March 27, 2000

Texas Baptist Forum
Death penalty
___A guard on death row asked John Grisham, "Do you think Jesus would approve of

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what we do here?" He answered, "No, I don't think that's what Jesus taught" (March 8).
___However, Jesus answered that question 2,000 years ago. He allowed both the lost thief and the saved thief beside him to physically die in accordance with man's law, even though he could have saved them physically with a single word from his lips.
___Jesus definitely approved of capital punishment for both the saved and the lost on that fateful day and once and for all of time answered that guard's question for anyone who literally believes what God's word says.
___ Dale Presley
___ Sour Lake

Wise in our eyes
___The division that plagues our state convention causes me deep pain. How can we hope to stand for the gospel and lead others to the Lord of salvation if we are so divided? What message are we sending?
___Here is a quote from the "Centennial Story of Texas Baptists": "Why should division be perpetuated by people with the same doctrine and purpose? It does harm and not good. It is not a favorable recommendation to 'them who are without' for people to magnify their differences of opinion instead of the work they ought to do."
___This statement was published in 1936. Have we become so wise in our own eyes that we have forgotten how to love each other and cooperate for the kingdom's sake?
___ Guille Seigler
___ Fort Worth

Votes already cast
___Why all the feigned uncertainty over the future of the Baptist General Convention of Texas? The votes have been cast repeatedly and the direction of the BGCT is clear--authentic Texas Baptists will not submit to Fundamentalism.
___In 1991, Texas Baptists stood with Baylor against Fundamentalism. Fundamentalists lost as Texas Baptists affirmed a new productive relationship with Baylor.
___In 1994, messengers to the BGCT honored Russell Dilday for his service after the Southern Baptist Convention Fundamentalists fired him as president of Southwestern Seminary. The SBC-style Fundamentalists predicted the end of missions giving as the majority of Texas Baptists voted to expand the definition of Cooperative Program giving. As giving has since soared, we know Texas Baptists were right; the SBC Fundamentalists were wrong.
___In 1995, a majority of Texas Baptists approved scholarship funding for Baptist students at Logsdon and Truett.
___In 1997, patient Texas Baptists affirmed all the Effectiveness/Efficiency Report, over the objections of a Fundamentalist minority.
___In 1999, Texas Baptists affirmed the historic theological positions of our faith expressed in the Baptist Faith & Message of 1963 while rejecting its SBC Fundamentalist revision.
___In our history, the Fundamentalist position has not prevailed in a single vote of our Texas convention. The SBC Fundamentalists should stop pulling away from us if they value a continued relationship with historic Texas Baptists.
___ Michael D. Morgan
___ Waco

Gone too far
___I've been involved in politics for most of my adult life and have learned to expect some mud-slinging. Jon Gardner has gone too far in accusing the BGCT of being pro-abortion (March 15). Heaven help us all!
___ Betty Westbrook
___ Plano

Beacons of hope
___At a time when our so-called leadership are acting more like children--pouting because they didn't get their way--than examples of how godly men should behave, I praise God for the Texas Baptist Men's disaster relief team.
___These men have not forgotten our main purpose is to be Jesus to the world. They show up with water purifiers, food and hope wherever there is a disaster. They are not concerned about who uses the right buzzwords, or which version of the Bible is used or which side an individual is on. They are a beacon of hope to people who are hurting.
___To the men who participate in this program: Thank you!
___By the way, when was the last time any of our "leadership" were seen doing the things Texas Baptist Men do?
___ Elizabeth Rogers
___ Grand Prairie

Splits remain
___In 1845, most Baptist churches in the South separated from those in the North. The Abolitionist influence was so strong in the American Baptist Convention that Southern applicants who owned slaves could no longer be appointed missionaries. The Southerners saw this as a unilateral changing of the rules of the missionary societies and believed they must have a separate mission board if Southern applicants were to be treated fairly.
___In recent years, we have seen the rise among Southern Baptists of alternate institutions for training ministers, publishing educational materials and carrying on missions. These have come about because some of us feel the rules under which Southern Baptist institutions operated were changed to the extent that we are no longer welcome or, in some cases, even eligible to participate.
___Inerrancy is no more an issue for many of us than slavery was for many Southern Baptists in 1845. "Taxation without representation" would be a more appropriate slogan.
___Some optimists hope once the "war" is over, we can all get back together again, like some denominations did after the Civil War. Unfortunately, history suggests that once Baptists split, they tend to stay that way.
___ James O. Morse
___ McGregor

Harvest of harm
___Texas Baptists must be terribly slow to learn or just dim-witted.
___Are you going to repeat the mistakes of SBC history and reap the harvest of its harm?
___The present escalating squabble is not about Christian principles.
___ Don Phillips
___ Fort Worth

Hurtful letters
___After giving my life to Jesus Christ in December 1999, I began reading the Baptist Standard online. I have been overwhelmed by the letters.
___I have seen more name-calling, mud-slinging and anger than I have seen and heard in public, where there are a lot of non-Christians.
___These feelings would be better off taken to the Lord instead of throwing them out. I pray people outside the Baptist faith do not read this paper. I would be ashamed to admit I am of the Baptist faith if these accusations were made any more public than they already are.
___I will no longer read these letters because of the depression I feel after reading them.
___I wonder if we would be better off doing away with the BGCT, SBC and other organizations that are supposed to be helping Baptist churches and just let each church fend for itself. We just might be able to focus more on God and less on who is right and who is wrong.
___We have all sinned and been forgiven, but God expects us to do better.
___God will forgive these people, and I pray that they are asking for forgiveness.
___ Sherry Westbrook
___ Gainesville

Excellent literature
___Many adults at First Baptist Church of Amarillo have begun using the new Baptistway Bible study literature produced by our BGCT. It is excellent material.
___The learner's book was thoughtfully co-authored by Paul Powell, Leroy Kemp and Leroy Fenton. Robby Barrett, Janet Burton and Dennis Parrott wrote the teacher helps--and they do help--in a separate teaching guidebook. Because the material is undated, churches can re-use the material from one class to another, offering an opportunity to save money on the cost of literature.
___Congratulations to the authors and to Bill Pinson, James Semple and Bernie Spooner for such a fine product covered with beautiful full-color Texas wildflower scenes. Thanks to Editor Marv Knox for writing commentaries and more teacher helps for this new literature, which I printed from the Standard's website.
___I encourage adult Bible study leadership across Texas to try this innovative Bible study literature offering from our state convention.
___ Bill Brian
___ Amarillo

Rankin: Missions at home and
abroad not an 'either/or' choice
___Southern Baptists have reflected a heart for reaching the world for Jesus Christ through faithful support of the International Mission Board and increased involvement in global missions. We have had seven consecutive years of record missionary appointments and saw a 25 percent increase in participation in overseas volunteer projects last year. We anticipate an unprecedented level of giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering this year when the reports are compiled.
___While my passion is promoting international missions, we must never forget missions begins at home. We cannot ignore the responsibility to reach our own nation with the gospel. The needs have always been overwhelming, but never before has the challenge to counter the godless social changes and declining morals of America with the claims of Jesus Christ been so great.
___ The North American Mission Board, under the leadership of Bob Reccord and his staff, is setting an exciting pace for evangelism and church planting throughout the United States and Canada. Efforts to penetrate the major urban areas of our nation, evangelize students and youth, and use Southern Baptist media effectively are proceeding at an impressive pace.
___ With almost 5,000 missionaries and channels for more than 100,000 volunteers a year, the North American Mission Board is implementing a vision to expand our Southern Baptist witness and turn our nation to the Lord. Your gifts to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering at this time of the year will provide the needed resources as we work together to do what no local church could do alone.
___ Recent changes in the Southern Baptist Convention have provided a structure for our two mission boards to work together in a God-glorifying synergy as never before. Joint efforts continue in Canada as IMB missionary personnel work under the North American board's administration and strategies.
___ Cross-cultural missionaries assist with ethnic outreach in the United States and mobilize ethnic Southern Baptists for overseas service. Staff dialogue and interaction with the IMB enhance the effectiveness of the North American Mission Board in its assigned task of missions education. Formal agreements have resulted in International World Changers projects and in the North American board enlisting volunteers for disaster response overseas.
___ As we move into the 21st century, God is giving us unprecedented opportunities to reach the uttermost ends of the earth. Southern Baptist churches are growing and reaching their Jerusalems. But we must not neglect extending our witness beyond our own communities throughout Judea and cross-culturally among those that represent the Samaria of our society.
___ Thank you for giving generously and sacrificially to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the work of the International Mission Board. Now is the time to step up to the plate and provide support for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions.
___ This is not an "either/or." As a missions people committed to the Great Commission, we have a responsibility to share the gospel at home and abroad.
___Jerry Rankin
___President, Southern Baptist International Mission Board


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