Posted: 3/05/04
TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Gratitude to Jews
I'm neither anti-Semitic, nor do I have animosity toward the Jewish people regarding Christ's death.
To lay blame on anyone is to say that his death was a mistake. Not only was it not a mistake, it was prophecy, and there was no way around it. Our sins, particularly those of Gentiles, could have never been pardoned in any other fashion. God allowed his chosen people to carry out a task for which they would forever be ostracized, persecuted and, in some cases, killed, for their role. That God trusted the Jews to carry out this task is a testament to his love for his original “chosen people.” Sometimes, you have to be the heavy to accomplish the tough tasks.
Still, I don't get the anti-Semitism aspect (of the accounts of Christ's passion). Christians owe the Jews an enormous debt of gratitude for bringing on God's kingdom, through Jesus Christ, and for playing a part in building the bridge that allows redemption for the “un-chosen people.”
The alternative for a Christian is this: Christ never would have been crucified, our sins would not have been pardoned and the entire non-Jewish population would be forever separated from God.
Christians who blame Jews are misguided and ignorant of Scripture. The fact that you are a Christian was only made possible by the role of the Jewish and Roman leaders of that time. Besides, God doesn't make mistakes.
Mark Clark
Flower Mound
Weep for crucified
Wearying are all these depictions of the suffering of our Lord, whose dying and death are “performed” in plays, cantatas and now by one big film.
All this is so tiring to my senses and sensibilities. These “performances” miss the point. That is, that Jesus is being oppressed, tortured and murdered every single day in the lives of millions upon millions of the naked, sick, hungry and thirsty of our world.
Did he not tell us ever so plainly that he was embodied in all those who suffer in our time?
While the church has “performed” its ritual of remembrance of the “passion of Christ” throughout her history, innumerable souls have tasted real torture and very real death.
Have we in the church, perhaps, been more concerned with our dramatic “performance” than with the plight of those whom Jesus said he was to be?
Oberammergau's power of performance continued to flourish during the Nazi regime, when Jews were being dragged away by the millions to death camps.
Let us weep for Jesus, yes, but let us also weep for those who are being crucified this very day.
Al Staggs
North Richland Hills
Us vs. them
I appreciate very deeply Bob Casey's fasting and prayers for the Southern Baptist Convention in its efforts to abandon the Baptist World Alliance (Feb. 23).
He was not allowed to address the SBC Executive Committee. How like another “executive committee” that plotted to exclude Christ and would hear only testimony it wanted to hear.
It's clear the SBC enjoys exclusiveness while the BWA's view and goal is inclusive.
I love the song from my childhood, “'Tis a loving Father calls the wanderer home: Whosoever will, may come.” Inclusive!
By following arrogant and aloof leadership, we subtly become arrogant and aloof. This convention, whose agenda of “us” and “them” is all-consuming, has dogged too many humble and contrite of heart for it not to be clear. We can't say to the Lord, “I didn't know,” because we know!
Pastors and church members, what will we do?
Suzy Fuller
Tyler
Women speak out
Do I understand correctly that the most outspoken opposition to the withdrawal of the SBC from the BWA came from women? (Jan. 26)
Do these women not understand “intimidation,” “job security,” “ladder-climbing”? And what about their future retirement and health insurance? Are they not like so many “little old retired missionary widows” who really believe that if they speak out and say what they think about actions within their denomination that their benefits might be discontinued?
An SBC name change won't change the heart, and the heart seems to be diseased with the quest for control.
Domination, not denomination, has become the goal of many who have been entrusted with the future of the soon to be “former” SBC.
Ann Moore
Foley, Ala.
Hospital chaplains
The Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board has issued an opinion that the role of professional hospital chaplain is now something other than that of pastor (Feb. 23). That seems to nullify any value of an SBC endorsement. How can NAMB hope to provide spiritual support to pro-
fessional hospital
chaplains while denying who we are and what we do?
Professional hospital chaplains preach, teach, counsel, comfort, offer spiritual direction, lead the ministry of staff and volunteers, and officiate at the Lord's Supper and weddings and funerals.
I am chaplain in a children's hospital; no church pastor faces more poignant questions of the goodness of God or addresses a congregation hungrier for a word of mercy from a loving God.
The pastoral work of hospital chaplains is too difficult alone. We are finite, fallible people who depend on the prayers, strength and encouragement from other members of Christ's body, including our endorsing agency. Baptists have sent us out to be pastor in some
of the most challenging settings imaginable. We are honored to serve our Savior and the church.
Thanks be to God for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and other Baptist endorsing bodies who celebrate the pastoral identity of hospital chaplains and hold the ropes of prayer for us. May God be glorified and the love of God revealed in all we say and do.
Ann Miller
Fort Worth
Women pastors
Southern Baptists claim an allegiance to the Bible, but we share little detailed discussion of disputed interpretations in a manner that is free of political baggage for fear of being labeled liberal or fundamentalist.
I have exchanged several letters with SBC leaders on the biblical basis for the prohibition of women pastors in the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message. (The letters can be seen at www.mainstreambaptists.org/news.htm.)
If one interprets 1 Timothy 2:12 as being intended for all churches for all time, then one cannot rationally consider 1 Corinthians 11 to be unique to New Testament times or places, because Paul gives a very similar theological/historical justification for both. No one had answers for this or other specific comments, but they were not comfortable overturning 2000 years of Christian tradition on this issue.
I value tradition, but we are Baptists. Church tradition is not our final authority; it is no substitute for rigorous Bible study. If the Baptist Faith & Message committee developed carefully reasoned answers to legitimate criticisms of their interpretation on women pastors, they would not share them with me.
I would like to repeat my question to SBC leaders: If prohibition of women as pastors is the only reasonable interpretation of Scripture, why not publish a careful study of the matter, including specific refutation of the many criticisms that have been raised by Baptists and others, including staunch conservatives like James Dobson?
Steve Pruett
Bossier City, La.
Politicos' Bibles
Maybe we're looking at the wrong thing: Instead of the politicos' statements of faith, we ought to examine their Bibles.
Marv Knox told about one whose Bible has Job in the New Testament (Jan. 26), and we have an incumbent whose Bible says, “Do unto others before they do it to you” and “Be no respecter of persons unless he can contribute to your campaign.”
We just need to judge their talk in light of their walk. I would prefer a politician who did not brag about his faith but showed concern for and worked to help the meek and downtrodden. WWJVF: Who would Jesus vote for?
Carroll Johnson
Douglassville
Marriage amendment
George W. Bush has offered his support for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Many conservative evangelicals have already bought into this idea. I suggest we don't.
First, we consider the example of Jesus, the Great Physician, spending his time loving and including people the Religious Right of his day sought to treat as second-class humans. He didn't condone their actions but did not deny them the rights and dignity all God-made humans deserve.
Second, we decide not to take the first step toward becoming like Calvin's Geneva, which punished those who attempted suicide, and the Puritan colonies, where the witch hunts occurred.
Third, we ask why our leaders single out homosexuals if the concern is the sanctity of marriage. Homosexuality presents no danger to heterosexual marriage. Why not seek initiatives that seek to limit divorce and require people to take marital vows seriously? Otherwise, we're nothing more than homophobes.
Fourth, we ask if the president has ulterior motives. He displeased conservative evangelicals by saying Christians, Jews and Muslims all worship the same God. His reasons for entering Iraq have crumbled. He trails the Democratic front-runner in the polls, and most Americans oppose gay marriage. He needs the votes!
Let us follow Christ in loving the marginalized. Coercion and manipulation is no way to share the gospel of Christ.
J.D. Allen
McGregor
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