Monthly News Roundup (06.29.23)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This episode is our monthly news roundup for June. In this episode, we’re talking about the decline in membership among Southern Baptists, fewer people believing that homosexuality is moral, and the link between alcohol and cancer.

STORY #1 – Southern Baptists Decline in Membership, Grow in Attendance, Baptisms

“For the second straight year, baptisms and giving increased among Southern Baptist congregations. In-person worship service and small group attendance also rebounded, but total membership and the number of churches slid.

“The Annual Church Profile (ACP) compiled by Lifeway Christian Resources in cooperation with Baptist state conventions paints a complicated picture for the Southern Baptist Convention but contains some positive news. In 2022, baptisms increased by more than 16%, in-person worship attendance climbed by more than 5%, small group attendance grew by 4% and giving to Southern Baptist congregations ticked up by almost 2%.

“The total membership of the Southern Baptist Convention, however, continued its downward trajectory. The current total membership of Southern Baptist congregations is 13,223,122, down from 13,680,493 in 2021. The 457,371 members lost is the largest single year numerical drop in more than 100 years. In total, Southern Baptist churches have suffered membership declines of about 3% annually the past three years.” (Lifeway Research)

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STORY #2 – Fewer Republicans and Democrats Believe Homosexuality Is Moral, Poll Finds

“In the latest sign the LGBT agenda is losing support, the number of people who view same-sex relationships as ‘morally acceptable’ tumbled last year — a sign ‘people are beginning to connect the dots’ between legalizing same-sex marriage and indoctrinating schoolchildren in the LGBT agenda, a prominent pro-family leader says.

“Overall, support for homosexual relationships fell this year by 7%, the largest decrease of any of the moral issued posed by Gallup pollsters in their annual Values and Beliefs poll, conducted each May. In 2023, 63% of Americans say they see nothing wrong with ‘gay or lesbian relations.’ Fewer Republicans and Democrats said they found homosexual relations morally neutral this year.

“‘People are beginning to connect the dots between these agendas,’ said Family Research Council President Tony Perkins on ‘Washington Watch’ Monday. ‘We were told all this is just about live and let live, just being able to marry the one you love.’ Disengaged voters ‘didn’t realize that it was going to involve the indoctrination of their children, the infiltration of every media outlet in America,’ or that “different professions will be forced to affirm these same-sex unions” or go out of business.

“Americans are ‘saying, “Enough is enough,” and they’re pushing back.’” (The Washington Stand)

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STORY #3 – Alcohol ‘Directly Causes Several Types of Cancer,’ Doctors Warn

“New research warns that alcohol consumption can be blamed for the development of multiple types of cancer.

“Moreover, the study out of Oxford University suggests that people who never drink, or just have an occasional sip, are 31 percent less likely to develop certain types of the disease.

“Alcohol has been linked to a range of tumors including those of the breast, bowel, mouth, throat and liver. Now, scientists have shown it is a lethal trigger, especially for those with specific gene mutations.

“’These findings indicate alcohol directly causes several types of cancer,’ says lead researcher Dr. Becky Im, of Oxford Population Health, in a statement. ‘These risks may be increased further in people with inherited low alcohol tolerability who cannot properly metabolize alcohol.’

“Authors say the risks were greatest in participants who drank regularly despite being more prone to the effects.” (Study Finds)

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