>> This is the June 2014 issue containing the July Bible Study Lessons

Does a church’s history matter?

38

baptiststoday.org

God’s crops Potato Project keeps growing thanks to volunteers 4 Ask the theologian 34

FA TH™ BIBLE STUDIES for adults and youth 17

John D. Pierce Executive Editor [email protected] Benjamin L. McDade Executive Vice President [email protected] Julie Steele Chief Operations Officer [email protected] Jackie B. Riley Managing Editor [email protected] Tony W. Cartledge 30 Contributing Editor [email protected] REDEFINING HOPE: Bruce T. Gourley Online Editor A CONVERSATION WITH RICK WILSON, [email protected] LIBERIAN SEMINARY PRESIDENT ‘ON LOAN’ David Cassady Church Resources Editor [email protected] PERSPECTIVES Terri Byrd Contributing Writer Speak up; stand up 7 Vickie Frayne By John Pierce Art Director Rethinking mission for a global church 11 Jannie Lister By Steve Porter Customer Service Manager [email protected] The ministry of nudging Kimberly L. Hovis By Robert F. Browning 40 Marketing Associate [email protected] Lex Horton IN THE NEWS Nurturing Faith Resources Manager [email protected] Supreme Court upholds sectarian prayers at public meetings Walker Knight, Publisher Emeritus 12 Jack U. Harwell, Editor Emeritus Calvary’s Amy Butler recommended as pastor of historic Riverside Church 12 DIRECTORS EMERITI 9 Thomas E. Boland Commission: Double list of R. Kirby Godsey religious freedom offenders Mary Etta Sanders 13 Winnie V. Williams Survey: When science and faith collide, BOARD OF DIRECTORS faith usually wins 13 Carter’s new book Donald L. Brewer, Gainesville, Ga. (chairman) Fewer people believe Bible is divinely inspired 14 addresses religion’s Cathy Turner, Clemson, S.C. (vice chair) Nannette Avery, Signal Mountain, Tenn. Army approves “humanist” as role in harming, Mary Jane Cardwell, Waycross, Ga. Jack Causey, Statesville, N.C. religious preference 14 helping women 16 Anthony D. Clevenger, Pensacola, Fla. James M. Dunn, Winston-Salem, N.C. Is support for Israel shifting Jack Glasgow, Zebulon, N.C. among evangelicals? 43 Frank Granger, Athens, Ga. Cynthia Holmes, St. Louis, Mo. David Hull, Huntsville, Ala. Fisher Humphreys, Birmingham, Ala. FEATURES Andrew McGill, Chattanooga, Tenn. Ask the Theologian — William T. Neal, Stone Mountain, Ga. Roger Paynter, Austin, Texas with Fisher Humphreys 34 Kathy B. Richardson, Rome, Ga. Charles Schaible, Macon, Ga. Does a church’s history matter? 38 Macon Sheppard, Clemson, S.C. Walter B. Shurden, Macon, Ga. LOG IN; CHECK OUT: Jim Strawn, Dunwoody, Ga. Is the Internet bad for religion? 41 Leo Thorne, Valley Forge, Pa. Sarah Timmerman, Cairo, Ga. David Turner, Richmond, Va. Tom Waller, Alpharetta, Ga. Clem White, St. Petersburg, Fla. Cover photo by John Pierce. Bill Horn (on tractor) and Vickie Willis, Murfreesboro, TN Doug Sharp, laymen in First Baptist Church of Shelby, N.C., Cynthia Wise, Birmingham, Ala. started the Cleveland County Potato Project to feed those in Donna Wood, Macon, Ga. need. Page 4 READERS SERVICES

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Baptists Today (ISSN 1072-7787) is published monthly by: Baptists Today Periodical postage paid at Macon, Ga. 31208 and additional mailing offi ces. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to: Baptists TodayAll rights reserved. !"#$% &'( )*#"#! +% ,#*' )-.$/. !"#$% &'( )*#"#! +% ,#*' )-.$/. God’s crops Potato Project keeps growing thanks to volunteers

SHELBY, N.C. — Sunday school “[Growing potatoes] is what I understood the plants for sweet potatoes along with other I’m supposed to be doing,” he said of that assistance. teachers often ask questions of their memorable early morning experience. And Doug, Bill and others provide inspi- class members. But usually not: “Why Doug admits that he and Bill “had our ration by example, as well, that leads to new doubts” when they started. volunteers, new plots and more potatoes. don’t we grow a bunch of potatoes?” “Bill and I told the class that our pressing “There is a lot we can do if people just make up their minds to do it,” said Doug. hat’s the question Doug Sharp raised need was for land,” recalled Doug. “And one a few years ago with the Bible class class member offered 17 acres.” he teaches at First Baptist Church of They then took their cause to the local WHY POTATOES? T newspapers and started getting calls from Shelby, N.C. And Bill Horn was the first to “Potatoes are extremely productive,” said Doug say, “Let’s do it.” others willing to provide growing plots. of his crop of choice. “Sweet potatoes are even The two laymen have led the growing Doug, currently interim president of the more productive than white potatoes.” volunteer effort — now in its fifth season — to Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce, is With volunteer efforts and donations, provide tons of potatoes for those in need. retired from a wide-ranging business career. the Cleveland County Potato Project is able Bill, now 90, is a retired banker — who farmed to grow potatoes for just 12 cents per pound. cotton in his younger years and loves being on GETTING STARTED Last year’s crop of 156,000 pounds had an a tractor. estimated cash value of more than $80,000. The Cleveland County Potato Project was They prefer smaller plots that congrega- A donated warehouse (for the sweet started by the simple idea — or divine inspi- tions or other volunteer groups will “adopt” to potatoes) and a cooler (for the white potatoes) ration that awakened Doug at 4 o’clock on provide the needed labor. Currently, there are help with preserving the crops for effective a morning in 2009 — that hunger needs in 15-20 small fields of potatoes each season. distribution. the area could be met with a little knowledge, The Potato Project (a nonprofit organiza- Most excuses for not joining the effort can sweat and land. tion) provides the seeds for white potatoes and be easily dismissed, said Doug.

4 “There’s plenty of farming advice available Meeting real needs through the Potato “We don’t have a food problem,” he said. through the extension service,” he noted. “It Project gives participants the chance to see “We have an unwillingness to face the reality just takes somebody to say, ‘I’m going to make “a slice of the kingdom [of God],” said Doug. that we can do so much if we’re willing.” it happen.’” Those who don’t see such needs and Two pressing questions came to Doug’s Unused plots of land abound, he said. opportunities “have become immune to com- mind following his early morning epiphany: “And there are thousands of tractors stored in passionate thinking,” he surmised. “We’re Can large amounts of potatoes be grown here? barns.” doing our little bit to change that.” If we grow huge amounts of potatoes, are there While potato production is often cast in Doug and Bill never pretend the work is those who will help get them to people in terms of acres and tons, the real ministry takes easy. need? place one meal at a time. And one pound of “It’s not for the faint-hearted,” said Both questions have received a resounding potatoes, Doug noted, provides three servings. Doug. “But we’ve learned that basic, ordinary “Yes!” BT “Therefore, it’s a very rewarding feeling to Christians — when they are doing what God dig up potatoes.” wants them to do — can work wonders.” —Those interested in participating in or One of those wonders, as he envisioned a learning more about the Cleveland County HELPING HANDS few years ago, is to meet a real need by grow- Potato Project may contact Doug Sharp at ing potatoes. [email protected] or (704) 480-1608. “We’ve got hardworking people,” said Bill of the many volunteers from churches, schools, com- munity organizations, nearby Gardner-Webb University and elsewhere who work the fields. “This thing has been trying,” he said. “But these are God’s crops, so there’s no need for us to worry about it.” Volunteers work mostly on weekends, said Doug. As many as 112 volunteers have been in the fields at one time. The greatest needs are at planting and harvesting times — which differ for white and sweet potatoes — meaning volunteers are widely used from about February until October. “They can’t stand too much hot weather,” said Bill of the sweet potatoes. “We need to get them out before August.” The white potato season is longer. Volunteers range from Bill’s age on down to children. “We have very senior members of our church cutting seed potatoes before plant- ing,” said Doug. “We have ages 8 through 90 dropping seed potatoes into plowed rows and ages 6 through 90 picking up the mature pota- toes when they have been plowed out of the ground.”

REAL NEEDS “We could give potatoes away every day of the week,” said Doug of the need. He recalled one grandmother saying she and her grandchildren had survived on the potatoes during a particularly hard time. “God provided them, and we’ll get by,” she told the children. The potatoes are primarily distributed through the Greater Cleveland County Baptist Association, the Salvation Army, U-CAN and the Kings Mountain Crisis Ministry.

5 quotation remarks —Pastor Thomas Quisenberry of First Baptist Church of Chattanooga, Tenn., named by the American Bible Society as the most “Bible- minded” city in the U.S. (ABP) —Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie, apologizing for an incident in which a 12-year-old was told he couldn’t read the Bible privately at Park Lakes Elementary School in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. —ESPN columnist Rick Reilly (Sun Sentinel) —Clemson University football coach Dabo Swinney in a release responding to complaints from the Freedom From Religion Foundation that the public university’s football program is entangled with religion (RNS)

—Robert Parham of ethicdaily.com, honoring two mentoring ethicists who died recently, Dan McGee and Glen Stassen —Geof Morin, chief communication officer for the American Bible Society (RNS) —Bill Leonard, the James and Marilyn Dunn Professor of Baptist Studies and professor of church history at Wake Forest University School of Divinity, —Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino discussing the increasing popularity of cremation Evangelical Coalition (Huffington Post) (ABP)

—Atlanta-area pastor Bryant Wright, a former Southern Baptist Convention president who attended a Capitol Hill rally by evangelical leaders in April to push for immigration reform (RNS)

MAKING A GIFT to support the ministry of Baptists Today is just one —Dana Albon of Albany, N.Y., who attended the 16th annual Blessing of the Bikes at NYC’s click away. Make a gift online at baptiststoday.org/donate. Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine prior to Your generous giving is most helpful and deeply appreciated. the Five Boro Bike Tour (NPR)

6 Editorial By John Pierce Speak up; stand up

wonderful spring evening brought a We often speak of history being the best plates of food on a table to support a fellow large gathering of Baptists together to teacher, but rarely learn from past experiences. student — or were willing to stand up to the Ahonor Emmanuel McCall with this We marvel at how Christian people could have threats of narrow-minded ministers who were news journal’s annual Judson-Rice Award. been so shortsighted and unloving in the past more concerned about protecting a social The story is on page 9, and a full-length while rarely moving with a greater passion for system than living like Jesus. video of the conversational-style interview justice today. Other inspiring examples come from from that event is posted at baptiststoday.org. Too often we fear being lone voices — courageous preachers and writers, as well as Most inspiring is the gratitude this long- or excuse modern-day injustices as “differ- others who simply choose to live out the wide time minister and denominational leader ent” or justified. Or we embrace of the Gospel rather than cower in expressed for those who boldly stood up in simply don’t want to fear when calculating the risks. defense of the dignity of all persons — going pay the consequences of But what about us — now? against the cultural mainstream. going against those with Do we speak up and stand up for others He specifically identified the courageous entrenched views and who are mistreated, condemned, abused — students at the University of Louisville, who power. or only for those causes that concern our own warmly welcomed him and other non-whites Therefore, the very interests? into the Baptist Student Union despite pres- force (the church) called Much of American Christianity has a sures from local Baptist ministers who were to be an agent of change long history of arriving late — if ever — at the blind to a major teaching of the very Bible they becomes the last to expe- intersection of grace and justice. Sometimes it claimed to preach each Sunday. rience and advocate for needed transformation just seems too costly to speak up and stand up. Those of us for whom such student min- and redemption. Thank God for those who did — and istries were formative in our own lives might Fortunately, there are those who do not those who still stand and speak today. Such feel a bit of pride. But the greater question hide in the comfort of group-think or willingly faithfulness is reflective of the life and teach- than who were the heroes in the past is: Who is sacrifice justice for the sake of self-interest. ings of Jesus — that which we all claim to speaking up and standing up for those unjustly In looking back, we can find inspiration follow but rarely show evidence. condemned and excluded and oppressed today? in those hungry college students who left their There is still time. BT Be a part of something good and growing! Baptists Today is experiencing unprecedented growth and expanding into some wonderful new ventures. Our autonomy gives us the opportunity to dream, connect and collaborate. But producing this uniquely indepen- dent news journal with excellent Bible studies requires support from those who value such efforts.

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7 NURTURING FAITH EXPERIENCE montana august! 18-23, 2014

his “experimental experience” in Big Sky Country, MONDAY —,AUGUST 18 Aug. 18-23, will be a unique retreat opportunity. While addressing key issues impacting congrega- someone’s flight is delayed, transportation will still be provided. T tional ministry today, the group also will shape a model and overview of plans for future events in Montana. Sponsors include Baptists Today, Baptist History TUESDAY —,AUGUST 19 and Heritage Society and The Pittman Center of Gardner-Webb University. Programming will make good use of the many talents within the group as well as leaders in Montana. WEDNESDAY —,AUGUST 20 COST $1,200 (based on double occupancy) and includes: THURSDAY —,AUGUST 21 side trip National Park FRIday —,AUGUST 22 LODGING side trip SATURDAY —,AUGUST 23 room throughout the week, please add $250. (Please make departing flights for noon or later.) REMINDER optional activities.

To secure a spot, please send a $400 deposit to Baptists Today, P.O. Box 6318, Macon, GA 31208-6318 marked as “NF Montana.” The balance ($800) will be due July 1. questions?, Email [email protected] Bridge builder Emmanuel McCall honored with news journal’s Judson-Rice Award

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. — More McCall entered Southern Seminary as the only African American on campus. A group of than 300 friends, family members and students “wanted to be sure my seminary expe- other admirers filled the fellowship hall rience was a good one,” he recalled. “These were some of the friends who made seminary great.” of Smoke Rise Baptist Church on April In 1962, he and Louisville pastor John 24 to pay tribute to the long and effec- Claypool pulled together black and white tive ministry of Emmanuel McCall. Baptist ministers who played a key role in curbing racial violence in the city. “We had ontiffs — at least in the sense of more than 800 ministers involved in racial hierarchal Christian traditions — reconciliation.” “Pdon’t fit our Baptist understanding In 1968, McCall joined the Southern of and appreciation for the priesthood of all Baptist Home Mission Board to help bridge believers,” said John Pierce, executive editor the racial divide in Baptist life and beyond. of Baptists Today. “However, in a most literal “I had more hope than concern, because sense, it would be appropriate to call Dr. Baptists Today the people I related to when I came to the Emmanuel McCall a pontiff — which means Home Mission Board were on a mission,” ‘bridge builder.’” he said. “They knew things were not what He added: “No person whom I have revealed that he had predicted McCall’s minis- they ought to be and they wanted to see them known has been a better Baptist builder of terial calling. change.” bridges than Dr. McCall.” McCall entered the University of Louis- During his 23 years at the HMB, McCall Music by the Three Inspirational Tenors, ville in 1954, just two years after integration, found collegiality there and elsewhere among who have close relationships with McCall, where he found a warm reception from the Baptists. He told of Woman’s Missionary reunited their classically trained voices to add Baptist Student Union (BSU) and its director Union executive Alma Hunt asking him inspiration to the event. Fred Witty. in 1970 to escort her three blocks through In a conversational-style interview, However, some local pastors — “the Nashville amid the stares of other Baptists McCall shared his life experiences from three wise men from the Long Run Baptist attending the meeting. “Alma was having fun growing up in rural Pennsylvania to facing Association” — opposed an integrated BSU out of that; I wasn’t.” opposition and finding support as a minor- and let it be known at an on-campus prayer “The truth be told, the Woman’s ity student at the University of Louisville and meeting. But the students stood — literally — Missionary Union did more for race relations Southern Baptist Theological Seminary to in opposition to the ministers. in Southern Baptist life than any other unit,” helping Baptists cross racial divides. “Seeing they were outnumbered, the he said, quickly adding that Home Missions “As I look back on those years now, I see brother said, ‘We need to go pray about this,’” magazine editor Walker Knight took coura- the hand of God shaping me…,” said McCall Emmanuel recalled. “And they are still out geous stands as well. of growing up on a farm near the steel mills of praying.” Both Hunt and Knight (founding editor western Pennsylvania. He credited his parents, He recalled the BSU group stopping to of Baptists Today) received the Judson-Rice grandmother and church with influencing his eat in Tennessee en route to a conference in Awards in previous years. faith. Ridgecrest, N.C. Emmanuel, who was midway “In this room are people who have allowed “It was from that little group of people in the cafeteria line, was told to get out. me to be in pilgrimage with them,” McCall said at Valley Baptist Church that I got the great “When [the manager] said that, the stu- appreciatively. “I thank God for the ride.” impressions of who Christ was and what dents who had already been served got up and The Judson-Rice Award was established in Christ meant to my life.” left their plates, and we all got back on the bus 2001 to honor early Baptist leaders Adoniram Given the biblical names Emmanuel and we stopped at a grocery store…” he said. Judson, Ann Hasseltine Judson and Luther (“God with us”) and Lemuel (“the wisdom of “These were my college brothers and sisters Rice, and to recognize a current Baptist who Solomon”), McCall was dedicated to the Lord who stuck with me.” has exhibited exceptional leadership with on the eighth day of his life. McCall also found a friend on campus integrity. BT When he announced his call to ministry — who had a car — from Pennsylvania: at age 14 and was asked to preach, the minister “Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, Johnny [Video of the full conversation with Emmanuel who had led the dedication 14 years earlier Unitas and I rode back and forth.” McCall is available at baptiststoday.org.]

9 Guest Commentary By Steven Porter Rethinking mission for a global church

In September 1931, a 15-member Commission on Appraisal set sail from New York Steven Porter becomes global mis- harbor bound for Bombay. Funded by industrialist John D. Rockefeller and chaired by sions coordinator for the Cooperative the Harvard philosopher William E. Hocking, the ecumenical commission worked Baptist Fellowship on Sept. 1. He is the former director of Touching Miami with under the auspices of the Layman’s Foreign Mission Inquiry and would spend nearly a Love, one of the Fellowship’s flagship year investigating the state of Protestant Christian missions in South and East Asia. urban ministries. Porter holds ordination in the National Baptist Convention (USA) pon their return to the States, the beginning of its next chapter. and teaches courses on the history and commissioners published a report, But not only have the structures of CBF theology of Christian mission at Baylor Re-Thinking Missions: A Layman’s changed, the world around us has changed in U University’s Truett Inquiry after One Hundred Years (1932). The at least three ways critical to our missionary Seminary. He scathing and — to many missionaries — hurt- efforts. earned the M.Div. ful account reflected the heavy editorial hand First, as scholars have noted for some from Emory of Professor Hocking, who wrote half of the time, Christianity has experienced a massive University’s chapters and revised the rest. “southward shift.” The church has entered a Candler School The commission purported to offer a global era in which the majority of its mem- of Theology and “scientific” appraisal of Christian missions bers no longer reside in the West. Indeed, is pursuing a during a season of both diminishing donations since the mid 1980s the demographic center of Th.D. from Duke and increasing awareness of other religions. Christianity has been closer to Lagos, Nigeria, Divinity School. Eighty years later, Cooperative Baptists than Rome, Canterbury, or Colorado Springs. In Miami, Porter served as a chap- also live in a day of diminishing financial sup- Next, the way in which our congrega- lain in a federal prison and was pastor of port for missions — at least, in terms of our tions think about and engage in mission has Downtown Mission at Central Baptist centralized offering to support long-term field changed. Whatever you make of recent conver- Church from 1998 to 2005. He worked personnel. Likewise, we daily encounter reli- sations on the missional and emerging church, closely with the homeless community gious diversity on a scale our counterparts in they have prompted many of us to view the and families at risk in the Overtown the 1930s could not have imagined. local church differently — often in missionary neighborhood. Despite the troubling theological plural- terms. And for better or worse, short-term mis- Porter served three stints as an inter- ism of Hocking’s commission, the attempt to sion trips have become a defining feature of the national student and, in 2010, received a “re-think missions” was then and remains American landscape with enormous implica- Henry Luce Foundation Research Grant now a worthy endeavor. And there is no bet- tions for mission funding. for work at Gadjah Mada University in ter time than the present for the Cooperative Finally, our communities have changed. Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Baptist Fellowship to pursue such vital work. We live in an increasingly post-Christian In many ways, CBF global missions society marked by cultural and religious plural- stands at a crossroads. Thanks to the 2012 ism. Although a large majority of Americans between a previous generation’s trusted mission Task Force, the Fellowship has more effec- continue to identify as Christian, awareness model — which centered on a professional tive leadership structures than at any time of America’s diversity rises with every Pew missionary corps — and the evolving mission- in its history. Our new governing board and Research poll, including the projection that ary identity, initiative and investment of local executive coordinator have had a year to build persons of color may comprise a majority of churches in a global era have not succeeded. rapport and momentum. An independent the population by 2050. The old structures, which once served so nominating committee will fill the remaining In short, if Christianity has turned from well, no longer adequately support churches slots on the missions council this summer. the West to the South, mission from denomi- “as they discover and fulfill their God-given And following a long and challenging national boards to local congregations, and mission.” Thus, as CBF has asked fundamental interim — for which Jim Smith and the global America from a white majority to a rainbow questions of the movement’s structure and gov- missions staff deserve our heartfelt thanks — coalition, then maybe it’s time for CBF to ernance over the past two years, so too must my appointment as the new coordinator of re-think its 20th-century mission structure. we ask hard questions of its global missions global missions concludes a movement-wide While we should celebrate what God enterprise. transition process that easily could have writ- has accomplished through the Fellowship, I appreciated David Gushee’s recent call ten the end of the CBF story rather than the our attempts to straddle the expanding gap for CBF to embrace “authoritative leadership,”

10 The way in which congregations think about and engage in mission has changed.

but I do not view my appointment as warrant development approaches such as Together gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout to impose a missiological agenda on churches. for Hope to the largely untapped resources of the whole world — just as it has been doing Such an effort would undermine what it means mission communities and the Baptist World among you since the day you heard it and truly to be a fellowship. Alliance, Cooperative Baptists have much to understood God’s grace.” (Col. 1:6) May the Moreover, Baptist convictions about what it commend to each other and to our neighbors. Triune God find Cooperative Baptists faithful in means to be church — to gather as congregations But the changing world described above invites this task and in the larger work of witness. BT beholden to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Scriptures us to re-think our mission enterprise in ways and the holy orders of a common priesthood — that strategically narrow our focus, deepen our —Steven Porter was announced recently as constrain me. I genuinely hope I never scheme capacity and stretch our faith. the new global missions coordinator for the to get “buy-in” from CBF congregations; rather, In the days ahead, I invite you to join this Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. This column the vision for our common witness to God’s good conversation in the firm conviction that “the was distributed by Associated Baptist Press. news in Jesus Christ must emerge from our con- versations with God and one another. Here, I believe the basic insight of the [Southern Baptist] Cooperative Program still obtains: we can accomplish far more together than apart. Surely that is part of what it means to be a “fellowship.” So my leadership will begin with listening — to field personnel and staff, to partners, and foremost to congregations. It’s also important to remember that we aren’t starting from scratch. There is wisdom in the room already. From asset-based community

NEW RELEASE from Nurturing Faith books Published in partnership with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (cbfnc.org)

opeful Imagination recounts the journey of change from inward to outward focus H at historic First Baptist Church of Wilmington, N.C., over the past two decades, while offering hope to other churches as they consider the future to which God may be calling them.

Longtime pastor Mike Queen tells the story of his congregation, while spiritual formations minister Jayne Davis offers reflections on the meaning of the story for FBC Wilmington along with coaching questions to help churches on their own journey.

Orders: nurturingfaith.info

11 Amy Butler recommended Supreme Court upholds sectarian as first female pastor of Riverside Church prayers at public meetings

(RNS) NEW YORK — The famed prayer for lawmakers, local governments can Riverside Church in Manhattan has recom- Associated Baptist Press — and should — take steps to ensure that mended Amy Butler as its seventh senior citizens are not forced into religious acts at a minister, the first woman to lead the congre- he U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 government meeting,” said Hollyn Hollman, gation in its 83-year-old history. May 5 that overtly Christian prayers BJC general counsel. “It is hard to square a Butler has been senior minister of T at government meetings do not violate government-led religious practice in a local Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, the First Amendment’s ban on establishing municipal meeting with the Constitution’s D.C., for 11 years. religion. guarantee of equal rights of citizenship with- The church has about Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony out regard to religion.” 300 members with an Kennedy said the town of Greece, N.Y.’s, Russell Moore, president of the Ethics estimated 150 people practice of opening council meetings with and Religious Liberty Commission of the in attendance on prayers led by a local minister is in keeping Southern Baptist Convention, said the Sunday mornings. with the long tradition of “legislative prayer,” Supreme Court “did the right thing” in When she arrived consistent with both houses of Congress main- reversing the lower court’s decision. at Calvary, she inher- taining a chaplain to open each day’s session “The Town of Greece case is about a gov- ited a church that had with prayer. ernment seeking to establish a state-ordered dwindled from 5,000 “As practiced by Congress since the fram- civil religion that crowds out the most basic parishioners to about 70 on a Sunday. ing of the Constitution, legislative prayer rights of freedom of speech,” Moore said in As pastor, she has pushed the downtown lends gravity to public business, reminds a written statement. “That is not what our church to be more multicultural and over- lawmakers to transcend petty differences in ancestors, and their allies among the American saw a massive redevelopment of the church’s pursuit of a higher purpose and expresses a Founders, meant by religious liberty.” downtown property. common aspiration to a just and peaceful Barry Lynn, executive director of “Under her leadership the church society,” Kennedy wrote. Americans United for Separation of Church has become an influential congregation in The majority reversed a ruling of the 2nd and State, was disappointed by the ruling. the nation’s capital and she has become a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that because “The Supreme Court just relegated mil- much sought-after voice for Progressive the prayers were overwhelmingly led by lions of Americans — both believers and Christianity,” Riverside’s search committee Christians, the practice gave the appearance nonbelievers — to second-class citizenship,” said in a letter to the congregation. that the town was endorsing one religion over said Lynn, an ordained minister in the United Butler said she was unable to talk to others. The parties in the lawsuit, Town of Church of Christ. “Government should not media before the June vote on her Riverside Greece v. Galloway, did not oppose the use of be in the business of forcing faith on anyone, candidacy. BT ceremonial prayer but argued that it must be and now all who attend meetings of their local non-sectarian. boards could be subjected to the religion of Survey: Most Americans don’t Kennedy said it would be more prob- the majority.” see end to global poverty lematic for the government to decide what Joining Kennedy in the majority opinion constitutes a permissible prayer. were Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate (RNS) — Despite progress in defeating “The First Amendment is not a majority Justice Samuel Alito. Justices Antonin Scalia extreme global poverty, most Americans see rule, and government may not seek to define and Clarence Thomas concurred in part. no end in sight, according to a survey spon- permissible categories of religious speech,” Justice Elena Kagan — joined by Justices sored by Compassion International and Kennedy opined. “Once it invites prayer into Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer and conducted by Barna Research. the public sphere, government must permit Sonia Sotomayor — said in a dissenting opin- Christians who attend church at a prayer giver to address his or her own God ion that the town’s prayer practice “does not least monthly and consider religion very or gods as conscience dictates, unfettered by square with the First Amendment’s promise important in their life overwhelmingly what an administrator or judge considers to be that every citizen, irrespective of her religion, (96 percent) expressed concern about the non-sectarian.” owns an equal share in her government.” world’s poorest people. But they were skep- The Baptist Joint Committee for Kagan said she disagreed with the argu- tical that global poverty could be ended in Religious Liberty had filed a friend-of-the- ment that prayers offered in Jesus’ name were the next 25 years. Only 41 percent of the court brief asking the Supreme Court to strike “ceremonial” in nature. group said it was possible. down the town’s prayer policy, arguing “that “These are statements of profound belief And yet Scott Todd of Compassion prayer is an expression of voluntary religious and deep meaning, subscribed to by many, International, the Christian nonprofit devotion, not the business of the government.” denied by some,” Kagan said. “If they (and the agency that sponsors 1.5 million children In a statement, the BJC expressed dis- central tenets of other religions) ever become abroad, remains upbeat. He sees hope in appointment with the ruling. mere ceremony, this country will be a fun- the numbers of “practicing Christians” who “While the Court ruled for the town damentally different — and, I think, poorer express concern about poverty and a will- under the historic tradition of ceremonial — place to live.” BT ingness to do more. BT

12 Commission: Double list of worst religious freedom offenders the Assad regime but by all sides in the terrible Religion News Service civil war those people are suffering through,” USCIRF chair Robert P. George said. ecretary of State John Kerry should cite “The Syrian crisis has devolved largely 16 countries for severe violations of into a sectarian conflict,” the report states, S religious freedom, the U.S. Commission citing as evidence the regime’s targeting of on International Religious Freedom recom- Syria’s majority-Sunni Muslim population mended in its 15th annual report. and extremist opposition groups targeting The State Department’s “Countries of Christians and Alawites because of their faith. Particular Concern” list has remained static “The existing humanitarian disaster and since 2006, when eight countries — Burma, egregious human rights and religious freedom China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi violations pose a serious danger to Syria’s Arabia, Sudan and Uzbekistan — were religious diversity post-conflict.” designated as CPCs. USCIRF was created with the 1998 USCIRF, an independent watchdog International Religious Freedom Act, which panel created by Congress to review inter- descent into a sectarian civil war with all sides sought to prioritize religious freedom in national religious freedom conditions, criti- perpetrating egregious religious freedom viola- U.S. foreign policy. IRFA requires the State cized the government’s unchanged list of CPCs tions. Yet no new countries have been added to Department, on behalf of the president, to and sanctions against them, claiming such the State Department’s CPC list,” the report identify and take action when countries engage measures have “provided little incentive for states. in systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of CPC-designated governments to reduce or halt USCIRF recommended that the CPC list religious freedom. egregious violations of religious freedom.” be expanded to include these countries along In addition to its 16 recommended CPCs, “The past 10 years have seen a worsen- with Iraq, Nigeria and Tajikistan. USCIRF’s USCIRF lists 10 “Tier 2” countries where ing of the already-poor religious freedom 2013 report made similar recommendations, religious freedom violations are serious but do environment in Pakistan, a continued dearth with the noteworthy addition this year of not fully meet the CPC standard. These coun- of religious freedom in Turkmenistan, back- Syria. tries are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Cuba, India, sliding in Vietnam, rising violations in Egypt “Syria was added for the abuses against Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Russia before and after the Arab Spring, and Syria’s religious freedom being committed not just by and Turkey. BT

Survey: When science and faith collide, faith usually wins

beings, evolved through a process of natural Loma Nazarene University and an evangelical Religion News Service selection.” Christian, said many biblical scholars do not see a conflict between religion and science. elievers don’t buy the Big Bang, God- doubt that the Earth’s temperature is rising “The story of the cosmos and the Big less evolution or a human responsibility “mostly because of man-made heat-trapping Bang of creation is not inconsistent with the B for global warming. Actually, neither do greenhouse gases.” message of Genesis 1,” Falk said. many Americans. A recent survey on “religious understand- But a new survey by The Associated Press doubt “the Earth is 4.5 billion years old.” ings of science,” by Rice University sociologist found that religious identity — particularly On the flip side, most people are pretty Elaine Howard Ecklund, found that the two evangelical Protestant — was one of the sharp- sure the “universe is so complex, there must worldviews are not always in opposition. est indicators of skepticism toward key issues be a supreme being guiding its creation” — Ecklund’s study for the Dialogue on Science, in science. 54 percent of all Americans, and 87 percent of Ethics and Religion program at the American The survey presented a series of state- evangelicals. Association for the Advancement of Science ments that several prize-winning scientists say The survey of 1,012 adults, conducted in compared views of 10,000 U.S. adults, including are facts. However, the research shows that March, has a margin of error of 3.4 percentage scientists, evangelicals and the general public. confidence in their correctness varies sharply points. She found that nearly 36 percent of scien- among U.S. adults. It found: Nobel Prize-winning scientists expressed tists have no doubt about God’s existence and - dismay at the findings. that they are about as likely as most Americans ing 77 percent of people who say they are “When you are putting up facts against overall to attend weekly religious services. born-again or evangelical) have little or no faith, facts can’t argue against faith,” Duke However, there’s still significant distrust: confidence that “the universe began 13.8 University biochemist Robert Lefkowitz, 22 percent of scientists and 20 percent of the billion years ago with a big bang.” who won a Nobel Prize in 2012, told The general population say religious people are Associated Press. He called faith “untestable.” hostile to science. Most of those people (52 doubt that “life on Earth, including human Darrel Falk, a biology professor at Point percent) sided with religion. BT

13 Fewer people believe Bible divinely inspired

(RNS) — Bible films may be raking it in at — since the same survey was conducted in the box office, but fewer people are reading the 2011. compared with 79 percent of all adults. original and taking it seriously. Skeptics cut into the number of folks The American Bible Society’s latest “State Barna calls “Bible friendly,” those who read person needs to know to lead a meaningful of the Bible” survey documents steep skepti- the Bible occasionally and see it as inspired by life,” compared with half of all adults. cism that the Good Book is a God book. God. The “friendly” demographic fell to 37 “We are seeing an incredible change in percent, down from 45 percent in 2011. read the Bible, compared with 26 percent of just a few years time,” said Roy Peterson, The percentage of people who view the adults as a whole. president of the society. Bible as sacred has dropped to 79 percent, “We have to find where they are hurting, The study, conducted annually by Barna down from 86 percent in 2011. what questions millennials are asking,” he said. Research, finds: The study is based on 2,036 interviews The society has already started down that The most “engaged” readers — who read with U.S. adults in January and February. road by creating Bible-reading “journeys” to the Bible almost daily and see it as sacred — Peterson told RNS that the statistics are meet people’s needs, he said. On its website, are now matched by “skeptics” who say it’s just “sobering but not discouraging.” people can key in a word such as “hope,” a book of stories and advice. Both groups mea- The key, he said, is “adjusting our “parenting,” “job loss” or “loneliness” and be sured 19 percent. outreach” to reel in the next generation. steered to a seven- or 10- or 40-day journey of While the engaged stayed steady since Millennials, ages 18 to 29, lead the skeptics Scripture selections designed to address that 2011, skeptics grew by 10 percentage points tally: concern. BT

Thoughtful Christians need relevant, reliable Army approves ‘humanist’ information that connects them to good ideas, as religious preference (RNS) — More than two years after first mak- quality resources and one another. ing his request, Army Maj. Ray Bradley can now be known as exactly what he is: a human- And Baptists Today needs you! To fulfill its unique and important ist in the U.S. military. mission, Baptists Today relies on generous giving. “I’m able to self-identity the belief sys- tem that governs my life, and I’ve never been or more than 30 years, this news jour- Nurturing the Future of Baptists Today able to do that before,” said Bradley, who is nal has been on the cutting edge of is a three-year campaign to provide the stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Faddressing the issues individuals and funding needed to move forward in pub- works on supporting readiness of the Army congregations face with courage and faith. As lishing a trusted, high-quality news journal, Reserve’s medical staff. times and technology have changed, so have maintaining a daily-updated web presence Lt. Col. Sunset R. Belinsky, an Army the news journal and its related resources. and producing innovative new resources. spokeswoman, said that the “preference code What haven’t changed are the jour- To do so with confidence and vitality, for humanist” became effective April 12 for all nalistic commitments and the vital role of we ask you to make a generous three-year members of the Army. those who support this ministry of commu- pledge. We need you! In practical terms, the change means that nication with faithful giving. humanists could face fewer hurdles in trying to organize within the ranks; military brass would have better information to aid in planning a Please make your pledge today. Together, we can do this. deceased soldier’s funeral; and it could lay the groundwork for eventually adding humanist HERE’S HOW: chaplains. The change comes against a backdrop 31208-6318 or to Ben McDade (ben@baptiststoday). of persistent claims from atheists and other nonbelievers that the military is dominated made online anytime at baptiststoday.org/donate. by a Christian culture that is often hostile to unbelief. In recent years, activists from the QUESTIONS OR IDEAS? broad spectrum of freethinking organizations Contact Ben McDade: have demanded equal treatment as the military ben@baptiststoday / (678) 231-5600 grapples with the growth of the spiritual-but- not-religious population. According to a survey by the Defense Equal Baptists Today, Inc. is a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a strong commitment Opportunity Management Institute, humanists to stewardship. Your gifts are both needed and appreciated. make up 3.6 percent of the U.S. military. BT

14

A Call to Action Media Women, Religion, Violence, and Power A review by John Pierce

Carter’s new book addresses religion’s role in harming, helping women

resident Jimmy Carter has been a strong advantage of their superior male status.” “Jesus Christ was the greatest liberator of and consistent voice for gender equal- The longtime Sunday school teacher from women in a society where they had been consid- P ity — and a forceful critic of those who Plains, Ga., recalls the “ravages of racial preju- ered throughout history to be inferior.” use religion to defend inequality, oppression and dice” he witnessed growing up and the timidity In his writing, Carter goes much deeper worse. Now he brings his passion and insights of many people of faith to address such inequality than the issue of women’s roles in church and together in a new book titled A Call to Action. and abuse, often considered divinely ordained. home and much wider than his own faith tra- “I have become convinced that the most Gender discrimination, and the mistreat- dition. He addresses how religiously justified serious and unaddressed worldwide challenge ment of women and children that is often justified gender discrimination can fuel spousal abuse, is the deprivation and abuse of women and religiously, is “a similar system of discrimination,” sexual assault, rape and other tragedies globally. girls, largely caused by a false interpretation of yet with a global impact, writes Carter. Carter forcefully calls for bold responses to carefully selected religious texts and growing “This system is based on the presumption the mistreatment of women and children. He tolerance of violence and warfare,” he writes. that men and boys are superior to women and and other former political leaders, in a group Carter has long addressed religious dis- girls, and it is supported by some male religious brought together by Nelson Mandela in 2007 and known as The Elders, have been actively crimination against women in his own Baptist leaders who distort the Bible, the Koran, and other seeking to bring needed social change world- Christian tradition. He widens the scope in this sacred texts to perpetuate their claim that females wide including human rights concerns. writing to call religious leaders from a variety are, in some basic ways, inferior to them, unquali- Also, the Carter Center has long addressed of faith traditions to rethink their moral values fied to serve God on equal terms,” he writes. these issues including efforts to alleviate the and take corrective actions to assure women and “Many men disagree but remain quiet in order to mistreatment of women and children world- children do not suffer from the misinterpreta- enjoy the benefits of their dominant status.” wide. An initiative called “Mobilizing Faith for tion and misuse of texts. Carter, who has long championed human Women” provides specific actions listed in the Carter digs deeply into religiously justi- rights, is not quiet on this subject. He recalls book and detailed at cartercenter.org. fied human rights violations and abuses against the Southern Baptist Convention’s move in All people of faith can, should, and often women and children worldwide. His writing 2000 to codify male hierarchy in the home and do play a major role in addressing such discrimi- includes clear and compelling examples of how church — a move that led Carter and his wife, nation and abuse, according to Carter. religion can and is used for gender oppression. Rosalynn, to identify with the Cooperative “Despite sharp differences of opinion about The case Carter seeks to make most clearly Baptist Fellowship rather than the SBC. the role of women in positions of religious lead- is that relegation of women and girls to second- “The change that was most troubling to us ership, people of faith offer the greatest reservoir ary status can and often does lead to abuse. was an emphasis on a few specific Bible verses of justice, charity, and goodwill in alleviating “If potential male exploiters of women about the status of women and how they would the unwarranted deprivation and suffering of are led to believe that their victim is considered be applied in practical terms…” he writes. women and girls,” he writes. inferior or ‘different’ even by God,” he writes, Carter acknowledges that many fellow But much more is needed, he pleas. So he “they can presume that it is permissible to take Christians disagree on gender roles, but opines: calls people of faith to action. BT

NEW RELEASE from Nurturing Faith books

“When I was a child selling postcards to the change from that to tourists, I never thought I would childhood to becoming write a book. Being raised in the director of the Domari Center Gypsy culture was like a movie with gave me an incentive to tell my sweet parts mixed with painful times. story and show the world what it In my childlike thinking, I had no is like to be a Gypsy woman.” idea how that drama would continue or how it would end. Looking back —From the memoirs of Amoun Sleem Orders: nurturingfaith.info

16 The Bible Lessons that anchor the Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are written by Tony Cartledge in a scholarly, yet applicable, style from the wide range of Christian scriptures. A graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div) and Duke University (Ph.D.), and with years of experience as a pastor, writer, ™ and professor at Campbell University, he provides deep insight for Christian living without “dumbing down” the BIBLE STUDIES richness of the biblical texts for honest learners.

Teaching resources at nurturingfaith.net

For adults and youth HOW TO USE THESE BIBLE STUDIES July lessons in this issue 1. Order a copy of Baptists Today news journal Words about Words–from God for EACH MEMBER of the class. The Bible Lessons are found only here. 2. Teachers can go to nurturingfaith.net to access all Zechariah 9:9-13 of the free resources needed for presentation. Simply Prisoners of Hope click on “Adult” or “Youth.” July 6, 2014

Teaching the Lessons Isaiah 55:6-13 After reading The Bible Lessons by Tony Cartledge The Fertile Word starting on page 18, teachers can access July 13, 201 helpful teaching resources (at no charge) at nurturingfaith.net. These include: Isaiah 44:6-20 * Tony’s video overviews The Real Thing * Adult teaching plans by Rick Jordan July 20, 2014 * Youth teaching plans by Jeremy Colliver * Tony’s “Digging Deeper” notes and 1 Kings 3:1-15 ”The Hardest Question” A Listening Heart * Links to commentaries, multimedia July 27, 2014 resources and more Youth Lessons How to Order are on pages The Bible Lessons in Baptists Today are copyrighted 22–23. and not to be photocopied.

* Orders may be placed at baptiststoday.org or Adult teaching plans by Rick Jordan of the 1-877-752-5658. Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina are available at nurturingfaith.net * The price is just $18 each for groups of 25 or more — for a full year — with no additional costs. Thanks, sponsors! * All online teaching resources are available at no These Bible studies for adults and youth are sponsored through generous charge and may be printed and used by teachers of gifts from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (Bo Prosser, Coordinator of the Nurturing Faith Bible Studies. Congregational Life) and from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation. Thank you!

© Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org | 17 Zechariah 9:9-13

with Tony W. Cartledge

July 6, 2014 Prisoners of Hope

ard times are a fact of life for all of us. Sooner or later, less or Hmore, we will encounter rough patches or bleak days that may leave us struggling to put one foot in front of the other. The hedgerow that seems so impen- etrable may be a pile of bills that a job loss has rendered us unable to pay, or an unexpected illness that has put us on the sidelines for an indefi nite period. It may have its roots in a strained relationship, Zechariah 9:12 – “Return to a broken heart, or a colossal mistake your stronghold, O prisoners of that we regret but can’t change. hope; today I declare that I will How do we move forward when restore to you double.” prospects seem dismal? We go with hope. Hope will not always guarantee looking beyond the immediate future to prophecies to be quoted in the New success or grant quick relief from trial, a day of ultimate restoration. Many Testament: the prediction of a powerful but it keeps us on our feet and moving. scholars believe these chapters may have but humble king who would ride into Today’s text speaks of a promis- been added at a later time, perhaps by a Jerusalem on a donkey and establish a ing future for a downtrodden people different prophet. reign of peace. who live in exile but have not given up, Zechariah, whose name means The verses preceding our text (9:1-8) because they are “prisoners of hope.” “Yahweh remembers,” was known set the stage for his entrance by declar- as the head of a priestly family (Neh. ing that Yahweh would clear out Israel’s A little-known prophet 12:6). Like Ezekiel, he would have been closest enemies, beginning with Syria to both priest and prophet. the northeast, moving to Phoenicia on The encouraging words are found in In chs. 1-8, Zechariah sought to the northwest, and moving south to drive the book of Zechariah, which comes assure the struggling settlers that God out Philistines to the west and southwest next to last in the “Book of the Twelve” was concerned about their welfare, and before returning to Jerusalem to “encamp (or “Minor Prophets”) and in the Old he spoke of a glorious kingdom to come. at my house as a guard.” Testament. In chs. 9-14, he intoned judgment on In a separate oracle, the next two The book consists of two main foreign lands and on Judah’s leaders, verses anticipate that a human king parts. The fi rst eight chapters contain but promised that God would restore the would come to join Yahweh in the newly a series of visions precisely dated scattered people of both Israel (10:1-12) liberated city, riding into Jerusalem between 520 and 518 BCE, less than and Judah (chs. 12-13). The nations of amid shouts of jubilation from “daughter 20 years after some of the exiles from the earth would come against Jerusalem Zion” and “daughter Jerusalem.” Judah had returned to Jerusalem in but be defeated, so that God would rule “Zion,” though just part of the hopes of rebuilding the city. over all the earth and be worshiped by all city, was often used in parallel with In contrast, chs. 9-14 adopt a differ- nations (ch. 14). Jerusalem. Here, as in other texts ent style and take on an apocalyptic cast, (2 Kgs. 19:21; Isa. 37:22; Lam. 2:13, A peace-loving king 15; Mic. 4:8; Zeph. 3:14), the city is Additional background information (vv. 9-10) personifi ed as female. Zechariah envi- online where you see the “Digging Now for today’s text, which contains sioned a future population of Jerusalem Deeper” icon one of the most familiar and beloved gathering to “rejoice greatly” and

18 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes “shout aloud” as they welcomed the a time when God would fulfill the coming king. are available at “forever promise” and return a Davidic And what can we know about this nurturingfaith.net king to the throne. mysterious man who rides a donkey to The oracle looks to a time when all his coronation? God had already elimi- “I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim of Israel’s exiles would be released from nated potential enemies, so he would and the horse from Jerusalem. The bow the “waterless pit” of their imprisonment not arrive as a conqueror. Even of war will be removed, and he will pro- (v. 11b), possibly a reference to Joseph’s so, the coming king would be called claim peace to the nations” (v. 10a). release from a pit into which his brothers “triumphant” and “victorious” as well This poetic promise not only imag- had thrown him (Gen. 37:18-28). as “humble” (NRSV). ines peace, but also the reunification of As “prisoners of hope” who had The NRSV’s use of “triumphant” the northern tribes (called “Ephraim”) not given up on God during their exile, is puzzling: the word (tsadiq) would be who had been scattered by the Assyr- Zechariah said, they would “return to better translated in the normal sense of ians in 722 BCE and the people of the stronghold” (Jerusalem) and find “righteous” (NIV, HCSB). A righteous Judah (Jerusalem) who had been exiled new prosperity (v. 12). That the exiles or just (KJV) king is one who upholds by the Babylonians in 597 and 587. would include persons from both Israel Israel’s covenant with Yahweh and Afterward, the king’s dominion and Judah becomes clear in v. 13. rules wisely with justice for all persons. would stretch “from sea to sea,” and With a striking metaphor, the prophet The word “victorious” literally “from the Euphrates River to the ends declares that Yahweh would bend Judah means “saved,” or “delivered,” as in the of the earth” (v. 10b: “the river” typi- as a bow, and “fill” it with Ephraim KJV’s awkward but accurate “having cally refers to the Euphrates). as an arrow to be released against the salvation.” The term does not carry the Zechariah would have had a far people of Greece, who followed the New Testament sense of “being saved more limited vision of the earth’s extent Persians as empire builders. from sin,” but suggests that Yahweh than that of modern readers, but he The military imagery of v. 13 may had delivered the coming king from all declared that the king’s peaceful rule seem at odds with the peaceful king enemies and dangers. God had won the would extend throughout the world that who enters the city in v. 10, but the victory for him. was known to him, and beyond. prophet used both pictures to capture Perhaps this helps to explain the his readers with the hope of a new and king’s modesty. He would not be proud A God-blessed people better future. and haughty as Absalom was, or as (vv. 11-13) Jesus modeled his ministry and some other kings of Israel had been. The new king’s rule would not be the teaching on the image of the peaceful Rather, he would be marked by the only good news: God would bring new king who would bring spiritual deliv- humility needed to rule with compas- waves of returning exiles to Jerusalem. erance through humility and service. sion and justice. The promise of deliverance in vv. 11-13 All four gospels recount the story of As a mark of his modesty, the king may have originated separately, but is how Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm would not arrive in a chariot or astride a bound to the previous verses in such Sunday in just the manner described by warhorse, but on the back of a donkey. a way that the prophet continues to Zech. 9:9 — riding on a young donkey. Poetic repetition emphasizes the king’s address daughter Jerusalem: the “you” Both Matthew (21:5) and John (12:15) humility, using three different words for in “As for you …” is feminine. quote portions of Zech. 9:9, while the “donkey” or “ass.” Literally, he would The oracle is unusual because it shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is he who be “riding on a donkey (hamor); on a speaks of God having a “covenant of comes in the name of the Lord” found male donkey (‘ayir), the son (ben) of a blood” with Jerusalem (v. 11a). Similar in all four gospels derive from Ps. female donkey (’ato–n).” expressions are found only in Exod. 118:25-26. A misunderstanding of this poetic 24:8, a reference to blood sprinkled on Zechariah, like Jesus, spoke to a repetition led the translators of the Greek the altar during the covenant ceremony discouraged and downtrodden people Septuagint to imagine two animals, a at Sinai, and in Jesus’ words of institu- who were desperately in need of hope, stance followed by the KJV, which says tion at the Lord’s Supper (Mark 14:24). lest they give up on God altogether. he was “riding upon an ass, and upon a In this context, the “covenant of Their messages served – and continue colt the foal of an ass” – an image that blood” may refer to God’s promise to to serve – to capture our hearts with a would have the king straddling two ani- David in 2 Samuel 7 that one of his sense of expectancy. Though we may mals, or perhaps standing with a foot descendants (that is, of his bloodline) sometimes feel shackled to the daily upon each, like a circus performer! would always sit on the throne. This grind or bound by moments of crisis, Zechariah declared that the coming was considered to be an “everlasting” we can find inspiration to keep pushing king’s rule would be so peaceful that covenant (2 Sam. 7, 23:5; Ps. 89:4, 29, forward, for in Christ we are prisoners weapons of war could be eliminated: 132:11). Thus, later prophets foresaw of hope. BT

LESSON FOR JULY 6, 2014 | 19 Isaiah 55:6-13

with Tony W. Cartledge

July 13, 201 The Fertile Word

e know what it’s like to suf- fer through a bitter winter W that seems interminable. We long for the warmth and the green and the blossoms of spring as daffodils do battle with lingering snow and over- night freezes to lift their yellow faces sunward. In time, the Bradford pears burst into clouds of bloom, the redbuds blossom, the cherry trees explode, the Isaiah 55:12 – “For you shall go out in joy, and dogwoods unfurl their crosses, and all be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills seems right with the world. before you shall burst into song, and all the trees Today’s text imagines a day when of the fi eld shall clap their hands.” God will spark a spring to end all springs, a day when mountains will shout and trees applaud the homecoming Isaiah offered food and water that is an everlasting house. The promise, of God’s people. beyond price, but freely offered. It may however, carried with it a responsibil- The text is an enthusiastic invitation have been a hard sell, however, for there ity. Because of God’s blessings, David for Israel – and for all who will – to get was no visible food or drink in his hands. became “a witness to the peoples, a on board with God, to accept God’s gift Isaiah’s offer appears to work on leader and commander for the peoples” of covenant promises, and to follow God two levels. On the surface, he may have (v. 4). on a journey of justice that leads to the been promising the availability of good Israel was also called to be a witness, Promised Land. The spiritual and meta- water and abundant provisions in the no longer in the sense of political leader- phorical appeal of Isaiah 55 is universal, Promised Land for those who would ship, but as spiritual guides. In particular, and it remains one of the Bible’s most return. On another level, Isaiah spoke of they were to live as a testimony before beautiful invitations to relationship with priceless spiritual food that can be found nations that do not know God: “You shall God. only – but freely – in relationship with call nations that you do not know, and God. nations that you do not know shall run to A thirsty people In either case, Isaiah charged that you …” (v 5a). (vv. 1-5) the “bread” his hearers were buying in While David in his promised “house” Babylon was not real bread, and that was a witness to the people he ruled, The oracle in Isaiah 55 may have been their efforts to build fortunes in exile Israel is also promised an everlasting preached in a public marketplace, for it could not fully satisfy. The prophet future in which she is to be a witness to sounds like a sales pitch from someone offered “rich food” to those who would people who do not know God. hawking wares in the crowded streets of “listen carefully” and choose rightly. The prophet believed that if the Babylon. Vendors selling potable water, In addition, the prophet promised exiles would take God at his word and bread, wine, milk and other comestibles that the eternal covenant God had made return to build up Jerusalem as a people would have been commonplace in any with David – that his descendants would fully committed to God’s way, they ancient urban setting, just as they are always lead Israel (2 Sam. 7:8-16, 23:5; would become such an inspiration that today. 1 Kgs. 8:23-26; Ps. 89) – would be trans- other nations would “run” to them in ferred or extended to all Israel (vv. 3-5). search of the secret to success and life Additional background information “I will make with you an everlasting that they have discovered in “the LORD online where you see the “Digging covenant,” Isaiah said, echoing language your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he Deeper” icon from God’s promise to make for David has glorifi ed you” (v 5b).

20 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes An awesome God the ugly scene the returnees actually are available at (vv. 6-9) faced? How does one enter this promised nurturingfaith.net Isaiah’s over-the-top metaphor may relationship? How does one “Seek the have been sparked by the overwhelm- LORD while he may be found, call upon ing joy of realizing that the exiles could him while he is near” (v. 6)? In cultic- higher than our ways, but how can we finally return home. Though his hyper- oriented contexts such as Deut. 12:5 know when a prophetic message truly bolic description of their return did not and Ps. 105:4, “to seek the LORD” is reflects God’s ways? match the desolate scene they would to come and worship in the temple. For find in Jerusalem, the prophet looked the prophets, however, seeking the Lord A fruitful word beyond the ruined land to a spiritual (vv. 10-13) involved more than temple worship. It spring when God and people would live called for a commitment to following Isaiah returned to the image of the together in a joyful setting not unlike God’s way. heavens as higher than the earth and Israel’s tradition of Eden. Isaiah and his fellow exiles in built on it to assure the people he was Sometimes, things have to get worse Babylon could not “seek God” by going an authentic channel of God’s powerful before they get better. to the temple, but God’s presence was not and effective word. The metaphor takes How often have we anticipated a dependent on a temple. For Isaiah, seek- on more depth when we understand delightful vacation, only to be side- ing God began with repentance (v. 7). that in Hebrew, the notions of “word” tracked by cranky children, long lines, Thus, he called on the wicked to forsake and “deed” are connoted by the same or bad weather? Despite the difficulties, their wicked ways, and the unrighteous term. God’s words and God’s deeds go we manage to make good memories and their unworthy thoughts. Isaiah, writing together. Just as rain and snow come remember the trip fondly, carsickness at the end of the exile, may also have been from the heavens to water the earth and all. encouraging people to accept Cyrus’ offer and make it fruitful, so God’s spoken I can remember imagining how to return home and rebuild the temple word would accomplish its purpose much enjoyment a small shaded patio while the opportunity was available. (vv. 10-11). might add to my backyard – but before The prophet’s call to repentance led And what was that purpose? the first relaxing glass of lemonade, to a promise of pardon. If the people It was the return of Israel to the land there were weeks of backbreaking of promise. Isaiah painted the kind of would seek the Lord, they would find labor to dig out the spot, build a retain- mercy and pardon. Isaiah believed that glorious image you’d only expect to see ing wall, level the ground, fill in the the exiles’ time in Babylon had paid in a happy-ending movie. He envisioned substrate, fit the pavers, and landscape the penalty for the sins of the ancestors. a joyful journey of gleeful people enjoy- the surroundings. I can sit in the glider They were now free to “get out of jail” ing a new era of peace, with nearby and read to the music of birds and wind and return home to live a better life. mountains happily serenading and road- chimes now, but it didn’t spring from For some hearers, accustomed to side trees applauding the people as they the earth like flowers leaping up to greet Babylonian ways and settled in their marched past like heroes on parade one of Disney’s cartoon heroines. Babylonian homes, Isaiah’s words may (v. 12). There is a future for us, and it is have sounded like foolishness. From a We can almost hear Julie Andrews human point of view, the call to pull up singing, “The hills are alive with the bigger and more beautiful, happier and stakes and return to an uncertain future sound of music …” more peaceful than the Jerusalem we made little sense. But God knew things The rough thorn bushes and briers know will ever be. Despite the best pro- the people did not know, Isaiah said. in the ruins of Jerusalem would give phetic efforts, from Ezekiel’s visions “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, way to fragrant cypress and myrtle trees, to John’s apocalypse, we cannot know nor are your ways my ways, says the Isaiah said, which would stand as a liv- exactly what that future will be like. LORD” (v. 8). ing reminder of God’s deliverance for The one thing we can hang our Human minds are limited, but God’s Israel. The true memorial of God’s hopes on is that we serve a God who knowledge knows no boundaries: “For work, however, would not be seen in wants to be known, and who wants to as the heavens are higher than the earth, tall trees, but in a faithful and fruitful bless us. As we “seek the LORD while so are my ways higher than your ways people. he may be found,” we embark upon a and my thoughts than your thoughts” Unfortunately, those who did return journey through valleys and hills that (v. 9). As much as we may like the idea to Jerusalem did not experience a happy may be more stressful than musical, but of understanding everything, we have homecoming. The city was a ruin, the we do not travel alone – and when we to acknowledge that God remains far neighbors were rude, and the land was can be confident that the end of the road beyond our full comprehension, always in the midst of a drought. How do we brings us closer to God, every step will shrouded in mystery. God’s ways are square the prophet’s pretty picture with be worth the effort. BT

LESSON FOR JULY 13, 2014 | 21 Youth Lessons by David Cassady and online youth teaching resources (at nurturingfaith. net) by Jeremy Colliver build off of the Bible lessons by Tony Cartledge.

Youth lessons are made possible through the generous YoJuly 6 — July 27, 2014 u th support of the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation.

Promises JULY 6 Zechariah 9:9-13 the people have longed to see since they Think About It: were dispersed from their homelands. The Promises bring about hope between two promise!” How many times has some- king does not ride in as a conqueror (God people. What hope did you have from the one pleaded with you, “I promise I has already taken care of all the enemies), last promise you received? “Iwill …”? Or how many times have you though, but as a victor. pleaded with someone, “I promise …”? The people will have no more strug- We promise people that we will do gles and only peace for years to come. And things all the time. Sometimes we are more if there was any doubt as to the peace- Make a Choice: desperate with our pleas than at other ful times that will lie ahead, the prophet When we feel beat down, we tend to turn times, but our promises always offer hope promises that this will be a time when inward to look for answers. But we can also that things will get done or that situations weapons of war will be discarded. The turn to God for hope. Which way will you won’t occur again. people will not have to worry about the choose? Promises are about hope. In our scrip- character of the king riding in because ture today, Zechariah promises something he will be a righteous man who upholds the people need. Israel’s covenant with Yahweh. Many times this text is read during Zechariah is giving the scattered Pray: Lent, Holy Week or Easter because it speaks people of Israel everything they hope for, God, when our days seem dark, let us of a king who will ride in on a donkey and and God is supporting it. The people no remember our unending hope rests in establish a reign of peace. A large crowd longer will be prisoners of a foreign king, you. Help us to remember your promise to will gather to welcome the new king that but rather prisoners of God bound by hope. always be with us.

An Invitation JULY 13 Isaiah 55:6-13 have this bread that will bring life. Think About It: If the promise of “food” is not enough, You choose to follow people on Twitter or nvitations are fun. Whether we receive Isaiah then promises that the covenant “friend” people on Facebook all the time one through email or an event notification God made with David will be extended to without much thought. You might have through Facebook or Twitter, invitations everyone in Israel. Isaiah promises that if I already chosen to have a relationship with usually get us excited. Invitations bring the people do as he says, Israel will be such God. How much do you think about the about excitement because they are usually a light that all other nations will hurry to impact your relationship with God has on about celebrations. We want to invite our them to learn the secrets of their success. your life? friends to share in what we have done so No longer will Israel be second class. they can be excited with us. So how will the Israelites seek God? Isaiah 55 is an invitation to something In the past, they sought God in the temple, Make a Choice: the Israelites had looked forward to receiv- but Isaiah claims that seeking God begins ing. It invites them to something that will with repentance. After repentance comes How do you choose day-by-day to be in a not end: a relationship with God. mercy in the form of a pardon from God. relationship with Jesus? Isaiah begins his invitation with food Many Israelites feel that their banishment — a rich bread that is different than the is because of some sin, so this pardon fake bread being sold in Babylon. If those is not only an inward action, but it also Pray: who hear his invitation will listen carefully means they will be able to return home to God, may we accept the invitation to be in and choose correctly, they will be able to Jerusalem. relationship with you.

22 The One JULY 20 Isaiah 44:6-20 prophets — that they have one God, the Think About It: one true God: Yahweh. Yahweh brought You might have heard people say, “Put your n his book American Gods, Neil Gaiman the people of Israel out of exile before and money where your mouth is.” In many cases pits the gods of the old versus the new. promises to do the same for them again. If where you put your money reveals what is The premise is that the new gods are tak- the people question the promise, they are I important to you. How do your spending ing over because people are spending their reminded that Yahweh is the unchanging habits show what is important to you? time, money and memory on the new gods king. Isaiah does not claim these things for of television, electronics and the newest God, but it is God who claims these things. “thing.” You don’t have to read all 600-plus These claims are personal and are directed pages to see that Gaiman is on to some- directly at the worshippers of other gods. Make a Choice: thing: We treat “things” like idols, and these The silence of the other gods reveals the What are the other “gods” or idols that seek new gods take our attention away from God. truth to the Israelites about who is the one, to gain a foothold in your life? These may Isaiah challenges us in much the same true God. be clothing, gadgets or activities. How will way, but he doesn’t take 600-plus pages to The cries of Yahweh then are relevant you choose to follow only God? do it! to us today. We may not have physical The people of Israel are living in the statues of false gods in our homes like the land of Babylon where there are many Babylonians, yet we are still tempted to gods. The Israelites must constantly remind give attention to other gods. May we each Pray: themselves — or be reminded by the be reminded of the one true God: Yahweh. God, forgive us when we are tempted to turn our eyes from you.

One Wish JULY 27 1 Kings 3:1-15 Solomon seems to be awaiting a response Think About It: from God. He has been making thousands Solomon was given the opportunity to have e’ve all played the game: If you of sacrifi ces to God and has even set up a any wish granted by God, so he asked for had one wish, what would it be? camp in this holy place where he can wait wisdom. Where would wisdom fall on your Your imagination starts to spin for God to speak to him. His wait is not long, W list? What else would you ask from God? and wander … unlimited wishes, money, because God comes to Solomon in a dream. fame, a long life, world peace … the list Solomon answers God with a sense goes on and on. Then you snap back to of humility and then praise. He asks for Make a Choice: reality, and the game is up. Nothing wisdom. He wants to know how to govern actually happens through wishing. his people as God desires. This response God has not asked us what we desire so In today’s scripture, Solomon fi nds pleases God, and Solomon’s wish is that it will be granted, but through Christ himself in a similar circumstance while in granted. God also grants the king those we have been offered grace, love and hope. Gibeon. God appears to him in a dream things Solomon did not ask for but con- Will you choose to accept these things, and asks, “What should I give you?” The sidered requesting: riches and honor. All of or are you still holding out that your wish game has become a reality for Solomon. these things God grants to him as long as might be granted? God, who can grant any wish, has asked Solomon “walks in my ways.” Solomon what he wants. What a great way to start your reign Pray: The beginning of his reign as king as king, but we’ll see how long Solomon God, help us walk in your ways and seek couldn’t have started off in a better way. walks in God’s ways. those paths that are pleasing to you.

23 Isaiah 44:6-20

with Tony W. Cartledge

July 20, 2014 The Real Thing

dolatry: It’s not a word that often comes to mind; not one we would I typically apply to our lives – but it’s the subject of our text for the day. Why should we care? Why should we not? Perhaps we’re not as guiltless as we think. Read on.

The fi rst and only God (vv. 6-8) When you live in a land that wor- ships many gods, how do you choose between them? This section of Isaiah Isaiah 44:6 – “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and was probably written in the last years his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the fi rst and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” of the Babylonian exile, and it contains several confrontational speeches in which the prophet speaks for the God because of God’s weakness. Israel owed proclaim it, let them declare it and set it of Israel, insisting that Yahweh is the Yahweh both loyalty and service. forth before me.” only true god, and that all others are The introduction to the oracle, then, The fi rst evidence of the other gods’ pretenders (41:1-5, 41:21-28, 43:8-15). calls for faithfulness even as it offers impotence is their inability to speak or The oracle in 44:6-8 takes up the same hope in the one true God: “I am the fi rst to answer Yahweh’s challenge. theme, along with elements of salvation and I am the last; besides me there is no In contrast, the God of Israel not or encouragement for Israel. god” (v. 6b). only speaks, but also has the ability to The speech begins with God’s self- While v. 6 is addressed to Israel, announce in advance what will happen. identifi cation as “Yahweh of hosts,” v. 7 is directed toward any would-be In other settings, the proof of a true both the king and redeemer of Israel gods the people might be tempted to prophet is that when he speaks for God, (v. 6). The use of “redeemer” would worship. The Babylonians recognized his words come true (Deut. 18:22, remind the exiles that God had stepped many gods, from leading deities such 1 Sam. 3:19, Isa. 48:3-5, Jer. 28:9, in as a loyal kinsman and delivered as Marduk and Ishtar to minor ones like Ezek. 33:33). Here, it is the test of a Israel before. The same Yahweh who Ninkasi and Ninkilim, the goddess of true god: Can other deities declare what had brought the Israelites from captiv- beer and the god of rats. is yet to come? Yahweh issues a dare: ity in Egypt could bring them home Individuals kept small statuettes “Let them tell us what is yet to be.” from Babylon. The same God who had of personal gods in their homes, but With v. 8, the prophet addresses defeated Philistines and Ammonites and massive temples to deities such as the exiles, but on the same theme. Still Syrians in Israel’s behalf could deliver Shamash (the sun god) and Ishtar (god- speaking for God, he tells them not to them again. dess of love and war) featured large fear, but to remember: “Have I not told The naming of God as “king” effi gies ensconced on platforms in the you from before and declared it? You was a reminder that God’s rule was innermost sanctums. The images were are my witnesses!” unchanged. Israel was in bond- commonly made from a wooden core Prophets who spoke for Yahweh age because of God’s discipline, not covered with thin plates of iron, bronze, had long predicted that Israel’s faith- silver, or gold. lessness would lead them to national Additional background information Verse 7 is a direct challenge to such ruin and to exile. The deportees to online where you see the “Digging gods, as Yahweh asks the demanding whom the prophet spoke were witnesses Deeper” icon question: “Who is like me? Let them that the forecast of national judgment

24 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes had come to pass. and roast his dinner from the scrap If God could send the people into are available at wood. Part of the wood he burns, and exile, however, God’s power could nurturingfaith.net part of it he makes into an idol to which surely bring them out. Returning to the he bows to and prays “Save me, for you thought of v. 7, Yahweh asks: “Is there are my god!” (vv. 15-17). any God besides me? There is no other Those who make idols are “noth- The silliness of the project seems rock; I know not one.” ing,” the writer says, “and the things mind-boggling to the writer, who can- The image of God as a steadfast they delight in do not profit.” The word not comprehend how anyone could fail rock was common to Hebrew thought, translated as “nothing” is the same term to understand its foolhardy nature (vv. especially in the Psalms, including Ps. (tohu) that describes the empty form- 18-19). “He feeds on ashes,” the author 18:31, which echoes Isaiah: “For who lessness existing before creation (Gen. concludes. “A deluded mind has led is God except the LORD? And who is a 1:1). The expression “does not profit” him astray, and he cannot save himself rock besides our God?” was a favorite of Israel’s wisdom teach- or say, ‘Is not this thing in my right The prophet’s challenge remains ers: something that does no good is hand a fraud?’” (v. 20). as pertinent today as it did to those useless. We should acknowledge that the who lived and mourned by the waters While the people of Israel were satire is overdone. None of the ancients of Babylon more than 2,500 years ago. witnesses of Yahweh’s mighty acts of who employed idols in their worship Exile can take many shapes, not all deliverance (v. 8), the writer insists that were foolish enough to think that the of them related to physical captivity. idol worshippers have nothing to talk idol and the god were the same thing. Broken relationships leave us feeling about. Their “witnesses neither see nor The images used in worship were exiled from others. Depression can be know” because their gods do nothing to physical representations of what they as isolating as solitary confinement. be seen or experienced, offering their believed to be a spiritual reality. Poverty brings its own kind of exile. worshipers nothing but shame. The Hebrews were to be different. In bleak times of relational, emo- In the preceding oracle, Yahweh As far back as the second command- tional, economic, or spiritual exile, where asked, “Who is like me?” Now the ment, they were forbidden from making do we turn? Can we also trust in the God writer asks, “Who would fashion a god images to depict God. But, humans of Israel as the eternal one who will never or cast an image that can do no good?” have always wanted something to see or forsake us, a rock on which we can stake (v. 10). Why would a human artisan hold, and the Israelites were prone not make something that can do nothing our hope and build our future? only to acknowledging the idols of their and call it a god? (v. 11). Is there any other god in whom we neighbors, but of making images for the In the process of critiquing those can trust? worship of Yahweh, too. (See the online who worship idols, the writer provides “Hardest Question” for more.) The trouble, we know, is that we all an interesting description of the crafts- Christians also must be careful to have tried other gods. We have sought to men’s work in fashioning them. The remember that devotional objects are, in find peace and fulfillment and happiness blacksmith works over a forge, shaping themselves, not sacred. Crosses, icons, in other people, in financial security, in an image or hammering plate metal, so and statues of saints may remind us of pleasure, or in enlightenment. intent on his work that he neglects to eat God – as do country chapels and soar- We have tried these things, and or drink and grows weak (v. 12). ing cathedrals – but they are neither found them little more capable than the The unspoken question is, “How God nor God’s abode. gods who inhabited Babylonian tem- can a mortal man with failing strength The true God is known through ples, to which we now turn. make a god with divine powers?” faithful acts of power and deliverance, The woodworker takes a large block Isaiah insisted, acts that were witnessed The fake and phony gods of wood and marks the parts to cut away, by ancestors and saints that have come (vv. 9-20) then shapes it into an image to be set before us. But the Israelites delivered The style of the text shifts with v. 9. up in a temple (v. 13). To illustrate the from Egypt and the believers present While vv. 6-8 are in the poetic form of foolishness of the enterprise, the writer at Pentecost are not the only wit- an oracle, vv. 9-20 read like a satirical takes the image backward to its time as nesses. We also may know the joy of essay on the foolishness of idolatry. The a tree in the forest, then a seedling to be God’s saving grace, the peace of God’s text is so different in approach that most planted and nourished by the rain (v. 14). presence, and the assurance of God’s critical scholars consider it a later addi- We can almost hear the writer steadfast love. tion, and its sarcasm is so biting that laughing as he sets up the inanity of Steeples and stained glass may be one doubts it would have been added someone who starts with a tree trunk, inspiring, but the God we seek is known while the author was still living among chips and carves away to fashion an through Spirit and power that changes the people he was mocking. idol, then builds a fire to warm himself hearts and lives: we are witnesses. BT

LESSON FOR JULY 20, 2014 | 25 1 Kings 3:1-15

with Tony W. Cartledge

July 27, 2014 A Listening Heart 1 Kings 3:9 – “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to id you hear me?” Most of us govern your people, able heard those words at some to discern between good “D point as we were growing and evil; for who can up. Perhaps one of our parents told us to govern this your great mow the lawn, or wash the dishes, and people?” we were slow to comply. “Did you hear me?” – usually con- veyed with impatience – sent a clear message that life would be much better if we would listen to our parents and do what they say. We may as well confess that those of us who have children of our own, or who have taught school, have probably used the same words. We want to get across the lesson that successful people peace by dint of the sword. He wants to praise Solomon, but the listen to those who are wiser, and learn A second disconnect is that praise is not unqualifi ed. For example, in to follow their lead. Solomon would become known as a telling us that Solomon brought his new Solomon understood this, or so we man of unmatched wisdom, but the wife into Jerusalem, there is a reminder surmise from today’s familiar text – but wisdom he is fi rst known for was rooted that he had not yet fi nished “building his there’s more to the story than meets the in brute force. David had instructed own house and the house of the LORD eye (or ear). Solomon to keep close to God and fol- and the wall around Jerusalem.” The low the law (2 Kgs. 2:1-4), but then implication that Solomon was complet- Pharaoh’s son-in-law ing his own palace before building the (vv. 1-2) charged him to see that neither Joab nor Shimei should die in peace (2 Kgs. 2: temple or fortifying the city suggests that When we come to 1 Kings 3, Solomon 5-9). In both cases, David told Solomon his priorities may have been off. has recently succeeded his father David to use his wisdom in determining how Furthermore, we read that those who as king of Israel, and over a short period and when to do the deed (vv. 6, 9). wanted to worship Yahweh were still of time was able to revamp the royal A third surprise is that, while sacrifi cing on outdoor shrines or “high court and consolidate his rule. Solomon emerged as the chosen son of places,” a practice that would later be What we often overlook is that David, he also chose to become the son- expressly forbidden, but which remained Solomon is presented as a living conun- in-law of Egypt’s pharaoh (3:1). The popular precisely because Solomon had drum. His name (shlomoh) is derived narrator carefully avoids naming the not yet built the temple, where sacrifi ces from the word shalom, which relates to pharaoh, probably because he wants the could rightly be offered. peace or wholeness, but Solomon began reader to keep in mind the story of the David’s son and successor his reign by executing three persons cruel pharaoh who had oppressed the (vv. 3-9) who could threaten his rule (the military Israelites long before, and to be wary chief Joab, his brother Adonijah, and a of Solomon’s penchant for marriage The theme continues in v. 3, where critic named Shimei), while banishing alliances. we are told that Solomon “loved the another (Abiathar the priest). He gained With these narrative touches and LORD” and “followed in the statutes of more to come, the editor of 1 Kings his father David,” but with a qualifi er: Additional background information manages to praise King Solomon as a “only, he sacrifi ced and offered incense online where you see the “Digging monarch of unparalleled wisdom and at the high places.” Deeper” icon prosperity, but with a shadow over him. In fact, Solomon sacrifi ced there on

26 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes a massive scale: v. 4 says that he went to “understanding to discern what is right” the principal high place in Gibeon (about are available at rather than for long life, riches, or the 7 miles northwest of Jerusalem), and nurturingfaith.net lives of his enemies (v. 11). offered a thousand burnt offerings. To reward Solomon’s astutely hum- Even allowing for exaggeration, ble request, God agreed to grant him why would anyone offer such extrava- an understanding mind to govern your “a wise and discerning mind” unmatched gant sacrifices? The words used speak people, able to discern between good in either history or prospect (v. 12). God of whole burnt offerings, rather than and evil …” (v. 9). also promised to grant Solomon what the more typical “peace offerings” that The NRSV’s “an understanding he had not asked for, “riches and honor” were ritually sacrificed but mostly eaten mind” is an apt translation, but it is beyond that of any other king for all of by worshipers. The verb forms suggest helpful to recognize that Solomon’s lit- his life (literally, “days,” v. 13). that this was Solomon’s custom, rather eral request was for “a listening heart.” Note that God’s promise replaces than a one-time event. Was the new The Hebrews considered the heart to the potential request for triumph over king seeking legitimacy by demonstrat- be the place where options were con- enemies with “honor,” a word that could ing loyalty to Yahweh in public fashion, sidered and decisions made. They also also mean “glory.” Solomon could enjoy or did he wish to stress by example the connected the act of listening with obe- those blessings for as long as he lived – importance of serving Yahweh? dience: to truly listen is to obey. but how long would that be? Or, is it possible that Solomon was Solomon’s desire to “discern In v. 14 we find a conditional actively seeking to receive a word from between good and evil” employs a element that was absent from God’s God? The ancients sometimes offered figure of speech called a merism, promise to David. Solomon could have sacrifices and then slept in holy places which states two very different things a long life, but only “if you will walk in in hopes that God would speak to them while meaning to include everything my ways, keeping my statutes and my in a dream. Whatever Solomon’s in between. It wasn’t just an ability to commandments, as your father David motive, he evidently had a royal label things as “good” or “evil” that walked – then I will lengthen your life.” pavilion set up during these sacrificial Solomon needed, but an ability to judge Awaking from his dream, Solomon outings so he could stay overnight. On rightly and make good decisions, to realized the importance of the vision. one occasion, whether Solomon had lead wisely and to establish justice The first fruit of his “listening heart,” sought the encounter or not, God spoke for all people. Solomon recognized apparently, was the realization that sac- to him in a dream (v. 5). the enormity of the multiple tasks of rifices to Yahweh should be offered in God, according to the story, offered good governance and leadership as he Jerusalem, on the altar before the tent to bless Solomon and asked him to name asked, “For who can govern your great housing the Ark of the Covenant. what he wanted most. Solomon replied people?” Solomon wasted no time in return- with a show of humility, praising God Asking for a “listening heart” ing to Jerusalem, where he offered both for the loyalty shown to his father David, showed that Solomon sought to under- whole burnt offerings and “sacrifices of and recognizing that his place on the stand God’s desire, and to follow it. He well-being,” with which he “provided a throne was a continued sign of God’s was still new to the “game of thrones,” feast for all his servants” (v. 15). “great and steadfast love” (v. 6). but knew enough to recognize that he That was a good start, but would Even though he was already a would need God’s help in order to rule Solomon live up to the ideal of a lis- father, had eliminated his rivals, had effectively over a people who had dem- tening heart that obeys God’s ways? established a core of supporters, and onstrated their willful ways many times Would God live up to the divine prom- had entered at least one political mar- over. ises? (See “The Hardest Question” riage alliance, Solomon spoke of Can you imagine what it would be online for the verdict.) himself as “only a little child” who did like to have a conversation in which We might be curious about Solomon, not know how to go out or come in. God offered to grant anything you but more importantly, to whom are our That was an obvious exaggeration, but wished? Solomon asked for a heart that hearts listening? God has not pledged to designed to indicate Solomon’s aware- was open and obedient to following us the worldly riches, power, or legend- ness that he still had much to learn if he God’s way. What would be on your ary wisdom of Solomon, but through was to govern Israel well (vv. 7-8). wish list? Christ we have the offer of forgiving Perhaps Solomon was already grace, steadfast love, and the abiding smart enough to know that if he had God’s chosen leader hope of God’s present Spirit – all of the discernment to do the right things, (vv. 10-15) which call us to faithful service. success in other areas would follow. Solomon’s request was pleasing to Are our hearts open to God’s In either case, he chose wisdom as his God, according to v. 10, who was promises and God’s leading? Are we wish: “Give to your servant therefore impressed that the king had asked for listening? BT

LESSON FOR JULY 27, 2014 | 27 Associate Pastor of Children and Classifieds Families: In the Know Clarence Adams died April 30 at age 81 in Charlotte, N.C. A successful banker, he was a Pilgrimage to key lay leader in Charlotte’s Providence Baptist the Holy Land and Petra Church and a supporter of many good causes. Joe Babb of Arden, N.C., died April 25 at age 84. He was a longtime pastor and denomina- tional leader, mostly in North Carolina. He helped form a regional network of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship participants in Western North Carolina. Shine Tom Black died April 9 at age 81 in Columbus, Sunday school curriculum! Shine: Living Ga., where he had been an active layman in in God’s Light Minister to Children and Families the First Baptist Church since 1968. He served many causes including Mercer University where he and his wife of 59 years, Doris, established a chair in pediatrics. He also served on the Board of Directors for Baptists Today. shinecurriculum.com. Jeremy Davis is student pastor at First Baptist Church of Pensacola, Fla., coming from Hephzibah Baptist Church in Troy, Ala.

Lucas Dorion is associate coordinator for From Alabama Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Nikki Carroll Hardeman is minister of youth and families at First Baptist Church of Faith BOOKS Forsyth, Ga. Charles Kwok died April 9. He was a co-founder of the Asian American Baptist Caucus, and a former General Board member of American Baptist Churches USA. He served as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in New Haven, Conn., and founded the Chinese Baptist Church of Greater Hartford.

Bill Rotan was named minister of music emer- itus by First Baptist Church of Morganton, N.C., May 4. A hymn was commissioned in Theological Reflections his honor. Composed by David Schwoebel, the words were written by Fred Schuszler, minis- STEPHEN N. JOHNSON ter of education and Rotan’s colleague for 33 A compelling exploration of grace years. E. B. SELF Orlando L. Tibbetts Jr. died March 26 in Understanding the Divine through Scripture, reason Penney Farms, Fla., at age 94. He was a for- and observation mer executive minister for American Baptist CHUCK QUEEN Churches of Connecticut. Challenging reflections on Christianity Randy Tumblin is vice president of institu- Order now at nurturingfaith.info tional advancement for Northern Seminary.

28 The Lighter Side By Brett Younger When we’re not the first choice

uring my first semester at Baylor Leah’s story is a word of hope to anyone University my father suggested that I … who’s been the last one picked for basketball D visit his great-aunt in Gatesville, 40 … who gets a “B” on the paper on which she miles away. At first, Aunt Ruby and I had trou- worked twice as hard as her roommate who ble finding anything to talk about. But just as I gets an “A” started working on an excuse to leave, she said: … who wants to be married but isn’t “I’ve got a photo album that you might enjoy.” … who is married to someone who doesn’t My parents had told me about my great- want to be great-grandfather who was a circuit-riding … whose parents wish for a different child Methodist preacher. They failed to mention, …whose child wishes for a different parent however, the great-great-grandfather who was …who avoids looking in mirrors a foreman on the railroads. He hired workers … who congratulates a co-worker on the who spoke no English, so he could pay them promotion that should have been his half of their salaries and keep the other half. … who’s never mentioned on Facebook posts I knew that my grandpa was married for the something a father-in-law would say: “I guess … who’s been told she is too old, too young or fourth time, but I hadn’t really thought about it’s better to give her to you than to some other too middle-aged. why I had so many ex-grandmothers. guy.” They shake hands, and Laban forgets to This story gives hope to all the second Aunt Ruby gave me details I didn’t need tell Jacob that in his culture the oldest daugh- choices who keep trying. We are not defined by to know. She showed me a faded photograph ter has to marry first. Jacob labors for seven what we can’t do, but by who we are in God’s of a family reunion and went down the line sweaty years. At the wedding, Jacob makes a grace. giving commentary: sacred promise to the woman standing beside We don’t have to be the brightest crayon in “Your great-great-uncle was a good person him who is covered by an extremely dark veil. the box, because we are God’s children. We don’t when he was sober, but that wasn’t very often. Jacob has too much to drink at the reception. have to be the best at everything we do. We My aunt slept with anything that wore pants The wedding night passes, and the morning don’t have to be the best at anything we do. We — back then that limited her to half the popu- sun shines on the plain face of Leah. need to be the one God created us to be. BT lation. My cousin — your fifth or sixth cousin The writers of Genesis are careful not to twice removed — was quite a gossip, so I spent say that Leah is ugly. They only report: “Leah’s —Brett Younger is associate professor of preaching a lot of time with her.” eyes were lovely.” This is the ancient equiva- at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology. The best stories in the Bible are the ones lent of “She has a great personality.” The text that parents would skip. The story of Jacob’s is extravagant in its praise of Rachel — “grace- two weddings is the kind of R-rated, embar- ful and beautiful.” Leah is the old maid, the NOW AVAILABLE rassingly candid story that great-aunts tell. second choice. On her first morning as a mar- God promises that Jacob will be the father of a ried woman, Leah’s lovely eyes gaze into the great nation, even though Jacob, as his mother petrified face of a disappointed husband. (How points out, is not married or getting any horrid would it be to have your new husband younger. Then Jacob gets thunderstruck. tell you that he wanted your little sister on the Rachel’s father Laban is as big a con artist honeymoon?) as Jacob, and Laban has an advantage: Jacob Leah is the patron saint for those who is madly in love with Rachel. She is the kind have drawn the short end of the stick. Leah of Jennifer Lawrence woman with whom lots played the hand she was dealt, and ended up of men think they are in love. Jacob will pay a great heroine of Israel. This Jerry Springer any price, so Laban comes up with a ridicu- mess is a profound reminder of God’s grace. lously excessive demand for a dowry. Without Sisters married to the same man simultane- thinking — since he’s in love — Jacob agrees ously is not recommended in the best of to work seven years for Rachel. (Don’t go into circumstances, but the writers of Genesis make Available as a digital download business with your family.) it clear that God’s promise to bless Jacob would (ebook) or in print at Laban conveniently omits a minor detail have been made null and void had it not been in his verbal contract with Jacob. He says for Leah, his second choice. nurturingfaith.info

29 +% ,#*' )-.$/. Redefining hope A conversation with Rick Wilson, Liberian seminary president ‘on loan’

PAYNESVILLE CITY, Liberia — On March 13, Richard F. Wilson became the sixth president of Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary since 1976. He is on loan for one year from Mercer University where he chairs the Roberts Department of Christianity. t the installation service Liberian Baptist leaders recounted the dark days of a lin- A gering civil war and other challenges, yet welcomed brighter days they see on the horizon. Olu Q. Menjay, president of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, introduced his mentor and friend as “a scholar, teacher and administrator with more than 30 years of experience in higher education.” In response, Wilson pledged to “listen, learn, respect, collaborate, plot a course and By 2005 Olu had completed his work at RW: When I returned to Liberia on April 28 move forward” with the Liberian Baptists. BU and accepted the position as principal for it was my 11th trip. On five trips I have trav- Baptists Today asked Wilson about his Ricks Institute, a K-12 boarding school in the eled alone. relationships with and work among Liberian outskirts of war-ravaged Monrovia. He began One trip (2009) was part of an adventure Baptists. a quiet, persistent pleading for me to come to with First Baptist Church of Christ in Macon, Liberia “to see the work.” Ga. Five of us came to Liberia to help Ricks get BT: When did Liberia first get your In 2007 I went. It was crushing. After a a new tile floor — 7,000 square feet — in the attention? few days I confessed to Olu that “Liberia is a auditorium. RW: In 1993 I met Olu Q. Menjay, a recent hard place to be.” I told him I wanted to leave. Five trips have been with Mercer on graduate of Truett-McConnell College, a refu- He suggested that I was “looking at the Mission adventures, all but one with students gee from Liberia’s civil wars, and a new student wrong things.” He encouraged me to see how from Mercer’s Tift College of Education. My at Mercer, with a major in Christianity — and, each day was getting better. I learned “small, trips, especially since 2008, have prompted me also, sociology. small,” which is how Liberians measure to become an amateur historian of Liberia, progress. especially Liberian Baptists. BT: How did that early interest grow into a “Did you see the fresh paint on a wall, or Four times I have taught a course, “Peace passion? that the grass had been cut?” Olu asked. and reconciliation in post-war Liberia.” In that That afternoon I started looking at differ- context I have encountered the grittiness of war, RW: Olu went on to Duke (M.Div) and Boston ent things. He was right. I was changed in the its horror and destructiveness. University (MTS); he made the efforts to keep process. I have been stunned, however, by the resil- up with me and seek advice/assistance in his By the end of nearly 10 days I had the seed ience of Liberians. They have taught me to hope work. of passion that still is growing. With each return in ways I could never have imagined. In 2002 Olu surprised me at a Baptist my passion with Liberians grows. In the contexts of teaching about Liberian World Alliance meeting in Seville, Spain. I history, especially the civil wars that smoldered had delivered a paper for the Commission on BT: How many trips have you made to and raged for 14 years, I have, with Menjay’s Christian Ethics. When the session ended, there Liberia and what have you discovered help, been able to introduce Mercer students was Olu in the hallway. It was a reunion that about the people and their history, culture to many key figures in the wars and their sparked further contacts and collaboration. and perspectives? aftermath.

30 We have met with the president of Liberia, Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary, where we at the seminary, however. the wife of Charles Taylor (Jewel Howard celebrated the history of the school, established By January 2013 I was in Liberia, on sab- Taylor is now a senator in Liberia), Prince Y. in 1976, and conferred six honorary degrees. batical at Ricks Institute, doing research on Johnson (who murdered Samuel Doe, sitting Among the awardees were three indigenous Edward Wilmot Blyden, a black immigrant president of Liberia, in 1990). Johnson also is Liberians, two Americans (including a former missionary who came to Liberia in 1850 and a senator in Liberia and professes to be “born white president of the seminary and a passionate emerged as one of the 19th century’s most again” and is a minister. supporter), two Georgians, two LBTS gradu- compelling figures as a missionary, linguist, We have conducted class in the sanctuary ates, two women, and one African-American educator, journalist, statesman and pioneer in of the St. Peter Lutheran Church where, dur- Baptist philanthropist. Christian-Muslim relations. ing the Doe administration, 630 Liberians who The rich and diverse cultures of Liberia are When I returned to Macon after the sab- sought refuge from the war were slaughtered. teaching me about hope, endurance, character batical, I was settling back into my life when (Prince Johnson told our students that the mas- and resilience. President Bill Underwood surprised me with the sacre at St. Peter’s was the reason he led the coup In faces of what Business Insider called “the suggestion that I return to Liberia for a year and d’état against Doe.) second most miserable place on earth,” I see help the seminary find some stability. I have immersed myself, too, in the larger Liberians redefining hope every day. In crippling Menjay and Underwood are friends. history of Liberia. Being in Liberia and studying circumstances of poverty, unemployment at 80 When Underwood asked how Mercer could the history shows me every day the lingering percent, unsafe water, few medical resources, help Liberian Baptists, Menjay suggested that effects of colonialism (despite what many of us significant rates of illiteracy, and a still-tenuous Underwood help find a president. learned in school, Liberia was a colony of the peace, Liberians are, as a people, striving for It took several weeks to work through the United States), including the issues of class and better. possibilities. In the end, I accepted a modern- race. The cliché “two steps forward, one step day Macedonian call. The American colonists — who were back” is daily reality in Liberia. Nonetheless, Because I know Liberia and identify with mostly freed slaves, but under the patronage of most Liberians seem willing to take those two Liberian Baptists, I was willing to accept the white governors of the American Colonization steps each day, knowing that the next day only challenge. Sheesh! I’m still finding out what I Society — emerged as a ruling class of foreign- one step of progress will be visible. have gotten into! ers who displaced the indigenous peoples. In Despite widespread corruption and self- contemporary Liberia there has been a resur- serving, I regularly see the character of a few BT: Will you give a brief overview of gence of the indigenous races, including 16 shine brightly and encourage others to make Liberian Baptists organizationally? good choices. The net effect is that every day distinct ethnic groups with their own languages, RW: Liberian Baptists have a polity that reflects good choices prove to be productive and healthy. customs and geographical regions. global Baptists, by and large. The local church There is a line in a patriotic Liberian From my earliest trips I have become is where Baptist life begins. hymn, “The Lone Star,” that describes the acquainted with Baptists. I have preached and Associations were formed in the early 19th country as “a nation long forlorn.” The hymn taught in churches in the cities and in the bush. century and beyond as Baptists spread through- was written by Edwin Barclay, the 17th president As early as 2008 I was on the campus of the out the nation. In 1880 the Liberia Baptist of Liberia, in the 1930s. Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary. Missionary and Educational Convention was Barclay and his successor, William V.S. Menjay is an indigenous Liberian. In formed in Edina, Grand Bassa County. Tubman, appeared to bring Liberia out of March 2012 he was elected president of the As a side note, Edina is named after obscurity. But, with the assassination of William Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Edinburgh, Scotland, reminding historians that R. Tolbert Jr. on April 12, 1980, the nation Convention (LBMEC). In June that year many streams of Baptists flowed into Liberia in slipped back to worse than before the beginning he invited me to preach the Service of the19th century. Lott Cary was a freed slave who of the 20 th century. Consecration. I did so gladly. came to Liberia in 1822 and established the first Now Liberia seems to be recovering This year I was privileged to participate Baptist church, Providence Baptist Church. from the horrors of the 1980s and 1990s that in a month-long adventure associated with the Cary’s name survives in the Lott Cary stretched forward until 2003, when the civil Centennial Celebration of the Annual Session. Missionary Baptist Convention, an African- wars ended. Liberia is resilient because the Liberian Baptists visited key sites of their found- American group in North America. Baptists citizens refuse to remain in despair. ing, including New Hope Baptist Church in were in Liberia long before the Southern Marshall City (where the charter was signed in Baptist Convention was formed. BT: Why spend a year of your life in ministry 1880), First Baptist Church of Edina (where Southern Baptists did not establish their with Liberian Baptists? the LBMEC was born in 1880), Shiloh Baptist Liberian mission office until the 1970s; there Church in Brewerville (where Liberian women RW: It was not my idea! In fact, twice I had was only one Southern Baptist head of the first formed a Woman’s Missionary Union) and, deflected the suggestion to become the president mission. In the 1990s the SBC left Liberia finally, Ricks Institute (established in 1887 as of the seminary. altogether. the first Baptist school in Liberia). In 2012 the issue came up as I began to Today Liberian Baptists number more The final punctuation of the month came explore options for a sabbatical. I did entertain than 90,000 in just under 300 churches in all on the last day of March on the campus of the the possibility of being “theologian in residence” 15 counties of the country.

31 ‘I have been stunned by the resilience of Liberians. They have taught me to hope in ways I could never have imagined.’

BT: What are the challenges and hopes BT: What have you learned — or what are you see? you learning — from Liberian Baptists? How does that perspective help you to RW: The greatest challenge I see among better understand and practice your own Liberian Baptists is the need to overcome the faith? twin obstacles of the colonial era and the post- colonial dependency created by mission agencies RW: What I am learning is that Baptists will of all denominations, foreign aid from many be Baptists. Those Baptists who rely upon the nations, and a withering political paternalism power and influence made available to them that still dominates all features of Liberian life. by the structures of the local church, the asso- What gives me hope are the Liberians who ciation and/or the convention will become endured the war years — either at home or as enslaved by the lures of prestige. refugees — and now are demonstrating their On the other hand, those who risk the capacities to lead the nation in business, educa- freedoms of Baptist life and trust Baptists from tion, politics and religion. the bottom of the ladder to the top can find new On a daily basis I’m trying to find a way to resources. feed 25 to 30 of our 89 students who are work The Liberian Baptists I have seen this year grant recipients. This requires about $21,000 are the most diverse group under one umbrella I U.S. annually — with less than half of the ever have witnessed. Leadership is spread among money raised or pledged. women and men of all classes and ethnicities, with varying degrees of education and experi- BT: What do you see as your roles in the ence, from the hinterlands to the cities. work you are doing? Over the many years I have been traveling to RW: I am a partner, not a patron. My roles and from Liberia, and most certainly this year of include listening, learning, respecting the cul- being in Liberia and among Liberian Baptists, I ture, collaborating, participating in creative think I have a better sense of “Baptist” than ever. plotting of a different path, and moving forward What I sense is a vibrant community that with Liberians. has the courage of its convictions and is willing As president of the seminary, I have to be to risk the freedoms of faith in order to truly patient and take the time to model ways to use be a welcoming, hospitable and encouraging the available resources. I have to work to restore example of the hope for the kingdom of God. confidence in the seminary, at home and abroad. I’m not suggesting that Liberian Baptists I have to become one of the mentors to those have arrived, but I think that they are on the who will be the leaders of Baptists in the near way. BT future and in the next generation.

32 From Faith BOOKS

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STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. — At the April meeting of the Board of Directors of Baptists Today, editor John Pierce posed questions to theologian Fisher Humphreys during a session titled “Ask the theologian.” The questions, sub- mitted by those who serve on the board with Humphreys, were wide ranging.

he questions and insightful responses, A third example is from Galatians 3. Paul beginning here, will appear in the next says that those who attempt to earn God’s T several issues of Baptists Today as well as approval by keeping the Law actually earn on video at baptiststoday.org. God’s curse because they don’t keep the Law perfectly. Paul was drawing upon a passage in QUESTION from Jack Glasgow, pastor of Deuteronomy which said that those who fail to human being, Jesus. Zebulon Baptist Church in Zebulon, N.C.: keep the Law perfectly are cursed. He lived among us, and on Good Friday he accepted the most outrageous consequences How do you think we can best communicate Paul then argued that Jesus freed human of human sin as his way of forgiving us. That’s the idea of atonement to those both inside and beings from that curse by taking another the best way I know to help people today con- outside of the church today? curse on himself, the curse of crucifixion. Deuteronomy had said that it was a curse nect Jesus’ suffering with our forgiveness.

FH: When I began studying theology there was to be hanged on a tree. I believe these and all other biblical QUESTION from David Hull, pastor of First a popular slogan among seminary students: Baptist Church of Huntsville, Ala.: “I don’t believe in any theory of the atone- interpretations of Jesus’ sacrifice are true and ment; I believe in the fact of the atonement.” important. In order to understand them, we Concerning God’s revelation to us, how do we The longer I’ve thought about it, the wiser have to study them carefully because we haven’t know that what we are sensing/thinking/feel- it seems. The fact of the atonement is the gos- had the kinds of experiences that made these ing is truly from God and not a projection of pel, the good news that in Christ God has acted interpretations so natural for Peter and Paul our own minds and hearts? to save the world. That’s what we all believe in and the author of Hebrews. and what we most need to communicate. We don’t live in a society where everyone FH: In the Bible God communicates fre- In addition to preaching the gospel, the shares the end-time hope that the Jews had, quently and in a variety of ways including early church offered interpretations of the we have never offered animal sacrifices, and we epiphanies, visions, dreams, ecstatic experi- meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Each didn’t inherit the beliefs about blessings and ences, and through nature and prophets and in one of them showed some connection between cursings that were widely held in the Ancient Scripture. salvation and what happened on Good Friday Near East. We have to use historical imagina- Christians believe that God’s fullest com- and Easter Sunday. There are about two dozen tion to retrieve their meaning, and we must do munication was given in Jesus. John said that of them in the New Testament. that. Jesus is the Word of God incarnate. Paul said I will give three examples from three In addition we may, if we wish, look for that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible different writers: experiences in our modern world that offer us God. The first is an end time or eschatological ways of understanding Jesus’ sacrifice, ways The New Testament is indispensable to interpretation. On the Day of Pentecost Peter that come naturally to us. This work can never our knowledge of Jesus and his revelation of asserted that the resurrection of Jesus marked replace the biblical interpretations, but it can God. The primary reason we treasure the Bible the end of the age. People were now living in a supplement them and make them more acces- is that it tells us the story of Jesus. new world, a new era. In this new era, forgive- sible to modern people. We believe that Jesus provides all the reve- ness was freely available and also the gift of Here is an example: Many people today lation of God that we need in order to live and the Holy Spirit. So by his resurrection Jesus have noticed that it is not easy to forgive those die as faithful Christians. If God never gave us brought a new era of forgiveness. who hurt you. When you are wronged and any other revelation, we would be fine. Second, in Hebrews 9 the writer interprets hurt, you naturally want to retaliate. When However, God is free to give further rev- Jesus’ sacrifice in terms of animal sacrifices you forgive, you give up your right to retaliate. elations. For example, many Christians feel for sin, in particular, the sacrifice of goats and So forgiveness is costly. that God calls some individuals to do particu- calves on the Day of Atonement. He argues Drawing on that insight, many Christians lar tasks such as, for example, missionary work. that Jesus’ sacrifice is superior to the blood of think of Jesus’ sufferings as God’s experience of How can we discern whether a sense of call to sacrificial animals in two ways: His sacrifice the costliness of forgiveness. God did not for- missionary work is from God? doesn’t to have to be repeated, and his blood give the world by declaring an amnesty from One thing we can do is to talk to fellow can take away both spiritual and fleshly sins. the safety of heaven. God was incarnated as a Christians. There is no reason we have to act

34 privately in our attempt to discern whether Two angels are named in the Bible, This instinct is understandable, but it isn’t God is speaking. When God called Paul to Michael and Gabriel. A third, Raphael, is always wise to follow it. In many cases the best become a missionary, God did not commu- named in the book of Tobit. way to help secular people is not to present nicate the call directly to Paul but indirectly The word “angel” means messenger, and a minimal message that’s easy to believe but through the church at Antioch. often the work of angels was to bring a message. to present a maximal message that is worth We can be practical. For example, if we The background image for angelic messengers believing. Whether angels should be included have chronic health problems that require probably was a royal court. God, like an oriental is a pastoral question. specialized medical care, it probably is unwise monarch, dispatches angels to broadcast his The other reason for the modern neglect of for us to attempt mission work in areas where decrees. Other things that angels do are to pro- angels is that theologically they seem superflu- medical care is unavailable. tect, warn, help and guide the people of God. ous. If God is present everywhere at all times, We can pray. In our prayer we can listen Apparently some of the early Christians why would God need angels to do God’s work? quietly in an effort to discern God’s leadership. were tempted to worship angels. There is Guided by this insight, some Christians Also, in our prayer we can commit ourselves to a warning against doing this in Colossians tend to take many of the biblical stories about obey God’s calling to us. (2:18). angels as ways of speaking about God’s pres- I think that sometimes our traditions have In the 1990s, here in America, angels ence and activity. caused anxiety about this. They trained us to became a very popular topic, but that was This can’t be done, for example, when worry that we might innocently miss God’s atypical. For the most part the American angels are said to worship God: “Bless the call. I think this is a mistake. church today neglects angels. It seems to me Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who The New Testament understanding is that that there are two possible reasons for this. do his bidding” (Ps. 103:20). the Holy Spirit is always guiding and empow- One is that in our increasingly secular But it can be done sometimes, and in fact ering Christians for their life and work. That is world our instinct when dealing with spiritual it sometimes was done already in the Bible. For the normal state of affairs, the default setting. things is to reduce them to a minimum. We example, in the story of Moses at the burning The only time we miss God’s calling is when believe in God and Jesus and the Spirit, but we bush, the angel of the Lord tells Moses to take we are defiant or irresponsible. feel that it might be over-reaching to believe in off his shoes and then adds, “I am the God of Instead of feeling anxious, we should trust angels, too. Abraham.” BT that God will guide us and then do the best we can to live as wisely and faithfully as we can. We should love and not be afraid. Many Christians carefully avoid saying that they have received a revelation from God other than the revelation given in Jesus. Their claims about what they know are more modest. They say simply that they are grateful for the life God has given them and they are trying to live it as responsibly as they can. I think this is a wise idea. It honors the sufficiency of the revelation that God gave to us in Jesus. It recognizes the fallibility of all human knowledge. And it is compatible with the biblical teaching that God’s Spirit is always guiding and empowering the church.

QUESTION from Cynthia Wise, lay leader in Vestavia Hills Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala.:

What do you think about angels?

FH: Well, I know that a lot is said in the Bible about angels. Jacob wrestled with an angel. Isaiah saw seraphim in his vision in the Temple. Angels celebrated the birth of Jesus, comforted him following his temptations, strengthened him in the Garden of Gethsemane, and were the first witnesses of his resurrection.

35 Online Editor In their own words

AND THE AMERICAN

Fierce battles and tense politics mark the month of June. The Union strategy focuses on wearing down the inferior Confederate armies and taking Richmond and Atlanta. Wearied and depleted Confederate forces hope to halt the enemy’s advance long enough to stir up a political backlash against Abraham Lincoln in the North. en miles from Richmond in the Battle of Cold Harbor, one of the bloodiest and T most lopsided battles of the war, Conf. Gen. Robert E. Lee secures what will prove Meanwhile, Lincoln is re-nominated as 150 years ago to be his last victory. Fighting in the battle is the Republican Party’s presidential candidate, Col. Jeremiah C. Drake, formerly pastor of the with Andrew Johnson of Tennessee as the " Westfield Baptist Church, New York, and now vice-presidential nominee. Believing that the June 1864 commander of the 112th New York. Raked by United States will win the war, Lincoln per- enemy fire, Drake suffers fatal injuries. His last ceives Tennessee to be critical to reconstruction words are: “Give my love to my wife. Tell my efforts. the South have offered prayers to the contrary. friends and tell my countrymen I die a brave Baptists of the Shiawassee Baptist Assoc- While the prayers of the latter remain man, I die at peace with the world, and I trust iation in Michigan meet and offer sentiments unchanged in substance, the petitions at peace with my God.” reflective of most Baptists of the North: are growing ever more intense. That the Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant accepts Confederacy is outmanned and outgunned is defeat but does not give up. Retreating from Resolved, That we deeply sympathize obvious to all. Samuel Boykin, editor of the Cold Harbor, Grant lays siege to Petersburg, a with our Government in its efforts to Georgia Baptist Christian Index, this month major supply center for Richmond. Lee quickly suppress this rebellion, and will ever repeats yet again a mantra affirming God’s favoritism upon the slave-based Confederacy: digs in nearby. Grant’s strategy of choking off aid her to the best of our ability, with Richmond before a final assault marks a wor- our lives, our property, our counsels The Lord Almighty alone can give us risome turn for the Confederacy. The capital and our prayers. victory, and he alone can make our city cannot survive without Petersburg. Lee Resolved, That as human slavery victories prove blessings to our country. had earlier predicted that should the federals is a sin and an abomination in the Let us confess and forsake our sins, lay siege to Petersburg, it would be “a mere sight of God — a terrible misery and and turn to the Lord with all our question of time” before the Union won the disaster to man, and wholly inconsis- hearts. Then we can say in pious faith, war. Lincoln, realizing the stakes, visits Grant’s tent with the teaching of the word of “The Lord is my strength and my entrenched army this month. God, and opposed to the genius and shield; my heart trusteth in Him, and In Georgia, Union Gen. William T. spirit of our institutions; therefore we I am helped, and therefore my heart Sherman, slowly advancing toward Atlanta, do most earnestly hope and pray that rejoiceth, and with my song I will when God, in His providence, shall continues pressuring Conf. Gen. Joe Johnston’s praise Him.” rebel forces. A series of maneuvers and remove the portentious clouds of war now darkening and desolating our battles take place in which Sherman’s forces As always, black slavery was not thought to land, no relic, except the lifeless and are victorious, including the Battle of Gilgal be a sin, nor is the blessed institution to be horrid remains of that institution, Primitive Baptist Church, in which the log forsaken. But by now, many white southern shall be found on any part of the soil meeting house is destroyed. Shortly there- plain folk have their doubts about fighting to of these United States of America. after the Confederates score a much-needed, if preserve the wealth of the nation’s elites. BT temporary, victory at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. For more than three years now, many —Bruce Gourley is executive director of the While battles take place in other states, Northern Baptists have been praying for vic- Baptist History & Heritage Society. their significance pales to the action in Virginia tory over the rebellious Confederacy and for For a daily log of “This Day in Civil War and Georgia. an end to slavery, while many white Baptists of History,” see civilwarbaptists.com.

36 Reblog

Selections from recent blogs at baptiststoday.org A long way to drop a chisel

By Tony W. Cartledge

rchaeologists working at the base of the southern and western walls of A Jerusalem’s Temple Mount recently discovered a metal chisel that they believe was dropped from a high course of the wall during its construction some 2,000 years ago. That chisel could have fallen a long way. The Western Wall, part of which is cel- ebrated as the holiest place in Judaism, where the faithful come to pray and study and cel- ebrate bar mitzvahs, was built as a retaining the ground level was raised, and now 17 of the it? Or, more likely, was he just unable to find it wall to support a larger platform for a huge wall’s 45 stone courses are underground. amid the big pile of chips that had fallen from expansion and renovation of the temple. The A trademark characteristic of Herodian the edge? work was begun by Herod the Great and fin- stonework is that the outside faces of the In either case, the chisel lay undisturbed ished some time later. stones are framed by a carefully chiseled edge. for two millennia before being discovered last The wall is a wonder in itself, consisting of Try to imagine a hard-working stone- year, almost 20 feet below the surface of the gargantuan blocks of limestone that were rough mason doing his thing near the top of the wall street in the Second Temple period. cut in a quarry, dragged to the site, and somehow when his worn chisel, mushroom-headed from The finding was quite exciting as such lifted into place on a wall that was more than 100 many blows, falls from his hand and clatters to tools tend to rust away and are rarely found. feet high when measured from the foundation. the ground below. It offers a rare view into the life of an ancient Today it’s more like 62 feet. Over time, Did it hit some poor soul on the way stonemason, and an opportunity to be grateful as the city grew up and built things around it, down, leaving him embarrassed to go and get that’s not our job. BT

Generic prayer can’t be both

By John Pierce report on the survey, Peter J. Woolley, pro- The more people try to use public prayer fessor of comparative politics at Fairleigh for coercive religious and/or political purposes mericans like the idea of having Dickinson University, said: “This has always or try to make official prayers generic enough prayer at official public meetings — been a praying nation, despite its very secu- for one size to fit all, the more it makes sense A “as long as the public officials are not lar Constitution.” to heed Jesus’ call to enter the closet and pray favoring some beliefs over others.” Then he added: “People generally see to a very specific God in private. Such was the finding of a recent generic prayer as harmless, if not uplifting, Prayer should never be reduced to a national survey by Fairleigh Dickinson not as something that is oppressive.” weapon used to demonstrate one’s religious University’s PublicMind. In fact, 73 percent Harmless? dominance over others. And any officially of voters sided with that position. Was Moses’ prayer in the wilderness approved generic prayer gets watered down On the other hand, only 23 percent harmless? to the point of not being prayer at all. agreed that “public meetings shouldn’t have Was David’s prayerful confession Those who value prayer the most should any prayers at all because prayers by defini- generic? be those least willing to have it used for lesser tion suggest one belief or another.” Were the prayers of the prophets purposes than its divine intentions. BT I side with the minority — not because harmless? prayer is unimportant, but because it is too Is the prayer Jesus taught his disciples [Note: The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 deci- important, too specific and too personal to generic? sion last month, upheld the tradition of be generic. Was Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of offering prayers, including sectarian ones, at According to a Religion News Service Gethsemane harmless? government meetings.]

37 !"#$% &'( )*#"#! +% ,#*' )-.$/. Does a church’s history matter? Congregation considers the impact of its past on ministry today

INWOOD, N.C. — Is a long, rich history an asset or a liability for doing congrega- Ltional ministry today? “Yes,” said Reid Smith who has spent all of his 37 years as part of Jersey Baptist Church, con- stituted in 1755 by settlers who came to North Carolina’s Piedmont region from New Jersey. “You realize the struggles and sacrifices of others to make this happen,” he said. “It’s inspiring.” On the other hand, he noted, “The world’s not static.”

RICH ROOTS The fertile valley land became home to what a historian called “a colony of younger, ambitious, hard-working families.” Driving sheep while “If you go back 170 years, the church was carrying families on carts and wagons pulled by completely different than what we grew up horses and oxen, these settlers endured a long, with,” he said. treacherous journey to their new home. Founding pastor John Gano, a young itin- erant preacher sent from New Jersey, led Jersey CONSTANT CHANGE Baptist Church to organize and then join the Pam Shoaf, the church’s ministry assistant, said newly-formed Charleston Baptist Association FAMILY TIES the church history records that the pastor in of South Carolina in 1759. Before arriving in Lindsay “Pudge” Smith farms the same land 1942 went from leading worship at Jersey once the area, he had been warned that “most of the today that the settlers once tilled. At age 71, he a month (“quarter time”) to twice a month “half Baptist ministers were uneducated and gave has been engaged in Jersey Baptist Church for time” — which must have been a big change evidence of more zeal than knowledge.” his entire life. and likely subject to debate. Don Durham, the current intentional His mother, who lived to be 104, was the Pudge said he remembers, from his teen interim pastor who has been reading the church pianist and organist for more than 45 years in the 1950s, when the church began church’s history titled Saints and Sinners, years. He watched his parents and grandparents holding services every Sunday (“full time”) describes Gano’s journey from New Jersey to invest their lives deeply in their church and their rather than just Sunday school every week and North Carolina as a five-week road trip by farm. worship every other week. horseback and wagons. “When you’re born into a church, and He also recalled “the big decision” during “It was punctuated with rain, camping you’ve given your whole life to it, you want to that time to add an indoor baptistery to the in the woods after being unwelcome in town, see it succeed,” Pudge said. sanctuary. horse trading, visiting friends, random preach- He admits, however, that he is often resis- According to the church history, Pam ing, stops for brandy, eating food hunted along tant to changes such as new worship music. noted, the congregation long debated adding a the way, and culminated in the conversion of “It’s hard to sit back and see some of the new door from the sanctuary to adjacent build- the unreligious traveling companion assisting changes,” he said. “But you’ve got to go with ings in 1951. his family with the journey,” he summarized. them.” In more recent years, an activities building “My own arrival was slightly less adventur- Dairyman George Smith, who also has — where basketball and other recreation once ous,” said Durham, who ministers among bikers been at Jersey his entire life, noted that the considered sinful now occurs as well as casual and farms in nearby Denton, N.C., adding: church has gone through many changes during Sunday worship — was erected to keep the “However, I too often prefer unreligious travel- its long history spanning more than two and a young people in church, said Pudge. ing companions.” half centuries. “I wonder what the conflicts were back

38 when they put air conditioning in the church,” Brian Lewis said that both the mission episode to enduring such tough times as the Reid wondered aloud. spirit and the church’s identity will be carried on. Civil War and the Great Depression. The irony, he added, is that to preserve the “My daughter is going to Gardner-Webb “You realize the struggles and sacrifices of church required change — “because the world [University] and then to the mission field,” he others to make this church happen,” he said. changed around them.” said. “She’s going to take Jersey’s history with “It’s inspiring. That’s a bigness you want to be a her.” part of.” RESPECT, NOT RESTRICT The reality, however, is that the church is not guaranteed another 250 years, he added. “I think we are all proud of the church’s his- LESSONS FROM THE PAST “But we’ve got a history we can tap into tory,” said Brian Lewis, who like the founders is While there are some older congregations with — a living history to do something positive in a transplant from New Jersey. He married into deeper roots, Don told his new friends, “for the world,” he said, “something that connects the church family 21 years ago. two-thirds of the time there have been Baptists people with God.” His 18-year-old daughter is “at least a on the planet, there have been Baptists in fourth-generation female born into the church.” Jersey.” Current leaders, he said, have a responsibil- In a recent newsletter, Don reminded CLOSE, NOT CLOSED ity to keep the church’s history known. the Jersey congregation of an event from the Gracious hospitality is essential for effective “When I sit on committees I remind them church’s history that occurred in March1771: and faithful ministry, said Don. It requires an that we are to respect the history but not let the intentional effort to be inclusive of those who history restrict us,” he said. “Respect it, but it “The armed forces moved first against may not have deep roots in the church and doesn’t need to be the only factor when deci- the Baptists at Sandy Creek [for resist- community. sions are made.” ing the governor’s vestry tax for the Pudge Smith recalled when “five families Reid Smith added that the church’s history support of a state sponsored denomina- were the mainstay of the church.” One needs can be a source of inspiration and fear. He is tion to which they did not belong]. only to walk through the historic cemetery inspired by the vision that led earlier members After inflicting heavy damages and between the church buildings and the adjacent to build “a pretty big building in the middle of a driving many of the people away, [NC farmland to discover those family names. field.” Governor] Tryon led his army westward Compared to some members, Lester Darr “What bold gumption!” he said, noting and encamped ... about 4 miles south of is a “newcomer” to Jersey. A retired industrial that either vanity or vision had to be at work. Lexington and two miles east of Jersey engineer, he joined the church in 1985. Also, the church became the “mother to many” Church. Three divisions of the army, He doesn’t have the same feelings about in starting congregations in other communities. consisting of about three thousand or the church’s history, he confessed, as those with The church’s long history of risk-taking, more troops, were assembled for this deeper roots. “But I’m interested in knowing faithful and sacrificial service provides both campaign against the Regulators and where we came from, and I have respect for the inspiration and fear, he said. Baptists near Jersey Baptist Church.” history.” “My biggest fear is in seeing it as my responsibility to tap into why Jersey Baptist Don added: “Feel free to ask me sometime why Church was formed…,” he said of earlier bold I so staunchly support the separation of church WHAT, WHY, HOW? ventures. “There’s something about that; I don’t and state, and why I want no part of a govern- Reid Smith said the church can respect and want to be the person to drop the ball.” ment that sponsors, promotes or hosts religious learn from its history, and be inspired by it, yet activities of any kind. Once we head down that remain flexible enough to change with the times BAPTIST IDENTITY road, it always ends badly as the ‘Saints and — if the larger vision and mission are what inspires and guides the congregation rather than History has helped shape the congrega- Sinners’ at Jersey Baptist Church learned first entrenched methodologies. tion’s identity even through changing times. hand.” “The what we’re doing here and why Don noted that the early decision to join the Reid Smith said it’s helpful to reflect on all haven’t changed,” said Reid, “but the how.” BT Charleston Association rather than the closer that the church has been through from this early Sandy Creek movement among Baptists helped define the church’s faith and practice. Missions, said George Smith, has long defined the Jersey congregation. He recalled when half of the church’s budget went toward mission causes. “Missions tied our church together more than history,” he said. Pudge credits the women of the church for setting the missions priority in both raising money for mission causes and for serving those locally with needs. Longtime church member Charlotte Cook Smith agreed: “The women started everything that was started [in local missions].”

39 Editor’s note: This article in the series “Transitions: Helping churches and church leaders in changing times” is provided in partnership with the Center for Healthy Churches (healthy-churches.org). The ministry of nudging By Robert F. Browning

An almost 40-year-old church news- changes in their personal lives and in the life of to nudge them along.” the church. I had been taught that one role of a This is some of the wisest advice I have letter seemed to provide the tipping minister is to be a change agent, and I received ever received. I would like to think there is point in a long, agonizing, decision- instructions from seminary professors on how something I could say that would cause some- making process. Soon after arriving at a to proceed. Then I became the pastor of a one to have a Damascus Road experience like church. Paul did, but this rarely occurs. The impact of former pastorate, I became engaged in an As much as I have loved the people in our words and influence is cumulative. Seeds ongoing discussion about the need for a the pews and enjoyed serving alongside them, planted in the spring don’t bear fruit overnight. new sanctuary. I listened carefully to the I have felt my share of frustration because I This advice has lowered my level of frus- failed to see changes in their attitudes, beliefs tration and probably my blood pressure. It reasons for and against this proposal. and lifestyles — at least has changed my focus and measurement of fter a couple of years and several meet- not to the degree I had effectiveness. Now I look for shifts in people’s ings, we formed a feasibility study hoped. behavior and beliefs, and I celebrate even the committee and also hired an engineer Repeated efforts to slightest progress. A portray Jesus as a change About three years ago, I moved back to weigh in on this decision. It was his opinion that the current sanc- agent who challenged to my home state of Kentucky after serv- tuary had suffered severe structural damage, every person he encoun- ing Smoke Rise Baptist Church in Stone which would add considerably to the cost of tered to make changes Mountain, Ga., for 12 years. This move to remodeling it. But after three more years of in his or her life did not Central Kentucky has enabled me to reconnect debating the pros and cons, the committee always register. At times, with classmates, colleagues and members from was no closer to making a decision than it was changes in how members arranged their priori- churches I previously served. when I arrived on the field. ties, spent their money, did their jobs, treated Recently, I saw a former church member Granted, this was a big decision that their neighbors, handled their problems, at the local mall. After exchanging pleasantries, pulled at a lot of heartstrings. The current embraced new challenges, reacted to those who he said, “Over 20 years ago you did something sanctuary had been the site of baptisms, wed- hurt them and responded to victims of injus- which I have never forgotten. I was sitting at dings, funerals and other significant events in tice were negligible — or so it seemed to me. a table in the fellowship hall on a Wednesday the lives of these good people. It was sacred I recall venting my frustration to a friend night eating with family members and friends. space and the catalyst for recalling life’s most who was a church and community leader. You came by with a pitcher of tea in your hand precious memories. “What keeps you from getting frustrated?” and asked if I wanted more to drink. I was In spite of this, I felt that replacing the I asked. shocked to have the pastor of the church serve sanctuary was best. Repairing and remodel- Calmly, he looked at me and said, “Bob, I me tea. I’ve been trying to serve others in small ing the current sanctuary would cost a lot of stay frustrated, but I have learned the value of ways like this ever since.” money, yet it would still not address the need nudging people along. Very few will make radi- I believe I’ll keep nudging people along. BT for enlarging the seating capacity and mak- cal changes in their lives, the kind Jesus talked ing the sanctuary more accessible for an aging about and modeled. They will, however, make —Bob Browning is pastor of population. changes in small increments if we are faithful First Baptist Church of Frankfort, Ky. Nothing anyone in favor of the proposal said broke the stalemate until I brought to a meeting a church newsletter from almost 40 years earlier. In that newsletter was an article written by a beloved former pastor titled, “Five reasons why we need a new sanctuary.” “Forty years is long enough to debate this,” I said. Soon afterwards, the committee recommended and the church voted to build a new sanctuary. When I entered ministry, I was not prepared for how long it would take church members to make decisions that would lead to

40 Religion News Service log in: check out Is the Internet bad for religion?

A new paper draws an intriguing “That has, more than almost any other thing, alienated a whole generation,” O’Leary conclusion to a question scholars said. “And it is not just Catholics. It goes to all have wrestled with for several religious authority by extension.” Still, O’Leary cautions that the decline in decades: Why are Americans religious affiliation — due to the Internet or dropping out of church? otherwise — does not mean an equal rise in atheism. One reason? They’re logging on to the “They haven’t given up their belief in the Internet. supernatural. They just don’t feel they need Allen Downey, a professor of computer organizations or institutions to bring it to science at Massachusetts’ Olin College of them,” he said. “And you don’t have to believe Engineering, found that between 1990 and in any god to light a candle or hold hands and 2010 the share of Americans claiming no utter a mantra or chant.” religious affiliation grew from 8 percent to Downey’s findings dovetail with those of 18 percent while the number of Americans the Pew Research Center’s 2012 look at the connected to the Internet rose from almost “nones,” the terminology for Americans with nothing to 80 percent. no religious affiliation. That study found that Downey cautions — as do his critics — almost 20 percent of all Americans — and a that correlation does not equal causation. third of those under 30 — are nones. “We can’t know for sure that Internet use a four-year college education, which reduces By examining data from the CIRP causes religious disaffiliation,” Downey said. religious affiliation by about 2 percentage Freshman Survey, conducted among first-year “It is always possible that disaffiliation causes points,” he said. college students, Downey discovered that Internet use, or that a third factor causes both.” Other scholars say Downey’s finding may between 1985 and 2013 — approximately the But Downey, whose paper, “Religious be too pat. same amount of time that the GSS measured affiliation, education and Internet use,” was Stephen O’Leary, an associate professor Internet usage — the percentage of freshmen published at — where else? — an online site at the University of Southern California who who identified as nonreligious tripled, from dedicated to scientific papers, is pretty sure he’s studies religion on the Internet, thinks the 8 percent to 25 percent. He predicts on his onto something. situation is more complex and nuanced. blog that number will reach almost 26 percent Examining data from the General Social “Let’s call it the influence of the religious next year — more than the share of students Survey, an ongoing and multigenerational marketplace,” O’Leary said. Since the 1960s, who identify as Catholic. study of Americans, Downey draws a link with the influx of non-Christian immigrants “I think this is an underreported story,” between higher levels of education and income to the U.S. and the increased mobility of soci- Downey said. and lower levels of religious identification. ety, Americans’ exposure to a wide range of Still, Downey is cautious about blaming His study shows that as Americans spiritual, religious and nonreligious ideas has the Internet, which he figures accounts for reported more Internet use, their religious burgeoned. only about 20 percent of the overall decline in identification dropped. Those who reported “Internet use is part of that, but what it religious affiliation. An additional 25 percent, only a few hours of weekly Internet use were really does is magnify to a dramatic level the he says, can be attributed to fewer people being 2 percent less likely to claim a religious affilia- degree of choices one has,” O’Leary said. raised with a religious affiliation, and 5 percent tion than those who use no Internet. And those Other forces unrelated to the Internet are might be due to increases in college education. who use the Internet more than seven hours at work, too. O’Leary said younger Americans “That leaves 50 percent of the decrease weekly are even less likely to adhere to a religion are less likely to trust religious authority in the unexplained by the factors I was able to — by an additional 3 percentage points. wake of the Catholic Church child sex abuse include in the study, which raises interesting “That effect turns out to be stronger than scandals. questions for future research,” he said. BT

O’Leary cautions that the decline in religious affiliation — due to the Internet or otherwise — does not mean an equal rise in atheism.

41 +% (&3-( /&!!&(%

baptiststoday.org 5 great reasons to visit the enhanced website

he Baptists Today website has a fresh about great new books from Nurturing Faith chair with your tablet, you can comfortably look with added features — along with publishing. read the latest from Baptists Today. Or if wait- T the popular offerings that have long Site menus have been reworked to make it ing for an appointment, you can read an article been enjoyed. Here are five good reasons to easier to find whatever content you seek. or two on your smartphone. check out baptiststoday.org. Existing subscribers will use a personal- 2. Tablet and smartphone friendly ized code to access the subscriber-only area. If interested in checking it out, you may use 1. More content, easier to access Because more readers are using tablets and this coupon code to get free one-month access: All the content usually found at baptists- smartphones to access websites, the new freebt2014. Just click on “Subscriber Login” in today.org is still there, including Daily News Baptists Today site is optimized for use by the top menu on the far right to get started. Headlines and Baptists Today blogs. mobile devices. However, the upgraded site also offers When visiting the site from a smartphone, more Baptists Today news, full-length features, the same content is provided — but auto- 4. Photo sharing and additional religion news stories. There’s matically resized to fit the screen, removing Both words and images tell the stories of faith also additional information about the growing any need for pinching or zooming. On smaller and express spiritual meaning. Our travels, resources from Nurturing Faith, the book and screens, the menus change to a format that is places of worship, and the world all around us church resources publishing imprint of Baptists easier to “tap” from touchscreens. have beauty that photography can reveal. Today. Combined with the enhanced online edi- Baptists Today would like to share your Subscribers to the digital version of the tion, online subscribers to the news journal photos. You can submit them online, and each monthly news journal have access to the con- can comfortably read articles using tablets and week one photo will be specially featured. Just tent from current and recent issues of Baptists smartphones. We hope you will add Baptists visit the “Blogs” menu and choose “Photo of Today — now offered in easy-to-read web for- Today to your device’s home screen for ready the Week.” You will see submitted photos and mat (more on this below). access. find a form for submitting yours. The site design offers a quick look at the latest content — all from the homepage. And 3. Enhanced online edition 5. Help us help you a prominent slider allows for a look at featured For online subscribers, the new subscriber Baptists Today is excited to provide additional stories, events and opportunities. area is a big leap forward. In the past, issues content and greater ease of use through its Just below the slider, a quick link offers of Baptists Today were offered in a format that enhanced website. More features and new the day’s news headlines (and past ones too). sought to replicate the layout of the printed resources are envisioned, too. Scrolling on down gives a look at the lat- news journal. This offered a faithful replica As a supportive partner, you can help est blog posts from John Pierce and Tony of the paper, but was not as easy to read — us provide trusted, innovative and needed Cartledge, as well as “Baptists Yesterday” and especially from tablets and smartphones. resources with a generous gift to Baptists “Jackie’s Bookshelf.” Click any of these to read Now the content appears as a series of Today. The “Donate” tab is a fast, safe and the full post. web articles. Clicking on any article opens easy way for you to make a real difference. Below the blogs are highlights from the the full text and images of the article in the Please visit baptiststoday.org and let us latest Baptists Today news story, followed by browser for easy reading. Because it is a web know what you think. BT other religion news. Finally, see the theme for article, the browser can be used to enlarge text the upcoming Nurturing Faith Bible Study, size, if needed. —David Cassady is president of Faithlab and check out the “Weekly Photo” and learn So when you’re relaxing in your favorite church resources editor for Baptists Today.

42 Religion News Service

Is support for Israel shifting among evangelicals?

merican evangelicals have played a sig- Old City of Jerusalem from Arab forces in nificant role in U.S. support for Israel; June 1967 and saw it as a sign that Jesus was Aby some measures they are even more coming. supportive than American Jews. But in the Before he switched his theological views, spring issue of Middle East Quarterly, David California-based pastor Kim Riddlebarger Brog, executive director of Christians United sold Bible prophecy books for 25 years. Now for Israel, wrote that “the days of taking evan- Riddlebarger, who co-hosts a popular radio gelical support for Israel for granted are over.” show called the White Horse Inn, believes God New films made by Christians are has fulfilled his promise to Israel through a beginning to question support for Israel — covenant with Jesus, so he sees no theological including Little Town of Bethlehem, funded by “There’s deep attachment to Israel need for a state of Israel. Mart Green of Oral Roberts University and the and I don’t see that changing,” said Todd David Gushee, Christian ethicist at son of Hobby Lobby founder David Green. Deatherage, executive director of Telos, a Mercer University, said he sees more tour- Oral Roberts president Billy Wilson spoke group that seeks a middle way that sup- ist trips to the region wanting to include a at a conference, “Christ at the Checkpoint,” ports peace. “Anecdotally, it’s not that some Palestinian perspective. that began in 2010 as a biennial conference Americans and some evangelicals are in any Jews for Jesus director David Brickner with the idea that Jesus was a Palestinian way becoming anti-Israel, but they’re defining said some Christians are grappling with how to who could be suffering under Israeli occupa- their support in terms of conflict resolution.” handle Israel’s relationship with Palestinians. tion today as he once suffered under Roman For years, the source of that attach- “I long to see the church have a bal- occupation. ment was a specific, literalistic approach to anced perspective on the Middle East, where It’s difficult to measure long-term support biblical prophecy, called dispensationalism. you don’t have to throw out the concern for for Israel among evangelicals. Findings from Dispensationalists believe the Israelites’ return Palestinians to support Israel,” Brickner said. the Pew Research Center, though, suggest that to the Promised Land is a requirement for “I really believe there’s a large middle ground, it has remained relatively stable in the past five the Second Coming of Jesus. They therefore but it’s hard to do when people are in their years. rejoiced when Israeli troops captured the polar positions.” BT

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vailable in print or eBook at the “[Brent Walker] is online store nurturingfaith.info passionate about apply- A ing the United States Lectures live on when published in this Constitution and the new, attractive 5x8 book format (as well Golden Rule to the knotty as eBooks). For information on publishing issues of the relationship lectures or a series of lectures in partner- of religion to government. ship with Nurturing Faith, contact He is my default setting Lex Horton, Nurturing Faith resources for understanding how to manager, at [email protected]. untie these knots.” —From the foreword by Walter B. Shurden

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