Turning Points In Baptist History: A Festschrift in Honor of H. Leon McBeth

Mercer University Press sent along a review copy of a Festschrift just published in June (thanks!) that I won’t be able to get to quite yet. Still, when such things arrive it’s natural to look through them a little.

In the volume presently in hand, I scanned the index to see if any mention were made of Zwingli (since it really is impossible to write a history of Baptists without reference to him) and discovered, to my considerable dismay, this disturbing sentence:

‘Emerging initially in Geneva under the influence of the Swiss Reformer Zwingli, these radicals [the anabaptists] took the principle of sola scriptura to its logical conclusion’ (p. 8).

What? I hope that he meant to write ‘Zurich’ in place of ‘Geneva’. I really do hope so. Otherwise, things bode ill.

Yes, There Is A 'Gay Agenda'

Folk who have various moral, ethical and religious / theological problems with 'gay marriage' have long been lampooned and lambasted for suggesting that there's no such thing as a 'gay agenda'. After all, what better way to prove your case than to caricature your opponents? Such caricaturing achieves its goal by demonizing and damning under the umbrella of 'the truth'.

It may surprise some, then, to discover that there is in fact a 'gay agenda' and it's been written down for one and all to see. And you can see it for yourself here. It was signed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal and the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD). Some of the highlights include, but are not limited to, the following.

"The fastest way to win the freedom to marry throughout America is by getting marriage through state courts (to show that fairness requires it) and state legislatures (to show that people support it). ... We need to start with states where we have the best odds of winning. When we've won in a critical mass of states, we can turn to Congress and the federal courts. At that point, we'll ask that the U.S. government treat all marriages equally. And we'll ask that all states give equal treatment to all marriages and civil unions that are celebrated in other states."

And

"As society gets more used to gay and lesbian couples being married, it will be easier to win cases in states that look iffy now. In a few years, the cases just won't seem like such a big jump. If we plunge ahead and lose cases in those states now, the courts will have to overrule themselves later to go our way. That usually takes a few years at least, and often much longer. That means it is likely to take longer to get a good decision than it would have taken if we hadn't brought a case early on and lost it."

Sounds like an agenda to me...

'Gay Marriage' Is Still A Theological Problem

Dubious readings of biblical texts results in dubious theological interpretations. No issue proves that thesis quite as well as the 'gay marriage' issue. What's so fascinating about the debate is that both sides accuse the other of holding to dubious readings. I.e., those in support of 'gay marriage' accuse their opponents of idiosyncratic and culturally deficient reading of the Bible. And those who oppose 'gay-ianity' maintain that their adversaries aren't reading the Bible at all, but reading into it to suit their own agenda. Adherents of 'gay-ianity' commit the arch-sin: eisegesis.

So who has it right? It's that question that has caused the flow of so much ink, the murder of so many trees for paper, and the splattering of so many electrons against computer terminals. The San Jose Mercury News has a nice essay on the subject which may be worth a read. It begins

Nowhere is the opinion divide on gay marriage sharper than in the nation's religious communities. And last week's same-sex marriage ruling will do little to bring agreement on the definition of marriage, a social and religious touchstone that has torn apart families, congregations and entire dioceses.

Which is certainly true. And I have to agree with this next bit wholeheartedly.

"I don't expect the picture in the religious community to change very much with this decision," said Mary Tolbert, executive director of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry in Berkeley. "As more and more gays and lesbians marry, it may become less of an issue, but right now I don't expect much to change, maybe not for a decade."

Let me say that my own reading of the biblical texts comes down on the side of those who oppose 'gay-ianity' as a theological aberration. There is no biblical support for the 'gay lifestyle'. But there is ample support for the notion that all of God's children, even those who have deviated from life as God intended it, are worthy of respect and love. Hatred of gays is as improper as hatred of any.

I realize my stance places me at odds with some of my dearest friends. But I have to say what I think is right, even if it hairlips the devil.

Two Rivers Baptist Church Excommunicates Members

Though the Baptist and Reflector uses the word ‘ousts’ most will be more familiar with the word ‘excommunicate’.

One week after an attempt to oust 71 members of Two Rivers Baptist Church here failed by four votes, the church voted again following the May 11 Mother’s Day service. After hearing that the 71 plaintiffs should not have been allowed to vote on May 4, according to Robert’s Rules of Order, the 71 members were dismissed by a show of hands vote. The 71 members being considered for ouster were plaintiffs on a lawsuit filed against church leaders last year over questions of how church money was spent and access to financial records. A business meeting was called after the May 11 service so deacon chairman Carlos Cobos could officially report the May 4 vote, according to an article in The Tennessean on May 12. The paper reported that David Mills, a former trustee and deacon chairman, challenged the decision which allowed the 71 plaintiffs to vote. Members then voted by a show of hands to not allow the votes of the 71 plaintiffs to count. They will be removed from the church roll.

The message which the Church sends to its membership? Don’t question authority. There’s something very un-baptist about this. Yes, something very un-baptist indeed. Perhaps they need to read the Bible…

Selling the Gospel

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is in and of itself sufficient to draw people to salvation. "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to myself" declares Jesus in the Gospel of John. I firmly agree, which is why I get so very annoyed when I read about Churches that sell the Gospel, sell it out, manipulate people to gain it a hearing, and act in a way that is deeply offensive and un-theological. The First Baptist Church of Snellville, Georgia is guilty of exactly that. The Associated Press reports

So much for spaghetti suppers: The First Baptist Church of Snellville is fueling its membership drive with a sign in front of its sprawling campus proclaiming "Free Gasoline." There's a catch, of course. The offer is a not a giveaway. Instead, each time newcomers or members attend a church event during a Sunday-to-Wednesday revival they get a pink raffle ticket for a chance to win one of two $500 gas cards.

The Church doubtless thinks that it is helping the cause but in fact all they are doing is cheapening the gospel by selling it for a gas card. What's the Gospel worth? Apparently down in Georgia, just $500.

Perhaps the folk there are unaware of a simple fact: people who come to church for gas don't come to church for Christ. And when the raffle is over, those who came just to get some gas will be gone like the gas itself. Are there no theologians in the Church there to call this what it is? Is theological astuteness now a thing of the past in Snellville?

The Gospel is not for sale.

Evangelical Leader Likens Obama to a Plague

Bob Novak has written an article suggesting that Mike Huckabee privately concurs with Homeschool Champion Michael Farris in believing that evangelicals should sit out this year's presidential election.

Farris and other far right evangelicals think America deserves a "plague-like presidency" and Obama fits the bill.

Personally, it is hard for me to understand how any American searching for an example of a "plague-like presidency" could overlook the stiff-necked Pharaoh currently occupying the White House.

"Baptists for Peace" Events

Baptists who work for shalom (peace grounded in justice) have several cool events/opportunities upcoming.

The annual summer gathering (which the kids and teens call "peace camp") of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America will be 14-19 July 2008 on the campus of St. John Abbot College, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellvue, Quebec, Canada. (I think this is the last year that U.S. Americans can travel to Canada and return without passports.) This year's conference theme is The Way That Leads to Peace and will focus on the connections between individual lifestyles and collective action for peacemaking. Monday night Keynote Address will be by Jim Loney, one of the members of Christian Peacemaker Teams who were kidnapped for 4 months by Iraqi insurgents in 2005-06. Mornings include music, morning prayer, Bible Study, and a variety of workshops. The BPFNA is the only peace group I know that includes a full program for children and youth and young adults every year. Many people schedule this week as their annual family vacation. Lawrence Martin (Wapistan), who is a member of the Cree First Nation, will lead the morning prayers. Bible Study will be led by famed Baptist ethicist (and my mentor), Dr. Glen H. Stassen, now Smedes Professor of Christian Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. Glen will focus on the 10 Practices of Just Peacemaking. There will be afternoon workshops, too. By having a week long conference, the peace camps also build in time for naps, or playing tourist, etc., so that one doesn't wear out with meetings--as sometimes happens when similar events take place in a weekend. The arts and creativity and music, etc. fill these annual gatherings. The evenings center around worship and preaching. This year's preachers are Rev. Mary Hammond, co-pastor of Peace Community Church (American Baptist) in Oberlin, OH and Rev. Lee McKenna, a former BPFNA staff member and expert in global conflict transformation, of Toronto, ON. For more info. and/or to register, visit www.bpfna.org/conference or contact LeDayne McLeese Polaski at ledayne@bpfna.org or 704-521-6051. I don't get to go to these every year and will, sadly, have to miss this one. But every time I get to go and bring my family, my faith is deepened, challenged, and renewed. It can be lonely to be a Baptist who cares about peace and justice, especially in the U.S. These gatherings make connections that are vital--and help us grow the next generation of peacemakers, too. If you have never been, I especially urge you to work diligently to attend this one. Non-Baptists are always welcome, too.

One of the ways that the BPFNA has worked for peace over the years is to sponsor "Friendship Tours" between citizens in North America and other places of the world which currently or in the past have been in conflict, internally, or with North American governments. On 15-24 August 2008, there will be a BPFNA Friendship Tour to Nicaragua. For more information, contact, Deirdre Hinz at dhinz@unitedseminary.edu . I made 2 trips to Nicaragua during the '80s with Witness for Peace during the time that the U.S. govt. sponsored and funded the terrorist Contras and fell in love with this beautiful and tragic nation.

Since the U.S. government is still not fulfilling its obligations to the people of New Orleans, your congregation can help by partnering with a New Orleans congregation (especially in the 9th Ward) that is trying to rebuild--and help the neighborhood rebuild and the evacuated residents return. Churches Supporting Churches is not a strictly Baptist effort, but BPFNA signed on from the beginning. Look for ways for your congregation to become involved (and then write your Congressional leaders and demand they help, too!).

The Fourth Global Baptist Peace Conference will be held in Rome, Italy 16-21 February 2009. It is co-sponsored by the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, the Alliance of Baptists, International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches, USA, Unione Cristiana Evangelica Battista Italia (The Baptist Union of Italy), and the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia. (That's the Republic of Georgia, not the U.S. State of Georgia! I made the mistake of thinking that was obvious once. Sigh.) As many readers of this blog know, 2009 marks the 400th anniversary of the modern Baptist movement, dating from the time in 1609 that John Smyth's exiled congregation of English Separatists in Holland, dissolved their congregation based on a covenant and, influenced by the Dutch Waterlander Mennonites who were their hosts, reconstituted their congregation based on Believers' Baptism. (Of course, since Smyth and most of the congregation eventually merged with the Dutch Mennonites, some may want to say that the actual founding of Baptists dates from when Thomas Helwys and a handful of others broke with Smyth and returned to Britain to found the first Baptist congregation on English soil in Spitalfields, outside London, in 1611. But global Baptists seem to want to celebrate our history in '09 rather than waiting for '11 and who am I to argue?) This February Peace Conference in Rome will kick off the global celebrations of 400 years of Baptist history and look to the future of our Christian movement.

Like previous global Baptist peace conferences in Sweden (1988), Nicaragua (1992), and Australia (2000), this one will feature storytelling, training in nonviolence and conflict transformation/resolution, networking, and spiritual development for Baptist peace and justice activists around the world. There will be worship, speakers, workshops, etc. culminating in a massive public event in Rome to demonstrate global Baptist commitment to peace and justice. I have seen the list of Baptist leaders coming from around the world and will soon highlight them in a follow up post. If you cannot go, get your congregation to raise funds to send one or more from your church to this event. Then get them to bring back pictures and present to the congregation. Also, help raise funds for scholarships for people from poorer parts of the world to attend. Contact Paul Hayes at paulchayese@juno.com or Dan Buttry at dbuttry@comcast.net or Ken Sehested at ken@circleofmercy.org to help raise funds, plan events, or register yourself. We need to find ways to get global publicity for this event as a contrast to the ways that more well-known Baptist groups and individuals preach and act politically for oppression, destruction, militarism, etc. The world needs to see this face of the Baptist movement.

Why Frank Page is Wrong

I mentioned the other day on my blog this report from Associated Baptist Press and I've been pondering it ever since. When it notes

[Frank] Page, [President of the SBC] said the problem “resided in the churches” that refuse to change to stop their inevitable demise. He said the SBC downturn is not the denomination’s fault – because of poor programming or lack of emphasis on the denominational level. “The reality is it’s our fault,” Page told the Pastor’s Disciple-Making Network, an initiative of the North Carolina convention. “People rarely rise above the level of their pastor’s spiritual life, and it is critical that pastors maintain a vibrant walk with Christ.”

I find myself having to disagree. It's high time that people take responsibility for their own spirituality. While Page may be right that some Church members only rise to the level of their Pastor's spirituality, many, many more either do not rise to any sort of spirituality at all, and others rise well above their Pastor's. Further, if Page's suggestion is taken seriously then

1- Lot is to be blamed for the destruction of Sodom because he wasn't spiritual enough.
2- Jeremiah is to be blamed for the fall of the Southern Kingdom because he didn't preach well enough or convincingly enough.
3- Hosea and Amos are to be blamed for the same thing regarding the Northern Kingdom.
4- John the Baptist is to be blamed for his failure to persuade Herod to repent.
5- Jesus is to be blamed for his disciples abandoning him at the Cross- if he had only been spiritual enough, they would have followed his example and been willing to suffer arrest and execution instead of running off like scared children and hiding.
6- Paul is to be blamed that the Roman empire as a whole didn't come to Christianity during his lifetime.
7- John is to be blamed that the world hasn't opened the door to the knocking Jesus. If he only had been more spiritual they would have done so.

In short, blaming the failure of modern Baptists on pastoral leadership (or lack thereof) is the same thing as blaming Jesus for the failure of his followers down through the ages.

Each Christian stands before God alone- and responsible for their own spirituality. As long as Page and others attempt to lay blame for the decline of Christianity at the feet of those striving and living and dying for the Gospel, one and all will ignore their own part in the play.