March 31, 1999

Texas Baptist Forum
Upward outreach
___The Baptist Standard contained wonderful testimonies of how God has used Upward Basketball (March 17).
___Memorial Baptist Church in Baytown started an

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Upward Basketball outreach program in 1997. About 200 children en-rolled. Over 800 people attended the awards ceremony, and 25 people prayed to receive Christ.
___The program generated so much enthusiasm that we knew there would be growth. This year, enrollment grew to 750. In excess of 1,300 people attended the awards ceremony, and over 250 decisions were recorded, including 156 professions of faith.
___The focus of Upward Basketball is to reach children and their families with the gospel of Jesus. As a result, the Lord is using it as a tool to help us tell Baytown that Jesus saves.
___ Mike Tignor
___ Baytown

Women & silence
___Shall women keep silent in church?
___The Apostle Paul specified, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent" (1 Timothy 2:12). Some say Paul, bowing to pressure from a male-dominated culture, addressed a particular circumstance in the church.
___But from abiding in Christ, Paul knew the Lord's intention. Paul gives theology, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). All believers are made worthy and righteous, free and equal.
___God gives gifts as he wills to women and men. Would the Lord want women to be kept from using their gifts in his service? His Great Commis-sion authorizes all believers to "go and make disciples."
___God's call transcends gender and race. What counts is a new creation, filled to overflowing with the love of Christ, the grace of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit.
___Shall women keep silent in the church or speak? Yes; both. Men and women called by God to speak in church must do so. Men and women not called to do so shall keep silent.
___ Nancy Hyle
___ Lago Vista

Ballgame prayer
___I have been upset to find out the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals will not allow a student to lead a prayer over the intercom at high school football games. It has been a long tradition, and now is not the time to stop.
___God has given so many teens the ability to excel on the football field, play an instrument in the band, be cheerleaders, be in the drill team and many other areas of the game, yet we aren't allowed to thank our Lord for giving us those talents.
___What is happening here? "One nation under God" is in our Pledge of Allegiance, but we can't pray at football games.
___No one should be able to take away our constitutional right to pray. I have started some petitions around my town, and I hope others will do the same. I hope I will gain support of the state, but most of all your thoughts and prayers.
___ Bradley Edge
___ High school junior
___ Sulphur Springs

Obey the law
___I am astounded that Shelby Bulla, a pastor, would advocate that Baptist youth commit illegal acts of civil disobedience "no matter what the consequences" in response to recent court decisions regarding school prayer (March 17).
___He stated that the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the name of Jesus could not be mentioned at school functions. I believe the actual ruling disallows all prayer over loudspeakers that have been paid for by taxpayers of different religions, atheists and agnostics. It does not single out Christianity.
___1 Peter 2:13-15 tells us we are to submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake.
___The Bible also tells us that the leaders of every country have been placed by God. Our job is to pray for these leaders. I believe the Bible, and I would encourage Bulla and all who hold his position--that it is right for Christians to commit illegal acts--to reconsider the consequences of such beliefs.
___ Kay Silkenson
___ Elgin

Acceptable sins
___I recently read an article by Mark Coppenger, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, whereby he defended his preaching against divorce. I have no problem with preaching against divorce. I do have a problem with him having acceptable and unacceptable sins.
___Drinking, dancing and divorce have been unacceptable. He adds abortion, homosexuality, failure to believe in inerrancy of the Bible and women in the ministry as unacceptable. What about Adam's (and all humanity's) sin of disobedience and rebellion? We're all lost and hell-bound. Could it be worse?
___Jesus said, "Whoever looks at a woman with lust in his heart has sinned." We speed, become angry at drivers, we're envious, jealous, proud and critical. In 1 Corinthians 5:11, the Apostle Paul grouped all of these sins together.
___We hear sermons on acceptable sins, and we along with our preachers joke, laugh and make light of them. We hear sermons on unacceptable sins and say that we need to take a stand for God.
___Christ spent considerable time with the pharisaic hypocrites and then wrote them off. I wonder where we stand? Go ahead and preach against divorce, but preach more about the sin of simple disobedience and rebellion and the fact that those alone send us to hell. Thank God, he gave us a way to miss it by accepting Christ. Vernon McGee said, "Christ did not come to reform us; he came to save us."
___ Clark Andrews
___ Hereford

Who's kind?
___In his message to the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Paige Patterson expressed concern with those "who are often unkind, uncharitable, and un-Christlike in how they express the gospel and how they establish the mandate of God" (March 17).
___Those are strange words coming from our convention's most ardent practitioner of character assassination by the written and spoken word.
___ Leonard Denney
___ Richardson

Worldly worship
___After Jesus Christ, who bears the focal point in the gathering of people in the church?
___It is not a pastor, music director, youth leader or some outstanding figure. The focal point, according to Jesus, is the assembly of people meeting for divine worship. The people should not come to be entertained with loud music or fine oratorical speaking or a drama. They should come in reverential fear of God, recognizing Jesus Christ, through direction of the Holy Spirit, to study and be enlightened in God's word.
___Doing away with what is called the traditional worship because it is claimed to be boring is just another way of bringing worldliness into the church.
___Leaders who change clothes between the traditional service and the casual contemporary service into worldly clothes to impress those attending present a bad example and mislead. Dress is a matter in worship. "Dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with expensive clothes" (1 Timothy 2:9).
___Romans 12:2 speaks to all people, "And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Only time will tell if people attending the casual type of service churches are presenting today are accepting Jesus the Savior and are truly being converted.
___ Earl Dobbs
___ DeSoto

Glad to help
___One year ago, I went through prostate cancer surgery and "coerced termination." The outpouring of ministry through visits, calls and cards from Baptists of all walks of life was overwhelming. I am grateful for such expressions of God's love and would be privileged to minister to anyone going through either experience.
___ Jimmy Towers
___ Killeen

Faith healers
___It is sad the way faith healers are branded as neglectors. Everyone is sure to condemn us when God decides to take one of our people home. Yet where are the stone throwers when God performs a miracle? How many can say they have walked out of the hospital with the doctors shaking their heads ready to pronounce you dead within hours, only to have the same doctors astonished when you pull a full recovery?
___How can people who are supposed to be serving the same God continually down him? I have learned never to question God, because when it comes down to it, you are still the child, and he is still the Father.
___ Jamie Gardner
___ Pine Bluff, Ark.

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