Marcion, an early church heretic, was expelled from the church in Rome around AD 144. The early church leaders disapproved of his rejection of the Old Testament, which he based on supposed contradictions between it and the New Testament.     Marcion, an early church heretic, was expelled from the church in Rome around AD 144. The early church leaders disapproved of his rejection of the Old Testament, which he based on supposed contradictions between it and the New Testament.   Many Christians are still struggling with what to do with the Old Testament. And yet the Old Testament was the Bible for the first Christians, a fact made clear by examining the number of times the New Testament authors quoted from, or alluded to, the Old Testament. The Book of Hebrews contains at least 35 direct quotations from the Old Testament and approximately twice that number of allusions to Old Testament passages, events, and persons.   For too long, scholars have treated the New Testament authors’ use of the Old Testament as extreme examples of proof-texting that ignored the Old Testament context in order to make a particular point. In order to explain why the New Testament writers could ignore sound principles of interpretation, but … [Read more...]

The "Christian Revolutionaries" want to revitalize the church, not abandon it – and they definitely want to participate in missions.     The "Christian Revolutionaries" want to revitalize the church, not abandon it – and they definitely want to participate in missions.   At least, those are two messages I got from self-described "Revolutionaries" and others who responded to my last column, "Here comes the (Christian) Revolution," released Jan. 11.   In that column, I summarized some of Christian pollster George Barna’s most significant research findings for 2006.   Barna reported some discouraging trends in American church life: Only 15 percent of regular churchgoers rank their relationship with God as their top priority. Most adults related to a church youth group in their teens had dropped out of church altogether during their 20s. Many Christians experience spiritual growth haphazardly (or not at all).   But Barna also identified a growing movement of what he calls "Christian Revolutionaries" – believers who demonstrate much higher commitment to group worship, personal spiritual growth, Bible study and biblical beliefs, community ministry, evangelism and financial investment in Christian work.   However, … [Read more...]

March 11, 2007, will mark a special anniversary for Mack Walker. Brother Mack, as he is affectionately known, will celebrate 50 years as an ordained minister of the gospel.     March 11, 2007, will mark a special anniversary for Mack Walker. Brother Mack, as he is affectionately known, will celebrate 50 years as an ordained minister of the gospel.   He was pastor of Turkey Creek Baptist Church, Gilbert, La., while he attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.   He served Sycamore Baptist Church, Vidalia, La., for 25 years and has been at Larto Baptist church the past 14 years.   At 78 years of age he shows no signs of slowing down. He still preaches 10 or 12 revivals each year in addition to being a pastor.   Brother Mack is a living example of Paul’s description of the pastor/leader found in II Timothy 2. He is a teacher (v.2), a soldier (v.3), an athlete (v.5), a farmer (v.6), a workman (v.15), a vessel (v.20,21),and a slave (v.24). As a shepherd he has fed, nurtured, comforted, corrected and protected the churches under his care. For 50 years he has exemplified sacrifice, devotion, submission and humility in service to our wonderful Savior.   The highest and greatest thing to be said about Brother … [Read more...]

Several spoke at the Evangelism Conference about the 80 percent of Louisiana Southern Baptist churches that are     Several spoke at the Evangelism Conference about the 80 percent of Louisiana Southern Baptist churches that are "plateaued or declining."   A church I was in recently was among that "80 percent" group.   It was so sad.   A beautiful, nearly regal building with huge, high doors behind stately columns greeted me as I walked up the steps from a nearby visitors’ parking spot. No one was outside to smile or open doors, however.   The foyer smelled heavenly. Truly! Woodsy and yet a hint of delicate wildflowers, as if a reminder that all heaven and earth shall sing of the glory of the Lord.   No one in the foyer to smile or give me a hug, though a stack of businesslike bulletins sat anonymously on a table. I picked one up and walked through a set of double doors into the sanctuary.   Like a horse that senses danger, my feet stopped before my mind engaged and I nearly tripped over myself five steps into the worship center.   Wasn’t it Sunday? Where were all the people? Fewer than a dozen were scattered among pews that could have accommodated easily 500.   It seems I was early. Within another five … [Read more...]

One of the breakout sessions offered at the recent Evangelism Conference was a bus tour of the region. It was hosted by BAGNO – the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans – and transportation provided (two mid-size buses) by Franklin Avenue Baptist Church.     Third in a series NEW ORLEANS – One of the breakout sessions offered at the recent Evangelism Conference was a bus tour of the region. It was hosted by BAGNO – the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans – and transportation provided (two mid-size buses) by Franklin Avenue Baptist Church.   Tour guides Joe Mc- Keever and Freddie Arnold brought passengers up to date on progress made since the Katrina disaster of 2005. I was on Arnold’s bus; my facts come from him.   The pre-Katrina population of more than a million people of Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard Parishes has been whittled down to no more than 200,000 residents. Eerie, ghostlike structures – once home to families of several generations and passed down through many generations decorated in old New Orleans-style wrought iron – dot the landscape. Establishing legal ownership records stands in the way of some renovations and demolitions of properties.Greenery that once glistened with … [Read more...]

People from more than 60 churches across the United States are expected to participate in post-Katrina construction planning meetings here in March. They’d like you to join them.     CHALMETTE, SLIDELL, LAFAYETTE – People from more than 60 churches across the United States are expected to participate in post-Katrina construction planning meetings here in March. They’d like you to join them.   They need you to join them.   They’ll be at Northshore Baptist in Slidell March 10; First Chalmette March 24; and at the Church Without Walls in Lafayette March 31, to plan, and then back again this summer slinging hammers, nails and God’s blessings.   They’re mission construction volunteers affiliated with the Alabama-based Builders for Christ, a Southern Baptist organization said to be the largest of the 550 or more groups of construction volunteers in the nation.   "We desperately need to find 800 new friends; we may have taken on more than we can do, without their help," said Lawrence Corley, founder of the organization and project manager for First Chalmette. "We don’t believe for a minute that these three churches will have the personnel and resources to finish their building if we aren’t able to. They’re still … [Read more...]

William Wilberforce isn’t a household name in America, but an upcoming motion picture is trying to change that.     NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – William Wilberforce isn’t a household name in America, but an upcoming motion picture is trying to change that.   "Amazing Grace" is the story of Wilberforce, a devout Christian and a member of the British Parliament who, beginning around 1787, sought to do what then seemed impossible – lead the British Empire to abolish the slave trade, what supporters called the lifeblood of the economy. He failed year after year before, finally, in 1807 – 200 years ago – his bill became law, abolishing an evil that had resulted in the enslavement and death of millions of Africans. Shortly before his death in 1833, he learned that another bill – to abolish the practice of slavery itself in the empire – would soon become law   The movie – to be released Feb. 23 and rated PG for mild language – gets its name from Wilberforce’s friendship with John Newton, the author of the hymn "Amazing Grace" and a former slave trader who – several years after becoming a Christian – teamed up with Wilberforce to abolish the trade.   Christian leaders today say the church could learn much from the way … [Read more...]

Editor’s note: Read this article in its entirety on www.baptistmessage.com KANSAS CITY, Kan. (BP) – "The Last Sin Eater," the highly anticipated period drama directed by Michael Landon Jr., is set for a theatrical release on Feb. 9. Released through Fox Faith, Twentieth Century Fox’s faith-themed branch, the film (rated PG-13 for thematic elements and some violence) is based on the Francine Rivers novel and concerns a guilt-ridden adolescent girl who seeks forgiveness by way of an ancient Welsh ritual involving a man known as "The Sin Eater." An outcast, the Sin Eater comes to funerals and completes a ceremony by taking on the sins of the newly departed, supposedly allowing them to rest in peace. So burdened is the young girl that she sets out to find the Sin Eater. Hounded by the child, he relents and performs the ritual over her. But she feels nothing. The guilt remains. Ah, but a wandering minister introduces the youngster to the true Sin Eater. This comes from the offspring of the man who gave us "Little House on the Prairie" and "Highway to Heaven." Michael Landon Jr. offers a fresh story concept and delivers it with skill and competence. What’s more, it is a movie, made by movie people, wherein Jesus is proclaimed as … [Read more...]

The merger of First Baptist here with nearby East Leesville Baptist on Sunday, Feb. 11, has George Boswell, pastor of First Baptist New Llano, looking to the future with optimism despite his declining health and a declining church, he said.     NEW LLANO – The merger of First Baptist here with nearby East Leesville Baptist on Sunday, Feb. 11, has George Boswell, pastor of First Baptist New Llano, looking to the future with optimism despite his declining health and a declining church, he said.   Boswell, who has been taking cancer treatments for about four years, said the church’s decline is due partly to his poor health and partly to troop movements at nearby Fort Polk. Much of the town’s population, affiliated with the Army base in some way, is transitory.   "When troops leave Fort Polk, attendance drops," Bos-well said of First New Llano’s recent decline. "But it always built back up. Because of my health, I haven’t been able to get out for visitation to help in building it back up."   To solve the church’s problem, Boswell, who preaches every Sunday from his wheelchair, recently initiated a merger – at the suggestion of Vernon Director of Missions E.J. Bradshaw – between thriving East Leesville Baptist Church … [Read more...]

On February 2-3, 657 students gathered at FBC Pineville to see old friends, worship the Lord, and to learn how to share the gospel with their high school and college friends. By Michael Stewart   PINEVILLE – On February 2-3, 657 students gathered at FBC Pineville to see old friends, worship the Lord, and to learn how to share the gospel with their high school and college friends. According to Tim Stewart, the Shreveport-Metro BCM Director and event coordinator, "all 24 LBC campus ministries were represented and 20 churches brought a number of Junior and Senior high school students." For the past couple of years high school students have been invited to the College Evangelism Conference to help them get a glimpse of college life and to make them aware of Baptist Collegiate Ministry. This year’s event speaker was Paul Mints, a former Youth Pastor at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport and currently a church planter in Mansfield, Texas. The praise team for Ignite was the Todd Field’s Band from NorthPoint Church in Atlanta, Georgia.                       During each of the worship sessions, Mints preached from the fifth chapter of 2 Corinthians. Mint’s used this text to remind … [Read more...]