Commentary: ‘I am not allowed to be a Texas Baptist anymore’

Being a Baptist is in my blood. From cradle role until Nov. 15, 2016, I have been a Baptist. Period! I remember as a young person learning about the Baptist Faith and Message. I can still see the orange booklet in my mind as one of our ministers walked us through and explained what it meant to be Baptist. I recall the questions I had and the Sunday evenings when I thought, “Why am I here?” Today I value that my church taught me about being Baptist.

Imagine my surprise years later, when I joined First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City and there was Herschel Hobbs, pastor emeritus, sitting on the front row. Later I became minister to children and family life at FBC-OKC and listened, learned and loved Herschel Hobbs. I am a Baptist today because of his words during some of the hardest times in Baptist life. His words in the preface of the Baptist Faith and Message are powerful and how I wish they were still true today:

Baptists are an amazing people. They have no creed, yet they enjoy a remarkable unity. Scattered throughout the earth, having different ethnic backgrounds, living under varied types of government, and faced with problems inherent in different social envi­ronments, they share a unity in diversity. This unity is a living faith and an abiding message.

Ceased to be true Baptists

On Nov. 15, 2016, Texas Baptists ceased to be true Baptists. They now have a creed. They no longer allow churches to live under their own government and face their own problems. They now dictate what we must believe in order to be in association with them. Any church that affirms any sexual relationship outside the bonds of marriage between one man and one woman cannot be in harmonious cooperation with Texas Baptists.

Many want to make this decision about same-sex marriage, and I guess that is the catalyst that started the discussion. But to me, it is about so much more than that. To me, it is about no longer being allowed by Texas Baptists to interpret the Scripture myself. I have studied long and hard, read and prayed, and I interpret the Scripture how I feel God leads me. But now others are telling me—and others I know and love—that if we are going to be Baptists, we must change our thoughts and beliefs. That is not the Baptist way.

Texas Baptists also are telling churches what they must believe. No longer are our churches free to govern themselves. Evidently, we have come to a point that we need to be told what is right and wrong.

What could be next?

I do wonder today what could be next. Could it be decided and a motion made next year that churches that allow their members and their staff to dress in clothing that is mixed fibers should not be allowed into fellowship? Or maybe it will be obesity, a problem in our world. Perhaps Baptists could create a graph that shows us exactly what people should weigh. If you’re overweight, you’re welcome to come on in, but you will be expected each week to weigh. If you’ve turned away from your “sin” all is good, if not, you will be asked to come back later when you have changed.

Yes, I know I am taking it to the extreme, but that is the problem when we think we have the right to take matters into our own hands and begin to interpret the Scriptures for others. People begin to continually find ways to point out to others what they or their church is doing wrong.

This is a sad day for me as a true Baptist. I honestly don’t know where I turn now. I am still a Baptist, through and through. I will continue to stand with a few churches who I love and respect and the many Christians who are doing God’s work, but as of Nov. 15, 2016, I am not allowed to be a Texas Baptist anymore, and I’m grieving.

Cheryl Kimble is pastor of Highland Park Baptist Church in Austin.