letters_63003

Posted: 6/27/03

Updated 7/03/03

TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM

Matched set

Marv Knox and Hillary Clinton have a lot in common.

Hillary Clinton blames the “right-wing conspiracy” for all her problems.

All of Europe is free from right-wing Christian influence. In fact, Christianity is almost non-existent in all of Europe because of the little silly games the liberal has pushed on humanity.

E-mail the editor at [email protected]

Ed Holmes

Sanger

Incessant dribble

Only because I know several individuals whose lives have been gutted because of the Southern Baptist Convention mess over the years, I will stop short of calling the continuing babble I read in the letters to the editor section comical.

What bothers me about the incessant dribble that masquerades for intelligent argument is that all of it is mere redundancy. Each letter follows as predictable a formula as “Law & Order” but with much less entertainment (and shall I say coherence?).

Anti-fundamentalists (who fool themselves into thinking they are theologically moderate) either bash the SBC directly or with a rhetorical question, and then proceed to quote Scripture like they were taught to do in Sunday School. The Scripture, because Baptists are “people of the book,” is either left on its own as if it is sufficient enough to win the argument, or it is followed by some quip that supposedly offers a succinct and obvious closure to the “argument.”

The fundamentalist relics who write in are no different except they don't seem to have any qualms with equating politics with hermeneutics. (The anti-fundamentalists are far more subtle yet no less guilty.)

Though I realize that the content of the banterings will necessarily be recycled due to the nature of the controversy and goings on in Baptist life, would someone at least, for the love of God (go ahead and pull out Exodus 20 here), find some creative ways to express them?

Billy Jackson

Waco

Wonderful ministry

Brentwood Baptist Church in Houston answered “What Would Jesus Do?” when they started their wonderful ministry to AIDS victims and their families.

At last, a church that practices what they preach. May God bless this wonderful, obedient congregation.

Frances Brown

Kerrville

Factual reporting

Thank you for setting the record straight regarding the early retirement of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Ken Hemphill (May 5).

It is sad when the Southern Baptist Convention's “trusted leaders” go to such detrimental extremes to eliminate (via force) so many tried and true servants who have done so much for so long for our denomination. These leaders then attempt to cover up their apparent shady deeds. When will our leaders stop dealing under the table, behind closed doors, and stop attempting to hide the truth and be honest by telling the truth?

How is it we continue to tolerate our leaders kicking out so many missionaries when they are aiding our denomination in carrying out the commands of the Great Commission? (May 19) Most of them were in their place of service long before the manufacture by man of the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message. Sad!

Your reporting helps us to truly understand the facts surrounding the removal from the classroom of the two outstanding veteran Southwestern professors, Karen Bullock and Stephen Stookey. A grave misjustice!

Thanks for digging out the facts and reporting them to your readers.

Garette E. Lockee

La Grange, Tenn.

New president

I have just read in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that Paige Patterson is being considered for president of Southwestern Seminary. To say the least, I am angry!

As a graduate of both Southern and Southwestern seminaries, I feel betrayed by Southern Baptists who have permitted academic freedom to be squelched at these institutions through the selection of men like Patterson to head them.

I am thankful that I was able to study at Southern with Frank Stagg, who challenged us to think deeply on the Scriptures, and at Southwestern with Leon Marsh, who challenged us to think outside the norm but within the bounds of Scripture.

I can only hope that one day we will see a turn-around. I dread to think what the future of Southern Baptists is with the influence of Patterson now at a second seminary. God help us!

David C. Long

Monterrey, Mexico

Back in Texas

Paige Patterson back in Texas?

Good grief!

Alvin Burns

Dallas

Baptists' mission

My husband and I just returned from 10 days with two of our finest missionaries on a mission trip. After a time of worship, construction and renovation, three new souls were brought into the kingdom.

It saddened me that signing a man-made document, the Baptist Faith & Message, seemed to be on their minds often. It was very evident that these missionaries really have a strong commitment and hearts for the lost.

Our prayers are needed for them as they minister–as they do many things to reach lost people that many will never know about. Reaching the lost is our mission.

Linda Jones

Lubbock

Israel's identity

How is it people like Mark Borofsky still make the mistake about the identity of Israel and the people of God? (June 9)

Would I become one of God's people were I to convert to Judaism? Blasphemy! God's people are those who are “in Christ.”

There is only one light unto the world: Jesus. Only one in whom the nations are blessed: Jesus. Only one who is God's Son in whom God is pleased: Jesus. Only one who is the Suffering Servant: Jesus. Only one who bore our sins and transgressions: Jesus. Only one saved person in the history of the earth: Jesus. There is only one hope by which we might share salvation, victory and eternal life: by being in Jesus!

Jesus is the fulfillment of all of the promises to Abraham. Jesus is Israel, the vine, the olive tree.

Pray first, then read Hebrews and then Romans. The Old Covenant is obsolete because it is fulfilled by Christ.

If you are not “in Christ,” you are not saved, for he alone is the fulfillment of God's salvation plan.

I love Israel because it is a democracy. I love Israelites because they are God's creation. Fleshly peace may or may not come by treaty. But God has a better plan for peace–conversion to Christ. If all the Arabs, Persians and Israelites were “in Christ,” fleshly peace would have a chance.

Evangelism should be our focus to announce they can have peace “in Christ.”

Ben Macklin

Fort Worth

Bathroom humor

I have to say I was not amused at the bathroom humor being a part of the cartoon titled “Adam and Eve, Day 2” (June 9).

The strategic placement of the tree to “cover” Adam is an insinuation beyond the mental needs of Christians. (Although, after the fall, they supposedly covered themselves.)

I just think bathroom humor and insinuation do not belong in a Christian worldview.

Joe Phillips

Granbury

FMB requirement never implemented

Pete McGuire claims, "In ‘The Baptist Heritage,’ Leon McBeth writes, ‘In 1920 the Foreign Mission Board drew up a 13-point doctrinal statement to be signed by all its missionaries’" (June 9).

If this is an accurate quote, it apparently never was implemented.

We were appointed in 1952 and served for 41 years as missionaries in Uruguay. At the time of appointment, we were simply asked to write up our principal doctrinal beliefs. I believe mine was very simple and brief, less than one page in length.

Occasionally, the personnel department would question the doctrinal statement presented by a candidate, but once he/she arrived at this stage, it was almost a given that the appointment would be approved.

I never heard of a 13-point doctrinal statement that all missionaries had to sign. We did not have to sign any list of doctrines prepared by others. I have talked with numerous veteran missionaries, and they say the same.

So, I think it is important that McGuire’s statement be challenged. He attempts to use the quote from Dr. McBeth’s publication as the basis for saying that the present requirement of signing the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message is nothing new. If the present requirement can be justified, other grounds that are valid must be found for supporting it.

James Bartley

Waco

Missions suffers

What I admired most about the Southern Baptist Convention was the missions program. Now that they have substituted confrontation for love, it appears weaker, and the program suffers.

What a shame.

R. Terry Campbell

Big Canoe, Ga.

Texas church could cover missions shortfall

As a director of missions, a former International Mission Board missionary and now a trustee of the IMB, I would like to challenge Texas Baptist churches.

The Standard reported on the financial shortfall the IMB is facing. I was in the Framingham meeting of the IMB where we were discussing how to address the $10 million dilemma.

Visiting our committee meeting was a missionary recuperating from injuries his family sustained by a terrorist attack. In the midst of our discussions, this missionary demonstrated Christian values when he observed that we have about 5,000 missionaries. He stated that if we as a board would cut the salaries of the missionaries $2,000 per year we would cover the shortfall in one year. While our board would never entertain that suggestion, our committee noted his commitment to the Lord’s work.

Leaving the meeting, it occurred to me that in Texas we have as many churches as we have missionaries on the field. If a missionary would be willing to make such a sacrifice, how much more should we who enjoy churches like "Ivory Palaces" be willing to sacrifice?

If each church in Texas gave $2,000 more too the Lottie Moon Offering, in one offering the shortfall would be covered.

What a tragedy to turn away or delay the people God is calling because we must build bigger buildings or remodel our palace instead of caring for God’s called.

I challenge every church to increase their offering this year.

Kyle Cox

Galveston

Which BIble is inerrant?

Paige Patterson told me in a conversation I had with him in Gloucester, Va., that he did not believe inerrancy applies to today’s translations of the Bible—only the original autographs.

A few weeks later in "The Baptist Banner" Patterson was quoted as saying to students at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, "The Bible you hold in your hands is inerrant."

Which is it? If inerrancy applies only to the autographs, then which parts of the translations are in error? If inerrancy applies to the translations as well, then how do you explain contradictory passages in the translations?

For example, who killed Goliath? Was it David or Elhanon? Or did Elhanon only kill Lahmi, Goliath’s brother? The translations do not agree with themselves on this question, and others—a point Patterson conceded to me in our conversation about the translations. The best he could come up with to reinforce his argument was, "Well, the translations are close enough to inerrant to call them inerrant." By definition "close to perfect" is still imperfect.

Patterson became the president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary by misleading people as to his real belief about the nature of the Scriptures, in order to attack dedicated Bible-believing Christians like Russell Dilday, who will not lie to keep (or get) a job!

The thought of him sitting where Dilday used to sit makes me sick!

Mark S. Johnson

Macon, Ga.

Chosen by his own search committee

What value is there in an award given to oneself? Paige Patterson chose his own search committee. Every Southwestern Trustee owes his seat to Paige. No one serves as a trustee of any SBC institution without Paige’s tacit approval. Prayer and God’s will are trivialized by incidents like this.

Phil Lineberger

Sugar Land

Lost sight of morality and godliness

I regret our Supreme Court justices have no theological education toward knowing that God has no blindness to "privacy of persons" and nothing can be hidden from his vision.

How did they miss the point that this is a Christian democracy under God and Immanuel called Christ who destroyed the city of Sodom, from which the satanic behavior derives its name?

Freedom without discipline breeds a heathen, but this nation was set aside by God to await the "coming of Christ/Immanuel," and it was by him that this landmass could become a Christian anything!

These supreme justices have lost sight of God’s precepts of morality and godliness, and they need to be removed. America’s blessings have always been under satanic attack, but we do not need it legalized.

B.D. Norman

Dallas

Never reading this paper again

I know I am late in writing this, but there are a few things that I want to say.

First, I do not feel under pressure nor intimidation to speak my mind. I am a student and part-time worker at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Second, I have gotten to know Dr. and Mrs. (Ken) Hemphill well. They are good people ,and I believe them.

Third, I have also become familiar with many Southwestern trustees. They did not force Dr. Hemphill out nor force him to remove Dr. (David) Crutchley as the dean.

Fourth, while it is sad to be losing Dr. Hemphill and possibly losing Drs. (Stephen) Stookey and (Karen) Bullock, there are still many top-notch professors here whom I have learned a great deal from.

Fifth, I used to take what was written in this paper with a grain of salt, but not anymore. You do not want to report the facts of stories. You seem too eager to forget about grace and love. You would rather cause strife. I am never reading this paper again.

I look forward to getting to know Dr. (Paige) Patterson and finding out what he is really like before I make any judgments about him. I feel more concern here for the students than I do now at my alma mater, East Texas Baptist University, whose focus is sports, not education. You can quote me an all of this.

Thomas Smith

Fort Worth

When will this madness stop?

Only God knows and eternity will attest to the number of lives that could have been impacted by the amount of funds and energy that has gone into the "ruining of the Southern Baptist Convention."

I have a notice that this publication must cut back on printing because of a shortage of funds; headlines ‘Tight budget taps out church funds,’ and our own little church had to cut down the size of our new building because the pledges were not sufficient. Missionaries have been displaced because of a silly rule about signing a creed and now women desiring to enter the ministry will be disenfranchised by our seminary. It is no wonder that women are leaving this denomination to find a place of service. The new president of Southwestern has proclaimed no women faculty members will be allowed.

There was a time when you had to go to the secular world for politics, but no more.

When will this madness stop?

Betty Westbrook

Plano

Trustees will be held accountable

As a graduate of both Southern and Southwestern Baptist seminaries, I’ve seen firsthand the change wrought in God’s name.

Jesus called such doctrinal "purists" hypocrites. They sought their own interpretation of God’s word and destroyed those who did contrary. The Apostle Paul would have had another word for what Southwestern’s trustees have done: "anathema!"

Karen Bullock was right stating one of the "viruses" infecting the church is ministers being god rather than showing God.

The effect of the change of leadership, choosing Caiaphas, will undermine the ministerial integrity and capability of the seminary’s mission.

Speaking of integrity, I give you a definition, not mine: "Integrity is a choice. It is constantly choosing the purity of truth over popularity." The trustees have sought man’s popularity and glory rather than God.

The rigid doctrinalism coming from Southern Baptist leadership denies any grace and academic freedom.

The world is dying and going to hell while these trustees seed to serve themselves and their position. They should heed Jesus’ words, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice," before they condemn the innocent. Already, the wounds from this coup d’etat are manifesting themselves in mean-spiritedness.

The trustees should beware. God will not share his glory with any other. They will be held accountable by God for their actions. God is more powerful than the Southern Baptist Convention.

C.S. Lewis wrote, "They that have despised the word of God, from them shall the word of man also be taken away."

May God have mercy on Southwestern Seminary.

Austin R. Robinson

Arlington

What do you think? Submit letters for Texas Baptist Forum via e-mail to [email protected] or regular mail at Box 660267, Dallas 75266-0267. Letters must be no longer than 250 words. They may be edited to accommodate space.

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