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Baptist News Global

Christianity

Rapper’s rebaptism in the Jordan River

I share my perspective on rapper Lecrae’s baptism with Jeff Brumley of Baptist News Global:

An American hip-hop artist’s rebaptism in the Jordan River last month sparked conversations ranging in nature from mean-spirited to theologically reflective.

“Can’t be baptized in the Jordan river and make the same old music. This new album is gonna be special,” rapper Lecrae said in a Sept. 19 tweet in which he also shared a video of the experience.

Some responded with praise. But others said rebaptism, even in the Jordan, is religiously unnecessary. Some labeled it a publicity stunt to sell music.

The entertainer was unruffled, responding to naysayers with some theology of his own: “1. it’s a Mikvah,” referencing a Jewish ritual bath. “2. Jesus was God already and still was baptized… 

BGN

Continuing reading at Baptist News Global

politics

We missed our Christian moment, again

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As the build up to the Iowa caucus as come and gone, there was a heavy focus on the Evangelical Christian vote as a key to winning.  Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Donald Trump all sought the support of the voting block of Christians so crucial to winning the GOP nomination. It was Trump who made the greatest public effort towards being “a Christian” and it made all Christians look bad, very bad.

Donald Trump cozied up to Jerry Fallwell Jr. when he spoke at Liberty University to capture support from the traditional support system of Evangelical voters when he said, “Christianity is under siege.” What really made news is that he quoted scripture saying, “Two Corinthians” which prompted laughter among students listening because the reference is “Second Corinthians”.  For the 10,000 students in attendance, Trump accomplished what he sought out to do: to look and act like conservative Christian.

Trump was not finished with his Christian pandering. In a worship service in Iowa, Trump put in his offering money into the communion plate prompting commentators to point out that Trump is not familiar with basic Christian worship. On the eve of the Iowa caucus, Trump posted an online video of his family Bible while carefully pointing out how he would not let “the Evangelicals” down.  In many speeches to crowds he promised to “make Christianity great again”.

It is embarrassing to watch a politician try so hard make himself look like a conservative Evangelical Christian.  It is troubling to see Christianity on display in such parody. It is saddening to watch Christianity be used as a political football for politicos and prognosticators to diagram and dissect.  It is disheartening to watch Christianity be used as stepping stone to the presidency.

We Christians had a moment in the public eye and we missed it. Again.  Continue Reading…

blog

Why pastors need pastors

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Much of what we pastors do is to minister, care, support, and uplift the people in our congregations and community. We go through college and graduate school (seminary) and learn the basics of sociology, psychology, and therapy.  We pastors walk with people through depression, grief, and death.

Through all those hours, days, weeks, and years of care-giving, what happens when we pastors need a pastor? Who will be the care-giver to the care-giver? Who will be the pastor to a pastor?

I recently posted an Baptist News Global article, written by Jeff Brumbly, on Facebook with some startling statistics for pastors:

Continue Reading…

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