May 14, 2001
TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM
Central glory
___Thank you for clarifying the vicious and untrue rumor that Truett Seminary gave an award to a student who wrote a paper denying the virgin birth of Christ. It simply is not true.
___I wish those who start and spread such rumors would take heed to Scripture, "Sixthings that the Lord hates; yea, seven are an abomination to him: ... a lying tongue, ... a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among the brethren" (Proverbs 6:16-19).
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
___At this year's Baptist General Convention of Texas in Dallas, Truett will give away free copies of my upcoming book, "The Old Time Religion." In that book, I state that the old time religion "centers on Jesus Christ, who is 'the same yesterday, today and forever.'" It is rooted in his:
___Virgin birth.
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___The central glory of the old time gospel is not great truth or even a great movement. It is a great person--Jesus Christ himself.
___He came not just to proclaim a message but rather that we might have a message to proclaim. He himself is the message. Without him, there would be no forgiveness of sin, no deliverance from sin, no victory over sin. With him, there would be no gospel.
___I believe that. My faculty believes that. You can believe that.
___ Paul Powell, Dean
___ Truett Seminary
___ Waco
Better than Reno
___I noted Baylor University will host Janet Reno, who will speak on "Ethics in Public Service" (May 7). When I read this, I thought it was a joke.
___Excuse me, but asking Janet Reno to hand out advice on ethics is like having Bill Clinton host a seminar on marriage enrichment or giving advice on building family values.
___How can Baylor do this?
___The only reason Reno was selected attorney general was to keep her boss, Bill Clinton, from being investigated and/or indicted on a number of issues. She did her job by stone-walling, refusing to investigate him and not recognizing evidence when it stared her in the face. "Ethics in Public Service"--duh!
___Baylor can find better people than Janet Reno to speak to our college students. Don't make me ashamed to have attended this Baptist school.
___ Neal Murphy
___ San Augustine
Savage wolves
___Will it ever be as the Apostle Paul predicted to the elders of Ephesus? "I know that when I am gone, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise who will distort the truth in order to get the disciples to break away and follow them" (Acts 20:28-30).
___The "savage wolves" in Paul's time must have been the Judaizers, but the leaders who seek to seduce the "dumb sheep" with lies about their brothers and sisters in Christ appear to be alive and active in Texas in our time (April 30).
___The most frightening-to-the-sheep accusation used by these distorters is the "L" word. "Liberal" has become a pejorative term, the ultimate demeaning appellation, another "sheep dog" used to force the flock into the fundamentalist fold.
___Anger is mixed with sorrow in my soul!
___ J. Lillian Brown
___ Austin
Something amiss
___Mark Wingfield stated, "Eight of 11 SBC nominees are from the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention" (May 7).
___He could have easily said that eight of the 11 nominees are from the BGCT, but in his report, he makes it look like there is something amiss.
___Of the 11 nominees, five are from dually aligned churches, and three each are from the SBTC and BGCT. It looks like a balanced representation and an honest attempt for such a balance by our Southern Baptist Convention leadership.
___Why is it necessary for the Standard and the BGCT to create more tension in the lives of Texas Baptists?
___ David Hutton
___ Nacogdoches
Peace of God
___I read with concern the innuendoes the BGCT missions study committee gave about our two SBC mission boards (May 7). Then I picked up the latest magazines from both boards and felt the peace of God return to my heart.
___What a difference these publications make.
___ Johnnie Jones
___ Blue Ridge
Good year
___After reading the slander directed against the BGCT and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (April 30), I wondered why the SBC is spending good missions money to support the attacks, and I think I know why.
___The CBF has achieved some notable goals this year, and the SBC cannot stand their success.
___For example, the CBF will take in some $22 million for missions and ministries activities at the end of their fiscal year in June. People are beginning to realize the CBF is an entity devoted to missions and ministries, and they wish to move beyond the vileness of what the SBC has become.
___Another example is the very real fact that in Atlanta this year the CBF will have as many people attending as the SBC will have in New Orleans.
___People get tired of hearing lies and distortions. It is turning out to be a very good year for the CBF, and the one way to tell that is the pejorative and pernicious rhetoric coming out of SBC headquarters.
___ Steve Watkins
___ Arlington
More immoral
___A recent letter from Keith McFarland about our flawed justice system allowing the execution of innocent people (May 7) ends with, "What could be more immoral?"
___Well, while we're attempting to save the innocent lives of those wrongfully convicted and facing death sentences, why not go further and rescue those innocent ones who face death sentences without any due process of law, flawless or otherwise?
___I'm talking about the far larger number of individuals who are aborted each year.
___Should we not set an equally shining example as followers of Jesus by standing up for those least able to defend themselves?
___Ah, you may say, those are not babies being aborted, just blobs of tissue. That position is most untenable, scientifically and legally. For if we consider the cessation of brain activity the end of physical life, does it not follow that the inauguration of brain activity (about six weeks after conception) is the beginning of physical life?
___And if this is indeed a living human, doesn't this person deserve protection under the law as prescribed by the 5th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states in part, "No person shall ... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law"?
___ David W. Hammons
___ Fort Worth
True miracles
___I was moved by your story on my parents, Oris and Erma Green, whose home burned to the ground (April 16).
___God truly does work miracles, and my parents are just such an example.
___My parents have lived in Brazos County all their lives. Through God's mercy and grace, he opened doors and touched countless hearts on their behalf.
___I knew my parents did not have money to rebuild their home, and quite frankly when I arrived at the house just a few hours after the fire, I did not know how to help them. I began to pray and ask God for his guidance.
___My mother saw the despair in my eyes when I arrived, and she walked up to the car in which I was sitting, too shocked to move.
___Her words to me were: "Baby, get out of the car, and dry your eyes. Don't cry over this house because I'm not. ... I trust and I believe in God, and my treasures are in heaven. The Lord saved the children. So, I don't want you to cry over this house. The Lord will make a way."
___I will never forget those words and the strength and courage I witnessed in my mother.
___More importantly, I witnessed her faith.
___My parents are God-fearing, Christian people, and I love them more than words could ever express. They have never doubted or wavered in their faith that God through his infinite power would give them another home.
___ Goldie Sterling-Donatto
___ Baytown
Words can never hurt me
___Aggie jokes are part of the traditions that have made Texas A&M famous.
___If you cannot stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. Enjoy the jokes and laugh with the one who tells it. Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.
___This is for the lady in Early who complained about the jokes (April 16).
___John Derry
___Medina
Execution objections ring hollow
___Amnesty International's charge that Timothy McVeigh's execution will turn him into a martyr for radical beliefs groups has a hollow ring to it.
___They are already trying to turn McVeigh into a poster child of the radical groups who oppose the death penalty in the United States.
___Since no question of innocence arises, they must come up with other reasons for objecting to the justice of fair jeopardy. No one has the inalienable right to take innocent lives for their own whims or cause without placing their own life in jeopardy. Life behind
___Amnesty International makes no mention of the hero status for radical hate groups and even attempted rescues which might be mounted over the next three decades. It is easy to see a website established to prove that McVeigh's actions in Oklahoma City were justified and that he should be released as a folk hero.
___A man incarcerated for life for his radical views can achieve an effective martyrdom as an executed one. But, of course, AI says nothing of that distinct possibility. Adding "consensual" to the word "execution" does not change the facts in the case nor the justice of the execution.
___Cyrus B. Fletcher
___Baytown
Thanks to Texans in Alaska revival
___"Lord prepare Me to be a Sanctuary …" These were the words with which we prepared our hearts to receive our Lord’s direction in each of our revival services April 8th-11th. I, and the rest of Immanuel Baptist Church of Anchorage, Alaska, rejoiced and praised His
___ Your Executive Director, Dr. Charles Wade, came to preach for our services. His words comforted and challenged members and guests alike. We focused on Christ and His calling to each of us to follow Him. Before coming to serve as Immanuel’s pastor, I was a member of First Baptist, Arlington, where Dr. Wade served so faithfully for 24 years. I grew up in that church, and even while serving in other churches during my studies at Baylor University and George W. Truett, Seminary, Dr. Wade and FBC Arlington prayed for and supported me. I do have to say that it was good to hear him preach again. I am so glad that Texas Baptists have such a strong and dedicated leader. The people of Immanuel Baptist, like Texas Baptists, desire to hold the Baptist vision high.
___ I love Alaska and the people who call it home. God has called my wife and me to a wonderful state. How great it is to know that in addition to our brothers and sisters in Christ here in our state, we have an extended family in Texas; even though we are separated by three time zones and literally thousand of miles.
___I want to thank all Texas Baptists for sharing your ministers and resources. Alaskans and Texans have much in common, beautiful land, frontier spirit, and large states just to name a few. Most importantly though, in each state, we have people who love the Lord and want to reach our states for Him. Thank you for helping through sharing.
___Mark Goodman
___Anchorage, AK
Tribute to Sisemores, Rodgers
___I read of the recent death of Margaret Sisemore (April 23). Her husband John had preceded her in death in 1993. In 1999, a long-time co-worker with them, Hazel Rodgers, went to be with the Lord.
___From 1965 to 1970, I was privileged to work as an adult Sunday School consultant at the board under John's supervision. He, Margaret and Hazel were my mentors. I shall always believe that God used them to equip me to serve for 20 years on the faculty at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary as professor of adult education.
___ The Sisemores and Hazel designed programs for adult Sunday School work that blessed Southern Baptists. They wrote more articles and led more conferences across this nation than I can number. John authored books on adult work that are treasured volumes in my personal library. The debt owed to this trio by our denomination is greater than we have recognized.
___Enthusiasm, commitment and love for the Lord were their trademarks. I believe they are hearing the "well done" of the Master.
___ Ferris Jordan
___ Baton Rouge, La.
Search committees need wisdom
___ In my experiences, the search committees, more than any group, pray diligently to understand God's will in identifying the individual God has selected for their church.
___It would be very helpful if the resume is not sent if the candidate is not truly interested in relocating.
___In the "late stages" the committee is probably trying to discern between two or three
___Translate "we felt led in another direction" as, "we liked his preaching the best." It may be a mannerism, the method of delivery, moving around too much or too little, the sermon was too long or too short, too expository, too theatrical, he lectured, he reads too fast, he didn't reach the kids, he didn't reach the elderly, or a hundred other things.
___ Committees want to be in one accord when they call a pastor and they want it to be in agreement with God most of all. Committee members each have decided how they will know God will. They express themselves, within the committee, based upon how God has answered their individual prayers.
___And in the final analysis, it is God, who "led in another direction", if we are all truly seek His will.
___God grant search committees wisdom in all their endeavors.
___ Name withheld
Save the postage
___If we Southern Baptists would provide our Sunday School material and lessons via email each week, we could save hundreds of thousands of dollars in material as a
___The excess saved could be diverted to mission efforts.
___People would come closer to reading their lessons from email then taking them home and studying them for Sunday morning.
___David Allenson
___Temple
___Editor’s Note: The Baptist Standard publishes both LifeWay Christian Resources lesson series weekly and the Texas Baptist lesson series monthly—all online at the Standard’s website, www.baptiststandard.com.
Form new convention?
___My question to Texas Baptists is this: Are you going to form a new Baptist convention or not?
___Some of us here in Arkansas can’t wait forever for you to do so. There is essentially
___I remain Baptist in my convictions, but I cannot stomach the new SBC. Help! Form a new convention soon.
___J.P. Bell
___Fort Smith, Ark.
Dilday's commentary liberal
___In Russell Dilday’s commentary on the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message 2000, he persists in promoting a liberal theme that is an anathema to many Bible-believing Baptist.
___He erroneously states as a Baptist belief "every believer, with the illumination of the
___His position is clearly contradictory of 2 Peter 1:20. Paul W. Powell, in his book "The Church Today," does not promote Dilday’s theme.
___Neither the priest of the Old Testament nor we as priests of the New Testament have any charter to interpret Scripture according to our own conscience. When the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom it signified our direct access to God through prayer and supplication. We can now approach God for the forgiveness of our sins, but we cannot put our own spin on his written word, even though we may think we are being led by the Holy Spirit.
___This issue is key to the major difference between our two Baptist groups in Texas today.
___Royal E. Smith
___Southlake
Attempt to play God
___The Republican Party always criticizes the Democrats for throwing money at problems like education, poverty, welfare. But the GOP proposes throwing unlimited sums of money at foolish, unworkable and unwise ideas like a National Missile Defense system.
___This is humankind’s attempt to play God. It is a modern-day Tower of Babel that is doomed to fail. With our scientific sophistication, who needs to depend on God? When we put ourselves above God’s omnipotence and omniscience, God will see that we fail. A national missile defense system lacks a faith-based rationale. I don’t believe it is pleasing to God.
___If those who are proposing the missile defense shield had the faith and trust in God that millions of the world’s impoverished inhabitants have, they would not see a need for such a system.
___Many of the earth’s hungry trust God to provide their daily bread. A better investment of American dollars would be in a Faith-Based Defense Initiative that feeds a hungry world. That would really please our Creator.
___I hope President Bush will drop the Godless missile defense idea.
___If our nation goes all out in pursuing the untrustworthy project, it will forever be known as "Bush’s Folly."
___Paul L. Whiteley Sr.
___Louisville, Ky.
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