Truth With Love

Truth With Love

While I do not dispute the “facts” of Jerry Vines’ statements during his address to the Pastors Conference of the SBC convention, I must ask a question: Where is the fruit of the spirit exhibited in his comments? Galatians 5:22-23 reads, “But the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

The International Mission Board sends out prayer requests to those who are interested in praying for our missions and missionaries around the world. Since Sept. 11, many of those prayer requests have included a section called: Praying Beyond the Wall, in which we are educated on the beliefs of Islam and given specific direction in how we can pray for the salvation of Muslims. We have hundreds of missionaries in Last Frontier countries, risking their lives daily to witness the gospel of Jesus Christ to Muslims.

Yes, Vines has honesty on his side, but do his statements in anyway further the Kingdom of God? What Muslim reading or hearing his statements thought: “Wow! I never knew; I should become a Christian today!” No, more likely, the statements offended and drove a wedge that must now be overcome by each of the aforementioned missionaries and prayer warriors before a conversion can be realized.

I submit that love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance (self-control) will ever win.

Often, judgmental words of any kind prevent those who need salvation from opening the door to receive our message. I pray the Mr. Vines’ message will not be a stumbling block to the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Islamic community.

Linda B. Thomas
Verbena, Ala.