Christian Action Commission

Four S. Baptist Dems. vote ‘no’ on bill

Staff

WASHINGTON (BP)--Four of five Southern Baptist Democrats in the House of Representatives voted against health-care legislation approved by the chamber March 21.

Reps. Bobby Bright of Alabama, Travis Childers of Mississippi, Lincoln Davis of Tennessee and Heath Shuler of North Carolina voted “no” on a version of health-care reform passed by the Senate in December. A controversial part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, H.R. 3590, was language that the major pro-life organizations say will permit federal funding of abortion. President Obama is scheduled to sign an executive order that is aimed at appeasing pro-life concerns,… Read Full Article

Land predicts a ‘tsunami-size’ voter backlash over healthcare vote

Richard Land

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, expressed disappointment with those who passed the healthcare legislation, despite the opposition of the majority of American people.

“What a tragic day for American medicine and for our nation’s citizens. This healthcare legislation will lead to the overwhelming majority of Americans living shorter lives, and experiencing more pain and suffering before they die.

“A majority of Americans are enraged that their elected representatives would so callously disregard their expressed convictions and pass legislation a majority of the populace clearly does not want.”… Read Full Article

Substance Abuse: Methamphetamine

Rob Chambers

Much has been said in the news about the illegal drug methamphetamine (or meth) and cold and sinus medications like Sudafed containing the drug pseudoephedrine.

Meth is a highly addictive, illegal drug that has an intense stimulating effect on the brain.  Meth typically contains ingredients like Drano and ammonia nitrate (fertilizer), but the necessary ingredient for producing meth is pseudoephedrine.  Without pseudoephedrine meth cannot be made. 

In response to widespread use and problems associated with meth, Mississippi lawmakers recently passed a law that will make cold and sinus medications like Sudafed available only by a doctor’s… Read Full Article

The Bible Speaks on Alcohol

Staff -

People have been drinking fermented beverages since at least the days of Noah. The Bible states that after the flood, Noah planted a vineyard, made wine, and got drunk (Genesis 9:20-21). In New Testament times, Jesus turned water into wine at the marriage feast at Cana (John 2:1-11), and Paul admonished Timothy to “use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1 Timothy 5:23). After the introduction of distilled spirits with their much higher alcohol content (up to eight times higher than wine) in the Middle Ages, the problems caused by alcohol increased significantly. Today, alcohol… Read Full Article

Legislative Action or Inaction?

Jimmy Porter

Things are tough across the street at the Capitol.  The wants and needs of the citizens of this state are numerous, and they all come at a high price.  A few of our legislators think like our children, “money grows on trees.” Instead of asking the hard questions they prefer to budget more money and increase spending in hopes the economy will improve.

Then there are some legislators who honestly seek ways to be more creative, cost conscious, and to get a greater return on monies expended.  Even though money is tight, this session is important because there… Read Full Article

U.S. Legislative Agenda for 2010

By Richard Land and Barrett Duke - Feb 5, 2010

A year after Barack Obama was sworn in as the nation’s 44th president, many of our legislative priorities and concerns remain the same. Generally, liberals were largely unable to advance many of their principal legislative goals. Southern Baptists were instrumental in stopping many of these.

We are encouraged by the response of Southern Baptists in this past year to our calls to action. As we look at 2010, we know Southern Baptists must continue their diligent advocacy for biblical values in our nation’s public policy. Below, we describe the principal policy areas on which we will focus our… Read Full Article

MS Personhood Amendment

By Rob Chambers

Personhood Mississippi, a pro-life organization, is seeking to end abortion in Mississippi by amending the Bill of Rights section of the Constitution of the State of Mississippi. 

Their approach is a two-fold initiative consisting of a statewide petition and a statewide vote.

First, Personhood Mississippi is seeking to collect and certify 90,000 signatures from registered voters (equally divided throughout Mississippi).  They will need to gather these signatures by February 13, 2010.  Those that sign the petition agree that unborn human beings ought to have the same legal status and right-to-life as persons who are born.

Sanctity of Human Life: Resources to make Mississippi a more pro-life state

Most of us recognize that abortion, infanticide and euthanasia are wrong, but why? We hope to encourage individuals to embrace the reality that God is the Author of life, and that as His servants, we are to protect human life. According to His Word, there is no alternative. Human life is inestimably precious.

While a sanctity of human life ethic may be disparaged by the world, it is God’s view. His Word is clear: human life at all ages and stages is precious and must be protected.

While the culture in which we live appears to… Read Full Article

Harry Reid’s Christmas Gift of Health Care Reform

By Doug Carlson - Dec 22, 2009

With Christmas just days away, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has not kept quiet about his gift to the American people—sweeping health care reform. Yet tucked inside this package, many of its contents tightly concealed until last Saturday in a 383-page amendment, are unwelcome offerings like $518 billion in new taxes, nearly a half-trillion-dollar cut to Medicare, and most disturbingly, mandates for federal funding of abortion, all wrapped in strong government control that could lead to rationing of care. Thanks but no thanks, millions of Americans are saying.

The gift-giving has already begun. Late Sunday night—1:08 a.m.… Read Full Article

Former Planned Parenthood director details turn of heart

Bonnie Pritchett - Dec 14, 2009

Abby Johnson had never felt so alone. Sitting in her Planned Parenthood office and weeping, Johnson, who was raised Southern Baptist, knew God had called her to leave her job as director of the women’s health and abortion clinic and join forces with the Coalition for Life advocates just down the street in Bryan, Texas.

The call was unmistakable. But the courage to take the step of faith to leave her job with no other prospects in sight and invest herself in a movement that was diametrically opposed to the life she had lived for the past eight… Read Full Article

Fifteen Principles for Successful Health Care Reform

While the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission remains opposed to the health care bills moving through Congress, we strongly support bringing reform to the nation’s health care system. Offering a framework for acceptable reform, the ERLC has outlined “Fifteen Principles for Successful Health Care Reform.” To view those principles, please click here (62 KB PDF).

Reprinted with permission from The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

A Failure in Courage

Richard Land

Many people will remember John F. Kennedy’s wonderful little book Profiles in Courage, which tells the stories of men who stood against incredible political pressure for conscience sake. There’s a reason it‘s such a small book. Such profiles in courage are rare. In the past few days, we have seen just how rare in the United States Senate.

President Obama promised health care deliberations on C-SPAN, open for all to see. Instead, we’ve been treated to crass political deals cut in the middle of the night behind closed doors. Sen. Mary Landrieu’s (D-La.) $300 million deal, now forever… Read Full Article

Illegals and Health Care–Who Should Be Covered?

Dwayne Hastings

Several faith groups, insisting that health care is a human right, are saying access to the care is a “moral and spiritual imperative,” particularly for those who are not American citizens.

The debate over who would qualify for any government insurance coverage spiked when S.C. Congressman Joe Wilson voiced his opinion on the matter during the president’s recent address to Congress.

While the law already requires medical facilities to treat indigent patients, does the government have a moral imperative to provide insurance to everyone, including those in the country illegally?

The ERLC’s Richard Land answers… Read Full Article

The Emerging Homosexual Agenda

By Doug Carlson - Sep 22, 2009

With the nation’s eye zeroed in on health care reform, liberal lawmakers are seizing the moment to move forward another one of their top priorities: the homosexual agenda.

The first of two recent maneuvers is a direct assault on marriage. Last week, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced legislation that would overturn the Defense of Marriage Act, commonly known as DOMA, which defines marriage for federal purposes as between a man and a woman and prohibits the federal government from forcing same-sex “marriage” upon states. Under Rep. Nadler’s Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 3567), the DOMA wall—erected 13 years… Read Full Article

Speaking and living the truth in love

By Rob Chambers

While in high school my typing teacher had her students type repeatedly the following phrase: “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.” The general emphasis of this phrase is to call people to action.  It is a summons that affords people the opportunity to step forward and prove their goodness and loyalty.

Does the Bible issue a similar summons for Christians to rise up and demonstrate their goodness and loyalty?  Have Christians received the call to exemplify, speak, and preserve truth as it relates to moral issues beyond the… Read Full Article