The year 2016 was a crazy and often confusing year of social rebellion, moral deviation, political abnormality and spiritual conflict. Wow! I’m glad that one is over.
I don’t believe I need to regularly address every issue of the day, especially when the Biblical Recorder publishes so many articles and commentaries from people who are much better qualified to address contemporary matters of interest.
But when I write about cultural or spiritual subjects, I wonder what kind of attention it produces.
In the past year the Biblical Recorder’s website reported 74,103 people read the editorials I wrote. The top five, most read editorials and their posting date are:
1. “Mark Harris exposes Human Rights Campaign,” May 2
2. “Charlotte ordinance bad for everyone,” Feb. 8
3. “January 11: Evangelism in SBC,” Jan. 11
4. “Saved, but stuck,” Feb. 23
5. “Where is ‘the mission field?’” March 22
The commentary about the Human Rights Campaign was read by more than double the visitors who read the second editorial in the list. Also, the first two editorials are matters that are still on the front burner.
The so-called Human Rights Campaign is still campaigning against everything good for North Carolina, and the Charlotte City Council’s unnecessary ordinance is still causing problems for the state. Both have been used to falsely smear the state’s governor and spread “fake news.”
The other three top editorials discussed spiritual, church and denomination issues. I still sigh when I hear otherwise intelligent people describe “the mission field” as somewhere else – usually overseas. One day I hope we will wake up and see that we live in “the mission field.”
It is very interesting that the next three most read editorials of the year are:
6. “Christian civility in an election year,” Jan. 26
7. “Is civility dead?” June 13
8. “Reviving civility,” June 27
Do you see the subject of these three pieces? Civility is a very important matter.
We need to be talking about civil discourse, civil disagreement and civil engagement within the Christian community and beyond.
I would like to hear your thoughts about civility. This discussion must not die.
Thank you for your faithful support of the Biblical Recorder. The BR staff appreciates you and we appreciate our board of directors.
These 20 men and women from North Carolina Baptist churches make a great contribution to you and to history.
This year our chairman of the board is Lee Pigg, pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church in Monroe.
Our vice chairman is Nate Jones, a layman and a member of Cross Culture Church in Raleigh. Angela Brady, a member of The River Community Church in Fayetteville and wife of pastor Todd Brady, serves as our secretary. David Clary, a layman and member of Lake Norman Baptist Church in Huntersville, is the treasurer of this board. Please pray for these leaders, the entire BR board and the staff.
It is our privilege to serve you and honor our Lord. Have a very happy and godly new year.
