July 23, 2001
___We are grateful for the exquisite sensitivity and respect which the BGCT is lending through its leaders to the Baptist work in Spain, without pressures or interference or manipulation. ___We are thankful for the different ministries which are supporting the Spanish ministries, as well as for the churches with their choirs and different missionary efforts. The method of working that the BGCT has chosen in connection with Spain is ideal for this day and time when Spanish Baptists desire so earnestly to evangelize their own land, and indeed, to the ends of the earth. ___We simply cannot do it alone, for the task is too great for us alone. We pray that God will continue to bless our Baptist brethren of the BGCT. ___ Jorge J. Pastor ___ President, UEBE ___ Denia, Spain Insure children ___In reply to Milton Braun concerning uninsured children (July 9): In 1997, my children were covered by Medicaid while my husband was a full-time student at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth. Then, when they no longer qualified for Medicaid, John Peter Smith hospital systems in Tarrant County took care of them. In 2000, the CHIP program became available. ___CHIP is the Children's Health Insurance Program. A family of five like ours can earn up to $39,900 and qualify to receive care for their children. We register for $15 a year and pay $5 for a doctor visit and $2 for prescriptions. ___The information about CHIP and Medicaid is often sent out through the school system. I believe we have good health insurance for Texas children whose parents cannot afford to pay for it. ___The problem is either ignorance of the facts or that people just don't sign up. Getting through the jungle of bureaucracy can also be a challenge. ___Perhaps our churches could be vehicles to help people find out what is available and how to register their children. CHIP is easy to sign up for. The number to call is (800) 647-6558. ___ Jean Whitmore ___ San Antonio Fruit of labor ___I fail to understand the begging and pleading of BGCT leaders at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship meeting regarding the vote to remove the recently passed but limiting homosexual language. ___If an entity wishes to accept one's concept of "Jesus being the criterion by which Scripture is interpreted," and if one's concept allows for a "Jesus" who would accept practicing homosexuals, why all the alarm regarding the potential loss of CBF funding from BGCT churches? "If God is for it, who can be against it?" Does the howling and crying indicate that some are not so sure of God's position? ___It has been heralded for years by the Baptist Standard that "moderates" are tolerant. Where is the tolerance? This is a quandary. Shall the CBF indeed fall apart? Shall the BGCT be forced to distance itself from a "left-charging" CBF? Therefore, shall the BGCT be forced to become a national convention upon the demise of the CBF? ___This fiasco shall not be visited upon the Southern Baptist Convention so long as it holds to the inerrant word of God. The BGCT and the CBF now have a truckload of the fruit of their labor, and the flies are swarming. Texas Baptists, awaken. ___ Art Williams ___ Boerne Absolutely correct ___I must applaud Daniel Vestal's comments about "the Baptist witness" given as part of his coordinator's report to the CBF (July 9). ___At a time when so many churches are dropping the name "Baptist" from their signs, it is refreshing to have a denominational person give us something positive about our denomination and exhort believers to action. He is absolutely correct that it should never be only about preserving traditions and institutions, but about grace and communicating that grace to the world. ___May God provide us more time to accomplish this. ___ Betty Westbrook ___ Plano Prayerwalking ___Is prayer without works dead? ___How can we expect God to answer our prayers if we are reluctant or refuse to be helpful in getting them answered? Will God do it all? ___Prayerwalking without doorknocking confuses me. To me, prayerwalking without doorknocking is so uninvolved and impersonal. ___Does not the Bible say faith cometh by hearing and hearing through (the means) of the word of God? But how can they hear without a proclaimer? ___Of course, something is better than nothing. ___ Richard Tilman ___ El Paso Thousand pictures ___Thomas Ice's single letter (July 16) paints a thousand pictures--of what is wrong with contemporary evangelical Christianity. ___He criticizes David Gushee for being pro-internationalism, pro-United Nations, pro-pacifism, pro-multilateralism, pro-ecumenism and pro-Catholicism. Then he implies that these are not biblically correct stances (and thus tacitly condemns Gushee to everlasting damnation without a thorough consideration of his opinions). Explain that unilateral action to a committed Brazilian Catholic or a Palestinian Orthodox Christian or a Sudanese Christian and see what kind of response it elicits. ___Jesus fervently desired all peoples in his church to be one just as he and the Father are one, regardless of their particular personal political or theological beliefs (John 17:21). ___At another time, Jesus repeated the words of Hosea, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice," meaning that it is not, nor ever was, one's personal political beliefs or occupation or practice that certifies one for salvation. What counts is active faith (belief and confession) in the sufficient sacrifice and resurrection of Christ, period, not a rigid adherence to dogmatic, man-made and church-enforced doctrines and laws. ___Whatever else we add, and every denomination adds extras even if they claim they do not, is a product of fallen reasoning and misguided theology. But thank God we have been given mercy, just as the tax collectors and "sinners" were shown mercy when Christ dined with them. ___ Kevin T. Holton ___ Waco God & death ___"But from the beginning it was not so," Jesus said on one occasion. Present-day views on capital punishment might have elicited this same response. ___How could God oppose capital punishment? "On the day you eat of it, you will surely die." A "lamb" is slain in Adam and Eve's place--something still had to die. Abel's sacrifice was accepted because he knew sin had to eventuate in death--not merely bring a gift. For the death angel to pass over the Hebrews, a lamb had to be slain, and its blood cover the lintel. ___Christ himself received capital punishment in our place. And he elsewhere said, "Bring in all those who did not want me to rule over them and kill them in front of me." ___From cover to cover, the Bible speaks capital punishment. There is room for debate over the whens and hows and for what reasons. But at least we may easily set aside the naive view that God never requires death for the sins of man. ___ Thomas F. Harkins Jr. ___ Fort Worth Have mercy ___I just read that in some Baptist churches, wine is actually consumed and people are dancing (July 9)! ___Lord have mercy on all of us if we follow the example of our Lord and King David. ___ Gaylord Miller ___ Willis Don't bury the wounded ___A young mother burst into tears as she talked about the church she grew up in. "I have a 2-year-old daughter who was born out of wedlock. I’m now married to the father of my child, but the church members won’t speak to us. I’m sorry for what I did, but what can I do?" ___"I don’t have answers for some problems," I replied. "But I have an answer for yours. Find a church that believes in love and forgiveness, and you’ll be loved and welcomed there. Your child is as precious as any child in the world." ___Various nations and cultures differ in the treatment of their dead. Most bury them. But the church is the only institution in the world that not only buries her dead, she sometimes buries her wounded. ___Doug Fincher ___San Augustine Taylor's courage makes current debate look foolish ___Baptist chaplains did not always have trouble with the military, as recent articles might suggest. ___Consider the story of Robert Preston Taylor, a native East Texas and graduate of Baylor University. A recent book about the rescue of prisoners of war from Cabatauan Prison Camp in the Philippines, "Ghost Soldiers," by Hampton Sides, highlights a part of his career. ___Through the power of God, he set an example which all Christians might do well to follow. Under the most difficult circumstances imaginable, Chaplain Taylor preached the gospel, rescued casualties under fire and comforted the dying. ___He survived the Bataan Death March, Cabanatuan Prison Camp, torture to the point of death by the Japanese, and much more. He rose to the rank of major general, became the highest-ranking chaplain in the U.S. Army, and died in 1997, his faith never shaken. ___His story is the most remarkable contemporary witness I have ever read. It should be required reading for all Baptists, as it makes our Traditionalist-Inerrantist debate ring, with all its pomposity, "as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." ___No. It actually makes the partisans sound like a bunch of clowns. ___Ed I. Palmer II ___Sulphur Springs Too willing to take federal dollars ___I sent you a note last winter about my sad experience in a Baptist church listening to a minister’s political preferences. I mentioned religious organizations are becoming more at risk to regulation by the government, and ultimately losing their "non-profit" status. ___I have also been concerned that religious groups seem so willing to take money from the U.S. government, under the government’s attempt to shirk their social responsibility to the many disenfranchised in our country. ___Following is a headline and brief excerpt form the New York Times: ___"Charity is told it must abide by anti-discrimination laws: The White House declined a request today from the Salvation Army to exempt religious charities that receive federal money from laws that bar discrimination against homosexuals." ___I hope Christian denominations in America look at this and take a lesson. ___Deborah Straughan ___Jakarta, Indonesia The Baptist Standard
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