Texas Baptist Forum

Congrats, America

I want to voice my congratulations to our great country.

As an Anglo and possibly because my generation and the one after mine has no memory of the Civil Rights Movement, I realize something happened Nov. 4 I do not fully grasp.

Television commentator Juan Williams and political activist Jessie Jackson both separately were moved beyond speech, as so many others were. Watching these two in those moments helped me realize we have a reason to stop and celebrate as Americans, no matter the political bent.

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Now, what will this change in regard to the nature of political debate? Probably nothing, but we moved past some dark and lingering past. May we wish the president-elect well. May the Lord guide and protect the Obama family and bless this country. Amen.

Trey Turner

Temple

 

Christ’s ambassadors

Gabe Lyons is to be commended for stating the modern problem so clearly: Christianity isn’t known for Christ’s love, but for the stances against society (Oct. 27)

I agree that “present-day (popular) Christianity is no longer as Jesus intended.” Much of our oppositional behavior is the result of a system entrenched in our churches that fulfills a self-imposed commission to scowl at sin so that nobody “gets away” with thinking sin is OK.

We want to be God’s partners in pointing out the problems with the world. We fulfill this self-styled and self-serving commission to the detriment of Jesus’ true commission to make disciples.

We are the continuing presence of Christ, as Charles Wade wrote in his book, The Jesus Principle, and are ambassadors, whether we like it or not.

The question is: What is Jesus all about according to the message we communicate to the world? Our actions are the message we send and come directly from the thinking habits we’ve adopted for ourselves.

Make disciples. That’s the thinking habit we need to adopt.

Ben Macklin

Vernon

 

Sunday bailout

Recently, Coby Shorter III, pastor of Rosewood Avenue Baptist Church in Austin, updated the outdoor sign. It announced the topic of his next sermon: “Need A Bailout, Come Sunday.”

Jack Goodman

Austin

More on Good Friday

Steven Mathieson’s letter (Sept. 29) asserts the Hebrew word onah, a period of time, disproves Dan Keeney’s point (Aug. 18) that Matthew 12:40 requires a Thursday crucifixion. It does not; moreover, Christ’s prophesy of “three days and three nights” is supported by other scriptural evidence that he died Thursday afternoon.

The long tradition of a Friday crucifixion is based on the requirement that the crucified bodies had to be removed before the Sabbath (Mark 15:42). Christ’s death occurred on the 14th of Nissan in the Jewish calendar; the next day, Nissan 15, began the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a Sabbath according to Leviticus 23:6-7. The regular Sabbath followed on the 16th.

Using computers and orbital mechanics, scientists can recreate the lunar-based Jewish calendar for any given period. Such an analysis shows that Nissan 14 fell on Friday in only two years during that time, AD 26, which is too early for Jesus’ death, and AD 33, which is too late. Nissan 14 did, however, fall on Thursday in AD 30.

Thus, in AD 30 there were two Sabbaths, the Passover Sabbath (Friday) and the regular Sabbath (Saturday). This explains the plural “Sabbaths” used in Matthew 28:1, and testifies that while the Passover lambs were being killed in the Temple Thursday afternoon, God’s perfect Lamb was dying for us on Golgotha.

He would rise Sunday morning after three days and three nights in the grave, just as he prophesied in Matthew 12:40.

David Bradley

Winters

 

I totally agree with Val Borum that Jesus’ crucifixion took place on Thursday, Nisan 14, AD 30 (Nov. 3). 

To his reference to Jesus’ invoking the sign of Jonah (Matthew 12:39-41), let me add the following:

• In Matthew 26:1-2, Jesus indicates his crucifixion is “two days away.”  The context for Jesus’ statement is Tuesday, so “two days away” is Thursday.

• The lambs to be sacrificed were selected four days before Passover (Nisan 10).  Four days before Thursday the 14th would be Sunday, the 10th, the day Jesus presented himself to Jerusalem as the sacrificial lamb.

• All the sacrificial lambs were killed on Thursday afternoon the 14th, and so was the sacrificial lamb.  I could go on, but that’s enough for now.

Larry Burner

McKinney

 

Appalling activities at Baylor

The appalling activities that occurred on Baylor University’s campus on Election Day and since are despicable and should be repudiated by every one of us who holds a Baylor degree.

The Standard has reported a noose was found hanging from a tree, Barack Obama signs were burned in a barbecue pit near Brooks Flats, and police actually had to be called to quell a politically inflamed shouting match in front of Penland Hall.

Several current students to whom I’ve spoken are aghast at the T-shirts and comments across campus that cast the results of the election in virulent and even apocalyptic terms.

At this moment, I am not “Baylor Proud.” How sad that, at a school which claims to maintain exceptional Christian values, students’ responses fall so far short of even the most basic civil behavior. What a contrast to John McCain’s concession speech and his eloquent plea for unity.

I’m grateful for Interim President David Garland’s strong denunciation of the events. Every alumnus should join him.

Robert Dilday

Richmond, Va.

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 660267, Dallas 75266-0267; or by e-mail: [email protected]. Due to space considerations, limit letters to 250 words, and only one letter per writer per quarter.