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The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as a Teaching Tool

In 1925, the Southern Baptist Convention convened in Memphis, Tenn. At that momentous meeting, messengers made two decisions with far-reaching consequences. First, they adopted the Baptist Faith and Message. Second, they launched the Cooperative Program as a unified funding... Continue Reading »

Young Person, God’s Will May Be Right Where You Are

I remember when I was a senior in high school and was gearing up to go to college to begin my pathway to becoming a heart surgeon. This had been a lifelong dream. No. Really. I had planned on... Continue Reading »

Are You Ready to Trust God with Everything?

Imagine Mary’s surprise when Gabriel appeared, announcing she would conceive and bear the Son of God. This wasn’t an ordinary announcement; it was life-altering. Gabriel revealed that her child would be “the Son of the Most High” and that... Continue Reading »

I’m Asking

Because this year’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is the most important offering in the history of the International Mission Board, I am asking every church to give 10 percent more to the IMB this year than you gave last... Continue Reading »

Do I Have Any Hope in This Life That Things Will Get Better?

When I hear the question, “Do I have any hope in this life?” I immediately take note of the severe pain from which this question arises. Those who know little trouble and only acute hardship do not ask such... Continue Reading »

Faith in Action: Honoring Our Veterans Beyond Words

As a combat veteran who deployed to and fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, I’ve heard the words “thank you for your service” more times than I can count. And while these five words are often spoken with genuine respect... Continue Reading »

The Christian Bubble and the Real World

As I sat at my desk this morning, staring at all the accoutrements of academia that surround me, I suddenly realized that I will soon celebrate 40 years of full-time Christian ministry. Over these decades, I’ve been privileged to... Continue Reading »

FIRST-PERSON: This troubled political season

There’s a pretty significant vote going on in America. If you’ve been paying attention to the news or scrolling through social media, you know our country is in the thick of another intense political season. In my 68 years,... Continue Reading »

How Should Christians Think About Voting?

We are living in an age when politics seems to occupy more and more of our minds and hearts. There is a simple reason for that. The government was once a much simpler kind of affair with a relatively... Continue Reading »

Theonomy: Serious Theology, Serious Politics, Seriously Wrong

My engagement with theonomy began before I was an adult. I have experienced two periods of intense interest in this movement and theory known as theonomy, Christian reconstructionism, dominion theology, or (more recently) a comprehensive model of Christian nationalism.... Continue Reading »

God and Politics: How Do You Shepherd the Flock During the Never-Ending Political Season?

I remember when astronauts landed on the moon. I listened to music on records, eight tracks, cassettes, CDs, and MP3 players. I put $5 worth of gas in the car and drove all weekend on it. I saw “Star... Continue Reading »

Give What the World Can’t and Get Out of the Way

What is the difference between a kind, generous unbeliever and a kind, generous believer? I stood on a bridge in Asheville, N.C., over the French Broad River and interviewed two men, Steve and Tom. Steve said he was a... Continue Reading »