September 9, 2002
TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Cutting-edge ministries
___I wish to commend Leo Smith, interim executive director of Texas Baptist Men, and his team as the TBM ministries continue on the cutting edge of things during this transition time.
___Victim chaplaincy ministry, under the direction of Gene Grounds, is much-needed and is being well-received. I have had the privilege of receiving the hightest-quality training and putting it into practice.
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
___During the recent flood in the San Antonio, Canyon Lake, New Braunfels and Victoria area, this added chaplaincy ministry served hurting lives. It gave folks encouragement they so desperately needed. It helped them deal with their crises, and, in many instances, make new starts with life.
___This chaplaincy ministry and other TBM ministries are on the cutting edge of meeting the physical, material, emotional and spiritual needs of folks in a most critical time in their lives.
___While denominational unrest goes on, Texas Baptist Men continues to be where the needs are. I would encourage every denominational group to support the ministries of TBM.
___ Harold Sellers
___ Wharton
Please both young & old
___Let Michael W. Smith speak for himself (Aug. 19). I disagree with him.
___A singing church is a happy church. Churches are made up of people of all ages.
___Hymns usually teach Bible Scripture. Therefore, people who sing hymns know more Bible Scripture. The Bible is a letter to us from our Maker.
___People who seldom read the Bible learn it from songs. It would be nice if choir directors would try to please both the young and old members and sing both the old and new songs.
___ Ruby Wolfe
___ McKinney
Not opposed to change
___I wholeheartedly agree with Michael W. Smith's statement about dying churches.
___I understand the purpose of churches striving to reach younger families, because they are the leaders of the future. I am almost 78 years of age and have been a Christian since my early teens. There have been times that music has done much more to inspire me than the sermons, and I have had some of the best pastors anyone could want.
___Some of the contemporary music thrills my soul, and some does nothing to prepare me for worship, as with some of the traditional hymns. My biggest complaint about contemprary music is singing the same song over and over. I also feel some traditional hymns could reach some of the younger members.
___I do feel the present-day worship leaders need to be more sensitive to the needs of the older generation. We do much to help pay their salaries.
___Please do not think I am down on present-day worship leaders. They are some of the greatest. I love young people, or I would not have enjoyed the profession God called me into, teaching in high school for 22 years.
___ Leo Oringderff
___ Houston
Government & governed
___Randy Bissell's article, "God should not be sought in the government, but in the governed" (Aug. 26), says God is not to be considered in the affairs of our government.
___This is a great part of our problem today in America. We have allowed government to set worldly standards for us to live by that are many times neither right nor of God. The Bible says, "The nation that shall not serve God shall perish" (Isaiah 60:12).
___The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Should we pay tribute to Caesar, or not?" He replied, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." A direct answer to a direct question. He simply said, "It is right to pay taxes to your government." We should not add to his statement concerning separation of church and state.
___Jesus also said, "You are the salt of the earth." It should permeate all of us. He also said, "You are the light of the world." That light should shine in the halls of our government buildings as well as in our church buildings.
___As a Baptist minister, I believe in the separation of church and state, but I do not believe in the separation of God and state. God is not to be separated from any people, whether they be the government or the governed.
___ Ewell J. Humphreys
___ North Richland Hills
The greatest 'liberal'
___Those who would criticize others' views often try to discredit anything they say by labeling them "liberal." This has been effective in secular politics.
___Webster's Dictionary defines liberal: "1. generous, 2. not literal, 3. favoring more civil liberty."
___Seems fairly innocuous. I wonder why it is regarded as profane.
___Was Jesus profane? Was he regarded by his followers as something more than he professed to be. He was profaned by his detractors, and by his enemies he was scorned. But I suppose that was a given. After all, he was the greatest "liberal" ever to walk the face of the Earth.
___ K.D. Boyd
___ Granbury
Different person
___I respond to David R. Bradley (Aug. 19) for two reasons: I don't want folks to think I've moved to Grapeland and taken leave of my senses, and I take issue with his reasoning.
___He posed the analogy of his relationship with his earthly father to criticize the Baptist General Convention of Texas position that Jesus should be the standard for interpretating Scripture. He would obey his dad's word without regard for his dad's person, implying God's word (the Bible) is more important than God's person (Jesus.)
___Aside from the fact God's Word is Jesus Christ (John 1), not a term for Scripture, the Bible is the record of God's revelation of himself, not the revelation itself. Much of that revelation took place before a single word was written. Non-fundamentalists revere the Bible because it is the written record of God's revelation. We hold it as truthful and authoritative, but we worship the "Word," not the "word."
___The standard for biblical interpretation the BGCT rightly claimed is Jesus Christ. Bradley emphasizes "inerrancy," a term that does not appear in the Bible. Inerrancy is a human doctrine that hinges on the interpretation of "inspired" (2 Timothy 3:16). Though it has several meanings, Bradley would restrict it to "word-for-word divine dictation." Fundamentalists have used that singular human interpretation to disrupt the fellowship in the Southern Baptist Convention and would now use it to disrupt our fellowship in Texas.
___ David R. Bradley
___ Winters
Review retirement
___Recently I read that Southern Baptist Annuity Board President O.S. Hawkins told trustees the majority of investment funds of the board "met or beat their respective investment standards during the first half of this year."
___If this past year was one of meeting planned investment/retirement goals, I dread to see what failing to meet future goals would be.
___According to the board's chief financial officer, Jeffrey P. Billinger, total assets dropped from $7.4 billion in June 2001 to right at $6.5 billion in June 2002. This represents a significant loss. This does not include the previous year, when the Annuity Board posted a $600 million dollar loss.
___I do indeed understand that the market volatility is an issue which not only affects the Annuity Board, but almost all investment institutions. My concern is in the board's willingness to report severe losses as "investment standards met."
___I also appreciate the board's limitations in regard to personal investment advice. However, it was only during the process of withdrawing funds that the Annuity Board called me personally. This was a first. I was told that moving my funds would jeopardize my housing allowance. This was at best incomplete advice.
___Secular investment professionals can provide insightful advice in a time where some define money lost as "standards met." I encourage others to review their retirement as I now belatedly do and to remember there is an investment whose returns are eternal.
___ Eddie Tubbs
___ Dumas
Godless heresy
___For the benefit of Michael Williams (Sept. 2), I would point out he is entirely correct to say "hupostasso" appears over 30 times in the New Testament. However, he is incorrect to claim "hupostasso" appears in Ephesians 5:22. Therefore, it should not appear there in any of our English translations. Look in a King James Bible--which italicizes words that are inserted by the translators but do not appear in the Greek text--Ephesians 5:22, and notice that the word "submit" is italicized.
___The Apostle Paul starts his discussion of "hupostasso" (submission) in Ephesians 5:21, saying that we are to submit ourselves to one another, and then in the rest of the discussion speaks about how wives are to submit, as well as how husbands are to submit.
___By the way, "hupostasso," is best translated, "to place oneself in right relationship with." In Genesis we read that God created woman to be man's "helpmeet," which, contrary to our culture's definition, means "equal partner." So, wives and husbands, I urge you to practice "hupostasso" as you are taught in Ephesians 5:21, submitting to each others as equal in both form and function.
___And, women of the church, when you hear God calling you into ministry, be it as a layperson or as an ordained minister, I urge you to obey that call. To do anything less would be a sin.
___ Mark S. Johnson
___ Macon, Ga.
___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. Letters must be no longer than 250 words.
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