Posted: 9/21/07

College students ‘Focus’ on sharing gospel

By Eric Guel

Texas Baptist Communications

ARLINGTON—More than 2,000 Texas Baptist college students prepared for the school year by taking a hard look at the needs of the world around them.

“The story of Jesus Christ — it’s the story of all stories,” Mike Stroope of Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary told the crowd at Focus, sponsored by the Baptist General Convention of Texas. “His story pursues us; it transforms us. We need to listen to his story, and turn other stories down.”

The event featured messages by Stroope, and worship led by musician Charlie Hall. Students also engaged in equipping tracks on topics such as small group leadership, New Testament study, shaping worldview and ministering to unbelievers.

Throughout the weekend, conference halls resounded with voices of students ministering to each other, encouraging one another and sharing lessons learned through sermons and equipping classes.

“Here at Focus, God’s really shown me how proud I am,” said Ricky Salvato, a junior at Angelo State University. “The equipping track on ministering to unbelievers opened my eyes to my fear of losing my reputation for the sake of Jesus Christ. I’ve realized that all I have to do is show the love of Jesus to lost people, and who cares if you lose your reputation.”

Fear of the unknown gripped Texas A&M University senior Whitney Travis before ministering at the prison in Huntsville this summer through Go Now Missions, the BGCT’s student missions effort. Travis told her story to Focus participants, citing a holy love for people who seem unlovable.

“Who am I to deny the gospel to murderers and rapists?” she said. “Because of our sin, we’re just as guilty as they are. Jesus died for them, too.”

Bruce McGowan, director of the BGCT collegiate ministry, said the weekend served a dual purpose. “Our intent here is really two-fold,” he said. “It’s about equipping students and also giving them an opportunity for a personal encounter with God and with each other.”

Baylor University freshman Kyle Lewis said enjoying fellowship with other believers helped strengthen his faith.

“It’s refreshing to be with like-minded people and to feel invigorated before I undertake such a huge endeavor my freshman year,” he said. “I think my faith has grown here. It’s a faith that I can take to whatever mission field God sees fit for me, whether that’s overseas or here in Texas.”

Chelsey Burleson, a junior from the University of North Texas, fills out information to send a Bible to someone overseas.

Keith Baldridge, college pastor of First Baptist Church in Canyon, said Focus helped his students hone in on hometown missions. “The weekend’s been good at equipping our students to live a life of missions on campus. A lot of times we think of missions as being overseas, but the mission is right here æ it’s right in our home.”

The event attracted students from more than 100 campuses, and participants gave more than $12,000 to student missions through offerings and a silent auction. “The students gave generously,” McGowan said. “And hopefully, they’ve made some important decisions here—decisions about what they’re going to do next summer, next semester, or what their call in life may be.”

For Joel Lakes, a junior at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, the decisions he made at Focus helped ignite his passion to share the love of Jesus with unbelievers.

“I’m feeling this year that I’m really going to take a lot of ground for Jesus and I’m not going to forget what he’s taught me,” he said.

Stephen F. Austin State University sophomore Kayla Herring, described her Focus experience succinctly: “It changed my worldview.”

Posted: 9/21/07

Enrollment, student test scores
up at many Texas Baptist schools

While college enrollment across the nation is down slightly, enrollment and student test scores are on the rise at many Baptist General Convention of Texas-affiliated universities.

The U.S. Department of Labor recently reported slightly fewer 2006 high school graduates across the country are enrolling in colleges as compared to 2005 graduates. But many Texas Baptist schools saw enrollment grow or remain nearly even.

Houston Baptist University posted the highest increase in enrollment, a 9.1 percent jump to a total of 2,338 students.

“This is truly a phenomenal time for HBU as we welcome the largest class of freshmen in our history,” said HBU President Robert Sloan. “Every facet of the campus has been impacted by the significant growth and caliber of our students. In fact, as we celebrate the increase of new students on campus, we have also begun preparation for future classes with the construction of a new residence college to be completed by fall 2008.”

Enrollment at Howard Payne University increased 4.2 percent to 1,384, including students taking classes at the school’s satellite campuses in Midland, Corpus Christi and El Paso.

“We are pleased to report this enrollment growth this year,” said Howard Payne President Lanny Hall. “This underscores the rising demand for Christian higher education and the response of students and parents to Howard Payne’s efforts to keep higher education as affordable as possible. We continue to help families find creative ways to manage the critical investment they are making in the lives of students.”

Overall enrollment at Wayland Baptist University increased 3.3 percent, including 7 percent at the school’s Plainview campus. In Wayland’s campuses across the nation, 5,709 students are enrolled in classes.

“The freshman class is more than 17.5 percent up from last fall, with more than 250 freshmen,” said Claude Lusk, Wayland vice president of enrollment management. “From the new student perspective, we do have the largest number living on campus that we’ve ever had before as well, an 11 percent hike from last year.”

Hardin-Simmons University, which is near capacity, saw enrollment grow to 2,435 from 2,372. The university carefully chose its students. Selectivity has tightened to 26 percent from 29 percent in 2006, 39 percent in 2005 and 53 percent in 2004. 

Logsdon Seminary has record enrollment at 115 students.

Dallas Baptist University set an enrollment record for the 20th consecutive year with an increase to 5,244 students, 91 higher than last year’s enrollment.

More than 14,170 students enrolled at Baylor University this fall, including the academically most qualified freshman class and the largest number of seminary students in the school’s history.

This year’s freshman class has a record average SAT score of 1219, compared with last year’s previous record of 1213. Since 1999, the average SAT score for Baylor freshmen has risen 50 points.

More than 400 students are enrolled at George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Baylor’s overall fall enrollment of 14,174 students is the second highest total in university history, behind 2001’s record enrollment of 14,221 students.

Enrollment at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor dropped slightly to 2,685, but the percentage of minority students jumped from 25 percent to 28 percent.

“One of the university’s strategic goals is to recruit an ethnically diverse student body that reflects the population demographics of our region,” said Ron Brown, associate vice president for enrollment management. “We have also been working in recent months to increase the number of international students enrolled at UMHB, which we more than doubled this fall.  We are pleased to have this increase because we recognize that these students bring an important global dimension to learning experiences on our campus.”

Enrollment at East Texas Baptist University dipped slightly to 1,308 students, which Vince Blankenship, ETBU vice president of enrollment management and marketing attributed to tougher academic admission requirements.

Baptist University’s of the Americas enrollment in accredited programs remained about even at 200 students. An additional 500 students are enrolled in non-accredited BUA programs around the globe.

Compiled by John Hall at BGCT Communications

Posted: 9/21/07

Students see dramatic difference at Sul Ross

By George Henson

Staff Writer

ALPINE—The decision by students involved with the Baptist Student Ministry at Sul Ross State University to present the multimedia drama “Last Chance” was a win for the men desiring to join the school’s basketball team.

While the new coach has not made his selections for this year’s squad, 20 of the students going through tryouts attended the drama, and 18 made professions of faith, said Moises Morales, who hopes to make the team as a shooting guard.

Morales and BSM President Jermaine Packard both have been members of the hoops squad and hope to be selected for this year’s squad, but are just as involved in the work of the BSM. Young men who are trying out for the school’s basketball team attended the drama at their invitation.

“Some of them I had to do some talking and twisting arms, and some of them wanted to get out of study hall and this was just an out for them. And some of them were there for the girls. But after they were there, God went to work on them,” Packard said.

Their attitudes and actions since seeing the 45-minute drama offers tangible evidence that their commitments are real, Packard added. In the past, the team had been known as a group who was pretty wild, he said.

The differences are obvious, Morales said. “They keep asking us questions about the BSM and stuff like that—what churches there are, about Bible studies—they just want to know more. Most of them don’t want to look too religious in front of their buddies, but when it’s just us, then they say, ‘When you go to church can I go with you?’ and things like that.

Twenty-two members of the basketball team attended the Mighty Monday Bible study recently, doubling the usual attendance, said BSM Director Dan Dunagan.

“This is without a doubt the best year of my ministry here,” Dunagan said, who has been at Sul Ross 16 years.

But the influx of new Christians has been so great, Dunagan admitted discipling them will be a challenge.

“If I didn’t have students willing to stand in the gap and help with these new believers, I might be in some trouble,” he acknowledged.

The sacrifice of students already involved in BSM made the success possible, he stressed.

Because the students felt so strongly that drama was worthwhile, they raised the more than $5,000 it took to bring the production to Alpine, and then gave of the time and talents to learn the lines and put on the show.

Members of the basketball team were not alone in seeing their lives changed. Sixty-seven students made professions of faith in Christ, and 20 people rededicated their lives to Christ.

That number extended even to a couple of the BSM students who acted in the drama. They were so affected by the parts were portraying, they became convinced they had not had real conversion experiences in the past, Dunagan noted.

“They came in thinking they were saved, and in the end, knew they were saved,” he said.

Morales has a very specific prayer for his teammates.

“I don’t want the highlight of their college careers to be that they played on the Sul Ross State University basketball team, but that this is where they gave their lives to Jesus Christ,” he said.

Posted: 9/21/07

Church offers motorists bargain gas and full service

By George Henson

Staff Writer

SCHULENBURG—Not too many people have experienced blessings at the gas pump lately, but residents of Schulenburg did recently, thanks to First Baptist Church.

For a couple of hours on a Saturday, the church pumped gas and washed the car windows of patrons of Alfie’s Food Mart & Shell Station, all the while subsidizing the price of gas by 50 cents a gallon. So, the bargain rate for gasoline was $2.19 a gallon rather than the $2.69 that had been posted.

In just two hours, church members pumped 1,758 gallons of gas. That put the bill for First Baptist Church at $879, and Pastor Eric Vaughan said it was money well spent. About 120 people were able to fuel up during the ministry.

“It was a neat, neat day,” he said. “A lot of people were surprised, and their first question was ‘Who are you?’”

A convenience store employee lowers the gas price for a couple of hours, thanks to a subsidy and volunteer labor provided by First Baptist Church in Schulenburg.

When customers learned a church was helping them fill their tanks and washing their windows, many stopped for longer conversations. Meeting so many people in such a positive way made the expense paltry in relation to the good will engendered, Vaughan stressed.

“It was all about blessing the community, and that’s what our church is all about—just loving people,” he said.

While the line was sometimes a little long, no one was unhappy. Vaughan had talked to the police department well in advance, so a traffic flow plan was in place to keep things moving as best they could.

“No one was unhappy with their wait.” Vaughn said.

When the two hours were up, a sign was put in the back glass of the last vehicle in line at that time to let those behind know that discounted gas was ended. A volunteer also stayed in the area to make sure there were no misunderstandings.

Vaughan had served previously been on staff at a church that had a similar ministry, but the work of the 27 volunteers and the church council who helped make the preparations made the day such a success, he emphasized. The church already is making plans to repeat the project, he added.

Posted: 9/21/07

CYBER COLUMN:
Attack of the kitchen witch

By Jinny Henson

It had been a benevolent weekend for my family. We all participated in The Race for the Cure 5-kilometer road race for cancer research. Our church hosted the group from The Fuller Center for Housing to build homes, and I had worked in our Praise Kid Children’s service. All in all, a wonderful weekend full of terrific experiences.

Monday morning arrived and with it the start of a new and exciting service project for me—Meals on Wheels. John had participated in the program faithfully for years, and so I decided I could certainly spare an hour of my week for such an important job. I called to volunteer my services, and the affirming voice on the other end oozed anecdotes about how cute and appreciative the clients were. She assured me they would give more than I could ever give them.

I attended the training session and learned quickly the basic tenets of sanitary food distribution. The milk and bread in baggies were the only slightly confusing concept, but I focused real hard and finally got it. The main rules were to always deliver with somebody, so you don’t get shot or something and to never leave the food if the recipient was not there to personally accept it. If the food is left and spoils then later consumed by the recipient, it can very dangerous.

I accomplished my first task of finding the pickup point. With cooler, hot box, binder and map, I was eager to go make my small difference in the big world. I was “Jesus with skin on,” ready to do his bidding for the day. I had no idea what to expect, but when in doubt, my subconscious always reverts to the best-case scenario. Flying high with great expectations, I began.

My team member was unable to meet me to distribute the meals, so I was already insubordinate on rule No. 1. I was not afraid to make my deliveries, though. I’d been my share of urban “mission trips,” and besides that, once you live through monthly business meetings in a Baptist church, everything else you do is a picnic. God is great that way!

I reached my first house, and since she did not have a phone number, I rang the doorbell. No response. I cautiously opened the screen door to the porch, staring at the two doors of the duplex that shred a common address. Hmm … . Behind door No. 1, I pictured Estelle Geddes, ready to embrace me. Behind door No. 2 could be a crackhead tore up from the floor up. “Which door? Which door?” I truly could not decide.

I gingerly knocked on the left one and the right as I backed away toward the entrance to the screened-in porch, hedging my bets. I rang both doorbells and again heard no signs of stirring. No television or phone. I knocked once more and waited. When I received no response, I turned to leave.

About halfway down the sidewalk, I heard a door open and a voice as cracked as the early 1900s cement path before me.

“You were just going to LEAVE?” accused a 4-foot-tall woman draped in a worn housecoat and shawl which belied the 90 degree weather. Her shrunken face resembled that of a kitchen witch like the one I had gotten for my Mom at King Super Drug in the 1980s.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I sure knocked.” I began and formulated my defense. She peppered me with questions, revealing her deep distrust in humanity in general and me in particular, confused as to why such an energetic woman would give up on her so easily.

In her eyes, my lack of persistence was the only thing standing between her and her 17 ounces of daily sustenance (with milk, bread and a cookie in separate baggies, mind you, just like the laminated training manual pictured.)

“So, you mean you were just going to leave with MY meal? Just like that, huh?”

Now, I was beginning to get offended at the tone in the kitchen witch’s voice. Clearly she doubted my dedication to the cause and didn’t much care for my methods, either.

She further insulted me by actually sticking out her tongue at me after each repetition of “You were JUST going to leave with my meal?” Every taste bud giving me the what for as they thrust in unison.

At first, the rational side of my brain, which interprets peoples’ actions, dismissed her tongue as an involuntary bodily blurb. But as she continued to syncopate each accusation with it, I was beginning to see that this was no reflexive spasm. Had we been in the Middle East, I feel certain she would’ve removed her worn out shoe and beaten me on the head like a toppled Saddam statue. She was just that insulted.

I repeated with as much compassion as I possibly could the rational reasons we are unable to leave food. To her, my words were as cogent as the teacher in A Charlie Brown Christmas. “Whaah, whaah, whaah, whaah, whah, whaah.” Convinced that I would not win her over that day, I decided to give her the brightest smile I could and simply leave. As I continued my delivery route, I was filled with malaise where once anticipation had been. I certainly did not feel like any Mother Theresa, but then as we’ve recently learned, to my relief, probably neither did she.

I usually laugh when bizarre things happen to me or when great grandmothers use the nonverbal communication of a preschooler to get their point across to me. I am typically pretty hard to sink, but I was measurably deflated by the misunderstanding. “I love old people!” I wanted to shout from the rooftops in my defense.

When I stop to consider this dependent, little lady in need of nourishment, her actions don’t really seem so bad. I guess I do not know how I will be when I am her age and possibly in her predicament, which I pray I never am.

I see our inability to connect as a great common denominator in most relational problems. We stand at opposite ends of the porch, unwilling or unable to understand from another’s perspective. In our DNA is the propensity to lash out at those trying to get close enough to help us and retreating when we are misunderstood.

We are all waiting for those in our lives to get on our programs. We spend years trying to cram our spouses into our molds because our faults are so much better than theirs and trying to persuade our children to realize that the dishwasher actually accepts dirty dishes. We wait for our co-workers to pull their weight in the office and for those with whom we do church life to esteem God by the exact method we use or they are simply wrong.

We are chronically impatient and impertinent about our perspectives, entrenched and eager to stick out our tongues before we know the full story. I have a feeling this woman will grow to be very special in my life. That’s the way Jesus usually moves in my life; a rocky start usually makes me listen far more carefully about how God wants me to love someone. I will return next week with high hopes, only this time I will knock with my hammer.

Jinny Henson travels the country as a Christian comedienne. John, Maggie Lee and Jack are an endless source of material for her. You can find out more about her at www.jinnyhenson.com

Posted: 9/21/07

Bible Studies for Life for Sept. 30

Reading the handwriting on the wall

• Daniel 5:1-6,22-28,30-31

By Steve Dominy

First Baptist Church, Gatesville

The fifth chapter of Daniel introduces a new character in the drama, Belshazzar. In chapter 4, Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar are at the top of the political food chain. Nebuchadnezzar knew no other king or nation could challenge him, there were no rivals to Babylon.

But with Belshazzar the situation has changed. Babylon is facing a Persian threat, Belshazzar is not the leader Nebuchadnezzar was and the country is in crisis. Persia stands at the door of Babylon, ready to overthrow them. In fact, that event is played out at the end of chapter 5. Belshazzar is killed and the kingdom overthrown.

The twin themes of pride and arrogance have resonated through each previous chapter and they sound again here. Even though Nebuchadnezzar had the tendency to be full of himself, we see him recognize God in each story. On more than one occasion, Nebuchadnezzar was humbled and then turned from his arrogance to recognize the true God.

Nowhere is this more evident than in last week’s lesson from chapter 4. Nebuchadnezzar exalted himself even above God, looking at Babylon and giving himself all the credit and praise. God humbled him by reducing him to living like an animal until he acknowledged God’s superiority and was reinstated to his former place.

Such is not the case with Belshazzar. Belshazzar has learned nothing from Nebuchadnezzar even though he looks up to him as a father. There is no repentance in Belshazzar, only arrogance and disdain for anything that is not under his power. The story of Belashazzar concludes quite differently than the story of his predecessor.

Nebuchadnezzar’s pride always led him to exalt himself; his weakness was the tendency to think too highly of himself. Belshazzar’s pride and arrogance led him to a direct attack on God.

We don’t know Belshazzar’s motivation in using the vessels taken from the temple. It may be that Belshazzar was using them to encourage the people at the banquet by remembering the conquests of previous times, or he may be directly and knowingly attacking God himself. Whatever the case, using the goblets that were only to be used in the worship of God is an attack on God whether that was intended or not.

Even when the hand has written on the wall and the king is pale and weak, we see has arrogance toward Daniel. The queen tells Belshazzar Daniel, “… has the spirit of the holy gods in him,” and it has no effect on the king other than viewing Daniel as someone who can be used for his purposes. His arrogance still is in full effect calling Daniel one of the “exiles” and reminding him his people have been conquered. There is nothing that will humble Belshazzar.

Belshazzar’s arrogance caused him to profane holy things. He was guilty of blasphemy. Belshazzar dishonors God both in speech and action by misusing things set aside for the worship of God and using them to praise false gods. It is not only that these goblets were used for a common banquet, but also that they were used to toast the, “… gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.”

Do we take God too lightly? Are we guilty of taking God’s grace for granted? Do we presume upon the goodness of God and therefore diminish our commitment to Christ?

Annie Dillard writes in Teaching a Stone to Talk: “It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping God may wake someday and take offense, …” While we might not say it in that way, her point is well taken—we serve the one and only God, and he will brook no rivals to his throne.

Yesterday I was able to baptize three people. During the service, I was constantly reminded of the power of God to redeem and make new. I was reminded that this is God’s work, that our transformation takes place only because of God’s grace and power. How can we ever take that lightly?

On the Sunday for which this lesson is prepared, our church will celebrate the Lord’s supper as God’s people. “Celebrate” is the right word for that occasion. We are reminded of the price God paid for us, of the sacrifice Christ made on our behalf and we celebrate all God has done and continues to do.

We can see in baptism and the Lord’s Supper the commitment God has made to the redemption of his world. He calls for that same commitment from us, to take up our cross daily and follow him. Will we respond with the commitment of our lives or will our response be cavalier?

Discussion questions

• What is the proper response to the investment God has made in you?

• How do pride and arrogance continue to interfere with our relationships to God?

Posted: 9/21/07

BaptistWay Bible Series for September 30

Faith is the way

• Romans 4:1-17, 23-25

By Andrew Daugherty

Christ Church, Rockwall

It is paramount to the Apostle Paul’s proclamation that what had been promised “beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures” (1:2) is directly linked to the disclosure of righteousness based on faith. Paul continues to stress that righteousness is not defined by the Torah as a possession of the few. Rather, righteousness is sharing a faith like Abraham’s that is available as a gift for many.

Here, Paul uses the Genesis story about God’s calling of Abraham and creating a covenant with him to provide a framework for understanding this righteousness that comes by faith. God called “Abram” to leave his country, kindred and father’s house, and trust the One who promised to bless him and bless the world through him.

At the time, Abraham was childless. Yet God told him his descendants would be as countless as the stars. Abraham believed the Lord, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. His righteousness was not based on any of his good works or personal merits. There was no understanding of Abraham’s righteousness based on works under the law. How then, was Abraham considered righteous?

Regarding how Abraham came to be righteous, New Testament scholar Luke Timothy Johnson explains that Abraham’s story provides the fundamental features of the ways humans relate to God. While he was still uncircumcised, God gave to Abraham a gift he did nothing to earn. The gift was God creating a covenant relationship with Abraham whereby he could be in a positive relationship to God by becoming the father of many nations. Certainly this was not Abraham’s idea. Such a relationship was original to God.

If it were not a gift original to God, Paul suggests our personal works would then be like a job where we earn wages by what we do. To earn our spiritual worth, we would need to produce proof of our righteousness. All manner of spiritual mischief would result, because then our works would be the sole reason for our righteousness. We could then claim bragging rights over against others who did not work as hard. Under this “ethic of earned credits,” we could draw dark, bold boundaries around people who threaten our sense of self-righteousness. What’s worse, we could pull the rank of race, nationality or economic status as a way to determine who God blesses and who God doesn’t bless. But surely we don’t do that, because righteousness is not relegated to such categories.

Paul writes to rupture such boundaries. Even though we want to be paid what we’re worth and earn what we get, the problem of God’s grace makes it theologically impossible to earn righteousness. It’s impossible to be paid for a job we don’t do.

Righteousness, then, begins as God’s gift, and human beings can only receive such a gift by trust. Since this relationship is God’s idea, God is the one who reckons righteousness to another. God is the only one qualified to decide whether or not someone is righteous. Therefore, the gift of enjoying such a relationship to God should not be exploited by thinking one becomes righteous enough to earn God’s good gifts. To follow the example of Abraham is to share his like-minded trust in the One who makes Abraham’s trust possible in the first place.

As you will recall, the law had not yet been revealed to Moses at the time God called Abraham. As Paul explains in Galatians, the law was given 430 years after God’s promise to Abraham. Therefore, the grace of God’s calling precedes the giving of the law. Paul’s thesis is that faith, not law, is the foundation for relating rightly to God.

It wasn’t until Abraham was 99 years old that he was circumcised in the flesh. However, by his faith, he was spiritually circumcised long before that. Abraham’s faith that was reckoned to him as righteousness is the faith Abraham had before he was circumcised. This reinforces Paul’s earlier point that circumcision is not a mark of the flesh. Circumcision is a matter of the heart. Therefore, if someone is genuinely a Jew, then such a person is a Jew inwardly, not outwardly.

Since Abraham’s faith was reckoned to him as righteousness before he was circumcised, Abraham is the ancestor of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them (4:11). Abraham is likewise the ancestor of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow his example before he was circumcised (4:12).

Righteousness is a possibility for every human being. We share the faith of our founder Abraham (and surely Sarah) by virtue of God’s grace, not Abraham’s genes. Paul’s concern is, who will be considered part of Abraham’s family? Would it be just Jews or also Gentiles? Paul answers affirmatively that Abraham is the father of both Gentiles and Jews and all who would be reckoned as righteous by trust in the God who created the covenant with Abraham and raised Jesus from the dead.

Discussion question

• Many affirm with their lips that faith and righteousness are gifts from God and can’t be earned, but is there a danger lurking in many of our hearts that we continue to judge people’s devotion to God by their degree of involvement in various ministries?

Posted: 9/21/07

BaptistWay Bible Series for September 30

Faith is the way

• Romans 4:1-17, 23-25

By Andrew Daugherty

Christ Church, Rockwall

It is paramount to the Apostle Paul’s proclamation that what had been promised “beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures” (1:2) is directly linked to the disclosure of righteousness based on faith. Paul continues to stress that righteousness is not defined by the Torah as a possession of the few. Rather, righteousness is sharing a faith like Abraham’s that is available as a gift for many.

For a printer-friendly version, click on the printer icon at bottom of page.

Here, Paul uses the Genesis story about God’s calling of Abraham and creating a covenant with him to provide a framework for understanding this righteousness that comes by faith. God called “Abram” to leave his country, kindred and father’s house, and trust the One who promised to bless him and bless the world through him.

At the time, Abraham was childless. Yet God told him his descendants would be as countless as the stars. Abraham believed the Lord, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. His righteousness was not based on any of his good works or personal merits. There was no understanding of Abraham’s righteousness based on works under the law. How then, was Abraham considered righteous?

Regarding how Abraham came to be righteous, New Testament scholar Luke Timothy Johnson explains that Abraham’s story provides the fundamental features of the ways humans relate to God. While he was still uncircumcised, God gave to Abraham a gift he did nothing to earn. The gift was God creating a covenant relationship with Abraham whereby he could be in a positive relationship to God by becoming the father of many nations. Certainly this was not Abraham’s idea. Such a relationship was original to God.

If it were not a gift original to God, Paul suggests our personal works would then be like a job where we earn wages by what we do. To earn our spiritual worth, we would need to produce proof of our righteousness. All manner of spiritual mischief would result, because then our works would be the sole reason for our righteousness. We could then claim bragging rights over against others who did not work as hard. Under this “ethic of earned credits,” we could draw dark, bold boundaries around people who threaten our sense of self-righteousness. What’s worse, we could pull the rank of race, nationality or economic status as a way to determine who God blesses and who God doesn’t bless. But surely we don’t do that, because righteousness is not relegated to such categories.

Paul writes to rupture such boundaries. Even though we want to be paid what we’re worth and earn what we get, the problem of God’s grace makes it theologically impossible to earn righteousness. It’s impossible to be paid for a job we don’t do.

Righteousness, then, begins as God’s gift, and human beings can only receive such a gift by trust. Since this relationship is God’s idea, God is the one who reckons righteousness to another. God is the only one qualified to decide whether or not someone is righteous. Therefore, the gift of enjoying such a relationship to God should not be exploited by thinking one becomes righteous enough to earn God’s good gifts. To follow the example of Abraham is to share his like-minded trust in the One who makes Abraham’s trust possible in the first place.

As you will recall, the law had not yet been revealed to Moses at the time God called Abraham. As Paul explains in Galatians, the law was given 430 years after God’s promise to Abraham. Therefore, the grace of God’s calling precedes the giving of the law. Paul’s thesis is that faith, not law, is the foundation for relating rightly to God.

It wasn’t until Abraham was 99 years old that he was circumcised in the flesh. However, by his faith, he was spiritually circumcised long before that. Abraham’s faith that was reckoned to him as righteousness is the faith Abraham had before he was circumcised. This reinforces Paul’s earlier point that circumcision is not a mark of the flesh. Circumcision is a matter of the heart. Therefore, if someone is genuinely a Jew, then such a person is a Jew inwardly, not outwardly.

Since Abraham’s faith was reckoned to him as righteousness before he was circumcised, Abraham is the ancestor of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them (4:11). Abraham is likewise the ancestor of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow his example before he was circumcised (4:12).

Righteousness is a possibility for every human being. We share the faith of our founder Abraham (and surely Sarah) by virtue of God’s grace, not Abraham’s genes. Paul’s concern is, who will be considered part of Abraham’s family? Would it be just Jews or also Gentiles? Paul answers affirmatively that Abraham is the father of both Gentiles and Jews and all who would be reckoned as righteous by trust in the God who created the covenant with Abraham and raised Jesus from the dead.

Discussion question

• Many affirm with their lips that faith and righteousness are gifts from God and can’t be earned, but is there a danger lurking in many of our hearts that we continue to judge people’s devotion to God by their degree of involvement in various ministries?

Posted: 9/21/07

Explore the Bible Series for September 30

Take part in missions

• Matthew 9:35-38; 10:5-14, 26-31

By Travis Frampton

Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene

Have you ever heard about a pastor who embezzled money? What about an affair between a youth minister and a music minister? Priests who molest children? Deacons who have secret sins? A megachurch spending most of its money on building campaigns? Evangelists who preach a “prosperity gospel”? A husband and wife who on their way to church have a knock-down, drag-out argument in front of their kids?

This week our topic is missions. In the verses under consideration this week, much emphasis is placed on spreading the gospel. Nevertheless, the focus in these verses is not on foreign missions (as in, for example, Matthew 28:19-20). Instead, our passage is about the disciples sharing the news of Christ Jesus to their brothers and sisters in the faith (first-century Jews).

Jesus was directing them in what might be called “closer-to-home” missions! In chapter 10, verse 7, he told them to proclaim to those who believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph that the kingdom of heaven is near. Essentially, he told them to evangelize believers. Remember that even Paul understood early Christianity as the “true Israel.” Early Christianity was not something that began new unto itself; it was an extension—the fulfillment—of the Law and the Prophets. Jesus had not yet commissioned his followers to preach to the Gentiles. It seems that the Jewish Messiah believed missions should begin first within the inner circle of the people of God. His message of repentance and forgiveness started with those closest to him.

Jesus was Jewish; the disciples were Jewish; the large majority of the crowds following him in Matthew’s story were Jewish. “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness” (Matthew 9:35). Gentiles did not congregate in synagogues; Jewish observers did.

Jesus asked his disciples not to go “among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near’” (Matthew 10:5-7). An analogy can be drawn between Jesus sending his disciples to share his message in the synagogues and the need for evangelism in the church. When taking the questions above into consideration, the argument is not difficult to make. Church leaders and church members, as much as anyone else, need Jesus. For without his spirit, how can the church effectively be Christ’s body.

Paul spends most of his time in his letters “evangelizing” the early church, preaching the good news to Christians in Rome, Philippi, Corinth, Galatia and Thessalonica. The latter correspondence is a good example. One of the major problems in Thessalonica was that several Christians there were engaging in questionable sexual behavior. Paul encourages them not to “lust like the heathen, who do not know God” (see 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8).

He tells the congregation that “we sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith” (1 Thessalonians 3:2). Timothy, as a missionary to the Thessalonians, was sent to strengthen and to support them in their faith.

Paul and Timothy had already shared the good news with them. Several Thessalonians responded to Paul’s preaching, had converted to early Christianity and were baptized. Yet a number of Christians there remained unchanged morally after Paul left and needed continued encouragement from the evangelist.

Evangelizing the church

Mission work should include evangelizing the church. The church is not Christ. It is his body. Being Christian does not mean one possesses Jesus. It means he or she follows his teachings (1 John 2:6).

The church needs to hear his word about repentance and forgiveness of sins before its members are sent out to proclaim the “good news.” Christian missions should begin with each individual believer before he or she “goes out to all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). Missions will not be effective if we ourselves do not do everything he has commanded us. Jesus warned the “religious” about their tendency to look for a speck in a neighbor’s eye, but all the while harboring a plank in their own.

Sometimes the church does not do everything it has been commanded. It embezzles; it commits adultery; it molests children; it has secret sins; it is concerned with matters of wealth and prosperity; it does not model healthy relationships before children. Yes, the church needs healing. It is an imperfect body with ailments, and it too needs Christ as the Great Physician.

What then distinguishes the church from the rest of the world?

The love of God.

As Baptists, we are located within a tradition that commenced shortly after the Protestant Reformation; and, as followers of Christ within this tradition, we should protest our own sins and reform our own behavior. Imagine what others would think about the church if it spent most of its time reforming itself, bettering itself, so that the love of God could be seen instead of heard. Until people see Christ in us, until they see the Word become flesh in us, they will hear only words. They will not hear the good news of the kingdom of heaven. They will be unable to understand the gospel. Not because they do not have ears to hear, but precisely because they have eyes to see.

Discussion questions

• In what ways does the church still need to hear the gospel?

• Where do you think missions should begin?

• How do you think the behavior of Christians affects the church’s mission?

• Why do you think Jesus told the disciples to concentrate of the house of Israel first when commissioning them to spread the gospel message?

Posted: 9/21/07

Rap tells story of foster
child’s forgiveness of mother

By Haley Smith

Baptist Child & Family Services

KERRVILLE—Jacob Favela vividly remembers standing outside a bar in the middle of the night with two trash bags full of toys in hand, watching his mother drive away. He was five years old.

Neither will he ever forget, years later, an elderly woman beckoning him to her porch. “Jesus loves you, young man” was the sum of the conversation. 

The first incident ushered him into the world of state care, a series of emergency shelters, foster homes and group homes that finds him—at age 18—involved with Preparation for Living program, a Baptist Child & Family Services program in Kerrville.

Jacob Favela

Watch the video of Forgiven here.

The second changed his life—and has led him to help others.

Professionals who work with children from similar circumstances insist Favela’s his story is all too common, but how he has redirected the avalanche of his emotions is definitely uncommon.

A rap called “Forgiven” serves as his musical message to his mother: “Hey mom, it’s your older son talking to you. I want to do what’s right, mom. I’m trying to reach out to you. I love you mom, but your love hurts. Said you’d give me the best, but you put me through the worst…”

The rap achingly reflects how Favela’s mother made decisions that hurt him and his siblings, leaving them to face the world alone while she ricocheted in and out of drug and alcohol rehab. Though filled with turmoil and anger, the message is ultimately one of forgiveness and Favela’s testimony of finding the Lord.

Favela recently performed the song—already viewed by almost 8,000 people on YouTube—and shared his Christian testimony at the National Independent Living Conference in Denver.

“I’m not a troublemaker, even though many view me that way because I am a foster kid,” Favela said. “But I am a troubled child because of my background and the things that had happened to me—the very things which inspired to me to begin writing” as a 14-year-old.

“I used to feel animosity and blame towards my mom which made me constantly angry and disappointed. As I started writing, my emotions went from anger and sadness to finding peace in my situation,” Favela explained.

“It was as if my heart was changed as my words changed on the paper. I love my mom. She’s going to be my mother no matter what. All I can do is forgive her, have faith and pray. But I also forgive her for me. I don’t want that weighing me down.”

When Favela joined Preparation for Living, which works with youth aging out of foster/group home care, his music became not only a personal therapeutic tool for forgiveness, but also a way to share his insights with others.

He wants to encourage young people in similar situations and give them hope—the way a stranger encouraged him with her brief reminder of his value. 

As a young teenager, eight months after running away from his latest foster home, he was walking up and down streets looking for work. Passing through a residential area, he saw a woman sitting on her porch who motioned for him. As he approached the woman, she looked into his eyes and whispered, “Jesus loves you, young man.”

That was the sum total of the conversation. Favela didn’t say anything. But, after pondering the thought for several days he picked up the phone and called Texas Child Protective Services and put himself back into state care.

He hopes that the words in his songs will provide the same inspiration for others.

“When I get to talk with someone going through something like I went through, I always tell them to keep their head up,” Favela said. “Don’t let circumstances change you and expect yourself to do great things and you will.

“Every time I sing the song or read the words, I feel like I’m able to overcome and let go of the bitterness and hurt a little bit more, and I want others to experience that too.”

Favela hopes that his music will someday lead to reconciliation with his mom, the original intention of the song.

“As of now, I don’t think my Mom has heard my song. I don’t even know where she is,” he said. “But it’s my hope that someday I can give a special performance specifically for her and that she would understand how I feel.“

Posted: 9/20/07

Baylor students take ‘First Step’
into community service

By Katie Brooks

Baylor University

WACO—Together, Baylor University students removed graffiti scrawled on the walls of downtown Waco businesses, cleared debris from along the Brazos River, improved walking paths in a scenic part of the city, and framed a Habitat for Humanity house for a local family.

The students experienced a crash-course in the importance of service and vocation as they participated in the recent First Step community service project.

More than 1,000 new students provided clean-up efforts to dozens of downtown Waco businesses and locations, and they saw tangible results by the end of the service experience, said Karin Klinger, associate director for student activities.

Baylor students move a completed piece of the house frame to its place with the rest of the Habitat for Humanity house.

“Students worked hard, laughed a lot and were able to connect with one another and with members of the Waco community. The upperclassmen student leaders involved said it was the best First Step experience Baylor has facilitated in years,” Klinger said.

As a part of the emphasis, hundreds of members of Baylor’s Class of 2011 took part in Project Build Hope. The volunteers framed the first Habitat for Humanity home to be fully funded by Baylor’s chapter of the non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. The house-framing project also celebrated the 20th anniversary of Baylor Habitat, the organization’s first collegiate chapter.

“The framing went exceptionally well. All the student groups moved through the site efficiently and enthusiastically, and we had a well-framed house by the end of the day,” said Anna Sauer, a senior accounting major from Fredericksburg and treasurer for Baylor Habitat.

Sauer was glad so many freshmen had the opportunity to learn about Habitat for Humanity and take part in the 20th anniversary house-raising.

“I hope that their experience with us that day will be ranked among their favorite memories at Baylor,” she said.

The completed Habitat for Humanity house frame remained on the Baylor campus for one week to draw support for the project before 15 Baylor Habitat volunteers disassembled it and moved it to its permanent location, said Sonya Maness, a senior archaeology and museum studies major from Houston and president of Baylor Habitat.

It is scheduled for completion in November.

During the week the house frame remained on campus, Baylor Habitat members held an “open house” to help spread the word about its mission. Students and faculty who passed by the frame signed it and wrote encouraging messages to the family.

Habitat members said that although the messages eventually will be covered when the house is complete, the encouragement and hope are woven forever into the innermost part of the house.

Baylor Habitat will dedicate the house at 10 a.m. Nov. 17, at its new location—1117 Brown St. in Waco. Guests will include community members and leaders, Baylor Habitat members, Waco Habitat staff and friends of the receiving family, Maness said.

At the dedication, Baylor Habitat officers will present the new homeowners with gifts for their home, she said.

“Habitat for Humanity is a program that reaches beyond simply providing a family with a home. Habitat creates stable and sustainable neighborhoods, making our city a better place to live. It teaches college students how to live outside of themselves, and it brings people from all walks of life together for a common good,” Maness said.

Posted: 9/18/07

Missouri Baptist conference center
wins latest round in legal battle

By Vicki Brown

Associated Baptist Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP)—Windermere Baptist Conference Center will not face a trial this year in its continuing legal battle with the Missouri Baptist Convention, thanks to a judge’s ruling.

The decision is a victory for the center, encouraging supporters but angering attorneys for the state convention, who called it a “delaying tactic.”

At a Sept. 10 hearing, Cole County, Mo., Circuit Court Judge Richard Callahan granted Windermere’s request to reschedule the trial, which had been set to begin on Oct. 12. Attorneys for the center praised the judge’s ruling as an opportunity to present additional information to the court.

It would have been the first jury trial in the ongoing litigation between the convention and five formerly affiliated institutions. In 2002, the Missouri Baptist Convention filed a lawsuit to regain control of Windermere, the Baptist Home retirement-facility system, the newspaper Word & Way, the Missouri Baptist Foundation and Missouri Baptist University.

The convention’s suit seeks to have the institutions’ charter changes declared illegal. The five had changed the corporate documents in 2000 and 2001 to remove the convention’s power to elect the agencies’ trustees.

Callahan ruled after defense attorneys argued that a new motion filed on Aug. 21 might eliminate the need for the trial. The motion, filed on behalf of Windermere, the Baptist Home and Word & Way, asks the court to rule on contract claims in the latest version of the state convention’s lawsuit.

In the suit Missouri Baptist Convention lawyers contend the entities’ corporate charters and the convention’s governing documents—its constitution and bylaws, its business and financial plan, and the Executive Board’s articles of incorporation and bylaws—create a contract.

“We asked for additional time so that the court could consider our motion,” Windermere Attorney Kurt Odenwald said after the hearing. “A lot of information has been provided to the court. We feel this will help all parties, and we believe it may obviate (do away with) the need for a trial. Some issues in the motion will apply to all the entities.”

Convention Attorney Charles Hatfield saw no reason to reschedule the Windermere trial. “We agreed to hear the case, and all parties are available,” he said. “We saw this as another attempt to delay, apparently a successful one.”

Judge Callahan will hear arguments on the defendants’ motion Nov. 20. He rescheduled the Windermere trial for Feb. 4-8, 2008, with jury selection set for Feb. 1.

At the Sept. 10 hearing, the judge also denied a convention request to halt further discovery—requests for information and depositions. Hatfield argued that convention attorneys wanted to concentrate on preparing for the Windermere trial.