September 8, 1999
Texas Baptist Forum
The 10 most ...
___Just one question: "Who is the rocket scientist that came up with the idea for "the 10 most influential Texas Baptists of the 20th century" (Aug. 25)?
___In a day when journalism is measured by the likes of Geraldo, it is disconcerting to see the Baptist Standard promote such a gimmick as "the 10 most ..."
___This form of theatrical journalism is very unbecoming of the Standard. Throughout years of denominational controversy, the Baptist Standard has maintained a sense of truthfulness and integrity. With the continued growing division within our convention, we need to recognize not the fleeting presence of the famous or infamous, but we must search for Christians with a simple quality called integrity.
Email the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
___In the next few weeks, if you wish to discover those of "the 10 most ..." who have the virtue of integrity, just watch and see who of the still-living request that their names be removed from "the 10 most influential Texas Baptists of the 20th century."
___ Eddie Tubbs
___ Big Spring
Poll of importance
___I am appalled, embarrassed, exceedingly uncomfortable at the adolescent and insulting popularity-contest mentality in the suggested "poll of importance." Why not just list this page of "the dedicated," that we may know them all, esteem them, appreciate them, remember them--but please, not rank them!
___To intimate a select hierarchy of prominence is an elitism alien to proper Baptist integrity. National Greek fraternities on denominational campuses, applause for some soloists and not others in worship, standup "support or cheering section" groups for individuals being baptized, name-dropping from the pulpit of "favored ones" serves only to create division and set up artificial categories of "the chosen."
___Remember, it was the Wicked Old Witch who demanded to know, "Who is fairest of us all?" Snow White simply went about being fair.
___ Harriet Stovall Kelley
___ Dallas
True legend
___In response to Ken Coffee's letter (Sept. 1), I would be honored if my Uncle Charlie McLaughlin took my spot as a nominee for being one the most influential Texas Baptists of the 20th Century.
___Certainly Uncle Charlie accomplished all the things Coffee mentioned and much more for Texas Baptists.
___He was a legend, not only for his work but for his dignity and class.
___Even more, he was the most compassionate and caring individual I have ever known.
___Speaking at his graveside in Paint Rock was a tremendous honor, and I treasure the many times he told me he loved me and was proud of me.
___ David Currie
___ San Angelo
Great leaders
___With all due respect to my friends who compiled the list of 54 Texas Baptists being considered as the "most influential Texas Baptists of the 20th century," I would suggest the list suffers from the omission of such great leaders as S.P. Brooks, W.R. White, J.B. Tidwell, W.T. Conner, W.W. Barnes, L.R. Elliott, Marie Mathis, William Fleming and Earl C. Hankamer.
___ James Leo Garrett Jr.
___ Fort Worth
Goofed badly
___In my wildest imagination, I cannot understand how the name of W.R. White could have been omitted from your ballot of Texas' most influential Baptists of this century.
___A renowned Texas Baptist minister of the gospel, Dr. White also was one of Baylor University's most respected, loved presidents for many years.
___Perhaps the nominating committee is too young to be aware of the good works of this cherished Texas Baptist pioneer. I cannot think of another Texas Baptist who has made a greater impact inside Texas.
___This is my first letter to the Standard. I must say you do a fine job of keeping us informed. I enjoy reading each issue. But you badly goofed this time.
___ Dave Smith
___ Austin
Major omission
___After carefully perusing your list of nominees for the most influential Texas Baptists of the 20th century, I found myself nonplused by a major omission in the list.
___Walter Thomas Conner taught systematic theology for 39 years at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In this capacity, he influenced at least four generations of Baptist preachers and probably a lot of lay folks as well. He was the foremost theologian among us, and his legacy lives on in other Baptist theologians.
___He was a giant among Baptists in Texas and a wonderful man of God. His genius lay in being able to convey very difficult concepts in plain English.
___ Jack D. Jordan
___ Austin
Open ballot
___I decided not to send in a ballot for the top 10 influential Texas Baptists because I could not name my top 10 without including, among others, Carr Collins of Dallas, William Fleming of Fort Worth and Charles McLaughlin of Dallas.
___Collins, a layman, led in bringing Bishop College from East Texas to Dallas, was a key person in providing leadership for the Baptist Foundation during its most critical years and gave millions of dollars to our institutions.
___Fleming was chairman of trustees at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, funded the Fleming Church Loan Fund and provided funding for development of missions and seminaries in Canada. His personal devotion to evangelism was unparalleled.
___McLaughlin was the heart and visionary leader of the State Missions Commission for decades. His integrity and spirit made it possible for people to work together in ways that they could not have thought possible.
___To leave these men out and limit myself to the list you provided would be to name the top 10 out of your list, not mine.
___I wish you had simply had a ballot with no suggestions. It would not be tidy, but we might discover how wonderfully diverse the response would be and how rich is our fellowship.
___ Travis Berry
___ Plano
___Editor's note: The Baptist Standard's poll of the most influential Texas Baptists of the 20th century has drawn unprecedented response from our readers. As of press time late last week, nearly 1,000 people had responded to the survey. The results will be published Nov. 10.
Occult Baptists
___Once again, I am left speechless at the spiritual naivete of our beloved Baptist faith.
___The labyrinth (Aug. 18) is a spiritual tool for helping connect with the spirit realm. It is New Age. It is of the occult.
___I was embarrassed for the Methodists when some of them started "Zen centers" within their facilities. I prayed we would never be so clueless.
___Too late!
___ Stanley Foy
___ Mount Vernon
No offense
___After reading the letter from Ken Sander (Aug. 25), I reread the article about the use of labyrinths in meditation and worship (Aug. 18). While I do not agree that the Standard is promoting the practice simply by reporting it, I do wonder why anyone would be offended by it.
___In our church in Houston, we listen weekly to pop music ("Christian contemporary") performed by a praise team; we watch video clips from movies and television shows; we see dramatic vignettes acted by our resident drama team; and special presentations by our choir often feature dancing.
___We have a family life center, where people work out on treadmills and exercise bikes, lift weights or play basketball. Some of our young people meet weekly in accountability groups, where they pray with trusted friends and encourage one another in their spiritual walks.
___These are not activities that were common in the various Baptist churches where I have worshiped all my life. They are all new tools for reaching lost people in our community and ministering to the needs of a diverse congregation.
___It may not appeal to all, but if some of our brothers or sisters find walking a labyrinth helpful in focusing on God, why would anyone object?
___ Cathie Hanchey
___ Houston
Diversification
___As to the "Get Real" letter (Aug. 25), it is real rewarding to see the diversification in the Standard.
___When reading the Bible, we find there is nothing new under the sun. As for the "fad diets" referred to, this was Bible based, too. Keep up the good work, Standard.
___ John White
___ Lubbock
Constitution Week
___Sept. 17-23 is Constitution Week, the anniversary of the signing of this great document.
___I encourage pastors and church officials to bring this to the attention of your members.
___Please make a note to remember America in your bulletin, your church calendar, your song service and especially in your prayer time.
___This is a wonderful country. We should all ask God to "stand beside her and guide her."
___ Bessie Long
___ Weatherford
Jesus forever
___In Jesus Christ, the entire human race is already incorporated in his humanity. God the Creator and therefore Liberator and Sustainer sees his creation totally recapitulated through the person and work of Christ, graciously making it possible for all sinners to receive the gift of salvation through faith in him. Hence God in Christ is not in the business of partiality in his redemptive activity but reconciling his estranged creation to himself.
___Baptist Calvinists (Aug. 4) are a dangerous antithesis to the entire redemptive work of God in Christ Jesus. They have decided to elevate Calvin and his teachings.
___In doing so, they have abandoned Christocentricism and embraced theocentricism, making Christianity just one of the world religions with a relative central thrust. Why make Christ too human and too vulnerable?
___Remember, our best tradition is the Lord Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever. Divided allegiance to Christ Jesus will only jeopardize the Great Commission efforts.
___Baptist Christians are people of God on mission, and it is appropriate for all of us to say with one voice: "Jesus Christ forever. Yes!"
___ Charles Mwakitwile
___ Fort Worth
Two services
___Some who attend church on a regular basis indeed prefer traditional music and preaching, while others prefer contemporary music and no-fault sermonizing or teaching.
___Recently, a writer said his church has two services. What a great idea!
___It's probable that many preachers would not want to prepare or deliver two sermons. We have retired preachers in most churches who would love to preach one service. The cost would be minimal, the benefits great.
___God would most certainly be glorified and pleased that his people were not murmuring and were giving him praise and worship.
___Some preachers jealously guard their control. Churches have guest or supply preachers, and control is maintained.
___Every preacher should rejoice that all of God's people are being fed.
___Would not everyone rejoice with two services full?
___No Christian would say to his brother, "Our music or sermons are better than yours." All should rejoice that all are being fed.
___ LeRoy Clark
___ Chandler
Songs not equal
___Please permit me to say a few words on behalf of all of us who don't care to sing most praise songs.
___All songs are not created equal. Only a few achieve success, and only a few of those long-term popularity. Consider a song to be like a bird, with the wings being the music. Without adequate wings, the bird will not fly. Good words can't carry a poor tune.
___Although there are many songs in the hymnbook that aren't liked either, there are hundreds that have proved themselves to many generations, some for hundreds of years--and every generation is at one time the "younger generation."
___When people are asked to sing a song they don't like, some won't sing at all and others with little enthusiasm. That part of the service is wasted. If those who select the songs we sing in church will give us songs with appealing, memorable music along with good words, then we will be able to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord." Amen!
___ J.R. Mcalpin
___ Plano
Worship circuses
___In the controversy over music styles, little attention is paid to that which more greatly diminishes the worship experience:
___* Services held in the "family life center" while awaiting the worship center.
___* Sanctuaries that offer none, given the profusion of music and video paraphernalia crowding the podium.
___* An irreverent atmosphere, where even the offertory is an opportunity for conversation.
___* Cult-like exercises, such as "stand up and greet one another" and "let's all join hands across the aisle."
___* Sermons unchallenging-- even insulting--to the intelligence of the hearer. Is this the judgment of the speaker upon his congregation or his reaction to a "let's-get-it-over-with" audience?
___All this, in addition to music that cannot withstand the question, "Is God acceptably worshiped by the shallow and the repetitive?"
___Ours are "worship circuses" that do not lead us progressively upward.
___I have attended some two dozen Southern Baptist churches in recent years and have reluctantly concluded that I must find another denomination. In a Cartesian approach to the ideal, I discovered a class operation.
___The building says, "church." The bulletin, a top-quality document, suggests seriousness of purpose. The music, outstanding and diverse, leaves no one untouched. The atmosphere is comfortably relaxed and reverent. Prayer--of confession and of petition--is a principal theme. The sermons are authoritative, intelligent and memorable. Services--one and one-half hours long--eliminate the distraction of haste.
___This church, Presbyterian, has made meaningful once again the total experience of congregational worship.
___ John V. Rutledge
___ Allen
No power
___What is going on in the Baptist denomination is an example of having form without power. Choruses were begun in Spirit-filled worship services, where people were full of love for the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and were ready to demonstrate that love.
___Men who force those choruses on people who do not have the power of the Spirit controlling their lives are simply making their preferences the style. As for reaching the young with these songs--forget it unless they see the reality of the choruses in the lives of the adults in the church.
___The reason so many of the old songs are falling out is that they are man-centered, not Jesus-centered. For example, how many of the songs, when they reach the last verse, speak of reaching heaven and being reunited with our loved ones "who have gone on before"?
___Personally, I am more excited about coming face to face with the One I have loved for so long.
___I have yet to find more than a handful of our old hymns that are as worshipful as "Hallelujah" and "Majesty, Worship His Majesty."
___As for the repetition in the choruses, maybe some of our people should study what John says in Revelation about worship in heaven. It seems to me to be pretty much repetitious.
___I am so thankful that I am in a Baptist church that encourages worship from the heart, not just in the form of man's traditions.
___ Jo Smith
___ Milam
No Balkanization
___I was saddened to read your recent editorial regarding your disdain for private schools (Aug. 18). Your article implied heavily that parents who decide to send their children to private Christian schools are promoting a "Balkanization" of our society. Nothing could be further from the truth.
___It was even more disheartening (and perhaps misleading) to see that you were using the words of one man, Ray Moore, to promote your own agenda in this area. It seems to me there is probably a higher calling for your allotted space in this Christian publication.
___Your analogy, comparing Christian parents placing their children in private schools to the Balkan conflict, is offensive, inaccurate and reeks of "shock" journalism. Moreover, your opinions appear to dismiss the fact that there are literally thousands of Christian parents who have prayed and sought God's wisdom on the important issue of where to have their children educated. I believe Christian parents are doing the very best they can to raise their children in a way that pleases God. They are entitled to prayerfully make this decision without your condemnation or approval.
___Finally, and perhaps more importantly, the last thing Christians need in our current climate is one more editorial that fosters bickering among Christians. Surely you did not intend to create more disunity among Christian brothers.
___In future issues, I pray you will restrain yourself from creating more division among God's people.
___ Jeff Burley
___ Sherman
Schools help
___As one who has worked for over 40 years in schools and universities (both public and Baptist) to provide better opportunities for school children, I consider the recent editorial on the danger of "Balkanizing" America (Aug. 18) one of the best-reasoned and well-stated explanations of why Baptists should resist efforts to provide public support for private education through vouchers, charter schools and other more direct measures.
___We should not support efforts to undo the progress made in desegregating our schools and our society by leaving the poor, and usually minority, children in even more poorly supported public schools while those with more money and influence "escape."
___Our nation has been the envy of the world as a place where all may have the opportunity for a better life, and much of this has occurred because of the contributions made by our public school system and Christian teachers to bring a diverse population together.
___Our nation still is divided in many ways, thus diminishing the opportunities for our children and grandchildren. We need to find more ways to make us "one nation under God" instead of providing opportunities for those who still favor racial, religious and social segregation to achieve their goals.
___ Weldon Beckner
___ Waco
Help for clerks
___We live in a university town. Our churches are blessed to have many young Aggies pass through our doors.
___The following scenario occurs once in awhile:
___An unmarried female joins our church, graduates, moves, gets married (changing her name) and joins another church. Then, her membership letter comes in, showing only her married name, and we cannot locate her record.
___It would help church clerks and secretaries if, on the membership letter, this information would be given:
___* The woman's maiden name or the name under which she joined our church.
___* The date of birth, for male or female.
___* The approximate date when the individual joined our church. This particularly is helpful in the case of an older person, who has not been in our church for many years.
___Perhaps the person who designs your church's membership record cards--the ones completed when joining the church--would include this information the next time the cards are revised.
___This is not a huge problem, nor is it insurmountable. But it is something all churches run into sometimes. Correcting the problem could make life a little easier for our church secretaries and clerks.
___ Barbara Knowles
___ Bryan
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