Texas Baptist Forum

Guns in America

The recent massacres always occur in gun-free zones, now known as "killing fields." Our current gun laws have created the killing fields. No crazed killer goes to the police station and starts shooting. They may be crazy but not stupid. Citizens have now become victims. A Sikh temple now; a Baptist church next?

Allow the law-abiding citizens to be armed, and the massacres will stop, along with a lot of other crimes.

A simple pistol can kill as many people as an assault rifle. Do we ban that also? Are bows and arrows next?

I have stood next to a wall where journalists and religious leaders were shot. A small ditch was near the wall to allow for blood drainage. Next, I went to the ovens where their bodies were burned. It was the Nazi Dachau concentration camp, one of the first built for German journalists and religious leaders who opposed the government. No one could oppose this because in 1934, the Nazi-controlled Reichstag had outlawed personal possession of firearms "to promote a more peaceful and tranquil society." We all know how that ended.

The Second Amendment references a militia as "… being necessary to the security of a free state … ." Secure from what? Government tyranny. The Nazis in Germany and Communists in Russia and China murdered over 100 million human beings, but only after personal possession of firearms was outlawed.

Fred Rosenbaum

Gainesville

The horrific shooting that took place in Aurora, Colo., is deja vu all over again. We continue to have reoccurrences of these kinds of firearms atrocities. It seems America's love affair with guns and violence will never end.

The greed of gun makers and gun sellers keeps them from caring. The National Rifle Association and spineless legislators use the gun issue for political advantage or gain. The NRA and the mistakenly inerrant Second Amendment are holding us hostage. Let us go; set us free!

For far too many, greed and political power are more important than human life. It seems pro-life sentiment ends at birth. Our spiritual, political and business leaders fail us by not courageously speaking out against violence and the part guns play in perpetrating violence.

It is time to seize the moment and do something constructive on gun control before the next horrendous act of gun violence occurs. But as we all know from experience, the dominating powers that be aren't going to do anything.

In America, love of money, power, guns and violence are winning over love of God, neighbor and self.

Paul L. Whiteley Sr.

Louisville, Ky.

I would have thought that a learned preacher of the gospel might entertain the radical notion that the reason people kill other people—including abortion, mass murders in theaters, etc.—might have something to do with human choices resulting in sin (Aug. 6). But I guess that was the seminary class you missed.

Rather, you went to great lengths to convince us that the reason for abortion is the presence of all those pesky tools that the abortionists use which make even third-trimester abortions so simple. People, bless their little hearts, are just made victims by the presence of all those dangerous things in their lives, like a drunk driver having access to an automobile. Surely the automobile is at fault when he kills. And let's see, now, what "high-powered assault weapon" did Cain use on Abel?

Maybe I've gone too far here. After all, we're dealing with a simple preacher, such as yourself. What does he know about sin?

All the more evidence the Baptist General Convention of Texas has become irrelevant. Even the editor of the Baptist Standard doesn't understand human nature enough to rationalize the need of a Savior.

Mr. Editor, the problem is not guns or abortion. The problem is sin. Why not focus on that?

Pete Campbell

Midland

Church doors & holiness

Regarding churches closing on Sunday nights (Aug. 6), Keith Scott seems to imply having two services is close to a third Baptist ordinance.

God rested on the 7th day, which is Saturday according to our calendar, so I guess everyone but our friends the Seventh-day Baptist are in trouble.

Since having two Sunday services is a man-made decision, simple logic gives a church the authority to determine when, where, how often and how to worship. Pity the hundreds of small churches in Texas who have never had two services or any church that changes its worship time from 11 a.m. Perhaps we as Baptists have molded when, where and how—traditional versus blended—to worship to fit our wants.

Mr. Scott is correct in that we need to glorify God and keep the Sabbath holy.

It is problematic to attach holiness to any man-made decisions, since holiness is simply God's who blesses us with his presence.

Dennis McNaughten

Bluff Dale

Co-mission with God

Regarding the "Praise the Lord" cover story (July 23), I think Satan absolutely loves it when "Christians" spend so much time and energy discussing and debating what kind of music we should sing at our "worship" services.

The very existence of such a debate reveals we are much more interested in the worshipper than the Worshipped. Now, there's a question for you: What kind of music does Jesus like?

The emphasis in "contemporary church" or "traditional church" is on "attractional church." How can we attract the most people?" What about being a "missional church"?

As has been pointed out by others, Matthew 28:18-20 is the Great Commission, not the Great Come-mission. When will we learn Jesus commanded his followers to "go" to all the people groups of the world? When will we learn we are to be on a co-mission with God?

Larry Burner

McKinney

Proud of 'Baptist'

A survey about the name of Houston Baptist University indicates a lack of knowledge or name recognition of the word "Baptist"? So, the trustees are considering deleting "Baptist" from the name of the university.

It's easy not to want to stand for something these days, isn't it? We see churches changing their names, deleting the "Southern" or "Baptist" from their names all the time. New churches and missions are planted without "Baptist" in their name as well. Although they may take the start-up money from a Baptist organization—mother church, association, state convention and/or North Amerian Mission Board—they don't want to be identified as being Baptist be-cause it's a turnoff!

We're planting a church. This is its second year. It has "Baptist" in its name. It receives support from two Southern Baptist churches, one Southern Baptist association, one Southern Baptist state convention and one other church-planting source, as well as its own tithes and offerings. We did not, nor did the church-planting pastor, ever consider not identifying it as a Baptist church. Our association has been planting and starting new churches at the rate of five every year, and this is the only one that has retained "Baptist" in its name.

To the trustees of Houston (still Baptist) University: Stand for something!

Bob Gillchrest

San Diego, Calif.

Sad pulpits

Where have the prophets gone? The state of the American pulpit is sad.

Southern Baptist churches are no exception. Pastors spend time trying to grow their numbers. They talk about how to become a Christian and lead people to Christ, but most seldom confront our culture with sin. They don't speak of sin because they don't want to be negative. They are afraid of scaring people off. That's bad, because then who would pay the pastor's salary?

A pastor has a conflict of interest. He often should challenge people with their sin, but if he does, money goes out the door or his congregation wants to fire him. If he preaches against abortion, gay marriage, homosexual behavior, transgender relationships, the people do not want to hear it.

Is it any wonder studies show our young people have no sense of right and wrong?

What are we teaching or not teaching from our pulpits? We have pastors and people whose political affiliations include supporting sinful actions, and yet they still claim to be Christians. Is it any wonder our society is confused and sinful?

We need a Josiah revolution. Someone needs to find the Bible and lead us in following it word by word, whether we like what it says or not. We need preachers who preach the whole gospel, and when it offends people, it does.

Charlie Leffingwell

Modesto, Calif.

What do you think? Because we affirm the Baptist principle of the priesthood of all believers, we value hearing from our readers. Send letters to Editor Marv Knox by mail: P.O. Box 259019, Plano 75025-9019; or by e-mail: [email protected]. Due to space considerations, limit letters to 250 words and only one letter per writer per quarter.