Letter to the editor — Roe v. Wade
I am one of the hearts hurt by the tone-deaf choice to put the article about Roe v. Wade being overturned on the front page of The Alabama Baptist next to the emboldened words of “Freedom,” “Happy Independence Day.”… Repeating the words of SBC President Bart Barber that Southern Baptists are rejoicing the ruling is like a dagger to the woundedness of women in this country who are Christian and are also mourning.
On the day that the ruling came down from SCOTUS, as I and many other women were sad and dismayed, we were further kicked in the gut by those rejoicing through texts and over social media. … Every time I think of the ruling, I feel like crying. I’m scared someone will hurt my heart before choosing to see how to love it first. I’m afraid the church I adored as a child will never understand that until they value women completely and equally within their walls; none of their work is sacred.
‘Landmark case’
The church in America, especially the evangelical church, likes to blanket Roe v. Wade as a landmark case that is the main cause of babies being “murdered” in this nation “under God.” … No woman’s heart is being reached for God in this country by celebrating the overturning of Roe v. Wade. … [Barber] knows not … of which he speaks — having never been a woman who had to make this decision and walk the journey of the experience. Also, the SBC’s actions have not stood for women for quite a while now. … Not believing women or supporting women who are being abused. …
The truth is that you can be a Christian and be pro-choice. The truth is that you can be pro-choice and not pro-abortion. Honestly, you can be both pro-life and pro-choice at the same time. However, this issue isn’t about labels, it is about living, breathing women. It is about stories. And if you can’t value women and their stories, then you are missing out on a Christ that loved and valued all women deeply.
I want you to think of a child who has recently gotten her period. She’s being sexually abused by someone in the church, and [the church] has not protected her. She becomes pregnant. Not only does she not know what sex is, she has felt shame. … Then, already traumatized, her body is most likely too small and underdeveloped for natural birth, and she will most likely be forced to give birth by C-section, a major surgery. … More trauma, trauma she may never recover from in a world where she may have to keep her pain secret, where she may be shunned … may not have access to proper physical or mental health care or medicines. She certainly will not want to sit in a pew at church for nine months.
Would you talk to her? … Would you ask her to trust the Lord when the man who hurt her loves Him, too?
Remember the hurting
It is too shallow to celebrate the overturning of Roe v. Wade in our churches. Roe v. Wade being overturned will not lessen abortions. … How are we caring for women when we are talking about women’s health care?
So while a community of [Christ-following] people [who should be] loving the outcast [instead are] celebrating, let us remember women are hurting. We don’t feel free. We feel like our agency, our independence, has been taken from us by people who aren’t living our lives. When was the last time you sat and held the hand of a hurting woman? … When is the last time you’ve scooted over and asked a pregnant teen to take the seat next to you on a Sunday morning? Are you thinking to yourself you’ve never seen a pregnant teen in your church? Now, ask yourself why.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Content shared on the Your Voice spread is opinion in nature and not necessarily the views of The Alabama Baptist. We welcome calm and respectful dialogue among readers, which provides the opportunity to hear from each other and understand differing points of view. You are welcome to submit letters to the editor to news@thealabamabaptist.org.
Amanda Oliver Hendricks
Pinson, Alabama
5 healthy church characteristics
“Go and Tell … Come and See” describes Gardendale First Baptist Church’s approach to church growth and evangelism. The Great Commission commands the church to “go and tell” (Matthew 28:19–20). After meeting Jesus the Messiah, the Samaritan woman begged the people of the city to “come and see” (John 4:29).
We believe healthy, growing evangelistic churches challenge and equip believers to “go and tell” while inviting the unsaved and unchurched to “come and see.” I am not an expert and GFBC is certainly not a perfect church, but we have discovered some principles that God seems to be blessing:
- Proclamation: Preach the Bible. Our world is crumbling. People are discouraged and depressed and disillusioned. They need to know God has a Word for them.
- Passion: Churches can be boring. I know that is a frank statement, but it is worth unpacking. Members are not going to invite their unsaved, unchurched friends to a dry, dull, dead worship service. This is not about style of worship. It is about passion in worship!
- Desperation: Oftentimes church members are not truly desperate enough to make any adjustments in order to reach the unsaved and unchurched.
- Connection: Sometimes churches are no longer connected to unchurched, unsaved people. The longer a person is a believer, the more likely it is he or she no longer has a significant relationship with unbelievers.
- Invitation: Boldly and clearly share the gospel of Jesus somewhere in the worship service and give the people an opportunity to respond.
Kevin Hamm, pastor of Gardendale First Baptist Church
Pastor Connections email
Society tells us that we are our sin. Sin becomes our identity. But when God looks at us, He sees our blameless Savior.
Addie Lee Frierson
the-scroll.com
If we are involved in Christian ministry, it is not a question of “if” we will counsel, but “how well” we will counsel.
Those involved in Christian counseling must seek an integration of biblical truths with counseling skills.
Morris Murray Jr.
Jasper, Alabama
“How many kids don’t know the [senior adults] in the church? They know where they sit and when they’re sick, but that’s about it. Now they know them personally,” said Sandy Franks, who helped students at Pleasant Green Baptist Church in Cynthiana, Kentucky, organize a special outreach day in their community.
I’ve traveled with students all over the world, and I’ve loved seeing them understand their role in God’s world, that God can use them in ways they didn’t think they could ever be used.
Mike Nuss
Retired state missionary
“I don’t worry about my age,” said 80-year-old ultramarathoner Maurice Robinson, who also is a member of First Baptist Church Benton, Arkansas. “I just look at what abilities I still have, what I can do and how much I enjoy doing those things.”
Specifically, Robinson describes his running as “a way for me to minister by pointing whatever I do — even a training run — I point to God. … I’m just the wall that echoes the sounds.”
“God really got my attention when I was studying in college about how He has created us as physical, emotional and spiritual beings,” shared Molly Petry, an International Mission Board worker in Central Asia. “Oftentimes we separate those things out. But He desires to transform all those areas of our life.”
“Southern Baptists need some reminders of the good that is being done and the lives that are being changed every day,” said Jon Graham, the creator of ACTS2 TV and a member of the research and development team at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. “They need a reminder that Southern Baptists have a local, state, national and global impact.”
“This just shows you don’t have to be large in numbers to do great things,” said Michael Hilliard, director of Chipola Family Ministries at Chipola Baptist Association in Marianna, Florida. “If a small association can care for people and meet their needs, a large association can do so much more.”
“The honor of this office is not lost on me, nor are the responsibilities,” Bart Barber, SBC president and pastor of First Baptist Church Farmersville, Texas.
“For Christians, we are never called to play a character in our walk with the Lord. We are called to have character. Too often church members play the role of Christian without displaying or producing a genuine, godly life,” said Bobby McKay, pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Brookhaven, Mississippi.
From the Twitterverse
@dhmccain
People react aggressively when something threatens that which has become an idol to them. This culture worships sexual indulgence absolutely free of boundaries or consequences. More than power or money, it is the idol of our age.
@dandarling
God calls sinners. God saves sinners. God moves in the world thru sinners. That’s good news for us.
@JCRyle
It costs something to be a true Christian. Let that never be forgotten. To be a mere nominal Christian and go to church is cheap and easy work. But to hear Christ’s voice, follow Christ, believe in Christ and confess Christ, requires much self-denial.
@GreggMatte
Courage is not the absence of fear but rather mastery of it. Courage is simply the capacity to draw on God’s resources and, by faith, do what we know we must do.
@DianeLangberg
Never for a moment forget that the most precious truth of all time and eternity is that there is a Redeemer.
@jasonthacker
It is a scathing indictment of our culture & the modern ethic when the value of another human life is simply determined by what we want. It is morally disingenuous to argue that a child has dignity and deserves to live when you want it & simply a disposable fetus when you don’t.
@Pete_Keough
15 months ago our church had an avg. attendance of 58, now it’s near 200. Today we had 5 baptisms with over another dozen in the last year.
Preach the Word faithfully, love fiercely, lead gracefully and most important, trust God completely!
@QuoteElisabeth
“We must quit bending the Word to suit our situation. It is we who must be bent to that Word.” —Elisabeth Elliot
@joshreavis
There’s a radical shift in spiritual maturity that happens when you start asking, “How can I serve my church?” instead of “How can my church serve me?”
@LysaTerKeurst
God is the Author of the Truth that empowers us. Satan is the author of the deception that imprisons us. That’s why the enemy is thrilled when we don’t open our Bibles. Truth sheds light on darkness & helps us see clearly what a horrible trap Satan’s luring us into.
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