November 3, 1999

Texas Baptist Forum
Serbian scapegoat
___The State Department's list of countries "of particular concern" because of religious persecution (Oct. 20) is clearly political. China is indeed a very intolerant place, but missionaries and mission volunteers go there all the time.
___Many Muslim countries that are not mentioned, on the other hand, have only the witness of those Christian heroes who take their lives in their hands every time they cross

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the borders. Saudi Arabia is one of the worst, but we need them, both militarily and for oil, so they get a pass.
___All conflicts in the Balkans have a basis in religious intolerance, but Serbia is no worse than the rest. Only our government's decision to scapegoat them for the sins of the region would cause them to be the only ones mentioned. The war in Bosnia was largely based on this. Their President Alija Izetbegovic said, "There is no room here for any philosophy but Islam." Serbs who couldn't fight fled.
___Serbia is determined to keep Islam out as much as possible. The hatred between Serbian Orthodox and Croatian Roman Catholicism is bitter. Croatia drove out or murdered more than 300,000 Serbs, basically because they were not Catholic.
___ Ruth Applin
___ Cross Plains

New associations
___Although I have no problem with non-geographically based "affinity groups," I have serious reservations about the proposal to grant such groups the same relationship to the Baptist General Convention of Texas as geographical associations have enjoyed. Here are some concerns:
___ Where might this end? There could be associations formed on such bases as form of church government, worship style, amount of cooperative giving--even a national association of "First Baptist" churches. Disenchantment, arrogance or greed could potentially drive establishment of associations.
___ Though unlikely, our state convention could eventually be governed by a majority of churches outside the state. At the least, commitment to mission causes in Texas could suffer.
___ The formation of new associations would be at the expense of weakening existing associations.
___ Churches most needing the fellowship, support and training that local associations supply would be hurt. Some churches cannot afford to jet their pastors to associational meetings 500 miles away. Though they might not be theoretically excluded from new types of associations, they would be practically excluded. Furthermore, the services and support that our convention provides them could be diminished by efforts of new associations and churches more adept at communicating needs and requests. Should our convention give full participation to associations of churches that would--by their very formation--adversely affect churches in greatest need?
___Yes, times are changing. However, in this matter, the better course is to leave things as they are.
___ Gary Dyer
___ Midland

Unconditional love
___I must admit being tired of hearing the well-worn phrase, "unconditional love." To the contrary, whether regarded in the sense of how we feel toward someone or how we act toward someone, love is "conditional."
___When a man proposes to a woman, his actions and feelings differ substantially based on which way she goes.
___When God "proposes" to us, how he feels and acts will differ dramatically based on our response, lest one drift into universalism.
___God's relationship with people is not "all or nothing." Despite pop theology, the Bible does not teach God is equally affected toward all his "friends" nor equally belligerent toward all his foes. Those who sin willfully are punished more than those who sin ignorantly.
___The only sense in which God's love is "unconditional" is "once saved, always saved." God will "own up" to being our Father regardless how badly we behave. Surely, however, we do not want to end up a disappointment to him rather than "someone he can be proud of."
___ Thomas F. Harkins Jr.
___ Fort Worth

Not surprised
___Why am I not surprised to read about a Baylor professor who is opposed to the posting of the Ten Commandments in courts of law (Oct. 27)? God's law is superior to anything man could ever hope to come up with on his own.
___Perhaps the teachers at Baylor should become acquainted with God's law and his word.
___ Russell Hale
___ Temple

Left-leaner
___It seems the Standard has too many pages now and just feels a need to fill space. The story concerning the liberal, left-leaning Morris Dees (Oct. 20) did a disservice to Texas Baptists by printing secular non-Baptist, non-church news.
___Dees has no productive occupation but does have a newsletter mailing list. The people on that list send him massive contributions so that he can travel in style. He is so controversial that he must employ a large number of armed guards for protection at all times.
___Perhaps the Standard should stop using stories released by Religion News Service.
___ Robert Louis Taylor
___ Yoakum

Appalling deceivers
___Thanks to David Packer for the "No to Wade" letter (Oct. 20). I agree wholeheartedly.
___I would also like to point out that Charles Wade has been involved with Texas Baptists Committed, whose political agenda includes efforts to remove support from the Southern Baptist Convention and encourage the formation of another convention. The election of Wade clearly indicates the Baptist General Convention of Texas has an agenda of removing support from the SBC.
___The worst thing about this selection is that Marv Knox and BGCT leadership are still trying to deceive people into believing that such selections represent all Texas Baptists. To have a political agenda is one thing, but to attempt to deceive people into believing there is no political agenda is appalling.
___ Mac Galloway
___ Houston

Sin is sin
___The Apostle Paul addresses God's anger with all manner of sins in Romans 1. He tells about folks who have changed the truth of God into a lie, how mankind has turned to the lust of unrighteousness and men burning for sex with other men and women for other women, and how God has given up on them.
___But then, in Romans 2, he says those who judge others do just as bad as those who commit sexual sins. He asks those holier-than-thous if they think they shall escape the judgment of God!
___From here, it seems that a sin is a sin is a sin. Looking at another with lust in the heart is the same as two men going for it. Men and women who have adulterous affairs, sexual abuse within a family and even thinking such thoughts are all on the "sin list."
___What is a sin anyway? Webster called it "breaking the law of God deliberately, an immoral act, wrongdoing, to do, perform, or perpetrate sinfully."
___It behooves each of us to think about the question, "What would Jesus do?" before we express anything at any time.
___God's love for mankind is awesome in spite of our sinful ways. And praise God, he knew we'd need Jesus as our Savior.
___ Dorothy Taylor
___ Lockhart

Black eye
___The letter "SBC black eye" (Sept. 29) says it like it is. When we can see the dirt in another's home while overlooking the dirt in our own home, we're not following God's word.
___Jesus Christ included all of us in his lifetime, but in bringing the Gentiles in, it didn't follow that he excluded the Jewish people. Southern Baptists stand for unity under God's plan.
___ Erline Evans
___ Lubbock

Socks hurt
___Marv Knox said his wife "could have saved scientists $$" in his Down Home article (Oct. 13), but may cost others $$.
___Medical articles say wearing socks at night can be unhealthy if they are restrictive at all. Restriction of any type can, but not necessarily will, seriously damage circulation in the legs and feet of some with circulatory problems or diabetes. Also, feet need to "breathe" after being confined to the boundaries of socks and shoes for the waking hours.
___Staying warm at night wearing socks is acceptable for many, but for some who may not realize it, it could be a health hazard.
___ Betty Jo Cook Van
___ Crockett

Calvinism kills churches?
___This letter is a response to Taylor Pendley's letter that Calvinism teaching kills churches (Oct. 27). Any teaching that focuses more on a doctrinal stance than Christ can lead to lack of fervor in a church. However, to imply that any church where Reformed Doctrine (Calvinism) is preached will die is not true to history. Only hyper-Calvinism teaches evangelistic preaching is not necessary.
___History is full of people who were reformed in their theology that preached evangelistically: William Carey, the founder of the modern missions movement; Charles Spurgeon, who could not find room for everyone in a 6,000-seat auditorium; George Whitfield and Jonathon Edwards, two men instrumental in spiritual awakening in America; and more recently John MacArthur, who has a growing church in California; and Chuck Colson, who is the primary organizer of Prison Fellowship Ministries. These men are in addition to Martin Luther, who is the most known figure in the reformation.
___There are many dead churches that preach Calvinism doctrine. There are also many dead churches that preach "Whosoever will may come" (although Calvinists preach this also).
___I am sorry to hear of the state of the churches in Wales, but don't make the defining issue the doctrine you don't accept unless church history supports your view, which in this case, it does not.
___Name withheld by request

Dees not a saint
___The article on Morris Dees (Oct. 20) was very one-sided. Mr. Dees not only fights for racial justice, he determines what that means, and many times a bigot is anyone white.
___He talks a good talk but does not do all the good that he claims. The armed camp he lives in is an indication of his own bigoted beliefs. Can you imagine the uproar if an organization doing the same work for white people had an identical armed camp?
___With his army of free lawyers, he has destroyed many people who were not racist but who could not afford to pay for legal help to defend themselves against the attacks of Dees.
___Please do an in-depth study of this man, and you may find that he is not the saint he was claimed to be.
___ Felton Martin
___ Santa Anna

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