January 6, 1999

TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
The lure of state religion and tax money
___Concerning the letter from Jon Gardner (Dec. 16), our history as Baptists teaches us the union of church and state spawns a vile legacy of corruption and persecution.
___Jesus told us, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things

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that are God's" (Mark 12:17).
___When Constantine wed the Catholic Church to the Roman Empire, he ushered in the Dark Ages. Any believer who took exception to the established church was persecuted and often martyred. After the advent of Protestantism, the Lutheran Church became the established church in Germany, and the Presbyterian Church became the state church in Scotland, and both joined the Catholics in persecuting the Baptists.
___Each American colony had an official church, and most had laws against Baptists. When Roger Williams founded Rhode Island in 1663, they could have established Baptist as the official church, but they chose to grant religious liberty. In the early days of Congress, a movement led by Patrick Henry tried to establish four official churches--Episcopal, Congregation-alist, Presbyterian and Baptist. The Baptists, led by James Madison, opposed the establishment of any state church. The measure was defeated.
___The lure of state religion and tax money is once more being dangled before us in the form of vouchers. We need to follow Jesus' teaching.
___ Carroll Johnson
___ Douglassville

Diverse founders
___It seems a common practice to posthumously convert our founding fathers to pious evangelicals. History shows this was a diverse lot with equally diverse motivations.
___Whether they had the linguistic forethought to use the phrase "separation of church and state" is not very important. It's clear in reading the religion clauses of the First Amendment that our modern paraphrase sums up their intent.
___Even if it did not, the dreadful history of the church mixing with governmental powers should remind us how crucial church-state separation is for the vitality and integrity of our faith.
___The fact Baptists, who should know better, are promoting gates in the "wall" of separation--through school vouchers and classroom prayer--is unconscionable.
___ Sam Swart
___ Houston

The 'big C'
___I never thought the "big C" --cancer--would affect me. I always thought of it as "that disease those other people get."
___I was wrong!
___It's a blessing. An opportunity to show people the strength God can give you by holding your hand. An opportunity to share the "suffering" Christ went through for us so that we might live in eternity with him. A chance to fight against something you have little control over. A chance to feel a peace that passes all understanding, knowing you're being cradled in your heavenly Father's arms as he looks down reminding you of his unconditional love for you. A chance to remind us to take joy in our trials so that we might draw nearer to him.
___Sure, people may look at you differently. Sometimes sympathy is the only emotion they can show.
___But you know you're not alone. You don't know why you were chosen to take on this task of overcoming a deadly disease, but you fight it, and you don't finish the race until you've crossed the finish line. Until you hear the doctor say: "It's come back negative. You're free from cancer."
___It's not easy along the bumpy road you follow, but if you follow the straight and narrow, somehow it just seems a whole lot smoother.
___ Meredith Simmons, age 16
___ Royal Oak, Mich.

Football & ethics
___Devotees of Texas football have heard Katy High School had to forfeit a chance to play for the state championship. The Katy Tigers informed the University Interscholastic League that one of their players was academically ineligible, and this was learned just at the last moment.
___I want to affirm the outstanding ethical standards of the Katy Independent School District. Head Coach Mike Johnston is an outstanding Christian and deacon in our church. Superintendent Leonard Merrill is a committed Christian and member of Kingsland Baptist Church.
___The vast majority of young men on the football team are as fine, wholesome, committed Christians as I have had the privilege of knowing during 41 years as a pastor.
___They are widely known as standing up to give testimony of their faith in and commitment to Jesus.
___Since this is the second time in one year Katy High School has been reprimanded by the UIL, and both times Coach Johnston took the initiative to report the errors, I want my fellow Texans to know how truly grateful I am to be in such a wonderful community and school district where, even if mistakes are made, the desire of leadership is to do the Christian thing with the spirit of Christ.
___ Charles Wisdom, pastor
___ First Baptist Church
___ Katy

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