December 2, 2002

TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Family of God
___As I read our state paper, I am reminded of the Apostle Paul's writing to the Corinthians. Apparently, they were as divided as Southern Baptists are. Some were claiming to

E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com

follow Paul, some Apollos, some Peter and some Christ (1 Corinthians 1:1).
___We need to answer Paul's question: Is Christ divided? Paul pleaded with them and with us to cease quarreling and to be united in Jesus, who said, "I am the way, the truth and the life."
___Let's cease bickering and unite as the "family of God."
___Someone said, "Where God builds a church, Satan builds a chapel." We may have differences in "doing church," but if we believe in Christ, we are part of the "family of God."
___Jesus said, "I am the way" to heaven. He did not say, "I am fundamentalist, liberal or conservative." These are Satan's terms to create division.
___This also applies to Christian denominations. As believers in Christ, we are the "family of God." Let's live like his family!
___ James A. Griffin
___ Kilgore

Great commonality
___Thank you for the positive article concerning the cooperation of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention working together on the Hispanic church start in Diboll (Nov. 11).
___I often hear the Standard criticized for fueling the competition between the conventions and am pleased to read your reporting of the great commonality both conventions have of reaching people for Christ.
___ Stephen Parks
___ Lufkin

Meteorology & theology
___The weather section of the Dallas Morning News stated: "If you get five meteorologists in a room, you may end up with five different forecasts. Even though all look at the same data, there can be different interpretations of what the information means."
___If you put five theologians in the same room, you may end up with five different interpretations. Even though all are looking at the same Bible, there can be different interpretations of what the language means.
___I read that weather predictions, overall, are about 65 percent correct, which is much higher than I would have thought. I hope the biblical scholars would have a better track record.
___Could God be saying, "What is it you people don't understand about 'shall' and 'shall not'?"
___ Bob Juliuson
___ Dallas

Question of war
___From all we can read in the news, war is a foregone conclusion. Will we, as members of a denomination strong in number, look back one day and say we served God in that issue over Iraq?
___What right does one nation have to use its weapons of mass destruction to ravage another nation with alleged weapons of mass destruction? Will our bombing one Arab-Muslim nation--even with a despicable dictator in command--contribute to the peace that we declare, and our president declares, is our goal?
___And what about a Christian president, who leads a nation that is reputed to be a Christian nation, leading the charge of war? Will that aid the Great Commission task of our Lord and Savior in that part of the world or anywhere?
___Can we say, "God bless America" as we bomb Baghdad and stir up the jihad spirit of those who will then be certain they are righteous in their hatred of us? God have mercy.
___ Carey Moore
___ Waxahachie

Harry & the devil
___In "Some find gospel truths hidden in Harry Potter" (Nov. 11), Connie Neal and Francis Bridger are quoted extensively, but I find no quotes from God's word.
___As a Christian, I believe gospel equals good news equals Jesus (Romans 10:15, 17; Galatians 16:6-9). I need not look for "hidden messages" to find Jesus. He is the Light that shines for all the world to see (John 8:12; Luke 11:33).
___Neal says she found more than 80 parallels to the gospel. First Corinthians 10:19-22 warns the church to have nothing to do with demons.
___Am I comparing Harry Potter and friends to demons? Yes. They are described as practicing six of seven "detestable things to the Lord" (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
___God's archenemy is the devil (1 John 3:8). He is our enemy (1 Peter 5:8). I pray anyone misled by the article would take the Bible and let the truth set them free (John 8: 31-32)!
___Remember, the elect cannot be deceived (Matthew 24:24).
___ Lucy Finn
___ Waco


Would Christ sign?
___I could not believe the article stating the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board will not allow missionaries to continue indefinitely without affirming the 2000 Baptist Faith ^ Message (Oct. 18).
___Firsthand, I have seen members of my own family sell their home, cars, give up earthly possessions, take children away from their school and friends, leave family behind, answering the call of Christ to go.
___To demand the signing of the new BF^M is nothing short of dictatorship. I find it impossible to believe the mission board sends anyone out simply on a whim ... without some accountability. Was the mission statement so wrong at the time these missionaries signed? As Baptists, we need to count the cost of losing even one missionary.
___I wonder what Christ would have done if he had been told he had to sign a revised version of the BF^M before he could seek to save those which were lost. He would probably have brought out his whip.
___Is God's word not good enough? Does Jerry Rankin find fault with it too?
___Missionaries risk their lives each day while those living on a higher plane sit in their ivory palaces making demands on believers who have a faith so strong they are willing to leave all to follow Christ. Something just doesn't seem right.
___ Mary Hayden
___ Baytown

Words tell all
___Thanks for the information on Chris Harbin's teaching of Genesis (Nov. 25). It explains very well why the International Mission Board let him go.
___You've done us a great service.
___ David Mills
___ Auburn, Ga.

Writers' words
___I found it incredible that Mark Kelly could claim Chris and Karen Harbin's teachings "cannot even be reconciled with the 1963 Baptist Faith ^ Message" (Nov. 25).
___ Perhaps Kelly never read "These Things We Believe" by J. Clyde Turner (1959). It states: "The Bible does not deal with all realms of truth. It was not designed to teach science and other branches of learning. It is primarily a religious book."
___Perhaps he has never read "The Baptist Faith and Message" by Herschel H. Hobbs (1971), which notes: "The fact that the Bible does not say dogmatically how long the creative period lasted. Since the Holy Spirit inspired the writing of Genesis 1, it must be concluded that he did not spell out this detail. Had he said 'a 24-hour day' or 'an indefinite period of time,' that would settle it. But since he did not do so, the time element is not a vital point of faith".
___Hobbs also says the Bible lays no claim to being a textbook of history, literature, philosophy, psychology or science. "To say that the Bible is an authoritative book does not mean it is authoritative in every field of human thought. It is not authoritative in science," he explains.
___Kelly was not reading the same 1963 Baptist Faith ^ Message that Hobbs and Turner helped write.
___Perhaps the International Mission Board should gather up all the copies of these Southern Baptist publications and burn them as heresies.
___ Thomas Bush
___ Dallas

Standing firm
___The fleshly appetite of selfish ambition and power knows no bounds, even in religious circles. This was operative in Jesus' day among the religious leaders who were among the ones who had Jesus crucified.
___Jesus never did obeisance to any Jewish law or tradition, regardless of the consequences. Jesus did not conform to any man. "Jesus did not commit himself to them, because he knew all men, and did not need that anyone should testify of man because he knew what was in man" (John 2:24-25).
___Jesus also taught: "But Jesus called them (his disciples) to himself and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you' ..." (Matthew 20:25-26).
___The promotion and elevation of the 2000 Baptist Faith ^ Message in the SBC and its mission boards to exercise authority over individuals and churches and state conventions has to be of Satan.
___It is certainly not of the Lord.
___I am thankful the Baptist General Convention of Texas is standing firm against the pressure from the SBC and others, while remaining true to the Lord Jesus.
___ Ernest V. May Jr.
___ Livingston

Which 10?
___Regarding the debate about the Ten Commandments and the Constitution, Derek Davis, editor of the Journal of Church and State, notes: "If we post the Ten Commandments in public space, whose version do we post?"
___The ancient Hebrew text followed by Judaism is different from the English King James Version adhered to by most Protestants. The Roman Catholics follow yet another reading of the commandments.
___I'm for the Ten Commandments. If followed, they can make life a lot better for anyone.
___The problem comes when they are made "the law of the land."
___In Nigeria, the civil courts are trying to save a woman the Muslim majority say should be stoned to death. She is accused of adultery.
___America set the right course 226 years ago when religious adherence and civil obedience were divorced. It was made plain that this government would not have one religion to the exclusion of others. No one can use their particular brand of religion to lord it over others. Pay taxes to the government and your offerings to your church.
___Warm hearts in religion is good, but religious hot heads with more zeal than knowledge are not good for religion or America.
___ Britt Towery
___ San Angelo

New translations
___I assume Gerald Dickerson was partially writing "tongue in cheek" about new versions of the Bible that would correspond to believers' liberal/conservative leanings but was serious about some of his letter (Nov. 18).
___One of the reasons we need updated versions or new translations is that human languages continually change. The meanings of words change from generation to generation. There will probably never be an absolutely correct error-free translation. Even the King James Version has been edited and updated several times since it was first published in 1611.
___I love it when people make their points by quoting certain Scriptures but fail to quote the whole passage.
___Are women also to cover their heads, not wear gold jewelry and keep silent? How does anyone know which verses to take literally and which are we to adapt to today's culture? Is it possible that this is where the priesthood of the believer comes into play without admitting it exists?
___It is not the authority or relativity of the Bible that divides us. Actually, it is human failings that have been present since Christianity began and before.
___ Charles Mcfatter
___ Semmes, Ala

___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; 250-word maximum.

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