February 12, 2001

'Hold the Baptist vision high,'
Wade urges Mainstream group
___By Marv Knox
___Editor
___DALLAS--Free Baptists have a moral responsibility to preserve historic Baptist principles, Charles Wade told an annual gathering of moderate Baptists from across the country.
___"If we don't hold the Baptist vision up high, then Baptists in America and even worldwide will come under the domination of those who prefer control over freedom," cautioned Wade, who just completed his first year as executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
___He addressed the Mainstream Baptists Network annual consultation, held Feb. 5-6 in Dallas. The network is an organization of autonomous Baptist groups created to prevent the spread of "politico-religious fundamentalism" in their states.
___In addition, two other BGCT leaders--convention President Clyde Glazener and Bob Campbell, chairman of its Seminary Study Committee--addressed the group regarding issues in Texas.
___"Under the fear of liberalism, Baptists have sacrificed their old friend, religious liberty," Wade said. "No one should ever come between the soul of a man or a woman and God.
___"Freedom is tough to proclaim and difficult to protect, but it is worthy of our efforts."
___Under that umbrella of freedom, Wade described six characteristics that "make Baptists Baptist":
___ "Baptists are, before anything else, Christ's people," he said. "You can't be a Baptist unless Jesus Christ reigns supreme in your soul."
___ "We also are a biblical people," he added. "We find the tenets for all we preach and say in Scripture. We believe it from beginning to end. We believe it is the inspired word of God--true and trustworthy."
___While he never would submit to sign any creed or "instrument of doctrinal accountability," Wade said, "I would sign every page of the Bible. We are a biblical, not a creedal, people. It is disappointing how many Baptists today don't understand that."
___ "We are church people," Wade affirmed. "Texas Baptists believe their local church can do anything God wants them to do. They love their churches."
___That love for the church is a powerful motivator and tool, particularly because church members strengthen each other, Wade advised. Churches also are strong because they are subject to their "head," Jesus Christ, he added.
___ "We are ethical people," he stressed. "We have this amazing sense that it is crucial to believe the Scripture. And the evidence that you believe is you behave the way you are supposed to behave."
___The first "evidence" of that belief is speaking and proclaiming the truth, he said. "There is no defense for manhandling the truth or for outright lying. We believe you ought to believe (doctrinally), but you also ought to behave."
___ "We are a mission people," Wade noted. "I believe everybody needs to be saved. Jesus didn't die for just one race, one people. And let me tell you, when the gospel gets heard, people are delivered--they're saved."
___ "Baptists are a free people," he concluded. "We believe Christians are free, but there are always self-appointed authorities who want to take that freedom away. ... It is for freedom that Christ set us free."
___That does not mean "Baptists can believe, think and behave any way they want to," he said. "Our freedom is in Christ. We are a Christian people. We have made a decision that his life, his goals, his purpose and his mission are ours. We have brought ourselves under his authority."
___A chief reason Texas Baptists have remained free from religious domination has been Texas Baptists Committed, a political organization designed to support the BGCT and the prototype for other state "mainstream" organizations, said Glazener, pastor of Gambrell Street Baptist Church in Fort Worth.
___"Were it not for this group, I'm not sure we would be free in Texas. In fact, I'm sure we would not," Glazener insisted. "Texas Baptists Committed is here to keep from happening in Texas what has happened in the Southern Baptist Convention," where so-called "conservatives" have gained control of all the agencies and institutions.
___"Each vote that has been taken in (the BGCT) has been a vote for freedom," he said. "Most have been in reaction to SBC actions that impinge freedom. Texas has said, 'You can't do that to us.'"
___Freedom-loving Baptists must "express a stewardship of our heritage," Glazener said. "We must pass that on, whatever the cost. The cost will be less than the cost of forfeiting freedom."
___Heading up the BGCT's special Seminary Study Committee was "the hardest thing I've ever had to do as a Christian," said Campbell, pastor of Westbury Baptist Church in Houston. The committee's recommendations, which included significantly reducing the BGCT's funding of the six SBC seminaries and redirecting the money to support Texas Baptist ministry-training schools, were approved by messengers to the state convention's annual session last fall.
___"I knew there was no way to do this without doing it thoroughly," Campbell said of the study.
___Although some critics have disparaged the committee's report, that document was thoroughly researched, he said. "We would not put anything in the report without documenting it at least twice. I'm a biblical person. I believe you ought to have two witnesses."
___Campbell recounted significant findings of the committee's study. He noted erosion of support for the doctrine of the priesthood of the believer, creedalism of the SBC, inappropriate involvement of seminary trustees in faculty selection, declining enrollment, high faculty turnover and a preponderance of faculty who do not have a Southern Baptist background.
___He described a conversation with one seminary president, who asked why the Texans were bothered by the SBC's decision to remove Jesus as the criterion for judging Scripture, according to its new Baptist Faith & Message statement.
___"I was stunned" by the question, Campbell recalled. "Any time you remove Jesus from anything, it is wrong."

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