race theory is traced to the Harvard Law School and the founding theorist Derrick Bell who insists that “the law” perpetuates “white supremacy” and “white privilege.” Meanwhile, intersectionality is tied to the UCLA School of Law and Kimberlé Crenshaw, the pioneer … [Read more...]

La. pastor arrested for rape, church ministers to the hurt

By Staff WESTLAKE, La. (LBM) – Bruce Baker, director of missions for the Carey Baptist Association, said the Bellview Baptist Church in Westlake is asking for prayers of healing for a young girl who was raped by the now former pastor of the congregation. John Ward, 45, who had served at the church since 2012, was arrested June 17 on 10 counts of first degree rape, 40 counts of indecent behavior and two counts of pornography involving a juvenile, according to a news release from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Department. An anonymous call to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services’ tip line led to an investigation during which Ward confirmed to detectives that he had been molesting a girl, now 11 years old, for two years. He also told investigators he videoed the girl while she was nude on two separate occasions. Judge Sharon Wilson set his bond at $640,000. “Bellview Baptist Church leaders are cooperating fully with the sheriff’s office in the investigation,” Baker shared with the Baptist Message. “The deacons, in consultation with Carey Baptist Association, unanimously voted to immediately terminate Ward’s employment with the congregation because of his sexual immorality and failure to maintain the … [Read more...]

Uncomplicating your prayers: Just do it!

By Joe McKeever “When you pray, say , ‘Our Father….'”   (Luke 11:2) I used to have around fifty books on prayer.  C. S. Lewis said he would never write one, but that’s been done for him  posthumously.  Someone took articles he wrote in various books and insights from his letters and assembled them into How to Pray, which Bertha and I are reading with enormous pleasure.  (Most of my collection I gave away over the years as I down-sized my library twice.) I fear with all the books on the subject that beginners may be scared away from serious praying, thinking it’s harder than it is, more complicated than it should be, and reserved just for the most religious among us.  And what a tragedy that would be. Prayer is for every child of God. I love to find insights and encouragements in Scripture about prayer.  One of the best is on display in the amazing and rich 8th chapter of Romans, everyone’s “mother lode” of treasures.  It’s this… –Romans 8:26 says that while we do not know how to pray as we should (we smile at the wonderful and honest admission), the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.  I have no idea what that is like in the Throne Room of Heaven.  But wait…. –Romans 8:34–just eight verses later–informs us that the … [Read more...]

Southern Baptists identify sexual abuse, racism as disqualifying for membership

By Message Staff BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Messengers took a stand against sexual abuse and racism at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, June 11-12, in Birmingham, Alabama. They voted, overwhelmingly, for amendments to the SBC Constitution to specifically state that sexual abuse and discrimination based on ethnicity are grounds for a church to be deemed as “not in friendly cooperation” with the Convention. Messengers likewise voted to amend the SBC Bylaws to repurpose the Credentials Committee into a standing commit-tee to make inquiries and recommendations for action regarding instances of sexual abuse, racism or other issues that call a church’s relationship with the SBC into question. Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, told messengers the votes constituted a significant moment in the history of the Convention. “May this world know that the Southern Baptist Convention stands against all forms of sexual abuse,” Floyd said. “May this world know that this convention of churches – 47,000 churches, plus a few thousand congregations, just under 52,000 churches and congregations – has given a clear signal not only about what we believe about sexual abuse, but we also stand against … [Read more...]

Memorial services scheduled for Jefferson Parish pastor

Details for the memorial service have been announced for Claude Williams, pastor of Celebration Church’s Westbank campus who was killed Sunday, June 16. According to Celebration Church’s website, the first service will take place Friday, June 21, 11 am at Celebration Church, 2001 Airline Dr. in Metairie. Visitation begins at 9 a.m. A second service is scheduled for Saturday, June 22, 11 am at the First Baptist Church, 508 Second St. in  Nachitoches. Visitation begins at 9 a.m. Williams was one of three people who died Sunday evening while trying to help a motorist change a flat tire on the upper level of the Westbank Expressway in Marrero. According to WDSU-TV in New Orleans, an Impala struck the disabled Yukon driven by Williams and the two other pedestrians, pushing them over the side of the elevated expressway. The driver of the Impala, Todd Williams, 40, of New Orleans, was arrested. An account on the Celebration Church website has been established to help defray funeral costs. Donations can be given at https://celebrationmla.infellowship.com/OnlineGiving/GiveNow/NoAccount. … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists among motion makers at annual meeting

By Staff BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Louisiana Baptists offered three motions among 23 presented by messengers during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, June 11-12, in Birmingham, Alabama, with the Committee on Order of Business including two among 18 referred to entities or committees and another as part of five ruled out of order. Referred to the Executive Committee: -- A motion by Leroy Fountain of the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, La., that a comprehensive report be given at the 2020 annual meeting on the progress of 12 recommendations adopted by the SBC in 2011 for expanding ethnic participation in the Convention. The last published information about progress made on the 12 recommendations was included in a 2015 report on racial reconciliation (click here). -- A motion by Pam Richardson of the New Life Baptist Church in Baker, La., to amend the BF&M 2000 Article 6 to state, "While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office and function of the pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture." Her motion adds “and function” to the original statement. -- A motion by Robert Anderson of the Colonial Baptist Church in Randallstown, Md., to add a George Liele … [Read more...]

Minister’s Housing Allowance case over for now; remains constitutional

By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Financial Resources DALLAS, Texas - Litigation challenging the constitutionality of the minister’s housing allowance has formally ended after the Freedom From Religion Foundation chose not to appeal a Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The FFRF, which won a challenge to the housing allowance in a district court on December 31, 2017, lost during an appeal to the Seventh Circuit when a three-judge panel ruled unanimously to overturn the lower court’s decision. The minister’s housing allowance was codified in federal tax law in 1954, GuideStone® Chief Legal Officer Harold R. Loftin Jr., who has monitored this and other challenges to the housing allowance, and attended the oral arguments before the Seventh Circuit panel in Chicago, praised the ending of the case. GuideStone has actively engaged in the various challenges to the housing allowance exclusion, filing amicus briefs alongside Southern Baptist and other denominational benefit plans and advocating with legislators and regulators. “The Freedom From Religion Foundation said that they believed given the composition of the Supreme Court that the could not prevail in the case,” Loftin said. “We believe that … [Read more...]

Celebration Church mourns sudden death of Westbank campus pastor

Dear Celebration Church Family, As many in our Church family know all too well, life is filled with unexplainable tragedies. Last night such a tragedy occurred when our Celebration Westbank Campus Pastor, Claude Williams, was taken from this life in a traffic accident. As far as we can tell, Pastor Claude and his long time friend Jeff Leinart stopped on the elevated Westbank Expressway to assist someone who had a flat tire. While they were assisting the person someone else hit them and the car they were working on, and their lives and another person’s life were ended. Pastor Claude’s wife, Twila, and their boys (Emmett, Elijah and Emory) were in Knoxville, Tennessee visiting her mother. They and Pastor Claude’s mother have been told about what has happened. Let’s pray for them constantly, asking the Lord, the “God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3) to help them process through their pain and sorrow in the coming weeks, month and years. We will stand with them and assist them in every week in the coming days. We also need to pray for our Celebration Family, especially our Celebration Westbank Members. Pastor Claude was greatly loved by all who knew him. He has been a faithful, faith-filled, godly and loving leader and a … [Read more...]

Living blessed

By Waylon Bailey Several years ago John Ortberg wrote a book on spiritual disciplines entitled, “The Life You’ve Always Wanted.” It deals with prayer, Scripture, solitude, and other practices which will bring us the kind of life and relationship with God we’ve always wanted. That seems to be the same kind of message Paul gave to the Church at Colossae. He encouraged those new believers to set their minds on the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. He also encouraged them to leave earthly things (meaning things of the flesh which are opposed to God) behind. He gave them a list of things to “put on” and a list to “put off.” He then told them to live according to who they are in Christ. What can we do to have a life that pleases Christ and by extension gives us “the life we’ve always wanted?” Paul reminded them of the virtues which are uniquely Christian but which non-Christians appreciate and desire to see in those who believe. Paul gave eight areas where we should live according to our new life in Christ and endeavor to let the Spirit of God work in our lives. These areas are compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness, and love. Who would ever … [Read more...]

Pastor Charles Edwards passes away May 6

Reverend Charles Richard Edwards entered heaven on Monday, May 6, 2019 at the age of 91 with his family by his side. Born on February 7, 1928 in Bentonville, Arkansas to Dixon and Essie Young Edwards, he served in the Navy during World War II. Upon returning home he accepted Christ as his Savior and was ordained into the ministry on September 27, 1950 at First Baptist Church in Bentonville. He attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas where he met his future wife, Christine Campbell. They married on January 30, 1953. To This union four children were born including three daughters; Charlotte Thibodeaux of Perchville, Cheryl Turner (Timmy) of Richard, Connie Bertrand (Preston) of Eunice and a son, Danny Edwards (Bernadine) of Eunice. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews. Edwards was preceded in death by his parents; Dixon and Essie Young Edwards of Bentonville, Arkansas, his wife of 64 years; Christine Campbell Edwards of Perchville, two brothers; Benny Edwards and Earl “Jack” Edwards of Bentonville, Arkansas, three sisters; Jewell Spurlock of Bentonville, Arkansas, Merle “Tookie” Page of Paragould, Arkansas, Thelma “Happy” Reich of … [Read more...]