Texas Baptist Forum: Cowboy churches

Cowboys & niches

I’ve followed the discussion of “cowboy churches” with interest. Most recently, Joe Dacus defends the phenomenon in a letter to the editor (March 29).

The day before I read his letter, I led my Introduction to Christian Theology class in a discussion of “niche churches” or “special-interest churches.” I showed them an attractive promotional film clip of a cowboy church.

Our question—mine and most of the students’—is whether a church should exist around a special interest (e.g., “Western heritage”), culture, hobby or whatever divides people. Yes, these things also can unite people, but shouldn’t church unity be solely in the gospel and the Holy Spirit, who binds us together in spite of diversity?

I also showed my students a promotional video of a “church for men.” There are also churches that exist solely in cyberspace. I saw a billboard advertising a church for people older than 55. Where does it end?

We concluded that cowboy churches have their value as ministries and outreaches. In my younger years, we called these “parachurch organizations.” In our humble opinion—most of my students’ and mine—“church” should be the body of Christ, as united as possible and as diverse as possible.

On the other hand, this theological word of caution probably is too late; the cat of “anything goes” in church life is out of the bag and probably can’t be put back in. I would caution “niche churches” to be as inclusive as possible.

Roger E. Olson

Waco

Integrate singles

I have to applaud “Single adults: An army waiting for God’s service” (March 29).

As someone who has been single all my life for a variety of reasons, I noticed the “gentle push back” when I was in my late 20s and certainly now as a middle-aged adult. It was obvious churches were focusing on married couples with kids or those interested in marriage.

I have even had people ask me, “Is something wrong with you?” I now respond, “Yes,” pause for effect and then say: “But don’t get too uppity. Something is wrong with you, too. That is what the gospel is all about!”

Sometimes, I think it would be better to figure out a way to simply “integrate” singles into the life of the church so they can become “included” and not isolated.

I believe 1 is a whole number, too!

Robert Whitfield

Dallas

Obama’s war

I like and voted for Barack Obama but am disappointed that he seemingly wants the war in Afghanistan to be “his war.” Like the Vietnam War, which Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out against 43 years ago, the war in Afghanistan is wrong, unwinnable and costly in terms of human lives and money spent.

No one who has won a Nobel Peace Prize deserved it more than King. His lasting legacy as a peacemaker was ensured even before the prophetic “Beyond Vietnam” speech he delivered April 4, 1967, at New York City’s famous Riverside Church, a speech that sealed his fateful assassination, exactly a year later.

He professed his love of America, but like true prophets do, he fearlessly spoke truth to power in a spirit of Godlike love, much like his biblical predecessors, Amos and Micah. The truths King proclaimed about Vietnam in the late 1960s are as relevant today as they were then.

Today, greed and lust for economic-political power continue to keep America from hearing King’s conscience-inspired call for peace and justice. Greed keeps us from seeing the negative, intertwined effects that militarism, racism and poverty inflict on our country.

Paul L. Whiteley Sr.

Louisville, Ky.