July 15, 2002
TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Recognize 100 percent
___Jerry Vines, apparently a stalwart of the Southern Baptist Convention, said, "Islam is not as good as Christianity" (June 17). He then compared the founders of both religions.
___His statements, though true, may have seemed insensitive. He was immediately criticized by Baptist General Convention of Texas stalwarts for "violating both the Scriptures and Baptist beliefs." Most Texas readers understand by now that had one of our BGCT leaders used the samewords and stated the same truths, he would have received loyal support from his faction for speaking up on a tough subject.
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
___ I recently read an advertisement in the Baptist Standard written by some of our Texas politicians that compares resisting our SBC leadership with resisting the Nazis. Another stated, " ... if the SBC had its way, there wouldn't be any funding to support Hispanic ministries." Yet no Texas Baptist leader stepped forward in print to say: "Hey, that's not the approach we need to be taking. That's pretty harsh and deceptive rhetoric." Does not the SBC deserve the same consideration for Christian dialogue, sensitivity and understanding as that demanded for our Islamic friends?
___ The uplifting of the BGCT is not dependent on, or helped by, the downcasting of the SBC. Let's quit looking for the stumbles of our Baptist opponents, doing the printed "tit for tats" and "I gotchas" and fighting over God's work and word in an un-Christian manner.
___We're all Southern Baptists. At least 95 percent of us are subject to human error and misunderstanding. Let's shoot for and recognize 100 percent.
___ Dave Lyons
___ Eliasville
Spoken from God
___The comment that Jerry Vines made regarding Mohammed, I believe, was good. They are lucky I didn't preach to them. We can't be afraid to preach what is truth, and we have to do it with boldness.
___Jesus does say in the Gospel of John that he is the only way we can get to heaven.
___Bob Campbell mentioned that this statement by Vines will make it difficult for us to witness to people (June 24). The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword, and by prayer and through God's power, people are still going to get saved. We as Christians already made it difficult to witness a long time ago, with so many people playing God.
___We need more and more and more people to proclaim the gospel with boldness, not being afraid of what people are going to say about you. There are places around the world that mock the name of Jesus Christ, and we don't make a big deal about that, but when a pastor preaches the word of God in a sanctuary, we get offended.
___ Timothy Ramos
___ Dallas
Unfortunate remark
___Jerry Vines' comment about Mohammed was such an unfortunate remark.
___The June 24 El Paso Times reported: "Iran's arbitrating body has approved a reformist law increasing the minimum marriage age from 9 to 13 for girls and from 14 to 15 for boys. ... The law's approval is seen as a victory for Iran's reformists, who have sought to promote women's rights."
___Their culture is not our culture. People do not live as long as we do, for one thing.
___Frankly, what research of Vines revealed the "demon-possessed" description for Mohammed?
___In our rush to Israel's defense, let's not forget God's promises to the Arab people. Abraham also is their father.
___I am a Christian, by the way, and I have traveled in the Muslim world. One is inspired by their devotion to prayer.
___Our religion is a religion of love. We can afford to show a little once in awhile. One also is inspired by the Muslim devotion to each other.
___Let's remember in our dealings with each other: "United we stand." How far do we fall with our criticism of each other and everyone else?
___ Mary Burleson
___ El Paso
Condition of the Jews
___We say we believe the Bible. But it seems that is true as long as it doesn't contradict our theology or eschatology. We like to proof-text the Scriptures to support our bias or presupposition but ignore those Scriptures that contradict our position.
___One area that comes to the forefront in our discussions is trying to comprehend the condition of the Jews of today and the Holocaust in particular. There is no way to comprehend the history of the Jews apart from the Scriptures, particularly Deuteronomy 28:15-68 and 31:14-29. Nowhere in the Bible is the truth of this passage rescinded or refuted by Jesus. Stephen was martyred by confronting the Jews with the truth of their history (Acts 7:51-53).
___Jesus told the fate of the Jews (Matthew 21:43). He also makes a broader application: "The one believing in the Son has eternal life; and the one not being subject to the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God is remaining on him" (John 3:36).
___ Ernest V. May, Jr.
___ Livingston
'Open' problems
___One of the many problems in the articles on Open Theism (June 24) is the literal interpretation of passages with no regard to the overwhelming testimony of Scripture that God is sovereign over his creatures. Scripture must be interpreted by Scripture to obtain a more complete view of the nature of God. Consider:
___God is the creator, and he governs his creation. There is none like him, and he does as he pleases. (Job 38:1-42:6, Psalm 115:3, 33:10-11, Isaiah 44-47, 55:10-11, Romans 11:33-36)
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___ Curtis L. Moore
___ Lewisville
Out of mainstream
___Like every "ism," Calvinism takes limited Scripture and forms a condensed Bible. It's like the "Full Gospel" churches that never preach the full gospel.
___I will not waste time refuting all the points of Calvinism, just two.
___First, time means nothing to God. He invented and created it. Even science has shown time is relative to Earth. C.S. Lewis said God sees past, present and future all at once. Good theory.
___Second, Calvinism belittles and demeans God. Almighty God cannot be unable to do anything, even change his mind, just because they say so. It's "God in a box" theology.
___Calvinism is a mean, hard-hearted, anti-mission, anti-witness philosophy. It appeals especially to the Pharisees and the unmotivated among us.
___ Jack Newton
___ Azle
Man-made theology
___Open theism is a misnomer (June 24). This man-made philosophy should be termed "closed theism," because it definitively restricts the true nature of God's omniscience.
___The so-called biblical support for "open" theism is taken out of context and ignores appropriate standards of biblical interpretation taking into account the human authors' limitations in understanding the full revelation of God.
___Wallace Roark's analogy of the "checkers" story was interesting; however, one statement he made is a blatant disregard of God's nature. He said: "God does not know the actual future until it happens. It is open." His conclusions are based on H.L. Cravens' limited human knowledge. God's knowledge is limitless.
___If he does not know the future until it happens, then how could Isaiah, Daniel and others prophecy accurately about the "future" Messiah? Does not Revelation tell us of future events?
___God is independent in his operation with time. Through his omniscience, he is able to see and know all time in a moment. "For a thousand years in Thy sight are like yesterday when it passes by" (Psalm 90:4). "That which is has been already, and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by" (Ecclesiastes 3:15).
___This "open" theism is an attempt to limit God, to try to understand God carnally and to undermine the authority of Scripture. All it does is "open" the door for doubt and false conclusions.
___ Cliff Sims
___ Olney
Pastoral authority
___I couldn't agree more with the article on pastoral authority (June 10).
___People have forgotten the definition of the word "ministry." That word means "to serve."
___When Jesus was asked about who would be the greatest in his kingdom, his response was profound (as though we should expect anything other than profound words coming from the Lord) and applies to all of us in the vocational ministry and lay ministry. We should seek to be last if we want to be first.
___The Apostle Paul writes very clearly concerning a Christian's attitude toward another. We should each consider the other as more important than self.
___As a pastor, I am blessed to have the respect of the congregation as I too respect them. 1 Peter 5:3 (in context of shepherding God's flock) says, "not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."
___A pastor needs to realize the greatest task he may have is being the example to the congregation he serves. There is much to be said about dialogue. In my church, the folks do not have a problem with coming to me and discussing a disagreement, and I must say that in the 10 years of being here those moments have been very few and have always resulted in solutions without contention. It can be done!
___ Bill Adams
___ Port Arthur
Finding dignity
___Articles on the changing music ministry and pastor/laity conflicts have been very timely.
___Recently, some dedicated ministers of music in our area retired from their churches after decades of service. This is commendable for the men, but also for the churches they served. They must have had a congregation with a good system of support and accountability for their whole staff. Their churches must have followed Philippians 2 in their effort to be like-minded. Church members must have kept a proper perspective in their input and followed the will of the people. The laity must have cared enough to be involved and informed. These churches must not have felt that the church did the calling and the pastor did the firing.
___The pastors of these men must have treated them as valued fellow-laborers in the ministry and sought input from staff and laity as they cast their vision for the church. Progress and growth do not necessarily necessitate pain and conflict. The staff must have been a family, with their share of disagreements, yet willing to solve them in a spirit of love rather than conquest.
___The gospel ministry has lost many capable servants who have stood in the gap between pastors and laity--trying to appease both factions. The music minister is too often the fall guy when conflicts arise.
___If congregations could become loving support groups for staff and pastors could become selfless servant-leaders, perhaps more ministers could retire with dignity as a testimony to unity.
___ Jim Clayman
___ Georgetown
Hard enough
___A cartoon in a recent issue of the Baptist Standard dealt with the "Antique Road Show" (June 3). The item being analyzed was a hymnal, signifying that it is out of date.
___I am the wife of a minister of music, and my husband's job is hard enough in dealing with those often not pleased with my husband's choice of music, but printing a cartoon like this one only fuels their fire.
___A paper like yours should not make the very "hot issues" of the church worse by making them into cartoons. I just hope in the future you will consider all that the cartoon is before printing it.
___ Linda Hite
___ McAllen
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