January 5, 2000

Texas Baptist Forum
Be reconciled
___Although I temporarily live in Missouri, I am concerned about what is happening in our convention. I commend those who are proposing a reconciliation covenant (Dec. 22).
___They are correct when they say the solution is not political. Politics has caused the

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problem, but it cannot solve the problem. Personal respect and personal reconciliation brought about through prayer and Christ-like actions that bridge gaps and heal wounds are the only ways we can salvage anything out of this wreck.
___I have always supported Southern Baptist Convention causes, and I have never attended or given a dime to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship causes, but I respect my brothers and sisters in the CBF. They are just as much Southern Baptist as I am. I understand what they are doing, and I appreciate the fact they have not shut me out of their personal circle of friendship. I believe in their right to do what they are doing, although I do not, at this time, intend to join them.
___I will commit myself to a covenant of reconciliation and do everything I can to promote it when I move back to Texas.
___ Derrel Watkins
___ Kansas City

Angelic star
___Have you considered that the Star of Bethlehem (Dec. 22) was an angel, if not the angel of the Lord, and that it disappeared and reappeared and then led the wise men to (perhaps Nazareth) where the "young child" was (in a house) and came and "stood" over the place where the "young child" was?
___It certainly was not a star light years away that could move and lead anyone anywhere from that distance!
___ Larry Bartlett
___ Westland, Mich.

Sanctity photo
___I was surprised by the "Appalling photo" letter (Dec. 15). Granted, you may not want to see that picture of in-vitro surgery (Dec. 1) before breakfast, but what a powerful statement about the sanctity of life!
___We have politicians telling us that the child being operated on in that picture is not a child at all. I plan on laminating this example of a "lack of prudent judgment" and prominently posting it in my office to remind people that all human life is precious. This picture is one of the best things you've published lately, frankly, because it doesn't focus on bickering and name-calling.
___ David Earnest
___ Jacksonville, Fla.

Carroll's Landmark
___The article on shifting doctrines (Dec. 15), while correct in citing that J. Frank Norris and J.R. Graves were advocates of Landmarkism, fails to point out the greatest advocate of Landmarkism in the 19th and 20th centuries was B.H. Carroll, a "Top 10 Texas Baptist" of the century and founder of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
___His books "Ecclesia" and "Distinctive Baptist Principles" advocate the Landmark position. In these books, he declares himself a Landmarker.
___He wrote that the only type of church that could be called a New Testament church was a local/visible church. He rejected the theory of an "invisible church" as heresy. He advocated close communion and rejected alien immersion.
___When the convention began to drift away from historic Baptist principles known as Landmarkism, Carroll's followers (thousands of churches) left the convention to form groups like the American Baptist Association and the Baptist Bible Fellowship.
___According to his book "Distinctive Baptist Principles," all real Baptists reject such foolishness and will continue to do so in the next millennium.
___ Dave Smith
___ Waller

Drawing lines
___In Ephesians 5:21, the word "submit" means to voluntarily yield love and respect. We all understand this is a transitional verse applying equally to the congregational relationships that precede it and to the marital relationships that follow it. In context, verse 21 teaches mutual submission between husband and wife at a level equal to mutual submission between church members. The same teaching is then expanded in 5:22-24 to include specific instructions for wives.
___But the primary teaching of this passage (5:25-33) is aimed at the overwhelming responsibility (not privilege) of husbands. Husbands are instructed to love their wives the same way Christ loves the church. Loving the way Christ loves encompasses much, including submission.
___In John 13:1-17, Jesus demonstrated his love by washing the feet of his disciples--a clear act of submission. The greatest demonstration of his love was the Cross. It was also his clearest act of submission. So, his love for the church includes submission but goes far beyond it.
___In the same way, a husband's love for his wife should include submission but go far beyond it.
___Since the passage in question teaches both submission of wives and submission-filled love of husbands, is there still a disagreement?
___We will be more pleasing to our Lord (John 13:34) and much better witnesses to the mission field of Texas (John 13:35) when we seek common ground and encourage rather than drawing lines in the dirt.
___ Steve Washburn
___ Pflugerville

Human tradition
___"Why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?" (Matthew 15:3).
___All English versions of the Bible translate the passages involved in the present debate among Southern Baptists in keeping with a human tradition, which began with the decisions made by the Church of England scholars who published the King James Version in A.D. 1611. They functioned under 15 strict rules forbidding them to render any part of the Bible in a way that would contradict the established doctrines and practices of the Church of England.
___Their beliefs and their church structure were only a short step away from those of the Roman Catholic Church from which they had separated. Both churches teach that God has set up a structure of authorities in society. The organization of their churches shows this. The pope and the archbishop of Canterbury respectively rule over a series of ordained men with diminishing authority. They also believe God set up a hierarchy in the rest of society, including families.
___The translators of the King James Version and those following their lead in producing the more recent English versions honestly believed they were rendering correctly the passages involved in our debate. A careful study of the Holy Spirit-inspired Greek text, however, reveals they have established and maintained a human tradition. Even people who do not know Greek can see this by downloading the evidence from www.geocities.com/~retreaded/.
___ Russell Ware
___ Denton

Fight the 'enemy'
___Have all of our Baptist leaders lost sight of the fact we live in a world populated with lost people who could care less about your political position and need for power and influence? Do our church members really care about this stuff?
___Support whichever convention you wish, vote however you will regarding your interpretation of Scripture and send your money to whomever you want--but do it quietly.
___The next time you want to fight the "enemy," use your passion to win someone to Christ, increasing the kingdom of God and taking a child away from Satan, our common enemy.
___ Mike Davis
___ Longview

Delay fellowship
___I was interested in a statement by a Southern Baptists of Texas leader naming those with whom he could not fellowship: "those who do not believe the Bible is inerrant ... who believe in culture over conviction ... who believe it's all right to murder babies in the womb ... who believe it's OK to ordain women as ministers and deacons." One might add "sanctimonious Pharisees."
___Christians ignore at their own peril another call in Scripture. Luke presents Jesus as a "friend of tax collectors and sinners." John reminds us, "He who loves God should love his brother also." Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." In 50 years, I have not heard a conference or convention sermon on the Apostle Paul's words from 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."
___One question remains for us. Will those who confess, "Jesus is Lord" be required to fellowship together in heaven, even though they may disagree on various Scripture interpretations? The leader's remarks make it sound as if--even though we may be required to fellowship together in heaven --we can at least postpone it as long as possible.
___ Lavonn Brown
___ Norman, Okla.

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