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From Law to Grace » Entries tagged with "Politics"

Conservative Principles & Assaults on Free Speech

April 3rd, 2012 | 19 Comments

With Texas (and a little sliver of Oklahoma) to our east and Arizona to our west, New Mexico is stuck in the middle of those more populous states. That’s okay. As far as geography goes, there’s much to be said for being in the middle. I like to visit Dallas and Phoenix (although the only time I’ve been to the latter, I was sick as a dog throughout the SBC Annual Meeting last year), but I wouldn’t want to live in either of those places. Whenever I say something like this, my wife tells me that’s where God will end up moving us. I should know better by now. When it comes to where I personally stand on issues — theological, political, social, and economic —  I am most certainly not a moderate. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedoms, Government, Law, Politics, Religion

Mega Fridays: The Politicization of SBC Sanctuaries

March 9th, 2012 | 7 Comments

In what used to be confined to mostly Democrat, mostly African-American congregations, the politicization of the sanctuary has come to conservative, Republican-leaning megachurches near you. During this year’s Republican Presidential campaign, it seems that the Mormon Roman Catholic candidates have found a welcoming environment during Sunday morning worship at several prominent Southern Baptist megachurches in the south. If the candidates were there to actually hear the Word of God, that would be completely understandable. But, that some churches have taken to allowing their sanctuaries to be used as just another campaign stop (there’s a Biblical word for that, but I will refrain from using it) is nothing short of reprehensible. Baptist churches are autonomous and therefore free to do whatever they think “is right in their own eyes,” even if that means disregarding historic Baptist principles of religious liberty. Don’t get me wrong. I love politics and the … Read entire article »

Filed under: Mega Fridays, Megachurch, Politics, Religion, Southern Baptist Convention

Is Rush Limbaugh’s Talent In Danger of Being Revoked?

March 6th, 2012 | 5 Comments

Don’t look now, but Rush Limbaugh’s talent — famously quoted by him as being “on loan from God” — might just be in danger of being revoked. No, I’m not talking about God revoking Limbaugh’s talent in a permanent, out-of-this-world kind of way (as we have witnessed with the sudden deaths of Davy Jones and Andrew Breitbart just last week). God doesn’t always work in a direct, supernatural miracle kind-of-way. In medical situations, God will often use surgeries — and the hands of doctors and nurses — to carry out the healing of the Great Physician. God can accomplish His ends by whatever means He so chooses. Of course, those means will always be consistent with God’s character. He is not an “ends justify the means” God. Which brings us to the case of … Read entire article »

Filed under: Freedom of Speech, Politics

Baptist Church Offers Shameless Campaign Stop for Gingrich

February 27th, 2012 | 11 Comments

Why buy campaign ads when you can get a free, tailor-made campaign event in front of 3,000 folks during Sunday morning worship at your neighborhood evangelical church? In what surely would make our Baptist forefathers roll over in their graves, a Southern Baptist megachurch – First Redeemer Church in Cummings, GA — gave over its pulpit (there are other ways to describe this, but I will refrain) for a campaign speech by former Southern Baptist turned Roman Catholic, Newt Gingrich. Put into perspective, this made First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s introduction of Gingrich at the conclusion of their annual Pastor’s Conference look not quite as morally negligent by comparison.  Since First Redeemer Church and their Pastor, Dr. Richard Lee, offered their sanctuary as a campaign stop last Sunday for another Catholic, Rick Santorum, it seemed only fitting that Gingrich stand behind the sacred … Read entire article »

Filed under: Freedom of Religion, Government, Politics, Religion

Affinities, Alliances & Agendas in the SBC: Part 2

February 17th, 2012 | 1 Comment

Let’s face it.  Some folks are easier to like than others.  For some of my fellow Southern Baptists, I am one of those folks!  When it comes to cooperative missions and ministry in the 21st Century, simply being “Southern Baptist” is no longer sufficient to bind us together even though it is the most efficient avenue to fulfill the Great Commission.  While we might sing “bless be the tie that binds” (at least those who know it) and give the right answer to who should ultimately bind us – JESUS — we know from personal experience that voluntary partnership and cooperation must be based on a shared mission, vision, goals, and beliefs.  However, even that is not always enough to bind us together.  What Southern Baptists must possess, in addition to these four areas, is an … Read entire article »

Filed under: Calvinism, Great Commission Resurgence, Religion, Southern Baptist Convention

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