October 28, 2002
TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Spoiled 'Veggies'
___It was disturbing to see an article on the front page of the Baptist Standard on the use of inappropriate videos and movies for children.
___The "VeggieTales" videos (Sept. 23) are inappropriate because preschoolers and children are concrete- and literal-minded and cannot understand the hidden messages that the "VeggieTales" videos and stories hold.
___On the other hand, these videos are appropriate for youth because this age group can understand the subtle hidden meanings of these videos. Unfortunately, the youngest agegroups in the churches are targets, and parents are buying these videos because parents want help in teaching children about God.
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
___There are no easy ways of teaching children about God's love. It takes the concentrated, consistent efforts of Bible study teachers and parents partnering with one other in building a solid spiritual foundation for preschoolers and children.
___I would rather have children learning about God in Sunday School from adults who have an active relationship with God rather than sitting in front of a TV watching talking vegetables telling children about the importance of loving God.
___ Diane Lane
___ Dallas
Campbell wrong
___I would like to refute Bob Campbell's statement about Jerry Falwell (Oct. 14).
___In 622, Mohammed went to Medina in Arabia. He claimed to be Allah's last and greatest prophet. He had 11 wives and recommended wife beating, but only as a last resort. He became a military and political leader. He gathered an army of militant Muslims and crushed all opposition, killing all who rose against him.
___He united the Arab people to futher the cause of Islam, calling it a jihad or holy war. With their swords, they defended the honor of Islam. This produced a fanatical zeal intensified by the promise that a Muslim's death in battled assured him of entrance into paradise.
___Today, a popular booklet, "The Koran Anticipates the Destruction of the U.S. and the Sinking of the American Army," compares Osama bin Laden to Moses.
___This is just a drop in the bucket of information available to the person who is interested in learning about the terrorist activities of Muslims, past and present.
___I am not saying every Muslim is a terrorist or that we should not witness to them, because they do not understand Jesus died for their sins.
___But let's get our information straight and know who the enemy really is, and it is not Jerry Falwell.
___ Joyce Hart
___ Farwell
Campbell right
___Bob Campbell is mostly right about Jerry Falwell's politics.
___I am sick of hearing how we ought to support the Jewish nation as though they are God's chosen people and Christians are only God's Plan B.
___Falwell and other dispensationalists suffer from warped christology.
___If Jesus is a full person of the Trinity, then to deny him is to deny God. Anyone who denies Christ--Muslim, Jew, atheist or Jehovah's Witness--is in need of our witness that salvation is through Christ alone.
___Prophecy is understood only when God's plan in Christ is understood. Dispensationalists like Falwell, Hal Lindsey and Tim LaHaye talk of a future conversion of the Jews but do nothing to bring it about, since they erroneously imagine that it won't happen until after a fictitious secret coming of Christ they call the rapture.
___The second coming will be worldwide and very public. Let us prepare the world for his glorious return by being unashamed missionaries, not protectionists.
___Christ, not civil order, is the Peace of Jerusalem we should pray for.
___ Ben Macklin
___ Fort Worth
God or Satan?
___Missionaries have been terminated for failure to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message (Oct. 21).
___That reminds me of some biblical examples and situations.
___"Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden (Delight) to worship and to obey" (Genesis 2:15). The Lord God was to be a delight to the man, and the man was to be a delight to the Lord God.
___The Lord was wise and loving by warning the man about eating from the tree that would cause him to die in his relationship with the Lord God and would keep the man from "seeking first the rule (kingdom) of God and his righteousness" in his life (Matthew 6:33).
___But Satan always has his detractors to keep man from putting the Lord God first and trusting only in him. Just eat from the forbidden tree and be like God (Genesis 3:6). Just worship and sacrifice to the golden calf (Exodus 32:8). Just fall down and worship the gold image of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3). Just worship the image of the beast and receive a mark so you can get on with your life (Revelation 13).
___Just worship the Baptist Faith & Message of the Southern Baptist Convention and the International Mission Board so you can get on with your task.
___Which will it be? God or Satan?
___ Ernest V. May Jr.
___ Livingston
Children of divorce
___Thank you for the story on our missionaries, Rick and Nancy Dill (Oct. 21). I, like a lot of other Baptists, feel like children of divorce. You love both your parents, but you are caught in the middle. I am amazed that personal agendas have taken precedence over doing what is right for people.
___The heart of my life has been missions and support of our missionaries. That is why my favorite program is Woman's Missionary Union. It has meant more to my life than Sunday School, Training Union, preaching or music, because in WMU you get it all plus the compelling reason to get out of yourselves into the lives of others.
___Some of us are in churches that have no mission offering, so would it be possible to have the names and addresses of these who have to leave their support base? That could be where I could invest my mission dollars.
___To both sides: As a child of divorce in Southern Baptist Convention life, I ask: How could you let this happen? Wasn't what we were worth fighting for and finding a solution?
___ Betty Arrell
___ Austin
___Editor's note: The Baptist General Convention of Texas has established a transition fund to support missionaries who lose their jobs because their consciences will not allow them to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message: Missionary Transition Fund, Baptist General Convention of Texas, 333 N. Washington, Dallas 75246-1798.
Attempt to control
___Our congregational polity is Christ-led through committees, not deacon-controlled. Regardless, our deacon chairman received a letter from the Texas trustees of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board complaining that a "BGCT world missions network" would only duplicate existing efforts offered by the IMB of the national convention. Additionally, this network would "divert" money from international missionaries.
___Deacon chairmen should, apparently, oppose the BGCT world missions network or be guilty of curtailing international missions efforts.
___In June, I attended one of 15 "regional listening sessions" where participants requested our state convention help churches share information and help us work with a variety of Baptist missions organizations. The network suggested by our BGCT Missions Review & Initiatives Committee will provide that assistance.
___The Texas trustee letter, written on IMB letterhead, is a blatant attempt to control internal church business and is not appreciated. It insults churches that are currently on-track, on-mission and on-target.
___IMB trustees' unsolicited advice will be remembered. Please tell me why hard-earned dollars, entrusted to the SBC, were "diverted" from missions to advise deacon chairmen how to conduct business inside local congregations. I am repulsed at the thought some are trying to influence local-church affairs through deacon chairmen.
___We rely on God's Holy Spirit to discern spiritual truth, not self-serving concoctions from national "spinmeisters." Don't muddy the water with partial and distorted information provided through leaders listed in the annual church profile.
___ Jerry Tanner
___ Kingsville
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