Posted: 2/19/04

Texas churches picking Bible study material cafeteria-style

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–Ask Brad Williamson, minister of education at South Main Baptist Church in Pasadena, about the Bible study curriculum his church uses, and he needs to consult a spreadsheet to answer the question.

Understanding which class uses which material from which publisher can be confusing, so Williamson uses a spreadsheet to keep track of the curriculum and to let him know when material needs to be ordered.

Most of the church's adult Bible studies use BaptistWay Press curriculum. Some adults, as well as all the preschool classes, use LifeWay Christian Resources materials.

A marriage class uses another set of resources. A college class follows yet another. Williamson is considering using “The Purpose-Driven Life” in the near future.

“We're using a little bit of several things,” he said.

Williamson's situation has become commonplace as churches increasingly are inclined to combine a variety of materials from several publishers in Bible studies. Study leaders also are referencing several sources, including commentaries, curriculum and online information, as they prepare for each week's lesson.

About 37 publishing houses supply material to Texas Baptist churches, said Lynn Eckeberger, director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas church health and growth section. Fifteen do so frequently.

Ministers are shopping to find which materials best meet the spiritual needs of their congregations rather than using curriculum because it is produced by a national or state convention, said Phil Miller, associate director of the BGCT Bible Study/Discipleship Center.

Church leaders are looking for materials that are effective, not flashy, Miller said. Brand loyalty is waning, especially with younger ministers.

Using several materials allows churches to tailor studies to each segment of the congregation, Miller said. Youth can grapple with peer pressure issues while young married couples focus on the importance of tithing early in the relationship. Each group receives the spiritual nourishment they need using resources strong in that area.

A group becomes excited about a study because they choose the topic, Williamson said.

“We want the freedom to choose,” Miller said. “The freedom to choose is good.”

To cater to the desire to use multiple materials, BGCT Bible Study/Discipleship Center staff stepped up consultative efforts and expanded their knowledge base, said Director Dennis Parrott.

Using multiple resources has several drawbacks, he said. If churches are not careful, they may have conflicting theologies presented in their studies. Leaders must be mindful that curricula reinforce the church's philosophy.

The BGCT Bible Study/Discipleship Center offers a literature selection guide to help ministers determine which materials are best for their church.

The move in many churches to focus more on book studies than Bible studies worries Parrott. While books can be helpful, the Bible provides the word of God, he said.

At South Main Church in Pasadena, Williamson takes care to make sure all materials encourage class members to delve into the Bible. “One of the things that concerns me is we need to maintain Sunday School as a Bible study session rather than studying a book about the Bible,” he said.

Practically, using several materials makes planning more difficult, Parrott said. Ministers must deal with teachers individually rather than as a department because they are using varying resources.

BGCT staff members can help ministers devise a Bible study plan. They listen to the needs church leaders describe and lay out several options that may help the congregation. Ministers can choose one of the options or go another route. Either way, the consultant will follow up on the discussion.

“We no longer control the information,” Miller said. “We are at best a conduit of information. We have got to work on relationships. We can no longer just pass material on to the church.”

Center staff aim to strengthen the work of churches, no matter what curriculum they choose, Miller and Parrott agreed.

“We really want to go in and help the local church be the best they can be in their context,” Miller said. “I think there will always be a need for that.”

Posted: 2/19/04

Baptist Briefs

New Orleans Seminary pressured to make SBC its 'sole member.' New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is under increasing pressure from the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee to change its charter to make the SBC the "sole member" of its corporation. Seminary trustees voted last October to decline a request to take that action. Following two hours of discussion, the SBC Executive Committee voted last week to ask the trustees to reverse course and amend the seminary charter during their spring 2004 meeting. The motion asks that the action be forwarded to the Executive Committee "for subsequent recommendation" to the SBC during its June 2004 meeting. If seminary trustees again decline to comply, the Executive Committee could ask SBC messengers to approve a motion to make the same request. Naming the SBC as sole member allows the convention to control the election and dismissal of trustees, while granting trustees authority to direct the organization's work and financial affairs. The requested changes would grant the SBC specific powers designed to thwart any possible attempt trustees might make to withdraw from the SBC.

Tax guide available. The Southern Baptist Annuity Board's annual Ministers Tax Guide for 2003 Returns is now available in print and online at www.absbc.org. Free printed copies are available by calling (800) 262-0511. The guide focuses on tax issues most likely to affect active and retired Baptist ministers. The guide supplements IRS materials and gives step-by-step instructions, including sample tax returns for ministers.

CBF launches new website. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has launched a new website at a new Internet address, www.thefellowship.info. Features on the home page include links to major areas such as Global Missions, church life and education; news and views; and search engines to access information.

True Love Waits cards arriving in Athens. The first 1,000 True Love Waits commitment cards recently arrived in Athens, Greece. The cards are signed by Zulu youth of South Africa and will be part of an international display celebrating sexual purity during the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. Organizers expect close to a million signed promises of sexual purity from Christian youth around the world will be displayed during the international True Love Waits celebration Aug. 22.

LifeWay launches online movie tie-in resources. LifeWay Christian Resources has launched a new site of online resources to help Christians communicate the gospel to people who become interested in Jesus due to the release of Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion of the Christ." Access free materials by T.W. Hunt, Beth Moore and Daniel Akin at www.lifeway.com by clicking on the Passion banner located at the top of the screen.

Editors turn down $100,000. State Baptist newspaper editors declined an offer of $100,000 from a foundation to fund an independent inquiry into the Southern Baptist Convention's reasons for defunding the Baptist World Alliance. Members of the Association of State Baptist Papers rejected the offer from retired Southern Baptist leader Duke McCall to fund a study into an SBC committee's decision to withdraw membership and funding from the worldwide umbrella group. McCall is a former BWA president, Executive Committee head and president of two Southern Baptist seminaries. The funding would have come through McCall's family foundation. In discussing the offer, the editors disagreed over whether embarking on such an endeavor would imply their papers hadn't already covered the SBC-BWA issue adequately.

Pugh dies at 74. Quinn Pugh, executive director of the Baptist Convention of New York from 1984 to 1996, died Feb. 13 after open-heart surgery. He was 74. Pugh, a Texas native, also served as executive director of the Metropolitan New York Baptist Association from 1979 to 1984.

Posted: 2/19/04

Executive Committee endorses SBC
pullout from Baptist World Alliance

By Trennis Henderson & Greg Warner

Associated Baptist Press

NASHVILLE (ABP)–Southern Baptist Convention leaders intent on severing ties with the Baptist World Alliance have taken a major step in that direction.

Despite pleas from Baptist leaders worldwide and some Southern Baptists not to leave the BWA, the SBC Executive Committee voted 62-10 last week to approve a recommendation to withdraw SBC membership and funding from the BWA, the 99-year-old fellowship of 211 Baptist bodies worldwide.

Executive Committee members said protecting the SBC's theological identity is more important than preserving worldwide Baptist unity.

The proposal now will go to messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention in June for final approval. The action would take effect Oct. 1, deleting the final $300,000 of annual SBC support for the Baptist World Alliance, which has an annual budget of $1.7 million.

The Southern Baptist Convention, with 16 million members, is the largest member body and biggest contributor to the BWA, which represents 43 million Baptists. But SBC leaders say the international organization has become too liberal, a charge Baptist leaders worldwide deny.

The hour-long debate was limited to Executive Committee members only. BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz was present but was not invited to speak to the recommendation.

“We are, of course, very sad,” Lotz told Associated Baptist Press after the vote. “Any time there is a breach in fellowship, it is sad. … We're going out sad, but we're going out with love for Southern Baptists.”

SBC Executive Committee President Morris Chapman presented the two-page report and recommendation calling for the SBC to withdraw from the global Baptist organization.

He described an earlier report released in December as an interim report that serves as background to the committee's final recommendation.

The initial report complained the BWA sanctions theological positions contrary to Southern Baptists' conservative views and has ignored the SBC's complaints.

“Continuing to allow presentations that call into question the truthfulness of Holy Scripture, refusing to support openly the idea that all who are saved must come to the salvation through conscious faith in Jesus Christ, and promoting women as preachers and pastors are among the issues that make it impossible to endorse the BWA as a genuinely representative organization of world Baptists,” the study committee said.

The BWA, as well as its member groups, has consistently denied those charges. When the SBC announced its plan to withdraw last December, Baptist leaders from around the world voiced strong support for BWA and dismay at the charges of liberalism.

“The BWA rejects categorically this false accusation of liberalism,” Lotz said in December. “Of course, there is a spectrum of theological thought in all of our conventions, just as in local churches, but we belong to one another because we belong to Christ.”

In its final report, the nine-member study committee claimed some BWA leaders, including Lotz, “took the opportunity to vent what appears to be pent-up feelings of hostility about our convention” in response to the December report.

“Due to these revelations, we need not now justify or vilify, but can simply do what we preferred to do in the first place, which is to politely withdraw from an organization that, at least for us, no longer efficiently communicates to the unsaved a crystal-clear gospel message that our Lord Jesus Christ is solely sufficient for salvation,” the report stated.

Some Southern Baptist leaders, including study committee member Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board, said the SBC proposal is based in part on the BWA's decision last year to admit the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship into membership. Southern Baptist leaders strongly oppose the Fellowship, which was formed by Southern Baptists dissatisfied with the denomination's fundamentalist direction.

While “much has been made about the inclusion of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship into the BWA as having been the cause of our present recommendation to withdraw from the organization,” the final report added, “one soaked by a rain need not blame the last raindrop.”

“The decision of the BWA to include the CBF merely served as a confirmation that we must, as a convention, allow the world to see us without having to look through a BWA lens–a lens which for us has become too cloudy.”

The plan approved by the Executive Committee calls for SBC leaders to study how the convention “may establish an even closer bond of fellowship with conservative evangelical Christians around the world” and earmarks the deleted BWA allocation for that effort.

“For us, the decision is one of stewardship,” the report states. “If we can multiply the harvest by reapplying the funds, there is no true Christian who should take issue.”

“We believe we can take the money being contributed to the Baptist World Alliance and we can begin to build strong bridges with conservative evangelical Christian Baptists in all parts of the world,” Chapman explained.

While “we do not intend to organize a fellowship body similar to the Baptist World Alliance,” he said committee members believe international networking efforts will produce “a much stronger contribution to our witness to the world.”

The Executive Committee limited debate to committee members only, suggesting others would be able to speak to the BWA issue during the June SBC meeting.

Speaking against the study committee proposal, Executive Committee member Nancy McGuigan of Coatesville, Pa., read a resolution adopted by a committee of the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania/South Jersey.

Urging SBC and BWA leaders “to begin immediately to find a way for reconciliation for the good of the kingdom,” the resolution called on Baptists around the world “to pray fervently for God to bring unity through the power of Christ and to bring reconciliation between the BWA and the SBC for a unified witness to a world in need of Christ.”

Calvin Wittman, a pastor from Arvada, Colo., commended the study committee for its report. He affirmed the plan to withdraw from the BWA “since we are not in agreement theologically and in the ways we seek to practice the Great Commission.”

National Woman's Missionary Union President Janet Hoffman, also a member of the Executive Committee, issued a call for Baptist unity.

Citing WMU's commitment to continue to support the work of BWA and its women's department, Hoffman said, “It would be a blessing in the view of many if we did not rush to judgment” before SBC and BWA leaders explored ways to find unity.

Addressing the committee's focus on stewardship, Hoffman said, “There is a stewardship of witness involved here too.” She said the witness of the SBC's Empowering Kingdom Growth ministry emphasis “is diluted by division but is multiplied by unity.”

Bruce Martin, a pastor from Fayetteville, N.C., responded that SBC leaders also “have biblical responsibilities” that extend beyond a call for unity.

Citing the recommendation's call for the study committee to meet with BWA representatives prior to the SBC annual meeting, Martin proposed that the Executive Committee action be contingent on the outcome of that meeting. His motion was ruled out of order prior to the vote on the study committee proposal.

Chapman said the bottom-line question is: “Does the Baptist World Alliance best represent who we are to Christians and Baptists around the world or has the time come that Southern Baptists can best represent themselves? We do have the voluntary right to withdraw just as we have the voluntary right to engage.”

Bob Casey from Parkview Baptist Church in Gainvesville, Fla., came to Nashville prior the SBC Executive Committee meeting. There he began a weeklong fast and daily prayerwalk around the SBC building in a Joshua-like attempt to prevent the denomination from leaving the BWA. He had hoped to address the Executive Committee, but he was not granted permission.

Posted: 2/19/04

Ten Commandments back on display, but they're not alone

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (ABP) –The Ten Commandments are back on display in Alabama's judicial headquarters, but their self-appointed cheerleader reportedly isn't happy about it.

Earlier this month, workers installed a display containing a manuscript of the Commandments as well as other historical law documents in the rotunda of the state's Judicial Building in Montgomery. The display is located near where the state's now-deposed chief justice, Roy Moore, had installed a different display of the Decalogue.

That display, which was removed by federal court order Aug. 27, was a 5,280-pound granite monument that featured, on top, a carving of the Protestant King James translation of the Commandments. The sides contained quotations from historical figures about the roles of God and government. It sat at the center of the rotunda.

But the new exhibit is a bit different. Besides being located away from the center of the rotunda, it contains a reproduction of the oldest known manuscript of the Commandments alongside seven other historical legal documents. They include the Constitution and the Magna Carta.

Federal courts have said displays that include the Commandments in educational exhibits along with other documents that contributed to the history of lawmaking are constitutionally permissible. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley installed such a display in the state Capitol building.

Moore was removed from his office Nov. 13 after the state's Court of the Judiciary ruled unanimously that he had violated judicial ethics by defying federal court orders.

During the summer, Moore was at the center of a highly publicized legal battle over the original monument. He had the statue installed in the rotunda of the state's judicial headquarters building in 2001 without consulting with or informing his colleagues on the Alabama Supreme Court.

Two federal courts ruled the monument was a violation of the First Amendment's ban on government establishment of religion. After the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Moore's appeal, a federal judge ordered the monument removed.

Moore refused to comply with the order, saying it would violate his oath of office. That oath to uphold the Alabama and federal constitutions required him to “acknowledge God,” he said.

Moore's colleagues voted to suspend him from office temporarily, and workers in the building moved the statue to a room where it was locked away from public display.

But Moore reportedly is dissatisfied with the new arrangement. “First, they hid the Word of God in a closet, and now they tried to hide it among other historical documents,” he said, according to the Associated Press, about his former colleagues' decision to set up the new display. “Neither is an acknowledgment of God, and they know it.”

But the Huntsville (Ala.) Times' editors, in the paper's Feb. 9 edition, said Moore's own words on the topic betrayed his true motives. “Did you need any more evidence that Moore's goal throughout all this has been to promote his particular brand of religion?” they asked. “Does anyone fail to see why the federal courts ruled that Moore's monument promoted one faith over another?”

Moore has appealed his dismissal to the Alabama Supreme Court. His former colleagues have recused themselves from hearing the case, and a specially appointed Supreme Court was recently sworn in. That panel will hear Moore's appeal later this year.

Moore also has filed a federal lawsuit to attempt to regain his position, claiming his removal amounted to an unconstitutional “religious test” for public office.

Posted: 2/19/04

Judge dismisses most
counts in Dennehy lawsuit

WACO (ABP)–A Waco judge has dismissed six of seven counts in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the father of slain Baylor University basketball player Patrick Dennehy.

Ralph Strother of Waco's 19th State District Court threw out the counts of alleged wrongdoing listed in the suit against Baylor and some of its officials. The remaining count says the defendants “intentionally, knowingly and/or recklessly” caused Dennehy's death.

He gave attorneys for the plaintiff, Patrick Dennehy Sr. of Tacoma, Wash., two weeks to refile their complaint.

Robert Laminack, a Houston attorney representing the father, said he did not believe anyone intentionally meant for Dennehy to die, but Baylor officials created an atmosphere and series of events that led to Dennehy's death.

The complaint alleges Baylor created an unsafe environment by hiring basketball coach Dave Bliss despite his being investigated at two other schools for NCAA violations, and when infractions occurred at Baylor, school officials tried to cover them up.

It also claims Baylor officials asked other basketball players to intimidate Dennehy so he would keep quiet about the violations. When Dennehy told coaches and administrators he felt threatened, he reportedly was ignored.

The university has acknowledged illegal payments were made to Dennehy and at least one other player.

One of Dennehy's former Baylor teammates, Carlton Dotson, confessed to shooting Dennehy and was indicted in August. He is set to stand trial March 22.

Defendants named in the lawsuit are Baylor; its board of regents; board chairman Drayton McLane; Baylor President Robert Sloan; former athletic director Tom Stanton; former basketball coaches Rodney Belcher, Dave Bliss and Doug Ash ; Paul Bradshaw, assistant athletic director for compliance; and Baylor basketball booster William Stevens. Stevens was dropped from the suit, however, because it was determined there was no case against him.

Following the ruling, Baylor officials released a statement saying they were pleased with the dismissals.

“It was the university's position that all of the individual claims being asserted were without merit,” the statement read. “Baylor is further gratified with the court's ruling that a university cannot prevent a criminal act from occurring off its premises when students are engaged in activities over which the university has no control.”

Posted: 2/19/04

DOWN HOME:
Cold or virus? Both are painful

Would you rather have a cold or a virus?

That's like asking another age-old medical question: Which is worse–vomiting or diarrhea? The answer, of course, is whatever's plaguing you at the moment.

Well, I just suffered from a cold and a virus back-to-back. I'll take the cold. Any day.

You know the kind of cold I'm talking about. Imagine cement stuffed up your nostrils, Tabasco sauce rubbed in your eyes and Silly Putty pounded in your ears. I'll spare you the gory details. Although, I have to admit, they're perversely fascinating.

You almost can't shake a cold this time of year in Texas. Colds just love roller-coaster weather, when it's 72 degrees, sunny and windy one day, then 36 degrees, cloudy and rainy the next. This is colds' favorite time of year.

Colds say: “Yeee-haw! Ain't life good? I'm going to climb up somebody's nose and give him a winter he'll never forget.” Colds can be jocularly disrespectful that way.

That's why choosing between a cold and a virus was so hard. Colds are no fun.

But this virus was worse. I didn't run a fever, but I got hot under the collar. I didn't suffer night sweats and chills, but it certainly gave me a big, fat headache and a pain in the neck.

This was a computer virus, and it infected the Baptist Standard's e-mail system. I'd rather have 10 colds than another virus like that.

You know the kind of virus I'm talking about. Imagine someone stealing your address book and sending out a bogus letter on your letterhead. Then, imagine that letter stealing the address book of everybody who received it, and doing the same thing all over again. And again. And again. I'll spare you the gory details of how it worked. Although, I must admit, they're technically fascinating.

Problem is, you almost can't shake a virus like that. We shut down our system. We applied a bunch of cyber-medicine I'll never understand. But that virus kept on working–in other people's computers, copying their address books, multiplying the e-mails and making people mad at a place with an address named “newsletter@baptiststandard.com.”

An interesting aspect of this computer virus parallels an interesting aspect of physical illness–how people respond to it.

We heard from some really nasty folks. I'm sad to admit some of them are fellow Baptists. All I can say to them is that they should pray their e-mail system never gets a virus like this. And if it does, they'll be better off not remembering how they acted this time.

But many folks responded beautifully. The ones who understand computer viruses were the most affirming and supportive. They know. They've been there, or they've been close enough they understand what it's like.

They offered a couple of Christlike qualities often in short supply–grace and forgiveness.

Posted: 2/19/04

EDITORIAL:
Our sins nailed Jesus to the cross

Who killed Jesus?

More people than ever will ask that question in coming weeks, as millions fill theaters to watch Mel Gibson's new movie, “The Passion of the Christ.” The film offers Christians an unprecedented opportunity to explain the gospel story.

The disquieting shadow of controversy has darkened the movie for weeks. Concerned Christians and Jews alike worried it would set off a new siege of anti-Semitism. History supports their fear. For most of the last 2,000 years, passion plays have sparked persecution of Jews. Moved by the cruelty of Jesus' torture and crucifixion, Christians followed an all-too-human impulse. They placed blame. Taking blame to an extreme, vicious people acted out of un-Christlike madness and extracted revenge on Jews. Some of the saddest pages of history have been written with their blood.

So, you can understand why many people, particularly Jews, have been scared. They fear a literal understanding of “The Passion” will lead to persecution of Jews all over again.

And while fear over Gibson's movie can be justified, it misses the point. Not of the movie itself, but of the historical event itself–the incarnation, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ.

It's a good news-bad news-good news situation.

The first good news is–and this is a story Christians must tell–the crucifixion of Jesus is not the Jews' fault. Yes, Jesus historically came and lived among the Jews in Palestine in what we call the first century A.D. Yes, Jewish religious leaders conspired with Roman provincial rulers to crucify Christ. But that was only an occasion of history. God promised to bless all nations through the descendants of Abraham, the first Jew, and God fulfilled that promise in Jesus. But God could have sent Jesus to another place in another time with the same spiritual effect. Later, Britons could've conspired with the French, or Texans could've conspired with Oklahomans. The Jews and Romans acted on the stage with Jesus, but they were bit players in God's drama. Today, Christians must stand against persecution of the Jews. We know the full story.

The bad news is you and I nailed Jesus to the cross. The Apostle Paul explained that every person sins and falls short of God's perfect will. The just consequence of that sin should be “death,” or eternal separation from God. But God loves us so much that God paid the debt of our sin by sending Christ–the only perfect, sinless and, consequently, sufficient sacrifice–to die in our place. So, you and I are just as guilty of Jesus' death as Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest, and Pilate, the Roman governor. If people are going to persecute others for Jesus' crucifixion, they should begin with you and me.

But the truly good news is that Jesus' passion is a story about love and forgiveness, not cruelty and hate. Despite the power of the Temple and Rome, Jesus–God in human flesh–controlled this greatest event in history. Jesus loved us so much that he willfully sacrificed himself so that he might accept the consequences of our sin for us. He died. He experienced the separation from God that we deserve. Fortunately, in the moment that defines all creation, he overcame death and arose from the grave. Now, all who accept him as Savior and Lord receive the benefit of his sacrifice. Although we will die physically, spiritually we will live forever with God–our glorious eternal destiny.

View “The Passion” as a movie of love, not hate. Feel the intensity of every blow, every cruelty as a gift from the heart of God, who suffered in Christ for our sakes. This movie tells the who and what, but not the why and how. One small way we can express true gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice is by sharing that gift with others. Use the discussions this movie will generate as opportunities to lead others to a personal, saving relationship with the one to whom this film points–Jesus.
–Marv Knox
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com

Posted: 2/19/04

EDITORIAL:
Stand in the gap for BWA

Pleas of countless Baptists have fallen on deaf ears.

The Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee voted 62-10 to proceed with its plan to withdraw from the Baptist World Alliance, comprised of 211 Baptist conventions from around the globe.

Southern Baptist leaders accused the BWA of the dirtiest word in the Baptist dictionary, “liberalism.” Like “communism” in the McCarthy era, “liberalism” packs political potency for Southern Baptists. Never mind that BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz and President Billy Kim directly denied the charge. Never mind that Exhibit A in the Southern Baptist leaders' case proved to be bogus. Never mind that many conventions affiliated with the BWA far surpass the Southern Baptists in biblical conservatism. “Liberalism” is for losers, and the SBC likes to win.

Jerry Rankin, president of the SBC International Mission Board, acknowledged the real reason for the pullout. Last summer, the BWA voted to admit the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a group comprised of U.S. Baptists opposed to the fundamentalist takeover of the SBC. The SBC leaders hate the Fellowship so much they don't want to associate with any group that tolerates the Fellowship. And if they can't be in control, they won't participate.

The BWA is a wonderful organization. Most of its conventions represent Third World Baptists, often from places where Christians are impoverished and persecuted. They have much to teach U.S. Baptists about faithfulness, humility, sacrifice, worship, commitment, missions and divine hope born of suffering.

The BWA works on behalf of all Baptists. It provides encouragement, fellowship and support, particularly for Baptists often isolated from nurture. It provides training for ministers and clergy alike. It supports evangelism and missions and ministry to women and men. It works tirelessly on behalf of religious liberty, particularly advocating on behalf of persecuted Christians.

The SBC will take its money ($300,000 of the BWA's $1.7 million budget) and go. But the need for the BWA and its ministry remains. So, Texas Baptists and others must stand in the gap. Encourage your congregation to become a Global Impact Church, which directly supports the BWA. Contact the BWA Global Impact Department, 405 N. Washington St., Falls Church, Va. 22046; globalimpact@bwanet.org; (703) 790-8980, ext. 129.

Posted: 2/19/04

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Feb. 29

Financial wisdom for financial managers

Selected Proverbs

By John Duncan

Lakeside Baptist Church, Granbury

“Put not your trust in money, but put your money in trust.” Those words from Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. remind us money cannot be trusted for happiness but should be invested in the Lord's work, other people and Christ's service.

Families, churches and benevolence organizations have faced a crisis the last two years. Job layoffs have unsettled the economy. Corporate greed has led to business decline and has unnerved the economy, diminished personal portfolios and decreased discretionary income available to provide for charitable needs. National and family debt add daily pressure to the family life of paying bills, buying groceries and keeping up with the mortgage payment.

Proverbs provides financial wisdom for financial managers. His wisdom centers on the diligence of work, the wise management of financial resources, the heart of generosity and the ability to trust God in the area of finances.

Methodist John Wesley once said, “Make all you can, save all you can and give all you can.” When it comes to spiritual wisdom in the area of finances, proverbial wisdom challenges the believer to think of God first, then the wise management of resources so that money does not manage you but you manage money.

Start with God

Paul challenged the church at Corinth to give cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7). Long before Paul challenged the church, he asked them to consider three things: (1) God's sufficiency, not their own (2 Corinthians 3:5-6); (2) God's ability to do new things in the lives of his servants in the context of his compelling love (2 Corinthians 5:14, 17); (3) his servants work by his grace as faithful stewards of the mystery of Christ (2 Corinthians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2).

In essence, any thought of managing personal finances and giving starts with God in the heart, soul and mind. God invites his people to a way of righteousness and promises the fruit of righteousness to those who faithfully serve him (Proverbs 11:30; 12: 28).

Work

When we start with God, we understand the importance of faithfulness in stewardship. Such faithfulness implies a strong ethic of work and diligence. Proverbs compares the diligent person to an ant (Proverbs 6:6-11). The Christian steward is not lazy, prepares for the future and understands that in labor there is profit (14:23). A steward responsibly disciplines himself or herself to profit not for profit's sake or merely to accumulate wealth, but to responsibly take care of job and family finances and to give cheerfully as Paul admonished the Corinthian church. Laziness produces waste for the lazy person and encourages waste (18:10). The person who wisely manages finances will be diligent to work hard.

Money?

The Apostle Paul said the love of money is the root of all evil (2 Timothy 6:10). Mark Twain once put a humorous spin on that verse when he said, “The lack of money is the root of all evil.” Paul was truly right and Mark Twain was not too far off either. Debt, financial worries and overspending present themselves as three challenges most families face today.

Proverbs warns against debt that strangles the emotions, causes constant family conflict and produces serious bondage from the borrower to the lender (Proverbs 22:7). Debt often proves a controversial topic. Debt was a reality in both Old Testament and New Testament times.

The writer of Proverbs warns against debt that overextends itself and debt that generates bondage of financial pressure. Obviously, most people have debt–a home mortgage or a car payment at the very least. Simple financial wisdom acknowledges two things: (1) the less debt you have and the less you owe others, the better off you are financially; (2) as a Christian, the less debt you owe, the more money you have to give to the Lord's work through his church and to minister to others. Those who start with God in their finances always give to God first but search for ways to reduce their debts in an effort to minister above and beyond.

Generously

Paul begged the church to give generously, not with a grudge or simply of duty (literally, “of necessity,” 2 Corinthians 9:7). Wise Christian stewards give in a spirit of joy; not with a tight fist, but with an open hand. They give out of grace. They give graciously and generously. Their eye actually watches for needs and ways to give for God's glory (Proverbs 22:9). Giving blesses them and others.

The writer of Proverbs speaks to the heart of generosity. The person who scatters seed increases. The person who gives liberally and freely shall be made fat. The person who waters others shall be watered (11:24-25). Give and it shall be given to you in an abundance of blessing (literally, “running over,” Luke 6:38). These Proverbs also sound like Paul: What a man or woman sows, he or she also reaps (Galatians 6:7-10). Give generously and experience the joy of giving.

Question for discussion

What is the secret to being a cheerful giver?

Posted: 2/19/04

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for March 7

The gospel is all about changing people's lives

1 Timothy 1-2

By David Morgan

Trinity Baptist Church, Harker Heights

Trinity Baptist Church gathered yesterday to worship. Trinity scattered this morning into offices, classrooms and coffee shops across Central Texas. We assembled to praise God and hear a divine word. Our worship transformed us so that today we better reflect God's character in our community. Having encountered the living Lord, we eagerly proclaim the gospel to our friends and colleagues. We please God when we share the message of salvation with those who yet do not know Christ as Savior and Lord.

Focus on changing lives (1:3-7)

Paul had taught and ministered to the Ephesian church for about three years before being imprisoned in Rome. He had written to the church from that confinement. He had entrusted the church to his young apprentice, Timothy.

One challenge the young pastor faced was strange teachings in the church. We cannot be certain these teachings were heretical, but they surely diverted attention from the church's main task.

The goal of instruction within the church was to produce love and not spawn meaningless discussions and conversations. Genuine teaching would promote a “pure heart” (a godly personality), a “good conscience” (one which was without guilt) and a “sincere faith” (an undivided allegiance to God in Christ). Paul stressed to Timothy the importance of focusing on the central truth of the Christian life. The church could ill afford to get sidetracked by clever and entertaining, but meaningless, discussions.

The false teachers substituted fluff (fruitless discussions and speculation) for substance, love. They sought to be revered as teachers, but their reputation and expertise was based on deception and not genuine teachings.

Christians can easily be amused by conversations in Bible study and worship settings. Paul's word to Timothy warns us to keep focused on the purpose of Christian instructions–changed lives.

Realize God's power (1:12-15)

Paul considered himself a prime example that God's power can save even the worst of sinners. He never ceased to be amazed or grateful that God had redeemed and called him to proclaim the gospel. Paul understood the call to salvation also meant a call to service.

The former persecutor of Christians also described himself as a blasphemer and a violent man. He characterized himself as the worst of sinners. I hesitate to agree with Paul that he was the most sinful person who ever lived. I'm not sure that's what he meant. What he intended was to highlight the power of God's grace. Christ came to save sinners. If God's super-abundant grace in Christ could save someone like Paul, God could save anyone.

That Paul would refer to himself as worst of sinners reveals how close he had grown in his relationship to God. In “Why Live the Christian Life?” T.B. Maston wrote several times of people who are maturing in their faith. The deeper one's relationship with Christ grows, the deeper the consciousness of sin. “It seems that the more the image (of God) has been restored in one's life, the more aware he is of his failure to realize fully the image of God in his life,” he wrote.

Pray for the salvation of all (2:1-7)

Worship was an important issue Paul addressed in his letter to Timothy. Paul began his discussion of worship by encouraging the church to pray for all people. His joining of the four words, “requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving” accents prayer's richness.

Paul specifically commanded the church to pray for civic leaders (“kings and all those in authority”). Praying for civic leaders would enable them to rule well. A stable society would allow Christians to live in peace and proclaim the gospel to others.

To pray for everyone is beautiful (“good”) in God's eyes. Paul further described the God whom the church worshipped (vv. 3-7). He related prayer to God's saving character. When Paul wrote that God wanted to save all people, he was emphasizing the universal relevance of the Christ event. Christ died for all, not for some only. To come to the knowledge of the truth is to come to Christ as Savior and Lord.

Humankind has a basic unity because God is one. People are united by a common God who seeks to redeem everyone.

One person, “the man Christ Jesus,” mediates between God and humanity. A mediator restores peace between two people. The one who represented God needed to be a divine being. The one who represented humanity needed to be a human being. Christ was both–fully human, fully divine.

Christ served not only as mediator, but also voluntarily offered himself as a ransom for all people. The concept of paying a ransom stresses the costly price paid for humanity's redemption. The idea of ransom further indicates Christ gave himself in his crucifixion as a substitute for humanity.

Paul recognized his role as one who was to proclaim the message that Christ could save the world. His mention of Gentiles here reminds us of his discussion in the book of Ephesians where he announced God had created one new humanity out of Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:11-22). Christians today continue to be called to proclaim to the world that Jesus saves.

Question for discussion

Is becoming diverted from the primary task a concern in today's church as well?

Posted: 2/19/04

LifeWay Family Bible Series for Feb. 29

Serve God for his glory, not for earthly gain

Matthew 20:20-28; Romans 12:9-13

By David Jenkins

New Hope Baptist Church, Big Sandy

This lesson completes the series related to establishing spiritual disciplines. Like many other human experiences, these are not one-time accomplishments. All of these disciplines can be either destroyed or greatly weakened by wrong motives. At no point in our lives is the presence of the Holy Spirit more desperately needed to keep us focused than in these areas of ministry. These five emphases form the pilings upon which we can most effectively establish a spiritual foundation for living.

The danger of desiring privilege, status and power (Matthew 20:20-24)

As the end of Christ's earthly ministry drew near, he spoke more often concerning his approaching death. None of his disciples wanted to hear this. Their dream was to see Jesus assert his divine power and authority and establish his kingdom on earth immediately.

They had observed his miracles and his overwhelming influence over the people. In fact, they were so convinced this would happen that James and John had begun to seek aggressively the top places of power in Christ's kingdom. These ambitious young men sought to strengthen their case by having their mother make the appeal.

To sit on either side of Jesus in his kingdom suggested proximity to him. Thus they would share more in his power and prestige than the other disciples. They believed such a kingdom had to be close at hand, and certainly without the need of a cross!

Jesus' answer indicated the brothers had asked for this favor in ignorance, which often is the basis on which power, leadership and glory are sought. James and John had no idea what they were requesting. They had quickly responded to Jesus' question by saying, with no hesitation, that they could “drink the cup” with Jesus. They had no understanding of the sufferings that lay ahead for Jesus, nor were they willing to appropriate his humility and attitude of servanthood to themselves.

Jesus told them plainly that it was not his prerogative to make these assignments, which had already been decided by the Father. The other disciples were offended because of what James and John had done–not so much out of humility as because of jealousy.

The joy of servanthood (Matthew 20:25-28)

Jesus immediately addressed this issue with his disciples. He wanted them to understand that greatness is determined by service. Anyone who wants to be great must become a servant.

Then he made his statement even stronger by using another word for servant that meant “slave.” The attitude of genuine humility permeated everything Jesus had to say about service. In the pagan world, humility was not regarded as a virtue but as a vice. The very idea of a slave being given a position of leadership or authority! Consequently, Jesus' ethics having to do with leadership and power within the community of his followers were totally revolutionary.

Jesus concluded this tense confrontation between the disciples with a clear statement about himself. Surely his words must have shamed and humiliated these spiritually immature disciples. Jesus was the supreme example of how to serve others.

When Jesus said that he came to give his life a “ransom” for many, he used a word that most commonly described the purchase price for freeing slaves. Jesus had one goal when he came to earth. He came to serve others and not to be served. His greatest service, of course, was the gift of his sinless life for the sins of a hopelessly lost world.

A description of true Christian conduct (Romans 12:9-13)

A superficial love expressed in words more than in action is not genuine love. Everything a Christian does–for the Lord or for others–must be bathed in love. If we are not able to love our brother or sister, then it is highly doubtful our love for God is genuine (1 John 4:19-21). Interestingly, Paul combines “hatred” and “love” in one statement: “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” In this sense, hatred follows love legitimately, for true love hates evil.

To love one another in “brotherly love” points to the family of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. No body of believers can be effective in serving God and others unless those who make up that body “are one in the bond of love.” In this oneness, there is spiritual strength to overcome the opposition of the forces of evil. Paul dealt with both vertical and horizontal relationships in this passage. Our love toward God is vertical, of course. But for that love to be genuine and constant, it must be expressed in a horizontal love toward our fellow believers.

The word translated “hospitality” literally means “love for strangers.” The kind of hospitality practiced by the early Christians often meant the host did without in order to meet the needs of the guest. The discipline of service often includes both inconvenience and sacrifice.

Questions for discussion

How can one have ambition and still reflect Christian servanthood? In what ways is serving God a costly endeavor?

Posted: 2/19/04

LifeWay Family Bible Series for March 7

God selects his leaders from those who listen

Judges 4:4-10, 14-16; 5:1-2, 6-9

By Rodney McGlothlin

First Baptist Church, College Station

All of us have gone on extended journeys. They take time to prepare, money to go and often several weeks to recuperate. If small children are involved, the latter can take several months. The writers of the Family Bible Study series have invited us on a journey with them. It is my glad task to help you prepare and to point out some resources for this journey of discovery. You will be on your own for recovery.

Our road map for the first four weeks of the journey is found in the lives of several Old Testament heroes who took courageous stands for God under extreme circumstances. The first two of these are found in the book of Judges. If Judges had been written as a hymn, there is no doubt about the theme of the chorus. The repeated sad refrain of the book is, “The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (Judges 2:11; 3:7,12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1).

The musical litany and its corresponding history are repeated often in the book–that God gave them over to captivity, they called upon the Lord and he raised up a deliverer. It is only truly a song of grace when its rhythms include judgment, forgiveness and restoration.

Privilege and responsibility are ever the twin brothers born of God's grace. Courage is required to accept both. We need some spiritual heroes today to show us the way between these Gibraltar-like towers. Perhaps they are in your class, waiting to be called, inspired and equipped to take a courageous stand for God.

One such hero was Deborah. She did not come suddenly on the scene as heroic leader. Like Paul in Antioch (Acts 13), who was faithfully serving and ministering to the Lord when the Holy Spirit burned the vision of missionary journeys into his life, Deborah already was faithfully serving God. “She held court under the Palm of Deborah … and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided” (Judges 4:5).

God seldom calls people from inactivity to courageous leadership. He calls those who are faithful where they are to accept the responsibility of leading others to where they need to go and to what they need to be. That is how the lady with the Ph.D in conflict resolution was suddenly called to serve the Lord as military strategist and encourager of armies. She accepted the call.

Leadership is a choice. God's choice first. God chose and gifted Deborah to lead at this time. Deborah chose to listen and obey. She sent for Barak, the leader of Israel's armies, and shared God's vision with him. Leadership not fueled by a God- given vision is destined to burn out before the task is complete. Leaders lead with the vision of God.

We fashion bracelets that say, “What Would Jesus Do?” but we never bother to ask, “What did Jesus say?” How can we know what he would do if we never bother to learn what he said? Deborah began with “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you …” (Judges 4:6).

Leadership is a partnership. Leaders participate in the vision. Deborah agrees to go with the armies of Barak. Her presence, like the raised staff of Moses in the wilderness, encouraged the soldiers to continue the fight until they had prevailed. Spiritual leadership is never simply telling others to be faithful to God. We also must drink freely at the well of obedience if we ever expect others to do the same. Together we can accomplish the vision God has given us.

Spiritual leaders point to the sufficiency of God. It is not organizational finesse or the tweaking of flow charts that give spiritual victory, but complete dependence on God. Deborah said: “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” (Judges 4:14). The Lord has done it all or we cannot succeed at all.

We ought not expect that all our spiritual leadership will result in everybody's participation. Spiritual pied pipers often find their mouse flocks to be a bit deaf to tunes that call for courage and promise a dangerous battle before there can be a glorious victory. In her victory song, Deborah lists some who did not dance to her heroic tune. When her courageous call went out, some stayed near their herds, others refused to cross over the Jordan and some stayed with the ships in safer harbors (Judges 5:15-17).

But others heard and came. Lead those who will follow. God may as a result deliver even those who don't. The call to spiritual leadership is not a call to succeed. It is a call to faithfulness.

When we see God do great things through courageous leadership, we often heap praise on the leaders. Deborah led Israel to give glory to God (Judges 5:1-31). Like Moses before and Mary after, Deborah would sing God's praises before the people because he had given the victory. Surely our people are waiting to be led into courageous obedience of God and into victorious songs of praise at his provisions.

Questions for discussion

If a hymn was written outlining the course of your life, what would the chorus highlight?

What are you doing that will prepare you to be used by God?

How has God prepared you for leadership?