December 16, 2002
TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Firing justified
___Thank you for your article on the teachings of Chris Harbin (Nov. 25). I have seen this type of thing before in several liberal denominations with which I have been associated.
___It is clear Harbin's teachings were not misrepresented by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. His firing was justified. He is clearly apostate. This is why it was necessary for conservatives to retake the Southern Baptist Convention. I congratulate them for their defense of orthodox doctrine.
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
___If I believed what Harbin believes, I would throw my Bible away and go fishing on Sundays. Also, if what he is saying is true, the SBC should recall all missionaries and reorganize as a social club.
___ Bill English
___ Arlington
Calling proved
___Jesus said: "They will make you outcasts. ... An hour is coming for everyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God." Has that time come in the SBC--not killing the body but engaging in character assassination in the name of God?
___The Dills (Oct. 21) and Harbins (Nov. 25) have proved their calling from God. What man has authority to say God made a mistake?
___I feel for these couples. Surely the SBC or Cooperative Baptist Fellowship can find 80 Baptists willing to share $1,000 of their wealth to permit these couples to return to the field. If a fund were set up for this cause, I would be glad to participate from my limited funds.
___Some might say, "Let them serve stateside churches." I spent 25 years serving in every capacity of churches, including pastoring, but could find no satisfaction until I arrived where God had called me to be, on the mission field. Serving in churches is fine, if that is where the calling of God is. When the calling of God is to the mission field, that is where true peace with God is found.
___The self-serving leaders of the SBC are to be pitied in that they are overruling the calling of God, insensitive to the lost condition of men who have not heard the good news of peace with God through Jesus Christ, all in the name of "doctrinal accountability."
___ Lee Neal
___ Guadalajara, Mexico
Out of step
___Our church joined the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention in 2000, and we are uniquely aligned. I have continued to receive the Baptist Standard and enjoy reading it. It helps me get a good perspective of what's happening in Texas Baptist life.
___I was disappointed while reading the editorial "Sad farewell ..." (Dec. 2), primarily with the choice of words you used to describe churches that have decided to align with the SBTC. I do not feel or believe our church has "forsaken" nor "turned our backs" on the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
___What I do believe is that by the actions of the BGCT (many of its leaders being anti-SBC--holding leadership roles in Texas Baptists Committed and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, funding changes to SBC agencies, allowing monies to be designated to the CBF and still called "Cooperative Program," as well as statements made by BGCT leadership over the past few years), the BGCT has "forsaken" and "turned its back" on churches, like ours, it relies on for support and is (obviously, by the number of churches aligning with the SBTC) out of step with the average Southern Baptist church in Texas.
___ V. Bryan Webb
___ Nederland
Real irony
___Toby Druin's letter, "History highlights irony" (Dec. 9), shows that Toby is still Toby. While centering on George W. Truett, he omits that First Baptist Church of Dallas was also the church of W.A. Criswell and is now the church of Mac Brunson.
___Brunson is not the first to observe the movement of the BGCT away from the SBC, as evidenced by the many articles in the Standard chronicling the movement. Druin's logic is hard to follow, because FBC Dallas has the same right he seems to claim as the sole possession of the BGCT. That is the "right of deciding whom it will support."
___I will not quibble over the word "denomination," but if you use the words "another convention," the record is clear.
___Druin then takes it upon himself to dictate the meaning of a "true Baptist" while in the next sentence making the point that no one can dictate to a true Baptist.
___Exercising their "right to decide," Southern Baptists have demonstrated for more than two decades by their convention votes and by their pocketbooks what they believe.
___The real irony is that a liberal can never understand why the majority of Southern Baptists vote like they do, because they think they are the only ones who know what an "authentic mainstream" Southern Baptist really believes. Baptists do not march in lockstep, but surely if you look around you can see who is out of step with the majority of Southern Baptists.
___ Jim M. Bolton
___ Dallas
Creeds & confessions
___In the past, I have consulted the dictionary for the meaning of confession, creed and doctrine: Confession (stating), creed (statement), doctrine (belief)
___It has bothered me that Southern Baptists have denied having a creed. Although we do not confess the Apostles' Creed or the Baptist Faith & Message orally each Sunday morning, we do state (confess) our doctrines in the Baptist Faith & Message.
___In the Baptist Standard, Marv Knox writes, "Three times, the BGCT has declined to affirm the 2000 BF&M, citing its function as a creed and its denial of several historic Baptist doctrines" (Dec. 2). Did not the 1963 BF&M cite Baptist doctrine, and did we not affirm it, although not orally each Sunday in worship services?
___Charles Wade's column states, "This means the BGCT can work with Baptists who confess either or both of the most recent confessions of faith."
___A creed is a confession of faith and doctrine. I believe that Baptists refuse to identify the BF&M as a creed only because we do not recite it weekly in worship services and we want to divorce ourselves from other faiths which do so.
___ Don Phillips
___ Fort Worth
Prolonged silence
___"No peace on the rock--standoff in Hebron" (Dec. 2) suggests the article is an overview of the conflict in Hebron. But only the views of the Israeli side and of particular Israelis are quoted.
___There is no attempt to reflect the suffering and abuse the Palestinian people undergo, and there is no presentation of Palestinian views and no quotes from individual Palestinians. Twice as many Palestinians as Israelis have been killed since the start of the latest conflict.
___Fairness requires balance when addressing great moral and social issues that have right and wrong on both sides. Because of this, I believe it is only fair to your readers that public reporting of very emotional issues such as the Tomb of the Patriarchs should be even-handed, and presented in a Christian context that looks at the suffering of both sides. If both sides can't be reflected in one article, a separate article can give the perspectives, views and sense of great wrong that that the Palestinians hold.
___Also, why do we as Christians continue to remain silent about the plight of hundreds of thousands of our Palestinian fellow-believers who are suffering from the onslaught of the Israeli army and who are under heavy pressure from the Islamic fundamentalists?
___ Bill Wood
___ Houston
___What do you think? Submit letters for Texas Baptist Forum via e-mail to marvknox@baptiststandard.com or regular mail at Box 660267, Dallas 75266-0267. Letters must be no longer than 250 words. They may be edited to accommodate space.
Get printer-friendly version of this story
Send this story to a friend
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook
