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Three words for such a time as this

July 27, 2020

By Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. - As we pass the mid-point of what seems like an extremely long year, several words come to mind that would be descriptive of how I feel about 2020. Unexpected would definitely be one of those words. No one expected COVID-19. No one saw the social unrest that has unfolded over the last several months. Another word would be uncertainty. It’s no surprise that unexpected events such as the ones we’ve experienced lead to uncertainty. Economic uncertainty. Health uncertainty. Emotional uncertainty. What can we do? What should we do? But even in the midst of these unexpected and uncertain times, I would include the word grateful. I’m grateful God has been faithful. Samuel sums it up well for me when he said, “So far, the Lord has helped us.” These unexpected and uncertain times have not caught Him off guard. I’m grateful for the spirit I’ve seen in Louisiana Baptists. You’ve been creative, stretching yourselves, utilizing unfamiliar technology for many of you, as you’ve continued to minister to each other and your communities. You have exhibited a God-honoring spirit that shows we may have been confined, but we were not contained. You cannot quarantine good news. I am grateful for your faithfulness … [Read more...]

Are you just sitting around?

July 23, 2020

By Stewart Holloway PINEVILLE, La. – When asked to engage in a new ministry, a pastor declined to even think about it saying, “We’re just waiting on this whole virus thing.” Essentially, this pastor and his church are doing nothing while a world crisis rages. That means they have lost five months of gospel impact while ministry is on pause. They are just sitting around waiting. I’m grateful that our church has decided not to do that. I do not see how any church CAN do that! The work of Christ must continue even in the midst of some of the oddest circumstances we have ever experienced. Like most churches, only about half of our people are back in person. At times that is discouraging (ok, it is always discouraging!), but then we hear of ministry happening outside the walls of the church - some of that in person but even more by phone, mail, and internet resources. Those reports encourage us that ministry is happening in multiple ways and places and lives are being touched. I am also encouraged by the giving of our people. In the middle of a pandemic and with half of our people still at home, we are closer to meeting budget at mid-year than I can remember. In addition, we have reduced our debt by almost $200,000. We have … [Read more...]

A radical proposal to eliminate the harms of COVID-19

July 17, 2020

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Our state and our nation needs to pinpoint its COVID-19 mitigation efforts to focus laser-like on those vulnerable to its serious effects in order to end the crushing impact of this pandemic on our families, our economy, our education system and our future. A few days ago, I signed a joint letter with other Louisiana Baptist leaders to commit to wearing a mask as a measure for fighting back against the surging disease and to ask other Louisiana Baptists to join us in this simple thing. I truly believe in this initiative as part of the answer to prevent spreading COVID-19 to others. Research shows that wearing masks, socially distancing and sanitizing frequently are good general measures to make a difference in reducing the spread of this disease within the general population. But, I am also convinced by the data from the Louisiana Department of Health that a more aggressive approach is needed to end the hospitalizations, ventilations and deaths in the state – which should be the primary concerns driving public policy in response to the pandemic (and not just the number of cases). In fact, I would argue that the number of cases is only relevant to this … [Read more...]

Patience and perseverance

July 14, 2020

By Waylon Bailey We all know the need for patience. When I think of the fruit of the Spirit, I am drawn to the quality of patience. I am drawn there because I often feel so inadequate with patience. You may feel the same. Frustration and aggravation sometimes seem to take over. But, it may not be patience that I need. What I really need is perseverance. This is the meaning of the word we normally translate as patience. I need to persevere. I need to be long-suffering. I need to not quit and not give up. I need to stand strong under the pressure. Perseverance and long-suffering is exactly what I perceive that we all need right now. We need it in our lives, and we need it as the church. We have all worked hard to keep going since March 13, but we may be getting weary in well-doing. It’s natural for us to get weary. After all, if that were not the case, Paul would not have written to encourage us to keep working and serving. I want to encourage you to keep on. Don’t give up on yourself and don’t give up on Christ and His church. Be found faithful and obedient. These are tough days, but our God is faithful. He will see us through until we hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Waylon Bailey is pastor of First Baptist … [Read more...]

Which seminary? The first spiritual milestone in our marriage

July 9, 2020

By Chuck Kelley Rhonda and I met on our first Sunday at Baylor University. We began dating during that freshman year, became an exclusive couple our sophomore year, publicly committed to a serious relationship in our junior year, became engaged in our senior year, and were married in June after graduation. We stayed in college one more year for Rhonda to earn a Master’s degree to qualify for the work she expected to do, while I continued studying philosophy and working in collegiate ministry on our campus. It was in the middle of the summer, forty-five years ago this week, when we faced our first spiritual milestone as husband and wife. The issue was where to go to seminary, our first major life decision we had to make as husband and wife. Rhonda and I began the process in the ordinary way. We prayed about it regularly. We explored the options and talked through them. Fortunately, we both agreed on what appeared to be God’s clear, obvious choice. We would go to Fort Worth, TX to attend Southwestern Seminary. My calling was evangelism, and Southwestern had the most famous evangelism professor in SBC history and a great academic program in evangelism. I was already preaching all over Texas in revivals, conferences, and youth … [Read more...]

What do we do when we need a win?

July 7, 2020

By Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. - At the risk of sounding like the cartoon character, The Born Loser, I confess to you that I’ve had my share of losing. In four seasons as a high school football player for example, we won 6 of 40 games and 2 of those 6 were taken away for using an ineligible player. I’m not sure how you’re feeling, but as we reach the midpoint of 2020, it sure seems like we could use a win right now. Recent statistical research among Southern Baptists and Louisiana Baptists reminds us we are losing ground on almost every number we count. The recent Supreme Court decisions regarding the redefinition of “sex” and the striking down of a Louisiana law mandating abortion providers have hospital admitting privileges feel like big losses. The escalation of racial tensions driven by injustices cause us to wonder if we have lost ground as it relates to race relations in America. And, if you believe many of the news reports, we seem to be falling behind in the fight against COVID-19. I don’t know about you, but I sure could use a “win.” So, this begs the question, what do we do when we need a win? I want to encourage us today to do at least three things. Watch your words. Blaming somebody else is not going … [Read more...]

The number one way to encourage a pastor

June 29, 2020

By Joe McKeever There was a time when it was easier to pastor a church than it is today. There was a time when churches running a thousand on Sunday were considered mega. There was a time when churches took what they had in the way of pastoral leadership and pretty much went with it without a lot of complaints. Those days are no more. It’s a different world we live in. People demand strengths and excellence and results from their leaders. They look for power in the pulpit and skills in relationships. They want degrees and winsomeness and it wouldn’t hurt if you looked sharp either. They want to be fed in sermons and challenged in programs. They want input in decisions and no longer hand the keys to the kingdom to the new preacher. What they do not want… –What most do not want is to be embarrassed by the preacher, for their church to become the laughingstock of the community, for the attendance to drop, or for the financial situation to become dire. –If they could, they would like the church to reach the unchurched and make a difference in the poorer section of town, but all the while retaining their church as it has always been. –If they could, they’d like to become a mission-minded congregation where … [Read more...]

Supreme Court flunks Biology 101

June 24, 2020

By Will Hall, Baptist Message Executive Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – In a stunning 6-3 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which included “yes” votes by so-called conservatives Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, homosexuality and transgenderism were each declared to be a “sex” and so included in that protected class under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In the ruling on Bostock v. Clayton County -- a combination of three cases involving the firing of a funeral home worker who chose a transgender identity and the firings of two homosexuals who came out as gay to their employers (a county government and a sky diving business) -- the Court conceded that the law protected “any individual … because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex or national origin.” Furthermore, the same justices admitted that “the term ‘sex' in 1964 referred to biological distinctions between male and female.” Then the six supporters made the tortuous argument about what “because of” meant and gave undue emphasis on “disparate treatment” to disregard the original meaning of “sex” (biological differences between a man and woman) in order to declare that homosexuality and transgenderism are … [Read more...]

Who is advising you?

June 22, 2020

By Stewart Holloway PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) - King Joash of Judah was only seven years old when he became king. During those years, Joash was advised by Jehoiada the priest. As long as Joash was under the authority of God’s priest, he did only good things. Most notably, he rebuilt and repaired the temple. However, as soon as Jehoiada died, Joash failed. He began listening to the wrong advisors and worshiping idols. Joash became so hardened that, even though God sent many prophets to bring the nation ...back to Him, Joash would not listen. His heart-hardness reached its climax when Jehoiada’s son Zechariah spoke against him. In response, Joash completely forgot the kindness of Jehoiada and had Zechariah stoned. Joash’s story is tragic. A good king became an evil king - all because he started listening to the wrong people. It matters to whom you listen. The people you choose or allow to speak into your life can radically alter your course. These people include your friends and family but also the people you read, listen to on the radio or podcasts, or watch on television or online. Be discerning in whom you allow to speak into your life. The wrong voice can lead you down the wrong path. Proverbs tells us that plans succeed … [Read more...]

Statement regarding George Floyd and the ensuing riots

June 11, 2020

By Rod Martin and affirmed by Conservative Baptist Network team In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. For this reason, while strongly affirming due process for all involved, we equally strongly condemn the death of George Floyd and also the rioting in Minneapolis and elsewhere. Every human being is made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). An attack on any person, whether intentional or merely reckless, is an affront to a holy God. The people of God must stand for innocent life at all times and in all situations. Police brutality is always wrong. It assaults the innocent, and it also endangers the countless good and heroic police officers upon whom we all depend. But likewise, rioting is not protest. Rioting is not protected by the First Amendment. Rioters are not sympathetic figures. Rioters are engaging in a form of domestic terrorism and should be dealt with accordingly.  These are not normal criminals — they are rioting to advance a political point, which is not just a crime but an act of terrorism.  And their message is simple: give us what we want or die. Civil society cannot long endure such acts — not of police brutality and not of mass violence — both of … [Read more...]

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Editorial

FIRST PERSON: As goes the family, so goes the culture

By Gene Mills, Louisiana Family Forum president BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Public policy matters, especially regarding the health and growth of families, the basic building block of any flourishing society. As we have seen throughout history, as goes the family, so goes the culture. Unfortunately, for too long … Read More

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