Short takes for April 5

• For the third time in two years, Southern Baptist workers have died in the midst of their work. Again, the murders were in the name of a religion desperately wanting to be known for peaceful intentions. To be fair, Muslims have also been victims of terrorism in Iraq and other places. Man-made religions can never understand that death does not intimidate Christian workers. Our future is certain and in the hands of a God who lives and reigns.

• The Missouri Baptist Convention has experienced a set-back in its efforts to reclaim five rogue agencies. The five essentially cut the convention out of their governance a couple of years ago (but still expected convention funding) and have been involved in legal disputes since then. The MBC’s cause is just but by no means certain to prevail. You can read the details of the matter elsewhere. The point we must remember here is that no remedial effort can compete with knowledgeable, ongoing supervision of institutions over which we have some governing role. That applies to our churches, our civil institutions, as well as to our denominational entities. We should not build or fund institutions that we are unwilling to hold accountable. We definitely should not fund those who are unwilling to be accountable.

• Remember that we are at war. A year after open hostilities began in Iraq, we still have troops on the ground there and in several other countries. Our interest in them and prayers for them should be constant and not just prompted by the news reports of bombings and ambushes.