Pop culture has rediscovered serpent handling as well. A New York Times best-seller called A Land More Kind Than Home revolves around a snake-handling church. Its author, Wiley Cash, said people want a sign that God is real. “Everyone wants to believe that God has given them some kind of providence.”

The last thing Southern Baptists need, now or ever, is the development of theological tribalism among us. We must all repent of the sin of building a tribe when we are called to serve the Kingdom of Christ

The news of Jason Stellman’s departure from the PCA and presumed entrance into the Roman Catholic Church has travelled fast and caused great alarm. So how do we process such a move? Does frustration with American Evangelicalism necessitate a swim across the Tiber? Regardless of reports to the contrary, the Presbyterian Church in America is... Continue Reading

The Rev. Keith Ratliff Sr. of the Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church in Des Moines issued a statement saying he was stepping down from the NAACP national board and as Iowa/Nebraska state conference president “due to the NAACP’s position and support of same-sex marriage DES MOINES — A prominent leader in the Iowa/Nebraska branch of... Continue Reading

Simply stated, the “homosexuality and shellfish” argument falls apart when read as the Scriptures are meant to be read—with a redemptive-historical approach in view. When President Barack Obama endorsed gay marriage last month, an “evolution” of his previous position, the focus of many Americans was again turned to our real national pastime, human sexuality. (No,... Continue Reading

In essence, I believe that those who have published “A Statement of Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation” are concerned by the rise of Calvinism among Southern Baptists at all levels of convention life, from local churches all the way down to various institutions and agencies. PREAMBLE (PART B) Though I am... Continue Reading

Rev. David Vance, the committee’s chairman...noted that in recommendation 8 (Minority Report), the committee desires the $431,000 allocated funds to Erskine to be placed in escrow until there is a satisfactory response and action from the Erskine Board. Principle Clerk Ron Beard referred to recommendations 6-8 as out of order since the Minority Report of Erskine is out of order in terms of Synod’s program.

Of the many controversial items before the 2012 ARP General Synod, one which was certainly controversial and would be a rarity in the ARP’s history was the recommendation by the Executive Board of the Synod to dissolve Pacific Presbytery. The reasons behind this recommendation go back several years. The Synod has been frustrated with Pacific... Continue Reading

The 79th General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is meeting at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, June 6–12, 2012. The meeting began with a sermon preached by the retiring moderator, Mr. Danny Olinger, who serves as the General Secretary of the OPC Committee of Christian Education. Mr. Olinger preached from Genesis 1:1-2, reminding the Assembly... Continue Reading

Recommendations from the Memorials, Complaints, and Executive Board presented to the ARP Synod and the actions of Synod on the recommendations. The ARP Synod is meeting at the Bonclarken Conference Center in Flat Rock, NC. The following was considered by the Synod on June 7. Memorials Committee The Committee on Memorials presented a number of... Continue Reading