February 12, 2001
TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Political debate
___It amazes me that the Baptist General Convention of Texas has the time and space to continually critique Southern Baptist Convention actions--particularly the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, which we defunded--as if all our own business was well-run and flawless.
___The "ethics" half of the mission of Richard Land (president of the Ethics & ReligiousLiberty Commission) requires him to comment about people and matters in government that affect denominational positions. In my opinion, he was doing what he is paid to do (Jan. 22).
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
___Further, I suspect the vast majority of Southern Baptists, who were knowledgeable, were disgusted at the vilification of Sen. John Ashcroft by his oponents.
___When Phil Strickland (director of the BGCT Christian Life Commission) speaks in opposition to Sen. Ashcroft, we Texas Baptists know he speaks only for himself, as he stated. We also know, as he does, that the non-Baptist public sees his opposition to Sen. Ashcroft as the director of the Christian Life Commission and/or a prominent BGCT spokesman.
___ J.I. Ginnings
___ Wichita Falls
Church & state
___The First Amendment, it appears, is being assailed from two directions--proposed co-mingling of "faith-based charities" with federal welfare programs and proposed issuing of vouchers (disguised as "scholarships") for students attending church schools.
___As Derek Davis, director of the Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies at Baylor University, observes: "With all this talk of harnessing religious power for the government, the risk is that we will harness religion to government."
___Wherever government money goes, it regulates. When it invades faith-based benevolence, it will bring along its regulations, and voluntarism is lost. Church and state agenda do not mix well. The authors of our Bill of Rights learned that the hard way, for they had just fled the state churches and church states of Europe.
___School vouchers/scholarships would bring government criteria upon private and church schools, rules telling what to teach and how to teach it. At the same time, it will kill some already starved public school districts by shifting funds away from them.
___If the new administration's proposed reduction of taxes is enacted, and if donors continue to receive tax breaks, it will free resources for voluntary agencies to provide relief to the poor, uninhibited by federal interference.
___It is possible that encroachment by the administration into faith-based charities and church schools cannot withstand constitutional challenge. Let us hope that church and state will be kept separate.
___ Val F. Borum
___ Fort Worth
Obvious wisdom
___A Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary student's letter (Jan. 29) serves to emphasize the obvious wisdom of the BGCT in its decision to initiate funding changes with regard to SBC seminaries.
___The letter, titled "Just leave," is a glaring example of the kind of egocentric and jaundiced mentality that is becoming increasingly more apparent among those being "trained" for ministry under the educational philosophy that currently prevails in SBC seminaries. This young man sounds more like a mercenary than a minister and he's yet to get out of the gate!
___Why would Texas Baptists (or any other Baptists in their right minds) want to supply an army that's being trained to conquer, divide and disenfranchise them?
___ Scott Shaver
___ Natchitoches, La.
Tenacious love
___Accusation followed accusation. The defendants? Absent pastors and churches. The split was accomplished with few questions and little opposition.
___But wait, there was a whisper. One 12-year-old, turning to her mother, said, "He makes them sound so evil."
___How should that mother respond to her child's observation? How will that child relate to pastors and churches throughout her life? What about all that talk of Christian love and the "family of God"? What has she learned about relating to family members with whom she disagrees?
___She turned 13 today. Her birthday card says, "God and Grandpa love you." A quotation from 1 Corinthians 13 is on the inside. By God's grace, I will show her how tenacious the bond of love is! None of that attitude of "You can leave if you don't agree."
___ Orlynn Evans
___ Nacogdoches
'Self' involvement
___When we are wounded, as in the loss of a loved one, we turn in to ourselves in grief. We become self-involved. As time passes, "self" involvement must give way to include "other" involvement if we want to grow for the Lord's purposes.
___I truly support missions ministry in Texas and pray for depth and expansion here as well as for missions outside Texas. Focusing only on Texas can keep us from fulfilling God's "to all the world" plan.
___Therefore, Southern Baptist institutions that prepare God's dedicated workers must be supported and funded, no matter their location.
___Continuous "self" involvement will lead only to more woundedness and failure to obey the command of Christ.
___ Elois R. Field
___ Arlington
Innocent victims
___I enjoyed your editorial "Promote morality among ministers" (Jan. 29) and found your suggestions helpful and redemptive. However, I would like to add a word of caution.
___Not all, and probably not most, friendships between a male and female indicate an immoral relationship. Many ministries, marriages and reputations have been soiled needlessly by over-active imaginations and wagging tongues spreading vicious gossip, turning perfectly platonic friendships into contrived scandals.
___Unfortunately, people often believe the worst, and the innocent victims of such malignment may never fully recover from the consequences. Sometimes the Christian, and redemptive, way of behaving when suspicions enter our minds is to keep our mouths and minds otherwise occupied and give our "neighbors" the benefit of the doubt so that the innocent are not convicted as guilty.
___After all, Numbers 32:23 says, "Be sure your sin will find you out." There may be some areas in which the Spirit of God does not need our help.
___ Sharon Baker
___ Flower Mound
Jersey planters
___We are looking for a few good men--to plant churches in southern New Jersey. We need innovative, committed, flexible people for churches in a growing area.
___South Jersey is very different from the TV image of New Jersey. It is mostly suburbia and small towns, with extensive forests and dairies, horse farms, orchards and truck farms among extensive new housing.
___There is a growing population largely unchurched. We need pastors who want to advance the kingdom more than build an empire. Men who can pass the North American Mission Board-type assessment evaluation are the kind we are looking for.
___Will you take the challenge? Is God calling you out of your comfort zone? Contact South Jersey Baptist Association, P.O. Box 1314, Medford, N.J. 08055; or RTallent@Compuserve.com, (609) 953-3388.
___ Bob Tallent
___ Medford, N.J.
Deep gratitude
___Words are powerless to express my deepest gratitude for the privilege to serve through our evangelism division these past nine years. For your encouragement, prayers and partnership in the priority of evangelism, I am forever in your debt. To those co-laborers in the Baptist Building with whom I have been privileged to work, my gratitude is legion!
___Soon a new director will be chosen. Pray now for those who are seeking the mind of our Lord to find him and for him even before he comes on the scene.
___The new structure is good--the Center for Strategic Evangelism. It has been a growing concern of mine to move from program-centric to strategy-centric. That is happening, and a fantastic staff (consultants and ministry assistants) of team players awaits the new director.
___The best could yet be! In order for that to happen, I am convinced evangelism must maintain its priority.
___John Knox once said, "Give me Scotland, or I die." Oh that we would say: "Lord, give us Texas, or we die."
___ Bailey Stone
___ BGCT evangelism director
___ Dallas
Too exclusionary
___As I read Russell Hale’s letter (Jan. 29), I couldn’t help but think how sad it is that a seminary student sounds so exclusionary.
___Cheri Bigbee
___Brenham
Thank you, Southern Baptists
___I'm getting older and have reached that time in life when good friends are crossing over to be with the Lord. It occurred to me that perhaps today might be a good time to say thank you to Southern Baptists.
___The Lord called me to be a Southern Baptist in 1958 while at Ouachita Baptist College (now University). I met and married Beverly, who was raised in SBC churches. In good
___In every crisis in our lives, some a matter of life and death, Baptists ministered to us and prayed for us, especially Baptist women who have been like a rock of the Lord.
___I can never forget that I owe such a great debt of gratitude to all those who love us regardless of their stripe. I have two friends who are in differing camps who have ministered to us, prayed for us, blessed us for years. I love them both dearly. They find themselves estranged these days for many reasons, but in my household we hold them both in highest regard and profound fraternal love.
___So, Southern Baptists, whoever you are and whatever your position, I greet you with love and gratitude. Thank you.
___ Norman L. Coad
___Burleson
Need to adamantly obey as well as defend Bible
___The spirit of anger and division promoted by Russell Hale’s letter (Jan. 29) cannot be ignored.
___The Lord’s righteous and holy voice must be heard over the din of anger and divisiveness, as the Bible says: "Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling"
___Shall we adamantly defend the Bible and not adamantly obey it? We must heed God’s righteous voice and not allow divisive voices to prevail.
___Paul writes: "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you" (1 Corinthians 1:10).
___Jesus commanded: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34).
___John forcefully declares: "The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:4).
___Finally, "He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 3:22).
___If God summons us while we actively promote division, as Israel did when Moses summoned them before God, we will be horrified. God’s grief over his errant people is the worst torture for his committed children. Surely there are some who want to obey God’s word, heal divisions and calm divisive anger so we may proclaim God’s message of peace to a world that is rapidly passing away.
___Mark Dunn
___Dallas
Strickland sounds like Norman Lear
___Does anyone doubt the liberal political leanings of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission?
___The article on Sen. John Ashcroft's approval as attorney general (Jan. 22) should be
___ The article stated James Dunn testified against the confirmation of Ashcroft. That should make us proud to be Texas Baptists.
___ It is a personal thrill for me to see a man of Ashcroft's Christian convictions along with outstanding legal qualifications to be attorney general. What a breath of fresh air when compared with the previous holder of that position.
___ Ashcroft's strong Christian stances, including opposition to killing babies, should be applauded, not opposed. James Dobson and Focus on the Family are supporting Ashcroft. Opposing him include anti-Christian groups, homosexual lobbies, Planned Parenthood, NOW and all ultra-liberal groups.
___ And where do we see the Texas Baptist leadership coming down on this debate? God help us.
___Billy J. Harris,
___Lake Kiowa
Berl Cavin will be missed
___I was saddened to read of the death of Berl Cavin. I extend my condolences and prayers to his wife, Agnes, and their family.
___During the mid-'60s, he was my pastor at Town East Baptist Church in Mesquite. At
___I counted Berl Cavin a very dear friend. No one loved the Lord and wanted his kingdom to advance more than he did.
___He will always have a special place in our hearts. He baptized our daughter, Pam. Had God not called him into his ministry, there is no doubt he would have done well in the business world. He was an excellent preacher with a strong voice both for preaching and singing. And he played a mean hand of 42.
___ Texas shall miss him.
___ Wallace C. Stone
___ Greenville
Help Northeast churches
___ It was so good to read the article on the Northeast Thrust (Jan. 1) and especially to see Northside Baptist Church in Liverpool, N.Y., mentioned.
___While we were there, the church raised money and built an education building to replace an old, smelly trailer. Plans were being made to build a worship center next.
___Unfortunately, our ministry ended in Liverpool, and the worship center wasn't built. It was such a big need in order to reach the people in Liverpool.
___We were there a short time, but we saw so many people come to Christ. I thank God that Bruce Aubrey has come to Northside and brought an excitement for evangelism.
___The people are starving for the gospel there, and it is imperative that time is not lost in sharing the gospel. Pray and send builders and skilled craftsmen to help them.
___By the way, when people asked me how I liked living in New York, I always responded, "I loved it." God was there with me just as much as when I was in Texas. I'll never regret my time there.
___ Kathy Vance
___ Dallas
Affirmation from an odd source
___ Sometimes affirmation comes from the oddest sources. Take for example the latest diatribe from Morris Chapman about how to give money to the SBC from Texas (Jan. 29).
___He issues the usual cliches about how the BGCT is harming the Baptist witness and sabotaging the work of the SBC. Then ironically, he affirms the character of the BGCT.
___Finally, he points out the kind of character that an individual such as Charles Wade possesses. Wade has given the SBC leadership his assurances that any money forwarded to the BGCT will be given to the SBC for its mission activities. Incredible, leadership that actually respects and trust others!
___Chapman must really think a lot of the character of Charles Wade because he actually believes that Wade will honor that commitment.
___Affirmation comes from the oddest sources!
___Steve Watkins
___Arlington
BGCT has made poor decisions
___The attitude of the leadership of the BGCT (including the Baptist Standard) is interesting. Sad, but interesting.
___When any church separates itself from the Southern Baptist Convention, bold headlines trumpet the move. A recent issue of the Standard reminded us that the total is now four
___On the other hand, a visit to the "alternative state convention’s" website finds no headlines trumpeting the explosion (602 in two years) of new member churches in its ranks. One must look closely for a tiny font that will divulge the totals.
___The question arises, "Whence cometh the new churches?" Are they being planted by "the alternative state convention"? Or are they moving from the "primary state convention"?
___The purpose of this letter is not to cause more division. It is to cause the leadership of the BGCT to come clean with themselves and to reconsider the poor decisions their leading has wrought. It is to ask them to publish (in all fairness) the number of defections from the BGCT if they publish those from the SBC.
___If the flow we see toward the "alternative" continues, "the alternative state convention" and "the primary state convention" will swap places in a few short years.
___Art Williams
___Boerne
___Editor's Note: Publication of the number of churches that have left the BGCT is not possible at this time. Most such churches do not notify the BGCT of their departure. Only by monitoring the list of churches that ultimately cease contributing to the BGCT will the convention have a sense of churches that have departed. Even then, the convention will have no report of churches that have dually aligned with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.
First-century church didn't put on a show
___"Church in jeopardy in a ‘Millionaire’ world" (Jan. 15) missed the mark. Jesus’ church is doing fine, especially if we believe the reports of our missionaries in China, Russia, Africa, and the Middle East. The church is growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, a front-
___Leonard Sweet should title his message "America in jeopardy in a ‘Millionaire’ world." I hate to think America is so selfish to believe the church should "put on a show" to get people to come.
___Experiential should be our salvation by God’s grace through Jesus’ shed blood. Participatory should be us working through outreach programs of our church or serving members. Image-based ought to be believers imagining the glory of heaven. Connective ought to be us reaching out through our Sunday School classes to connect to our neighbors.
___I’ll guarantee you 1st century Christians weren’t concerned about putting on a show.
___They cared for people, met daily for worship, study and prayer, and sacrificed their lives to share the truth.
___Maybe if we were faced with real, life-threatening persecution, we would be more committed to God’s commission. Our preacher said it right, "When did we change our philosophy to ‘What can the church do for me?’ instead of ‘How can we serve our risen Master in his church?’"
___ Gary Wilson
___ El Paso
Dark Ages, not Reformation
___ Russell Hale’s letter (Jan. 29) distressed me greatly. I hope his attitude and Rush Limbaugh-like attack sarcasm are not examples of all Southwestern Seminary students today. Sadly, he seems to be blindly following the power-hungry SBC leadership. In my
___ On the other hand, he is right in saying, "Just leave." That is what many of us have done after being faced with attitudes like his. I graduated from SWBTS, but I supported the BGCT vote to defund the seminaries. I have difficulty seeing them as "Baptist".
___ He calls the current situation "the Baptist Reformation." I do not think the ayatollah attitudes in the SBC are reforming anything. The Dark Ages would be a better analogy to where they have gone. What’s next, "The Baptist Inquisition"?
___ If I were a student today, I’m afraid it would not be at Southwestern. I have sympathy for the education that current and future students will receive. I no longer recognize the seminary or the School of Church Music I once loved. The trustees or administration in those days would never approach their responsibilities in the un-Baptist, authoritarian way that seems to be their stance today.
___Jimmie Bennett Wilson
___San Angelo
No more state conventions?
___ Let me explain to you my mental picture of the quarrel the BGCT and SBC have had. In my mind's eye, I see two huge dogs circling, snarling and snapping over a very large, juicy bone--your offering and mine.
___I have been most uncomfortable with the past events, but felt with time the divisive issues would be alleviated. However, in light of Morris Chapman's "appeal to pastors to
___Today I received the Baptist Standard (Jan. 29) and had trouble believing what I was reading! Chapman is encouraging BGCT pastors "to go around BGCT and mail their giving straight to SBC."
___Is not this an attempt to break the back of the foe and pull out her teeth and render her helpless? This year it is BGCT, next year will it be one of the other conventions in our state, or perhaps one of the other state conventions/fellowships who does not heel when commanded to? What then? Will we have one convention? Will the instructions simply read, "Send your checks, cash and contributions to the SBC; just go around the state convention"?
___ If so, you may as well, because there will be no state conventions as we know them today! Fellow Southern Baptists, what have we come to? As the largest Protestant group, have we in our quest for pride and power forgotten kingdom work?
___Theda Yager
___Austin
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