Most Americans Own Bibles but Won't Vote Based on Them

Study Shows Most Americans Own Bibles but Won't Vote for Obama or Romney Based on Them

American Bible Society study shows the extent - and limit - of Bible's influence.

Melissa Steffan

Nearly 8 in 10 Americans do not believe that the Bible tells them who to vote for this presidential election, according to the American Bible Society’s "State of the Bible 2012."
This year’s annual report, conducted by Barna Group, indicates that Americans’ views of the Bible’s role in politics vary largely by generation, but that Americans still perceive themselves to be relatively pious – if "not always knowledgeable" about the Bible itself.
According to the report, first released in April, 8 in 10 people surveyed said they believe the Bible is “sacred or holy.” In contrast, only 10 percent said the same about the Quran, and even fewer – 6 percent – believe the same for the Book of Mormon. In spite of this, nearly 1 in every 2 people expressed a belief that “the Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon are all different expressions of the same spiritual truths” and are in total agreement.  MORE

There is Much Diversity in the Muslim World

Muslim diversity of belief, practice evident in Pew study

Posted on Aug 28, 2012 | by Erin Roach
Read our other stories related to this topic:Good news for Muslims in their unity & diversity

WORLDVIEW: A Muslim counts the cost for following Christ

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Westerners tend to assume most Muslims are strongly committed to the Quran and to establishing Islamic republics, but that isn't accurate, Mike Edens, a professor of theology and Islamic studies, told Baptist Press concerning a Pew Research Center study of more than 38,000 Muslims in 39 countries.

"About 20 percent of any Muslim population is actually committed to Islam having the leading role in their society," said Edens, who teaches at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary after serving 26 years in the Middle East with the International Mission Board.  MORE

Ten Reasons we Have Not Reached the Unchurched

FIRST-PERSON: 10 reasons we have not reached the unchurched

Thom S. Rainer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- I am often amused when I hear myself identified as an expert in any area. If I am a perceived expert, it is because I have had the wonderful opportunity to listen to thousands of people over the past few decades. They are the experts; I am little more than an interested reporter.

Though much of this information could be regarded as dismal, my ultimate assessment is not that pessimistic. I believe in the God of miracles. If my conclusions focused on human ability and goodness, I would have little hope. But my conclusions presume the God of creation is on His throne.    MORE

Is the Pulpit Political (Colin Hansen - Gospel Coalition)

Is the Pulpit Political?

Election years turn ordinary Americans into partisan hacks. Rational, calm discussion retreats. Politicians themselves make outlandish promises. They don't just ask us to support their candidacy. They baptize their cause in sacred language. As Vice President Joe Biden, an outspoken advocate of same-sex marriage, told a group of gay activists last weekend, "You are freeing the soul of the American people."  MORE

Principles for how Christians Should Relate to Those of Other Faiths

(John Piper)

Since September 11, 2001 the question how Christians and Muslims relate to each other has been more urgent. This question is part of the larger issue of how Christians are called to live in a pluralistic world. More specifically, how shall we as American Christians think and act with regard to freedom of religion in a pluralistic context defined by the ideals of representative democracy? In particular, how shall we bear witness to the supremacy of Christ in a world where powerful cultures and religions do not share the love of freedom or the ideals of democracy?

The elders of Bethlehem Baptist Church, on August 26, 2002, endorsed the following 20 principles as Biblically faithful guidelines for Christians. We commend them, first, to the church under our care for their guidance, second, to the wider Christian community for serious consideration and benefit, and, third, to non-Christian communities for the sake of mutual understanding. Our primary aim is to help Christians commend the uniqueness and supremacy of Jesus Christ with humility and courage so that others might honor him by faith and have eternal life.

1. Whether approved or disapproved by others, we should thankfully and joyfully hold firmly to the true Biblical understanding of God and the way of salvation he has provided and the life of love and purity and justice Christ has modeled and taught. (1 Corinthians 15:2; Hebrews 3:6; 4:14; 6:18; 10:23; Revelation 2:13, 25; 3:11)
2. Both in the church and the world we should make clear and explicit the whole counsel of God revealed in his inspired word, The Bible — both the parts that non-Christians approve and the parts that they don't. We should not conceal aspects of our faith in order to avoid criticism or disapproval. (Matthew 10:27-28; Ephesians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Galatians 1:10)    (MORE)

US Gold Medalist: ....the Glory Goes to God

(Baptist Press)
LONDON (BP) -- Gabby Douglas will soon have more money than she ever dreamed.

With a vibrant smile and two gold medals to her credit at the Olympics, the 16-year-old gymnast undoubtedly will cash in with endorsement and marketing deals worth millions of dollars. At the top of her wish list? An Acura NSX.

"I want the one like Iron Man's off 'The Avengers,'" Douglas said. "That was a nice car."

The fame and fortune that Douglas instantly captured may make some things easier, but they won't remove the difficulties from her life. When she faces such struggles, she turns to Scripture.

"God has given me this awesome talent to represent Him. Glory goes up to Him, and the blessings fall down on us," Douglas said Aug. 5 in a press conference at the North Greenwich Arena.

MORE

Handling the Truth, the Use and Misuse of the Bible

(Breakpoint, by John Stonestreet)

Last week, I received a comment on YouTube challenging the assertion I made in our Sexual Brokenness series that homosexual behavior was one of the many ways we exhibit sexual brokenness.

Dennis asked, “Why do you focus on that sin and ignore the rest of Leviticus? There are laws in there against gluttony, eating pork and shrimp, and wearing cotton-poly blends.” You know what? He’s right. In the book often quoted to condemn homosexual sin, these other things are condemned also. So what do we do now?

MORE

4 Dosturbing Trends in the Contemopary Church

(Michael Horton) According to several studies, American evangelicals generally do not know what they believe and why they believe it. Consequently, most share with the wider culture a confidence in human goodness and a weak view of the need for God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ. According to these reports, most evangelicals believe that we are saved by being good and that there are many ways of salvation apart from explicit faith in Jesus Christ.
Here are a few of the disturbing trends that need to be checked and reformed in contemporary church life:

1. We are all too confident in our own words  (MORE)

Trying (and failing) to Make Sense of Postmodernim

ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) -- Once upon a time if a person sincerely believed he or she was born the wrong sex, the person would be deemed to have a psychological disorder, urged to seek psychiatric help. Not anymore.

These days if a person believes he or she was born the wrong sex, the person is encouraged to live out whatever is believed to be true. Not only that, the person is further encouraged to correct nature's mistake by undergoing radical, reconstructive surgery and hormone therapy.

This is one of the best illustrations of how postmodern thought and its subjective nature has affected America, as well as the whole of western civilization. And let me say: Postmodern philosophy is easier illustrated than it is explained.   (MORE)

Q&A: Why Pro-Lifer's Oppose the Health Care Law

Read our overview on the ruling here. Read comments on the ruling from around the nation here

WASHINGTON (BP) -- When the U.S. Supreme Court upheld President Obama's health care law, it left untouched sections of the law that have concerned members of the pro-life and religious liberty communities for months.


Although those sections often have been overshadowed by debates over the individual mandate, pro-life and religious liberty groups were raising their concerns even before the law passed Congress in 2010.

Following are questions, and answers, about their concerns:

-- Why do pro-life and religious liberty groups oppose the law?  MORE

Update on Petra: A Miracle Inside the Aurora Shooting

(Celtic Straits) At Columbine, I have seen this before. But not up close. As a church pastor in Denver, I have worked as a chaplain alongside several police and fire departments. I was privileged to counsel parents just hours after the Littleton Columbine shootings. However, in this new tragedy at the Aurora Theater Dark Night shooting, one of the victims was a 22-year-old woman from my church, Petra Anderson (pronounced Pay-tra). Petra went to the movies with two young friends who are biking across America. You and I have been inundated with news about what happened next. A joyful movie turned into bloody, unbelievable chaos. Petra was hit four times with a shot-gun blast, three shots into her arm and one bullet which entered her brain. This a bit of Petra’s miracle story.
With awesome people from our caring and pastoral team, I spent all day Friday in the ICU with Petra and her family. Her injuries were severe, and her condition was critical. A bullet had entered Petra’s face through her nose, and then traveled up through her brain until stopping at the back of her skull. The doctors prior to surgery were concerned, because so much of the brain had been traversed by the bullet. Many areas of brain function were involved. They were hoping to keep her alive long enough to get her into surgery.... (MORE)

Holiness in a Hook-up Culture

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) -- A few months ago I heard an eye-opening presentation by Dr. Joe McIlhaney, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, who came to speak to our college students at Southwestern about what he has observed over his lengthy career caring for girls and women. His conclusion?

Western culture has stopped protecting its girls.  MORE