February 4, 2002
TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Opinions of self
___It seems many individuals whose letters are published in the Standard take more pride in being Southern Baptist than in being Christian. Many need to study Galatians.
___Also, many Scripture verses speak about how an individual's opinion of himself or herself should be considered. A couple of Proverbs: "Pride goes before destruction; a haughty spirit before a fall" (16:18) and "The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him" (18:17).
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
___The truth will keep us free. Those who refuse to search for truth--who refuse to know both sides of an issue--seem to have pride in their own knowledge and understanding and are not following the teaching in the Bible.
___As Benjamin Franklin said in persuading others to sign the Declaration of Independence, "... doubt, with me, a little bit of their infallibility."
___ Bob Titus
___ Commerce
Disdain for politics
___I was shocked to see the column by Marian Wright Edelman (Jan. 28). The Children's Defense Fund does very little to help children. They exist to promote their liberal/socialist agenda. Their answer to all social problems is to increase spending on government social programs.
___Her call to "narrow the gap between the rich and poor" is a thinly disguised support for increasing taxes on the rich.
___The Standard should help children by promoting organizations such as Buckner Baptist Benevolences, and it should stay out of politics.
___ Wallace M. Pippin
Grandview
Keeping the faith
___I know you must be tired of all the negative and divisive notes you get. I have read many of them ..., and I too have been pained by them.
___I also am ashamed because Christians above all people should remember Ephesians 4:29: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
___So, let me offer the word of encouragement that my father in Christ, Billy Ray Parmer, gave to me: "When you're getting kicked in the backside, it means you're ahead of the group."
___I suppose this is also directed to all my Christian brothers and sisters who are undergoing times of hardship: Keep the faith, stay the course and remember that it isn't people we struggle against, but against the devil. God is with you, and I am with you in my prayers on your behalf.
___I would like to direct a question to those who always do the kicking: Do the words you use bring glory upon the cross of Christ, or do they dishonor it by exhibiting the spirit of division that he is firmly against? Do the words you use cause the lost to want to accept Christ and enter his church, or do they make them want to stay away?
___Speak carefully; you never know who's listening or reading.
___ John R. Franklin
___ Evant
'Real' fundamentalists
___In reference to "Texas children's ministers create their own Sunday School curriculum series" (Jan. 21): Now, who are the "real" fundamentalists?
___ F.A. Taylor
___ Kempner
God of Christians & Jews
___I write in defense of the statement Al Mohler made, "Christians and Jews do not worship the same God."
___I believe he meant God does not accept worship of the Jews and Christians alike. The Jews have, by and large, rejected Christ as Savior and Lord. Therefore, they have set themselves outside the guidelines of acceptable worship of the Father God. This is true, because Jesus said: "All men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him" (John 5:23).
___I believe Mohler simply meant that the only way to worship and please God is through his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man can come to the Father except by me" (John 14:6). This means that no one can come before God the Father to worship him except that person believes in Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.
___I love the Jews. We owe so very much to them. We need to be a loving witness to them for Christ.
___The day will come, according to Scriptures, when they will turn to Christ as their salvation (Romans 11:26). Then it shall be true that the Christians and the Jews will worship the same God, because the God we worship is not only God the Father but also God the Son.
___ Ewell J. Humphreys
___ Fort Worth
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