Texas Tidbits

Posted: 5/25/07

Texas Tidbits

How ‘early’?

Francis Beckwith stated he returned to Roman Catholicism because he “became convinced that the Early Church is more Catholic than Protestant” (May 14).

This is according to how “early” he means. If he means the fourth century church of Constantine, then there may be room for debate.

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

“I feel I’m being tested right now—my character, my faith, how I conduct myself. It’s different. But I love it. If God allows this test to be on me, hey, I’m willing to carry it.” Mariano Rivera Closer for the New York Yankees, on his poor start this season (New York Daily News/RNS) “My party has to demonstrate that it’s not afraid to deal with the faith issue and has a candidate who the public thinks knows there’s something bigger than he or she is and is comfortable with that. We treat it like a third rail within our party.” Joe Biden Democratic presidential candidate (Associated Press/RNS) “Speaking as a private citizen and not on behalf of any organization or party, I cannot, and will not, vote for Rudy Giuliani in 2008. It is an irrevocable decision.” James Dobson Radio talk-show host and fundamentalist leader (WorldNetDaily/RNS)

But if “early” refers to the New Testament church, then there is little resemblance to Roman Catholicism.

James Semple

Dallas

Mixed blessing

To Christians, “gospel” means “good news.”

The political gospel Jerry Falwell preached was anything but good news except for the Republican Party, which benefited mightily from his use of a fundamentalist bully pulpit.

The biblical gospel Falwell preached had to suffer from his being preoccupied with furthering a narrow, unloving, power-seeking political agenda. His status as an American icon is due primarily to his involvement in the political realm. He has been a mixed blessing for the GOP. As time goes by, the impact he had on politics will lessen considerably.

Paul L. Whiteley Sr.

Louisville, Ky.

Global missions shift

Looking forward can cause us to look back—to understand our church and our association for what they are. In the evaluation, if truthful, we gain perspective on what priorities are important.

For our church and the association, we would look at our community, denominational realities, the culture of the borderlands, our world vision and, in particular, God’s heart and vision for the world.

We must ask: Who are we? What do we need to look like? What can the new realities tell us about methods of ministry? Are we more inward or outward?

Nothing opens one’s eyes like going to a mission field. Yet North America and Europe receive missionaries from Brazil, Africa, Asia and China. Yes, there’s been a global missions shift.

Is your church’s mission viewpoint to plant a self-sustaining, self-governing, self-propagating body of leaders to reach a community your church cannot reach, or plant a church on every continent on the face of the earth?

There are many unreached people groups. Let’s look in the mirror and pray to have God’s missional heart for the world.

George A. Morrison III

Harlingen

What do you think? Send letters to Editor Marv Knox by mail: P.O. Box 660267, Dallas 75266-0267; or by e-mail: marvknox@baptiststandard.com. Due to space limitations, letters must be no longer than 250 words, and only one letter per writer will be published in any three-month period