James A. Smith Sr. 2008 Editorial Archive
January
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An emergency call to action to protect marriage
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published January 24, 2008
A
multi-year effort to allow Florida voters the opportunity to protect marriage
is in serious jeopardy of not making the 2008 November ballot unless concerned
citizens act immediately and decisively to collect an additional 22,000
petitions before Jan. 29. -
Holy Land reflections
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published January 31, 2008
We
weren't 12 spies sent in to evaluate the prospects of conquering the Promise
Land. Instead, thousands of years after only two spies, Joshua and Caleb,
brought back a good report—which was rejected by the ancient Children of
Israel—I was among nine Baptist newspaper editors who recently toured Israel
as guests of the Ministry of Tourism. February
-
Sub-standard science standards, still
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published February 7, 2008
In spite of growing concern and opposition, Florida
education leaders are on the brink of requiring an evolution-as-dogma approach
to teaching origins in public schools in the Sunshine State. Fortunately,
there's still time to change the outcome on this critical matter.
-
Fixing the sub-standard science standards
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published February 14, 2008
With only days left before the Florida Board of Education meets Feb. 19 to consider new science standards that would require public schools to adopt an evolution-as-dogma approach, members of the Board have received good advice to correct this 10-year-document both from a drafter of the standards as well as persons on the outside. For the sake of our state, and especially for the sake of our children, let’s hope and pray the Board implements this advice. -
What Paul's rebuke of Peter should teach Jimmy
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published February 21, 2008
Former president Jimmy Carter convened a large assembly of
moderate and liberal Baptists in Atlanta a few weeks ago, meeting under the
banner of a "Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant," seeking unity for social
action across racial and theological boundaries among 30 different Baptist
denominations. Ironically, President Carter's appeal to the first century
dispute between Paul and Peter as an example of why Christians today should
seek unity in spite of theological differences is actually a vivid illustration
of the theological danger ahead for this effort and why Southern Baptists
cannot be involved.
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Evolution, academic freedom and 'Expelled'
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH
Executive Editor
Published February 28, 2008
It's
too bad members of the Florida Board of Education had not seen Ben Stein's
forthcoming movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" before its Feb. 19 vote
to reject an academic freedom amendment to the state's science standards. If
the members ever do see the movie, I have to believe at least one of the four
who voted against academic freedom will wish he or she had another opportunity
to fix the standards' silence concerning permitting scientific critiques of Darwinian
evolution in the state's K-12 public schools. March
-
Oprah's 'Jesus'
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published March 6, 2008
In
America's celebrity-driven culture, perhaps the most harmful "Pied Piper" of
heresies leading millions astray is Oprah Winfrey. Her adoption of
anti-biblical doctrine is on display every day this year through her satellite
radio network channel "Oprah & Friends." It's time for Christians to "just
say no" to the big "O." -
An apology long past due
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published March 13, 2008
An
abhorrent part of Florida and American history has never been the subject of a
formal apology from the Sunshine State, but an effort is underway in the
Legislature to change that and it’s one that deserves the support of all
Floridians—especially Florida Baptists. April
-
'Red-letter' hermeneutic harms homosexuals
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published April 3, 2008
A Baptist ethics professor's column last week offers what is essentially a red-letter hermeneutic to deal with the controversial issue of homosexuality: Just look to the words of Jesus in the Gospels where He is supposedly silent on the matter and where love of neighbor is the controlling ethic for Christians. -
The ‘pro-choice’ lie
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH
Executive Editor
Published April 10, 2008
In
America’s seemingly endless debate about abortion each side seeks to frame the
debate to its advantage. Those who oppose abortion, including myself, note
human life begins at conception and is thus worthy of protection from the beginning.
These persons are “pro-life.” Those who support unlimited abortion rights shift
the debate away from the child (using the technical medical term of “fetus” in
order to de-humanize the child) and instead focus on the rights of women to
make their own decisions. For these persons, “pro-choice” is the rallying cry. -
Send a message: See ‘Expelled’
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published April 17, 2008
Large majorities of Americans continue to reject Darwinian evolution as an answer to the origin of life despite the hegemony it enjoys in the academy, popular culture, government and the news media. Americans who are concerned about the unwillingness of our societal elite to consider the flaws of evolution can send a message about our unrelenting rejection of Darwinism by seeing the new
documentary, “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.” -
Sen. King’s detestable lobbying against life
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published April 24, 2008
Killing legislation that would require women seeking abortions during the first trimester to have an ultrasound apparently has become a personal crusade for Sen. Jim King (R-Jacksonville). The former Senate president is seeking to recruit enough fellow Republicans to stop the pro-life bill offered by retiring Sen. Daniel Webster (R-Winter Garden). May
-
Being ‘pro-life’ beyond the abortion debate
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published May 1, 2008
Many
pro-abortion advocates routinely accuse those of us who are pro-life (or
“anti-choice,” in their rhetoric) of only being concerned about unborn children
and not caring about those children after they are born. The charge is
baseless.
-
When no action is good—and bad—in legislating
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published May 8, 2008
The
recently concluded 60-day Florida legislative session demonstrated the truth
that when it comes to legislating, oftentimes no action is the best result.
Unfortunately, the session also underscored the tragedy when legislators fail
to act when human life and children’s worldviews are at risk.
-
Urgency about the Florida marriage amendment
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published May 22, 2008
In a predictable although troubling 4-3 decision, the
California Supreme Court decreed on May 15 “gay marriage” is a “fundamental constitutional right,” overturning two state laws—one of which was affirmed by 61 percent of Californians in 2000.
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Gospel-free Sunday?
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published May 29, 2008
Niceness
is breaking out in South Carolina Baptist churches. I pray the rest of the
Southern Baptist Convention is not next.
June
-
An open letter for a closed case
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published June 5, 2008
Attempting to revive a closed, settled debate, an International Mission Board regional leader has resigned his position to publicly challenge certain doctrinal policies adopted by the IMB. Apart from the substance of his arguments, the fact that he remains a missionary while engaging in a political campaign shortly before the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting raises serious questions about the propriety of his efforts. -
Sexual predators in our midst
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published June 19, 2008
Just three days after the Executive Committee reported on June 10 in Indianapolis its response to the Southern Baptist Convention concerning a motion seeking creation of a database of Southern Baptist ministers guilty or accused of sexual abuse, a Baptist minister in southeast Texas was indicted on three charges of allegedly molesting two boys.
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The un-Christian, un-Baptist CBF
EDITORIAL
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published June 26, 2008
Jesus wasn’t God, and even He didn’t consider Himself to be Savior. July
-
A 'conservative' case for 'gay marriage'?
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published July 3, 2008
As Florida Baptists and others in the Sunshine State prepare for what will be a difficult battle to pass the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment this fall, one of the more ingenious arguments for “gay marriage” be proffered must be answered: that is, “gay marriage” is good for marriage—for both heterosexuals and homosexuals—and it’s good for America.
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