Posted: 8/03/07
Texas Baptist Forum
Future of missions
Discussion of the need for career missionaries and their role (July 9) contained quotes that show an incomplete view of missions.
| • Jump to online-only letters below |
| Letters are welcomed. Send them to marvknox@baptiststandard.com; 250 words maximum. |
 “We’ve got to give a very strong message, I speak to the Muslims now, that these martyrs aren’t going to heaven. These sinners are very much going to hell.” Shahid Malik British minister of international development and a Muslim, on violence committed in the name of Islam (CNN/RNS) “Instead of looking at global warming as Jerry Falwell has called it, ‘Satan’s diversion,’ we should see it as a note from God that says: ‘I said to be a steward, my children. Sin has consequence, and if you pollute this earth, there will be a price to pay. But it’s not too late, and with my help you can restore Eden.’” “I can’t think of a religious group he didn’t offend. He even did a cartoon that upset the Episcopalians, and you know how hard it is to upset Episcopalians.” |
To say sending congregational members overseas is cheaper is based on incomplete accounting: It costs much more because of the proportion of travel costs, but this falls on individuals and does not show up as a budget line item. Also, to say outsiders should never plant churches overlooks the fact the first congregations in a community, whether defined by barriers of language, religion or distance, will always involve outsiders. Subsequent church multiplication will be done by local believers.
Serious ministry depends on language abilities, cultural awareness and trust. These are developed over time. People on a typical mission trip usually are dependent on translators, unable to build relationships with any but a few locals who speak English well.
It was said that local people, not foreigners, can and should plant churches, and they can do it cheaper. Doesn’t that also apply to distributing relief goods, construction projects and many of the other things that “mission trips” do?
Let’s be honest: Too many mission trips have their biggest long-term impact in the lives of those who go, not in the lives of people who were visited. U.S. church members gain understanding of the place they visit, a new burden and vision, but let’s not confuse that with making disciples.
Pete Unseth
Duncanville
Immigration reform
Your well-intended editorial on immigration (July 9) leaves one to believe you support an immigration program that would allow millions of less fortunates into our country, simply because their personal circumstance dictates they must work for sub-standard wages and grovel in the dirt because big business is willing to make this “sacrifice” for them.
This is the common thread that runs through so-called immigration programs. It has now reached the level of being an untouchable sacred cow. It reminds me of the rock ballad by Meatloaf of the 1980s: “I would do anything for your love, … but I won’t do that!”
Jesus would address this entire program. Not just the part friendly to big business.
P. Guillott Jr.
Beaumont
Bravo! Juan Castro hit the nail on the head about immigration (July 23).
God has sent these folks to our doorstep so we might sow and gather. We should not and must not concern ourselves with politics, but we must reach out to all with the love of Christ.
Jesus teaches, “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” When we look at others based on race, national origin and lifestyle (homosexuality), then we lose our ability to witness.
Everyone, no matter their heritage, needs Jesus. He is the Answer.
Jack Graham
Paris
Children’s church
“Be ye not separate” discourages having a children’s worship service (July 23). I could not disagree more.
I have conducted children’s worship for almost 30 years and have seen children’s lives transformed as they learned to worship by practicing in an atmosphere tailored to their level. I have had the opportunity to lead numerous children to the Lord during children’s worship.
A good children’s worship will contain all the elements of worship, including worship in song, giving, prayer and a sermon followed by an invitation. The sermon, however, could be brought through magic, puppets or even the old-fashioned chalk drawings.
As far as the concern about not “witnessing the rituals of faith,” I always set up a “field day” to adult worship when the church conducts the Lord’s Supper, so children can see what is happening and then ask questions later. I also make sure they witness at least one baptism.
I am currently writing a book about my experiences and how to conduct children’s worship. It looks like it is really needed.
Bill Wissore
Venus
Politics
I have just read the editorial about Christians discussing politics (June 25). I applaud the reader who was making the claim regarding the “slippery slope” of discussing politics in a publication such as the Baptist Standard. I have recognized from almost the first day of Marv Knox’s editorship that his Democratic politics were almost to the point of being blatant. It is certainly possible to write editorials in the Baptist Standard without pushing one’s own political agenda.
 |
I realize the fundamentalists have tried to take over the Republican party and this has made the moderates embrace the Democratic party. While I am far from being a fundamentalist as far as my religion is concerned, I am a conservative politically, and I reject wholeheartedly the claim in the editorial that we need Marv Knox’s political views for informational purposes. It does sound as though you feel that the reader of the Baptist Standard is without knowledge of the facts in our society today to the point that you need to enlighten. Please! I think you would find that most of us are well read. I have many friends who vote the Democratic party, but we don’t try to influence one another politically.
It would be well if Marv Knox realized that the “thoughtful reader” with whom he had the Internet discussions understood more than just how his politics permeate his Baptist Standard writings.
Marjean Kitts
Arlington
Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays
Global warming
It is disturbing to see Christian leaders supporting the global warming theory. Much of what we hear from advocates like Al Gore is exaggeration.
There have been natural swings in global temperature forever, with previous warming followed by ice ages. There was another period of warming 1,000 years ago that led to the inhabitation of Iceland and Greenland and increase of agricultural production. It is not true that all scientists are concerned about this situation.
|
The National Academy of Science has stated, “A causal linkage between the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and observed climate change in the 20th century cannot be unequivocally established.” NASA Administrator Michael Griffin has said, in regard to global warming, that he is “not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with.”
Certainly I’m not saying we should not be good stewards of God’s creation, but the Baptist General Convention of Texas should not be spending any of its funds to support what is basically a political situation.
Jeff R. Moore
Fredericksburg
Career missionaries
Having been both a denominationally funded career missionary for 31 years and a volunteer missionary in retirement, count me with those respected mission leaders Rob Nash, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship; Clyde Meador, International Mission Board; Bill Tinsley, WorldconneX; and Ed Stetzer, LifeWay Christian Resources who affirm the necessity of career missionaries to effectively train and equip nationals.
|
A phone call from the international director of a mission-sending agency in my other home country interrupted my reading of the July 9 Baptist Standard. After warm greetings, he and I spent time remembering those initial years of the now-large missionary sending agency he leads. In earlier years—not days—a few committed youth found strength to continue mission outreach efforts through the encouragement, prayers and support of career denominationally supported missionaries. Those missionary efforts birthed then, through years of struggle, now reach literally around the world.
Do career denominationally funded missionaries have a future? My vote is a resounding “yes.”
Bettye Ann McQueen
Shreveport, La.
Kimball and pluralism
Hearing “Kimball” and “Carter” used to alarm only opposing Dallas high school teams. Now, however, Kimball and Carter should alarm every Bible-believing Texan.
|
Wake Forest University’s Charles Kimball, at the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ Christian Life Conference, claimed only common God-roots for Christianity, Islam and Judaism. But, in earlier presentations and interviews, Kimball declared himself a “pluralist” and expressed that “absolutist” claims of Christians do “tremendous harm all over the world.”
President Carter, according to recent reports, has referenced at least two paths to God other than salvation in Jesus. To Carter, a Mormon is a Christian and Judaism is an equally legitimate path.
Charles Kimball and Jimmy Carter aren’t in Texas, so why should Texas Baptists be alarmed? Here’s why: Attendance at its January announcement meeting in Atlanta reveals that the main proponents of Carter’s Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant include Wake Forest’s Divinity School and the BGCT.
Because, as Charles Wade said in response to the Kimball concern, “We Texas Baptists affirm that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through him,” this incompatibility alarm will only be alleviated by one of two responses—Carter refuting the reports and reporters, or the BGCT rescinding its sponsorship of his new movement. If neither happens, the question begging to be asked will be, “If, and since, it can’t be an ‘authentic Baptist witness,’ what is driving the BGCT’s involvement in Atlanta?”
Chuck Pace
Lake Jackson
More on tongues
After hearing so much about speaking in “unknown tongues,” I feel sure each of us has had this experience, and have perhaps never given it a second thought.
|
I often find myself unconciously humming a tune, even saying to myself, “ta, tee, ta” etc., which out loud would sound like nonsensical noise, yet to me, in my head, a symphony is playing out in a manner of elation to me.
At times when I feel the Spirit near, I also may find myself doing the same with an old religious hymn—elation to me, but noise to my right mind. Could this be an “unknown tongue”? If so, we are all guilty.
J.W. Daniel
Weatherford
Have we as Christians forgotten whom the Bible is about? The Southern Baptist division over speaking in tongues (June 25) is a ploy straight from the pit of hell to keep us from our mission.
|
At the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11), God saw that man’s one language was being used for vanity. Once again, man wanted to be a god. This is God’s simplest teaching throughout the Bible: “Thou shalt have no other god before Me.” It was not time for the Savior to come; God confounded their language so they could not communicate.
Not until the day of Pentecost, when once again the people were in one accord, did our Holy Spirit come! He restored the ability to speak in other languages and to understand other languages. Acts 2:8 asks, “And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” This was God’s doing, in his time, for his purpose, for his glory! It was time for the world to know its Savior—Jesus Christ! It was time for believers to spread the gospel: The truth that Jesus Christ, who without sin died for all who had sinned. Without him there is no way unto the Father!
Adding to what Christ did on the Cross is saying what he did is not good enough. The gift of tongues is being used today. It is used to translate the gospel into other languages so that his story can be spread so that others may hear in their own tongue where they were born!
Rhonda D. Pope
Gilmer
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.