letters_81103

Posted: 8/8/03

Texas Baptist Forum:
Common ground

I may have stumbled on a “common-ground” statement that would reunite those Christians of good will whose historic cooperation has been torn asunder by the “inerrancy” debates.

Perhaps we could all agree: God has miraculously supplied us with the Bible in exactly the form and using exactly the words that he wants us to have at this moment in time.

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To then judge the veracity of those chosen words would be, in essence, judging God himself, which I hope no one would ever dare.

Is this a place where the factions of Baptist life can choose to set down our instruments of war and enjoy Christ's gift of being “free indeed”?

Jerry Barker

Falfurrias

Absolute corner

During the past year, a friend and I were discussing the works of Christian author Beth Moore. My friend's husband is a Southern Baptist pastor. As we talked, she laughingly commented that her husband has also viewed videotapes of Moore and he found her to be a “better pastor than many men pastors.”

In Southern Baptist Convention circles, we are told women cannot be pastors of Southern Baptist churches nor teachers in schools of theology, as they are “prohibited from teaching men.” How then do we address the theological problem of Southern Baptist men pastors being taught through viewing and use of teaching videos prepared by women?

Could part of our difficulties arise from the fact that in the New Testament the Apostle Paul writes, “I do not allow …” rather than “God does not allow…,” versus the prophets of the Old Testament prefacing their speaking on God's behalf with “thus saith the Lord”?

Could another part of our difficulties arise from the fact no one really has an absolute corner on God's thoughts or teachings?

Melissa Crawford

Temple

Compassionate people

What is it about faith-based organizations that the government does not have and presumably could not obtain yet often seems to produce results superior to those of government programs?

I'm afraid the major difference may be good people, the kind of people capable of feeling compassion for those they serve. Not that they must be saints. What we may often see in such organizations are only ordinary people working in an atmosphere that tends to bring out the best in them.

The president apparently is proposing to meet the need for compassionate care in government programs by just contracting it out. Contracting out has become quite popular with administrators in recent years. It relieves them of the task of recruiting qualified employees, reduces their own supervisory duties and allows the government to limit its expenditures to a set amount.

Rather than pushing some of the government's responsibilities off onto religious organizations, I would prefer to see the administration make a greater effort to hire and retain compassionate employees in its own service sector and to create an atmosphere in which compassion thrives.

Campaigns that just consist of slogans for a “Kinder, Gentler IRS” or asking, “May I help you?” won't cut it. Nor do examples set by government administrators whose compassion appears to be based on the squeaking-wheel-gets-the-grease principle.

James O. Morse

McGregor

Welcome visitors

Hendrick Health System and Mesa Springs Retirement Village in Abilene were pleased to host Bob Campbell and Debbie Ferrier, the president and second vice president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. They were visiting Hendrick as a part of their visitation program for BGCT agencies.

I want to express my gratitude for their visit to Hendrick and Mesa Springs. It was wonderful to share our programs with the leadership of the convention and to have them visit our institution.

The Baptist identity continues to be a very important part of the Hendrick faith-based mission to Abilene and the Texas Midwest, and we value the relationship we have with the BGCT and our sister institutions.

Thanks to Campbell and Ferrier for their interest in visiting not only our institution but all the institutions of the BGCT.

Michael C. Waters, president

Hendrick Medical Center

Abilene

Bright & Robertson

An interesting study in contrast emerged recently with the death of Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ.

Bright never sought big headlines nor took on the establishment in a confrontational, high-profile manner. He had one mission in life–sharing Jesus Christ. Millions of people accepted Christ who read his “Four Spiritual Laws” booklet or saw the “Jesus” film. His philosophy was simple: Society is changed one heart at a time.

Pat Robertson recently called for a 21-day prayer vigil hoping to influence three U.S. Supreme Court justices to give up their seats. This holy war against the justices demonstrates a different tactic in shaping morality in America.

Bright sought to change society by leading people to accept a relationship with Jesus Christ; Robertson has sought to do it through manipulating the legal system. Morality, certainly a function of laws, can never be sustained solely by legislation, but only when it springs from a heart made pure by God. Bright understood this principle well, and that is why his organization will continue to thrive now that his faith has become sight.

Even the unbelieving world looks with admiration on Bright's methods. When he shared the good news, it was without pressure or threat, just a heartfelt invitation for people to know God.

Robertson, however, has become the brunt of jokes and spoofs in almost every media source. The world views Robertson's methods with disdain because they come across as overly pious manipulation.

The contrast couldn't be more striking.

Bill Hill

Kansas City

Missing the point

I'm appalled at the arrogance that emanates from some of the readers of the Standard. They read a few comments pulled from Tony Campolo's one-hour sermon (July 14) and think they know everything about him. Not only that, they totally misuse his comments to suit their arguments.

First, it is sheer arrogance to believe Southern Baptists have a monopoly on truth and believe such things as: “We can't allow that dirty American Baptist in our doors. He'll liberalize us.” I'm proud to be a Baptist (no “Southern” here), but not of the brand that's been molded in the last three decades.

Second, these readers judge a man for saying his wife believes it is OK for homosexuals to marry, even though he clearly states he is against it. People must stop hearing half a sentence.

As for his views on social justice, the assumption that he disregards the heart is way out of line. In a book he co-authored, “Adventures in Missing the Point,” Campolo clearly states that social justice and conversion of individuals are both vital cogs in working toward God's kingdom.

Finally, concerning his views on dispensationalism, how dare he have a different view of the end times from many Southern Baptists. You mean a non-creedal denomination has dogma concerning how the book of Revelation should be interpreted and that it is based on a view that has only existed for 150 years? What a heretic!

J.D. Allen

McGregor

Absentee support

At a recent meeting of our Women on Mission group at First Baptist Church in Brownfield, we were discussing the International Mission Board's firing of the missionaries who could not in good conscience sign the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message. One of the members made a suggestion that I write a letter to the Standard.

We are saddened by this unkind and unfair treatment of our missionaries who had been working faithfully to spread the gospel for many years–one of them as long as 35 years, some about 20 years and many others shorter periods. After these many years of service, they are suddenly considered unaccountable to Southern Baptists, who employed them, because they did not sign a man-made creed.

However, also regrettable is the lack of support these missionaries have received from the national Woman's Missionary Union.

Although their names have been on the missionary birthday prayer calendar and information about them and their work has been included in WMU literature for years, there is now total silence about their forced departure. It is as if they are personae non grata.

There has been, as far as I have been able to determine, no public word of support or appreciation for these dedicated people from the organization that we thought was most supportive of our missionaries and their work, WMU.

We lament this sad situation and want to offer our own words of gratitude for these missionaries and our sorrow at the way they have been treated.

Ann Hope

Brownfield

Ethics 101

Bad kudos to the editorial staff contributing to the Standard article on the Baptist General Convention of Texas staff reduction (July 28).

The first section of the article was direct, informative and sensitive. I believe Charles Wade was sincere in his statement regarding the reduction of staff.

Then I turned to the continuing saga and was surprised to see you were naming names. This is something you might see in the slick tabloids when checking out at the grocery counter.

Isn't it enough they must endure the pain of being fired? Why continue the personal embarrassment by announcing it to the Baptist community.

Maybe the “contributors” to the article should take a refresher course in Journalism Ethics 101.

Bob Juliuson

Dallas

Authority vs. heresy

All pastors, students, employees and faculty at our Texas Baptist colleges and universities and Southwestern Seminary should be required to read “The Gnostic Gospels” by Elaine Pagels. Don't be put off by the word “gnostic.”

Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon, was the forerunner of Paige Patterson's plan for Texas. Irenaeus, in his attempt to protect the church, insisted that all Christians submit to the doctrine, ritual and supreme authority of the church. Failure to submit was to be labeled a heretic.

“Today we read (the gnostic gospels) with different eyes. … Only now are we beginning to consider the questions with which they confront us.”

Don Phillips

Fort Worth

Misrepresented Dobson

A photo caption mentioned National Prayer Chairman Shirley Dobson and her husband, "religious broadcaster and political activist James Dobson" (July 28).

Religious broadcaster he is, but political activist? Dobson does not endorse candidates, nor does he raise funds for any political party, nor does he actively support any PACS. Focus on the Family, Dobson’s ministry, is not a political organization in any way whatsoever.

Though I do not speak for Dobson, I can tell you he does speak out on public issues affecting the family, such as abortion, child abuse, education, the Boy Scouts, etc., in keeping with his role as chairman of Focus on the Family. You can check this out for yourself on his website, family.org.

If this labeling was an honest mistake, a correction placed as prominently as the error would be appreciated. If it was intended to label Dobson as a political activist, may I remind you to please confine your opinions to the editorial page.

Mike Sheeran

Houston

When will it 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

Correction

A statement in the letter from Marcus Norris (July 28) was printed incorrectly. As published, the letter said: “Did not God answer Jesus' prayer for our unity? I think the answer must be an emphatic 'no.'” It should read: “Did God not answer Jesus' prayer for our unity? I think the answer must be an emphatic 'no.'”

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