Author: Marie Delph

Churches should be havens for those struggling with mental health

Earlier this summer, the new national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline went live. The three-digit, memorable number was designed to efficiently connect people who are suicidal or in a mental health crisis to a trained mental health professional. With calls expected to increase as people learn about the helpline, some call centers say there are limits to what they can accomplish without more local resources.

Suicide is not something we like to talk about. Yet, we must acknowledge that there are times when the circumstances of life threaten to overwhelm—a spouse leaves, a child passes away, a business folds, or a house burns down. We watch people we care about hurt, wander, and undergo immense difficulty. Sometimes their pain can turn into to feelings of hopelessness, depression, or even suicidal ideation.

As part of the family of God, we’re called to walk alongside struggling brothers or sisters to help shoulder the weight of a trial that threatens to pull them under (Phil. 2:3–4). The strength and encouragement of others is often the difference between finding healing or giving up. Galatians 6:2 calls us to bear one another’s burdens and to hurt alongside those who are hurting. Helping our friends, neighbors, and friends carry the weight of their troubles ought to be a priority of every Christian—and could be the answer to the lack of local resources in place to help those who are suffering.

We’re one body, called to help the hurting

When someone experiences tragedy, loss, or other overwhelming circumstances, feelings of hopelessness can arise, sometimes even leading to suicidal thoughts. While a crisis hotline, therapy, and medicine are extremely important, they’re not always sufficient. The best antidotes for hopelessness are a perspective rooted in faith and a community of support, both of which the church can offer to help those burdened by situational depression and suicidal ideation.

A person with suicidal thoughts may feel like there is nowhere left to go and no one who cares whether they live or die. For many people, the church is their last hope. Statistics reveal that 1 in 5 people suffer from some form of mental health issue, and those who love them are also affected by it. Many of these people are sitting in churches week after week, suffering in stigmatized silence. Pastors need to wake up and start talking about depression and hopelessness from the pulpit, helping people to develop an attitude of looking to Christ for help long before a person would reach a point of suicide.

While no one can assume full responsibility for someone else’s circumstances or emotional wellness, the church can, and should, help to remove the stigma of depression and other mental health issues by addressing them. Let‘s not pretend the church is immune to these issues. There should never be a time when someone is embarrassed or ashamed to seek help for the way they’re affected by sin and brokenness.

Churches should prioritize caring for those with mental health struggles

Research shows that people who are deeply depressed or have thoughts of suicide feel relief when they have a community of people they can count on. A strategic way churches can facilitate these relationships is by establishing support groups that include people who have “been there” and can offer a listening ear, encouragement, and perspective. Programs like Fresh Hope for Mental Health equip churches to provide those who are hopeless a safe place to process their pain and experience faith-filled hope through support groups, classes, and other resources that are led and written by peers who are living well, despite their own mental health challenges.

Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” With Jesus Christ as our focus, the church can uniquely offer something to those who struggle with mental health and those who love them: hope through Jesus.

Large or small, every church should strive to become a nurturing and compassionate haven for people with mental health burdens and their families. People who are struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide are our brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s our duty as followers of Christ to create a safe and honest place for them and love them well.

The post The church and suicide appeared first on ERLC.

Pruitt sees an opportunity to reach Gen Z

NASHVILLE (BP)—Shane Pruitt, national Next Gen director for the North American Mission Board (NAMB), says churches now more than ever have the opportunity to step into the brokenness of Generation Z with the hope of the Gospel.

In a video interview with Baptist Press, Pruitt said the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t create new problems for Gen Z, but instead “poured gasoline,” onto problems that were already there.

He encouraged churches to point to Jesus as the solution.

“You have a whole generation that I think realized through the pandemic that the world is broken,” Pruitt said.

“They’re looking for hope and answers, and that’s a perfect opportunity for the Church to come in and say ‘we know you’re looking for hope. We know you’re looking for answers. We know you’re looking for truth and hope has a name. The answer has a name, truth has a name and that name’s Jesus.’”

The interview with Pruitt was an installment in a new weekly series from Baptist Press entitled ‘Baptist Press This Week.’ Episodes are available on the Baptist Press website and Baptist Press’s YouTube channel.

One important big avenue that Pruitt mentioned for connecting with Gen Z is through social media.

He explains that not only does social media allow the generation to know everything going on in the world good and bad, it also creates a weird social dynamic where they are “connected, but super lonely at the same time.”

Pruitt said he challenges the age group to prioritize time in God’s Word over time on social media.

“I will often say to teenagers, ‘What if you read one Bible verse for every social media post you read every day, how fast would you get through the Bible?’”

Although time in God’s Word is most important, Pruitt went on to say social media can be used for good and even encouraged churches to ask teenagers in their church for tips in using other teenagers with social media.

“Over half of the world’s population is on social media, so it’s part of discipleship to say to them ‘leverage this for the Kingdom of God,’” Pruitt said. “I say the most effective person at reaching a teenager with a Gospel is another teenager that has a heart that beats with passion for Jesus, and that same heart is broken over the spiritual lostness of their own generation.

“I would say get them to the table, learn from them, hear from them, and even add them as a part of the decision-making process of your online strategies.”

Pruitt encourages older believers to be “real and authentic,” to who they are and preach the same Gospel that led them to faith.

“I will tell you in the two years of my ministry, I’ve seen more college students, young adults, and teenagers get saved than probably the 15 years of my ministry before that combined,” Pruitt said. “It’s because they are searching for truth and we can point them to Jesus and preach the Word. The same gospel that has worked for 2000 years still works today and the Bible is always relevant.

This article originally appeared on Baptist Press.

Enthusiasm, hopes for ‘fertile soil’ highlight annual meeting planning in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS (BP)—The enthusiasm was as thick as the late summer air as hundreds of pastors and church leaders gathered at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) to prepare to welcome thousands of messengers to the Crescent City in 2023.

Local leaders believe the convention will make a tremendous impact on the city.

“There’s a new energy and new excitement. I’m expecting great things in this convention and in our cooperative work going forward,” said Jack Hunter, executive director of the New Orleans Baptist Association.

Jamie Dew, NOBTS president, believes the annual meeting’s return to the Gulf Coast will give Southern Baptists an opportunity to see urban evangelism, church planting and mercy ministry in a context where it makes a great impact.

“Those are things that matter to Southern Baptists very deeply, and they are natural opportunities here in our city,” Dew told Baptist Press.

SBC President Bart Barber revealed the theme for the 2023 Annual Meeting. Basing it on 2 Corinthians 4:5, he said it will be “Serving the Lord; Serving others.”

“I hope that we can show that through Crossover and through the things we do during the annual meeting as well,” Barber said.

Barber reflected on the impact the city has made on his wife, who has served on disaster relief teams numerous times over the years.

“I have a hope and belief that the seeds that have been planted during those disaster responses can be a harvest for us during Crossover this year,” Barber told Baptist Press.

The last time the meeting was in New Orleans was 2012. It was a historic year as Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, was elected SBC president. Luter became the first African American to be elected to the post.

He believes New Orleans can be the place where Southern Baptists are reminded of their primary focus on evangelism and discipleship.

“To have the convention back in New Orleans will be a great opportunity to get us back on the right foot,” Luter said.

Willie McLaurin, interim president/CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, served as emcee of the event that gave convention organizers an opportunity to talk about the key role local leaders play in the months leading up to the annual meeting.

“This is an opportunity to cast a vision for the upcoming annual meeting and to let local pastors and leaders know how important they are as we partner together,” McLaurin said.

He believes the meeting will have a great impact on the city.

“This will be an important opportunity for Southern Baptists from all across the country to come here to learn how they can partner locally to help get people off the road to hell and get on the road to heaven,” McLaurin told Baptist Press.

Hunter believes the city is ready for that impact. “We believe having Southern Baptists among will be a great encouragement to us,” he said. “Both through the Crossover event and the Serve Tour, just having them here among us will be a great blessing.”

New Orleans area pastor Jay Adkins is leading the Local Encouragement Team, a team that helps recruit local volunteers and spread the word about the annual meeting’s arrival. He says Southern Baptists serving the region after Katrina gave them an open door for Gospel conversations, and the city’s hosting the annual meeting could give them a second opportunity.

“My prayer is that we will have fertile soil from the work of the Serve Tour and Crossover,” Adkins said. “My hope is that people (messengers) will see this community … as a unique place with a unique history that is a blessing to serve.”

The 2023 meeting was originally scheduled to be held in Charlotte, N.C., but the SBC EC voted to move the meeting to New Orleans due to the need for more convention space necessitated by increased attendance the past few years.

Those attending the kickoff also heard a preview of the 2023 SBC Pastors’ Conference from Daniel Dickard, this year’s conference president. He said his primary focus is to encourage pastors to continue in faithful ministry.

“Since its inception in 1935, it’s always existed for that purpose,” Dickard said of the annual gathering.

He believes pastors are in great need of encouragement and pointed to how pastors have been stretched thin by the coronavirus pandemic and the turbulent cultural climate.

“We’re going to emphasize nine pastors, many of whom have retired or are retiring, as they have been faithful through the years,” Dickard said. “We want to hear from them, ‘This is what kept me in the ministry during the tough times.’”

Dickard plans to begin announcing conference speakers and more details later this fall.

The 2023 SBC Annual Meeting is set for June 13-14 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

This article originally appeared on Baptist Press.

Bible among books under review by Texas school district after parent complaint

KELLER, Texas (BP)—Reports of the Bible’s being removed alongside other books from school libraries don’t tell the full story, said a statement issued by the Keller Independent School District (ISD) Aug. 18.

“Books that have been challenged by community members as being inappropriate for schools are required to be removed from shelves and held in a Parental Consent Area until the challenge process is complete,” said superintendent Rick Westfall. “Previously challenged books are also being moved to a Parental Consent Area to determine if those books meet the new standards in the policy and the guidelines that will soon be considered by the Board.”

Materials placed in the Parental Consent Area are not completely off limits to students, said the Keller ISD in response to a list of questions by Baptist Press.

“The Parental Consent Area is a new concept that was established in these new policies, so the details regarding the exact location in each library are still being determined,” the district replied in an email. “Typically, it will just be an area in an office where titles are held that are being reviewed, so that students can only access them with written permission from a parent. Librarians and administrators would have access to the area.”

Last year, “any variation” of the Bible appeared on a list of books that garnered at least one complaint by a parent or community member. Other books included a graphic novel based on the diary of Anne Frank and several with LGBTQ themes and discussions over race.

The parent who challenged the appropriateness of the Bible withdrew that challenge in December, but two other parents issued another challenge in the spring.

The Bible was “quickly determined to be appropriate” the district told BP. However, as part of a recently-adopted policy, the district is required to reevaluate all books that had previously been challenged.

The controversy renewed last week when an email obtained by The Texas Tribune Aug. 16 showed the district’s director of curriculum and instruction instructing principals to remove the listed books from shelves and store them in a different location “by the end of today.”

Keller ISD issued a follow-up statement explaining policies approved at an Aug. 8 special meeting that “relate to the acquisition and review of instructional materials and library books.”

Campus librarians and other staff are being asked to assess books that were challenged over the last year. Those books that meet the new guidelines will be returned to the library “as soon as it is confirmed they comply with the new policy.”

A council made up of community leaders voted in February to leave several books – including the Bible – on shelves. But the addition of three new board members in the spring led to the review process’ beginning again, the Tribune reported.

The Texas Education Agency released a new set of operations in April following calls from Governor Greg Abbott to address obscene content that may be found in the state’s school libraries.

A number of factors determine the review process’ length, the school district said.

“Some titles that are found to be very obviously appropriate will be returned after a quick review at the campus level,” it said. “If necessary, a review committee consisting of employees, parents and community members may need to be convened to determine the appropriateness of a title.”

Hook-up culture: Unsatisfying diversion from God’s design

NASHVILLE (BP)—Merely “consensual” sexual relations can be harmful, a young Washington Post columnist writes in a new book, “Rethinking Sex.”

Today’s seemingly liberated culture doesn’t weigh whether consensual sex is “ethically good, morally good, good for the person having it, good for the encounter and what it creates in society at large,” Christine Emba said on C-SPAN’s author interview series “After Words” in June.

Christians, however, must not succumb to cultural pressure for consensual sex, Florida pastor Dean Inserra exhorts.

“God’s design in the Scriptures for human sexuality is as clear and plain as any other important doctrine,” Inserra, author of a new book, “Pure: Why the Bible’s Plan for Sexuality Isn’t Outdated, Irrelevant, or Oppressive,” noted.

“What God says about marriage and sex is as clear as Jesus walking on water,” he said on the Digital Public Square podcast of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

Emba, describing the cultural pressure, said many young adults “feel that to be seen as modern, to be seen as ‘sex positive,’ they have to be up for it all the time (and) that to complain or to raise qualms about a certain act or encounter would mean they’re judgmental or repressive or old-fashioned in some way.”

Emba said she is telling readers, “It’s not crazy to want something better than the sexual culture that we have now.”

Sex may be consensual – within the legal bounds of “yes means yes and no means no” – yet it can still be “bad, degrading, traumatizing,” Emba said. Many young adults she interviewed “were having sex that they were supposed to enjoy, but weren’t. … There can be a lot of pain and hurt hidden there and big questions that end up swept under the rug.” Today’s hook-up culture doesn’t have “a language” for “talking about what is good or what is bad.”

Interviewees often “talked about intimacy, transcendence, the desire for care, even love” in their sexual routines, Emba said, “but they felt almost sheepish saying that they wanted it to mean something because they felt so much cultural pressure to say that it meant nothing,” that they were just “collecting experiences.”

“In the modern era, (we) have pushed the idea of morality, or at least a shared morality, out of the public square,” she added. “You can talk about whether things are legal, whether they’re consenting, whether something was actually criminal, but to go deeper and ask, ‘What does this say about us? What are our moral standards and frameworks? What should they be?’ – that’s seen as something private and personal, something you can hold for yourself, but you can’t put on another person.”

Emba, a Catholic, said she envisions “a better standard for sex, a better sexual ethic” – the Golden Rule, “that you think about the other person’s good as much as you would think about your own. You weigh care for them as highly as you weigh care for yourself. … We all have a sense of what human flourishing might look like. And we all want that for ourselves.”

For Inserra, lead pastor of CityChurch in Tallahassee, sexual relations and marriage carry a greater importance that extends to the heart of the Gospel.

In Scripture, “it’s as clear as can be that God has made marriage to be between a man and a woman, a husband and a wife. They were to come together to become one flesh,” Inserra said in the June ERLC podcast. “God has a design and to step out of that design sexually in any way, shape or form is sin.”

The creation narrative of Adam and Eve is “echoed throughout the storyline of the Bible,” he continued. “When Jesus is asked about marriage in Matthew 19, he references Genesis as an historic event, Adam and Eve as real people, as God’s design.”

When the apostle Paul addresses the Corinthian church about their sexual sin (1 Corinthians 6), Inserra noted that Paul likewise cites Genesis in teaching that God made male and female to become one flesh in marriage.

Then, in Ephesians 5, Paul cites marriage “to show us the relationship between Christ and the church … that the visible portrait of a man and a woman together as married – that one flesh-ness – gives us an understanding of the invisible reality of the relationship between Christ and the church,” Inserra said. “The institution of marriage actually points us to our union with Christ.

“For us to back down on that, to be quiet on that, to give disclaimers, to be apologetic is for us to take lightly what God has said and let the culture, and how we’re viewed by people, determine the narrative rather than the Scriptures.”

Young Christians are dealing with “a new reality that sex is expected,” Inserra acknowledged. “What used to be the first kiss is now sleeping together. To agree to go on a date with someone is to agree to sleep with them, if not the first date, the second date.

“That’s why I encourage Christians to date other Christians. It’s not only biblical, but it’s critical right now for people to have the same ethic as you do concerning God’s design. … Please don’t even tempt with dating someone who’s not a believer. I’m not saying that two Christians are exempt from these temptations, but hopefully at least the expectation is not there.”

Sexuality, hookup culture, adultery, homosexuality, pornography cannot be “taboo topics” in the church, Inserra said, noting “there’s a way to be appropriate with it in terms of mixed company” or with a young audience. “But we have to make sure we talk about this” because Christians “can’t be in the murky middle when it comes to sexuality issues” as they reflect “the way of Jesus of truth and grace” to those who view them as bigots and sexual prudes.

“You’re going to get put on the spot about what you believe about certain things,” Inserra said, voicing admiration for those who “stand strong in terms of sexuality and purity, of valuing marriage in a world that really doesn’t (value it) very much anymore. … Christian college students with real conviction and young adults with real conviction (are) trying to do it the right way because they love God and they love others.”

This article originally appeared on Baptist Press.

New TobyMac album ‘Life After Death’ proclaims the goodness of God

NASHVILLE (BP)—Grammy-winning contemporary Christian artist TobyMac’s new album “Life After Death,” proclaims the goodness of God amidst the most devastating of circumstances.

The 15-track album, releasing Friday (Aug. 19) is the first for TobyMac (Kevin Michael McKeehan) since the death of his son and oldest child Truett in the fall of 2019 at the age of 21.

In an interview with Baptist Press, McKeehan said the first music he began to create after Truett’s passing simply reflected “the thoughts and feelings of walking through that season of loss.”

The first song to come was “21 Years,” a tribute to his son and an emotional song of lament expressing his grief-stricken thoughts to God.

A few weeks later, McKeehan asked his daughter Marlee if she would help him create a song dedicated to Truett which became “Everything About You.” He later would produce a song titled “Faithfully.”

Months after that, and still in immense pain, McKeehan wondered if he would ever return to his traditional musical style, as opposed to the more serious ballads he had been creating.

“I was just grieving and wondering, will I ever write an up-tempo song again, or is this just where I’m going to live?” McKeehan said.

This all changed when he came across a Bible verse referencing God “rolling up his sleeve” (Isaiah 52:10), which inspired him to create the song “Help Is On The Way.”

“It was an intense and up-beat song, and I started to believe it and started to count on God rolling up His sleeves and coming to help. I started to stand on that a little bit.”

McKeehan would continue his return back to uplifting and up-beat music with the song “The Goodness,” which he developed after discovering a quote that said “a saint is not someone who is good, but someone who experiences the goodness of God.”

“I kind of discovered that good is God somehow or another,” McKeehan said. “Somehow these little bands of light made it through all the foliage making things dark, and I started to see these glimpses of light and it was God’s goodness. If you give God a true chance and walk with Him in your deepest pain, there is life after death.

“That’s what I experienced. I can be a saint, and I can follow my King, because I’ve experienced and do experience the goodness of God even in the midst of utter devastation.”

“The Goodness” features voice and piano contributions from Blessing Offor, a blind Christian recording artist recently nominated for a Dove award for “Best New Artist.”

This is just one of the album’s collaborations. Other musicians appearing on the record include Zach Williams, Sheryl Crow, Tauren Wells, Jon Reddick, Cory Asbury and Wande.

Notably, one track includes a reunion with McKeehan’s old dc Talk bandmates Michael Tait and Kevin Max.

The song, titled “Space,” refers to the ups and downs of human relationships and the distance that often develops between friends over time whether naturally or intentionally.

“As I was pondered that concept and pondered my relationship with Michael and Kevin, I thought it would be a great song for us to put forth together,” McKeehan said. “The three of us locked arms and climbed a mountain together. The three of us all laughed, cried, argued and loved together.

“We’re not as close as we were back then, but that doesn’t mean we don’t care for each other, and love keeps no record of wrongs. So even if we’ve hurt each other in the past, we need to stand on that principle.”

Throughout the process of making the album, McKeehan said his close relationship with God is what helped him wrestle through the hard season. He encouraged others to seek out the same relationship.

“The way we relate to God is by talking to Him and listening,” McKeehan said. “The only way I’m truly in a relationship with God is if I’m listening to Him, and the way I listen to Him is by reading His Word. I also can’t be relationship with God if I’m not talking to Him through prayer.”

McKeehan said the goal for his music is to make it accessible and relatable to others.

“I always want to write songs that resonate with as many people as possible because these songs are to serve people,” he said. “My heart is to be transparent and raw in my life and my music because I figure I go through things for a reason.”

“I’ve been through some really hard things and climbed some mountains where the view was beautiful. I want to always share that with everybody. The music that I make is to serve and not to take or indulge. I just want to be a servant in this process.

“When other people are walking through the same things, it might just whisper in their ear along the way or offer some type of love through these songs to let them know they’re not alone. There’s a God out there who loves us and there is purpose in everything.”

This article originally appeared on Baptist Press.

Pastors encourage single adults, some provide targeted ministries

NASHVILLE—As the number of single adults in the United States continues to grow, so does the need for ministry to single adults in churches.

According to a 2020 profile of single Americans by Pew Research Center, nearly 1 in 4 (23 percent) U.S. adults ages 30-49 are single – not married, living with a partner or in a committed romantic relationship. And the 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data on America’s Families and Living Arrangements reveals many of these have never been married. More than 2 in 5 (43 percent) U.S. adults ages 30-34 have never been married, which means that adults in the U.S. are waiting longer to get married. In fact, the median age at first marriage has been on the rise since the mid 1900s. In 2021, the estimated median age to marry for the first time was 30.4 for men and 28.6 for women, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

An increase in the number of single adults, and particularly single adults over the age of 30, brings with it a need for increased intentionality toward single adults in churches. A study from Lifeway Research asked Protestant pastors how their churches specifically minister to single adults ages 30 and older. Most pastors encourage these single adults to serve in leadership (92 percent) and volunteer (91 percent) roles. Some offer small group Bible studies and classes specifically for them (45 percent) or plan social events for them (43 percent). Fewer than 1 in 3 (30 percent) offer large group Bible teaching times specifically for them. Another 5 percent of pastors say they do not specifically minister to single adults in any of these ways, and 2 percent say they minister in other ways.

“Clearly, pastors want single adults integrated into the life and ministry of their churches,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “However, less than half of churches have programs in place to address the unique needs of single adults.”

Some churches more likely to provide specific single adult ministries

Larger churches tend to do more to specifically minister to their single adults. Pastors of the largest churches, those with more than 250 in attendance, are the most likely to say they offer small group Bible studies and classes (68 percent), plan social events (65 percent) and offer large group Bible teaching times (47 percent) specifically for them. And pastors at the smallest churches, those with fewer than 50 in attendance, are least likely to say they offer small group Bible studies and classes (29 percent) or large group Bible teaching times specifically for them (19 percent).

Although the majority of pastors in churches of every size say they encourage their single adults to serve in volunteer roles, larger churches emphasize this more than smaller churches. Pastors at churches with attendance of more than 250 (98 percent) or 100-249 (94 percent) are more likely than those at churches with 50-99 (89 percent) or fewer than 50 (85 percent) to encourage single adults to serve in volunteer roles.

“Normative churches with fewer than 100 in attendance typically only have a few adult Bible study classes,” McConnell said. “They must make a strategic choice about how those groups are organized. Some churches may organize Bible studies and fellowship times around marital status, but others may group by age, geography, gender or content being studied.”

According to the Pew profile of single Americans, there are a higher percentage of single Black adults (47 percent) in the United States than single white adults (28 percent). This breakdown is reflected in the Lifeway Research data, as white pastors are least likely to offer some ministries specific for single adults. White pastors are the least likely to offer small group Bible studies and classes (42 percent) or to offer large group Bible teaching times (26 percent) specifically for single adults over the age of 30. African American pastors (70 percent) are the most likely to say their churches plan social events for these single adults.

Geographical demographics also signal how likely a pastor is to say their church specifically ministers to single adults over the age of 30 in particular ways. Pastors in the South are among the most likely to say their churches offer small group Bible studies and classes (52 percent), offer large group Bible teaching times (38 percent) or plan social events (47 percent) for them.

Pastors of some denominations are more likely than others to provide specific ministries for the single adults in their churches. Pentecostal (66 percent), non-denominational (57 percent) and Baptist (50 percent) pastors are among the most likely to say their churches offer small group Bible studies and classes for them. Pentecostal (49 percent) and non-denominational (41 percent) pastors are also more likely than Lutherans (25 percent) and Presbyterian/Reformed (21 percent) to offer large group Bible teaching times specifically for single adults over 30 years old. And Pentecostal (65 percent), non-denominational (55 percent) and Baptist (48 percent) pastors are among the most likely to plan social events for them.

“The Bible teaches that every member of the body of Christ is important and helps the body function as it should,” McConnell said. “Those instructions about working together as a church are accompanied by commands to love one another deeply as brothers and sisters (Romans 12:10). Programs may help organize this, but the biblical challenge to honor each other is personal.”

For more information, view the complete report and visit LifewayResearch.com.

SBC leaders respond to DOJ investigation

NASHVILLE (BP)—The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee has been informed that the United States Department of Justice has initiated an investigation into the SBC that will include “multiple SBC entities,” according to an Aug. 12 statement from all SBC entity leaders and SBC President Bart Barber.

“Individually and collectively, each SBC entity is resolved to fully and completely cooperate with the investigation,” the statement said.

The announcement comes two months after messengers to the SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim passed a resolution On Lament and Repentance for Sexual Abuse. Southern Baptists also voted overwhelmingly to adopt a report that approved recommendations toward addressing and preventing sexual abuse in the Convention.

The SBC spent nearly $2 million on an independent investigation conducted by Guidepost Solutions, which submitted its report in May. Send Relief, the compassion ministry of the SBC, has committed $4 million for the implementation of messenger-approved actions and to support survivors of sexual abuse.

Requests for comment from Guidepost Solutions and the DOJ were not returned by the time of publication. This story will be updated to include information as it becomes available.

In the statement, SBC leaders say they will comply with the DOJ’s request.

“Our commitment to cooperate with the Department of Justice is born from our demonstrated commitment to transparently address the scourge of sexual abuse,” the leaders said, adding that their willingness to cooperate should send the message that they are taking sexual abuse seriously.

“While we continue to grieve and lament past mistakes related to sexual abuse, current leaders across the SBC have demonstrated a firm conviction to address those issues of the past and are implementing measures to ensure they are never repeated in the future,” the statement said. “The fact that the SBC Executive Committee recently completed a fully transparent investigation is evidence of this commitment.”

They asked for prayer and for God’s wisdom as they proceed.

“While so many things in the world are uncertain, we can be certain that we serve a mighty God. Nothing, including this investigation, takes Him by surprise. We take comfort in that and humbly ask you be in prayer in the days and weeks ahead. Specifically, we ask God to grant wisdom and discernment to each person dealing with the investigation,” they wrote.

The statement is signed by:

Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Jason K. Allen, President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Bart Barber, President, SBC

Paul Chitwood, President, International Mission Board

James K. Dew, President, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

D. Hance Dilbeck, Jr., President, Guidestone Financial Resources

Kevin Ezell, President, North American Mission Board

Adam W. Greenway, President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Jeff Iorg, President, Gateway Seminary

Brent Leatherwood, Acting President, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

Ben Mandrell, President, Lifeway Christian Resources

Willie D. McLaurin, Interim President, SBC Executive Committee

R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Sandra Wisdom-Martin, Executive Director, Woman’s Missionary Union

The full statement is posted below:

The SBC Executive Committee recently became aware that the Department of Justice has initiated an investigation into the Southern Baptist Convention, and that the investigation will include multiple SBC entities.

Individually and collectively each SBC entity is resolved to fully and completely cooperate with the investigation. While we continue to grieve and lament past mistakes related to sexual abuse, current leaders across the SBC have demonstrated a firm conviction to address those issues of the past and are implementing measures to ensure they are never repeated in the future. The fact that the SBC Executive Committee recently completed a fully transparent investigation is evidence of this commitment.

We recognize our reform efforts are not finished. In fact, those efforts are continuing this very moment as the recently announced Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force begins its work and as each entity has strengthened its efforts to protect against abuse. Our commitment to cooperate with the Department of Justice is born from our demonstrated commitment to transparently address the scourge of sexual abuse.

While so many things in the world are uncertain, we can be certain that we serve a mighty God. Nothing, including this investigation, takes Him by surprise. We take comfort in that and humbly ask you be in prayer in the days and weeks ahead.

Specifically, we ask God to grant wisdom and discernment to each person dealing with the investigation.

This article originally appeared on Baptist Press.

Pastors say comfort tops list of modern-day idols

NASHVILLE—Idols don’t always come in the form of carved statues or reside in places of worship. Many pastors believe modern-day idols can be benign-looking desires with significant influence on people in their congregations.

According to a study from Lifeway Research, more than half of U.S. Protestant pastors believe comfort (67 percent), control or security (56 percent), money (55 percent) and approval (51 percent) are idols that have significant influence on their congregations. When asked to choose the potential idol with the most sway over people in their churches, pastors again point to comfort (30 percent) and control or security (20 percent) above the others.

“It’s easy to think that those in Christian churches have chosen their God and are faithful to Him,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “However, pastors quickly acknowledge how divided their congregations’ allegiances can be. These gods don’t have a physical shrine, but they compete for the hearts of Christians.”

Significant influence of idols

While most pastors point to comfort, security, money and approval as potential idols, fewer say success (49 percent) and social influence (46 percent) are idols in their congregations. Nearly 2 in 5 say political power (39 percent) is an idol their congregants face, and nearly 1 in 3 say sex or romantic love (32 percent). Another 14 percent of pastors say none of these are idols with influence in their churches, and 2 percent say they’re not sure.

Younger pastors are more likely than older pastors to identify several of these modern-day idols in their churches – particularly political power, money and control or security. Pastors ages 18-44 are the most likely to say political power (55 percent) and control or security (72 percent) are idols they see in their congregations.

The younger pastors are, the more likely they are to see money as a rival object of worship. Pastors ages 18-44 (63 percent) and 45-54 (58 percent) are more likely to say money is an idol in their churches than pastors 65 and older (46 percent).

Furthermore, older pastors are less likely to identify any of these potential idols among their congregants. Pastors ages 55-64 (18 percent) and over 64 (19 percent) are more likely to say none of these are idols in their churches than pastors 18-44 (9 percent) or 45-54 (10 percent).

“The large differences we see between younger and older pastors cannot be definitively explained by this study,” McConnell said. “There are signs that younger pastors are of the mindset that idols are rampant today, whereas older pastors may be slower to classify one of these as having significant influence on their people, or they may define idols more narrowly.”

Some different modern-day idols stood out to pastors of different ethnicities. White pastors are more likely than African American pastors to identify political power (41 percent v. 29 percent) and approval (53 percent v. 40 percent) as idols in their churches. And African American pastors are more likely than white pastors to say none of these are idols in their churches (25 percent v. 13 percent).

Pastors with higher levels of education are more likely than pastors with less formal education to identify money and control or security as idols in their churches. Pastors with master’s degrees (64 percent) or doctoral degrees (57 percent) are more likely than those with no college degree (43 percent) to say money is an idol in their churches. And pastors with master’s degrees (67 percent) or doctoral degrees (64 percent) are more likely than those with bachelor’s degrees (47 percent) or without college degrees (38 percent) to say control or security. Meanwhile, pastors with no college degree (25 percent) are the most likely to say none of these are modern-day idols in their churches.

Pastors of larger churches are more likely to identify idols of social influence and sex or romantic love in their congregations than pastors of smaller churches. Pastors of churches with more than 250 (55 percent) in attendance and those with 100-249 (51 percent) are more likely than those at churches with 50-99 (42 percent) or less than 50 (39 percent) to say social influence. Similarly, pastors at churches with attendance of more than 250 (40 percent) and 100-249 (39 percent) are more likely than those at churches with attendance of 50-99 (30 percent) or fewer than 50 (21 percent) to identify sex or romantic love as an idol.

“In many ways, the top three idols pastors recognize in their churches are related. Comfort and security draw the hearts of the most congregations, but they are often enabled by the pursuit of more money,” McConnell said. “Pastors of higher socioeconomic levels are quicker to recognize the influence of security and control while pastors of lower socioeconomic levels more readily see the draw of comforts.”

Denominational differences also play a role in how likely pastors are to say they recognize idolatrous influences in their congregations. Non-denominational (23 percent) and Pentecostal pastors (20 percent) are more likely than Methodist (9 percent) or Restorationist movement pastors (6 percent) to say they don’t see any of the potential idols influencing people in their churches.

Most influential idol

Comfort (30 percent), control or security (20 percent) and money (13 percent) also top the list of modern-day idols with the most influence on congregations. But political power (10 percent) and social influence (9 percent) climbed above approval (6 percent) and success (4 percent) when pastors were asked to select the one modern-day idol they believe has the most influence on their congregations. Less than 1 percent point to sex or romantic love as the idol with the most influence in their churches. Another 7 percent say they aren’t sure.

“Americans’ obsession with pursuing more stuff is clearly seen within the church as well,” McConnell said. “The largest number of congregations battle the influence of first-world comforts, and churches’ second most common modern-day idol is the commitment to keeping secure the comforts they already have.”

The allure of political power is more common in certain congregations. White pastors (12 percent) are more likely than African American pastors (2 percent) to say political power is the modern-day idol with the most influence on their congregations. And younger pastors—those 18-44 (14 percent) and 45-54 (13 percent)—are more likely than pastors over 65 (5 percent) to identify political power as the most influential idol in their congregations. Pastors in the Midwest (14 percent) and West (14 percent) are also among the most likely to say political power. Furthermore, pastors of Baptist (11 percent), Methodist (11 percent) and non-denominational (15 percent) churches are more likely than pastors of Presbyterian/Reformed (4 percent) churches to say political power is the idol with the most influence in their congregations.

Social influence holds more sway in large churches and is more often spotted by older clergy. Pastors at the largest churches, those with more than 250 in attendance (17 percent), are among the most likely to say social influence is the primary idol in their churches. Those over the age of 65 (13 percent) are more likely than pastors ages 18-44 (5 percent) to say social influence is the most influential idol in their churches. And Restorationist movement pastors (18 percent) are more likely than Baptist (8 percent), Methodist (8 percent) and Pentecostal (5 percent) pastors to say the same.

Denominationally, some pastors are more likely to see success as an idolatrous temptation for their congregations. Pentecostal pastors (13 percent) are more likely than Baptist (5 percent), Methodist (3 percent), Presbyterian/Reformed (3 percent) and Restorationist movement (less than 1 percent) pastors to say success is the most influential idol in their churches.

For more information, view the complete report and visit LifewayResearch.com.

State of the Bible: Swath of committed Christians don’t attend church monthly

PHILADELPHIA (BP)—Most of the youngest generations who identify as committed Christians likely do not attend church at least once monthly, the American Bible Society (ABS) said in the latest release from its 2022 State of the Bible.

Among Generation Z, Millennials and Generation X Christians whose personal commitment to Christ is still important in their life today, fewer than a third are described as practicing Christians, a descriptor that includes at least monthly church attendance.

“These are adults up to age 57 who at some point have made a commitment to Christ that’s still important to them. It’s likely that more than two-thirds are not attending church even once a month,” according to the report. “What happened here? Are we seeing a division between a private faith and a public church connection? Are people saying yes to Jesus but no to the church?”

In the chapter that focused closely on Gen Z adults, ages 18-25 in 2021, the characteristic of not attending church neither onsite nor online was prevalent among Gen Z, Millennials (ages 26-41) and Gen X (ages 42-57).

“Can they be wooed back into a vital church connection, in which they are engaging with Scripture, sharing their faith, and growing in the company of other flawed believers?” ABS asked in the study. “And how can we set the stage for that?”

The study is not meant to divide or demean, ABS said, but to encourage unity.

“We long for each generation to connect meaningfully with God’s Word and God’s people. Our challenge is always to see what’s in the data, independent of our hopes, fears, and assumptions,” ABS wrote. “If our churches and ministries are led by older people who criticize younger people for being youthful, they’re in trouble. Different is not necessarily bad. God uses old and young alike. Even now we see many Millennials using their distinctly Millennial traits to serve the church effectively, and we anticipate similar contributions from Generation Z in the decades to come.”

Among other findings, Gen Z faces unprecedented levels of stress, but Scripture engagement aids stress management. The study gauged stress through 10 questions about the most common stress symptoms used in mental health contexts, including sleeplessness, hopelessness, loneliness, anxiety and other negative feelings. On a stress scale of 0-40, Gen Z measured the highest at 14.9, followed by Millennials at 12, Gen X at 9.5, Boomers (born from 1946-1964) at 6.6 and Elders (born from 1928-1945) at 4.4.

“The State of the Bible research shows that (Gen Z) is facing a mental health crisis, with stress, anxiety, and depression far beyond the norm,” the study reads. “This mental health crisis can be viewed as a ministry mandate for churches and Christian ministries, for individual believers and families of everyone in Gen Z, but especially for Gen Z women. What can we do to alleviate these alarming levels of stress, anxiety, and depression?”

Gen Z women reported higher incidents of depression. Across the board among all ages, women reported higher anxiety, with Gen Z women standing at 35 and nearly twice the national average.

“People who read the Bible regularly and apply it to their lives report fewer symptoms of stress, anxiety, or depression. This is true throughout the survey data, and especially among Gen Z women,” the study found. “As high as the anxiety and depression levels are for Gen Z women, they’re even higher when these women are Bible Disengaged. The stats for Scripture Engaged men and women in Generation Z show normal levels of anxiety and depression symptoms.”

Throughout the study, ABS measures Scripture engagement based on responses to 14 survey questions gauging the frequency of Bible use, its impact and centrality.

ABS researchers collaborated with the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center to survey a nationally representative group of American adults on topics related to the Bible, faith and the church. The study conducted online via telephone produced 2,598 responses from a representative sample of adults 18 and older in all 50 states and Washington D.C.

The fifth chapter of the study is available here.

This article originally appeared on Baptist Press.