The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-07/13/2015 DISCLAIMER: Baptist Press should be credited for any reprinted stories that originate with BP. Suggested credit line: Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. Please note that Baptist Press periodically carries stories from other sources by permission. Individuals interested in reprinting non-BP stories should contact the entity where the story originated to seek reprint permission. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Colombia approves 1st death by euthanasia by Katlyn Babyak/WORLD News Service Date: July 13, 2015 - Monday ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BP) -- Colombian officials have approved the country's first legal death by euthanasia. After a week-long legal battle, 79-year-old Ovidio Gonzalez exercised his "right to die" at a medical clinic on Friday (July 10), ending his battle with terminal throat cancer. Colombia became the first Latin American country and one of several countries worldwide to legalize assisted suicide in 1997. But the government delayed approving regulations until April, and no legal procedures were performed until now. Sergio Litewka, director of the Pan American Bioethics Initiative, was surprised by and wary of the enforcement of the law. "It's a slippery slope," he told WORLD News Service (WNS), pointing to Switzerland's Dignitas Clinic, where foreigners come to pay for death. Switzerland has some of the most liberal assisted suicide laws in the world.  One of Colombia's new regulations requires hospitals to form medical committees that evaluate requests for euthanasia and advise patients and their families. Once a committee approves a request, it must be carried out by the patient's hospital or a referral hospital within 15 days. Now that regulations are in place, pro-life Colombian doctors fear they may be forced to administer euthanasia. Surgeon Jorge Merchán-Price, founder of a pro-life doctors organization, argued doctors should not be forced to perform euthanasia against their will: "It isn't necessary to abusively force third parties to kill." In arguing against euthanasia, Merchán-Price suggested patients could effectively commit suicide by rejecting treatment. "It's safe, it's efficient, it's painless, and in genuinely terminal conditions and with careful sedation, the process will only last a few days," he wrote. Litewka was surprised the mostly Catholic country legalized euthanasia before abortion, which is only allowed in special circumstances.  "Abortion is inside, you don't see … a person," he told WNS. "But when you are sitting in front of a person who has a life, who has a story … things are different."  Critics say the government should better enforce palliative care, specialized treatment to improve quality of life for patients with serious illnesses. Colombia's Catholic Church calls euthanasia immoral and has threatened to close its hospitals if they are forced to administer the procedure. The moral issue of suicide has been hotly debated around the world. The award-winning 2004 Spanish movie "The Sea Inside" portrayed quadriplegic Ramon Sampedro's real-life struggle for the right to end his life. A Catholic priest, also a quadriplegic, tried unsuccessfully to dissuade him. In the movie, the priest tells Sampedro we don't own or control life, but it is given to us by God. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: See you in St. Louis -- June 14-15 SBC16 by Ronnie Floyd Date: July 13, 2015 - Monday EDITOR'S NOTE: Ronnie Floyd is president of the Southern Baptist Convention and senior pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas. SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) -- Coming off our largest convention meeting since 2012 in New Orleans, our Southern Baptist family begins to dream and cast the vision for our next gathering in 2016 in St. Louis. More importantly than the size of our gathering in Columbus this year, our great and mighty God met with us powerfully. Save the date: June 14-15, 2016. Will I see you in St. Louis on June 14-15, 2016, for our Southern Baptist Convention? Please mark your calendar now for this upcoming and dynamic experience with our Southern Baptist family. Make these dates non-negotiable and decide now to be in St. Louis for our 2016 Southern Baptist Convention and bring people with you. See the vision: Get St. Louis on your heart Metropolitan St. Louis needs the saving message of Jesus Christ. Our nearly 2,000 Southern Baptist churches in Missouri need the encouragement of our greater Southern Baptist family. Why should we see the vision of metro St. Louis? -- 2.73 million people live in metro St. Louis -- 1 out of 7 Missourians live in metro St. Louis -- 50.9 percent of the population is unaffiliated with any religious body -- Only 17.9 percent of the population of metro St. Louis is affiliated with an evangelical church -- St. Louis is one of our SEND Cities. Watch this video to learn more. Southern Baptists, how do we not go and make a difference in metro St. Louis? You see, when we speak of metro St. Louis, we are also talking about East St. Louis, Ill. Two states will be impacted by our gathering next year. How can your church participate in Crossover St. Louis a few days ahead of our convention? They will be able to assist new church plants or help established churches. This leads up to the major Crossover event on Saturday, June 11. Then, your church members can stay and attend our convention on June 14-15. Please strongly consider this. Stand together with us to reach the world When you fly or drive into St. Louis, you will notice the Gateway Arch as you enter the city. It stands 630 feet tall and 630 feet wide. This remarkable structure has been known as America's gateway to the West, with St. Louis the Gateway City. In 2016, Southern Baptists need to converge on this city from all over the world and see it as our gateway to reach the world for Jesus Christ. Stand with us! 7 reasons to come to St. Louis on June 14-15, 2016 1. We need to be with our family, our Southern Baptist family. 2. We need to be inspired to believe again that God can awaken America spiritually and the world can be reached for Christ. 3. We need to hear the Word of God proclaimed, pray and worship together by the thousands, and have our spiritual lives set on fire again. 4. We need to hear the wonderful testimonies and reports about what God is doing across America and the world through our work together. 5. We need to hear how our churches' financial investment in the Cooperative Program and mission offerings is being used to share the Gospel. 6. We need to be encouraged to know that when we are together and working together there is hope in America and this world. 7. We need to join together by the thousands as we pray for our nation at this critical time, calling out to God to revive His church and awaken America so we can reach the world for Christ. Now is the time for Southern Baptists to lead. Let these words encourage your life today as you lead others into the future: "An awakening can bring about the evangelization of the world in our generation" -- Billy Graham. "The one who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history" -- Andrew Murray. God is not finished with Southern Baptists, America or the world. -------------------------------------------------------------------- LifeWay Research, Billy Graham center to release study by Staff/LifeWay Christian Research Date: July 13, 2015 - Monday NASHVILLE (BP) -- LifeWay Research and The Billy Graham Center for Evangelism at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., have partnered to "facilitate the advancement of biblically faithful evangelism." Ed Stetzer, executive director of Nashville-based LifeWay Research, will serve as senior fellow for the evangelism center. During the year-long partnership, Stetzer will consult and lead the center's Wheaton-based staff and oversee a national survey about the state of evangelism in America. The findings of this research project are slated for release at a 2016 multidenominational conference jointly hosted by the BGCE and LifeWay Research. The BGCE, which opened in 1980, trains and provides resources for church and lay leaders to develop and mobilize Christians to share their faith and develop a lifestyle of evangelism. Rick Richardson, professor of evangelism and leadership at Wheaton College, will work with Stetzer and LifeWay Research staff to develop the collaborative study which will examine the unchurched and churches most effectively reaching them. "I look forward to working with Wheaton, the BGCE, and the multidenominational alliance we will form to put a greater focus on evangelism in the United States and around the world," Stetzer said. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Backyards come alive akin to the church in Acts by Charissa Fee Date: July 13, 2015 - Monday PICKERINGTON, Ohio (BP) -- I'm proud to say that I grew up in a church that did Vacation Bible School and did it BIG! We started rehearsing for the VBS drama right after Easter and decorating began before school even let out for summer break. Every wing of the church building was transformed in rain forests, mountain peaks, outer space or whatever other extreme theme for which we had been collecting decorations the previous 11 months. Members took vacation time to lead the morning Bible story and mission moments in Bible-times costume. I've created every possible structure out of Popsicle sticks and Elmer's glue and witnessed even the most reserved deacons bust out with their rhythmically challenged Baptist "motions" to the Gospel ABC's put to music. So, yeah, I'm a VBS expert, a junkie, a pro. As far as I always knew, that was the only way to do it. In the last several years, our church, Violet Baptist Church in Pickerington, Ohio, has been on this kick to "build bridges to our community." I was all for it when it meant opening the doors for Upward Sports, inviting community members to free car washes and movie nights on our campus. We built the bridge and welcomed anyone who would dare cross it. Then someone suggested the backyard Bible club model during our summer VBS. What? Why mess with a good thing? We are getting people into our building, why change that? This year, as a stay-at-home mother to preschoolers, in a moment of desperation to plan summer activities and have adult interaction, I agreed to assist my life group in hosting a "Journey Off the Map" backyard Bible club in a neighborhood. The week before our kickoff, our life group met and broke into family teams to canvas the neighborhood in which we would be hosting a backyard Bible club. We handed out flyers to any families out playing and prayed for the children and families that we would interact with in the coming week. My heart began to soften when my almost 5-year-old stopped on the sidewalk and proclaimed, "Dear Jesus, help us tell these people You love them!" However, the night before our kickoff, anxiety and doubt took over. I worried that we were going to put on a fun event just for our kids. After all, I would never take my kids to a neighbor's house, right? What if it rained all week? We didn't want all those unknown children inside the house, did we? This was not the way to do VBS. We had no decorations and only four adults committed to help. Somehow, I was promoted from "assistant crowd controller" to "recreation leader" just before our first day. But when rec time began, it all fell into place. God had equipped me for this moment! I have play dates with my kids and their friends all the time, this was no different! I didn't have fancy-themed decorations or expensive equipment. Just a jump rope and a couple of beach balls did the trick! The neighbors on either side of our host home brought over their children and stayed to help. A mother from two doors down pushing a stroller brought her older daughter over and dropped her off with a quick wave. By the second morning, we had 12 kids and half were from unchurched families living within steps of our host's home! I value the camaraderie and synergy from large church events and it's a joy to serve alongside my entire church family, but the backyard Bible club experience was a true blessing! The simplicity of backyard Bible clubs -- just opening up our homes, foregoing production quality and fringe trinkets and really focusing on building relationships and connecting to families -- feels so much more like the church in Acts. I've had meaningful conversations with the neighboring sheik professor about the wisdom and intellect that makes man different from animals and found mutual friends with another set of parents that never would have happened because they never would have driven their kids to our church building. It's not perfect, as very few ministry opportunities are. I felt slightly disconnected from the rest of our church body during the week, but we got to celebrate together on Sunday and share pictures and videos from the other backyards. One of our host homes didn't have kids register, so a willing host didn't get the chance. In those cases, we've learned it's best for a host without young children to partner with a family or two with kids to provide a core group of participants and let them bring their neighborhood friends. I was exciting to see how God used the seeds planted during the week. I heard kids begging their parents to come to our building on Sunday so they could on the platform the songs they had been practicing in the driveway. I've seen neighbors meet each other for the first time and make connections through their kids. I've even seen a few curious onlookers observing the pop-up tent and yard signs trying to determine if it's a garage sale or a carnival as they slowly drive by! And as an unexpected bonus, I've seen a seasoned VBS pro learn that there might just be more than one way to "tell these people you love them!" -------------------------------------------------------------------- Ten Commandments ruling may threaten other states by Staff Date: July 13, 2015 - Monday OKLAHOMA CITY (BP) -- If allowed to stand, an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling banning a privately-funded Ten Commandments display on the state capitol grounds could lead to the removal of similar displays across America, a free speech advocacy group has argued. Despite the Oklahoma high court's ruling, Gov. Mary Fallin said a six-foot, granite Ten Commandments monument will remain at the capitol while Attorney General Scott Pruitt files an appeal and state legislators consider a measure to let Oklahoma residents vote on striking an amendment from the state constitution cited by justices as rationale for ordering the commandments removed. The American Center for Law and Justice warned in a news release that at least 36 other states have adopted similar constitutional amendments and could be liable to lawsuits challenging their Ten Commandments' displays. "The Oklahoma Court's decision could (and likely will) be used as persuasive authority to essentially circumvent the United States Supreme Court's hard-fought First Amendment decisions," a July 9 ACLJ statement said. "In other words, the Oklahoma Supreme Court's novel interpretation" of the amendment "could jeopardize the display of privately donated monuments with religious text or symbols across the county even where the United States Supreme Court's First Amendment jurisprudence has allowed such displays." The Oklahoma amendment in question states, "No public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion, or for the use, benefit, or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary, or sectarian institution as such." The court ruled the Ten Commandments display violates the ban of public money or land being used to benefit a religion. Anthony Jordan, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, released a statement defending the display following the Supreme Court's ruling. "The 10 Commandments are foundational to our laws and legal system in America," Jordan said. "Look at the United States Supreme Court building and you see a depiction of Moses holding the 10 Commandments. We recognize that these Commandments are important legally, historically, and spiritually, not only to Christians, but a vast majority of faith groups as well. So we strongly favor the public display of the 10 Commandments in Oklahoma and across this great land." Fallin, a Republican, said in justifying her decision to let the monument remain for now, "Oklahoma is a state where we respect the rule of law, and we will not ignore the state courts or their decisions. However, we are also a state with three co-equal branches of government." While the executive branch appeals the ruling, the legislative branch will work to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot possibly before the November 2016 elections, the Tulsa World reported. Fallin noted the monument "is a privately funded tribute to historical events, not a taxpayer funded endorsement of any religion, as some have alleged." The Oklahoma Supreme Court said its June 30 ruling was made "with no regard to federal jurisprudence" regarding the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, which states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Pruitt, the Oklahoma attorney general, told the Tulsa World he believes the Ten Commandments monument is protected under the federal constitution. In the past decade, the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed some Ten Commandments displays on government property while prohibiting others. In separate 2005 rulings, for example, the court permitted a six-foot Ten Commandments monument at the Texas capitol but ruled framed copies of the Ten Commandments at two Kentucky courthouses were unconstitutional. In 2003, Roy Moore, chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, was removed from office after refusing to comply with a federal judge's order to remove a Ten Commandments display from the Alabama Judicial Building. He was elected chief justice for a second time in 2012. A 1997 Southern Baptist Convention resolution "declare[d] that the public display, including display in government offices and courthouses, of the Ten Commandments should be permitted." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Baptist concerns greet order against bakers by Tom Strode Date: July 13, 2015 - Monday WASHINGTON (BP) -- A penalty of $135,000 and a gag order against Oregon bakers who declined to provide a cake for a same-sex ceremony have evoked protests and concerns from Southern Baptist leaders. Brad Avakian, commissioner of Oregon's Bureau of Labor and Industries, issued an order July 2 against Aaron and Melissa Klein. His order affirmed a proposed payment for damages to a lesbian couple and required the Kleins to refrain from providing notice they will not bake a cake for a same-sex wedding. The Kleins' next step would be the state Court of Appeals. SBC President Ronnie Floyd called Avakian's actions "not only unprecedented, but alarming." "This is a threat to every person's freedom in this nation, including our most precious freedom, religious freedom," Floyd told Baptist Press in written comments. "The people of America need to wake up and see this for what it is: an assault on the free exercise of religion, which is a violation of the Constitution." Russell Moore, president of the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said in a statement for BP, "Let's be clear: this family is being threatened with financial ruin not because they were impeding anyone else's freedom, but simply because they could not in good conscience participate in something they believe would be morally wrong for them to do. Such bullying is neither right nor American." Randy Adams, executive director of the Northwest Baptist Convention, said the order raises two significant issues: (1) What kind of protection will religious freedom receive? (2) "[H]ow will pastors shepherd their people through such matters?" "The severity of the action taken against the Kleins demonstrates that Jesus' admonition to the Twelve that they be 'shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves' (Matt. 10:16) still applies," Adams told BP in a written statement. The order against the Kleins is another in a growing number of rulings against wedding service providers who conscientiously object to participating in same-sex ceremonies. The number of vendors whose religious freedom is threatened is sure to increase in the wake of the Supreme Court's June 26 opinion legalizing gay marriage throughout the country. Before the high court's decision, bakers, florists, photographers and other professionals in states where same-sex marriage already was legal had been especially vulnerable to efforts to force them to contradict their belief that marriage is only between a man and a woman. Aaron Klein -- co-owner with his wife of Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Gresham, Ore. -- declined in January 2013 a request by Laurel Bowman for a cake for her ceremony with Rachel Cryer based on his Christian convictions. The Kleins were willing to serve homosexuals but believed their faith prevents them from baking a cake for a same-sex ceremony. Bowman and Cryer had a commitment ceremony in 2013 and a wedding in 2014 after a federal judge struck down Oregon's ban on same-sex marriage. After a public backlash, the Kleins -- who have five children -- closed their bakery and moved their business to their home. In his order, Avakian rejected the Kleins' contention their refusal to bake a cake for a same-sex marriage is not based on discrimination against homosexuals. There is "no distinction between the two," he wrote. "This case is not about a wedding cake or a marriage," Avakian said. "It is about a business's refusal to serve someone because of their sexual orientation." As part of his order, Avakian prohibited the Kleins from "publishing, circulating, issuing or displaying ... any communication, notice, advertisement or sign" that effectively indicates they will not provide services to a person based on his or her sexual orientation. That gag order "effectively strips us of all our first amendment rights," the Kleins said in a July 2 post on the Sweetcakes by Melissa Facebook page. "According to the state of Oregon we neither have freedom of religion or freedom of speech. We will NOT give up this fight, and we will NOT be silenced. We stand for God's truth, God's word and freedom for ALL americans. We are here to obey God not man, and we will not conform to this world. If we were to lose everything it would be totally worth it for our Lord who gave his one and only son, Jesus, for us! God will win this fight!" Their lawyer, Anna Harmon, said in a written statement Avakian's order "has made this case about an overpowered elected official using his position to root out thought and speech with which he personally disagrees," The Portland Oregonian reported. The Kleins have 60 days to petition the state Court of Appeals to review Avakian's order, according to The Oregonian. In a July 11 Facebook post, the Kleins quoted Jesus' words in Matt. 5:11: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." Adams said the Kleins' case raises such questions as: "[W]hat does the U.S. Constitution mean when it states that the government cannot prohibit 'the free exercise' of religion? Will the courts protect the rights of people to exercise their religion in the marketplace, or is religious expression only protected in the church house and one's private life? How will public accommodation laws, tax and other laws, be balanced against the freedom to exercise one's religion? These will be decided by the Supreme Court, I suspect." Another issue is pastoral guidance of Christians, Adams said. "Religious expression often collides with governmental and marketplace concerns," he said. "This is nothing new. Leading the church to live holy and love her neighbors, even when those neighbors despise the church, has been a pastoral responsibility since New Testament times." The Northwest Baptist Convention consists of Southern Baptist churches in Oregon, Washington and part of Idaho. An administrative law judge ruled in January the Kleins violated an Oregon law that protects civil rights based on sexual orientation. In April, the judge, Alan McCullough, proposed damages of $135,000. Avakian's July 2 order finalized the compensation to the lesbian couple for "emotional, mental and physical suffering." He divided the damages between the two women in the following way: $75,000 for Rachel Bowman-Cryer and $60,000 for Laurel Bowman-Cryer. He also ordered the Kleins to "cease and desist from denying the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges" of their business to any person on account of his or her sexual orientation.