September 16, 2002
TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Peril of losing religious liberty
___Immeasurably more terrorizing than the horrors of 9/11 are the results of a recent national poll: Forty-nine percent of Americans think the First Amendment is "a hindrance to the war against terrorists." Forty-two percent think the American press "has too much freedom."
___I wish people who hold those views could live in some of the many countries in which I worked with fellow Baptists and saw the terrorism of their lack of freedom.
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
___This includes pastors and others scourged, imprisoned and killed for preaching the gospel. I would like to introduce them to the woman jailed for 30 days for reading the Bible to several neighbors. And to a youth beaten and chained to a tree.
___I would like for them to meet pastors heartbroken after years of severe limitations, having suffered all kinds of punishments because of prayer or witnessing and attempting to provide a school for young children.
___I wish we had the commitment to Christ they manifested when I asked them, "Why did you not leave this country when you had the opportunity, as colleagues did?" Shocked by the inquiry, they exclaimed: "We stayed because this is where God wants us to be witnesses for Jesus Christ!"
___Would to God we had that commitment to Christ! If we did, there would be no lack of heroic leaders, pastors and professors who today would be sounding the trumpet blast to awaken Americans to the peril of losing religious liberty!
___ Joseph B. Underwood
___ Richmond, Va.
Investment benchmarks
___In a recent letter to the editor, a reader raised questions regarding the investment funds performance for AB Funds Trust. The following information is provided to clarify questions raised by the reader.
___Like most other mutual fund families, each of the investment funds that are a part of AB Funds Trust are measured against a professional benchmark. For example, if our Equity Index Fund outperforms the S&P 500 Index, it has exceeded its expectations. If a particular fund does not perform equal to or better than its benchmark, then it has not exceeded its expectations. This measurement is often called relative performance. During the first half of 2002, a majority of AB Funds Trust investment funds met or beat their benchmarks.
___While the board does not give specific investment advice on individual stock offerings, it does provide investment education materials. The LifePartner Profile is a tool that assists participants in selecting an asset allocation appropriate for a participant's risk tolerance and time horizon. Recently, the board has provided news articles that give participants principles to follow in volatile or down markets. These principles include taking the long look for your investment objectives, maintaining proper diversification, avoiding impulsive decisions, having realistic expectations about the performance of the markets and staying invested.
___The Annuity Board is always eager to talk with its participants. Customer relations specialists are available via telephone or the Internet Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. until 6 p.m Central time.
___ Curtis D. Sharp
___ SBC Annuity Board
___ Dallas
Calvin & Jesus
___At the close of his ministry, Jesus wept over Jerusalem because most of those living in that city had failed to become his followers (Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34). He said the reason was they "were not willing" (Matthew) or "did not want " (Luke) to respond to his call to them.
___If John Calvin or one who agrees with his view about how people become children of God had been there on that occasion, would he have corrected Jesus by telling him he should have told those who had rejected him that God had not chosen them to be saved before he created the universe?
___ Russell Ware
___ Denton
Sign on or get out
___I got quoted correctly about the robot appearance of new faculty members at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Sept. 9).
___I hear that the signing of the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message was a last-minute addition to the program at the fall convocation. We Baptists have frequent surprises, don't we?
___Oh, and one more thing: I didn't resign as an adjunct faculty member. I was simply told to sign the new BF&M or I couldn't teach the following semester. That, of course, is the policy of all fundamentalist takeovers--religious or secular.
___ Bob Beck
___ Fort Worth
___What do you think? Submit letters via e-mail to marvknox@baptiststandard.com or regular mail at Box 660267, Dallas 75266-0267. Letters must be no longer than 250 words.
Way of Balaam
___In response to Britt Towery's letter (Aug. 19), I find it interesting that he seems to be upset that Reba Cobb didn't footnote her speech to his satisfaction and yet he is blinded to the fact that the word of God says women are not to preach or teach.
___Paul instructed all of us on this in his letters to Timothy, Titus and the church in Corinth. God designed this role to be that of the man so that no one would malign the word of God because women are more easily deceived, as Eve was in the garden.
___I realize some have tried to circumvent this by making assumptions that Priscilla or Phoebe taught. I ask the question: Why does Paul speak highly of these women if they are teaching in defiance of the command of the Lord? Obviously they did not teach.
___Jesus himself chose only men as the first apostles. Nevertheless, remember this day and note how this heresy will increase as you continue to have your ears tickled by those who have gone the way of Balaam. Just another day in the apostasy.
___ Burt Bull
___ Kingsville
Feeling fed up
___We should stop and look at ourselves, Texas Baptists. I received a flyer for a youth essay contest with cash prizes. Suggested topics included " The Authority of the Bible," "The Autonomy of the Local Congregation of Believers" and "Voluntary Cooperation Among Churches," to name a few.
___Then I read what I couldn't believe: "Youth essay participants who are members of Baptist churches aligned with other conventions than the Baptist General Convention of Texas may participate in BGCT competitions. However, participants from these churches will be ineligible for monetary awards."
___May I have your attention, fundamentalists? May I have your attention, moderates? Haven't we carried these differences too far?
___I consider myself a Baptist who is becoming fed up in the actions of both sides, and I wonder how many others are feeling the same way.
___ Leslie C. Chaney
___ Corpus Christi
Part of America
___Even though "under God" was added after the Pledge of Allegiance was written, let's keep it that way and keep "God" everywhere. America was built on Christian principles.
___It is sadly ironic to be at war against terrorism defending our liberties against those who despise religious freedom only to have dim-wit extremists from our own country curtailing those freedoms.
___The recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, including "under God," is part of who we are as Americans.
___ Marilyn Green
___ Dallas
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