Disturbed By Luncheon
Reading the Nov. 28 issue of The Alabama Baptist covering our recent state convention left me a bit disturbed. The wonderful editorial by Dr. Bob Terry celebrating the unity of Alabama Baptists, coupled with the outstanding message by outgoing president Mike McLemore, were most encouraging. However, the article on the Alabama Baptist Conservatives Network luncheon gives cause for grave concern.
In the article Paige Patterson, president of Southeastern Seminary and an architect of the so-called conservative resurgence is quoted as saying, “I am tired of fighting. I would like to get it over with.” He was referring to the conservative/fundamentalist takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention. But here he was in Alabama, encouraging a continuation of the fight. Obviously, he and others in this state think that our Alabama Baptist political arena is a prime staging area for that kind of warfare.
It is a sad day when a key leader among Southern Baptists brings this kind of rhetoric to a state convention desperately trying to develop and maintain a productive unity for the cause of Christ. It’s a sad day when key leaders within this state convention support that kind of thinking. The article on the luncheon stuck out like a sore thumb, or more to the point, revealed an ugly sore present in our Alabama Baptist life.
We live in a state desperately in need of seeing a tangible demonstration of the love of Christ expressed in compassionate ministries. Denominational political warfare and evangelism are not compatible. Why is that not obvious? The rhetoric of denominational warfare will not positively impact the lost in this state, the one-fourth of our children living in poverty, the critical shortage of safe affordable housing for the working poor and elderly, or address our begging educational system. There is work to do. That work will be done by those who have a true heart for lifting up the fallen and understand what the real issues are.
George R. Myers
Robertsdale, Ala.
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‘ELECT JESUS’ INSULTING
You carried on the front page an article concerning a very controversial subject for a few of us who still think the Bible is the sole authority for truth. Some of our leaders have co-mingled God’s plan of redemption with political enthusiasm referring to Him as a candidate for office worthy of an affirmative vote. I challenge their concept of evangelism.
No. 1: The word elect is never used in the Bible as a verb. It is a noun.
No. 2: Christ has never wallowed in the political arena to present Himself as Savior.
No. 3: To present Him as a candidate is degrading His position already assigned Him as Lord of Lords, King of Kings, for He has already been exalted to the highest position in eternity that at His name every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess that He already is Lord. I think you will agree with me that when you take Scripture out of its context and give it another meaning you do violence to the work.
James Clark
Oneonta, Ala.
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FLY CHRISTIAN FLAG FIRST
I am writing this letter because I have been seeing something that bothers me more and more frequently. As I often drive by churches, I notice the United States flag being flown above the Christian flag. What is even more sickening is to see the Alabama Baptist building in Montgomery doing this. I do not understand how anybody could put the flag of the U.S. government above the Christian flag. No flag should ever be flown above the Christian flag. In my opinion, we are Christians before anything else, including being American.
Caleb Whorton
Wallsboro, Ala.
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FIGHT SATAN, NOT CHRISTIANS
Thank you for you article titled: “Support conservative candidates, Patterson urges luncheon attendees.” I was a little confused over who our “opponents” were and with whom we must “battle” until Paige cleared it up for me. Patterson, in his comments to the Alabama Baptist Conservatives Network, referred to other Baptist Christians as “our opponents” and indicated that “the battle is not over.”
I thought Patterson and the Alabama Baptist Conservatives would be more interested in fighting our true opponent, Satan. Indeed, the battle is over. Jesus won it when He died on the cross. As long as some Christians perceive that their battle is with other Christians, Christ may never come back so we can all enjoy His victory. Shame on you Paige Patterson. And thank you Alabama Baptist for reporting his “steel in velvet” comments. I needed straightening out.
Jeffrey A. Greer
Birmingham, Ala.
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RESPECT OLDER GENERATION
It is a well-known fact that many old people suffer from depression a large part of the time. Other, less aged, people wonder about that problem and wonder why such a problem should exist, especially when the older folk have “lived a full life” and should be willing to fade away into the sunset and never be heard from again.
I submit, on the basis of my observation of old people for 73 years, having joined their ranks several years ago and from considerable credentials, that nothing is so depressing as the feeling of not being needed or feeling useless.
Many of us have college degrees, including graduate degrees, in a variety of areas and could be of great value, either in a consulting capacity or in direct work. To shun older people for any reason is perhaps the worst kind of discrimination. We should consider people “with snow on their heads” as a great asset rather than a liability. We need to look at needs in the community, cities and churches — anywhere we have need for help in our organizations. Let’s look at our old folks and continue to harvest richly from this population.
William O. Adams
Plano, Texas
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