December 17, 2001
TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Not in charge
___Many times we have heard from liberal dissenters to the Southern Baptist Convention that conservatives are controlling people. Those who make these accusations are really the ones who feel the need to be in charge.
___One issue is inerrancy. If you don't believe in this doctrine and are only interested in doing missions, why would you care if leadership has been assumed by those who do believe in inerrancy, unless you want agencies controlled by those who agree with you?
___Or whatabout the start of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship? Why duplicate a mission-sending organization unless you want to be in charge?
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
___Then, an article specifically states that Keith Parks resigned his position with the Foreign Mission Board because he did not have as much control (Oct. 22). Later the article indicates other missionaries left foreign fields because more decision making was handed down from administration, or we should say, because they were not in charge.
___One character trait of a good liberal is to make accusations against the other side concerning those activities you yourself are involved in. Why doesn't the CBF go ahead and declare themselves a convention? Why doesn't the Baptist General Convention of Texas go ahead and sever ties with the SBC instead of the continual bickering? The leadership of these organizations still wants our money, but it sticks in their craw they are not in charge.
___ Wayne L. Miller
___ Bedford
Open theism
___Many evangelicals, including Baptists (other than Primitive), have persisted in doing evangelism as though the future were open while at the same time claiming to believe that the future is already set in stone.
___"Open theists" (Dec. 3) have seemingly grown tired of living with this paradox and have sought for a greater consistency in belief and practice in this area.
___It seems the issue, as they see it, is not about whether God is the Supreme Knower but about what is knowable.
___For example, time travel may be an interesting literary device, but it is not reality. Open theists believe that until the future happens it is just not there and is therefore not accessible by some theoretical time machine (as in "Back to the Future") or even by the mind of God.
___Certainly God knows what he himself is going to do in the future, but even some of that depends on what we human beings do in the meantime. Strict Calvinism would deprive God of the experience of being pleasantly surprised whenever one or more of us turn from our wicked ways and seek his face. A Calvinist God could only say, "Well, I knew all along that they would."
___Ultimately, of course, whether "open theism" is adopted or not should depend on how it fits with the teachings of Scripture as a whole and not upon a presumed inerrancy in John Calvin's interpretation of selected passages.
___ James O. Morse
___McGregor
Slanted views
___Your slanted journalistic views, based upon your skewering of Southwestern Seminary in an editorial (Dec. 10), overlooked a few important items:
___The fine trustees you never quote in print who might have a different perspective.
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___ Benjamin Harlan, Dean
___ School of Church Music
___ Southwestern Seminary
___ Fort Worth
Tense spirit
___I agree with your assessment of the reassignment of David Crutchley as dean of theology at Southwestern Seminary. One of my most cherished possessions is my master of divinity diploma from Southwestern, dated fall of 1989. It still hangs on my wall because it is signed by (then-President) Russell Dilday.
___I remember the great experience I had at Southwestern. But I also remember the increasing nervousness on campus, especially at the times of trustee meetings. I have returned to the campus for a few events after his firing but sensed a tense spirit that was not there during my stay.
___I, like many others, always believed that Southwestern would be my beloved alma mater. But it no longer is. I am afraid the news from there may not get much better.
___ Steve Martin
___ Slaton
Respectfully report
___I was distressed to read of your erroneous interpretation of recent events at Southwestern Seminary. Readers readily sense your anticipated delight of championing the cause of the Baptist General Convention of Texas seminaries at the expense of denouncing Southwestern.
___Can you not report such news with less of a derogatory stance? Must you amuse yourself with every slightest bit of troublesome news from the seminary? For instance, why designate Southwestern's trustees as fundamentalist rather than conservative? Could it be you prefer to conjure up prejudice on the part of your readers by using such defamatory remarks? The cause of Christ would be better served if we cease with the hostility.
___I write as a pastor whose church currently continues to support the BGCT. I have been a student at Southwestern for six years, graduating with my master's in 1998 and now working on a Ph.D.
___Your polemical editorials make it difficult to remain a part of the BGCT.
___I ask for your staff to respectfully report the facts while refraining from such belittling rhetoric toward men who seek to serve Jesus Christ. Rather, I would suggest you state your case as to why you do not believe in inerrancy rather than attacking those of us who do.
___ Scott Maze
___ Grand Prairie
Another gift
___I received my gift copy--actually two copies--of Paul Pressler's book, "A Hill on Which to Die" (Dec. 3). I really would have preferred to receive a fruitcake.
___ Jerl Watkins
___ Sweeny
The 'rock'
___Howard O. Wynne doesn't quite understand what Jesus said to Simon Peter (Dec. 10).
___Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). This confession is the "rock" on which the church would be built.
___ J.B. Sitton
___ Cisco
Subtlety & warmth
___A story in the daily newspaper told about a Baptist church producing what is likely the largest theatrical Christmas production ever held in the United States. After reading quotes from those involved, in addition to considering the sheer enormity of the production, my wife and I concluded many churches have substituted spectacle and performance over simplicity and reverence that an Advent concert truly deserves.
___Like thousands of other Baptists, we fondly remember the Christmas cantatas of December while growing up in our small-town churches. Even today, you'll find wonderful concerts featuring homemade decorations and hand-sewn costumes in churches big and small, all with joyous choirs with hearts and voices ablaze. There is no better warmth during winter.
___Subtlety and warmth should be the characteristics of a church Christmas concert, not spectacle and grandiosity.
___Besides, it's doubtful Broadway will ever truly capture the magnificent, simple poignancy of two lonely teenagers, one of them pregnant, having to find shelter in an animal stable since no hotel rooms were available.
___That our sovereign Lord Immanuel was born into the company of animals with a feeding trough for a bed is nothing short of amazing. It should leave us all speechless. Sometimes no words at all are more powerful than a four-inch-thick performance script.
___ David Sparks
___ Lewisville
Same God
___The president of Southern Seminary, Al Mohler, stated Christians and Jews do not worship the same God (Nov. 5). Mohler does not speak for all Southern Baptists, and his remarks bring shame to our organization.
___Most Southern Baptist church members worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and observant Jews worship this same God.
___Romans 11 explains the failure of most Jews to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. "I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in" (Romans 11:25).
___Jesus was born a Jew and obeyed all the ordinances his Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, gave the Jews. Jesus has not changed; the one, true God has not changed, and observant Jews have not changed.
___Christians are told we were saved to provoke the Jews to jealousy (Romans 11:11). Calling Jews godless pagans just doesn't seem like the proper way to accomplish this.
___ Jack L. Hubbard
___ Odessa
Thanks for Truth
___Thirty years ago, one of our own Southern Baptist ministers of music had a vision to reach others with the gospel. The musical ministry of Roger Breland and Truth will soon end.
___Truth has touched lives for Christ around the world and, I'm glad to say, greatly impacted mine. I would not be who I am today had it not been for this ministry and this man.
___You may be like me. Many were saved and called to ministry during a Truth concert. Perhaps you had a son or daughter who recommitted his or her life because of the message of this ministry. Maybe you are simply impressed due to the musical excellence of their program.
___Why not take the time to write a letter of appreciation to Roger Breland for his obedience to the Father, faithfulness to the task and integrity during the journey? Share how this ministry has influenced your life in Christ. The address is Truth, P.O. Box 9459, Mobile, Ala. 36691; truth@truthmusic.org.
___ Rob Davis
___ Harrison, Ark.
Christmas never did anyone harm
___When a pastor recently informed me Christmas celebration is sinful, it rang an all-too-familiar bell. His reasons were not new. And every year, some well-meaning people encourage us to scratch the Christmas holiday.
___"We don't know when Christ was born." "Ivy and mistletoe were used in worship of the Greek god Bacchus." "Mistletoe was associated with Druidical rites." "Ancient pagans decorated trees."
___Every day of our week and every planet in our solar system were named after pagan gods. Our national symbol is the filthy, cruel eagle, and many of our football teams are named after cruel animals or pagan gods. Should we refuse to acknowledge our planets and the days of the week? Should we abolish football?
___What my friend said about the date of our Lord's birth and the resemblance of Christmas to ancient pagan rites is true. But what are idols and pagan gods? The Apostle Paul said they are "nothing" and were "no gods." To abolish Christmas because of past pagan practices is whipping a dead horse.
___Christmas comes after the shortest day of the year, Dec. 2l. The days start lengthening, and the sun recommences its upward course, telling us that spring and summer are coming. Can we not feel the thrill, the flow and the triumph of this day?
___Christmas never did anybody any harm. The only objection I have to it is that there it so much time between Christmases. We need to thank God that we live to see this Christmas and pray that its wondrous lights never be extinguished.
___Doug Fincher
___San Augustine
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