June 11, 2001
TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Sacred event
___What a wonderful and sacred event Ted Elmore led our state in June 2. Our church, First Baptist in Los Fresnos, had 33 participants in the Baptist General Convention of Texas' perimeter prayerwalk. Families, teens, deacons, pastors, young and mature alike joined in praying the perimeter of Texas and our association.
___A particular blessing was to meet Ted Elmore and his wife and Charles Wade at the Los Tomates Bridge in Brownsville. It seemed the ground became holy as we stepped toward the border to meet a sister church from Mexico. With hands stretched across the middle span, the border seemed for a few moments non-existent.
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
___Charles Wade blessed us with reading Acts 1 and 2 as he crossed the bridge. Praise hymns were shared as well. Many commented on an outpouring of the Holy Spirit as they prayed.
___Then our church joined over 40 other churches from Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association to walk, van, motorcycle, fly, boat, wheelchair and walk with walkers and even canes-- all praying for Texas. What a unique experience.
___Thanks for such good leadership from Texas Baptists. May the soles of our feet continue to claim Texas ground for Jesus Christ.
___ George A. Morrison III
___ Los Fresnos
True witness
___Thank you, BGCT leaders, for publicly stating the truth about Texas Baptists in the face of ongoing false witness (May 28).
___When some pastors keep their congregations ignorant by restricting access to the Baptist Standard and repeating the slanders of people like Roger Moran, you have little choice than to go to the secular press. Interesting the often-vilified secular press becomes a vehicle for the truth.
___In Missouri, the fundamentalist party has repeated untruths so loudly and so long the lies have been accepted without question.
___The "world" already knows about the Baptist wars, and the world needs to know that all Southern Baptists are not like the current power brokers.
___Thank you, Texas Baptists, for being true to God's word and holding to historic Baptist principles.
___ Michael Olmsted
___ Springfield, Mo.
Superb language
___I have been a Southern Baptist and a Texas Baptist for over 60 years and a reader of the Baptist Standard for much of this time. I have seen countless pleas for peace, love and reconciliation in the Standard.
___Recently I read where Marv Knox speaks of some of our Southern Baptist Convention leaders lovingly, accusing them of misinformation, misrepresentation, clouding the issues, feeding fear, defaming, deceiving, disrupting fellowship, discrediting, flagrant deception, scare tactics, shell games and blatant violations (May 21).
___Beautiful! What a superb use of the English language. So much for peace and harmony.
___ Joe E. Brumbelow
___ Lake Jackson
Cooperative giving
___What about cooperative giving? Who should decide how much should go to the SBC and how much stays in the state in which it was given? "Cooperation" is the key word. The question is why can't our modern "religious leaders" cooperate?
___In Act 1:8, Jesus gives an important and necessary principle. We need to start where we are and go to "the ends." Not following this principle is part of the problem with Cooperative Program giving.
___It is one thing for local church leaders to condemn members who withhold or redirect tithes and offerings from their church budgets when the members are not happy with how the money is used. It is a different matter when that same leadership encourages those same members, as a church body, to withhold or redirect funds that go to local associations or state conventions when the leaders are not happy with how the money is used. Their justification appears to be the same.
___In Matthew 12:22-30, Jesus talks about accusations and divisiveness. He says a house divided against itself will fall. It is irresponsible for pastors of large churches to intentionally influence other churches to withdraw from Baptist General Convention of Texas funding and contribute directly to the SBC. This surely is dividing our house against itself.
___Many Southern Baptists think that because the pastor of a large church says something it must be right. It is better to heed the words of Jesus.
___ Larry W. Walker
___ Beaumont
Easy labels
___I have just retired after 32 in the ministry, including 27 years with two state conventions.
___In my entire ministry, other than being asked by my ordination council, I never have been asked my theological beliefs. However, many have labeled me moderate or liberal and accused me of not believing basic doctrines because I have been a denominational worker.
___Even the pastor of my home church told me once he wanted to take back my ordination papers because I worked for the denomination. (Funny thing; I had only met him once.) When I stand before my God, I will not be ashamed to face him.
___In my 21 years with the BGCT, I have strongly felt that God led me, guided me and had me in the proper place where I could best serve him. I have served with some of the most dedicated men and women who have some of the same God-led feelings I do. We have spent our weekdays and many weekends on the road away from our local churches and our families, all because of our commitment to serve Texas Baptists. You think you know us? You do not know us at all.
___Did not Jesus chastise the hypocrites? Although it saddens me to have lived and worked under such a label, I have not allowed it to interfere with my calling and in retirement will be obedient to God's call.
___ Robert E. Parrish
___ Dallas
Godly role model
___I wish to comment about one of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professors who chose not to sign the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message (May 7)--Jeph Holloway, professor of Christian ethics.
___While I was chairperson of the department of Christian ethics at Southwestern, Jeph was my graduate assistant and teaching fellow.
___Jeph was one of the brightest and most godly graduate students I ever had. His Ph.D. dissertation was accepted for publication (a rarity) by the Society of Biblical Literature. He then served 10 years as Bible professor at Williams Baptist College in Arkansas (one of the most conservative schools identified with the SBC). No one has ever questioned his commitment to the veracity and authority of Scripture.
___Now he must leave Southwestern because the trustees have (after hiring Jeph) superimposed not merely the inerrancy of Scripture (always expected), but now minor "interpretations" of selected passages (wifely submission and no women pastors) as required orthodoxy for professors. More serious was the elimination of "Jesus Christ as the criterion for interpretation" from the BF&M.
___This was done by fundamentalists, not conservatives. There is a huge difference.
___Jeph Holloway is a healthy conservative, a superb teacher and a godly role model. To drive this man of brilliance, conviction, integrity and spirituality out of the classroom is an example of fundamentalism's stupidity and arrogance. Ken Chafin was right when he warned that inerrancy will eventually require "inerrant interpreters" who will try to use their interpretations to control the rest of us.
___ Guy Greenfield
___ Amarillo
Saving possibility
___The views of Forestine Turner (June 4) reflect a poor appreciation for, and an unhealthy understanding of, the grace of God.
___Does she believe Timothy McVeigh will not benefit from a few more months or years of hearing the gospel? Has she concluded that God's transforming power can do no more to benefit McVeigh and others soon to be executed? Is she certain the date set by the government for an execution coincides with the time that God's Spirit is done with that human being?
___I oppose the death penalty because every human life, even that of Timothy McVeigh, is precious. I oppose the death penalty because every unsaved person should have another opportunity to be transformed by the gospel, even the most heinous of convicted murderers.
___May we adopt the attitude of Paul, doing everything possible through every possible means that someone, even Timothy McVeigh, might be saved.
___ Scott Sharman
___ Burleson
No Reno
___When I first heard Janet Reno was coming to Waco on Sept. 13, I thought she probably would be placing a wreath near Waco. Instead, she is speaking in the Baylor University President’s Forum.
___"Her people," I was told by Baylor University authorities, "contacted us about her speaking in the President’s Forum, and President (Robert) Sloan extended the invitation." I was so shocked I did not ask how much money she would be paid.
___Compounding my shock was when I was told her subject upon which she would expound: "ethics and public service." I hope the entire transcript of her speech will be openly available to those of us protesting outside! My protest sign shall read: "Know Reno, No Ethics—Know Ethics, No Reno!" Come join me.
___Dan Bates
___Millican
Battle lines
___The war between the SBC and the BGCT will play itself out, but it will not be pretty. You outlined the battle lines well in "BGCT says churches misled by lies and distortions" (April 30).
___I recall another lie that made the rounds nearly 20 years ago, that Duke McCall, then president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, was a social drinker. It was a total lie, a complete distortion of anincident McCall experienced during a visit to China.
___He went to the SBC Pastors’ Conference to "set the record straight." He then was given a public apology from the platform at the SBC annual meeting.
___As much as I believe the Bible is God’s infallible, inerrant word, I am appalled and angered at my fellow Southern Baptists who are spreading lies based on guilt by association, and I feel equally so at those who blindly repeat these lies. This is very un-biblical (1 John 4:1).
___Equally untasteful is the reason these lies are being published. If those who are spreading these lies are afraid that some resources will be diverted from the work of the gospel, then these liars must serve a very weak God (Psalm 50:10, Matthew 6:25-33, Luke 12:22-34).
___Remember this the next time someone hurls charges against the BGCT and certain individuals within it but fails to produce any proof. Remember, too, that battles and wars cause casualties!
___Benny Bivins
___Williamstown, Ky.
Watered down
___Thank you for "Beware exchanging the sacred for the secular" (May 21).
___Suppose First Coliseum Baptist ran a news ad: "So as to not offend anyone, our new church building is an exact replica of Diana’s Temple in Colossi. For ‘Teen night’ Saturday, our theme will be ‘Toga Time.’ For one night, we will suspend all previous requirements for toga lengths. So, visiting girls,
___"Notice in the foyer, next to Deacon Philip’s beautiful painting of our Savior, Sister Jezebel, one of our newest members, has hung an equally beautiful picture of King Nero. You will agree she did a wonderful job. So friends, Romans and all other heathens, please visit us at First Coliseum Baptist. You will feel right at home."
___I would guess that in the first century, most new conversions to "The Way" did not happen "in church." New conversions probably happened at work when a believer lost his job because of his faith and handled it in a godly way, or a father would not renounce his new Christ, even when family was threatened. Or a thief sat chained to one like Paul in a prison for months and continually heard praises to Jesus instead of complaints to the ACLU.
___Let’s quit watering down the church to make it look like the world. Let us fashion our lives to look like Jesus and others will be attracted to him.
___David Dudley
___Maryville, Tenn.
Baptist 'clues'
___It is interesting that critics of the BGCT Integrity Committee’s ad campaign (June 4) say the lost world does not have a clue about what is going on in Baptist life. I beg to differ.
___The "clues" they—the lost and those outside Baptist life—receive have come from the
___These seeds sown by Baptists across our denomination in the name of God have a very long half-life that will undermine our witness for years even if we kissed and made up today.
___Ernest Izard
___Houston
Sense of betrayal
___I’ve read the list of churches that have identified themselves with the fledgling Southern Baptist of Texas Convention. What surprised me the most was the fact three of those churches are former pastorates of mine, two of which are in Texarkana. Suddenly, I feel a sense of betrayal!
___I’m not much of a creedal Baptist. Neither were our old-time Southern Baptist leaders. Our only creed
___Neither the 1963 nor the recent revision of the Baptist Faith & Message is Scripture. If we who insist on the 1963 version are liberals, then all of us are liberals because it was adopted by the SBC convention.
___Liberalism began with Jesus, who was the most articulate liberal of his day. He walked into the most radically conservative climate of all times and articulated a new gospel called "redemption by faith"—faith, as over against a rigid system of law which no man can keep. For this he was crucified.
___A lot of godly men are still being crucified by the arch-conservatives, some of which are pastors of the finest churches in Texas.
___Texas, ah yes, that’s where the arch-conservatives have their guillotines on which to execute by character assassination those who do not conform to their strict guidelines.
___E.J. Kearney
___Clermont, Fla.
Why you?
___I visited a place on the side of a mountain that did not show any apparent affects of man, a place in its natural setting. It was beautiful.
___Trees nodding in the slight breeze with leaves of various shades of green. Some broad with many fingers and some with long pointed needles. Birds flitted continuously from one tree to the next. The
___All in all, very beautiful.
___Then the thought: God’s creation does not need man. This would be here even if man did not exist. So why man?
___Explore and find the answer to that question, and you will have a greater understanding of your Christian faith. You may find, "Why you?"
___Jess Olive
___Texas City
Model prayer
___We are living in the last days (1 Timothy), and some of our so-called theologians are leading our people astray. In Matthew 6, it tells us that Jesus Christ taught his disciples how to pray. This is our "model prayer," not the prayer of Jabez.
___I don’t doubt that Jabez was a great man and that he prayed. When it comes to leading people to pray his prayer, he is not the one who will intercede for us. Jesus Christ is the one who is our intercessor to the Father. Jesus Christ is our high priest, and there is no way to God except through him.
___If our leaders would get more excited about the whole Bible, study it all and read and reread it all year after year, they would be able to preach the whole truth and nothing but the truth. There are enough sermons in the Bible to preach five lifetimes. All prayers should end "in Jesus’ name, I pray."
___Thank God for the one who wrote "Behave in the church" (May 21). The Holy Spirit can and will work when we really honor God. Souls will be saved.
___L. Scarbrough
___Amarillo
Patched veil
___What is it with the fundamentalists that they are so afraid of the word "freedom"?
___First, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler says they believe in the "priesthood of the believers" but not the "priesthood of the believer," because it leaves too much freedom for the
___Now the trustees at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary want to cut out a verse, which refers to freedom, from the school’s official hymn.
___Are there those who would try to patch up the veil in the temple, so that we could not go to God directly? God help us!
___I.W. Sparkman
___Kopperl
Enlarge coast
___Much as been said about the prayer of Jabez. In his four-part prayer, he asked first that God would bless him and enlarge his coast. God granted him that which he requested.
___What could we do as Texas Baptists to "enlarge our coast"?
___Psalm 126:6 says, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
___Should we not follow Jesus’ example to "enlarge our coast" by reaching out to others?
___May God help us to do that.
___Thelma Throgmorton
___Gouldbusk
Just reward
___Seldom has an editorial griped me as yours of May 28. The parallel with the BGCT and SBC is so uncanny.
___As the remainder of the industry (auto and rubber) looks on in disbelief, both Firestone and Ford are losers.
___Egos helped to destroy a great business marriage. Egos are destroying the influence of our churches in the world. Human nature always says to blame others. There is enough blame to go around. There also is enough work to go around.
___At least in public I don’t recall either CEO (Firestone or Ford) calling the other a liar.
___In the corporate battle, people have died. In our Baptist battle, people are doing the same. No doubt many are hell-bound.
___May those who die without Christ be laid at the feet of BGCT or SBC leaders who are responsible. This will be their reward for a job well done for Satan.
___W.J. Turner
___Melvin
Family opinion
___Baptist Press’ recent bashing of the BGCT, Charles Wade and David Currie (May 28) seems to be a family opinion. The writer of the article’s husband has been very vocal about what he believes Texas Baptists are about in his own editorials.
___I suggest this family does not know the Texas Baptist family they write about.
___Don Wilkey
___Onalaska
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