The better we understand the issues that frame our lives, the better our chances of following Christ faithfully.For Christians, ethics begins with Jesus' simple invitation, "Follow me" (Matt. 4:19; 8:22; 9:9). This means the transformation of lives is the first business of Christian ethics. Christian ethics is not first and foremost about rules, principles, social issues or theology. While questions regarding right and wrong, good and bad, and a host of other issues are important to Christians, it remains that people are transformed whenever they encounter the living Christ and follow Him. How can we be transformed into the image of Christ? How can we help you move from interest and concern to action and involvement? The task of the Christian Life Commission is to help Christians follow faithfully and discern rightly. Christian citizenship is a response to the call of God and the example of the ministry of Jesus Christ in the world. As caring Christians, we are called to reach out to the needs of the world with talents, spiritual gifts and compassion. Seeking a ministry of Christian citizenship, the Christian Life Commission (CLC) works to provide information and leadership on a variety of issues. The Christian Life Commission speaks to and with but not for Texas Baptists on these issues. Baptists have traditionally affirmed that religious liberty (click here for a definition of religious liberty) is best promoted and preserved when church and state remain separate in the manner prescribed by the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof CLC World Hunger OfferingNo issues in Scripture command our attention more than poverty and hunger. Throughout the Bible, the people of God are called to minister to the poor in their midst. The BGCT’s Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger supports specific hunger relief and development projects through ministry partners across the globe. Each year, the staff produces and broadly distributes extensive offering resource packets highlighting current ministries. The BGCT’s Christian Life Commission offers numerous print and audio-visual resources on hunger and poverty and encourages active involvement in hunger ministry by your church and its congregation. CLC ResourcesThe BGCT’s Christian Life Commission has hundreds of titles of print and audio-visual resources dealing with specific issues. The CLC also publishes three periodicals. Therefore, the basic CLC print periodical, takes an in-depth look at issues. 60+ Adult Connection, the CLC Aging Ministry newsletter, is published twice a year and features ministries and opportunities. One of two e-communications, The Legislative Update is published by the Austin office (more frequently during legislative sessions) and provides information on legislative initiatives. The Christian Life Commission E-mail Newsletter provides short treatments focused on major issues, as well as information on CLC and related events. |