A spirit of cooperation
Your editorial in the June 30 issue of the Herald, “Recognizing the truth when we hear it”, properly acknowledges the call to evangelism by SBC president Bobby Welch and calls attention to John Upton's similar efforts to emphasize the need to reach the 4 million lost Virginians. Your concluding clarion call for Virginia Baptists to join Bobby Welch, John Upton and you in this effort is salutary. It implies a spirit of cooperation among the SBC and BGAV Baptists that is much to be desired but also sadly wanting.
I would call your attention to another item on page 2 of the same issue, “Virginians named to SBC posts,” reporting that, “A number of Baptists from Virginia were elected to committees and boards of trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention last week.” Presumably with some pride, it is reported that 11 Virginia Baptists-all men- were elected to two SBC committees, one agency, the International Mission Board and three SBC seminaries. And, with two exceptions, all the churches represented are affiliated with the breakaway Virginia state convention, Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia. The exceptions, Green Ridge Baptist Church, Roanoke, and Hillcrest Baptist Church, Ridgeway, apparently are dually affiliated with both BGAV and SBCV.
Once again, the SBC has taken Cooperative Program money contributed by more than 1,000 BGAV churches and has awarded to a far fewer number of SBCV churches all of the Virginia Baptist appointees to SBC committees, boards and agencies. When will BGAV churches wake up and stop funding the very group of Baptists that insult our BGAV members by ignoring their contributions to the Kingdom cause?
Apparently, contrary to Bobby Welch's evangelism theme, “Everyone Can,” in his opinion and that of his fellow SBC leaders not everyone can. Bear in mind that the SBC president appoints the members of the committee on committees who nominate those who serve on the SBC committees, boards and agencies. President Welch could easily have called for the nomination of Virginia Baptists to be proportionately representative of BGAV and SBCV membership.
I believe both John Upton, as BGAV chief executive, and you as editor of the Herald, have an obligation to express dismay at such exclusionary treatment!
Daniel A. Polk, Richmond
In the past few months I have read the repeated statement of Jimmy Draper that the SBC “must broaden the base of new leadership.” This ignited some glimmer of hope for a more inclusive participation by our local churches.
This hope quickly faded when I saw the list of those recently elected from Virginia to various SBC responsibilities. I assume they are all outstanding men. However, not only were there no women, but most of the men were from churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia.
In retirement I have had the opportunity to preach in many different churches. They are faithful to the Great Commission, struggle and pray about their giving to the Cooperative Program and special offerings and participate in their local Baptist associations. Unfortunately and sadly, their pastors and laity will never be nominated to any SBC office.
This not only greatly weakens the integrity of our cherished historical diversity as Baptists, but yields a totally unbalanced representation of leadership from our Virginia Baptist churches. Perhaps I need an interpretation of “broaden the base of new leadership.”
Paul C. Lawson, Virginia Beach
Concerns for the future
I am a young man. At an early age I made the decision to serve Christ completely with my life. Since then, my preparation for Christian ministry has led me down several paths. I have been austrocized at times. I have been criticized at times. And at times I have been flat-out laughed at. Through all of this I have managed to hold my head high and proud that I am a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I have gone through high school, I am a graduate of Bluefield College and I am preparing to step into an interim ministry. I am preparing to enter seminary and I am swamped with concerns and fears about my future, the future of my congregation, the future of our country and the future of this world.
I look at my life as an example of a good way to raise a child-not great-but good. I was disciplined as a child. If I misbehaved, I was whipped, not beaten, but whipped. I think of Proverbs and the instruction given to raise children. I look at the way children are raised today, given everything they want, allowed to throw temper tantrums in public. I am concerned for the future.
I look at the community I grew up in and some of the things that have changed. I grew up in a small community, so negative things aren't springing up, but some of the family things I remember are gone. The attitudes of the families are changing. I remember every Sunday after church, my family would gather together and eat. It amazes me now to see my family on more than
one occasion in a whole year.
In our own state, things are changing, and not for the better. Roanoke now has a singles line for gay men. It is advertised on TV. along with family programming. What has our society become that we expose children to such lifestyles as homosexuality at dinner time? Shame should be felt, by all.
It has come to my attention and no longer can I remain silent. As a young Virginian, a Christian and a minister, I can no longer stand by and remain silent. I urge all Virginians to write to newspapers, delegates, Congressmen and Senators. Write to our Governor and President. Tell them we need to set an example and we need to do it today.
Come on Virginia, let's clean up America.
Joseph N. Giles Jr., Gretna
True saints
First allow me to congratulate you on your new position as editor of the Herald. May God's blessings be yours as you guide this splendid journal into the 21st century.
I have enjoyed reading your editorial, “What's in a name.” I do have one comment-a concern I have felt in listening to some Baptist preachers. It seems that when the preacher needs an illustration of a dedicated missionary, he turns to Mother Teresa.
No doubt she was a great humanitarian, and of course had great publicity as those of her church always seem to have. But surely there are some equally dedicated Baptist missionaries that could be used as illustrations.
I am thinking of Martha Myers, who spent her life visiting villages in the vicinity of Jibla, Yemen, bringing health to the women and children of these forgotten places. As you know she recently gave her life as a true martyr.
I am thinking of Rebecca Naylor of Bangalore, India, who for many years has kept the Baptist Hospital in Bangalore going and has been instrumental in starting many churches in that area. And, of course, there are many others.
Perhaps the failure has been on the part of the mission boards, past and present, for not giving enough publicity to these true saints.
I do not say this in criticism but as an observation and concern. May God's blessings be on you and your staff as you assume the leadership of the Herald.
Franklin Fowler, Richmond
New age spirituality
The May 26 issue of the Religious Herald had a front page article on Oprah Winfrey. I was surprised that it seemed to be a “stamp of approval” on Oprah's life and beliefs. Even though she speaks of God, it doesn't mean she is a Christian or it is the God of the Bible.
Watchman Fellowship published a profile on Oprah which states: “… New Age practitioners found her show a sympathetic venue to promote their teachings and books. Her guests have included a veritable ‘who's who' of prominent New Age gurus … .”
The profile says that she “denies being New Age” and “one who has disputed Winfrey's denial of the New Age label is her former pastor …” (Jeremiah Wright) who says Oprah has “a strange gospel” that “has nothing to do with the church Jesus Christ founded.”
Quotations from Oprah to prove that she has “strayed” from the true faith “which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3) include: “I think you know what's so important to me is that God isn't a he or a she but is everything.” “I believe in the force-I call it God.” “You believe in love; then you believe in God.”
“One of the biggest mistakes humans make is to believe that there is only one way. Actually there are many diverse paths leading to what you call God. … There couldn't possibly be only one way. … Does God care about your heart or whether you called His Son Jesus?”
As a Christian publication I would like to think that you won't want to print anything that is contrary to the faith, has a New Age message or that praises someone who practices New Age spirituality. I hope the Religious Herald will be careful when selecting what will be published.
Gail Hall, Montross
Prioritizing evangelism
Having served two terms on the Herald board, including the one that picked your predecessor, I am a supporter of the Herald in particular, and a free and conscientious religious press in general.
I want to thank you for your willingness to serve and to commend you for the thought and spirit of your June 30 [issue] commentary, “Recognizing the truth when we hear it.” I wholeheartedly agree and I confess my own failure to make evangelism the priority it should be. As a lay leader in our church prison ministry team I share my faith regularly in that setting, but I need to be sensitive to the need to do the same in the routines of daily life.
When I received that copy of the Herald, it took me back a few weeks to the day a young man from Stanley Steemer came to clean our carpets. Hobbling because of recent foot surgery, I had been banished to an upstairs bedroom so I wouldn't be underfoot. As the man was leaving, my wife called me to the top of the stairs so that “Bryan” could share with me the news that he had received Christ just minutes earlier in our kitchen. My invalid mother-in-law, who lives with us, had shared her faith with the young man and introduced him to Jesus.
Interestingly, he said that a group of co-workers had invited him to join their weekly Bible study, but until he met my mother-in-law no one had asked him, “Are you a Christian?” I immediately saw myself as one of those who urge Bible study and church attendance without ever asking the important question.
We gave Bryan a Bible and a copy of “Survival Kit” for new Christians and I promised a follow-up contact, which I have honored. Thanks again for the editorial and may God bless you and guide you as you lead at the Herald.
Charles Millsaps, Radford