Posted: 9/5/03

Does your church harbor pirates?

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

Pirates not only have ruled the Caribbean at the box office this summer, they've continued to ravage the music industry, including the Christian music industry.

Christian Music Business • Does your church harbor pirates? • Ministers suspected among best-known music pirates • Christian contemporary music: business or ministry? • Destination Known charts a course

Illegal downloads and compact discs are pushing people out of work and narrowing the Christian music industry, according to insiders.

Christian music sales have fallen for the first time in two years, and piracy is largely to blame, according to John Styll, president of the Gospel Music Association. Although he does not have solid numbers of Christian music downloads from file-sharing sites, he said several factors indicate large amounts of activity.

Many songs from Christian artists appear on peer-to-peer file sharing sites, where people can trade electronic files across the Internet. Songs from artists like Michael W. Smith, Third Day, Amy Grant and Stephen Curtis Chapman are readily available.

Additionally, recordable compact discs outsold music CDs by a 2-to-1 ratio this year in North America, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Sales of MP3 players, which play the digital files, jumped 56 percent last year.

Couple these facts with the 10.23 percent decline in Christian music sales in the first six months of this year compared to last year, and Styll believes the connection is obvious.

Proponents of file-sharing claim the process does not hurt anyone because the artists already make outrageous amounts of money.

Styll agrees the retail price for an album is too high, but illegal downloading and CD burning hurt everyone in the industry, from engineers to producers to CD manufacturers, he added. One record label cut its workforce 10 percent because of the sales reductions, he said.

“I would keep making music for free, but because I work for a label, I don't think those people should work for free,” said multiple Dove Award nominee Shaun Groves.

Piracy also decreases the variety of Christian music available, said Groves, a Tyler native. He believes recording labels are allowing their artists to take fewer risks because the profit margin is so slim that investors cannot afford for any album to lose money. To ensure projects make money, executives produce only albums that will have mainstream appeal.

That means leaving certain topics out of contemporary Christian music, Groves mourned. It also means signing fewer new artists and cutting other performers faster. Had such a mentality prevailed in the past, artists like Rich Mullins, who was not immediately successful, would have been dropped and not blossomed into major Christian music favorites, he added.

“If you make music that has the whole truth of Scripture, it's risky,” Groves said.

Todd Agnew, whose first single off his debut album shot to No. 1 on the Christian pop charts, echoed Groves' thoughts, saying he does not expect to make money during his first year of touring behind the album but hopes to survive to make a second record.

“We're swimming as fast as we can to keep our heads above water,” he said.

Despite the negative effects of illegal downloading and CD burning, Styll and the artists agree that digital music can have a promotional purpose. Mainstream artists such as Toad the Wet Sprocket and John Mayer gained popularity through fans spreading their music without buying it.

But the artists must choose to market themselves that way, Styll said.

Whether they make that choice or not, popular artists most likely will end up on a file-sharing network. Groves does not get upset with people who ask him to autograph a CD of his music they have copied rather than bought because he does not believe people understand it is illegal.

Ryan Gregg of Dallas-based Addison Road, a band trying to get signed to a major label, does not agree with illegal burning or downloading, but he looks at a copied album as an avenue to larger fan support.

“If someone is willing to burn a CD, maybe in the long run they'll come to a show or buy a T-shirt,” he said. “This is not to say we support burning our CD, but I just don't think it is cool to get mad at people about it.”

Meanwhile, the Christian music industry is working to harness the promotional potential of the digital age, while educating the public on copyright laws, Styll said.

A board of directors from four major labels is investigating digital issues. One of their first steps is to begin inserting a piece of paper in each album thanking the owner for purchasing the music rather than illegally copying it.

Several labels have already printed, “Unauthorized duplication prohibited by law” on the CDs. Rocketown Records initially added the warning: “That includes downloading and file-sharing,” but since has changed the wording to simply: “Don't steal music.”

“It's a small bit of type, but hopefully it will feed the conscience of a buyer or two,” said Angela Magill, vice president of business affairs and general counsel at the label.

Manufacturers continue to work on technology that prevents people from downloading and burning songs. Until then, the carrot holds more promise than the stick.

Groves hopes to entice fans to buy his album rather than download the songs illegally. He added a promotional video and a live version of a song to his latest album. He also included a Power Point display for worship use.

Artists and labels also are encouraging fans to use legitimate websites such as liquid.com that charge about 99 cents per song to download.

“The industry has got to convert to the digital world and make it easy and affordable,” Styll said.

But that won't be the end of the battle, Styll noted. The industry fought piracy before CDs and will battle it long after the industry catches technology, he said.

“I think this will always be a problem in some form.”

Posted: 9/5/03

TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Judicial activism

I've noticed in the media coverage of Judge Roy Moore's Ten Commandments travail in Alabama a constitutional “sleight of hand” being performed by pundits before an unsuspecting public.

Those opposed to the judge's display of the Ten Commandments have cleverly substituted the phrase “state endorsement of religion” for “state establishment of religion.” Moore's 5,000-pound monument represents the “endorsement of a specific religion” we are told.

So what? Nothing in the Constitution prohibits the government from endorsing, preferring or even supporting with tax dollars a particular religion, just as President Thomas Jefferson–the father of the phrase “separation of church and state”–did when he requested funds from Congress to support Christian missionaries to the Kaskaskia Indians.

The First Amendment to the Constitution only prohibits “Congress” from making a “law” regarding the “establishment” of a state religion such as our forefathers experienced. Period.

Moore is not a congressman and has no power to establish a state religion.

The Alabama controversy is just one more example of judicial activism run amuck. By creating an imaginary right for citizens to be shielded from any type of religious expression in the public square (we had better get to work sandblasting the phrase “Praise be to God” from atop the Washington Monument), the courts are taking away the very real constitutional right the 10th Amendment grants us for protection from federal imperialists like federal Judge Myron Thompson.

Robert Jeffress

Wichita Falls

Balancing principles

Judge Roy Moore has created a stir. Who is right? The answer is somewhere in-between.

In most conflicts, there is more than one principle involved. That is true here.

Yes, we want to avoid constraining others to the altar. God himself does not. No, we should not let anyone stop us from telling others of our Savior. Yes, we want to maintain “law and order.” No, we do not want to mar Martin Luther King's example of civil disobedience.

How are we supposed to do the calculus to resolve these issues? “Let every man be fully convinced in his own mind.” God is actually less concerned whether Moore keeps the statue in the courthouse than he is that all of us do our best to figure out the best answer we can and act accordingly. God is well able to take things from there.

Here is the ultimate point: “Do not judge your brother, because to God he stands or falls.”

Argue with passion, but don't forget saints can differ and yet maintain fellowship with each other. As with meat offered to idols, I submit keeping the Ten Commandments posted in the Alabama courthouse falls in that category.

Thomas F. Harkins Jr.

Fort Worth

Marital equality

Christian duty demands a response to Jimmy Stanfield's assertion that Christ did not teach equality (Aug. 25).

We are clearly taught that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, but all are one in Christ Jesus. Certainly that means all are equal and capable of fulfilling any role to which they are called by God.

Those who would demand women submit to their husbands without imposing a similar duty upon the husband implicitly suggest a man has free reign over his wife and thus support an unjust, un-Christian slave system.

The Apostle Paul instructs us to submit to each other (Ephesians 5:21) and follows that with explicit instructions to the covenanting marriage partners. Wives submit to their husbands, and husbands love their wives.

What does love require? An uncoerced self-sacrifice of or subordination of one's own will to the good of the other without concern for self. What does submission demand? Certainly not subjugation but rather a free surrender of one's will to the good of the other without regard for self-interests.

Submission and love, therefore, are synonymous, and man and wife are thus equal partners in marriage. Each partner has different duties and responsibilities, but they both are commanded to love each other equally and exclusively and to mutually serve each other for as long as they both shall live.

Kevin T. Holton

Waco

Women & silence

Melissa Crawford quotes a phrase from 2 Timothy 2:12 where Paul tells Titus that he “does not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man; she must be silent” (Aug. 11). She contrasts the “I do not allow” with “thus saith the Lord.”

If that were the only place that the issue were raised, then she may have a point. But consider: “As in all congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the church. They are not allowed to speak but must be in submission as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husband at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only one it has reached? If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am saying is the Lord's command. If (she) ignores this then (she herself) will be ignored” (1 Corinthians 14:33b-38).

Burt Bull

Kingsville

Science & religion

For once, there is a mutual interest shared by good science and good religion. The State Board of Education will hear final presentations on new biology textbooks Sept. 10. These will frame the understanding of evolution our children are taught for the next six years.

Texans for Better Science Education will advocate complete and open teaching of evolution by correcting factual errors in texts and covering both the strengths and weaknesses of theories. Fortunately, Texas law requires this. We will present a petition already signed by thousands of Texans.

Evolution supporters are mounting a campaign of censorship to retain errors implying science explains the origin of life from natural causes. That means no action of a Creator. New understanding makes clear that science has not established this.

Standard readers can register their support for getting their children's biology texts brought up to date. Sign the TBSE petition at www.strengthsandweaknesses.org.

Ide Trotter

Duncanville

Baylor together

I am not a Baylor man. In fact, my most sacrificial experience with Baylor is the tuition I pay for my two children. I love the institution that I attended, Georgia Tech, because it produced a community that all graduates celebrate.

But I also have developed a love for Baylor. The vision that Robert Sloan has developed is a prime reason for my attachment. Why not the world's premier evangelical institution of unparalleled learning? Sounds like something the founders of Baylor would have been excited about.

I know Robert Sloan. He is a good man, Christian gentleman and evangelical scholar who loves the Lord. If he has made some mistakes, he is not alone. Most ministers, university professors and church members also have made our share.

But I believe President Sloan is a man we can all unify around. He has Baylor and the kingdom of God at his heart.

As an outsider looking in, I would like to say to the Baylor family that now is the time to join together, not shoot at each other, because only the evil one wins when that occurs.

By the way, isn't there something I have heard about a “Good Ol' Baylor Line”?

Jim Haskell

Georgetown

Poor leadership

In telling me recently his pastor had resigned, a friend also related: “In all of his years with us, he never dragged us into this denominational mess. He never mentioned it from the pulpit.”

Texas Baptists are a missions-minded people. The channel for most of them since 1925 has been the Cooperative Program, which, in all its forms, supports missions statewide, nationally and overseas. For the sake of the thrust of this letter, let's ignore the fact that the (new) Southern Baptist Convention, which has responsibility for the national and overseas portion, bears little resemblance to the pre-1979 convention.

Most Baptist churches are challenged to support the Cooperative Program. Although in many the percentage is declining, most still give a significant percentage of their income through the CP to support those mission endeavors.

It is poor stewardship of the office of the pastor and poor leadership to on one hand challenge a church to support missions endeavors through the Cooperative Program and on the other ignore the new philosophy behind missions programs that has taken root since 1979 and how it became entrenched.

Toby Druin

Waxahachie

No sheepdogs

In “Hearing God,” Dallas Willard presents two sentences that answer the Baptist dilemma today.

First, he writes, “To manipulate, drive or manage people is not the same thing as to lead them.”

Second, he quotes C.H. Spurgeon, “I would sooner be the leader of six free men, whose enthusiastic love is my only power over them, than play the director to a score of enslaved nations.”

Maybe it is time for all sections of Baptists to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send us shepherds rather than sheepdogs.

Marvel G. Upton

Sacramento, Calif.

God's truth

Jerry Barker wrote, “God has miraculously supplied us with the Bible in exactly the form and using exactly the words that he wants us to have at this moment in time” (Aug. 11). I believe this statement just as surely as I believe that God exists. However, the words on paper do not become truth until they are “hid in the hearts” of those who believe and trust in God.

God's truth comes to us through his creation; the words of Moses and the prophets; his Son, the Living Word; and the words of the apostles and other inspired New Testament writers.

We can know all truth as the Holy Spirit brings it to our remembrance. We must seek all possible help through prayer and the teachings of godly pastors and teachers. God's truth is ultimately revealed when it becomes evident in the lives of Christians.

James M. Skipper

Pearland

God forgets

When one of my preacher friends announced one Sunday that he'd be preaching on “Five Things that God Doesn't Know,” it caused the immediate departure of some scandalized saints. And I'm sure some might depart on a sermon titled “What God Doesn't Remember,” too.

God has a good memory. He remembers the times we've thought on his name (Malachi 3:15). He remembered the thief on the cross, his covenant with his people, and that we're in the Lamb's Book of Life. He even has the hairs on our heads numbered (Matthew 10:30).

But even though he is an omniscient God, there's something he promised never to remember–our forgiven sins.

Doug Fincher

San Augustine

Defense of Piper

In response to the question, “Did Christ die for us or for God?” Roger Olson (Aug. 25) is certainly correct to answer “both/and,” not “either/or.” Christ died for the glory of God and for the love of his people. But Olson is incorrect to suggest that John Piper denies this.

A search on the DesiringGod.org website shows that Piper has written, “The death of Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of divine love” (Romans 5:8); that becoming a Christian is first asking the question, “Am I persuaded that Christ died for me and I died in him?” and then answering, “Yes, from the heart”; that a key component to spiritual warfare is saying to Satan, “Christ died for me. Christ was raised from the dead for me”; and that the phrase “in his blood” (Romans 3:25) “is precious because it means that Christ died for me.” The examples could be multiplied.

In fact, before this article was published, Piper responded to an inquiry from Olson regarding these “reports from youthful listeners.”

Piper responded that he has always said “yes” to the question of whether Christ died for us. But if he had ever denied it, he would need to repent or explain that he means, “Christ did not die for us in the way he died for God, and Christ died for God to deal with the greatest problem so that he could then deal justly with our problem.”

In response to Olson's criticism that Piper did not mention love as one of God's attributes on display in the magnification of his glory, Piper pointed out that he speaks about the love of God at almost every place that he goes.

Piper thanked Olson for the heads up about how his message was being heard, promised to take this into account as he crafted his messages and indicated that he didn't want to be misunderstood or biblically unbalanced.

Therefore, it is certainly disappointing that Olson would perpetuate this misunderstanding in print, implying that Piper denies the “both/and,” and saying that “the God proclaimed by John Piper” is “aloof and self-absorbed.”

In fact, Piper loves to stress the paradoxes of God's majesty and intimacy, terror and tenderness, severity and sweetness. “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'”

Justin Taylor

Executive editor

Desiring God Ministries

Minneapolis

Correction

I apologize to the admirers and heirs of J.B. Phillips, who, rather than Paul Little, wrote “Your God is Too Small” (Aug. 25).

Thanks to the perceptive readers who caught the mistake and urged its correction.

Roger E. Olson

Waco

Fine response

The editorial on homosexuality (Aug. 11) is the finest Christian response to the challenging situation of homosexuality that I can remember ever reading.

No alarmist talk about “the demise of civilization”; no rose-colored glasses optimism; no separation of people (who are all sinners) into categories of good and bad. Common sense based on Christian love and God’s revelation.

Dick Garrett

Fort Worth

Question not productive

I appreciate the main point of Roger Olson’s article: we must not emphasize one aspect of God’s character over another (Aug. 25). I also grant to Olson that the writings and preaching of John Piper may be lacking in multiple references to God’s love.

However, asking ourselves the question, “Is your God too big?” is not a productive one. In order to gain the interest of people in our culture, we often emphasize warm, inviting aspects of God’s character, such as his mercy and kindness. In time, our churches lose sense of the majesty of the God whose “greatness no one can fathom” and the one who has earth as his footstool (Psalm 145:3; Isaiah 66:1).

Olson closes his article by saying an overemphasis of the glory of God makes God seem impersonal and aloof. Surely God was not aloof when he revealed the depth of his glory to Moses in Exodus 33 or when Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up in Isaiah 6.

God’s promotion of his glory is the most loving thing he can do for his creatures. By doing so, God gives us what we most need—himself.

I have found Piper’s emphasis on God’s renown refreshing and utterly helpful. Though Olson’s point is well taken, some of his conclusions can be dangerous to a church that desperately needs to “ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name” (Psalm 29:2).

Cliff Lea

Corpus Christi

Teach the Commandments

We need to make a stand for God and his Son, Jesus.

You have heard of the removal of the Ten Commandments monument in Alabama. My plea is to teach these commandment’s to our children. We cannot let the devil take over without a stand for our Lord. The devil cannot win, and neither will the “dark side.”

What will happen next? Are they going to take “God” out of “God Bless America”? They say they are trying to “seperate” state and church. But what are they really trying to do?

Please pray that God will triumph.

If we go on preaching the Ten Commandments, Satan will have lost. The more this word is spread,through the church,the sadder Satan become’s.

Zola Lee

New Albany, Ind.

Paul chose word deliberately

Jimmy Stanfield writes, “How sad that some are so blinded by worldly ideals that they would undercut the authority of the apostles” (Aug. 25). I did not sense Melissa Crawford was in any way attempting to undercut the authority of the Apostle Paul in her letter (Aug. 11). I would hasten to say, “How sad that some are so blinded by traditional teachings and faulty interpretations of Scripture that they would undercut the actual teachings and writings of the apostles.”

Alluding to Ephesians 5:23, “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church …” as justification that “Christ does not teach equality,” Stanfield does what too many people do. He interprets a small section of Scripture by a paradigm he has already configured for himself rather than taking into consideration what Scripture, as a whole, teaches about a subject.

For the record, Paul deliberately chooses the word “kephale” for “head,” a word that was never used to mean “boss” or “chief” or “ruler,” but, instead, meant “head” as in a person’s physical head, but also a military term, as in “one who leads,” in the sense of being the first into battle.

And don’t forget Paul also writes, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female,” but all are “one in Christ Jesus,” (Galations 3:28, 29) and “co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:14).

Pamm Muzslay

El Lago

We are to stand for truth

Women preachers and homosexuals confused! Listening to the “angel of light” instead of the word (1 Corinthians 14:33-35) ? Women again taking the bait—apple—and man right behind. Now homosexual preachers, and marriage being approved (Leviticus 18:22-30)!

Don’t be ashamed of the word, asserting, agreeing to issues such as “women should have the right to be pastors,” just because not wanting to hurt someone’s feelings or be politically correct. Jesus was very blunt, as was John, Peter and Paul presenting the Word.

We are to stand for truth, not error that infiltrates our churches, our thoughts. If the thought and/or practice disagree with the word, then it is wrong.

Marriage in God’s sight is when the virgin comes together with a husband, as she was made to bear children (1 Timothy 2:11-15). Paul’s point is the body can only have one head (she forfeited her chance), and the man is to preach (he fell because of love, not lust), and is held accountable for the fall, and now responsible for spreading the word. If not, there would have been no need for her to be a partner, but a slave, or just a playmate.

Case in point to prove this is that of a homosexual. If a homosexual should be saved, his (or her) “playmate” cannot be automatically saved, as the male/female relationship of marriage for becoming one cannot be attained. Acts 16:31 agrees with 1 Corinthians 7:14. Virgins, singles come on their own. All can be in Christ.

James Parks

Dallas

What do you think? Submit letters for Texas Baptist Forum via e-mail to marvknox@baptiststandard.com or regular mail at Box 660267, Dallas 75266-0267. Letters may be edited to accommodate space.

Posted: 9/5/03

Texas Tidbits

HBTS alumni reunion planned. Alumni, faculty, and staff of Hispanic Baptist Theological School will join in a reunion event Oct. 3-4. The event will begin with dinner on the Riverwalk in San Antonio Friday night before a day of activities Saturday. Current students are organizing an international fair, decorating booths and cooking food from their countries of origin. Alumni will have opportunities to take their best shots at staff in a dunking booth. To RSVP, call HBTS (210) 924-4338 or email rayala@hbts.edu.

Jim Wilkinson

Baylor honors former military spokesman. Jim Wilkinson, who served the last 10 months as director of strategic communications for Gen. Tommy Franks at U.S. Central Command, received the 2003 Baylor Communications Award Aug. 25. The award recognizes those who have distinguished themselves in the field of communications and in their communities. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Wilkinson served as Gen. Franks' principal spokesman. In addition to a number of other roles within the Republican Party, Wilkinson served as a spokesman for George W. Bush during the Florida recount. From 1992 to 2000, he worked for U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey. The Waco Tribune-Herald reported that Baylor President Robert Sloan recently offered Wilkinson a position as vice president for university relations. Instead, however, Wilkinson accepted a new role as communications director for the 2004 Republican National Convention. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington and Johns Hopkins University.

UMHB receives grant. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor has received a $200,000 grant from the Thomas Kinder and Martha Farris Foundation of Floydada for the Mayborn Campus Center. Martha White Farris is a 1942 graduate of the university. She served as honorary chair of the university's "Challenge Beyond 2000" campaign that raised $17 million.

Parkses at HSU. Kent and Erika Parks have returned to the Hardin-Simmons University Baptist Student Ministries office for the fall semester as missions consultants. They are Southeast Asia regional facilitators for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Their daughter, Katy, 18, is a fourth-generation family member enrolled as a freshman at HSU this fall.

Bawcom named to UMHB position. Amy Bawcom has been named director of institutional research at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. She will coordinate the institutional effectiveness program, which evaluates work processes in all departments for accreditation purposes. The daughter of UMHB President Jerry Bawcom, she is a 1993 graduate of UMHB with degrees in business administration and English. She received a master's in English language and literature from Baylor University, and she currently is working on a doctorate in educational administration at Baylor. She has been a professor of English and assistant registrar at UMHB.

Matthews to perform at Wayland. Marvin Matthews, Christian vocalist and an alumnus of Wayland Baptist University, will headline the Gospel Sing-spiration, a Gaither-inspired evening of music featuring area singers Sept. 20. The event is sponsored by Wayland's Alpha Psi Omega service fraternity and will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Harral Memorial Auditorium. Tickets are $10 per person. Matthews will be present gospel music backed by a mass choir of singers from throughout West Texas.

Tipton named associate dean. Lucia Tipton has been named associate dean of the Scott and White School of Nursing at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. She has been a member of the UMHB faculty, teaching adult health and critical-care nursing, since 1976. She received a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Baylor University in 1971. Her graduate degrees include a master's in psychiatric-mental health nursing from Texas Women's University and a doctorate in adult health nursing from the University of Texas at Austin.

BGCT child care available. Free child care will be provided as a service for out-of-town messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas Nov. 10-11 in Lubbock. Care for infants through pre-kindergarteners will be offered at First Baptist Church, a five-minute drive from the Lubbock Civic Center. The service will be offered Monday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Reservations are required. Contact Cathy Jones, preschool minister at First Baptist Church, by Oct. 15, at (806) 747-0281 or cathy@fbclubbock.org.

HSU conference focuses on worship. "Worship: Reaching Up, In and Out" will be the theme of a conference for pastors and ministers of music sponsored by Hardin-Simmons University's School of Music and Logsdon School of Theology Oct. 3-4 on the HSU campus in Abilene. Robert Webber, a nationally known worship leader, will be the keynote speaker. Worship specialists will lead small-group seminars. Cost is $35. For more information and to register, visit the conference website, www.hsutx/edu/mwc/, or contact Clell Wright or Bill Tillman at (325) 670-1426 or (325) 670-1287.

Clarification: One sentence in the Aug. 25 article, "BGCT to create funding channel for some former missionaries," incorrectly stated that the funding channel for former missionaries "will become part of a new, as-yet-unnamed missions network of the BGCT." The funding channel will be offered as a potential project for the missions network once it is operational, but any decision about assuming responsibility for the funding of missionaries rests entirely with the network's board of directors.

Posted: 9/5/03

See second cartoon here.

“I understand you don't like my ponytail, Mrs. Tidwell, but there are more inflamatory issues at hand.”

Posted: 9/5/03

ETBU student's ministry highlights heroes

By Ken Camp

Texas Baptist Communications

MARSHALL–Every child needs a hero, Michael Barron figured. And given good role models, every child has the potential to become a hero to someone else, he reasoned.

That's the philosophy behind the Hero program, an after-school ministry for low-income children Barron launched last year at East Texas Baptist University.

It started as a homework assignment. Barron was required to plan and implement a ministry project as part of a ministry foundations class, a required course for ETBU students receiving ministry tuition assistance from the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Texas Baptist churches will provide about $1.7 million this year in ministerial tuition assistance for undergraduates at eight BGCT-affiliated universities through their Cooperative Program giving.

Barron thought about his involvement with low-income children through his home church, a non-denominational congregation in Greenville. He wondered if anything comparable existed in Marshall.

“I thought about what I saw here. Once I recognized the need, God gave me a vision for it,” he recalled.

Barron envisioned an after-school program where ETBU students would “hang out” with children who would be considered “at risk.” The university students could offer tutorial sessions, play games and tell Bible stories.

“It's a struggle for kids to find good heroes. That's why so many look up to professional athletes or celebrities,” he said. “Through this program, a student can be a hero to these kids–the kind of hero who will tell them they are created by God and loved by God. And in time, they can be a hero to someone else.”

The teacher for the ministry foundations class was Dane Fowlkes, who serves as university chaplain and as pastor of Marshall's Bel Air Baptist Church. Barron shared his vision for the Hero program, and he asked Fowlkes if Bel Air Baptist Church could help.

Fowlkes, a former Southern Baptist missionary to Kenya and India, said he had been seeking ways to lead the church toward becoming “a transforming presence in the community.”

The church agreed to make its facilities available for after-school ministries and included the Hero program in its budget. Several church members also volunteered to bake cookies for the children and help with tutorials.

Barron posted fliers around the ETBU campus to recruit student volunteers. About one-third of the students who remained active in the ministry throughout the spring semester were Barron's ETBU Tigers football teammates.

“It was a start-up process last semester,” he explained. “We had just a handful of kids who stayed the whole semester. But these were children who didn't have many friends. They needed a place to fit in, and they found that in Hero.”

Recently, Barron met with the superintendent of the Marshall Independent School District, and he hopes the Hero program can move its after-school programs to several school campuses this year.

“Instead of the kids having to come to us at the church, we want to bring the program to them,” he said.

At the same time, Bel Air Baptist Church hopes to offer parenting seminars, divorce recovery groups and other ministries for the parents of children in the Hero program. The church has started moving from a “survival” mindset toward a vision of becoming an inclusive, community-centered congregation, Fowlkes said.

“The Hero program has helped us in that transition toward becoming Christians who make a difference in our community,” he said.

Posted: 9/5/03

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Sept. 14

Paul reminds readers of heavenly citizenship

Philippians 1:18-30

By John Duncan

Lakeside Baptist Church, Granbury

To live as a Roman in Philippi meant to live life focused upon the bread and the circuses. “The bread” meant dinner parties, the grain dole from the Roman government, three meals a day, and trips to the marketplace (the agora) to purchase food much like a trip to Wal-Mart. “The circuses” in the Roman world was descriptive of the Roman's penchant for entertainment, for chariot races, for the duels of the gladiators, for sporting events and even for trips to the theater to watch dramatic performances. It also meant to live in the Roman colony of Philippi as a Roman citizen with its laws, duties and conduct.

To live as in Rome was to live in the ideals of Rome, to live under the watchful eye Rome's emperor and to live with a view toward Rome in its glory. In Philippians 1:27, Paul exhorts the Christians at Philippi to conduct themselves as citizens of the gospel of Christ. Paul chose words to describe what it meant to live as a citizen who honors Christ, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Paul considered his citizenship in heaven. It motivated him to live his life in Philippi under Christ with its grace, duties and conduct. How could Paul live as heavenly citizen while on earth?

Paul's belief: Supply from heaven

Paul prayed because he knew God would supply or furnish the necessary power for the gospel to change lives, even through preaching (Philippians 1:19). Paul yearned for people to live as citizens of Christ and to know Christ personally. Paul rejoiced because Christ delivered him (Philippians 1:19). He lived in expectation, like a child looking out the window in anticipation of seeing something exciting (Philippians 1:20, a possible reference to Christ's second coming). Paul lives in hope (Philippians 1:20), not wishing to shame Christ and longing to speak of Christ with boldness. Paul's one desire in living is to magnify Christ. Paul reiterates here John the Baptist's grand theme when speaking of Christ: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Paul most likely has in his mind a pending court case where he will stand trial and defend the gospel. Yet his passion is living as a citizen of Christ, not with rights, but with its privileges. Paul knows that living as a citizen of Christ while on earth means that whether the judgment is life or death, he still knows God is in control. Paul notes, “To die is gain,” a monetary banking term meaning “interest earned” (Philippians 1:21). Paul knew living or dying for Christ produced heavenly rewards greater than earthly interest on a bank account.

Paul's feeling: Spiritual tension

Every believer in Christ's kingdom lives in dynamic tension–between heaven and earth, the spiritual and the temporal, and the spirit and the flesh. Christians encounter a tug-of- war between God's higher ways and our ways (Isaiah 55:7-8). Jesus expressed this tension in the Sermon on the Mount as seeking first God's kingdom (Matthew 6:33). Paul spoke of this tension by calling his life a temporary tent (2 Corinthians 5:1). The poet Gerard Manley Hopkins contested life as an inner turmoil between right and wrong where “selfwrung, selfstrung, sheethe-and shelterless, thoughts against thoughts in groans grind.” Life grinds and groans like parts of an engine grinding in tension against each other.

Paul expresses his own tension between the citizenship of Earth and his desire to enter heaven. On one hand, he desires to raise the anchor, loose his ship and set sail for his heavenly port where Christ dwells–to be with Christ (Philippians 1:23). On the other hand, he yearns to keep his life staked like a temporary tent so that he may abide with his fellow believers, to preach the gospel and to minister as Christians joyfully advance in their faith (Philippians 1:23-25).

In the grind and groan of life, Paul never loses sight of grace. To live in heaven with Christ as a citizen is better, but to serve Christ by ministering to others is a joyful necessity while on earth (Philippians 1:23-24). The tension of heaven and earth struggles, but God supplies grace to his heavenly citizens on earth. Paul never forgets two relationships–Christ and people.

Paul's challenge: Stand strong

Paul challenged Christians to conduct themselves as citizens of heaven (Philippians 1:27). Paul's use of the word for “conduct” (“politeuomai,” or polity) is a Roman word indicating to manage one's life as a Roman citizen to honor the Roman Empire. Paul turns the word indicating to manage one's life as a servant of Christ to honor Christ in his kingdom.

To honor Christ requires living like a soldier who stands strong in life's battle. It also means competing in life's race looking to Christ while agonizing for the faith (Philippians 1:27). Life as a battle and as a race means facing adversaries, suffering and even facing personal agony, but God supplies strength by his Spirit and salvation (Philippians 1:28-30). Paul's one aim in life or death in his quest for heaven from earth is to magnify Christ by living for Christ is his glory.

Question for discussion

What encouragement do you find in this passage of Scripture?

Posted: 9/5/03

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Sept. 21

Humility is a key ingredient in good relationships

Philippians 2:1-11

By John Duncan

Lakeside Baptist Church, Granbury

The saying goes, “Pride is like a man's shirt. It is the first thing on and the last thing off.” Augustine, in his Confessions, talked of “men so blind that they take pride in their blindness.” He admitted his own pride, a hard thing to do. This Scripture passage speaks of pride's cure and the most essential element for peace with God and harmony in relationships–humility.

Fred Craddock gives context to humility in Philippi, “What we know for sure, however, is that Paul regarded as inappropriate to the body of Christ the selfish eye, the pompous mind, the ear hungry for compliments and the mouth that spoke none, the heart that had little room for others, and the hand that served only the self.”

Paul's antidote for pride was humility. Paul's prescription for a healthy church was humility. Paul's model for humility was Jesus. Christian service and church unity begin with Jesus. Paul looks at Jesus' eye, mind and heart.

Be like?

Paul never forgets the cross in his own suffering or in encouraging the early church. He encourages the saints, an encouragement flowing from the life of the Holy Spirit in him. Paul invites the Christians to unity, a mind joined to Christ and lives focused on one purpose. To use Rick Warren's phrase, Paul desires the church to be “purpose-driven.”

The church's primary purpose was not to be driven for success, an aim prone to produce pride, but to be driven to service, an aim prone to reproduce the life of Christ in them. Paul yearns for the church to experience joy beyond daily circumstances, a joy which surrounds itself with encouragement, comfort, fellowship, affection and compassion (Philippians 2:1-2).

Paul's purpose of joy led him to deliver two commands: (1) Do nothing out of self-seeking pursuit for honor; (2) humble yourself and focus (Greek, “scope”) upon the interests and needs of others (Philippians 2:3-4).

Paul sounds like Jesus saying go the second mile or give someone the coat off of your back in his Sermon on the Mount. Paul's concept of genuine virtue, of which the world of the day had deep desires, centers not on the development of the self as much as it centered on the development of the soul for service. Paul's idea invites a deliberate decision to Christian virtue that means valueing others before you value yourself. The Bible scholar Moule calls this “self-forgetful cooperation.” Paul's two commands narrow to one practical, action-packed word–humility.

Humility maintains, according to the scholar Vincent, lowliness with “a sense of sinfulness” (Romans 3:23). Martyn-Lloyd Jones acknowledges the tension between vain-glory and humility. He says, vain-glory “is just another term, of course, for pride, man's conceit, and, according to the Bible, that is the ultimate source of discord and all these troubles.” Paul called for unity of heart, mind, soul and purpose individually and corporately as a church. Rather than raise a fist, Paul preached the Christ-like humility of bending the knee.

Example

In Paul's training in the world of philosophy and rhetoric (speech) he learned the classic Roman feature of giving a command (humble yourself) and then presenting a picture or example of what the command calls for.

Here Paul states the charge–humility. Next, he paints a word portrait for individuals and displays a model for the church of genuine humility–Jesus Christ. Paul tells us that the life of Jesus was a life of humility. He expresses that in a hymn (Philippians 2:5-11). Scholars believe these words were sung as a hymn in the first century church. What portrait of Jesus did the apostle Paul paint? What hymn did first century Christians sing?

Paul challenged the followers of Jesus at Philippi to think. Have the mind of Christ. Possess the attitude of Jesus. Think in the way of humility.

Henry Nouwen once challenged Christians, “What needs to be guarded is the life of the Spirit within us.” Paul here calls for Christians to guard the life of Christ's Spirit, to make Christ the example to follow, and to relate to people in the way Christ related to them. You need only to look to the Gospels to view specific examples of Jesus' Spirit, example and relationships. Think like Jesus.

Paul speaks of both the divinity and humanity of Jesus as he invites Jesus' followers to think like Jesus.

Three essential elements flow from this passage on Jesus' humility. These three elements serve as a key to humility in your life and in the church. First, completely empty the soul of self (Philippians 1:7, literally, “kenosis,” that is, to empty). When Christ fills the heart, he empties the old life and fills it with his new. Christ's life in us makes us think of God. It moves us to care for and think of others.

Second, humility pursues the cross (Philippians 1:8). Jesus as the supreme example of humility gave his life on the cross. Pursuing the cross involves sacrificing because Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice.

Third, humility bends the knee (Philippians 2:9-11). The hymn of Philippians sets forth an example of Christ as the mode of maintaining church unity and as the model for church growth–serving with the mind of Christ. Confess Christ now. After all, one day every one will confess Christ.

Questions for discussion

Is humility a trait we cultivate in our culture? Why or why not?

Posted: 9/5/03

LifeWay Family Bible Series for Sept. 14

Worship is meant to glorify God, not self

Matthew 6:1-18

By David Jenkins

New Hope Baptist Church, Big Sandy

Hypocrisy is not always the blatant, “in-your-face” kind of false piety demonstrated by many of the Pharisees and other religious leaders of Jesus' day. Sometimes it is very subtle, even cloaked in a false humility that can appear genuine. Being the omniscient Son of God, Jesus recognized insincere motives immediately. Because the human ego by nature demands praise, Jesus knew the most effective citizens of his kingdom must be continually conscious of this inherent weakness.

In their effort to build their own bridge of righteousness to God, the Jews drove down three great pilings–acts of righteousness, prayer and fasting. All three of these activities were good when done in the right way and with the right motives. Jesus did not condemn these good works. He merely said they became worthless and even harmful when done in the wrong way.

He obviously was dealing with hypocrisy. According to the Greek definition of the word, a hypocrite was an actor, a pretender a performer. Sadly, the modern way that we “do church” often encourages performing for applause rather than ministering for the glory of God.

Doing acts of righteousness (6:1-4)

“Acts of righteousness” can cover a broad range of good deeds done to help others. Jesus emphasized giving to the needy because the Jews considered almsgiving the most important religious duty. The same Hebrew word was translated both righteousness and almsgiving. To them, to give to the needy and to be righteous were the same thing.

Some even believed giving alms would assure forgiveness for past sins. They considered the perfect gift was given so that the one receiving it did not know from whom it came, and the giver did not know who received it. There was an ancient rabbi who, when he would give alms, would drop money behind him so he would not see who picked it up.

It was not long, however, until the actual practice of doing “acts of righteousness” began to fall far short of the godly precept. It became far more gratifying to do good works so that others might see the act and praise the actor! Jesus said that what our right hand gives should be so secretive our left hand could not find it out. Could it be that the “right hand” represents the good deed, and the “left hand” the selfish ego? All of our good works must be done for God alone, who will bless us openly with his grace.

A lesson in proper praying (6:5-15)

In beginning his discussion about prayer, Jesus connected it to doing good deeds with the conjunction “and.” It is just as important to pray aright as it is to do one's acts of service to honor God. Many of the religious leaders had a wrong concept of prayer. They would stand in the synagogues and in the streets when they prayed.

Nothing was wrong with “standing,”–that was a typical Jewish posture in praying. It was where they stood–places where they could be seen and heard. “Seen by men” means literally to “shine” before men. True prayer is characterized by the inner motive and the attitude of the heart. Jesus urged his followers to make sure their praying was personal and private. Even prayers offered publicly should reflect a genuine communication between one's heart and God.

Jesus also condemned the long, repetitive prayers offered to impress people rather than to communicate with God, who already knows our needs before we share them. True prayer is more establishing a relationship than a means of entreaty. To drive home his point concerning prayer, Jesus gave his disciples a model prayer right in form, content and spirit. Not a single, unnecessary word appears in the model prayer. It is a prayer only a disciple of Christ can pray.

Six petitions make up this prayer. The first three have to do with God and his glory, and the second three deal with our needs and necessities. Only after we give God his supreme place in our lives are we to focus on our own needs and desires. Prayer must never be an effort to bend God's will to meet our needs, but rather a determination to submit our wills to the will of God.

How not to fast (6:16-18)

Among the Jews and early Christians, fasting often accompanied prayer. The law required people to fast only on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27). To the Jews, fasting and sorrow went together. The Pharisees fasted so people would consider them unusually holy and righteous. They disfigured their faces with ashes when they fasted in order to call attention to themselves.

Jesus did not forbid nor minimize the practice of fasting. He warned his followers to do nothing to call attention to themselves when they fasted. On the contrary, they should wash their faces and appear as normal as possible. Fasting should be a time when we forego anything, even food, that would distract us from concentrating on God.

Question for discussion

Do my acts of worship glorify God or myself?

Posted: 9/5/03

LifeWay Family Bible Series for Sept. 21

Christians should align priorities carefully

Matthew 6:19-34

By David Jenkins

New Hope Baptist Church, Big Sandy

The kingdom citizens who please God are those who regularly examine their priorities, from a daily assessment of what is immediately important to us to those priorities that affect us over a longer period of time.

Though the specifics differ, the priorities in the lives of the people in Jesus' day were generally the same as ours. They longed for earthly treasures that would provide security, as well as for simple possessions such as acceptable clothing and good food. After dealing with these earthly issues, Jesus shifted his emphasis to eternal treasures in heaven.

Priorities out of order inevitably produce worry and anxiety, which paralyze our ability to exercise faith in God's concern for our needs. Just as these words of Jesus are timely in relation to our concerns today, they surely struck a sensitive nerve in the lives of those who were listening to him that day in the Galilee.

Stockpiling the true treasure (6:19-21)

Jesus was about to show that heavenly rewards were not material or tangible. Not only do earthly treasures offer no lasting security, they are subject to inevitable destruction. Jesus mentioned “moth and rust.” Fine clothing was considered part of a person's wealth. Moths can create havoc with a garment. The word translated “rust” literally means “eating away,” and could have referred to spoiling grain stored in silos by rats and vermin. Also, thieves were able to dig through the baked clay walls of many of the houses and steal valuables the owner had stored away.

The place where treasures are stored is important because that which makes a treasure valuable depends on the affection of the heart. Those whose treasures are on Earth will have their hearts anchored in this world, which is destined to pass away. When our hearts are focused on heavenly treasures, we can know they will never be lost.

Keeping the window clean (6:22-24)

In this simple illustration, Jesus moved from the heart to the eye, comparing the eye to a window through which our understanding is lighted. The condition of a window will determine the way in which things are seen in a room. If the window is frosted, dirty, colored or distorted, objects in the room will not be seen clearly. Spiritually, the heart functions as the eye through which we observe both things and people.

If the eye is “good” (“single”), an undivided loyalty to God and to his law will determine our lifestyle as believers. On the other hand, the “bad” (“evil”) eye will be tempted to focus on both God and things. Such a condition will weaken our loyalty to God and distort our ability to determine the direction God would have us go. And this, in turn, will create spiritual darkness within us.

When our hearts are being continually washed clean by God's word (Ephesians 5:26), we will see not only “things” in proper perspective, but people as well. The “bad eye” can be distorted by prejudice, jealousy and an elevated sense of self-importance. The “good eye” sees every person as one whose soul is precious in God's sight.

Jesus said clearly it is not possible to serve two gods at once, for if we love one, we will eventually despise the other (v. 24). We cannot adore both God and material things at the same time. The word translated “serve” literally means “to be a slave to.” If we belong to God, we have no rights of our own. He demands our total loyalty. We do not ask, “What do I want to do?” but “What does God want me to do?” This single focus will keep us following God in the pathway of righteousness.

Overcoming the worry monster (6:25-34)

When we take seriously Jesus' principle set down in verse 24, we can see why he emphasized the futility of worry. He did not mean we were to assume a careless, irresponsible attitude toward life. “Take no thought” would be better translated “stop worrying.” The word Jesus used means “to worry anxiously,” and has nothing to do with a normal, sensible concern.

The hand-wringing kind of worry weakens our faith and trust in God. If God is the source of our life, would he fail to provide those things necessary to sustain that life? Jesus drove this truth home with the simple illustration about God's care for the birds. Martin Luther pictured the little birds as “live saints” who sing their praises to God without the least worry, and are fed by him every day.

Jesus stated further that worry will not lengthen life. Linear measures are often used in the Bible in regard to time. If anything, worry shortens life. Then, to illustrate his reference to raiment, Jesus compared the beauty of the lilies growing wild to the glory of Solomon dressed in his royal robes. The flowers Jesus referred to had a grass-like foliage, and had a brief life span. Jesus summed up his warning against needless worry by urging his disciples to seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness. Then, without fail, their everyday needs would be met.

Question for discussion

How do your life priorities measure up beside Jesus' formula?

Posted: 9/5/03

	A student pauses for a time of reflection outside the UTA BSM before ministering to international students.
Volunteers count the $11,000 offering given for missions.
A group of students examine missions material they picked up from exhibitors. (Becky Holt/BGCT Photos)	Kent Barlow, director of Baptist Student Ministries at the University of Texas at Dallas, prays during a worship session

Students 'Focus' on faith

A Stephen F. Austin University student converses with another Focus participant between sessions.

FORT WORTH–About 3,500 college students spent their Labor Day weekend at Focus, a Baptist General Convention of Texas event offering spiritual preparation at the start of the school year.

Gregg Matte, founder of Breakaway Ministries, and Voddie Baucham, a well-known youth speaker, encouraged the students to concentrate on developing themselves spiritually while reaching out to non-believers on their campuses. "Focus" isn't just the name of an event; it's what every Christian needs to do, Matte said.

A focus on faith development, as well as educational development, will lead to greater vision for God's work and more relationships that further the kingdom of God, he explained. Matte urged the students to move beyond a "pep rally for God" and using worship as a drug.

By gaining a larger vision of the world and of where other Christians fit in, students can avoid the temptation to think Christianity is "all about you," he said. The students gave offerings of more than $11,000 to support BGCT student mission efforts. Most of the participants stepped out from the Fort Worth Convention Center to minister in a variety of settings throughout the Metroplex.

They helped with apartment ministries, a food pantry and clothes closet at Mission Arlington and ministered to international students at the University of Texas at Arlington. They also did door-to-door evangelism with members of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Fort Worth.

Posted: 9/5/03

Above Jack Tennison (center) of First Baptist Church in Seguin, demonstrates the proper way to use a power planer to Harry Stallings and Loyd Ervin. Above left: John Rushing of New Braunfels applies glue to a board, while Melvin Warren of Waco works on a large board that will become the side of a chest. Left: Lora Morris of Clarksville, Ark., works alongside Texas volunteers to make dresses for orphan children in Juarez, Mexico. (Kent Harville Photos)

Furniture builders make a case for volunteerism

By Sara Horn

LifeWay Christian Resources

GLORIETA, N.M.–Next time you visit LifeWay Conference Center at Glorieta, look carefully at any new furniture in the rooms. There's a good chance it was built by Texas Baptist Men.

A group of more than 40 Texas Baptist Men and wives currently are on a two-month assignment at the New Mexico conference center, building more than 230 pieces of furniture, including bunk beds, headboards, dressers and desks.

Power saws whine and sawdust flies as the retired men work quickly through their list of projects.

The wood is provided, but the volunteers bring everything else–the tools, the labor and a servant attitude.

This year, they're working in the basement of one of Glorieta's cabins, which also serves as their headquarters. The women work upstairs, sewing and crafting child-size clothing, quilts and blankets for an orphanage in Juarez, Mexico.

“I've always liked the fine precision work and craftsmanship” it takes to make furniture, said Jack Tennison, who was a math professor and department chair at Texas Lutheran College for 25 years before retiring. Tennison is responsible for coordinating the volunteers.

He and his wife, Kathryn, are members of First Baptist Church of Seguin. They have participated in Texas Baptist Men projects with the camp building ministry since 1994. Tennison first thought of creating a furniture ministry in 1996 after a mission trip to Canada, where he helped build office furniture for a seminary.

The group has traveled widely across the United States, Canada and Texas. They've built more than 3,000 pieces of furniture, Tennison said.

The couple sold their home six years ago and now travel full time in an RV.

“You meet such wonderful people,” Mrs. Tennison said.

“You really feel like your life is worthwhile doing something that's helping people,” said Narlene Copel, a member of First Baptist Church of Mount Pleasant, as she sat behind a sewing machine working on a little girl's jumper. “Instead of sitting home and twiddling your thumbs, you can work where you're needed.”

The furniture and sewing ministry is ideal for Copel and her husband. She previously owned a fabric store, and her husband is a retired forester whose hobby is woodworking.

The churches where the volunteers attend often donate supplies such as tools and fabric.

“This is all for the Lord,” Tennison said. “He's the reason we're here. When I leave a job, I leave it to the Lord's hands, and let him use it however he wishes.”

Posted: 9/5/03

Gibson 'softens' Passion story
but Jewish leaders skeptical of movie

By Kevin Eckstrom

Religion News Service

LOS ANGELES (RNS)–Director Mel Gibson, under heavy fire from Jewish groups for his $25 million movie on the death of Jesus, has “softened the story” and made changes to make “The Passion” more palatable to critics, according to a spokesman.

Scheduled for release next year during Lent, “The Passion” has some Jewish groups nervous it will portray Jews as responsible for the death of the Christian Savior.

Paul Lauer, marketing director for Gibson's Icon Productions company, said Gibson has edited the film to show more “sympathetic” Jewish characters who were not calling for Jesus to be crucified.

“We believe we have softened the story compared to the way the gospel has told it,” Lauer said in an interview. He pointed to Matthew 27:25, in which the Jewish mob calls for Jesus' blood “to be on us and on our children.”

“That's in the gospel,” he said. “It's not in our film.”

In addition, Lauer said, the character of Simon of Cyrene, who was forced to carry the cross for Jesus, will be clearly labeled a Jew in the film. A shouting mob will include voices opposing the execution, Lauer said.

Faced with vocal Jewish opposition, Gibson is mounting a pre-emptive public relations offensive to counter his critics–all for a film that is still being edited. After regional screenings, Gibson has lingered with his audiences to listen to their advice.

In an effort to soothe concerns, Gibson also hopes to launch “The Jewish Initiative” to recruit Jewish and Christian leaders to discuss the film's effects on Christian-Jewish relations.

“We've gone out of our way to accommodate this process because we felt it was necessary and important and to show that we care and that we're not callously sitting back saying, 'Screw you, we're going to make the film we want to make,'” Lauer said.

Jewish groups, however, remain unconvinced. Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said Gibson has been unwilling to preview his film for anyone but “pre-screened audiences.”

“The fact that Mel Gibson says this is a work in progress is something we welcome. I don't make light of it,” Foxman said. “We respect his creative rights, but we also believe that creative rights come with a certain responsibility.”

Invited Christian leaders who have seen the film offer near-universal praise. Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, told the New York Times that Gibson was “the Michelangelo of this generation.”

Lauer agreed screenings were for “people closer to our circle of contacts,” but told the Times “there is no way on God's green earth” critics like Foxman will be invited to previews. Foxman and others, he said, have been “dishonorable.”

The ADL first raised concerns in June after a group of nine Christian and Jewish scholars reviewed a draft script and concluded the film portrayed Jews as “bloodthirsty, vengeful and money-hungry.”

Gibson threatened to sue after he said the draft script used by the scholars was stolen. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops arranged for the script to be returned and apologized to Gibson.

Rabbis who have screened the film say it threatens to undo decades of progress between Christians and Jews after the Vatican refuted the deicide charges in the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965.

Gibson, however, belongs to a conservative Catholic group that rejects the modern papacy and Vatican II, including its overtures to non-Catholics and Jews.

Rabbi James Rudin, senior interreligious affairs adviser for the American Jewish Committee, emerged from a Houston screening “troubled” by what he saw as the film's suggestion that Roman authorities were powerless to stop the murderous rage of Jewish leaders.

“The emphasis should be more on what killed Jesus, not who killed him,” Rudin said.