By Gerald Harris, Editor The Christian Index in Georgia John Calvin (1509-1564) was an influential French pastor and theologian during the Protestant Reformation. He is best known for his “doctrine of predestination,” which became the foundation of his theology – suggesting that God predestined certain individuals to be saved. Calvinism is known for its five basic tenets summarized by the acronym TULIP. Those five points of Calvinism are (1) Total depravity of man, (2) Unconditional election, (3) Limited atonement, (4) Irresistible grace and (5) Perseverance of the saints. There are some Calvinists who suggest that unconditional election means that God chooses, or “elects,” His children from before the foundations of the earth – that God does not just “know” what decision people will make, but that God causes them to make the decision to seek Him. There are also those who hold to Reformed theology who believe limited atonement means that the death and resurrection of Christ is the substitutionary payment for the sins of only those who are God’s elect children, but not the entire world. Many who embrace Reformed theology are motivated to allow it to influence their church polity by substituting congregational church government … [Read more...]

By Earl Blackburn, Pastor Heritage Baptist Church in Shreveport Southern Baptists are people of deep conviction, fiery passion, and great heritage, which formed us into a working consensus of cooperation. Sometimes, these traits have caused divisions. Calvinism has been one of the controversial issues, but definitely not the most divisive. For the past 75-80 years there has been a détente between non-Calvinists and Calvinists. From time to time, skirmishes erupted, but eventually we settled down and went back to fulfilling the Great Commission. However, in the past 5-7 years the peace has been disturbed. So tumultuous has been the furor that attempts surfaced to build bridges and restore peace. Two examples were the Building Bridges Conference at Ridgecrest (2008) and Dr. Frank Page’s appeal at the SBC in New Orleans (2012) in which he passionately pled with us to stop the in-fighting about Calvinism and get on with fulfilling our Great Commission mandate. Page indicated he was forming a commission to present a report at the 2013 Convention on how Calvinists and non-Calvinists can continue to work together, as we have done “decade upon decade upon decade.” It seems some are not listening to Dr. Page. Instead, there are … [Read more...]

By Rex Butler, NOBTS On Oct. 28, 1949, Jim Elliot wrote in his journal a statement of faith that has inspired all who have read it in the decades since: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” (The Journals of Jim Elliot). Not many years later, this young man and four other missionaries indeed gave their lives in an attempt to share the Gospel with an unreached people group called Aucas in Ecuador. This indigenous group called themselves “Huaorani,” meaning “people,” but their enemies called them “Aucas” because they were “savages.” They were a tribe of about 600 people known for their violence, not only against their enemies but also among themselves. Any foreigners (cowodi) encroaching upon the Aucas’ territory were killed. Despite the Aucas’ reputation for violence, five missionary couples felt compassion for them because they had never heard the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. They were Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, Nate and Marjorie Saint, Ed and Marilou McCully, Pete and Olive Fleming, and Roger and Barbara Youderian, who, along with their children, moved to Ecuador in order to learn the language and customs of these primitive people and to establish contact with them. … [Read more...]

By Archie England, NOBTS Question: Is a person born a sinner, or does he or she become a sinner once the first act of sin occurs? In the later 4th century of the early church, Pelagius argued the latter – asserting Adam’s sin harmed only himself. So, Adam’s original sin did not taint the remainder of humanity. Like Adam, every person becomes a sinner by a first act of sin. Pelagius’ views (humanity was uninjured by the sin of Adam (no original sin) and thereby had a will totally free to choose good or evil) were condemned as heretical in AD 418 (though not so in AD 416). Archie England responds: What’s at stake here is how we understand the “Fall” of Adam in Genesis 3. Either Adam’s choice affected only himself or it affected both him and all future humanity. In the Garden of Eden, Satan’s trickery of Eve (Gen 3:1-6a) became Eve’s enticing of Adam (Gen 3:6b): she offered; he ate. Verse 7: With their eyes now opened, they saw (their nakedness) and reacted (crafted coverings). When God arrived for fellowship with creation (3:8), Adam and Eve hid! The strong imagery compels the reader to “see” that sin disrupted the relationship. God still offered them the fellowship of His Presence but they withdrew theirs. Once becoming sinners … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Marketing Director PINEVILLE – Promoted as “a nationwide call for spiritual awakening,” a OneCry Conference took place Feb. 21-22 in the Granberry Conference Center on the campus of Louisiana College. The conference, which marked one year of ministry for the OneCry movement, was a joint venture between the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Life Action Ministries and the Joseph Willis Institute, which is housed at LC. OneCry, according to its website, “is a movement of believers who are urgently crying out to God to revive the church and transform the culture.” Life Action Ministries is an organization devoted to revival and advancing the kingdom of Christ, while the Joseph Willis Institute seeks to educate the present and future generations of spiritual leaders on the historical and biblical principles of the great Christian revivals that have significantly impacted Western civilization, culture and church growth around the world. The conference kicked off with Sammy Tippit, international evangelist and LC alumnus, preaching during LC’s weekly chapel service. He shared several anecdotes that recounted occasions when he said the Lord moved miraculously in response to prayer. “We need a move of God in our … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Editor DRY PRONG – “God is not going to bless America as long as we kill our babies,” said Richard Land, referring to the practice of abortion in the United States. “Fifty-five million babes have been killed in their mothers’ wombs since the passage of Roe v. Wade [the Supreme Court decision which made abortion on demand legal in the U.S.]  in 1973,” said the president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Land’s remarks came during a regional evangelism rally sponsored by the Big Creek Baptist Association on Feb. 26. James Merritt, pastor of Cross Pointe Church in Atlanta, Ga., and a former president of the SBC, shared the podium with Land for the special event held at New Prospect Baptist Church in Dry Prong. “To energize the local church to do the work of evangelism,” was the motivation behind the Big Creek Baptist Association’s Regional Evangelism Rally, said Jim Garlington, pastor of the Oak Grove Baptist Church in Bentley and Big Creek Evangelism Director. “I thought overall it was a good night,” Garlington said. “The people who attended from Oak Grove have indicated to me that they have been impacted and want to commit to being fishers of men.” Land’s text … [Read more...]

By Robert Lemoine, Regional Reporter BOSSIER CITY – A new church has been founded to meet the needs of immigrants from Myanmar. A need has been met by First Baptist Church Bossier to serve spiritual food to immigrants from the country formerly known as Burma. A Christian welcome by Ken Hansen, a member of First Bossier, has grown into a new church in North Louisiana: First Zo Baptist Mission. About five years ago, Hanson noticed a group of people who visited his place of work on a regular basis. He began talking with them and soon discovered they were Christians. He asked Sonny DePrang, another member of First Bossier who has been on at least 30 mission trips and served as interim and supply pastor for many churches, to reach out to them. DePrang visited the home of Kham La Nang and his wife about five years ago to host worship services for about five people. As the services continued, more people began coming. DePrang asked for permission to use a room at First Bossier to meet in. Four years ago, permission was given to use a Sunday School classroom, which holds about 25 people. Only two years later, another room was needed. First Zo Baptist Mission is now a member of the Northwest Baptist Association and receives … [Read more...]

DALLAS – The 2013 edition of GuideStone’s annual Tax Return Preparation and Federal Reporting Guide is now available. In it, both active and retired ministers will find step-by-step help in understanding the latest tax laws along with sample tax forms to assist them in preparing their 2012 federal tax returns. The guide was written by CPA and attorney Richard Hammar, and edited by GuideStone’s Compliance staff to ensure that it addresses, in detail, the tax issues directly affecting Southern Baptist pastors. “As our tax system grows more complicated each year, it is a joy and a privilege for GuideStone to stand alongside the ministers we represent and provide solid counsel from a trusted source,” said O.S. Hawkins, GuideStone president. “Each year so many pastors tell us how thankful they are for this guide and how much is helps them navigate the unique ministerial tax laws. We are blessed to be able to help them with the important task of ensuring that their income tax returns are correct.” The tax guide, which also includes a special section detailing federal reporting requirements for churches, can be obtained in PDF format at www.GuideStone.org/TaxGuide. GuideStone participants can order a free printed copy by calling … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 03/12/2013 - 10:58 His audience roars approvingly as “Elvis” entertains during a recent One Man Show to raise money for missions. His personal bodyguard in dark suit and dark glasses earlier performed as a Secret Service agent.. By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor BOSSIER CITY – It’s not hard to raise money for mission projects and mission trips, says Pastor Chad Mills of Airline Baptist Church. To prove his point – and to raise money for missions – Mills performed recently in a One Man Show at the church. Mills was introduced as “The President” and with nothing more than a few seconds between characters with his back to the audience, he in turn became Presidents Kennedy, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II and Obama. He gave a gospel presentation as a 1950s Billy Graham, but didn’t stop there. Elvis was in the building! Mills performed – vocally! – as an emerging star and at the height of his fame. Invite Mills to give his One Man Show at your church, and let the Baptist Message know. We want to see this again! Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 … [Read more...]

By Staff, World News Magazine (WNS) – The normalization of homosexuality continued with President Obama’s appointment of Todd Hughes to the U.S. Court of Appeals. If approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, he would be the first openly gay federal appeals court judge. The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund website says the Obama administration “has appointed more than 250 openly LGBT professionals to full-time and advisory positions in the executive branch, more than all known LGBT appointments of other presidential administrations combined.” Religious Business Owner wins Injunction Against Contraceptive Mandate (WNS)--On Jan. 30, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an injunction against the federal government’s health insurance contraceptive mandate to Grote Industries, a Catholic-owned business, reversing a lower court’s ruling that earlier dismissed the business’ lawsuit. Grote, which creates vehicle components, is a family-owned company based in Indiana. The company self-insures its 1,148 full-time employees, and the Grote family objects to the mandate’s required coverage for contraceptives, abortifacients, and sterilization. The latest ruling brings the number of religious businesses that have won injunctions … [Read more...]