April 22, 2002
TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Creed vs. creedalism
___I have increasing concern that the word "creed" has assumed so much importance in our denomination's battle of words.
___Coming from the Latin "credo," which means "I believe," the word is ordinarily used to mean a general collective statement of principles or beliefs, such as the Apostles' or Nicene creeds, which are recited routinely by the Presbyterians, Episcopalians, etc. They must have a problem understanding why we balk at that word.
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
___Indeed, the Baptist distinctives, which have helped to guide us for so many years, fit the definition of a creed. The Pledge of Allegiance and the Scout Oath are creeds.
___In the dictionary, the word following "creed" is "creedalism," defined as "undue insistence upon traditional statements of belief." It is not creeds, but pharisaical creedalism, that ardently should be opposed.
___ Val F. Borum
___ Fort Worth
Missionary decision
___Please do not judge too harshly any of our missionaries who sign the affirmation of the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, even though it is against their principles.
___They may be following God's leadership in staying with the people they love, and who love them. They may feel they cannot desert their work that God has called them to do, no matter what the mission board requires.
___So, let's pray, pray, pray.
___ Betty Elliott
___ Highlands
New clarity
___I want to thank Morris Chapman for clearing up a misunderstanding in his address to the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. The misunderstanding has been perpetuated in Baptist life for 23 years at great cost to the Baptist witness, missions, missionaries and the local church.
___Chapman eloquently stated: "Whatever else in the church has taken the focus from Jesus must be cast away. There is no room for any other. Only he is worthy. ... The church is what it is because of who Jesus is. Let us have eyes only for him. ..."
___For the last 23 years, Southern Baptists have been led to believe the church's relevance, identity and mission were tied to acceptance of some obscure theory about the error-free nature of the original manuscripts of Scripture, manuscripts no one has been able to produce.
___From what Chapman has said, it appears the SBC is back to accepting Scripture's authority based on faith in the person of Jesus, with "no room for any other." Based on his address, it appears a certain theory about Scripture owes Jesus an apology for 23 years of stealing his spotlight.
___Southern Baptists owe Chapman a debt of gratitude for clearing that up. Whatever has taken the focus away from Jesus must be cast away! Amen.
___ John Petty
___ Uvalde
Security measures
___These are perilous times, what with 9/11, suicide bombers, and factions hating Christians and Jews sworn to kill at any cost. It is scary to say this, but the United States has just gotten a glimpse of terrorism, with probably the worst yet to be inflicted. I pray more and more of us will be vigilant, as our president has pleaded.
___With the great number of aliens from the Arab world in our country and authorities who can't locate them, it makes you wonder where they will next strike. Definite security measures should be taken at all Baptist functions that draw unusually large audiences.
___ John R. Adams
___ Warren
Tithing passages
___Answers to the "teaching tithing" letter (April 8) come from the New Testament:
___"And (Jesus) said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's'" (Matthew 22:21).
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___ Doris Coleman
___ Hallsville
Out of step?
___The letter from Elbert White (April 1) reminds me of the Army recruit who observed all in his company were out of step except himself. He became very frustrated when he was the one cited for the infraction.
___ Houston, the home of Union Baptist Association, is the largest association of Baptist churches in the world. It is located in one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. God has led the leadership of Union Association to remain focused on proclaiming Jesus Christ without yielding to the ungodly political activities of Baptists in other areas of the Southern Baptist Convention. Baptist political leanings do not keep Houston churches from joining in the Great Commission.
___ Baptist churches in Union Association need for brothers and sisters to get in step with the work of Jesus Christ in our city. We need everyone in step with what God is doing in our city.
___ White has observed the great need for reaching people in our city. As Henry Blackaby states, "When we see God at work, he will invite us to become involved in His work." I invite White to observe what God is doing through Union Baptist Association. Perhaps God will invite him to become involved in his work and forget the ungodly political fights.
___ We need all of God's army to be in step with what God is doing in our city.
___ William H. (Bill) Osborne
___ Houston
Believe for salvation
___I've heard some state there are "different" ways to lead one to salvation within a Baptist church. I have found it satisfying to know that our church's and the Baptist Standard's views of "becoming a Christian" (04/08/02) are the same.
___There is no truth in the believing that one is saved by repeating a prayer to get saved. As the Bible states, "Anyone who accepts Christ as Savior shall be saved." Some seem to try and change the saving act to saying a prayer for salv
___I accepted Christ as Savior and prayed after I was saved, thanking him for salvation.
___A witness was sharing the gospel with a man outside a bar. After the man recited a "prayer," he asked, "If I say that prayer, that means I'm saved?" The witness said, "That's right!" And the man went back into the bar. So, repeating a prayer doesn't save you. Salvation comes from the realization that one is lost, condemned to death, separated from God, must confess sin and accept Jesus as Savior to remove condemnation and accept God's promise of salvation through his name.
___I can assure you that if that man had done all that, he would not have gone back into the bar!
___I'm sanctified by God's grace. Isn't God good?
___David Shinn
___LaMarque
Scripture reference needed
___Could any reader of the Baptist Standard please show me where in the Bible it states that one must spend thousands of dollars obtaining a four-year college degree, either secular or religious, and then one must spend thousa
___I'm trying to determine if our current system is the will of God or just the tradition of men.
___Your help would be greatly appreciated!
___Kevin Stanley
___Texarkana
Tithing sanctified by Jesus
___Jesus sanctified the tithing program in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 in spite of what J.B. Stitton says.
___Also, how can we tell what we are to lay by in store without something to give us direction such as the percent (1 Corinthians 16:2)?
___ God supported his work in the Old Testament with the tithing program. How would Stitton suggest he would support it today?
___Tithing was before the law, during the law and after the law (Matthew 23:23).
___ Dick Tilman
___El Paso
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