‘The Office’ Actor Rainn Wilson Shares His Views on Jesus, Spirituality

April 21, 2023

Rainn Wilson, who adheres to the Baha’i Faith, spoke on a podcast this week about “Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution.” The actor, best known for portraying Dwight Schrute on “The Office,” is publicizing his new book “Soul Boom,” which releases April 25.

Wilson, who has spoken out against anti-Christian bias in Hollywood, appeared on The Bible for Normal People, hosted by Pete Enns and Jared Byas. During the conversation, Wilson spoke about spiritual virtues, a twofold moral path, his view of Jesus, and the need to have inner peace while also going out to serve others.

Rainn Wilson: Jesus Offers ‘Sneak Peek of God’

For Rainn Wilson, faith has been “a long, hard, difficult spiritual struggle and path.” He describes having a “tangible experience of the sacred” while on a “high pilgrimage to the Baha’i Holy Land in Haifa, Israel.” Wilson, who admits having more questions than answers, said everyone has “qualities of the divine…within us.” Because “God is unknowable,” he added, “we have great spiritual teachers like Jesus, to show us a hint, a sneak peek of God, as it were.”

As part of “our divine spiritual imperative,” Wilson said people must “seek to emulate what Jesus actually did in his life [and] what the Buddha did in his life, which was to build community and to create peace, compassion, and increased love, everywhere we go.”

Key parts of Wilson’s “spiritual path” include using his gifts, enjoying nature as a sacred space, and directly serving others. (He and his wife have a nonprofit in Haiti.) The actor and author also focuses on fostering joy, no matter the circumstances. “You can be feeling like crap, and you can still spread joy,” he said, calling that “maybe the greatest act of service.”

Spiritual Revolution According to Rainn Wilson

In his new book, Wilson presents seven pillars of spiritual revolution. One involves squashing cynicism, keeping hope alive, and “bringing light to the world.” Another involves using grassroots efforts. “That’s how Jesus started,” he said, noting how Christ called and interacted with fishermen, working folks, and prostitutes.

The early church—before it became institutionalized about A.D. 300—is the greatest example of spiritual revolution, according to Wilson. “For the first time in human history, you had meetings with people of all different races, and all different classes and different genders, all together, were sharing a common purpose, which was remembrance of the Father, and remembrance of the Son,” he said.

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Names David Dockery as New President

Bob Smietana

April 21, 2023

(RNS)— Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary announced Wednesday (April 19) that longtime Christian educator David Dockery had been named the school’s president, seven months after the former president resigned unexpectedly.

Dockery has been serving as interim president of Southwestern since September 2022, after the departure of Adam Greenway, who had been installed in February 2019.

“Dr. David Dockery is God’s man for Southwestern Seminary in this hour,” said Danny Roberts, chairman of the board of the seminary, which is in Fort Worth, Texas. “Our seminary’s at a critical juncture in this 115-year history, and in God’s providence, He has already provided the man to lead our seminary during this time.”

Before coming to Southwestern, Dockery had been the longtime president of Union University, a Baptist school in Tennessee, and later served for several years as president of Trinity International University outside of Chicago.

Longtime Southern Baptist leader O.S. Hawkins, who had been serving as an adviser to Dockery, was named the school’s chancellor. According to Southwestern, Hawkins will serve in a volunteer capacity. He is the former president of Guidestone, an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention that provides financial services and insurance for churches.

Southwestern has about 2,400 full- and part-time students, according to data from the Association of Theological Schools. One of six seminaries affiliated with the SBC, the school has experienced difficulties in recent years.

In 2018, longtime President Paige Patterson was fired after a series of controversies that drew national attention. His successor, Greenway, left after three years, saying he had not been prepared for the enormity of the “legal and financial realities” facing the seminary.

According to the announcement Wednesday, the Southwestern board did not form a presidential search committee to fill the school’s spot. The board chair said that the school’s current challenges needed “clarity in the Office of the President as soon as possible and for the future.”

Most Adults in Us, 16 Other Nations Say Belief in God, Morality Not Always Linked

Adelle M Banks

April 21, 2023

(RNS) — Is a belief in God a prerequisite for being a moral person?

Most Americans say it is not, and majorities of adults in other countries with advanced economies agree.

Pew Research Center released the findings — that also hold true among most of those affiliated with a religion — from its Global Attitudes Survey on Thursday (April 20).

“(E)ven among people who are religiously affiliated, most do not think it is necessary to believe in God to have good values,” states the new report on questions asked in the spring of 2022. “In most countries surveyed, half or more of people who say they belong to a religion also say it is not necessary to believe in God to be moral.”

"Even among those affiliated with a religion, most say it's not necessary to believe in God to be moral" Graphic courtesy of Pew Research Center

“Even among those affiliated with a religion, most say it’s not necessary to believe in God to be moral” Graphic courtesy of Pew Research Center

In the U.S., 56% of the religiously affiliated said morality and good values do not have to be linked with a belief in God. Globally, countries with the highest percentages of religiously affiliated people agreeing with that statement included Sweden (86%) and Australia (75%).

RELATED: Belief in God Reaches New Low

But differences are more striking in some countries whose general populations were surveyed.

While at least 60% of Europeans and North Americans do not say belief in God and morality must be linked, Israelis are more split on that, with 50% agreeing and 47% saying such a belief is essential. About one-fifth of Malaysians say people can be moral without a belief in God, while more than three-quarters disagree with that view.

Based on research in 16 countries beyond the U.S., a median of about two-thirds of adults say people can be moral without a belief in God, a bit higher than the U.S. share.

Across the globe, there are different views depending on religious and political affiliation.

In the U.S., about 9 in 10 who say religion is not at all important or not too important to them believe morality and belief in God do not need to be linked, but just half of those who think it is somewhat or very important to them agree.

"Most Americans say it's not necessary to believe in God to be moral, but views differ by religion" Graphic courtesy of Pew Research Center

“Most Americans say it’s not necessary to believe in God to be moral, but views differ by religion” Graphic courtesy of Pew Research Center

Black Protestants (39%) and white evangelicals (42%) were least likely among Americans to say it’s not essential to believe in God to be moral, while the religiously unaffiliated (88%) were the group most in agreement with that stance.

Democrats and those who lean Democratic are more likely than their Republican counterparts to say it is not essential to believe in God to be moral (71% compared with 59%). Americans younger than 50 and older adults reflect a similar difference in response.

“In nearly every country where political ideology is measured, people who place themselves on the political left are more likely than those on the political right to say that belief in God is not necessary to have good values,” the report states.

“In addition, younger adults in about half of the countries surveyed are significantly more likely than older respondents to say that a belief in God is not connected with morality.”

More than 4 in 5 Greek adults younger than 30, for instance, unlink morality from a belief in God, in contrast with half of Greek adults who are 50 and older (84% compared with 51%). Substantial age differences also occur in Canada, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

Although the new report focused on countries with advanced economies, 2019 Pew research found that, among 34 nations, including some with developing or emerging economies, higher shares of people in nations with lower gross domestic products said believing in God was crucial for morality.

The new report’s findings were based on a survey of 3,581 U.S. adults from March 21-27, 2022, who took part in an online survey panel, with an overall margin of error of plus or minus 2.3 percentage points. Outside the U.S., the report relied on nationally representative surveys of an overall total of 18,782 adults from Feb. 14-June 3, 2022. In some countries the surveys were completed by phone and in others by face-to-face interviews or an online panel. The margin of error ranged from plus or minus 2.8 percentage points in Australia to plus or minus 4.5 percentage points in Hungary.

This article originally appeared here.

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit by Florida United Methodist Churches

Emily McFarlan Miller

April 21, 2023

(RNS) — A Florida judge has dismissed a lawsuit originally brought by more than 100 United Methodist churches wishing to immediately disaffiliate from the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge George M. Wright granted a motion to dismiss the suit Monday (April 17), saying the court lacked jurisdiction.

“We applaud the court’s ruling today. This clarifies that if a church wants to leave the Conference, it must follow the rules established by the denomination,” Florida Bishop Tom Berlin said in a written statement from the conference.

“We have always supported a process that allows for a gracious exit, and which ensures the departing churches meet their financial, legal and moral obligations to not harm the Conference or the other member churches during their departure.”

The conference has argued that the United Methodist Church’s top court, the Judicial Council, already ruled that churches wishing to leave the denomination must follow the disaffiliation plan approved by a 2019 special session of the United Methodist Church’s General Conference.

The judge granted its motion to dismiss the suit, though United Methodist News noted he left it open for an appeal.

The lawsuit filed last summer in Bradford County, Florida, by the National Center for Life and Liberty on behalf of 106 churches alleges the disaffiliation plan’s rules — which require churches to meet certain financial obligations before they can leave with their property — are “onerous, and in many cases, prohibitive.”

Since the special session, which strengthened language in the denomination’s Book of Discipline banning same-sex marriages and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy, more than 2,000 churches have left the United Methodist Church — mostly conservative churches that believe the denomination is moving toward greater inclusion of its LGBTQ members.

At the time the suit was filed, the Rev. Keith Boyette, head of the conservative Global Methodist Church that broke away from the United Methodist Church last year, told Religion News Service, “Florida is the first of what I would anticipate might be a number of similar lawsuits occurring.”

Since then, the number of churches participating in the lawsuit has dwindled to 71 as others withdrew to follow the disaffiliation plan approved by the denomination, according to United Methodist News.

A second lawsuit, by 36 churches in North Carolina also represented by the National Center for Life and Liberty, was also dismissed last month.

This article originally appeared here.

When Tragedy Strikes: How To Talk to Kids About Shootings and Death

Sam Luce

April 21, 2023

Talking about sorrow and death is something that we, as parents, do not do well. In my experience, many pastors are not much better. I have come to understand the goodness in God’s providence. As Spurgeon would say, ”I have learned to kiss the wave that threw me upon the Rock of Ages.”

This is something I have grown to understand and grown in my ability. Tragedies like what happened in Nashville last month will never be understood. But what never changes is the goodness of God.

There are a few resources I have found over the years that help kids understand and process grief. One is a pamphlet I came across by Fred Rogers, and the other is The Moon is Always Round by Johnathan Gibson. We had scheduled a conversation with Dr. Gibson around six weeks ago because we need help and language to talk to our kids about deep sorrow.

In God’s providence, our conversation happened the same week tragedy struck Nashville. From all of us at Cross Formed Kidmin, our prayer is that this conversation breaths hope, points you to Jesus, and encourages your weary heart.

In addition to what Dr. Gibson had to say, here are a few things I have said on this topic when given the opportunity.

How to talk to your kids about death?

Tell your kids the truth. – In the podcast I referenced earlier, Dr. Gibson does not lie to his son. He doesn’t give him false hope. He tells him the truth and points his son to God’s goodness. “What shape is the moon….always?”
Don’t speak for God; point them to God – God is always good, but what he does will not always make sense to you and me. There are mysteries that we will never fully understand. Don’t tell your kids what God should have done. Point them to the Word and teach them to trust God more than their eyes can see.
Do not minimize difficulty or simplify God’s glory or majesty. It is easy and tempting to give our kids pat answers to difficult questions or too difficult problems. Point them to the majesty of God. Remind them of what Mr. and Mrs. Beaver told the Pevenacy kids in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe that God is not safe, but he is good. In trying to understand why people die and how people die, it’s important to remind ourselves that God isn’t safe, sin is real, but God is always good.
Point them to the comforts of God and the assurances of scripture. – Another well-meaning but pernicious lie people tell kids after the death of a loved one is “God didn’t do this.” This may make them feel good for the time being but will inevitably produce insecurity, anxiety, and fear. If the devil’s ability to take life is more real than the power of God to preserve it, we are all in lots of trouble. In Deuteronomy 32:39, it says, “Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.” This should not cause anxiety but give us great comfort because nothing can take us from God hand.

Will I Be Fully Accepted With No Judgment at Your Church as a Gay Man?

David Prince

April 21, 2023

Below is my response to an email I received that asked the following question: “I believe church should be for all of God’s children. No exceptions. I am a gay man. My question is, would I be fully accepted with no judgment and fully welcome and able to serve at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church?” I have changed all of the identifying information, but other than that, my response is in full below. I hope that it will be helpful to others facing similar questions.

Will I Be Fully Accepted WIth No Judgment at Your Church as a Gay Man?

Dear D,

Welcome home to the beautiful Bluegrass. It is great to hear from you and to hear of your previous connection with Ashland. What a ministry this church has had for almost 100 years.

As to your question, it depends on what you mean by “I am a gay man” and what you mean by “accepted completely with no judgment and fully welcome and able to serve at Ashland Avenue.”

If by “I am a gay man” you mean that you struggle with same-sex attraction, recognizing any sexual activity outside of a covenant marriage between a man and a woman is sinful and that you desire Christian discipleship to walk in line with the Gospel as you struggle with this temptation, then we would rejoice at your honesty and openness and receive you gladly at Ashland. We have faithful and accountable members right now in that very situation attempting to live celibate lives to the glory of Christ.

Of course, this is really no different than a man who struggles with heterosexual sexually immoral desires or any of the myriads of sinful desires we all struggle with as disciples of Christ. Sin is an equal opportunity offender and something that every Christian struggles with in unique ways.

If by “I am a gay man” you mean that you embrace a lifestyle of homosexual activity and you refuse to recognize it as sin no matter what the Scripture says, and you are looking for a church that will affirm homosexual activity and/or same-sex marriage, that would be a different matter entirely. But there is no uniqueness to homosexual sin in regard to this approach. The same would be true if a man came to us and said, “I am a ‘name the sin’ man,” and by that he meant he planned to keep on sinning in that way and embracing it as a lifestyle no matter what the Scripture says. There is a world of difference between struggling with a sin and embracing a sin. God saves us where we are, but loves us too much too leave us where we are. He is at work conforming his people into the image of Christ.

As far as whether or not you would “be accepted completely with no judgment and fully welcome and able to serve at Ashland Avenue,” that would depend on what you mean as well. We welcome all to attend our public worship services. Consider this your invitation to worship with us. We would love to have you in attendance. If you mean that you desire help in an accountable community of faith to struggle against sin, then I would say that we are a community of believers whose hope is in the finished work of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins—not our goodness. We are all struggling sinners attempting to follow our Lord and Savior and encouraging one another to do so.

10 Ways NOT to Be an Effective Worship Leader

Jared C. Wilson

April 21, 2023

If you’re wondering how to be an effective worship leader, I have a few thoughts on some things you could stop saying. So this is a post in which a crusty old curmudgeon rants a little about annoying song leader banter. Don’t take this too seriously, except maybe do.

10 Ways NOT to Be an Effective Worship Leader

10. Are we ready to have fun this morning?

The answer is, “Probably not.” The truth is, when this is your welcome at the start of the music time, it tells me where your head’s at. Nobody goes to church to have a bad time, of course, and I’m sure plenty of people go to “have fun,” but is this the point of worship? Is “having fun” where you want hearts directed as you lead people to exalt God? No, it’s where you want hearts directed when you’re just trying to “crush your set” or “rock it out for Jesus” [see #5]. “Are we ready to have fun?” is just slightly worse than this next common opener:

9. How’s everybody feeling?

If I wanted to stretch to justify this statement, I could say that what you’re asking the congregation to do is self-reflect on their spiritual condition and present their real, whole selves honestly and submissively to the glory of Christ as you lead them in adoration of him. But my guess is that 9.9 times out of 10 what you’re really trying to do is get people to say, “Woooooooo!”

8. You can do better than that!

Or some other form of nagging about how we’re not singing or participating to your liking. It’s never really on my mind at a church service to think of ways to impress the worship leader. Similarly shaming is:

7. I can’t hear you!

Well, maybe turn the volume down. We can’t hear us either.

6. [Introducing a hymn] Here’s an oldie we dusted off.

Please don’t apologize for leading us in the rare song that is theologically rich and doctrinally solid. Apologize for not leading us in them more often!

4 Times When It’s Good to Leave a Church

John Knight

April 21, 2023

The saddest stories I hear from parents raising a child with a disability don’t involve schools, insurance companies or hospitals. The saddest story is when such a family must leave a church. The stories that elicit the most bitter words, and tears, are the ones about churches that abandon families with a disabled child because they are “just too difficult to deal with.” This really happens.

Too many parents are told, directly and indirectly, by a pastor or church leader or Sunday School volunteer: You do not belong here. This is something no one should hear from his or her church. This is something that should never cross the lips of a ministry leader—not if they really believe what the Bible says about God’s sovereignty and good design in disability.

But hearing yet another mother’s story of how a church, over the course of years, mistreated her and her child because of disability, it became clear that there are actually some situations when it is a grace from God to feel—or actually be told—that your family is not welcome at a church.

4 Times When It’s Good to Leave a Church

1. The pastor preaches a health-and-wealth, prosperity “gospel.”

The prosperity (so-called) “gospel” isn’t just an abhorrent theology, but it is also used to abuse families experiencing disability.

After all, as these churches say, if we only had enough faith the child would not be experiencing this disability. Those kind of senseless lies have a terrible effect on families, and who can blame them if they choose to leave a church?

2. The pastor preaches social justice instead of the gospel.

This is the church that neglects the reality of sin and our need for the Savior. Ironically, these churches can often be the most accommodating because they focus on the marginal.

But families experiencing disability need more than accommodation. They need a big God who provides real hope and gives real justice, not merely a divine social worker who offers advice along the way and is frustrated the government isn’t doing more.

‘I Should Be Dead Right Now’—Charles Stanley’s Grandson Shares That His Grandfather’s Phone Call Saved His Life

Jesse T. Jackson

April 20, 2023

After the passing of Dr. Charles Stanley on Tuesday (April 18), his grandson, Matt Brodersen, posted a YouTube video sharing the impact his grandfather had on him, which included saving his life.

The 27-year-old Brodersen, who is the youngest child of Stanley’s daughter, Becky, and her husband, John, used to call his grandfather “Gips” and said that no matter how many times he disappointed Stanley, Stanley never gave up on him.

Brodersen decided to make his video as a way of honoring his grandfather, sharing some of his favorite experiences with Stanley. In the video, Brodersen admitted to making a lot of wrong decisions in his life, some of which led him to becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol at the age of 18.

“I’ve struggled with drug addiction and alcoholism, depression, and loneliness,” Brodersen said. Nevertheless, he recalled a time when one of Gips’ phone calls saved his life.

“One time, I actually ran away to California to try to make it big as a YouTuber, and I had completely wasted all of my money and resources on smoking pot and getting distracted by things that don’t really matter. So I didn’t even make it,” Brodersen shared. “I was super depressed. For the first time in my life, I was actually suicidal.”

Brodersen continued, “So my grandpa called me, and he told me, ‘Matt, your mom told me you’re not doing too well and that you’re thinking about killing yourself…I just wanted to tell you, why don’t you just give Jesus one more try?’”

Brodersen said that while living in Los Angeles, he couldn’t get any work done because of his addictions, a situation that led him to struggle with with loneliness and depression. It was at that time that his grandfather called him.

“For some reason, that phone call really inspired me. I had given up on Christianity. I had given up on my faith at that point. I decided, okay, I’m not going to kill myself. I’m just going to give Jesus one more try,” Brodersen said. “So I drove home from California to Dallas, Texas, and I decided to give Jesus one more try. That phone call was basically life-saving.”

“He never stopped rooting for me, and he never stopped cheering for me,” Brodersen said.

Brodersen shared that, in one of his last conversations with his grandfather, he was trying to convince the longtime Baptist pastor that it was okay for him to attend a Methodist church.

More importantly, he remembered that Stanley often told him, “Obey God and leave all the consequences to him.”

‘It’s Not Ok’—Pastor Who Left Porn Industry Critiques Dennis Prager’s Views on Pornography

Jessica Mouser

April 20, 2023

Dennis Prager speaking with attendees at the 2018 Student Action Summit hosted by Turning Point USA at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A pastor who was once one of the top male porn stars in the world has spoken out against a view expressed by conservative commentator Dennis Prager, who believes pornography can be acceptable in some circumstances. Joshua Broome said that Prager’s words were “such a misleading, disappointing thing to hear.”

“Men want variety,” said Prager during a roundtable discussion led by Dr. Jordan Peterson. “And if pornography is a substitute for one’s wife, it’s awful. If it’s a substitute for adultery, it’s not awful.”

This is terrible advice @DennisPrager. I’m no OT scholar but I do know that coveting is a sin. Pornography inherently degrading, and it trains a man to not be satisfied with one woman, a real woman, or his woman.pic.twitter.com/ZdPbeUGYYP

— Delano Squires (@DelanoSquires) April 19, 2023

Dennis Prager Says He Follows ‘Law-Based’ Religion

Dennis Prager is the founder of the conservative video site, PragerU. He has been broadcasting on radio since 1982 and is the host of The Dennis Prager Show, which became nationally syndicated in 1999. He is a follower of the Jewish faith.

Prager made his comments on pornography while participating in a discussion on the Book of Exodus featured on DailyWire+. “I am less interested in the interior person, morally speaking, than you are, than probably any of you are,” he said to his fellow panelists, explaining that he comes from a “behaviorist, law-based religion.”

Judaism does not have a teaching that if you look at a woman with lust, it is the same as committing adultery with her, said Prager, alluding to Matthew 5:27-30, where Jesus says:

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Adultery in Judaism, said Prager, is the literal act, not a matter of the heart. He said that he appreciates Christians (“I’m a big Christian fan”), but he pointed out that Christianity and Judaism are two different religions.

Jordan Peterson then asked Dennis Prager what his position on pornography is. Prager responded by saying that when women call his radio show and say they are concerned their husbands are looking at pornography, he responds by asking the wives, “How is your life of intimacy with your husband? Is it good?”

What Prager wants to know is if husbands are using pornography to replace intimacy with their wives or if the men are using pornography to avoid adultery. Stating that his answer is not “religious,” but “moral and realistic,” Prager condemned porn use in the former instance, but said it was justified in the latter.

Joshua Broome disagrees. “I would argue that it’s not better and it’s actually the same thing,” he said, offering his input on Prager’s examples on the CBN News Quickstart Podcast. Broome is a preacher who regularly shares how Jesus saved him from a life in the porn industry.

‘Hallelujah Territory’—Oklahoma Baptist University Sustains Severe Tornado Damage But No Injuries

Stephanie Martin

April 20, 2023

Oklahoma Baptist University — Screenshot from Twitter / @shannynigans2

Tornadoes that tore through central Oklahoma the night of April 19 claimed at least three lives and caused destruction, power outages, and road closures. One site that suffered severe damage is the campus of Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) in Shawnee.

At an April 20 press conference, OBU President Heath Thomas gave an update about the campus and expressed gratitude that people were unharmed. Although assessments are still underway, he said, the tornado “impacted every building on campus.”

As for the news that no one was injured or killed on campus, “Where I’m from, that’s kind of hallelujah territory,” Thomas added.

Oklahoma Baptist University Sees Worst Natural Disaster in School History

President Thomas told reporters the tornado was the “worst natural disaster” in Oklahoma Baptist University’s 113-year history. The alum said he loves the school and its people and knows how many “incredible memories” the campus and buildings hold for everyone. “But buildings can be rebuilt,” he emphasized, adding that doing so will take time.

The school’s safety protocols and shelter procedures were effective and followed, Thomas reported. Structural engineers are on campus to assess the safety of every building, and disaster relief is already on site. Thomas thanked local and state officials as well as alumni for the “unbelievable outpouring of support” the school has already received. “We welcome your prayers,” the university also tweeted.

OBU canceled classes for April 20 and 21. After safety assessments are completed, administrators will make decisions about the rest of the school year. Thomas assured students they will have finals and will finish the semester, even if they need to go online to do so.

Some students who live on campus were relocated, and everyone is being asked to stay inside for now. One parent of an OBU student tweeted photos of the damage, writing: “My daughter said ears popped as tornado went over.”

OBU invested in mental health services during the pandemic, Thomas added, and counseling is available for students as well as community members. “We love these students,” he said. “We love this place.”

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief Is Already at OBU

The morning of April 20, Jason Yarbrough, state director of Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief, posted video from the OBU campus. “Know that your disaster volunteers are stepping into action,” he said. “We’ll have teams on this campus today and in the Shawnee area for days and weeks to come, as well as across our state, as we provide the help and hope and healing that we can bring, as we become the hands and feet of Christ.”

Brian Houston Pleads Guilty to DUI, Sentenced to 3 Years of Probation

Dale Chamberlain

April 20, 2023

Former megachurch pastor Brian Houston pleaded guilty in a Southern California court to driving under the influence of alcohol and has been sentenced to three years of probation and $140 in fines. He must also complete an alcohol program, enroll in victim impact counseling, and attend self-help meetings.

Houston, who was arrested on Feb. 26, 2022 in Newport Beach, California, was charged with two separate counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or more.

The first charge relates to Houston’s visible impairment due to alcohol consumption, and the second relates to the measurable result of a breathalyzer or blood test. Penalty for the second charge, which relates specifically to Houston’s blood alcohol content at the time of his arrest, has been stayed, meaning that a sentence will not be imposed until after Houston completes an appeal process.

This is significant, as Houston reportedly tested at 0.20%, nearly twice the legal limit and an amount subject to harsher penalties, sometimes including jail time.

The level of intoxication experienced at 0.20% blood alcohol content has been described as “blackout” drunk and can be characterized by “gross disorientation to time and place” and the need for “assistance to stand or walk.”

After news of Houston’s arrest broke earlier this year, the former pastor took to social media to address the scandal, expressing that he took “full responsibility” for the incident.

“I made the foolish decision to drive just 2 or 3 hundred metres (yards) to park the car and I am grateful to God that no damage or injury occurred,” Houston wrote. “At the time it seemed like all hell had broken loose within Hillsong Church and I was under immense pressure and emotional strain. Clearly that is not an excuse, and I take full responsibility for my actions.”

The “hell” to which Houston referred was his year-long forced sabbatical from Hillsong Church, which came in the wake of the Hillsong global board becoming aware of more than one instance in which Houston had allegedly acted inappropriately toward women, as well as his allegedly chronic problem with mixing prescription anxiety medication with alcohol.

When Houston announced his sabbatical in January 2022, he explained that he would be taking time off to focus on defending himself against criminal charges for allegedly covering up the child sex abuse of his late father.

Libyan Security Agency Arrests Christians Accused of Proselytizing

International Christian Concern

April 20, 2023

04/19/2023 Libya (International Christian Concern) – Two American school teachers accused of being “missionaries inviting Muslim Libyans to convert to Christianity” were detained and deported to Tunisia last week by the Libyan Internal Security Agency in the country’s capitol, Tripoli. There are reports also of two Libyan Christians associated with them being arrested and condemned for apostasy. A series of videos containing the missionaries’ confessions of their sentencing for “inciting our children to renounce Islam and convert to Christianity.”

Such arrests have been common in Libya for years, with Gaddafi-era laws still in place prohibiting Christian proselytizing and the distribution or publication of Christian literature. Conversion from Islam for a Libyan can carry the death penalty in regions of the country being governed by Sharia Law, and all attempts by the foreign Christian population in the country to lead Libyans to Islam is widely considered a threat to “national security and societal structures” in the Muslim country.

These arrests are just another series of arrests related to Libyan Christians under accusation of “apostasy” for converting to Christianity from Islam. Several individual Christians are still awaiting execution after being given the death penalty. They face enormous pressures to return to Islam, and if not, face the death penalty with no protection under Libyan law. ICC is committed to protecting and assisting with the needs of Christians in extreme persecution situations.

This article originally appeared here.

Former Calvin Professor Sues After Losing Job for Performing Queer Wedding

Bob Smietana

April 20, 2023

Former-Calvin-professor-sues-after-losing-job-fo — Calvin University professor Joe Kuilema, right, officiates the wedding of Nicole Sweda and Annica Steen on Oct. 15, 2021. Photo courtesy of Nicole Sweda

(RNS) — A former Calvin University professor who lost his job after performing a wedding for a transgender former student has sued the evangelical school for retaliation and discrimination.

In a complaint filed Friday (April 14), lawyers for Joseph Kuilema, who taught social work at Calvin from 2008 to 2022, alleged that school officials fired the former professor due to his support of LGBTQ students and that they retaliated against him for complaining about a film shown on campus that he believed was racist.

The complaint also alleges that Calvin discriminated against one of Kuilema’s former students after he performed their wedding and that he was fired after complaining about the school’s actions. Kuilema’s attorneys argue school officials at the Grand Rapids university violated Michigan’s civil rights law.

Calvin is affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church, whose doctrine defines “adultery, premarital sex, extra-marital sex, polyamory, pornography and homosexual sex” as sinful. In 2022, the church voted to make that doctrine confessional — meaning churches, church members and church-affiliated institutions are expected to agree with the teaching in order to remain in good standing. Before 2022, church members could disagree with the teaching as long as they agreed to abide by it.

In a statement, a Calvin spokesman said the university has long allowed faculty to have diverse viewpoints but also has clear rules about conduct.

“While there is room for personal disagreement with CRC doctrine, the university has clear expectations for employees regarding teaching, scholarship and personal conduct and follows established processes to review alleged violations of those expectations and to determine appropriate responses,” the spokesperson said. “We are confident those processes were followed in this case and plan to defend this lawsuit in court. At this time, the university has no further comment on active litigation. “

The complaint details Kuilema’s long-running dispute with school policy.

In 2016, according to the complaint, he began working on a history of LBGTQ employees who had been fired by the school, in hopes of publishing the piece in the student newspaper. The complaint alleges that he was blocked from doing so.

Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Photo by Andy Calvert, courtesy of Calvin University

Kuilema also “routinely and openly expressed concerns about Calvin’s treatment of and toward LGBT+ people,” according to the complaint.

While he did inform students about church teaching, Kuilema did not attempt to persuade students to follow that doctrine.

“Rather, he was bluntly honest and vocal with his students, fellow faculty and fellow Calvin community members whenever he disagreed with the CRC’s position, particularly in regard to its positions regarding LGBT+ persons,” stated the complaint.

UMC Clergy Reportedly Face Complaint, Church Trial After Marrying Nonbinary Couple

Emily McFarlan Miller

April 20, 2023

-marrying-nonbinary-couple — The Rev. Elizabeth Davidson, from left, and the Rev. Paige Swaim-Presley officiate at the wedding ceremony of a nonbinary couple, Matty Cafiero and their partner, Myles Cafiero, in Tupelo, Mississippi, in January 2023. Photo courtesy of the Cafieros

(RNS) — When Matty and Myles Cafiero were married in January in Tupelo, Mississippi, the celebration of Communion was especially important to Matty. The United Methodist Church practices an open table, inviting everyone to receive the bread and wine.

To Matty, 23, it’s a connection with both God and the people around them. It’s one of the things that drew them to Methodism.

The wedding “was everything that we wanted,” said Myles, 24.

Then came the complaint.

The two United Methodist ministers who co-officiated the Cafieros’ wedding, the Rev. Paige Swaim-Presley and the Rev. Elizabeth Davidson, say they were informed in late February a formal complaint has been filed against them, allegedly for officiating a same-sex wedding. They told Religion News Service they have been asked to surrender their clergy credentials or face a church trial in the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church.

The threat of a church trial comes as the United Methodist Church is splintering over disagreement about the ordination and marriage of its LGBTQ members.

The United States’ second largest Protestant denomination has lost more than 2,000 churches since moving in 2019 to strengthen penalties for clergy performing same-sex weddings, among other things. The departing churches tend to be theologically conservative, concerned the church is moving toward affirming LGBTQ clergy and same-sex weddings, regardless.

But Matty and Myles Cafiero identify as nonbinary.

And Swaim-Presley and Davidson say the Book of Discipline is silent on the topic of weddings between two nonbinary people, while, on other matters, it directs deacons and elders to act according to their consciences.

In a paragraph about civil disobedience, the Book of Discipline recognizes “the right of individuals to dissent when acting under the constraint of conscience.”

Jasmine Haynes, communications specialist for the Mississippi Conference, confirmed that a complaint had been brought against Mississippi United Methodist clergypersons and said the parties involved were “properly informed of the complaint and their rights to respond under church law.”

“This has been a difficult situation for all involved persons. It is out of concern for the well-being of the complainant, the due process rights of respondents and the confidentiality of all persons involved that we are unable to discuss the nature and details of the complaint at this time,” Haynes said in an email to Religion News Service.

She did not name Swaim-Presley and Davidson or specify the subject of the complaint, which is not available publicly.

Swaim-Presley, now 40, said she was an associate chaplain in 2018 at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, when she met Matty Cafiero on the student’s first day on campus.

Matty Cafiero had left evangelical Christianity when they came out as nonbinary, they said. They had chosen Millsaps, which is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, because it was close to family, they said, not expecting Methodism to become a part of their life and studies. When theological texts came up in class readings that first semester, they realized they needed to talk through them with somebody.

The Rev. Elizabeth Davidson, arms raised, and the Rev. Paige Swaim-Presley hold Communion elements during the wedding of Matty Cafiero and their partner, Myles Cafiero, in Tupelo, Mississippi, in January 2023. Photo courtesy of the Cafieros

They quickly became a regular — and, later, an intern — in Swaim-Presley’s office and at the Wesley Connexion, the Methodist student ministry she directed.

The Great Ministry Myth: Why Fun and Games Won’t Lead to Lifelong Faith

Christina Embree

April 20, 2023

I want you to read this blog post. Because I think the message incredibly important. But I’ve learned if I don’t have a catchy title, people don’t click on the link and read the content. And I was stuck. So I plugged my post into ChatGPT and asked it to give me an irresistible title. Here’s what it came up with:

“Why Your Children’s Ministry Is Failing (And What You Can Do About It)”
“The Shocking Truth About Discipleship: It’s Not About Curriculum or Programs”
“Are You Making Disciples or Just Entertaining Kids? The Disturbing Reality of Children’s Ministry”
“The Great Ministry Myth: Why Fun and Games Won’t Lead to Lifelong Faith”
“Breaking Free from the Sunday School Mentality: How to Make Disciples That Last”

I find these titles interesting if only because this artificial intelligence seems to get it…but do we?

The other day, I was blessed to have a wonderful conversation with a new Children’s Coordinator in India. His brand-new role was to oversee the ministry to about 1,200 children in several churches in a large area. This was essentially the first time this particular denomination had tried to build a ministry like this and he basically asked, “How do I start a children’s ministry?” He had a laundry list of ideas—curriculum and programs that he could possibly use, resources he might need—a lot like the original birthday list that my son put together.

So, I asked him a simple question: “What is your goal?”

Over the last few years of working in children, youth, and family ministry, I’ve heard lots of goals articulated like “Make the Sunday school hour the best hour of the week!”

I have come to the conclusion that the only goal we should have in any ministry, no matter what age it is aimed at, is to make disciples. Disciples that are on a journey of lifelong faith formation as followers of Jesus.

Here’s the thing: A lot of the things on our list, things we think we need, we actually don’t need. Things like curriculum and programs and crafts and fun activities and missions trips and lock-ins and family movie nights and VBS. Those things are all tools we can use, but they are not what we actually need. We can make disciples without any of those things!

But there are some things we actually DO need if we are going to make disciples who are on a lifelong journey of faith formation. Non-negotiables. Essential things. Not tools to help us reach the goal, but things actually necessary for the completion of the goal. However, it is often these things that can take a backseat as we focus on the tools rather than the goal.

3 Things We Need

In 2017, Dr. Richard Ross, a professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, asked that question. Specifically, he states, “The issue really is not: How is our youth group doing today? Instead, the core question is: How will our youth group be doing for a lifetime?” (Source). In answering that question, he proposed three needs that must be met for the goal of making disciples to be achieved. He based those three needs directly on Scripture consistent with the best current research concerning teenagers who follow Jesus for a lifetime.

1. Parents/Caregivers who adore Jesus, love the church, and are actively on mission.

2. An integrated community of believers where old and young interact in relationships and worship.

3. A Bible-drenched peer group who actively live out the gospel together.

2 Main Types of Churches

James Emery White

April 20, 2023

There are two main types of churches that say they very much want to reach the unchurched. The first believes it is vital to proclaim the truth of the Christian message to a darkened world. Sin must be named, behavior must be called out, cultural falsehoods demolished. The difference between the church and the world, the message of the gospel and dominant cultural values, must be delineated. The very heart of the gospel is “truth to tell.” People will not come to faith unless called to repentance, and that means convincing them of their sin and then convicting them of their sin.

The second type of church believes it is very important to seek to identify with the world – if not embrace and reflect it – in every way possible in order to build relational bridges and find cultural acceptance. As a result, the goal is not to call people out, but to call them in. That means intentionally burying those aspects of the Christian faith or the Bible that are culturally offensive. So, the goal is “Jesus as Friend,” “Jesus as Mentor” and “Jesus as Accepter.”

These descriptions are, of course, caricatures. But they are meant to reveal a fundamental choice in the swing of a very important pendulum. The first type of church is more concerned to stake out the teaching of the Christian faith in all of its counter-cultural glory, the other more concerned to be accepted by culture and to make sure those in that culture feel accepted. In other words, the first type of church swings heavily toward “truth,” the second type of church swings heavily toward “grace.”

Neither swing is a good one, at least when it comes to reaching the unchurched.

One of the more fascinating dynamics related to the life of Jesus was the attraction He held for those who were considered “sinners” and spiritual outcasts. They flocked to hear Him teach, they invited Him to their weddings, they introduced Him to their friends at parties. All this while Jesus spoke openly about sin and repentance and the need for a transformed life. How could this be? It was the result of Him coming, as John chronicled in his gospel, bringing grace and truth.

It’s the “and” in that sentence that matters.

Grace without truth is what Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously called “cheap.” It is sentimentality at best, licentiousness at worst. Unless there is the truth of the reality of death-inducing sin accompanying the offer of grace, there is nothing in particular making it “amazing.” Grace has its fullest meaning and holds its greatest power when it is being applied to the fatal nature of sin that has been made clear through the proclamation of truth.

Yet truth without grace is also found wanting. One is left with the arid, brutal wasteland of legalism and judgmentalism. Orthodoxy may be upheld, sin may be condemned, the culture wars may be engaged, but spiritual pride runs rampant. We cling tightly to the stones in our hand, ready to throw them at a moment’s notice.

What we need is the beautiful and electric dynamic of bearing both truth and grace, like the people who encountered Jesus experienced. People like the Samaritan woman at the well who, at the end of a very candid conversation with Jesus about her serial promiscuity, felt like everyone else should have a revealing chat with Him, too. “Come!” she said to everyone she could find in her town. “See a man who told me everything I ever did!” (cf. John 4:27, NIV).

There was much truth brought to bear on her life but obviously nothing that led to a relational breakdown—only relational attraction. How could this be? Only because with the truth came grace—an acceptance for her as a person who mattered to God. Somehow, someway, Jesus made her realize that she was both broken and beloved, in need of saving but cherished beyond worth.

The power and importance of this cannot be overstated. Truth without grace will not attract, it will repel. It does the very thing Jesus went out of His way to say He did not come to do, which was to condemn the world. And grace without truth will not transform lives, for it offers little to the world it does not already have. A truthless grace is little more than an attempt to superficially relieve someone of guilt, or to provide a safe environment where they will be accepted and not judged. You can get either one of those in a secular counseling session. Or with a good bartender, for that matter.

Either approach can attract large crowds and ardent fans, as both approaches have an ample fan base among consumer-minded Christians. But in terms of reaching the unchurched, neither has immediate (in the case of truth without grace) or lasting (in the case of grace without truth) appeal.

What the world needs are churches that unapologetically proclaim the full truth of the Christian faith, while simultaneously working very hard to connect to those they are trying to reach in ways that build relational bridges. We need churches that enable people to realize that yes, they are broken, but yes, they are also beloved.

What we need are churches that come bringing two things:

Truth and grace.

This article originally appeared here.

Help for Single Dads: How Your Church Can Support These Men

Linda Jacobs

April 19, 2023

Help for single dads is often a low priority for churches. When many people think “single parent,” they automatically picture the single mom. Although single moms do make up the majority of single parents, single dads are on the rise.

According to the article “The Rise of Single Fathers” (from Pew Research Social & Demographic Trends), minor children living in a home headed by a single dad has increased about nine-fold since the 1960s. In 2011, about 2.6 million minor children lived with dad.

Why Churches Need to Offer Help for Single Dads

The number of children living in single-parent households has been increasing since the 1970s. Back then, divorce rates began to skyrocket in America and worldwide. Men are now picking up the slack in raising minor children. An estimated one-quarter of single-parent homes are now a single-dad home.

Within the Christian realm, single dads will continue to bring their children to church. In my experience, single dads are:

More likely to bring their children to church events on time.
Making sure their children attend consistently.
More likely to help with children’s activities at church.
Many times likely to financially support children from other single-parent homes for camp or church events that cost money.
More likely to be matter-of-fact about religion and explaining denominational beliefs and salvation to their children.

But I’ve also noticed something else. Few churches provide activities and events for single dads or include them in activities. Many churches make it hard for single fathers to stay involved. Some churches make it difficult, if not impossible, for single dads to serve.

Pew Research states:

Single dads are typically less educated than married counterparts.
They’re likely to be young.
Most single-dad households are better off financially.
Single dads are more likely to cohabitate.

What does this mean for your church?

Consider what your church provides in terms of help for single dads. Ask:

Do I know which kids live with a single dad all the time or half-shared time with a single mom?
What activities is our church providing for single dads?
Do we provide childcare for men-only events? Remember: Single dads have no one to leave the children with at home.
Do we have older, married family men who can mentor younger single dads?
If the single dad has a daughter, can a Christian woman mentor her and take her shopping for female items?
How do we encourage a single dad to be active in the church family?
What ministries are available for a single dad who wants to serve?
Do we encourage kids in single-dad homes? Or do we make it hard for them to feel like part of our children’s and youth ministries?

One single dad told me he doesn’t blame the church because he’s hesitant to get involved. He said, “Many single dads do it to themselves by not participating. I mean, look at our single-parent class on Sunday. I’m the only single dad there.”

Sex Is Not Sexy: Help Young People Value the True Purpose of Sex

Ethan Renoe

April 19, 2023

Sex is not sexy. The physical act will never satisfy you once and for all. Read on for insights on helping young people understand God’s true purpose behind the gift of sex.

Sex is not sexy. During my second year at Bible college, I first had this mini-revelation about the purpose of sex.

Like most young red-blooded Americans (especially of the virgin persuasion), I had a notion that marriage and sex would assuage all feelings of emptiness and quell all my desires. I looked forward to finding and marrying that one person who would satisfy me once and for all. As I’ve written, I awoke from that misguided belief and cultivated more realistic expectations.

One night in college, the seeds of this realization first took root. I had grabbed a couch from a Chicago sidewalk and used it as my bed for an entire school year. At the time, I was reading Lauren Winner’s book Real Sex, which argues for a holistic and healthy view of sex and chastity. So the topic was heavy on my mind. I was grappling with whether to continue pursuing a certain girl, and on that tattered couch-bed it hit me.

The Purpose of Sex

Sex will not satisfy me once and for all. This ethereal entity that seemed like a haven of ecstasy and satisfaction would leave me no more permanently satisfied than a good meal fills up my stomach for good. Give it enough time and the well runs dry again.

This thing which, since middle school, had seemed like the finish line to the human race would not satisfy me forever. I remember the scene playing out in my imagination. I imagined marriage to a woman. Regardless of how beautiful and (ahem) sexy, after the act I’d be in the same place I was in reality. Just trying to fall asleep, get a good night’s sleep, and go on with life.

The act of sex would not permanently fill the elusive voids within my soul. After the act, physically speaking of course, I’d be content for a while. But life would continue madly on, and the urge would return. I realized it isn’t a permanent fix-all for whatever ails the insides of me.

You could say I realized sex is not sexy. I mean, what terms come to mind when we think of the word sexy? Isn’t it some sort of glamorous, polished and unrealistic ideal we constantly seek but never actually grasp?

Why Sexy Disappoints

Sexy is arousing.

Sexy smells nice. It doesn’t have morning breath or hangnails.

Sexy is airbrushed. It may or may not have had some cosmetic surgery.

Andy Stanley Reflects on His Father’s Passing as Church Leaders Offer Tributes to Charles Stanley

Jessica Mouser

April 19, 2023

North Point Ministries founder Andy Stanley has said that his “final few weeks” with his father, Dr. Charles Stanley, who passed away at age 90 the morning of Tuesday, April 18, were “precious beyond words.”

“At the end of every visit, he asked me to pray for him,” said Andy. “Which of course I did. On my knees beside the big leather chair he was confined to for the past several months.” He continued:

But as I was leaving his house this past Saturday night, he asked if he could pray for me. As if he knew. Then, as was his habit, he said, “I couldn’t be prouder of you Andy.” The source of a word determines its weight. Those were wonderfully weighty words. And his final words to me. I’ll miss him every day until I see him again.

These final few weeks with my dad have been precious beyond words. At the end of every visit, he asked me to pray for him. Which of course I did. On my knees beside the big leather chair he was confined to for the past several months.

But as I was leaving his house this past… pic.twitter.com/2gQWeHgtFW

— Andy Stanley (@AndyStanley) April 19, 2023

Charles Stanley Had Broad Impact on Church Leaders

Charles Stanley was the founder of In Touch Ministries, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Atlanta, and a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Church leaders of various stripes issued statements following Stanley’s death, expressing their appreciation for the pastor and offering their condolences to his family.

“Many of us have lots of Charles Stanley memories because he influenced so many,” said Outreach Magazine Editor-in-Chief Dr. Ed Stetzer, who shared one memory of Stanley that stands out to him. “He asked me to fill in for him one Sunday and I did—I had to buy a suit.” What Stetzer remembers about his experience filling in for Stanley was “how disappointed people were that he had a guest speaker. They were great, they were kind, and they listened intently. However, they came to hear the Bible preacher of a generation, and I loved that about them.”

“Charles Stanley went to Heaven today,” said Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, on Tuesday. “He made his mark on this world for the Gospel and his incredible teaching of God’s Word.” Laurie continued:

I like so many others was blessed by hearing his messages on the radio and TV and he was a trusted voice we have all been encouraged by. It was my privilege to meet Dr. Stanley in person in Charlotte, North Carolina at the funeral for Billy Graham. He was warm and gracious. No doubt, he has already heard Jesus say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ Charles Stanley will be greatly missed.

“Dr. Stanley was a titan of faith, and a bellwether among preachers of our generation,” said Passion City Church pastor Louie Giglio. “His simple yet convincing proclamation of the unwavering truth of God’s Word was a foundation on which millions of people around the globe could build their lives in a personal relationship with Him.”

Prestonwood Baptist Church (Plano, Texas) pastor Dr. Jack Graham said Stanley had a spiritual legacy that “will last for generations. I am grateful for the preaching ministry of this man and his commitment to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. All the praise goes to Jesus.”

Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter’s House in Dallas said, “Without question, there are people waiting for [Charles Stanley] in heaven who are there because of his ministry! Join me in condolences to all those who mourn.”

“I’d like to add my name to the long list of Charles Stanley admirers,” said Max Lucado, teaching minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. Lucado shared, “Early in my ministry, I struggled with the doctrine of eternal security. I read Dr. Stanley’s book on the topic and reached out to see if we could talk.” Stanley agreed to talk with Lucado and met him for lunch in Atlanta. “Our one hour lunch stretched into three,” said Lucado. “He answered every question – so kind, wise. Thank you, Charles. With his passing, heaven is richer, earth poorer.”

Rainn Wilson: Jesus Offers ‘Sneak Peek of God’

Spiritual Revolution According to Rainn Wilson

Will I Be Fully Accepted WIth No Judgment at Your Church as a Gay Man?

10 Ways NOT to Be an Effective Worship Leader

10. Are we ready to have fun this morning?

9. How’s everybody feeling?

8. You can do better than that!

7. I can’t hear you!

6. [Introducing a hymn] Here’s an oldie we dusted off.

4 Times When It’s Good to Leave a Church

1. The pastor preaches a health-and-wealth, prosperity “gospel.”

2. The pastor preaches social justice instead of the gospel.

Dennis Prager Says He Follows ‘Law-Based’ Religion

Oklahoma Baptist University Sees Worst Natural Disaster in School History

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief Is Already at OBU

3 Things We Need

Why Churches Need to Offer Help for Single Dads

What does this mean for your church?

The Purpose of Sex

Why Sexy Disappoints

Charles Stanley Had Broad Impact on Church Leaders

New Articles

New Podcasts