Texas Baptist Forum_111003

Posted: 11/07/03

TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM
False charges

Keith Eitel's charge is absolutely false that the Parks administration at the Foreign Mission Board was not biblically based and continued the trend of liberalism.

E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com

This is a strange claim from a man who has never even discussed this with me. It also is strange that board trustees known to be very conservative who served during my years as a staff member and president include W.A. Criswell, Billy Graham, K. Owen White, W.O. Vaught, Homer Lindsay Sr., Mark Corts, Paige Patterson and Paul Pressler. None of them ever accused my predecessor, Baker James Cauthen, or me of liberalism.

Why is Eitel now making unfounded allegations?

Eitel's statement that I believe the Southern Baptist Convention was united around missions is correct. The introduction to its constitution states this. It was founded “for eliciting, combining and directing the energies of the denomination for the propagation of the gospel.”

The purpose is for home and foreign missions. Doctrine is not mentioned. When I have declared that, some ultra-conservatives accuse me of not believing sound doctrine. Not so! Baptists who united around missions did so because they believed the Bible and had strong doctrinal convictions.

I also believe true belief in Jesus Christ and the Bible will result in missions, not in doctrinal conflict nor in attacking mission efforts.

R. Keith Parks

Richardson

TV alternative

A Parents Television Council study reveals the preponderance of profanity on television and the widespread betrayal of television's “family hour.”

While not surprising, this study's findings further document the attack on today's families.

There is an alternative. Southern Baptists provide a television viewing option for today's families through our own full-time television network, FamilyNet. It offers quality family-friendly, child-safe programming, in which the good news is proclaimed. And, in concert with the North American Mission Board's Evangelism Response Center, viewers are able to call a toll-free telephone number and talk with someone who cares about them.

From “TruthQuest: California,” a FamilyNet production for youth, to “Mary Lou's Flip Flop Shop,” a half-hour children's show with Olympic gold medalist (and Southern Baptist) Mary Lou Retton, to “Swan's Place,” featuring Southern Baptist humorist Dennis Swanberg, there's something for the entire family.

May I suggest an action individuals can employ to positively impact television viewing choices: Help bring FamilyNet to all Texas homes. Concerned Baptists who subscribe to cable or satellite service can ask their television provider to add FamilyNet to the lineup of channel options. For those not currently subscribing but who would like to have access to such programming, a contact to these same television outlets represents the potential for a new customer and raises the interest of the management.

For more information on becoming involved in offering a wholesome alternative in TV viewing, visit www.familynet.-com or call (800) 832-6638.

R. Chip Turner

Vice president for marketing & distribution

FamilyNet

Fort Worth

Broadened horizons

I would like to reply to David King's questions about “official teaching” at Baptist schools (Nov. 3).

I have been fortunate enough to attend two great Southern Baptist institutions–Union University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I am currently in the dissertation phase of my doctorate, and I would like to say that at no time in my education did I ever feel like I was being indoctrinated, nor did I feel that I could not share my opinion.

This is not to say that my opinion always falls into one particular “theological camp,” either; it does not.

I have always had great professors who encouraged classroom discussion and reading material from all aspects of the theological landscape. Theological education is what you make of it. You, the individual, must take responsibility for your learning.

When I had the opportunity to teach theology two years ago, I always attempted to stimulate discussion. If someone spoke from a Dispensational point of view, I would call for a different opinion and vice-versa.

I encouraged them to read from outside their theological spectrum.

I am sure there are some who approach the classroom attempting to persuade others to their way of thinking, but the majority of professors in our Baptist institutions see themselves as professionals who want to help broaden the horizons of those who have committed themselves to God's calling.

Ray Wilkins

Frisco

Fundamental point

The debate on spending billions of dollars to rebuild Iraq misses a fundamental point. No matter how much some politicians now argue that we should never have gone to war in the first place, the fact is that we did and were victorious.

The money earmarked to rebuild Iraq and stabilize the area is crucial to preventing our having to go back in again down the road to fight an even more militant adversary.

Leaving before that is accomplished would mean the men and women of our armed services who gave their lives in this war died for nothing.

Paul Combs

Rockwall

National unity

After 9/11, the country united under George Bush to rid the world of terrorism. As time goes on and we move farther and farther away from that date, we seem to be forgetting that we have made a commitment.

This is a time for national unity. With troops still over there, we should spend our time praying for them, rather than arguing. We need to support our president as long as he is in power and our troops as long as they are in harm's way.

Think about that and where your priorities are. My priorities are toward my country and what's best for it, and right now what we have to do is stick together, no matter what happens.

Ryan Burgett

Cedar Hill