Texas Baptist Forum

Posted: 12/02/05

Texas Baptist Forum

Get with the program

I have followed this dispute between the two Baptist groups in Texas since its inception. The fact of the matter is that both groups are right but do not have the right to insist the other accept their point of view.

Letters are welcomed. Send them to marvknox@baptiststandard.com; 250 words maximum.

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The Baptist General Convention of Texas is social in context and views Scripture from that point of view, whereas the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention is evangelistic and sees its mission and interpretation of Scripture from that point of view.

I for one can assure you that there is room for both, and both have a mission, and both could, in fact, be correct. Jesus is more than one point of view.

It would be nice to hear no more from either side and just get with the program as each sees it! I bet most people feel the same way I do.

Tom Reynolds

Lubbock

Respect, not racism

I voted for Rick Davis as president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas at the annual meeting in Austin. One of my African-American brothers questioned his nomination. I concluded he was suggesting a racial motive for the second nomination.

As a good Baptist, I can neither speak for the other 400-plus people who voted for Davis, nor would I try.

I voted for him for two reasons. First I have known Rick for several years in my short ministry. He has been a friend and a mentor. I know he cares for his congregation and for Texas Baptists, and I know he is a very capable leader. Second, I voted for him because he is passionate about winning lost souls.

I must confess that I was not informed on Texas Baptists Committed's “acceptable” slate of candidates this year. I certainly did not know Michael Bell was the nominee or that he was African-American. I just knew a friend and colleague that I know and love was going to be nominated.

Jim Denison preached a wonderful sermon several years ago in Corpus Christi. He said it is time to get over the great commotion and get on with the Great Commission. My motive and vote was about the importance of evangelism in our great state.

Daniel Downey

Lorena

Thankful for TBM

In reference to “Baptist Men involved in God's activity” (Nov. 21): I had the honor to work with the Texas Baptist Men Dallas kitchen in Lufkin, riding out Hurricane Rita at Harmony Hills Baptist Church. I also worked in Vidor at First Baptist Church. Both churches are awesome and are lighthouses for the Lord.

At Lufkin, the small Dallas unit was set up to feed 4,000 to 5,000 people each day. In the first 10 days, 85,000 meals were prepared, with “rookies” doing the cooking. At Vidor, I worked with chainsaw units from Evansville, Ind. They returned home in time for a tornado, and Baptist Men from Virginia and Oklahoma took their places.

The men that I met, worked with and saw God working through were an awesome and life-changing experience.

I witnessed to a Red Cross driver from California who was in awe of the work that was being done. He was not saved, but the seeds were planted for the Holy Spirit. None of this could have been done without the leadership of the “Carpenter,” the Lord Jesus the Christ, who was the basis for the witness.

I am sorry for the victims' losses to Rita and Katrina, but I'm so thankful for the experience with Texas Baptist Men.

Victor Norman

Longview

Cost of longevity

Phillip Wise's answer to the question of whether it is wrong for a Christian to be treated with stem cells harvested from a legally murdered Chinese baby (Nov. 7) lacks something.

Our medical dictionary shows that a person is created the instant an egg is fertilized and it becomes an embryo. A 4- to 5-day-old embryo is a tiny infant–fetus–not a liver or heart. It must be killed for its stem cells.

The Bush administration has caused all the stem cells in our labs to become contaminated? Should we ignore the news that useable stem cells are being found in skin, hair and umbilical cords?

Only the very rich can pay for this expensive cure/replacement. Therefore, it should be available to Medicare so we can all live forever. Forget about retirement for our children.

The question is this: How many Peters must be robbed to make Paul live for 200 years, and what does he/she say to God about the death of wonderfully made fetuses to prolong that old age?

Shirley Wright

Detroit