An important December 30 religion story didn’t make the RNA list, which was compiled weeks before.  Three
American Southern Baptist missionaries were killed and a fourth wounded when a gunman attacked a Baptist
mission hospital in Jibla, Yemen.

The killing of the Southern Baptist medical missionary personnel makes the point of an article by Atlanta
Journal-Constitution religion reporter Gayle White.  In a piece written for RNA official website, White argues that
religion frequently is the most compelling story in secular media.

“Often, religion provides the ‘why’ in the equation of a story.  Faith motivates people, groups, and at times,
nations.  Religion plays a significant role in world events from war in the Middle East to tension in Northern Ireland
to terrorism in the United States,” writes White.

Religion can give impetus to acts of heroism and massive humanitarian efforts.  When there is a natural disaster
somewhere in the world, volunteers from religious groups often are among the first on the scene to offer help.
There’s no question but that religious beliefs can establish how a politician might vote.

White knows that people will continue deciding when life begins and when life should end based on their faith.
“Abortions, euthanasia, artificial contraception, in vitro fertilization – all are argued in terms of a force greater than
humankind.  People forced to make excruciating decisions – whether to end a pregnancy, whether to remove life
support – often turn to their faith.”

Consider the Christian faith of President and Mrs. Bush.  A month ago the couple sent out a million Christmas
cards.  The envelopes were postmarked from Crawford, Texas.  The front of the card depicted an oil painting of a
1938 Steinway Grand Piano in the Grand Foyer of the White House.

Nothing particularly religious about that.  But when recipients opened the card they saw a gold-embossed seal and
this biblical quotation from Psalm 100:5: “For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all
generations.”

The first amendment, which is interpreted to mean the complete separation of church and state, declares:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”  In a
country where you risk offending someone by wishing them a Merry Christmas, all of us, including the President and
First lady, can practice our faith without government interference.  That means putting Bible verses in our Christmas
cards.

Clearly, not to write about religion would be to ignore a vast part of life.  In the year awaiting us we will see
continued stories about sexual abuse among the clergy. Pornography addictions amid clergy ranks will make the
news, as will stories about the debate over homosexuality.

The question about the authority of Scripture, and how to interpret religious texts, will remain a hot topic.  Within
Christianity, many traditions disagree over how to understand the sacred texts.  Those stories will not go away.
With sabers rattling in the Middle East, Christians increasingly will weigh in on the importance of the nation of Israel,
using the Bible to prove their point.  Do a “Mark of the Beast” Internet search and you’ll see.

Those who write about religion will struggle with the meanings of the words cult, sect, fundamentalism, and
evangelism.  Will the more traditional Christians be referred to as fundamentalists or as conservative evangelicals?
Will liberal believers be called mainline or open-minded?

And what about the Christians, particularly here in the U.S., who put great stress on the importance of the Holy
Spirit in their lives?  Will they be defined as Pentecostals or Charismatics or just very religious?  Will those who
openly share their beliefs in 2003 be called born-again extremists or on-fire Christians?

Will religious writers, thinkers and columnists insist that their perspective is the only correct view?  Or will it occur
to them that occasionally they may be wrong?

At the end of this year (December 27-31) nearly 20,000 college students will once again descend upon
Champaign-Urbana for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s 20th student mission convention.  Delegates from
around the world will consider the theme “Your kingdom Come, Your Will be done.”  We would all do well to
consider that theme throughout this year.

Don Follis is an Urbana minister.  Reprinted with permission from the
Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, copyright 2003.