James A. Smith Sr. 2006 Editorial Archive
January
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Exposing the ugly truth of partial-birth abortions
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published January 12, 2006
Even while millions of Americans will once again observe this month the notorious anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion on demand in our nation, developments in the federal courts and – unexpectedly – the entertainment industry continue to expose the ugly truth that abortion is the unjust taking of human life. -
AWOL in the ‘battle to preserve the family’?
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published January 19, 2006
James Dobson has a stark warning about “gay marriage” for Christians in America: “This is the climactic moment in the battle to preserve the family, and future generations hang in the balance.” February
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The stem cell debate comes to Florida
Editorial
JAMES A SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published February 2, 2006
- A committee hearing last week in Tallahassee on a bill to provide taxpayer funds for embryonic stem cell research will fuel a growing debate in our state concerning the ethical implications of these scientific endeavors and what role the state should play in fostering such research. This is a debate in which pro-life citizens should be participating to ensure morally wise public policy is made in the Sunshine State.
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A new goal: ‘155,000 petitions in 155 days’
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published February 9, 2006
- There are plenty of understandable reasons why the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment did not receive enough valid petitions to appear on the 2006 ballot – a significantly higher number of petitions were needed than ever before, a much earlier deadline for the petitions to qualify, and another distractingly busy hurricane season.
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Florida Baptists: a ‘Macedonian model’
Editorial
JAMES A SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published February 16, 2006
- In a very personal way, Florida Baptists have seen the Cooperative Program work – and that experience galvanized churches in 2005 to the greatest level of support for CP ever.
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The Witness five years later
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published February 23, 2006
- EDITOR’S NOTE: With this issue, I mark the completion of my first five years as executive editor of Florida Baptist Witness. A great deal has changed in these short five years – the addition of new staff, a total redesign of the newspaper, and the launch and rapid expansion of our Web site (www.FloridaBaptistWitness.com), to name a few of the more notable innovations. I believe – and I hope our readers agree – that the Witness has improved both in content and appearance during this era.
March
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Senator flip-flop
Editorial
JAMES A SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published March 2, 2006
- In the matter of politics, it takes a lot to disturb me.
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State-sanctioned child abuse in Florida
Editorial
JAMES A SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published March 9, 2006
- Skye is a 15-year-old foster child being cared for by a lesbian who wishes to adopt the boy. Skye describes himself as “transgender.”
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Our inevitable conflict with the homosexual lobby
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published March 23, 2006
Any claim that the homosexual lobby seeks merely society’s tolerance has been laid bare as the lie that it is by two recent developments in which private Christian colleges and a Christian teacher at a Miami public high school have come under intense criticism for merely contending for the clear teaching of Scripture regarding the immorality of homosexuality. April
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Florida Baptist Witness before the Florida Supreme Court – and why it matters to you
Editorial
JAMES A SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published April 6, 2006
It’s not often that this newspaper becomes part of a story. May
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A Baptist heretic, Jimmy Carter and ‘A North American Baptist Covenant’
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR
Executive Editor
Published May 4, 2006
There he goes again. -
‘Children are a gift of the Lord’
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published May 11, 2006
Indeed, children are a blessing. Unfortunately, the Pslamist’s declaration (Ps. 127:3) frequently is not cherished or practiced by some parents and other adults. That’s where the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes comes in; and so do we through the annual Mother’s Day Offering. The goal for this year’s offering is $1.3 million. -
Will Sen. Nelson protect marriage?
Editorial
JAMES A SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published May 25, 2006
The United States Senate will soon vote on the Marriage Protection Amendment (MPA), which would define marriage in the U.S. Constitution as solely the union of one man and one woman. With the homosexual lobby bringing challenges across the nation to various state laws protecting the traditional definition of marriage and the adoption of same-sex “marriage” in Massachusetts, it is only a matter of time before activist federal judges require affirmation of “gay marriage.” June
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Pray for the International Mission Board
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published June 1, 2006
It has been my privilege to attend since September three meetings of the International Mission Board, including two in the Sunshine State and the most recent trustee meeting last week in Albuquerque, N.M. (For news coverage of the meeting, see pages 7-8.) At each of the meetings I have been astounded by the awesome task of this body of 88 of our Southern Baptist peers in guiding the work of the most impressive missionary force God has blessed any denomination to gather. -
Three cheers for the alcohol resolution
Editorial
JAMES A SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published June 22, 2006
Trying to decide what to editorialize about following the conclusion of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Greensboro last week is like trying to drink water out of fire hydrant. Undoubtedly, this year’s annual meeting was the most news-packed SBC in many years and included many items ripe for editorial comment. -
‘Do not grow weary in doing good’
Editorial
JAMES A SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published June 29, 2006
A few months ago I wrote an editorial, “Our inevitable conflict with the homosexual lobby” (March 13), about the unrelentingly political agenda of the “gay rights” movement and how Christians are increasingly the subject of attacks for merely being true to biblical tenets. Unfortunately, events this month related to the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment has provided vivid evidence of this truth — and why it’s even more important for those who care for God’s Word and what’s best for our society to stand firm in our defense of traditional marriage. July
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All I am saying is — give Page a chance
Editorial
JAMES A SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published July 27, 2006
Frank Page is my president. August
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A request for your assistance
Editorial
JAMES A SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published August 3, 2006
Florida Baptist Witness gives generous coverage throughout the year to the various missions causes of Southern Baptists in our state, across the nation and around the world. We are privileged to have the opportunity to tell the story of God’s work among us and in doing so we hope that our readers are better informed and motivated to make a difference for Christ. -
When an overwhelming majority is not enough
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH, SR
Executive Editor
Published August 10, 2006
Believe me, it’s not a partisan statement to say the Democrat leadership of the United States Senate is protecting abusive men who impregnate girls and their willing accomplices in the abortion industry—even when overwhelming majorities in the Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives have passed legislation to combat that abuse. Such is the reality of a political party so beholden to the abortion lobby. -
Who will stand up to the cheaters?
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published August 17, 2006
The First District Court of Appeals last week handed down a potentially devastating ruling for the gambling industry in Florida, but it may not be enough to stop the rapacious evil of Las Vegas slot machines from starting-up in Broward County this fall—unless Gov. Jeb Bush and Attorney General Charlie Crist act very soon. -
It’s our Christian duty to vote on Sept. 5
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published August 24, 2006
How many of you will sin on Sept. 5th by failing to vote? That’s the day when Floridians will go to the polls and choose candidates in each political party’s primaries for various statewide and local offices, as well as for certain non-partisan positions. Some voters choose to take advantage of the option of voting early or by absentee ballot. But, the bottom line is—by whatever means it is done, I believe Christians who fail to vote are, in fact, sinning. -
‘Smoke and mirrors’ in stem cell politics
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published August 31, 2006
Embryonic stem cell research is possible without killing the embryos which are the subjects of that research—that’s the over-hyped claims of researchers of Advanced Cell Technology of Worcester, Mass., that swept the nation last week with overwrought claims that the supposed breakthrough would end the debate about the ethics of embryonic stem cell research. September
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9/11, five years later- O Lord, send revival!
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published September 7, 2006
Do you remember the day when terrorists waged war on America on September 11, 2001? Of course; who could not remember that awful day and the days of uncertainty and, for some, fear, that filled our lives. It almost seems like it was just yesterday when our nation was plunged into a worldwide war on terrorism that continues today-and will likely continue for many years into the future. -
A haunting question
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published September 21, 2006
On March 18, 2005, when the feeding tube was removed from Terri Schiavo after years of legal wrangling prompted by her husband's desire to end her tragic life, what did Terri know? -
Love and honor your pastor
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published September 28, 2006
Why would anyone want to be a pastor? It has got to be one of the most thankless jobs around. Pastors are always on the firing line, always "on call," subject sometimes to unruly church members who are certain they know how to do the job better, generally poorly compensated and live in a fishbowl under constant scrutiny. And those are just Mondays! October
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Are evangelicals going to abstain from voting?
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published October 26, 2006
If the national news media is correct, droves of evangelical voters who are disgusted with the Mark Foley scandal and disillusioned with certain policy deficiencies of the political party in power will show their disdain by abstaining from voting in next month's general election. Indeed, there seems to be some evidence of evangelical disenchantment which may very well result in fewer evangelicals voting Nov. 7. November
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Who says we don't need a marriage amendment?
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published November 2, 2006
Any politician who wishes to seriously argue that traditional marriage is not threatened by the courts and/or that homosexual civil unions are consequentially different than "gay marriage," needs to take notice of the breathtakingly arrogant ruling of the New Jersey Supreme Court. And, by the way, we have more than a few such politicians vying for office in the Sunshine State this year. -
A shameless plug, request for help
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published November 9, 2006
On a fairly regular basis, I'm asked why Florida Baptists must pay a subscription fee to receive Florida Baptist Witness. The assumption, apparently held by some, is that anyone who wishes to receive the Witness should be able to do so without charge. Even more troubling is the notion of a few that they have a "right" to get the Witness for free. -
Religious freedom v. tolerance in the Muslim world
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published November 16, 2006
When I told family and friends I had been invited to tour the country of Jordan-strategically located in the Middle East between warn-torn Iraq and security-minded Israel-more than a few frowned on the idea. Concerns about security in the region dominated conversations about the trip, but our sponsors with the Jordan Tourism Board assured the Association of State Baptist Papers' leadership that the nation was safe and peaceful. -
Living in a 'holy tension'
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published November 23, 2006
It was one of the briefest presentations during the Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting in Fort Myers last week, but I hope that those in attendance and who read this account of Hayes Wicker's comments during the closing session Tuesday evening will take to heart his challenge. -
'The Nativity Story'
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published November 30, 2006
- "God made into flesh."
December
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A Christmas gift of eternal significance
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published December 7, 2006
As you're checking your Christmas gift list making sure that all your family and friends have been taken care of this year, please don't forget our Southern Baptist missionaries by giving generously to the annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. -
Immanuel: God thinking about us
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published December 14, 2006
When one thinks about the meaning and message of Christmas the miracle that God became man in the person of Jesus Christ must immediately come to mind. The Apostle John declared, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
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