RE: Voices: Christian cancel culture damages us

Jack Goodyear’s opinion article from Oct. 8, 2024, is weak tea, just like most of his political takes.

Like his heroes, David French and Russell Moore, he lacks an understanding of the “Trump Voter.” I, for one, am not a Christian nationalist—as the elites portray that term—or a Trump worshipper.

Goodyear, French and Moore fail to understand Trump’s policy positions are superior to Clinton, Biden and now Harris. And if they want to claim Trump is disqualified for moral reasons, how are Clinton, Biden and Harris not also disqualified? Trump Derangement Syndrome is no joke.

Worse, while they are quick to criticize Trump’s record, they act like everything is fine when it comes to the Democratic alternatives. The subject matter is ripe when evaluating the Afghanistan withdrawal, the border, inflation, Ukraine, Israel, efforts to censor speech, efforts to use lawfare against their opponents, and so on.

To claim some of these elites in Christian leadership have not drifted from traditionally held Christian cultural values is dishonest. Furthermore, to claim “cancel culture” only goes one way is laughable.

And the last sentence: “For those not able to handle diversity, heaven is going to be a shocking place.” Wow. Really? The implication that if you are voting for Trump while holding positions that favor more border security, less abortions, zero “gender therapy” for minors, and so on means you are anti-diversity is quite a take.

Rick Murray
Lucas, Texas

Strong condemnation of abortion

“A horrible thing is committed in the land,” and the “people love to have it so.” “They make haste to shed the innocent blood” “of their sons and daughters.” “Their blood have they shed like water”—over 65 million slain. They “bring their children to the murderers’ place” (abortion clinics) where “he doth murder the innocent.” “Wherefore shall he be slain? What hath he done?” (1 Samuel 20:32; Psalms 10:8; 79:3; 106:38; Isaiah 59:7; Jeremiah 5:30-31; Hosea 9:13; all quotes King James Bible).

“The LORD hates hands that shed innocent blood.” “Thou shalt do no murder.” “Yet thou sayest,” “I have done no wickedness.” “I have not sinned” (Proverbs 6:16-17; 30:20; Jeremiah 2:35; Matthew 19:18).

“Saith the LORD,” “in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents,” “children,” “babes,” “infants which never saw light.” “I have found it upon all these”—mothers “without natural affection,” abortion doctors/nurses, profit-mongering Planned Parenthood, presidents, Congress, courts, states, the military, news media, medical societies, universities/schools, entertainers, sports figures, corporations, financial backers, so-called churches/clergy and voters—supporting abortion. “Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?” “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished” (Genesis 25:21-22; Job 3:16; Proverbs 11:21; Jeremiah 2:29, 34; 5:9; Luke 1:41, 44; Romans 1:31-32).

Kamala Harris rabidly advocates nationwide unrestricted abortions even to birth. Donald Trump removed his party’s long-held plank recognizing personhood from conception. He deems states’ early abortion bans divisive political liabilities.

“Who will stand up for” all the defenseless children “ready to be slain” “appointed to destruction,” unable to speak for themselves (Psalm 94:16; Proverbs 24:11-12; 31:8)?

“Ah, sinful nation,” “full of murderers.” And the “people love to have it so” (Isaiah 1:4, 21).

Michael W. Ellis
Belton, Texas

RE: SBC to create sexual abuse response department

Sexual abuse in churches is a type of quality control, and good quality control requires measurement.

Lifeway needs to conduct anonymous surveys to determine the extent of the problem. Without them, we will never know how bad the problem is or if any attempts at reducing abuse have worked.

Roger McKinney
Broken Arrow, Okla.

Oh God,
We come to you with heavy hearts.
No matter what end of the political aisle we come to your house from,
we come with heavy hearts.

Oh Lord, how long will we live in an angry and resentful country?
Oh Lord, how long must we live in a land where we get anxious in crowded places
and feel guarded when meeting new people?

Oh Lord, how long must we be scared for our children,
their safety when they are away from us
and for the world they are growing up to live in?

Just like you in the Garden of Gethsemane,
we come to you now with heavy hearts.
Lord, have mercy.

Like Judas, we greet you with praise and kisses
as we betray you when we think you cannot see.
Lord, have mercy.
Make us less like Judas and more like you.

Like Peter, we are angry to the point of violence
and strike out at those we disagree with.
Lord, have mercy.
Make us less like Peter and more like you.

You tell us to stand down,
to give up our illusions of power,
to give up our anger for your glory.

You heal those who have been injured
and stand up for those in this world who are oppressed,
attacked and scared of what tomorrow might look like.

Lord, have mercy.
Help us to look less like ourselves and more like you.
Help us to look less like Republicans and Democrats and more like you.
Help us to look more like healers, listeners and teachers.

Lord, have mercy. Help us to look more like Jesus.

Amen.

Adam Dubberly
Temple, Texas

RE: Voices: My view of the 2024 SBC annual meeting

If you spend 40-plus years shrinking the “tent,” with no real experience with a “big tent” denomination, I can understand how one could believe they attended a convention where the tent was big.

Sadly, it has become a small tent with only a few who qualify for admission. Compare the old circus tent to a funeral-home tent to shade a graveside service. That is really where the SBC is today.

I can appreciate Mike Miller’s pleasure with the convention, because over time, all the riffraff are gone, leaving only those who want to quibble over “how complementarian are you?”

Were the women who did not abandon Jesus at the cross simply “women ministers?” Or the women simply children’s ministers who came to the empty tomb to anoint the body of Jesus but were the first to witness the resurrection and then charged with gathering and telling the disciples who were not there?

If my reading of Scripture is correct, these women were the first to be commanded to “go and tell” (Matthew 28:10). Apparently, the resurrected Christ was not so concerned about who could do the heavy lifting as much as he was focused on getting the good news out.

So, today’s SBC is shrinking and excluding. That is the reality of today.

Michael Chancellor
Taylor, Texas

Against Pride Month

America’s rulers “cast away the law of the LORD and despise the word of the Holy One.” “Truth is fallen in the street.” “Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom! Give ear unto the law of God, ye people of Gomorrah!” (Isaiah 1:10; 5:24; 59:14 KJV)

“God created man male and female.” “Know ye that He hath made us, and not we ourselves.” “Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever. Nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it.” (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 100:3; Ecclesiastes 3:14 KJV)

“Sin is the transgression of God’s law.” “The men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind.” “A man shall not put on a woman’s garment.” “Saith the LORD, oh, do not these abominable things that I hate!” (Genesis 13:13; Leviticus 18:22; Deuteronomy 22:5; Jeremiah 44:2,4; 1 John 3:4 KJV)

“Knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death,” “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire”—“Sodom’s example”—are Americans “ashamed when they commit abomination? Nay, not at all ashamed!” “They declare their sin as Sodom” with rainbow flags, parades, drag queen story hours/shows for children, “church” celebrations, Pride Month. (Isaiah 3:9; Jeremiah 6:15; Romans 1:32; Jude 1:7 KJV)

“Pride goeth before destruction.” “Though hand join in hand, the proud shall not be unpunished.” (Proverbs 16:5,18 KJV)

“Ah sinful nation!” “Saith the Lord GOD, Sodom hath not done as thou hast done. Thou art corrupted more in all thy ways,” “inventors of evil things”—LGBTQ+’s ever-growing alphabet, they/them singular pronouns (“My name is Legion”), child mutilations, male mothers, trans-species. (Isaiah 1:4; Ezekiel 16:47-48; Mark 5:9; Luke 8:30; Romans 1:30 KJV)

“Saith the LORD, ‘Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?’” (Jeremiah 5:28-29 KJV).

Michael W. Ellis
Belton, Texas

Opposing TBM name change

I find it inconsistent for the Southern Baptist Convention rightly to disqualify women as pastors yet support a name change of the venerable Texas Baptist Men to nongender-specific Texans on Mission.

I have supported TBM financially but will not support this surrender to the feminist agenda.

M.F. Fanelli
Duncanville, Texas

RE: How a praise song became a Christian nationalist theme

The article centering on a pastor, Sean Fuecht, and Eric Metaxas was extremely concerning, given the tone and language used to describe the players. Branding those involved as Christian Nationalist and with other negatively connoted monikers is offensive.

Old reporting seeks to report facts, but increasingly, I see in the Baptist Standard, much akin to MSN, injecting opinion to a news story. The outcome becomes an opinion piece, rather than reporting facts and allowing the reader to reach their own conclusions. This practice has seemingly increased with the Baptist Standard, and I will in the future decline to read these articles.

T. Craig Carlton
Trophy Club, Texas

RE: Editorial: The Cooperative Program was never sufficient

I fail to appreciate your editorial on the Cooperative Program offering. I am a retired International Mission Board missionary who was and am grateful for the part the CP has in keeping the ongoing thousands of missionaries in their “adopted” countries.

Will you be gracious enough to let your readers know what dollar figure the CP provided IMB missionaries as late as last year enabling them to remain in their respective countries?

Bettye Ann McQueen
Shreveport, La.

Thank you for following the Lord and serving as a missionary.

Thank you, also, for your response and your question. The answer is more complex than we would like, however.

The fiscal year for all Southern Baptist Convention entities, except seminaries and GuideStone, runs October 1 through September 30. The annual report prepared for the 2023 SBC annual meeting shows the following numbers for fiscal year 2021-2022.

The SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget reported a total distribution of $200,452,609 to SBC entities during the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The lion’s share went to the International Mission Board—$100,420,424 (p. 120).

The SBC Executive Committee report shows Lottie Moon Christmas Offering receipts of $137,346,386 during fiscal year 2021-2022 (p. 121). The IMB’s report shows total Lottie Moon receipts—restricted and unrestricted—of $203,728,000 (p. 306). The reason for differing figures is unclear and may be due to our misunderstanding the report.

The IMB report also lists hunger and relief funds, endowments and other contributions as other sources of contributions, and investments, real estate sales and foundations as other sources of income.

At the end of 2022, the International Mission Board reported “more than 3,500 adults”—a number that has held steady since 2022—“along with their 2,850 children” serving full time “around the world” (p. 172).

The IMB reported $41,776,000 in “stateside supporting expenses”—such as IMB offices and personnel in Richmond, Va.—and $264,274,000 in “overseas programs expenses” (p. 307). Pages 307-308 provide a breakdown of both expense categories—stateside and overseas.

The IMB reported total 2022 expenses of $306,050,000 (p. 307, 308). This means if the IMB only had the 2021-2022 Cooperative Program funds of $100,420,424 allocated to it, the IMB would have been short at least $200,000,000—or the total amount of all 2021-2022 Cooperative Program receipts. Thus, the need for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and other sources of revenue to cover IMB expenses.

This is not to criticize IMB expenses. This is to acknowledge thousands of IMB missionaries and their children require more funding than the Cooperative Program covers.

The IMB may cover all costs associated with their missionaries, but they don’t and haven’t done it solely with Cooperative Program funds. As generous as Southern Baptists may be, IMB’s costs far outpace the Cooperative Program.

The IMB report thanks those who supported IMB missions through giving to the Cooperative Program and/or the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (p. 172).

RE: Water ministry provides avenue for transformation

I am a field officer with Seed Effect Uganda, a partner organization with TBM: Texans on Mission, working to empower communities economically with a savings for life program and micro-enterprise loans.

Thanks for this wonderful story. It’s a great feeling to know it’s really impactful what we do with the communities we serve in this poverty-stricken rural part of northern Uganda. We’ll always do our best to bring the love of Jesus Christ to hard-to-reach areas and all over the world.

We work to instill, empower and culture an attitude of servant leadership, making disciples equipped for the work of the gospel.

Thanks for your generous contribution, because without you, we wouldn’t have got to where we are today and where we want to be tomorrow. God bless you.

Thanks also to TBM: Texans on Mission. We’re grateful how the blend is causing socio-economic transformation in our community that was hit disastrously by the 20 years of war and insurgency by Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army.

Stephen Lubangakene
Seedeffect Uganda

RE: Voices: School chaplain law sneaks in partisan ploy

The Baptist Standard proclaims they are “connecting God’s story and God’s people, but the article “Voices: School chaplain law sneaks in partisan ploy” does the exact opposite, using misinformation and opinion.

A vote for chaplains merely opens the door for school districts to create a policy for using chaplains. The bill only forces them to make a choice either to use chaplains or not.

Second, the idea of chaplains replacing counselors is based upon misinformation and is absurd. It came out of a rumor, because many school districts pay counselors out of the safety and security budget. If districts chose to hire chaplains as full-time employees, then chaplains would be paid from the same money pool, because all chaplains certified by the National School Chaplain Association earn several safety- and first-aid-related certifications and become first responders. However, if they chose to use them as full-time volunteers, it would not affect those budgets at all.

Chaplains are listeners and connectors. Rocky Malloy was clear in his interviews and written statements—and when I heard him speak—that chaplains are gap-fillers. They are a constant positive presence, making sure all students—regardless of color, race, gender, creed, orientation, etc.—are seen and heard and connected to the people who will help them feel supported.

One chaplain told me the administration asks her simply to walk around during lunch, so she has a presence. Proselytizing is never the aim and would not help her minister. She says her job is to be Jesus’ hands and feet to the students, staff and families represented by her district.

Those who signed the letter against chaplains moved before having all the facts and should ask themselves if their motives are pure. They should have directed their letters to Rocky Malloy, as God’s word directs all Christians to go to a brother in private. Sadly, they disobeyed God’s word and took matters into their own hands. They will be held accountable and should repent.

Joe Atinsky
Fulshear, Texas

RE: SBC presidential nominees

I’ve been through enough “move the SBC more to the right” campaigns then I could wish for. I remember sitting in Dr. Ray Summers New Testament class at Baylor, attending First Baptist Church in Waco with his daughters, and finding out how he ended up at Baylor with the seminary “purge” of 1958.

I graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1976 following the retirement of Dr. Duke McCall and watched how Al Mohler ascended to the presidency there, only to watch him and other conservative men—such as Paige Patterson and Paul Pressler—swing the Southern Baptist Convention back to the right in the 1980s and ’90s, and cap off their campaign with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.

We don’t need another “white knight” to lead us in a swing to the right because he and others think the SBC is getting too liberal. Do what those who formed the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship did and form your own group. What a great way to siphon off Cooperative Program funds to meet your own personal agenda.

I hope the messengers at the 2024 SBC annual meeting will thwart these folks again and not vote them into any positions of leadership. Deny them the platform they seek, and maybe they’ll go back into the woodwork.

Rev. Bob Gillchrest
San Diego, Calif.

RE: Opposition to SWBTS ads in Baptist Standard

It is difficult to read the excellent Baptist Standard articles and see ads for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I used to work at the seminary under the Adam Greenway administration, a time when SWBTS truly was attempting to mend the fractured relationship between the seminary and Texas Baptists.

As director of partnerships, reaching out to Baptist General Convention of Texas pastors became one of my chief roles, and I saw great progress happening.

I then saw firsthand the change in philosophy when David Dockery and O.S. Hawkins took over SWBTS. I was in the room when Hawkins cancelled the SWBTS Alumni Dinner in Waco in 2022, choosing to take a hit of thousands of dollars with the caterer for missing the cancellation deadline, while doubling down on the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Alumni Dinner in Corpus Christi that year.

I asked Hawkins in that meeting if it was fair to say we no longer were interested in being the seminary for the 5,000-plus BGCT churches across Texas.

He responded that SWBTS would “run toward the ones who are running towards us, and that’s the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.”

He went on to back up his words with incendiary posts on social media attacking Texas Baptists.

Since then, he’s been named chancellor of SWBTS and continues to wield heavy influence over Dockery and the seminary.

I am now gratefully a Texas Baptist pastor, and I have been forced to break my ties with SWBTS. I know the current administration there has strong disagreements with the BGCT in areas like women in ministry, Christian counseling, the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message, among others.

Though not long ago I heavily promoted the seminary in Fort Worth, I no longer can in good conscience recommend SWBTS, due to lack of confidence in the current administration.

The seminary administration has made their feelings about Texas Baptists clear, and I hope Texas Baptists no longer will allow them to advertise in the Baptist Standard or in any other Texas Baptist communication as though SWBTS is a viable option for BGCT church members to receive their theological training.

Sam Bunnell, Pastor
First Baptist Church of Henrietta, Texas

Baptist Standard Publishing Co. is an independent partner of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, relating by special agreement. As such, our ad space is available to those serving Baptist churches, ministries and institutions. We are glad for BGCT-affiliated organizations to advertise in the Baptist Standard. To purchase ad space in the Baptist Standard, contact Heather Davis at heather.davis@baptiststandard.com or (214) 630-4571 ext. 1017.

RE: Editorial: Is religious liberty for Christians only?

I have a Ph.D. in American history, have been a history professor for 34 years and have been a Sunday school teacher at Southern Baptist churches for 33 years. I agree with your editorial and fear one of the greatest dangers to the Great Commission is the rise of Christian nationalism and its attack on true religious liberty. Christian nationalist ideas are as misguided as their view of history is slanted.

Having studied and taught about Puritanism for decades, Puritans did not tolerate any disagreement.

I joke in my classes that Puritan belief in religious freedom meant you were “free to adopt their views, free to leave or free to die.” Their most hated non-conformists were Quakers and Baptists. They forced them to leave, and some returning souls then were executed, though most did not return.

I also hate that people say America was a Christian nation at its founding in 1776. In fact, most—though not all—of the colonial leaders were deists. Since deists deny the divinity of Christ—one of the most basic beliefs of the church—I am not sure how they can say America was a Christian nation.

It took the work of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison—both deists—and the Virginia Baptists across seven years to get the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom adopted. Madison credited the Baptists—miles apart from the deists in their beliefs—with winning the victory.

Thank you for sharing a thoughtful editorial that reminds all of us of our religious heritage of fighting for religious freedom. I am afraid some Baptists have sold that birthright for a bowl of (political) stew.

Eddie Weller
Houston, Texas

America is suffering a pandemic of random mass shootings. An Iowa high school was just attacked, which further depicts America’s spiritual and moral dilemma. What are we to do?

Absent a moral and spiritual awakening and repentance, the trend is likely to continue. What do the political leaders propose? The most significant comment seems to come from Donald Trump, who said, “That’s just horrible, … but we have to get over it.”

Excuse me, sir. “Get over it?” Really? How insensitive, uncaring, callous can a person be? It seems unlikely Trump would be so cavalier if it were Baron or Baron’s school involved.

Awaken, America!

Awaken, independent Americans.

Pray tell, awaken, GOP.

This is not a man to elect as president, who dismisses this incident with, “Get over it.” Such callous disregard belies a cold darkened heart, unfeeling, uncaring about our concerns. Turn away from him, and let your disgust for him be known.

Let conservative America find a candidate worthy of support, one who has experienced our life, who shares our values and concerns, with ideas for how to address those concerns of:

• national security at home and abroad;
• strengthening the economy with a balanced budget, no deficit spending, reducing national debt and securing the Social Security pension program; and
• rebuilding our national infrastructure—such as the aging, collapsing highway system and overloaded air traffic control system.

These issues should be the focus of our conversations and of the upcoming debates among forward-thinking candidates.

Trump has no ideas for these real issues. He has put nothing forward. He is stuck in the mire of worthless and illegitimate complaints from the 2020 election. So, let’s get over Trump, turn away from him once and for all, ignore him and turn our attention to worthy candidates.

Maurice Harding
Mineola, Texas