TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Unity in Christ
___As my wife and I watched Congress express their support for our president, sing "God Bless America," and share tears, hugs and applause, I wondered if we would ever see the
day when our churches, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Southern Baptist Convention, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Texas Baptists Committed and Southern Baptists of Texas would express unity in supporting Jesus Christ, sing "Amazing Grace," and shed some tears, hugs and applause.
___I mentioned this to a Baptist layman, and he said, "It will never happen."
___Maybe I am naive, but ...
___ Henry Adrion
___ Hilltop Lakes
Need each other
___We over-estimate our importance. God is not diminished, and his work will get done. We just miss out on the fun when we fight.
___We forget how much we need each other. We need the "right" to keep those on the "left" from going too far and the other way around. Even as we separate for awhile and fume, God will be lifted up.
___ Jim Parr
___ San Antonio
God rocks
___Regarding letters about Christian rock: I came from a background of worldly corruption and listened to "worldly, evil" rock music, before Christ.
___His grace saved me and transformed me at 22. He made me a new creation. I stopped listening to "worldly" music, and the Lord gave me "Christian" music.
___I searched the Scriptures to find out about music. Psalm 33:3 teaches us to "play skillfully with a loud noise." Psalm 150 says to praise the Lord with instruments. Psalm 7 and Habakkuk 3 mention "shiginoth," which indicates a rhythmic and ecstatic song. Israel's music was loud and rhythmic.
___Nowhere in Scripture does Satan have the power to create anything. He is the father of lies. He counterfeits all that God made.
___God is the creator of music. Christians must discern the Spirit that motivates the music. Most Christian artists are godly people with a desire to please God. They praise God with instruments.
___God states in Psalm 50:23 that whoever offers praise glorifies God. Christian music sets the word to a musical beat. Listening to God's word in any form causes the believer to grow spiritually, and God will be glorified.
___ Mike Stewart
___ Temple
Personal decision
___I feel I should point out something in the "How to become a Christian" section of the paper.
___In the very last part of that column, the section that addresses baptism, it states that Baptists believe that persons accepting Christ as Savior "should also follow him in believer's baptism by immersion and join the fellowship of a local Baptist church."
___I agree totally that believer's baptism is the correct step of obedience after salvation and that a person should join a church, but I ask, is it necessary that church be Baptist?
___The section does not say one is required to join a Baptist church, but it does mention joining one in the same sentence as baptism. Do we, as Baptists, honestly believe that joining a church, specifically a Baptist one, is as important as being baptized? I do believe it is important for any Christian's growth that the Christian be a member of a local church.
___If we believe in the priesthood of every believer, then does it not follow that it applies to those who do not believe in that doctrine?
___Even if a person does not believe he or she is a priest, if the aforementioned doctrine is a valid one (and I believe it is), that believer is indeed a priest, regardless of denomination. Therefore, that believer should decide for himself or herself, with the guiding of the Holy Spirit, what local body of believers he or she is to join.
___ David Tankersley
___ Brownwood
Standard slant
___Concerning your editorial, "Why we can't shut up & go away" (Sept. 3), the Standard has every right to publish Baptist controversies. But the publishing "attitude" of the Standard changed when it decided to favor one side of the issues rather than present the solid facts of both sides.
___This controversy would have been diverted to a few side issues if the leadership of the Standard had stood fearlessly in the middle, seeking out and presenting the facts of both sides without adding the inflammatory emotional editorials and articles of its journalists.
___Unfortunately, an unbiased factual history will someday record the slant of a "standard" that became the standard for moderate-to-liberal Baptists.
___ Johnnie R. Jones
___ Blue Ridge
Liberal paper
___In reference to "Why we can't shut up & go away," I detect somewhat of an inconsistency.
___When the Southern Baptist Convention speaks, they are reported in your paper as "half-truths" and "attacks" by "mean-spirited fundamentalists."
___But when you or the Baptist General Convention of Texas speak, it is banner-waving patriots, faithfully and righteously defending the faith.
___You are just as narrow-minded about your liberal point of view as they/we are about their/our conservative point of view. Note the liberal/conservative use of words instead of the usual Standard moderate/fundamental verbiage.
___I must be honest, however. You are most certainly helping me in my decision as to whether or not continuing to subscribe to this paper is good stewardship!
___ Danny Shearman
___ Dennis
Full tub
___Criticism of the Baptist Standard is laughable: Your tub is not empty (Sept. 10).
___You have simply reported the news and allowed those so disposed to comment.
___I shudder to think of the reams of letters to Marv Knox that might have been sent were it someone out of lockstep with the Fundamentalist agenda of the Southern Baptist Convention rather than Russell Kaemmerling who had been fingered.
___In response to the question, "Who among Southern Baptists follows the J. Frank Norris agenda?" ... I doubt that budget constraints imposed upon the Baptist Standard would allow for the purchase of enough paper or ink to address that question in an objective manner.
___ Scott Shaver
___ Natchitoches, La.
Stand for God
___It is not clear why the Baptist Standard or any Christian publication would promote any cartoon--in this case, "The Simpsons" (Aug. 20)--that undermines the Bible's teaching.
___That cartoon clearly breaks one of the Ten Commandments to honor the father and mother. Sarcasm and disrespect to a parent is not honorable. Absolutes are not questionable.
___Our pastor quoted: "Christians who won't stand for God will fall for anything."
___Where do you stand?
___ Betty Jo Van
___ Crockett
Not moved
___Legalists twisted doctrinal guidelines until only baptizing in Jesus' name would bring salvation, including babies. These roots of Catholics were an example of Christ's warning: "Many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (Mark 13:6). They could not claim to be Christ and come in his name, so it's Christian leaders, with twisted doctrine, who will fool the majority.
___Some refused their doctrine and withdrew fellowship in 251 A.D. Their name, Anabaptist, was despised, much like the name "moderate" today. Moderates reject that authority is from the top down and other twisted doctrine of the majority.
___Most Baptists don't get involved because they think it's only political. Do they know Sunday School quarterlies state, "The 2000 statement of the Baptist Faith & Message is our doctrinal guideline"?
___In 1545, Catholics gave tradition equal authority with the Bible. Have conservatives done the same with their Baptist Faith & Message? Are they wolves with sheep names? "Many shall come in My name ... and shall deceive many."
___Last year, Catholics apologized for establishing a holy office 817 years ago to kill those refusing to sign man-made doctrine. What holy office is firing Baptists today for not signing new doctrinal guidelines?
___Anabaptists, burning at the stake, would join moderates in singing: "Though the church is moving, I shall not be moved." Both determined, "When having done all to stand, stand!"
___ Rex Ray
___ Bonham
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