TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Fundamentalists
___The article regarding the "real" fundamentalists (July 23) was an interesting read but betrayed the author's underlying presuppositions. He never really discussed what "The Fundamentals" are and who the original fundamentalists were.
___The original "fundamentalists" authored a collection of articles known as "The Fundamentals." These articles responded to the modernism, Darwinism and liberal theology of the latter 19th century and the early 20th century. B.B. Warfield and E.Y.
Mullins were among these early fundamentalists. The articles were published in a collection of 12 volumes and were given away as a tool in reaffirming the fundamental truths of Christianity in the face of ever-increasing attack.
___The fact "fundamentalist" is so often confused with a militant religious fanatic is evidence that another perfectly legitimate term has been twisted through years of misuse by the liberal media and others.
___We can agree essential doctrines of Christianity should not be ignored or distorted. These doctrines are fundamental to true Christianity. One who upholds these doctrines without compromise is a "real" fundamentalist.
___There will always be a need--at least until the Lord's return--to reaffirm the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. Thus we should all strive to be "real" fundamentalists.
___ James E. Mann
___ Austin
Stem cells
___Your editorial about human embryonic stem cell research contributes to several misunderstandings (July 23).
___The often-heard rant that the stem cell debate is "abortion politics" is no more true than that every complaint about racial discrimination is about Jesse Jackson. The embryos whose stem cells are harvested are not a threat to the life of their mother.
___Your proposal that we allow research using embryos that would be "discarded anyway" is fraught with problems. First, spare embryos do not have to be created through in vitro fertilization. Couples can instruct their doctor to fertilize only the number of eggs they want implanted. Second, embryos do not have to be discarded, they may be adopted (see www.snowflakes.org). Third, the moral guilt of intentionally killing an embryo is transferred with the cells. Those who use those cells are morally complicit in the destruction of the embryo.
___If it is permissible to kill an embryo for his or her stem cells since he or she is going to be "discarded anyway," does that also apply to prisoners on death row? Since they are going to die anyway, is it permissible for us to kill them prematurely to harvest their organs?
___Is it ever compassionate to intend the unnecessary destruction of a human being however small?
___You also might have pointed out that in 1999 the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Atlanta passed a resolution squarely opposing embryonic stem cell research and favoring adult stem cell research.
___ C. Ben Mitchell
___ SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
___ Libertyville, Ill.
Back to laity
___At 18, I could tell you about Baptist beliefs, polity, and the Sunday School Board, Foreign Mission Board, Home Mission Board and Baptist General Convention of Texas. How would our 2001 grads fair?
___I was informed because World War II veterans sacrificed for the freedom to teach me congregational government of Baptists in Baptist Training Union and GAs. That any Baptist would debate the individual or corporate autonomy of believers would have been fathomless. The Reformation in reverse?
___Our church provided all members the Baptist Standard to enhance our knowledge of our cooperative efforts and concerns. The laity trusted each other to do their own sifting, even though most just had high school diplomas. They would've been insulted if anyone wanted our church to blanketly discontinue everyone receiving it because we couldn't be trusted to do our own discerning and questioning.
___The 350 present in our church had open meetings with folks agreeing and disagreeing with one another and staff. It wasn't considered disloyal to anyone, just loyal to our convictions. Efforts were made to maximize involvement in pre-knowledge, praying, deliberating and voting. Healthy ownership resulted under Christ as Head.
___Conclusion: Laity are indispensable in raising up generations of informed Baptists. Pastors taught me much, but the Hero Generation taught me most of what I learned about Baptist heritage. The next pendulum swing needs to be "back to laity."
___ Lynn McMasters
___ Lubbock
Eye-catching
___The letter by Thomas Ice (July 16), which reacted to the critique of "Left Behind" theology, caught my eye.
___Three times Ice bemoans the lack of "biblical beliefs ... correctness" in the article--yet his own letter argues totally from the Ante-Nicene Fathers and tradition. I invite him and others to read Bill Hull's sermon, "Left Behind," in the August issue of Christian Ethics Today, www.christianethicstoday.com, which is filled with accurate biblical exposition.
___Ice's diatribe against David Gushee is unfounded. Gushee is probably the brightest and best young evangelical ethicist we Baptists have.
___A bivocational pastor (who assists with the journal) sent me a copy of this sentence Ice wrote on his textbook cover in 1974 at Howard Payne: "Tommy Ice believes the Lord will probably be back before 1988, based upon the fact that 1948 Israel became a nation & a generation is 40 years, so around 1988." I assume the Pre-Trib Center he directs has updated these predictions.
___ Joe E. Trull, Editor
___ Christian Ethics Today
___ Wimberley
Return to legalism
___I read David Sparks' "New dark age" (July 16). I assume he meant somehow that we are going back to a worse time.
___I agree, except what we are being prodded into returning to is the legalism of New Testament days that both Christ and Paul spoke so much against.
___Misinformation such as that attributed to Jimmy Carter in the letter is what keeps people confused about who the enemy is. Obviously, there are liberals out there, but too many good leaders in our church are being branded as liberal when they are not. And to make matters worse, we are being told we must fight liberalism with a return to legalism.
___I say woe unto you who promote these untruths, because legalism was strongly condemned by Christ. We need to guard ourselves against false theology, but not through a return to legalism and a lack of tolerance for others.
___Legalism would have us throw out the sinner with the sin. Christ's acceptance of the sinner was not an acceptance of the sin. Don't be sucked into this return to legalism.
___ David Terry
___ Palestine
The front line
___Thank you for the article on AIDS (July 16). Those of us who have ministered in this area appreciate the information about this virus.
___While the article did not say it, one might conclude that since "AIDS in Africa bears little resemblance to the disease in America," our fight is over in this country. That is not true.
___New infections among gay and bisexual youth are comparable to the mid-1980s, there is an alarming number of cases among people of color and the infection is not just in the gay population. New cases are about evenly divided among men and women, with estimates of 40,000 new cases annually in this country. Like in Africa, social instability in America's families, cultural factors and people who feel they have no power over their own lives lead to risky behavior.
___Sexually transmitted disease is a serious health problem in America, and we know the problem is almost entirely preventable through behavior choices.
___We in the Christian community must be on the front line, giving people the route to real love, which only a relationship with the living Lord can bring. They need to be told by Baptists that God can and does forgive any sin, that God does love each of us "just as we are" and they, like all other sinners, are welcomed in our churches. This will help people make better choices.
___ Betty B. Arrell
___ Austin
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