July 10, 2000
Sisemore defines Bible statement
___By Marv Knox
___Editor
___FLOYDADA--"Seven words taken out of context have caused quite a stir," Anthony Sisemore noted, understating the maelstrom that has circulated around a speech he made at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting.
___Sisemore, pastor of First Baptist Church in Floydada, has been quoted widely for saying, "... the Bible is still just a book," during discussion of the Baptist Faith & Message's article on Scripture. He made the statement during debate on his motion to restore the 1963 Baptist Faith & Message's statement on Scripture.
___SBC leaders jumped on Sisemore's words as Exhibit A that so-called moderates don't believe the Bible. Baptist Press, the SBC's public relations service, wrote an article quoting pastors and theologians lambasting Sisemore's statement. Prominent pastors preached on the "just a book" theme.
___"It's been completely misinterpreted and taken out of context," Sisemore said in an interview, discussing his speech made at the annual meeting.
___"My statement, '... the Bible is still just a book,' was preceded by a statement about my beliefs about the Bible. I did not expect to create a stir. I believe the Bible is God's word."
___In his address to the convention, Sisemore stressed his faith in the Bible.
___"Without any hesitation, I believe the Bible is God's word, and I strive to obey the standards it prescribes," he said at the annual meeting. "The Bible is a book that we can trust. The Bible is a book that points toward the Truth.
___"With that being said, the Bible is still just a book. Christians are supposed to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Living Word, not a book. Jesus Christ redeems us, not a book."
___He quoted to messengers words about Jesus from the first chapter of the Gospel of John: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father but through him."
___"If Christ is the Word and the Truth, then he is the answer and the revelation," Sisemore said in Orlando. "One must see the Bible is a record of what Christ has done and will continue to do until his return.
___"I trust everyone present will understand that Christ is the revelation of God. He is not the focus of divine revelation; instead, he is the full revelation of God.
___"He is the standard by which Christians must measure everything. Brothers and sisters, today we must be careful not to elevate the written record above the one to whom it points.
___"The Bible is a record that focuses on the Word, Jesus Christ, who is God's revelation to humanity."
___Later, in an interview, Sisemore noted he did not intend for people to understand the Bible is "just" a book like other volumes are "just" books.
___"It's not to be equated with 'Tom Sawyer,' say, or 'For Whom the Bell Tolls,' which were 'just' books," Sisemore explained.
___"I said it's 'just a book' in that it's not to be worshipped. What I mean is, yes, it's God's word to us. It is God's truth. It is God's guide for us.
___"But we do not have a relationship with it. The book--the Bible--is not what redeems us. Only Christ redeems us."
___Still, Sisemore said, he wants Baptists to know he unequivocally affirms the Bible.
___"It has withstood the test of time because it has God behind it," he said.
___Words lifted out of context have very different meanings than they do in context, he said, noting the out-of-context treatment of his statement skewed its meaning.
___For example, SBC President Paige Patterson said, "All Texans are liars," Sisemore said, stressing the statement was made in jest.
___"But he said those words. They can be misconstrued if taken out of context."
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