MAY 2009 | Vol. 27, No. 5 | baptiststoday.org $3.95

A conversation with Bill Hull page 4

MAY 2009 | Vol. 27, No. 5 John D. Pierce Executive Editor Baptists Today serves churches by providing a reliable source of [email protected] Jackie B. Riley unrestricted news coverage, thoughtful analysis and inspiring Managing Editor features focusing on issues of importance to Baptist Christians. [email protected] An autonomous national Keithen M. Tucker Baptist news journal Development and Marketing Director [email protected] Tony W. Cartledge P E R S P E C T I V E Contributing Editor [email protected] > Confessions of a mainstream liberal conservative ...... 7 8 Bruce T. Gourley Street Online Editor By John Pierce [email protected] Questions Vickie Frayne > On marriage, time to separate civil from ...... 25 ‘Why are Baptists always Art Director ecclesiastical trying to save people?’ Jannie T. Lister Connie Pursiful By Jonathan Lindsey Office Assistant Office Assistant By Daniel Vestal Lauryn C. Dant Circulation Assistant Walker Knight Jack U. Harwell I N T H E N E W S Publisher Emeritus Editor Emeritus Board of Directors > Scripture in worship may be antidote to ...... 11 Gary F. Eubanks, Marietta, Ga. (chairman) biblical illiteracy Kelly L. Belcher, Spartanburg, S.C. (vice chair) Z. Allen Abbott, Peachtree City, Ga. > Alliance adds Dempsey, reshapes staff ...... 12 Jimmy R. Allen, Big Canoe, Ga. Nannette Avery, Signal Mountain, Tenn. Ann T. Beane, Richmond, Va. > Personal invitation most effective for churches...... 13 Thomas E. Boland, Alpharetta, Ga. Huey Bridgman, Columbus, Ga. > Southern Baptist activist organizes confab on ...... 13 Robert Cates, Rome, Ga. Anthony D. Clevenger, Pensacola, Fla. church and environment Kenny Crump, Ruston, La. David Currie, San Angelo, Texas > Kentucky seminary honors Glenn Hinson ...... 26 James M. Dunn, Winston-Salem, N.C. James L. Evans, Auburn, Ala. W.M. Gilbert Jr., Lavonia, Ga. > Reconciliation, collaboration echoed at ...... 27 R. Kirby Godsey, Macon, Ga. Cover photo of Dr. Bill Hull provided Baptist Border Crossing William B. Greenhaw, Macon, Ga. by Samford University. Leslie D. Hill, Lexington, Ky. Jimmy Little, Hartselle, Ala. Page 4 Michael M. Massar, Tyler, Texas J. Thomas McAfee, Macon, Ga. William T. Neal, Stone Mountain, Ga. Pick a project! Ella Wall Prichard, Corpus Christi, Texas 30 Michael G. Queen, Wilmington, N.C. Personalized ways to support Mary Etta Sanders, Dalton, Ga. Baptists Today abound welcome Macon Sheppard, Folly Beach, S.C. Walter B. Shurden, Macon, Ga. Charlotte Cook Smith, Raleigh, N.C. NEW GROUP David M. Smith, Houston, Texas SUBSCRIBERS Leo Thorne, Valley Forge, Pa. F E AT U R E S Sarah Timmerman, Cairo, Ga. Clement H. White, St. Petersburg, Fla. Lakeview Baptist Church > The changing place and face of missions ...... 32 Advocates Camden, S.C. Mary Jayne Allen, Chattanooga, Tenn. By Julie Long and Richard F. Wilson Hugh McKinney, pastor Randy L. Hyde, Little Rock, Ark. Sherry McGlaughlin, Liberty, Mo. David Woody, Daniel Island, S.C. > King David: leadership guru ...... 34 • Baptists Today (ISSN 1072-7787) By Tony W. Cartledge is published monthly by: Second Baptist Church Baptists Today > Families: redeeming the time ...... 38 Liberty, Mo. P.O. Box 6318 Macon, GA 31208-6318 By Ken Camp To subscribe or place an advertisement, call 478-301-5655 or toll-free 1-877-752-5658. Subscription rates: 1 year, $20 2 years, $35 I N E V E R Y I S S U E 1 year groups of 25 or more, $18 1 year Canada, $35 1 year foreign, $50 Quotation Remarks 6 In the Know 23 Periodical postage paid Editorial 7 Readers’ Responses 24 at Macon, Ga. 31208 POSTMASTER: Resource Page 18 The Lighter Side 28 Send address corrections to: Baptists Today P.O. Box 6318 Formations Commentary 19 Reblog 29 Macon, GA 31208-6318 Classifieds 22 Media Shelf 36 © 2009 Baptists Today. All rights reserved.

May 2009 • Baptists Today | 3 F E A T U R E BY JOHN PIERCE

A conversation with Bill Hull One of Baptists’ brightest minds, William E. (Bill) Hull is research professor at Samford University and theologian in residence at Mountain Brook Baptist Church in Birmingham.

IRMINGHAM, Ala. — Dr. Hull had pretty much ruled out the kind of paper that a long career at Southern Baptist sharpens the personal relevance of a biblical B Theological Seminary as New passage. You could talk [only] about it histori- Testament professor, department chair and cally and critically. dean of the School of Theology. At Samford And the American Academy of Religion he served as provost (1987-1996) and univer- just became avowedly secular in the sense that sity professor (1987-2000) before assuming his the papers were to be non-partisan. So I felt current role. the scholars reading the journals and going to His pastoral ministry includes serving the the meetings — it was hard not to fall into First Baptist Church of Shreveport, La., from that game plan. 1975-1987. He has given numerous lectures [The guilds] determine whose stuff gets and has preached at many Baptist gatherings. published. That’s how you get tenure. They His extensive writings include the books, determine who gets to read a paper at the Strategic Preaching: The Role of the Pulpit in annual meeting and who gets invited to do Pastoral Leadership (Chalice, 2006) and lectures. There is a power structure behind Harbingers of Hope: Claiming God’s Promise in this. Today’s World (Samford, 2007), and the book- So I wanted to build a bridge between let, The Meaning of the Baptist Experience As a young instructor, I was pastor in [academics and congregations] because other (Baptist History and Heritage Society, 2007). New Castle, Ky., and teaching at Southern people were chopping down the bridge. In October 2008, Dr. Hull preached a [Baptist Theological Seminary]. And then, for One other thing, the Association of sermon at Mountain Brook Baptist Church my many years at Southern, I was out every Theological Schools (ATS) moved from the titled, “The Darkness that is Light,” in which weekend in a church. B.D. to M.Div. and then moved to launch the he reflected on his diagnosis with ALS (Lou Then in Shreveport, when I was full time D.Min. In both of these cases, they tried to Gehrig’s disease). Video and text copies of the in a church, I was an adjunct professor at LSU emphasize the addition of congregational sermon are available at www.fbchsv.org. — both at the med school and the other. leadership. He and his wife, Wylodine, have two chil- Then I’d go to Southern and teach in their The B.D. was a British degree. You had dren: David Hull, pastor of First Baptist [January] term. this European tradition where you were born Church of Huntsville, Ala., and Susan Hull And at Samford I have been a university into the church. That doesn’t work in this Walker, a minister and master weaver in professor and research professor and theolo- country. We have to get our own every genera- Charleston, S.C. gian in residence — which is the teaching tion. We’re always one generation from dying. In mid-January, Baptists Today editor minister — at Mountain Brook Baptist I worked very hard on that when I was John Pierce visited with Dr. Hull in his Church. dean and provost at Southern. And I saw the Birmingham home. This conversation is So every week I would turn something tremendous pressure on faculty to so special- adapted from that interview. into either sermon or teaching, or take a ser- ize. mon idea and dig into its academic roots. I had some [professors] say, “Dean, I BT: You have been able to balance theological That’s the way I’ve lived for 50 years. It almost know all about the Hebrew language or scholarship and practical ministry better than makes you bi-vocational — or to have dual- archaeology or the medieval church, but I most. How and why? responsibility. don’t know how to guide a D.Min. student.” I think one of the great problems of my Some of them had never been pastors because WEH: I’ve done it by putting myself under generation was that religion began to go in its they had concentrated so much. the discipline of dual assignments. That is, academic expression away from congregational So I worked on what I thought was the since 1955 I have had both an academic relevance. The guilds, the Society of Biblical greatest single issue. That was, how to make responsibility — teaching or administrative — Literature, in order to make the Jewish mem- good Christian scholarship relevant to good and a congregational responsibility. bers feel at home and the Buddhist members, practice.

4 | Baptists Today • May 2009 I N F O RFMEAATTIUORNE

The ATS called it: “To integrate the enormously strong moderate movement. schools. But they don’t make it a matter that knowledge of theology with the practice of When I go to non-Baptist churches, for exam- God is on their side. ministry.” So that became my theme song. ple, John Claypool used to have me at St. I think one of the great changes that Luke’s [Episcopal Church] right up the street hasn’t been recognized is … our [historic BT: That leads into — and maybe partially here. Southern Baptist colleges and universities] answers — my next question. You have wit- When I’d go for a Wednesday series or have grown more than any other facet of our nessed and participated in various shifts in something, I’d say, “OK, let’s see the alumni activity. Now they are rated tops in U.S. News Southern Baptist higher education and theo- club. All you former Baptists raise your and World Report — you’d find lots of them, logical education. Will you identify and hands.” Furman, Wake Forest, Richmond, Stetson, evaluate some of them? It would be a third of the people. That Samford, Mercer right at the top in their was partly John’s attraction. But good Baptists regions and, in Wake Forest’s case, nationally. WEH: I’ll divide my answer into colleges/ are seated at Presbyterian, Episcopal, Lutheran They are one of our hopes for the future, universities and seminaries. The seminaries and other churches all over — with moderates partly because campuses have been so secular- were always Southern Baptist Convention who didn’t find the kind of Baptist church ized that to offer an environment where at (SBC) related, and the colleges were state con- they were looking for. least faith has a chance to flourish is a precious vention related. They had different historical So the real question in the seminaries is asset that many parents are willing to pay the origins. the one [James P.] Boyce (1827-1888) raised difference to secure for their children. Clearly the SBC seminaries have been in his original manifesto to start [Southern] Now a [Samford] kid can get in his car and profoundly affected by the so-called SBC con- Baptist seminaries: How do you teach in such drive down the road to the honky-tonk and get troversy — which meant that ideological issues a polarized and diverse constituency? drunk. But he’ll be swimming against the and the like came to have a very dominant In his day, the problem was that on the Samford stream if he does it. Whereas, binge effect. I happen to be writing on that, and eastern seaboard you had “gentleman theolo- drinking in most secular schools is epidemic. what that has shown is the enormous diversity gians” — as Brooks Hollifield called them — [Many Baptist] colleges have been buf- within Baptist life. and you had people who wanted to study at feted by the tension in the denomination, but For example, in the mid-’80s, Southern Princeton or Andover. Then, west of Nashville have done pretty well. The seminaries are our Seminary had a golden age. Enrollment soared you had Landmarkers who were hostile toward problem children right now. to 3,500. It had been about 1,500-2,000. the coastal people. And Boyce proposed learn- Faculty soared up to almost 80. Endowment ing to do it together. BT: From your perspective as a New soared. So the great issue in seminary education Testament scholar, what do we seem to miss By every measure, people said the moder- has been: Are we going to go toward the or misunderstand about Jesus? ate understanding of religion is relevant. strongly academic, scholarly Ph.D. and leave Students wanted to study that way. It was out the others, or are we going strongly toward WEH: That’s an intriguing question. I think Camelot for those people. the evangelistic and spiritual and all of that until recently we failed to understand how rad- But by the last few years, you have a very and leave out moderates? ically he addressed the burning political issue different group — sometime called conserva- So I have seen the seminaries be torn of his day, which was: “Should religious pas- tives or fundamentalists or whatever. Now apart by the diversity. Some of it is geographi- sion be harnessed to fight a live war with they are flourishing. cal, regional. Some of it is ideological. Some of Rome over God?” Counting the extensions, they’ve got it is theological. The Jews were clearly bent on that. The 4,400 people at Southern and are raising Now the colleges were better able to do Maccabees had started it. In other words, they money right and left. They’ve got all kind of this — to meet diversity — partly because had sanctified war as a holy war — driving out publications to their credit. their curriculum is so much more diverse. the Seleucids. Moderates used to say, “These fundies are They don’t just major on religious themes. In Jesus’ time during the Roman occupa- just a fringe element out here on the corner; They teach law and nursing and pharmacy and tion, the Zealots were neo-Maccabean. Jesus we don’t need to pay any attention to them. music and on and on. came along and said, “We don’t kill them. That’s like Bob Jones and Tennessee Temple Their trustees are mainly laypeople who God’s house is big enough for all of them.” [universities]. We’ve always had that — it will know the diverse world and the give-and-take And he used very clear metaphors — not go away.” of hostile takeovers. They [some Baptist col- only in his Gospel to describe servanthood Obviously, it didn’t go away. People like leges] have been able to roll with the punches, but in what he said about Roman centurions Jerry Falwell shrewdly politicized it to make it to be more independent and to not become and the like. He essentially picked the worst a juggernaut. captive to an ideological persuasion. scab in the life of his day by offering free Now on that side they want to say, “The Therefore, [many] have remained almost grace, by universalizing his message of unlim- moderates were just a bunch of liberals. They unchanged. I’d say, open and broad, but there ited grace and forgiveness. are going to die. There’s nothing to it.” are plenty of strong conservatives in the stu- But in Baptist life there has been an dent body and on the faculties of these See HULL page 14 ­

May 2009 • Baptists Today | 5 P E R S P E C T I V E quo a ion t t r e m a r k s

“The evangelical investment in moral, “The point is, the church doesn’t “Many church marketing schemes, social and political issues has depleted really call people into ministry. We often proffered as outreach strate- our resources and exposed our weak- help people discern“ God’s call on gies, seem to be veiled” attempts at nesses. Being against gay marriage their life.” proselytizing (encouraging believers and being rhetorically pro-life will not —Curtis Freeman, director of Duke Divinity to leave their church to come to your make up for the fact that massive School’s Baptist House of Studies, speaking on church) and I unapologetically believe majorities of Evangelicals can’t articu- women in ministry at Mount Olive College, that proselytizing is a sin. We should late the Gospel with any coherence. a Free Will Baptist school in N.C. (ABP) be colleagues, not competitors, with We fell for the trap of believing in a other churches in our community.” cause more than a faith.” —Barry Howard, pastor of First Baptist Church —Writer Michael Spencer of Kentucky, predicting “The receding tidal wave of reli- of Pensacola, Fla. the demise of U.S. evangelicalism gion is revealing empty rural (Christian Science Monitor) churches and thriving urban coffee “On Sept. 11, 2001 … it was very shops. I’d like to see some data important to us (at the mosque) that “Choose a gospel and read it all the regarding how many Americans Mike helped show that we were part way through. Keep a pen and paper spend their Sunday mornings in of the community at large, that the handy so that you can jot down their favorite coffee shop.” attacks on the Twin Towers hurt us details you were unaware of or had —Bruce T. Gourley, online editor for too and was not something we con- not noticed in previous study. You Baptists Today and interim director of doned. When you’re part of the will be amazed at how many new Mercer University’s Center for Baptist Studies dominant religion in town, you don’t things you can learn reading an old, (Baptist Studies Bulletin) have to pay attention to the little familiar book.” guys. But he always did.”

—Ed Sunday-Winters, pastor of Ball Camp Baptist “For most Baptists, a festival is one —Anwar Khalifa of the East Texas Islamic Society Church in Knoxville, Tenn. (ethicsdaily.com) when hearing that pastor Mike Massar of the First of those anti-Halloween parties that Baptist Church of Tyler was moving to Sugarland, churches throw to get the little Texas, to serve as executive pastor of Williams Trace “Just with this group out there, peo- gremlins and goblins to the Family Baptist Church (TylerPaper.com) ple are realizing that being Christian Life Center for apple-bobbing and does not always equal Republican. beanbag-tossing.” Your faith should direct your politics, —Columnist Benjamin Cole, who attended his first not your politics directing your faith. Maundy Thursday service this year, on observing the —Heather Carr, a divinity student at Pat Christian festival calendar beyond Christmas, Robertson’s Regent University in Virginia Beach, Good Friday and Easter (ABP) who helped form Regent Democrats (RNS) In the news, 25 years ago . . .

“My first Bible was a red King James Peace advocates from American “It has been my (apparently quixotic) Version New Testamanet given to me Baptist and Southern Baptist conviction that Christian ethics is by the Gideons when I was in the churches and the Baptist World measured not just by the correct fifth grade ... I asked my parents Alliance met in Louisville, Ky., and substance of one’s moral beliefs, but what ‘begat’ meant, but they would- formed the Baptist Peace Fellowship also by the respectful way they are n't tell me. So began my experience communicated.” with the word of God.” of North America. —SBC Today, May 1984 —Mercer University ethics professor —Jim Denison, theologian in residence for the David Gushee (ABP) Baptist General Convention of Texas (ABP) 6 | Baptists Today • May 2009 P E R S P E C T I V E e d i t o r i a l Confessions of a mainstream liberal conservative By John Pierce

hristians in general — and Baptists in the cumbersome “fundamentalist-conservative” tion connected to the SBC could be rightly particular — are such a varied lot. So and “moderate-conservative” to describe the labeled as Fundamentalist. Therefore, I would C it is not surprising that an endless and two camps. never identify Southern Baptists in general — ever-changing list of descriptive terms has That was pretty short lived. But of course which still have significant diversity, though emerged by which various persons or groups the two parties had no problems identifying less so than in the past — as Fundamentalists. are identified. the other as either Non-fundamentalist Baptists (a broader Fundamentalist (big “F” and little “f”), “Fundamentalist” (or term I sometimes use as well) — including for- conservative, progressive, moderate and liberal “Fundy”) or “liberal.” mer Southern Baptists — seem to have trouble are but a few more common ones in Baptist And whatever hap- with self-identification. They have tried on circles. pened to the old charge multiple tags such as moderate, traditional, Understandably, there is a growing chorus of “secular humanist” for progressive, mainstream and centrist. expressing disdain for the use of such labels. anyone who didn’t agree Yet, Fundamentalists will always know Their valid point is that labels are not fully with the most conserva- them (us) as liberals — unless “secular human- adequate and often are used in derogative ways. tive interpretation of ist” makes a late return. Agreed. However, for writers, descriptive Scripture? Some in the “emergent conversation” (big terms are an essential part of our communica- Did you catch my use of “most conserva- “E” or little “e”) claim that all these labels — tion. Otherwise, readers will get less than the tive”? One of the ways I try to navigate the and perhaps even the term “Christian” — have fuller understanding of the issues about which label maze is by referring to degrees and giving picked up too much baggage on Christianity’s we write. comparisons. Often I will describe someone or worst days. So they are referring to themselves So rather than avoiding labels, a more some group as “more conservative” or “less as “Christ followers.” careful use of them may be in order. But apply- conservative” than the other. Certainly that should be our defining ing labels is always a challenge. Interestingly, the term “Fundamentalist” mark of identification. For one, labels change in meaning. is embraced by some and viewed as derogative Having been called a heretic, fundamen- Evangelical, for example, has continued to be by others. It is a legitimate term but must be talist and liberal — among many things — has redefined to the point that many Christians are applied with some caution. made me pretty insensitive to taking offense not sure whether the latest pejorative meaning For example, the current entrenched lead- over labels directed my way. But, then, even applies to them. ership of the Southern Baptist Convention fits Billy Graham was called a liberal by some for In a divided Southern Baptist (and ex- any reasonable definition of Fundamentalism his mere kindness toward Communist leaders. Southern Baptist) world, a tug-of-war over the in terms of both belief and attitude. Therefore, Moderate is the most widely used term term “conservative” has continued for decades. I have no hesitation in using that term to for Baptists of my stripe. Some reject it as For a brief time during the heat of the conven- define those who run the big SBC machine. meaning lukewarm in commitment or wishy- tion battle of the ’80s, some writers tried to use However, not everyone or every congrega- washy about where one stands. On the other hand, I like the term and embrace it heartily as describing a strong, YES! I/We want to support BAPTISTS TODAY by… unwavering commitment to avoid the ditches ______J Making a gift of $______(enclosed). (of deadly legalism and definitive liberalism) on NAME both sides of the road. J Joining the “Baptists Tomorrow” campaign ______and making a pledge of $______to be My first graduate seminar at a Presbyterian given over three years. (Initial gift enclosed) PHONE ______seminary in the late ’80s helped me better J Making a gift of $______in memory or understand both the limitations of labels honor (circle one) of ______. ______ADDRESS and the place where I fit along the theological J Providing a church group subscription (25 copies) through a gift of $450. ______spectrum. The person on one side of me introduced J Sending individual gift subscriptions to CITY _____ friends at $20 each for one year or ______himself as a Unitarian-Universalist minister. $35 for two years. (Enclose names and STATE ZIP The person on the other side was an Assembly addresses of recipients.) of God pastor and a teacher at Jimmy Swaggart J Exploring ways to support Baptists Today ••• Bible College. through estate planning. (Contact Keithen MAIL completed form with check to: Baptists Today, Whether I was more or less conservative Tucker at 478-330-6223 or 478-361-5363 P.O. Box 6318, Macon, GA 31208-6318 — or, to use a or [email protected].) CREDIT CARD, call 1-877-752-5658 or 478-301-5655. depended on which way I shifted my chair that day. BT BAPTISTS TODAY IS A 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION. GIFTS OF SUPPORT ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. May 2009 • Baptists Today | 7 P E R S P E C T I V E BY DANIEL VESTAL

‘STREET QUESTIONS ABOUT BAPTISTS’ Editor’s note: This is the fifth article in a series titled “Street Questions about Baptists,” in celebration of 400 years of the Baptist movement. ‘Why are Baptists always trying to save people?’ This question takes us to the very origins and core beliefs of Baptists — who, in their earliest days, were a despised sect within Christianity.

grew up in a Baptist culture where salva- earth and the violent history of those soci- God is like that father, who loves each of tion was primarily about getting to eties to recognize the need for salvation. The us and offers us love and forgiveness. We I heaven. I have since come to believe that evil that is in the world is in us, and the evil need only accept that love and receive that the Gospel is much more grand and glorious that is in us is in the world. forgiveness. than what happens to a person after death. Baptists have unapologetically been seek- The good news of salvation is that in The good news that Jesus proclaimed, ers of salvation and messengers of salvation. Christ our sins are forgiven. We need not feel demonstrated and embodied is that the We have looked to Christ and pointed others God is angry or distant, but compassionate Kingdom of God has come, is coming and to Christ who can and does save. and close. will come. Jesus invited people to believe this But just what does this salvation mean? In Christ we are not separated from the good news with one of the results being per- Creator. Rather we are “at one” with the sonal salvation, both in this life and the next. Salvation as reconciliation Creator. I’m not sure how much Baptists have The human condition is that we feel sepa- What relief and release all this gives to understood the Gospel of salvation in these rated and alienated from the Other and from one’s conscience. What sense of well being all terms, but I do believe that Baptists have been others. We experience distance and even dis- this gives to one’s consciousness. What worth “a Jesus people.” We have believed Jesus died pleasure when we think of God as well as and value all this gives to one’s ego. for our sins and that he was raised from the isolation from one another. This is salvation, and it is by grace. dead. We have come to know this crucified/ We are competitive and compulsive, God’s love is unconditional. God’s work in living one as Savior and Lord. angry and anxious. We work incessantly to Christ is accomplished and completed. God’s What we have experienced of Jesus we accumulate, achieve, accomplish so that we offer of reconciliation is free. desire for others. can prove our worth and value. We feel To experience it, we need only accept it. Baptists have also been “a Bible people.” estranged from the source and ground of our When a person — however tentatively or We read the Scriptures and see how Jesus being, and we also feel lonely. hesitantly — whispers “yes” to the love and changed people, forgave people and gave A famous story Jesus told was that of a grace of God, the reality of reconciliation them new life. father who had two sons. One was a prodigal, becomes the experience of reconciliation. So we genuinely desire for everyone and one was self-righteous. The purpose of the Through the centuries theologians have what is described in the New Testament. Our story was to show how much the Father loved struggled with how to understand and understanding of salvation may at times be both sons and offered reconciliation to both. explain the Christian claim “that God was in truncated or narrow, but as we read the Christian Scriptures we hear its clear message Christ reconciling the world to Himself.” All that Jesus is Savior. kinds of theories and models about the atone- Also, Baptists have been “a salvation ment have been put forth. people.” We can see a world that desperately But many an ordinary person, though unable to comprehend, has shared the experi- needs a Savior. We see ourselves as sinners, Daniel Vestal is and we see a humanity that is broken, even executive coordinator for ence and emotions with the one who wrote: ravaged by sin. the Cooperative Baptist We don’t need to be reminded of the Fellowship based in Amazing grace how sweet the sound, frailty and folly of human nature. We only Atlanta. That saved a wretch like me. need to look in the mirror and then look at I once was lost, but now I’m found the fragmented fabric of every society on Was blind, but now I see.

8 | Baptists Today • May 2009 P E R S P E C T I V E

Salvation as transformation that in Christ we experience a power and to someone he had healed or delivered, “Go presence that delivers and changes us. In Within every one of us is a longing to be dif- home to your family and tell them how much Christ we find ourselves becoming less posses- ferent and better than we are. That desire is the Lord has done for you.” When he called sive and more giving, less spiteful and more matched by an inability to change old habits, his first followers he said, “Follow me and I forgiving, less envious and more generous. an inadequacy to think in new ways. will make you fishers of men.” Scripture describes this transformation We are stuck in our patterns of bad In one of his parables he said that if we in a number of ways. This is my favorite, behavior and poor choices. We need someone ministered to people in need, we did it unto “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect or something to rescue us from ourselves and him. All of this was his way of showing us the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into our inclinations to sin. how we can be included in the redemptive his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which During his ministry Jesus encountered mission of God to make all things new. comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” demon-possessed people. He was able to The goal of salvation is not only (2 Cor. 3:18). deliver them by a power that prefigured the transformation of character, but also transfor- power that raised him from the dead. The mation of culture and community — indeed, health and wholeness of those delivered were Salvation as participation transformation of the cosmos. signs of what life in God’s Kingdom is like. Deep within all of us is a desire to be a part We are privileged to participate in that Jesus was able to rescue them from crip- of the world’s transformation, yet we know transformation here and now. Just as we par- pling and controlling powers that deformed that we live within limited confines of family ticipate in our own salvation, we are invited human personality. He was able to transform and friends. We recognize that we have little to participate in the world’s salvation. them into new persons. And he still is able. to offer, yet we sincerely desire to be a part of Baptists believe in Jesus. We read the I am reminded of the woman who stood the making of a new world order where there New Testament. We know ourselves to be in a worship service to say, “I am not what I is justice and peace. sinners, and we long for a new world order. ought to be. I am not what I’m going to be. Jesus offers us the opportunity to partici- We cannot help but pray for others what But thank God, because of Christ I am not pate in the coming of his kingdom. That St. Paul prayed for his kinsmen, “… My what I used to be.” opportunity is a part of salvation. heart’s desire and prayer to God for the The testimony of a multitude of folk is On numerous occasions Jesus would say Israelites is that they may be saved.” BT

May 2009 • Baptists Today | 9

BY ROBERT DILDAY, Religious Herald I N F O R M A T I O N Including more scripture in worship may be antidote to biblical illiteracy

ICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Last year, deeply felt religious faith, and I don’t care what started reaching people, we realized we were sacred music composer Christopher it is.” attracting not just Baptists but people across R Teichler noted a disturbing paradox. The result was a loss of biblical memory the board denominationally. Now we have a The widely observed decline in biblical and that legacy of illiteracy continues, in part, ton of people who don’t know the [biblical] literacy among American Christians has paral- Somerville believes, because churches present story. We had to ask how do we help people leled a growing interest in developing new and Scripture “in bits and fragments throughout get the stories?” enriched ways of worshipping. the year.” Last summer, he and co-pastor Paul Some ministers are saying a bracing dose “One Sunday you might hear Hebrews Basden used each Sunday’s worship to relate of Scripture in worship is the antidote to wide- 13 in Sunday school, then the next week it’s stories from the Old and New Testaments. spread biblical illiteracy. Jeremiah, chapter 1,” he said. “You’re not “We went through all the narratives of the “How can these two events — biblical building any kind of synthesis, or any con- Bible,” Johnson said. “People found it fascinat- illiteracy and a great passion for worship — be structive way to understand how the pieces fit ing and discovered models of discipleship.” happening at the same time?” asked Teichler. together.” This year the two pastors are spending “If biblical literacy is so low at this point in five months on the Sermon on the Mount, Western history, then the God of the Bible is “couching it in a contemporary package that not the god being worshipped but rather a will meet people at their point of need.” shallow and incomplete version of him.” Keith Herron, pastor of Holmeswood Many church leaders who share Teichler’s Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo., thinks concern believe they’ve found an antidote — congregations’ retention of Scripture would injecting worship with a bracing dose of increase if pastors would “step up to the plate Scripture, through systematic readings, care- more in the way we handle it.” fully selected musical texts and thoughtfully “There have been some taboos we’ve crafted sermons. stayed away from — complicated things we’re “I gained a new perspective on the prob- afraid to address,” he said. “Our congregation lem when I was teaching religion to college won’t go anywhere we’re not already headed.” freshmen,” said Jim Somerville, pastor of First The Old Testament especially is where Baptist Church in Richmond, Va. “Even at a pastors “shy away from an adult reading of the Baptist college, there was a high rate of biblical Scripture story,” Herron said. “The Noah nar- illiteracy.” rative is one that we continue to tell and teach The trend isn’t new. In his 2007 book, as if we were speaking to preschoolers. ... We Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs just don’t handle it in a way that’s challenging to Know — And Doesn’t, Stephen Prothero and speaks to adult needs.” traces the decline in biblical knowledge not to Biblical literacy also will increase when the cultural upheavals of the late 1960s or the Somerville tries to correct the trend by Scripture is sung, agreed the ministers, but Supreme Court’s prayer rulings of the early following the lectionary, both in public read- vetting the texts is essential. 1960s but to the postwar Christian revivals of ings in worship and as a basis for his sermons. Tom Ingram of the Virginia Baptist the 1940s and 1950s. “When you flip through the readings, you Mission Board, who serves on a committee For the spiritually fervent, the unprece- can get a sense of how the lectionary commit- developing a new hymnal to be released next dented leap in church — and synagogue — tee was trying to get the full story of Scripture year by Mercer University Press, said singing membership represented a distinctive kind of into the congregation,” he said. “It’s like a “gives people an opportunity to remember American identity, especially in the face of nutritionist trying to put together a balanced something much longer — to internalize it.” godless Communism. Seeking common biblical diet for the church.” But he added, “I would certainly be very ground to face the threat, church members jet- At Preston Trail Community Church, in aware of the texts that are sung. Sometimes tisoned content, and the result was a sort of Frisco, Texas, pastor Jim Johnson finds his the texts of musical pieces used in hymns or nebulous common faith that President Dwight youthful congregation successfully absorbs choruses, or choral anthems or duets or solos Eisenhower called “the Judeo-Christian Scripture through both an exposure to large just have very poor theology. And sometimes concept.” portions of it in a relatively short time and they aren’t biblical at all. They just express a Eisenhower encapsulated the spirit exactly smaller segments over a longer period. nice sentiment.” BT when he famously said, after meeting with a “We’re trying to be culturally relevant in Soviet official in 1952, “Our form of govern- all that we do,” said Johnson, whose church —Robert Dilday is associate editor of the ment has no sense unless it is founded in a worships in a contemporary style. “As we Virginia Baptist newspaper, Religious Herald. May 2009 • Baptists Today | 11 I N F O R M A T I O N BY TONY W. CARTLEDGE, Contributing Editor Alliance adds Dempsey, reshapes staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As longtime leader Stan Hastey neared retire- ment this spring, the Alliance of Baptists reshaped its staff, employ- ing Paula Clayton Dempsey as minister for partnership relations. In this new position she will pro- vide internal coordination for the work of the organization whose staff members will be scattered across the eastern United States.

empsey, director of the Advent Spirituality Center in Mars Hill, D N.C., and a former campus minis- ter at Mars Hill College, served as president of the group from 2000-2002. She will transition into a full-time role by July, working from Mars Hill. As team leader, Alliance team (front row l-r): Paula Clayton Dempsey, Carole Collins, (back row l-r) Dempsey will be the only full-time staffer, Susan Burgess Parrish, Chris Copeland and Mary Andreolli. with other team members working on part- time contracts. about working with our missions partners, high energy, creative vision and an impres- Chris Copeland, minister for leader- our ecumenical partners, a new project sive commitment to the history of the ship formation, will shift to part-time work focused on students and continuing the Alliance and its continuing story. They are from his new location in Durham, N.C. interfaith conversations nurtured by Stan equipped and determined to take the Susan Burgess Parrish will continue serving Hastey.” Alliance into the future, building on the part time as minister of development from Under a concept developed two years foundation and accomplishments of all her home in Oak Ridge, Tenn. ago when Hastey stepped down as execu- those who have brought us this far.” Carole Collins, who has been handling tive director to become minister for The Alliance is a movement of finances on a volunteer basis, will become mission and ecumenism, the Alliance staff progressive Baptists that counts 125 con- the Alliance’s part-time director of finance, has sought to operate as a peer-oriented gregations and a number of individuals as working from Stone Mountain, Ga. rather than a hierarchical team. members. It was founded in 1987 in Mary Andreolli, part-time minister of While acknowledging that “the model response to the rightward shift within the outreach and communications, will be the of team leadership and the varied geo- Southern Baptist Convention, and was only staffer remaining in Washington, graphical locations of our staff present known as the Southern Baptist Alliance D.C., where the Alliance offices have been challenges,” Dempsey said “the opportu- until 1992. The Alliance describes itself as housed at First Baptist Church since 1989. nity to embody the equality we espouse “inclusive, ecumenical, interfaith, and Dempsey said she accepted “with great and to daily interact with Alliance partners justice-minded.” BT joy” the “call to be a part of a competent and members that are geographically wide- team of ministers who are charged with spread far outweighs the challenges.” Editor’s note: A story on Stan Hastey, leading the Alliance of Baptists.” An Alliance press release described the longtime Alliance leader, will appear in the Dempsey said she is “especially excited reshaped staff as “a team with strong skills, June issue.

The Alliance staff has sought to operate as a peer-oriented rather than a hierarchical team.

12 | Baptists Today • May 2009 I N F O R M A T I O N Personal invites most effective for churches (RNS) — An invitation from a Board. “Clearly, relationships are family member or friend is the important and work together with most effective way to get people marketing.” to attend church, a new survey Researchers reported the fol- shows, casting doubt on several lowing percentages of respondents time-tested methods used by thought these other modes of churches to attract new invitation were effective: members. The other approaches — • letter in mailbox: 41 percent from broadcast commercials to • weekly religion section of a information packets left on door- newspaper: 40 percent knobs — are far less effective, • billboard or outdoor sign: LifeWay Research reports. 38 percent A majority of respondents • newspaper or magazine ad: — 67 percent — said an invita- 36 percent tion from a family member was • TV commercial: 34 percent either somewhat or very effective. • radio commercial: 33 percent Likewise, 63 percent said an invi- • Web site listing or ad: 31 percent tation from a friend or neighbor was effective. Research, said the research shows people are • e-mail message; 30 percent In contrast, just 33 percent said an invita- open to invitations to church — but they need • social networking site: tion left on a door hanger would be effective, to be personal. 30 percent while 31 percent said door-to-door visits from “Unbelievers next door still need a simple, a church or faith community member would personal invitation to talk, to be in community The survey, conducted in December, included be effective. and to church,” said Stetzer, whose researchers a sample of more than 150,000 respondents Ed Stetzer, director of the Southern were commissioned to do the survey by the and had an overall margin of error of plus or Baptist Convention-affiliated LifeWay denomination’s North American Mission minus 1 percentage point. BT Southern Baptist activist organizes confab on church and environment

ATLANTA (ABP) — An upcoming national Environment and Climate Change,” which with Christian causes and organizations conference on churches and the environment was signed by 550 Southern Baptists, includ- including World Vision, Trinity Forum, and features several well-known evangelical ing the SBC president at the time. Prison Fellowship; and Rusty Pritchard, a speakers, including some prominent Other Southern Baptist leaders quickly volunteer lay leader for three decades who Southern Baptist leaders who will be speak- distanced themselves from the initiative. A taught environmental studies for seven years ing for the first time on the increasingly Baptist Press headline declared “Seminary stu- at Emory University in Atlanta. high-profile theological issue known as dent’s climate change project is not SBC’s,” Last year Jewell and Pritchard started “creation care.” while Richard Land, head of the SBC Ethics Flourish, a ministry aimed at helping The gathering is scheduled May 13-15 & Religious Liberty Commission, released a churches and families build environmental at Cross Pointe Church near Atlanta, where statement explaining why he did not endorse stewardship into their Christian commit- former Southern Baptist Convention the statement. ment and witness. The May conference is President James Merritt is senior pastor. Land said Southern Baptist public- the organization’s inaugural event, but plans Merritt is scheduled to speak, along with policy advocacy “is most effective when it is include a quarterly magazine, Web-based other Southern Baptists including Al supported by the broadest possible consensus communications and other resources. Mohler, president of Southern Baptist among Southern Baptists.” He cited a 2007 The intent of Flourish, Jewell says, is to Theological Seminary; Ed Stetzer of LifeWay SBC resolution that urged Southern Baptists bridge the chasm between those who pre- Research and Mark Liederbach, professor of “to proceed cautiously in the human-induced scribe only political solutions and those who ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological global warming debate in light of conflicting would do nothing at all. He says there are Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. scientific research” and to support only poli- plenty of good reasons for Bible-believing Merritt’s 26-year-old son, Jonathan cies that “improve the stewardship of the Christians to care about the environment. Merritt, is organizing the gathering, called earth’s resources without resulting in signifi- Jonathan Merritt told the Atlanta the Flourish National Church Leaders cant negative consequences” on the Journal-Constitution he hopes the conference Conference on Creation Care. While still in economy. will be a starting point for change in how seminary, the younger Merritt spearheaded During that time Merritt met Jim churches think about their God-given “A Southern Baptist Declaration on the Jewell, who has worked more than 30 years responsibility to care for the world. BT

May 2009 • Baptists Today | 13 F E A T U R E

­ HULL from page 5 [the ’20s]. They had a major peace committee When [Southern Seminary president and it worked. Duke] McCall offered a sum of money for It was [seen] in his disciple band. Here Our committee was different. There were agencies to send people out to tell their side of was Levi — a quisling, a collaborator, a money 22 people including chairman Charles Fuller. the story, they said: “You can’t use mission changer who did the dirty work of Rome — They divided it very skillfully: seven pretty money to politick.” So the other side was and here were the Sons of Thunder … clear moderates, seven very clear fundies or politicking from daylight to dark, and we So I think scholars are now beginning to strongly conservative or whatever, and then weren’t doing a thing. understand the imperial issue that for years we seven unaligned — mainly laypeople. When the seminary presidents came to missed: the revolutionary importance of Jesus’ The difference, though, was that the con- Glorieta [Conference Center in October 1986 universal appeal and how he universalized the servatives — I’ll use that [term]; it’s the nicest and issued] the Glorieta Statement— which most particular faith. — controlled the platform. Charles Stanley on was their effort to use words that would please For 1,500 years, ethnicity, the way you the committee was the SBC president; Adrian the other side — moderates didn’t even know were born, the way you were circumcised, Rogers was the past president. they were going to do that. In other words, dietary laws, everything about the Jewish cul- It was a good fellowship. I stayed in there was no communication. ture was calculated to keep it an in-group, a rapport with everyone on the committee So it was frustrating how we could not chosen people. It was simply brilliant the way including my strongest detractors. make our case more persuasively. But I would [Jesus] took their prophetic teachings and A good way to put it, I would say: “Adrian say, at the time with everything happening, we made it available for everyone. [Rogers], the way you say the gospel helps peo- were almost certain to lose — peace commit- They wouldn’t let anyone in the temple ple. You’ve built big churches. If nobody was tee or not. outside the outer vestibule. He threw open the saying it like you do in Shreveport, I’d want I don’t think a committee could have redi- temple as a house of prayer for all persons. In you to come down and offer that option. Why rected the passions that led to the changes we all of those ways he was transforming his don’t you want me to say it the way I say it?” have seen. So I don’t feel a deep sense of failure. ancestral faith. He’d say: “Bill, I love you to death. I just I don’t think the moderates have been And that’s good enough for us today — wish you’d say it in a Methodist church.” In honest about what happened. We were in because of polarization, religious enmity, other words, “I just want the Baptist brand to charge — we had every agency and most of political strife. We’re living when people are be narrower.” our critique has been the bad things the other madder at each other than at any time — It was near enough to Bold Mission side did. liberal/conservative, Democrat/Republican, Thrust [evangelism emphasis] that I could say: Sure, they did some bad things. But that Muslim/Christian. “But our passion has been to offer the gospel didn’t tell us how we missed the ball. How did His message of how to create an inclusive, to everybody, and you are just picking out a we fail? accepting community is, to me, what we didn’t little ideological segment.” So we had those I’ve just written an essay on that. I think realize. arguments constantly. moderates need to ask more deeply: How did And we didn’t do it because we became And I realized they had a powerful case we let this sneak up on us? How did we so over-focused on how do I get saved by this [for control]. They had won the presidency badly misjudge? person. But he called people not into an then seven straight times, from ’79 to ’86 — I heard one agency head say, “I can lick isolated one-on-one with him but into a when we were meeting. They had the [SBC] them with one hand tied behind me.” He was redeeming fellowship. Pastors’ Conference in the palms of their the first to be fired by them. But we got off on … trying to explain hands — a caucusing of 10,000 to 15,000 So [the peace committee] was very exactly how the cross saves you. But Jesus people before we went in to vote. instructive. It told me a lot about where didn’t do that. He didn’t say if you get this And there really were a lot of people people get their religion. point down then you can follow me. who thought the convention had gotten too And not many of them get it out of I’m not minimizing the centrality of the elitist, too egg head, too intellectualized, not books. A persuasive, rhetorically astute pulpi- cross. I’m just saying when you focus on that compassionate enough. teer can sell a bill of goods to an awful lot of too narrowly you miss the way he’s throwing The agency heads had a real problem people if he senses the currents of fear in their the door open to everybody. because we [moderates] had been in charge so lives that have people’s attention. long that they wanted to please everybody. BT: You served on the Southern Baptist The conservatives didn’t have but one group to BT: Let’s move to the present. What should Convention’s “peace committee” in the 1980s. please: their own group. They never wavered; Baptists be paying less attention and more How do you reflect on that experience? they were all together on the same page. attention to at this time? But we never spoke with that same clarity WEH: I was glad to do it. I had been involved because the agencies always tried to make WEH: I think there’s been a lot of genera- in interpreting the controversy and leading our concessions right and left. tional tension. church to a clear position on it. For example, Paul Pressler went around We’ve been paying a lot of attention to If the peace committee could have done to all his grassroots meetings. He came to institutional survival. But institutions are any good — and there was precedent for that. Shreveport, and I went to hear him and to see renewed by a dynamic understanding of the The Presbyterians had a terrible split back in exactly how he did it. relevance of what they hold in trust. 14 | Baptists Today • May 2009 F E A T U R E

Some people say, “The [Cooperative WEH: I want to hitchhike on that. In my own Tell them how the last deacons’ meeting Baptist Fellowship] is going to die when the experience I’m finding there is a hunger for teed you off. Be honest but let them know gray-heads are no longer there.” Or they unvarnished honesty — candor in the pulpit. you’re fighting through it and you want them to. would say, “Clearly this contemporary versus People think they’ve been given a kind of One thing I do, but don’t recommend it traditional worship is going to split us.” “preacher talk” — sort of pious phrases that to everybody, is I’m reading a biography all the But I think what we’re really doing is preachers have always used. But people don’t time. The biography tells how a person passed rethinking the gospel for a new generation use it on Tuesday or Thursday. Talk about the the complex strains of life through a single that is truly global. kind of things that don’t get mentioned. experience, wrestled with complexities, made By that I mean, not to depart from bibli- I’ll give a personal example. I’ve got this uncertain decisions about things to do, got cal norms or anything like that. But there is a ALS — which is a life-threatening disease. It over mistakes, learned to admit them and tremendous amount of gospel in the Bible that will kill you. moved on. we have never developed. I’ve been theologian in residence at From biographies we learn how to cre- Specifically, most of our gospel has been Mountain Brook [Baptist Church] all of these atively handle failures. Ministry is very much the individual, personal passages in John and years. They said: “You’ve been telling us all of after affirmation, and you can get too much of Paul. Well, there’s a lot more to it than that. this theology, how are you going to deal with it. If I preach a sermon and everybody who There is a tremendous emphasis on ethi- what has happened to you?” comes out the door pats me on the back and cal integrity that we haven’t paid attention to. So I preached a sermon on it. It’s amazing says, “Greatest sermon I ever heard,” then I So how can we deal with ethics and not appear how many people said, “You have talked about don’t learn a thing. to have any works salvation? what you really feel like in the dark — when Those who study management and lead- I think our music is largely out of date you know you’re going to die. No one has ever ership say you learn far more from your because of the themes it sounds. I mentioned talked to me like that.” mistakes — if you get it out as a mistake and earlier the problem of polarization. They may say their parents or grand- if you have an honest peer group where you Just look in the hymnbook. If you want parents are facing that or that they are facing can share your mistake. to preach on reconciliation, how many hymns that. People get pancreatic cancer diagnoses If I were that moderate pastor, I would are you going to find? every day. find two or three kindred spirits, four or five Essentially zero. Maybe you could count So one thing I’d say is to be very honest at the most, in the ministry — and they all Once to Every Man and Nation, maybe one and don’t spend all of your time making the don’t have to be Baptists — for a sharing Fosdick hymn — but almost nothing. church look good. The church’s almost greatest group that I could really be honest with. I’d So, anyway, I don’t think we need to asset is its ordinary people struggling through level with them and they with me. I’d have a chase after a lot of reliving the past and blam- mistakes to be a people of hope embodying a way, if necessary, to just go in and cry. ing people for what has happened. We need to better future. Then I would have a core in the church pay more attention to the way the gospel Go ahead and talk about it. Paul does. We — not a power kitchen cabinet — that you engages people living in today’s world. just so easily mess up and never admit how we could really let down your hair with. Some And I find a terrible lack of concern for mess up. believe if we ever admit failure then we haven’t preaching. I am constantly besieged by pulpit I’d say to pay more attention to realistic done it right because this is such a wonderful committee chairs saying, “We’ve been out hope. What can we do to take one, two or thing. But we are treasures in earthen vessels. there working for about a year and can’t find three baby-steps from the way we are doing anybody who knows how to preach.” things to a way of doing better? BT: You made reference to the failure of And, yet, that’s what we still do. We get Clearly we messed up race relations. We Baptists and other Christians regarding race together on Sunday and sit there to hear a just ran slavery and segregation — they both and women’s roles. A few years ago, in The sermon. were horrible. [Alabama] Mainstream Baptist newsletter, We’ve got to somehow pay more atten- Well, why did we do it? How do we get you wrote: “You tell me why you no longer tion to the kind of preaching that tells people over that — radically, deeper? believe what the Bible teaches about slavery how to live in this kind of world: where more How do we get over mistreating women and I will tell you why I no longer believe parents are working; latchkey children; the — putting them down, subordinating them? what you think the Bible teaches about pressures we are under today. Saying: “You work in the kitchen and nursery, women.” Can you play that out a little bit The authentic note of strong, relevant and we’ll do all the important things.” more? preaching is, to me, almost not being heard. How do we get over the way we stereo- So that’s a start. type ethnic groups? WEH: Mark Noll, the fine evangelical histo- If we could be honest and figure out how rian, has done some excellent work on how BT: What word — other than give attention to to call a church to take realistic steps, people and why the South “missed it” on slavery. strong, relevant preaching — would you say could say: “We can do that.” They had the Bible, believed it was inerrant, to moderate Baptist pastors who feel like So to the moderate Baptist pastor [I and followed it slavishly. they are juggling so many issues, even con- would say], get very open with a handful of flicts, and often deal with the fact they are key people. Go ahead and tell the people not the biggest show in town? where you hurt and where you’re disappointed. See HULL page 16 ­ May 2009 • Baptists Today | 15 F E A T U R E

­ HULL from page 15

And, of course, the Bible didn’t condemn Books by Bill Hull slavery. It allows it in the Old and New Harbingers of Hope: Claiming God's Promises in Today's World Testaments. Paul said if you’re a slave, stay a Strategic Preaching: The Role of the Pulpit in Pastoral Leadership slave. The Christian Experience of Salvation So they accused the abolitionists of being liberals. As Noll put it: “What [Southern Love in Four Dimensions Christians] would not learn from their Bible Beyond the Barriers they learned from those relentless theologians called Grant and Sherman.” WEH: Aug. 11 [2008], and then preached the swamped with letters, phone calls and visits In retrospect, what we have done is come sermon on Oct. 19. from people I haven’t seen in 50 years. to a post-slavery position not from the Bible I had been under doctors’ searching for There are seven 90-year-old women in a but because slavery lost. Now, we made a mis- my problem since early summer. Really, I’d Sunday school class at Crescent Hill Baptist take. We butchered the way we should have been having balance problems since about Church in Louisville who are praying for me. I used the Bible. April or May [2008]. knew them when they were 40-year-old The answer is you have to be Christo- They sent me eventually to [University of women. That was 50 years ago. centric. Jesus viewed humans in such a way Alabama at Birmingham’s] med school. It is I’ve had people get in the car — one that obviously makes no place for one person hard to diagnose. You have to have a muscle drove from Charlotte, one drove from to own another person. biopsy. I was three months getting a clear Louisville, one’s coming from Bowling Green. So I would say to [SBC leader] Paige diagnosis. They just want to sit for 30 minutes … and to Patterson — in fact, I’ve said to Paige: “You affirm the meaning of friendship. are not advocating slavery, but it is in the BT: How have you dealt with that spiritually Up close, the number of people who have Bible. By your hermeneutic, how do you keep and theologically? brought food or said, “I’ll drive you some- from doing that? If you will tell me how you where,” is just incredible. can dispense with slavery, I will tell you how I WEH: Theologically, I’ve gone to the Psalms So I have to ask, “Are the fears, frustra- can dispense with female subordination.” — a tremendous treasure — and to the rest of tions and even regrets over a terminal illness as Because they both belong to the same the Bible, which is very realistic about the fact great as the love and acceptance and support I that death is an integral, essential, inescapable have found?” worldview, which is hierarchal. They bow to part of life. Which is stronger: love or fear? “Perfect the view that there are masters and those Everything lives to die. This world is an love casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18 KJV). under them. apprenticeship or a journey within limits. So I I have been loved royally. And I’m not That was the view in the ancient world came to terms with that. going to destroy that in frenzied bitterness. and for 1,500 years: The king, pyramidal, as I would like to have lived longer. I’m 78, When I think of what to live for — if I head of the government; the pope, pyramidal, and I’d love to live to 88 or 98. But I’ve tried were to use this to become relentlessly selfish, as head of the Church; and the father, pyrami- to see death as a closure. it would deny something bigger than me. Call dal, as head of the family. In the Bible there is a tremendous correla- it the Spirit of God. Call it Christian commit- Then all of the sudden you begin to turn tion between birth and death, beginning and ment. the pyramid upside down. Finally, we came to ending. Jesus, in John, calls it “whence” and I’ll give you one illustration. I had a stu- what you can call “the right of the people.” “whither.” dent who got a terminal cancer when he was But Jesus called it “being servant of all.” “… [F]or I know whence I came, and in his 30s. He knew he had just two or three The people who want to cling to whither I go” (John 8:14 KJV). years to live, and he went berserk. [women’s] subordination verses — for every Well, birth is a death to the womb. It’s He abandoned his wife and little children. one of those verses I can show them a verse traumatic; you cry. They cut a cord and you He wanted an orgy of physical stimulation. I that says it’s OK to have slaves. You tell me bleed a little. ran into him and he said I’m just going to how you get rid of that and I will tell you how And, is earth a womb? And will we be snatch what I can in the little time I have. I get rid of the other. expelled into a vastly greater world? Anyway, I thought of that — and I can’t So I rest in the fact that God in his do that. It would betray what my wife thinks BT: I have read your sermon, “The Darkness wisdom made us to die and, therefore, we are of me, what my church thinks of me. that is Light,” that you preached at Mountain to seek a good death. So, am I coping by just living up to Brook Baptist Church. It was very moving and How do you cope? Because there is expectations? No. These expectations were cre- insightful. I won’t ask you to rehash that ser- tremendous pain in leaving behind a wife and ated by some hopes to which I gave myself, mon, but I would like to talk some about that children. Leaving work unfinished. and I’m not going to abandon them in the experience. When were you diagnosed with But I’ve been amazed at the capacity of 11th hour. ALS? people for sheer goodness. I have been 16 | Baptists Today • May 2009 F E A T U R E

BT: What are you seeing from the perspective And I told them: “You are basically about that [other] world. of your illness that you may not have before? interested in yourself and you spend the year He said that you can begin to glimpse it going through the rituals of reaffirmation. in little things. But someday you can maybe WEH: One thing is, I’m very alert. You have You’re letting the rest of the town go without see it expressed in power. The kingdom will no cognitive impairment with ALS. Your mind benefiting from what you have to offer. You come in power. is sharp even when you can’t swallow or need to get busy and contribute sweat equity If there really is just one world, you can’t breathe. I will die with a clear mind and a in building this city.” make any sense out of the teaching of Jesus. totally wasted body. It offended them, but they listened to me. So the question is: Do what we call spiri- One thing I realize is that people don’t And I said if we don’t throw the town open to tual virtues just come out of the gray matter? tell you so much of what they really feel. I’ve more than a handful of rich folks, we are going Are we hardwired to be good or bad? had people write me letters — that reduced to pay for it. And they did pay for it. It is the most deterministic thing in the me to tears — about what I had meant to But I’m learning now that this stuff we world. I made the argument that if religion is them. I had no earthly idea. call ministry — even when you don’t have just latent in our genes, why don’t we just One student from Louisville said, “All of much to show for it — you are making a naturally accept it? my ministry I’ve carried on the course I took profound influence on human lives. Why do we kill the prophets? Why did we from you. The themes recur in my preaching. There is nowhere else where you can get crucify Jesus? Why is it so hard [to live lovingly]? It’s almost as if I’ve lived out my ministry as a the agenda of: Why am I here? What do I The answer is because it’s a voice from stewardship of what I’ve learned.” want to pass on to my kids? another world. It is a world challenging our I didn’t know any of that. People are searching and, if you give them world. It’s a world in conflict with our world. some clues, they will love you for it. Jesus said there are people who seek to BT: And that person would have never shared take the kingdom by violence and misuse it. it otherwise … BT: In your Oct. 19 sermon at Mountain Brook But I began to basically say [to the Mountain you talked about the “two worlds.” Can you Brook congregation] that I’ve seen a different WEH: Oh, he would have never told me. But give us a little sense about that? kind of world. he thought, “This guy is going to die and I And I wanted to say to them: “You are want him to know it.” WEH: I knew that would probably be my last taught to be greedy, to be selfish. Look at So this gets back to the earlier question. public sermon in terms of my voice giving out. Bernard Madoff. Look at all the people that What it tells me is that the struggling moder- So I thought: whatever I’m going to say, I bet- just want to make a buck. Look at the politi- ate Baptist preacher is doing better than he ter say it — last chance. So, as the sermon cians who would do anything to get elected. thinks. People aren’t telling him. neared the end, I began to pack it too tightly. But you haven’t been treating me that way. When I resigned from Shreveport [First But what is called neuroscience is just the You have been loving me without any reward. Baptist Church], my members could walk up hottest thing out. Two pages in Newsweek; You’ve been good to me when I was not able and tell me whatever they wanted to — hug cover story in Time. to be good to you. Why are you living like that me or fuss over me face-to-face. It is evolution carried to the next stage. unless there are signals of transcendence But I was engulfed with letters from non- That is, chemical firings in the brain are bouncing off your radar screen?” members. I had been a civil advocate of trying responsible for love, courage, honesty, every- I basically said: I dare to believe that this to help the city reach its potential. All kinds of thing. It’s almost like a pinball machine. new world in the making is the real world that people wrote me. You can just talk about some subject — I will inherit when I put this world behind me. I was holding a revival for Cecil Sherman like happiness — and they are able to see what Now that’s not the same as pie-in-the-sky. in Asheville and took a briefcase full of letters. part of the brain activates it. It lights up and I’m saying: Whatever it was that led us to I was put in a hotel with two double beds and, turns red like a pinball machine. overthrow slavery, and led us to honor little in my spare time, organized my correspon- They say: “Ah-hah, happiness comes from children instead of putting them out, and led dence and answered those letters. I called it the upper left lobes in the brain” — and they us to care for the handicapped and afflicted, my invisible congregation. use a lot of big words. and led us to touch the leper — whatever this And I got a letter yesterday from a doctor But why does it come from there? Who everlasting mercy is — I sure didn’t invent it in Shreveport who said, “I never knew you put it there? and too often turn it down to my dismay. very well, but you helped me realize the claims So, what I saw was that the world is And if it is so wonderful, why do I not of the Christian faith.” being squeezed into a kind of one world. It’s live at my best? It’s because I’m a citizen of We tried to clean up a ghetto — substan- just pragmatism and empiricism with a two worlds. dard housing. vengeance. Reality is only what you can see or … If I could speak to the National experience in this world. Congress of Scientists, I’d say: “You want to be BT: Was it primarily a racial issue you were What I wanted to say was that Jesus was a religion. Let’s talk about your doctrine of the dealing with? constantly aware of the interplay of two church. Where do you assemble people and worlds. Everything he saw was emblematic of teach them to live by the highest summoning of WEH: It was primarily a class issue. I basically another world — a world of God. the human spirit? Where do you do that? What had the well-to-do in my church. I was loaded He said there is a kingdom of God and a do you read that we would call scriptures? How with the establishment. kingdom of Caesar. And he taught very clearly do you sing? How do you celebrate?” BT May 2009 • Baptists Today | 17 R E S O U R C E S

Brought to you this month 2009 by Janice Haywood The Resource Page ... creative and practical ideas Charting intentional discipleship with children ny journey by land or sea is more suc- ardship, worship, service, prayer or Bible study, to emotion, coercion or even expectations rather cessful when a route is charted. You discipleship practices can be established early. than the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Leaders A decide where you want to go and then and parents should provide a series of sessions to plan how you will get from your starting point 2. Assist parents in practicing faith disciplines help children clarify their understanding and to your destination, whether it is a place or an personally and with their children. response. These classes can be for children who experience. Discipleship is demonstrated most effec- have indicated they have made their commit- The same is true of the spiritual journey. tively in the home because of the amount of ment to Christ or for children who are asking It begins at birth, but we sometimes wait until time children are in relationship with their par- questions and need more direction. the journey is half over before we give it inten- ents, but most churches provide little assistance tional direction and attention. If we are clear for teaching parents how to be intentional in 5. Teach children personal faith practices after about what a fully committed follower of their “disciple making” role. Churches can help their commitment decision. Christ is, then we must start at birth to chart a parents in a number of ways: After children commit their life to follow- route rather than just hoping children will sim- • Offer seminars on how to incorporate faith ing Christ, most parents and church leaders ply find their way somehow. The Holy Spirit is practices into daily routine. forget that these children more than ever need a capable guide, but trustworthy adults who • Provide print, book and DVD resources that guidance to grow into men and women who are “God in skin” can help children to perceive give specific suggestions such as bedtime ritu- love God and love others. Here are some ways God’s prompting much as Eli helped young als for all ages, family service projects, sex churches and families can assist them: Samuel. Here are five tips for charting education or the impact of television on Parents can continue to read Bible stories intentional discipleship with children. children’s value formation. and pray with their children even after the chil- • Design opportunities for parents to grow in dren can read themselves. As children hear the 1. Teach and model discipleship practices their own faith, which will help them to live familiar stories, they will begin to hear them prior to a child’s conversion or commitment and communicate their faith more effectively with the “new ears” of their growing faith. Rich to becoming a Christ follower. with their children. dialog and prayer experiences can grow out of Even in the preschool years we begin to these bedtime, mealtime or anytime experiences. develop the habits of a disciple as we teach chil- 3. Design a church curriculum that has Involve children in worship leadership, dren to talk to God — not in rhymes or rituals, discipleship as a priority. not just worship “performance” on special but with conversational prayers. They learn Curriculum is more than a program or days. As they pray, read scripture, lead in a that they can say anything to God and God lis- series of programs offered on a certain day or litany or engage in other worship experiences, tens to them anytime and anywhere. Later they time. It is an overall educational and experien- children grow in their ability to understand will learn that they need to listen as well as talk tial design that focuses on equipping children that worship is more about giving than to God. Listening prepares them for the to become Christ followers. In all church pro- consuming. prompting of the Holy Spirit in their lives that grams leaders are aware that their goal is to Give children opportunities to grow in can lead to a commitment decision. inspire and engage children in disciple-making their service to others. Quarterly church mis- An appreciation for the Bible, its stories of experiences. This is more than indoctrination; sion projects or family mission experiences will people and God, and the wisdom it has for our it is encouraging children to choose to become help children to live in service to God and lives begins from birth. As we teach or read the a Christ follower of their own free will. others — just like Jesus. BT biblical stories to children and make learning verses engaging, we are encouraging lifetime 4. Offer new member classes or inquirer Note: Bible readers who will hunger and thirst after classes for children to have clarity about their Becoming Like Christ: Helping Children Follow its truths. commitment to becoming a Christ follower. Jesus is a series of six sessions to help children The missing element in establishing these Often parents and churches assume that understand the unique role of Jesus in God’s life-long practices as habits in the lives of our children who “join the church” understand what redemptive plan for people and how they can children is intentionality. Whether it is stew- it means. Unfortunately, many children respond choose to become Christ followers.

THE RESOURCE PAGE is provided by the Congregational Life office of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in partnership with Baptists Today and for those dedicated lay leaders working in the educational ministries of local churches. This month’s page was written by Janice Haywood (www.janicehaywood.com), a childhood ministry specialist living in Cary, N.C. Resource Page Archives are available at http://www.thefellowship.info/Resources/Church-Resources/Baptists-Today-resource-page.

18 | Baptists Today • May 2009 2009 Formations Commentary Bible Study resources for the adult Formations lessons available from Smyth & Helwys Publishing (www.helwys.com)

LESSONS FOR: On the other hand, the tax collector when “the haughty eyes of people shall be Sunday, June 7-28, “would not even look up to heaven” as he brought low, and the pride of everyone shall 2009 prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” be humbled” (Isa. 2:11). Yet with Luke’s Written by Ron Grizzle Imagine what might unfold today in our telling us the way Jesus felt about haughty and of Birmingham, Ala. churches were more persons to pray with that insolent behavior, and with Isaiah’s words as kind of honesty and transparency. well, we note those persons who make up We have read it in our Bibles, the verse their lives with continued arrogance. It is from 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is almost as if the Bible writers never even spoke faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and of this sinful, selfish attitude. cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We have Of course, in each of our communities June 7, 2009 attended enough Bible studies to be able to and in each of our life experiences, we have The sinner’s prayer quote Romans 10:13, “For ‘every one who noted the foolishness of those persons who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” esteem themselves too highly and others who Luke 18:9-14 We know what is right. We know what are willing to own up to their failures. The It seems that genuine humility no longer God expects. Our problem is that we know, news teems with persons, organizations, cor- exists. Rarely do we see anyone expressing any- but are afraid to do as the tax collector did. porations and governments who unwisely set thing resembling the characteristic of humility. We are afraid to come clean. their course of direction without regard for On the other hand, it is quite easy to see per- Note the first verse of the parable, in consequences to others. Their motto seems to sons’ displaying arrogance, for example, the which Jesus spoke to “some who trusted in be, “Me, me, me.” football player who makes a touchdown danc- themselves that they were righteous.” Likely, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols ing frenetically in the end zone or the Wall Jesus had noted the way some of the religious was featured in Sports Illustrated as saying, Street tycoon jutting his jaw as the handcuffs people in his day looked down upon the bro- “There is something more important to me — are placed on him for cheating his clients. ken members of society. The religious folks my relationship with Jesus Christ and caring Jesus applauded an authentic sense of had perhaps been very successful in keeping about others. More than this baseball. This humility and disdained arrogance. In the para- score of the do’s and don’ts of their faith — baseball is nothing to me.” Many observers ble from Luke 18:9-14, Jesus contrasted these fasting, tithing, praying loudly. However, Jesus will say Pujols is just like other athletes, two attitudes by giving us prayers from two would not let the Pharisee’s allegiance to the spouting off about their faith and then living different individuals, a Pharisee and a tax col- strictures of his faith trample over others. in ways that undermine what they say. But lector. Perhaps you have read this passage a Jesus also spotlighted the attitude of the Pujols appears to be different. He’s giving number of times, and can see in your mind’s tax collector as he dared not even look upward himself to the men and women of St. Louis eye the proud Pharisee who prayed, “God, I to heaven. The tax collector, a man who who have Down’s syndrome, and his wife Dee thank you that I am not like other people … received taxes while Roman soldiers stood Dee (who has a daughter with Down’s syn- even this tax collector.” nearby ready to assist him, admitted the sor- drome) says, “He really cares. He wants to be Fred Craddock wrote, “No one can doubt didness of his life. The only thing upon which a hero to people” (pp. 30-34, Sports [the Pharisee’s] disciplined adherence to the this tax collector could depend, in terms of Illustrated, March 16, 2009). moral and ethical code of his faith” (p. 211, God, was the Almighty’s being “merciful.” Whether or not we are ever called “a hero” Interpretation: Luke). But Jesus seemed to Odd, isn’t it? The man willing to admit like Pujols should not be uppermost in our shake his head sadly at other parts of the his foolish actions and his atrocious decisions minds. However, to be known as a man or Pharisee’s behavior. cries out to God for mercy, while the other woman who is honest enough to call on God I see the puffed-up Pharisee saying these man is unwilling to own up to anything for his mercy in our lives is a goal we all should words and almost spitting the words “tax immoral in his life and is confidently throwing have. The sins of our lives cannot be cleansed collector” out of his mouth and sneering. out his chest in comparison to his neighbor’s away merely by taking a brush to them, but Apparently, the Pharisee’s attitude in prayer is failure. However, as we know, God isn’t will require the action of God. And God is not hardly one of being conscious of God — the impressed with how we may act in comparison impressed with whether we are “like other peo- Pharisee seems to be conscious only of himself to others around us. God has in mind a ple” or how much of our income we offer him and the tax collector, and all he can do is standard he holds for all to emulate. or any other thing we seem to regard as impor- speak proudly of his own accomplishments Years before Luke presented this incident tant. What seems to matter is our attitude and speak disparagingly of the tax collector. from the life of Jesus, Isaiah wrote of a time about God’s grace and mercy.

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship provides these Bible study resources to church leaders through this supplement to Baptists Today. For more information on how CBF is “serving Christians and churches as they discover their God-given mission,” visit www.thefellowship.info or call 1-800-352-8741 F O R M A T I O N S C O M M E N T A R Y

June 14, 2009 It was a different matter altogether as don’t know what I need to say. My life is one Jesus came on the scene. The young man’s dif- huge question mark most days.” Thankfully, The struggler’s prayer ficulty was explained to Jesus. At first, Jesus we trust Jesus to do what only he can do. Mark 9:14-29 seems to have rolled his eyes and then asked of A friend of mine is a frequent soloist in his disciples, “You faithless generation, how worship. One of the pieces he sings is “No During these harsh economic times, some of much longer must I be among you? How One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus.” Written us may describe our prayers as those of some- much longer must I put up with you?” (v. 19). by Charles F. Weigle, it says something our one who is struggling. How do we pray for These words from Jesus must have crushed the hearts may often want to say: God to aid us in times when we are weak, egos of each one of those who sought to emu- No one ever cared for me like Jesus; frustrated and fearful? Are our words sensible late their Master. There’s no other friend so kind as he; to the Father, or do they sound more like Finally, Jesus voiced the words everyone No one else could take the sin and darkness whines? may have been hoping to hear: “Bring him to from me. Oh, how much he cared for me. Certainly in our text we see one person me” (v. 19). There was no drum roll or clash- I don’t think it’s too far from the mark to who owned up to being a struggler. His strug- ing of cymbals — just four words in the imagine this father in our text singing these gle is not related to the economy. He is the English text. I can imagine that Jesus even words had he known them. dad whose son cannot be helped by Jesus’ spoke those words rather softly. disciples. Beyond that, we hear the pitiful con- The disciples brought the boy to Jesus. fession the man makes to Jesus: “I believe; June 21, 2009 However, before Jesus was to do for the young help my unbelief.” man what he planned, the force directing the Haven’t we been in similar circumstances The servant’s prayer life of the boy “convulsed” him again. The at some point? Maybe our child did not suffer 1 Samuel 3:1-10 as this man’s son suffered, but we have been young man fell on the ground, rolled around engulfed by a severe crisis. Our faith wants to in the dust and foamed at the mouth. No Can a child hear the voice of God? Some stand stoutly on its own legs, but instead doubt some of the bystanders jumped back. experts may think it foolish that one of our those legs are clipped from beneath by a This was what they had seen in the past. sons or daughters could actually hear and measure of doubt, of fear, of unbelief. However, what had been true in the past was understand the voice of the Almighty. Our It is intriguing to note that this incident not to hold true for the future. The presence text in 1 Samuel 3 tells us that “the boy follows the story of the transfiguration of of Jesus made that much clear. Samuel” experienced God’s voice — not once, Jesus. Immediately following the account of At that moment, Jesus and the boy’s but repeatedly. Jesus being transfigured by the glory and father conversed, with the dad explaining to The late Dr. Ben Philbeck, who taught power of God is the disciples’ impotence. Jesus that his son had suffered these experi- me Old Testament at Midwestern Baptist What a contrast! You would think that some ences “from childhood.” The father went on Theological Seminary in the late 1970s, noted measure of Jesus’ glorification would have to explain that from time to time, the young that the biblical use of “boy” is na’ar, which spilled onto Jesus’ disciples as they have been man had fallen into the fire, and into water. In could refer to persons from infants to adults with him on that mountain. However, as the exasperation, the dad said, “If you are able to (p. 19, vol. 3, The Broadman Bible Commen- father of the troubled young man announces, do anything, have pity on us and help us” tary). Samuel evidently had not reached “I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, (v. 22). physical or mental maturity. He is serving but they could not” (v. 18). It is tempting to This sounds like the appeal of a frus- at this time as a personal attendant to the ask who really is the person challenged by per- trated, weary father. Each time the young man priest Eli. sonal unbelief in this moment — the disciples had collapsed into the fire, it probably had The tone of the passage starts out a bit of Jesus or the father. been his father who dragged the boy out. In harshly: “The word of the Lord was rare in The father described his son’s condition: times when the child had fallen into water, it those days.” Frankly, that goes against the “He has a spirit that makes him unable to was most likely his dad who had to rescue the grain for some of us who want to believe that speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes young man. Day and night, this dad pro- God speaks in all times and in all kinds of him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth tected, rescued, watched over his son, and the experiences. However, we must remind our- and becomes rigid …” (v. 18). Some have said demands were wearing him down. selves that there have been several occasions in the young man suffered with epilepsy. Others Jesus interrupted the dad’s plea, saying, history when persons have honestly ques- prefer to say the spirit that affected the young “If you are able.” It is almost as if Jesus said, tioned whether or not God was present. man was a demonic one. At any rate, the con- “What do you mean telling me this bit about, What about Jews who survived the dition deprived the young man from having a if I am able? Of course, I am able. I am the Holocaust? As they watched sons and daugh- normal life and caused much shame. Son of God.” But instead, Jesus said, “All ters and wives and husbands and parents die Of course, when the father turned to things can be done for the one who believes.” in the ovens, was God present? Or what about Jesus’ disciples, they were unable to do a thing Jesus did not shout disdainfully at the dad. those persons who watched the Twin Towers for the young man. Perhaps they attempted to Jesus did not shove the dad and his needy son crumble in New York on Sept. 11, 2001? say some of the things they had heard Jesus say away. “Immediately the father … cried out, ‘I Some of those men and women had friends, on other occasions. Maybe they prayed with believe; help my unbelief.’” business associates, even family members to the young man. But whereas the disciples may Unable to say it any other way, the father die. Was God simply looking the other way have thought they possessed some of Jesus’ expressed what many of us might have said in while all that tragedy took place? power, they obviously were empty-handed. the same situation. … “I am confused, Jesus. I Our text gives a hopeful note in verse 3: 20 | Baptists Today • May 2009 F O R M A T I O N S C O M M E N T A R Y

“The lamp of God had not yet gone out.” obedience of Samuel. any such impersonal item. God is so close to This is in one way an explanation of the day’s Maybe you are like me in that you don’t the Romans, they (and we) can call him chronology — it is bedtime for Samuel. But it cherish the role of being forced to serve as “Father.” is hardly time for God to sleep! Instead, God someone else’s servant. How would you like it The use of “Abba” in our text reflects disturbs Samuel — and ultimately all of Israel if someone else made each decision for you as something of the language of Jesus. In Mark — by calling Samuel’s name. Not once, but to how you spent your time each day? How 14:36, Jesus refers to God as Abba. This is the repeatedly, the Almighty calls to Samuel. would you handle the demands placed on you Aramaic word for father, and some say it is Samuel thinks the priest Eli is calling him. Yet, by others? What if you were unable to call any very intimate language, perhaps comparable each time Samuel goes to Eli, the older man portion of the days yours? with our saying, “Daddy.” declares that he has not, in fact, called. In some cultures through the years, that Again Paul uses family imagery when he has been the pattern. People are told by others Finally, Eli gets it. “Eli perceived that the speaks of “a spirit of adoption” (v. 15). He Lord was calling the boy.” The old priest com- what to think, what to eat, what to avoid — explains that God has not demanded of his municates to Samuel that he should await the this is “servanthood.” But God calls his people sons and daughters “a spirit of slavery to fall voice once again, and when the voice comes, to accept a different mindset toward servant- back into fear,” but has allowed us to experi- Samuel should say, “Speak, for your servant is hood. He does not wish to bully us into doing ence adoption. One of the thoughts that listening.” Doing as he is told, Samuel will his will. Rather, he wants us to choose to fol- emerges here is that God has chosen us to be now encounter the authentic voice of God. low what he says because he understands that close to him. The Eternal God has reached to Not overpowering Samuel, God patiently it will benefit us and his Kingdom. humanity and has brought us to his heart. He calls once more and Samuel responds. God In this text from 1 Samuel 3, we see apparently waits and waits until someone will- Samuel exhibiting authentic servanthood. has adopted us, not the other way around. ingly opens heart and soul to the thing the First, he serves the priest Eli. He makes him- In verses 26 and 27, Paul lifts up the Almighty wants to declare. Perhaps it is not self available to Eli, doing whatever the older notion of the Holy Spirit and his helping us to only so in ancient Israel, but also in our man requires. Even as Samuel hears the voice pray. Against all the background of family and culture today. in the night, he hastens to Eli, thinking Eli personal relationship to God, Paul notes that God may speak to a younger, less mature needs something. But, as the story unfolds, humankind is afflicted with “weakness,” person, as in the case of Samuel. Or God may the one crying Samuel’s name indeed needs which hinders our ability to pray “as we speak to others we do not sometimes sense as something. Or should we say, the one crying ought.” Up steps the Spirit to aid us in ways the person who should hear the voice of the Samuel’s name needs someone. that perhaps we could never imagine. Lord. Is God speaking to the person whose As the one crying your name makes his Paul tells us the “Spirit intercedes with national background is different from ours? Is will known to you, the wisest response may be sighs too deep for words.” What does Paul God declaring his intention to us through an the same as Samuel’s on that odd night long mean by that expression? Some observers think individual whose language is not the one we ago: “Speak, for your servant is listening.” that perhaps Paul here was writing about speak? And who gets to decide who is the “praying in tongues” (see vol. 10, p. 220, individual through whom the Almighty may June 28, 2009 The Broadman Bible Commentary). speak? Paul may be describing something of the Imagine the commotion if God chose The Spirit’s prayer nature of a mom who attempts to assist a today to speak through a black child in the Romans 8:12-17, 26-27 child who is in trouble with the dad. Mom urban environs of New York or Miami. doesn’t even have to say some things out loud Imagine what an uproar would unfold if God In Romans 8, it seems the apostle Paul climbs for her husband to understand. She communi- were to speak through a Mideastern woman to the top rung of his spiritual ladder. From cates to the heart of the father what the upset wearing traditional garb. Imagine if a his vantage point, Paul can see some of the child may be unable to put into words. Hollywood actor showed up on the David ways of God in their clearest expression. I can recall how my own mom “inter- Letterman show saying that God had given For example, in this chapter is part of ceded” with my dad on my behalf or on the him a message for modern America. Paul’s remarkable grasp of prayer. In verse 12, behalf of one of my three brothers. In a family We do not laugh at our text, however. Paul uses the language of family and of inti- with four boys, it seemed that one or the other Samuel declared forthrightly and clearly, macy to lay out something of his goal for of us was often in trouble. Whereas Dad “Speak, for your servant is listening.” This is prayer. Paul Achetemeier notes the sentence, might have wanted to react quickly and the prayer that characterizes Samuel’s willing- “They treated us just like family,” in calling ness to put himself before the will of God. attention to the way Christians are to treat strongly to our foolish choices, Mom — some- Nothing else matters now to Samuel — not one another, and how God treats us (p. 137, times without saying a word — could let my his bedtime routine, not the needs of Eli, not Interpretation: Romans). dad know that the problem had already been the nearby lamp that causes smoke to fill the The apostle refers to the Romans as dealt with. room. Only God matters. Only the words “brothers and sisters,” speaking with warmth Of course, all of our scratching and claw- from God matter. and affection to those connected with him to ing with these verses in Romans 8 are prelude God’s words to Samuel that night meant Christ. In verse 14, he continues with the lan- to what is given in verse 27. Paul focuses now punishment for Eli and for his family. guage of relationship, saying the Romans are on the partnership of God and the Holy However, Samuel made himself available to “children.” Paul intends his audience to know Spirit. He acknowledges that God “knows listen to God, and God chose to honor the that God is much more than a rock or tree or what is in the mind of the Spirit.” May 2009 • Baptists Today | 21 C O M M E N T A R Y C L A S S I F I E D S

Most married couples can catch the sig- First Baptist Church is an American Baptist Church First Baptist Church of Greensboro, N.C., is seek- nificance of what Paul is saying. Hasn’t every located in Topeka, the capital city of Kansas. We ing an associate pastor for adult education. The husband “read the mind” of his wife at some are seeking a full-time senior pastor to lead our candidate should possess experience in adult 700-member congregation and 10-person profes- learning, enthusiasm for education, good adminis- point? Hasn’t every wife spoken the same sional staff into a new phase of growth and trative and people skills, an advanced religious words as her husband simultaneously at ministry. The senior pastor’s responsibilities studies degree (seminary preferred), and a heart some time? Is that perhaps akin to what is include preaching, spiritual and administrative for evangelism and discipleship. The search com- being noted in this verse? Can God and the leadership of the ministerial staff and lay member- mittee is seeking a full-time associate pastor, but Holy Spirit be in such close linkage with one ship, teaching, pastoral care, and community would be open to candidates who desire part-time another that they work together in under- outreach. Candidates must have completed a mas- work focused on adult education. A full-time asso- standing some of our prayers? ter’s degree from an accredited seminary, with a ciate pastor would focus on adult education, but One of Baptists’ best minds in terms of doctorate degree preferred, and have significant would also assume additional responsibilities experience as the senior minister of another based on his or her gifts and talents. Additional Romans was Dale Moody, the well-known Baptist church. We desire that the person called to responsibilities might include missions, family life professor at Southern Seminary for years. He join us will evidence a deep devotion to Christ, and coordination of team ministries. FBC is a 150- noted in the Broadman Bible Commentary possess exceptional preaching skills, exercise year-old, 1,000-member congregation situated in the Old Testament sense that God searches strong leadership and visionary qualities that will the heart of downtown Greensboro (pop. 224,000). human hearts (1 Sam. 16:7; Jer. 17:10; Psalm enable our church to grow, and have a heart for We are a strong missions-minded church and 139:1, 23; 1 Chron. 28:9). However, Moody evangelism through missions. To read our church traditional in worship. We honor the 1963 Baptist noted that the idea of intercession of the profile, visit www.fbctopeka.org. Submit résumés Faith & Message, support the Cooperative Baptist Spirit with God is a concept found where the to: Walter Schoemaker, Chairman, Pulpit Fellowship and uphold our church covenant that Committee, First Baptist Church, 3033 SW stipulates those things we have promised to God New Testament moved toward trinitarianism. MacVicar Ave., Topeka KS 66611. and to one another. Additional information about Isn’t it remarkable that there is such pro- FBC may be found at www.fbcgso.org. Submit gression in our Bible? In the centuries of the cover letter and résumé to: Search Committee Old Testament, God was at work seeking to Elizabethtown Baptist Church, located in the county for Ministry of Education, First Baptist Church, know and to communicate with the heart of seat of Bladen County, N.C., and affiliated with P.O. Box 5443, Greensboro, NC 27435, or humanity. He offered his people covenant both the SBC and CBF, is prayerfully seeking the [email protected]. relationship. He led them out of bondage in next senior pastor of our church. Elizabethtown Baptist is a diverse church with a rich history of Egypt, and into the Promised Land. worship and ministry. All our ministries seek to Azalea Baptist Church in Norfolk, Va., a moderate There developed later an intimate part- honor God and equip the congregation to be mature church affiliated with the BGAV and the CBF, seeks nership involving God the Father, God the and effective disciples of Christ in the world. Some a full-time director of Christian ministries to Spirit and God the Son. Perhaps one way to features of our church include a strong music pro- develop, implement and oversee educational pro- grams. For a detailed job description, send résumé understand what was developing is that God gram, an active youth program, and a children’s along with work history and official school tran- sensed a desire not only to partner with preschool and Christian Activity Center utilized by scripts to: J. Francis, Search Committee, Azalea our church family and the community. The senior human beings in relationship, but that the Baptist Church, 3314 E. Little Creek Rd., Norfolk, pastor will be expected to provide visionary leader- Father also desired a deep relationship with VA 23518. ship for our congregation’s future, and will possess the Spirit and the Son. strong leadership skills with a focus on worship, It is that personal sense of God’s nature preaching, prayer, pastoral care, and leading out- An historic church in Beaufort, S.C., is seeking an that some find most appealing. Our God is reach ministries to our community. Collaborative individual who is called to be a minister to stu- not like the deities of other cultures who had leadership with the church’s ministry staff and dents. The individual who fills this position will be names and attributes given to them by men other staff members and lay leaders will be primarily responsible for ministry with middle and and women living in that particular culture. required. The successful candidate will have an high school students, while providing staff leader- Instead, our God is a personal, sensitive deity earned Master of Divinity degree and significant ship to college students. A master’s degree from who desires to know us by name, to know experience in ministry. Letters of interest and an accredited seminary is required, and three résumés may be sent to: ebcsearch@embarq- the inclinations of our personalities and years of experience will be helpful. Send résumé mail.com or Pastor Search Team Chairman, including philosophy of ministry to: Ms. Pat Nolan, the like. And beyond that, our God has Elizabethtown Baptist Church, 1800 W. Broad St., Chairperson, Minister to Students Search the distinct desire to unite with others in Elizabethtown, NC 28337. Committee, P.O. Box 879, Beaufort, SC 29901. developing partnership. Could it be that our God seeks to expe- rience the same kind of “family” relationship ADVERTISE WITH BAPTISTS TODAY with others that Paul sensed in writing about Print Display Ads Print Classified Ads Web Classified Ads our family connections? BT Black-white / color • line: $1.50 per word • line: 75¢ per word • Back cover $2200 (color) • 1/3 page: $450 • 1/3 page: $225 For Sale: Back issues of Baptists Today • Full page $1400 / $1800 • 1/6 page: $225 • 1/6 page: $112.50 • 2/3 page $1000 / $1325 $2.50 each • 1/2 page $775 / $1000 Web Display Ads Details, ad reservations: • 1/3 page $500 /$ 650 • Banner: $150 / week Credit card orders: (478) 301-5655 • 1/4 page $375 / $500 • Side box: $75 / week [email protected] Mail orders: Baptists Today, P.O. 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22 | Baptists Today • May 2009 Keeping up with people, places, and events I N T H E K N O W

PEOPLE International Speedway. He was featured in her doctorate from Vanderbilt University. the October 2005 edition of Baptists Today. Charles B. Bugg will retire from Gardner- William J. Reynolds died March 28 in Webb University June 30 where he serves as C. Ben Mitchell will become the Graves Nashville at age 88. He worked for 25 years professor of church ministry and leadership Professor of Moral Philosophy at Union in the church music department of the and as director of the Center for Transform- University in Jackson, Tenn., this fall. A bio- Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist ational Leadership. Earlier he was dean of the medical ethicist, Mitchell comes from Trinity Convention and edited the 1975 Baptist university’s divinity school. He now serves as Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill. Hymnal. He composed hundreds of hymns intentional interim pastor of Grace Crossing He is the editor of Ethics and Medicine: An including “Share His Love” and “People to Church in Charlotte. International Journal of Bioethics and a con- People.” He taught at Southwestern sultant to the Southern Baptist Ethics & Seminary from 1980-1998. John Campbell died March 4 in Abilene, Religious Liberty Commission Texas, at age 73. He was retired professor of Sid Smith died April 8 in Jacksonville, Fla., organ and church music at Hardin-Simmons H. Franklin Paschall died April 10 at age 86. at age 65. He was the first director of the University. His wife Lillie described him as a He was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Florida Baptist Convention's African- Nashville, Tenn., from 1956 until his retire- “perfectionist musician” who was modest American ministries division from May 1994 ment in 1983, and served as president of the about his talent, according to a local news- until his retirement Oct. 31, 2005. Smith Southern Baptist Convention (1966-68). paper. He also served as organist for the First began his work among Southern Baptists in Baptist Church of Abilene for several years. Woodrow M. Pinson of Orlando, Fla., died 1968 as the South Central Los Angeles direc- Feb. 21 at age 92. He did mission work in tor of Christian social ministries for the Peter JB Carman will become pastor of Olin Chicago and served churches in Kentucky, Southern Baptist Home Mission Board (now T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church in Tennessee, South Carolina and Florida. known as NAMB). In 1979, he began an 11- Chapel Hill, N.C., on May 15. He comes Among his Florida pastorates were First year tenure with the Southern Baptist Sunday from the pastorate of Lake Avenue Baptist Baptist of Inverness, Eastside Baptist in School Board (now known as LifeWay), first Church in Rochester, N.Y., and has previ- Orlando and Starke Lake in Ocoee. He is as a consultant and then as manager of the ously held ministry positions in the First survived by his wife of 68 years, Edna, along black church development section, as well as Baptist Church of Pittsfield, Mass., and Lime with two daughters and their families. serving as part-time pastor of several African- Rock Baptist Church in Lincoln, R.I. American congregations in the Nashville area. Lev Herrington Prichard III died April 7 in Thomas Stewart Field died March 12 in Corpus Christi, Texas, at age 72. An active J. Carroll Trotter died March 12 in Concord, Springfield, Mo., at age 93. He was president Baptist layman and supporter of numerous N.C., at age 91. An Alabama native, he of William Jewell College from 1970-1980. causes, he was honored by Baylor University taught preaching at Southeastern Seminary in Also he held pastorates in New Jersey, New with a honorary degree and the Herbert H. Wake Forest, N.C., from 1955-1983. He York, Georgia, Louisiana and Missouri. He Reynolds Award for Meritorious Service. A served as interim pastor for more 50 N.C. served two terms as president of the Missouri memorial service was held at Corpus Christi's churches. Baptist Convention while pastor of First First Baptist Church where he was a longtime John Wells will join Mars Hill College this Baptist Church of Springfield. member. summer as vice president for academic and Susan Gunby will retire as dean of Mercer Eileen Campbell-Reed is associate director for student affairs, following the retirement of University’s Georgia Baptist College of the Learning Pastoral Imagination project of Nina Pollard. Wells currently serves as an Nursing on July 1. She has worked at the Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. She is a administrator at Young Harris College in school for more than 40 years and served as Nashville-based Baptist minister who received Georgia. BT dean for more than 20. She will return to the classroom full time. Central Seminary receives $2 million gift for new chapel Michael Handy is minister of music and sen- ior adults at First Baptist Church of Sanford, SHAWNEE, Kan. (ABP) — Central Baptist and progressive Baptist organizations, N.C. Handy previously served at First Baptist Theological Seminary will be able to build brings total pledges in the campaign to Church of Pine Bluff, Ark. a chapel on its new Shawnee, Kan., campus $6.2 million. thanks to a $2 million gift from a promi- It will fund Central’s proposed Baugh- Dick Lewallen is director of spiritual services nent Baptist family foundation. Marshall Chapel. The building’s name and chaplain at Abbey Delray retirement com- The John and Eula Mae Baugh follows Baugh Foundation practice in munity in Delray Beach, Fla. He has had a Foundation of San Antonio pledged the memorializing the charity’s founders and long career in campus ministry and chaplaincy. money toward the seminary’s $8 million honoring the president of the institution to Hal Marchman died March 15 at age 89. For “Cultivating Excellence” campaign, school which the building is donated, in this case 28 years he was pastor of Central Baptist officials announced March 12. Central President Molly Marshall. Church in Daytona Beach, Fla. He was also The gift from the foundation — which Construction on the Baugh-Marshall cofounder of a substance abuse treatment cen- has provided support to several moderate Chapel will begin this summer or fall. BT ter there and longtime chaplain at Daytona May 2009 • Baptists Today | 23 P E R S P E C T I V E r e a d e r s ’ r e s p o n s e s

A champion lost He was a theologian of the church with The church and its pastors are the early EDITOR: With the death of Philip Wise on a gift for extraordinary clarity in his writing warning system of our culture. We are the March 30, the moderate Baptist cause lost and speaking. He was a pastor-teacher; in his canary in the mineshaft. one of its champions. counseling he was helpful in a practical way; Most of us were visiting AIDS patients Even before 1979, Philip took seriously in his preaching and teaching he was pro- years ago, before the newspapers and the cul- the campaign to change the leadership in the foundly biblical; in his administrative work ture realized what kind of issue it was. We were Southern Baptist Convention and began to he was a visionary who understood how to dealing with families in crises after the no-fault work to prevent that change. In the ’80s he get things done. divorce came into being, long before anyone saw that the new leaders were going to pre- As was evident at a memorial service for wrote editorials about families in crises. vail, and in 1990 threw himself energetically him held at Samford University on April 3, We were dealing with teenage pregnan- and unselfishly into the work of the move- Philip was an intensely loyal friend. One of the cies, abortions and all of these crises before ment that became the Cooperative Baptist last things he wrote was a lovely and thought- any sociological studies were made about Fellowship. ful essay on friendship as a theological virtue. them or before the culture took it seriously. As is evident in the book Fundamentalism A group of Philip’s friends has written a In the ’50s we were blessed to have only which he co-authored, his motive for this was book honoring him; it is titled For Faith and three channels on our television sets and, theological and pastoral: he believed deeply Friendship and will be published later this year. thank the Lord, we didn’t have email that that the moderate Baptist way is a truer and A few days before he died I asked Philip gives instant communication. better way to be a follower of Jesus in our if his dying had led him to adjust his faith in In the early days our people had not world than the way of Fundamentalism. It any way. He said, “No, everything is all heard three star-studded television evangelists puzzled him that moderates are sometimes right.” with their Grammy Award-winning music on diffident about that. Indeed it is; we celebrate the reason on their programs before they arrived at church. In high school, Philip had been a Easter. Requiescat in pace. They had not heard the preaching of master- National Merit Scholar and an all-state bas- Fisher Humphreys, Birmingham, Ala. fully crafted but theologically lame sermons ketball player. He completed his under- (Dr. Humphreys is retired from Samford University’s by television evangelists who had a staff of graduate degree at Samford University with Beeson Divinity School where he taught theology.) writers. honors. His master’s degree at New Orleans These evangelists had not spent their Veteran pastor concurs with Baptist Theological Seminary was an honors time trying to visit the sick, hold marriages challenges at hand degree, and later he earned his doctorate together and keep a church from going there after three years of advanced studies in EDITOR: I just read “Pastorate Is Tougher under. Nevertheless, the local church is still theology at Oxford. Now” (April 2008, Reblog, page 37). No the best game in town and the best thing Since his youth Philip had been a natural truer words were ever written. God has going. leader, and he placed his spiritual gifts for I have been a pastor since Adam and Eve It’s tough but the church is worth the leadership in the service both of the churches were thrown out of the Garden, and it’s a lot effort. Thanks for noticing. Keep up the he served in Alabama and Texas and also of more difficult now than it was in the early good work. the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the days. We faced a few social issues, but we had Bill Self, Alpharetta, Ga. Baptist World Alliance and other good causes. a culture that gave us support. (Dr. Self is pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church.)

This forum gives readers a chance to participate in respectful, though often passionate, dialogue on important issues. Your opinion is welcomed. Please include your name, address and phone number, and limit your letters to 200 words. Send by e-mail to [email protected], by fax to (478) 301-5021, or by mail to Editor, Baptists Today, P.O. Box 6318, Macon, GA 31208-6318.

24 | Baptists Today • May 2009 P E R S P E C T I V E g u e s t c o m m e n t a r y On marriage, time to separate civil from ecclesiastical By Jonathan Lindsey ASSOCIATED BAPTIST PRESS

n this 400th-anniversary year of Baptist there are clear legal and civil procedures to some extent, since only the civil nature of history it’s time for Baptists to take the engage in order to dissolve the civil relation- the relationship can be dissolved by civil I lead — and invite other ecclesiastical ships and responsibilities of marriage. authorities and the religious nature of the bodies to join them — in removing one of If we treat marriage as a civil relation- relationship can be dissolved by ecclesiasti- the final vestiges of theocracy in the United ship in all instances, the civil nature of the cal authorities where annulment is an States. relationship would function under the option. From the earliest days of the settlement authority of civil servants duly elected So, it’s time to change. Where states of this country by Europeans, the theocratic and/or appointed to exercise the function of specifically require clergy to register, that practice of clergy functioning as civil offi- declaring two persons should no longer be required. In states cials has been practiced notably in the married. Removing the where clergy have been accorded de facto performance of marriage ceremonies. civil authority from authority, that practice should be discontin- Baptists who truly believe in separating clergy would clarify the ued. the functions of church and state should ecclesiastical authority Marriage would then be clearly under- have long ago protested this unholy under which clergy stood as a relationship defined and governed alliance. But, becoming acculturated and perform marriage. by civil laws. Where ecclesiastical blessing benefiting from certain forms of cultural Thus, persons is sought, whether for social or religious dominance regionally, we along with our seeking a civil relation- reasons, that too would be clear. Protestant colleagues have continued to ship only would choose a civil ceremony. I think Roger Williams would approve practice this joining of a religious act with a Couples who desire both a civil union and this change based on his articulation of the civil act. the recognition or blessing of a religious limits of political and ecclesiastical powers When a clergyperson performs a wed- relationship by an ecclesiastical authority or in The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution. Now, ding ceremony, he or she often announces community would have that option. more than 350 years later, it’s time for — as is sometimes required — that he or However, to choose only an ecclesiastically Baptists who truly believe in the separation she is acting by the authority granted by recognized relationship would mean to of church and state to help put an end to the state or other jurisdiction in which the forego the protections and benefits this holdover from 17th-century theocratic wedding is being performed. Even if the accorded in a civil relationship. behavior. BT minister does not explicitly cite the civil It may be necessary that one of these authority they’ve been given, the act of relationships be declared as primary on an —Jonathan Lindsey is a retired administra- signing the marriage license (a civil docu- official basis. This is already the case to tor and faculty member at Baylor University. ment) makes the pastor, priest or rabbi an agent of the civil authority. Thus, you have a mixture of civil and religious authority in the act. In this country, marriage is a civil rela- tionship, governed by the laws of the state or federal territory in which the marriage occurs, and recognized by the mutual con- sent of other states. Domestic affairs have been the purview of the states, normally regulated at the state and local levels. But, as a civil relationship, there are federal rights, responsibilities and benefits that accrue to persons who are married. And

May 2009 • Baptists Today | 25 I N F O R M A T I O N Kentucky seminary honors Hinson for his half century of teaching Baptists

By Bob Allen the floodwaters roll over me.” “If that is true,” he concluded, “our Associated Baptist Press Supported by family, colleagues and world has to be in an awful mess.” friends, Hinson said he finally came to Inspired by the encounter and sub- EXINGTON, Ky. — The Baptist accept what the apostle Paul wrote in First sequent trips to Gethsemane, Hinson Seminary of Kentucky honored one Corinthians about his “thorn in the flesh,” introduced a course on Classics of Christian L of its founding professors for 50 hearing a message from the Lord, “My Devotion that quickly became one of the years of teaching by launching an endowed grace is sufficient for you.” most popular classes on campus. It also lecture series in his name in March. One of the things Hinson, 77, said he began to influence a generation of Baptist The free-standing Baptist school on the learned over 50 years of teaching is “that church historians to integrate spirituality campus of the Disciples of Christ-related you have to play the into their teaching about church history. Lexington Theological Seminary established hand you are dealt.” One of Hinson’s former students, Loyd the E. Glenn Hinson Lecture Series to That means teachers Allen, now a professor at McAfee School of honor the life and work of its senior profes- “should take account of Theology in Atlanta, said all 15 of the mod- sor of church history and spirituality. Future your limitations.” erate Baptist seminaries, divinity schools lectures will build on Hinson’s legacy of “I wouldn’t give and houses of studies started since the study in spiritual formation, church history, you a nickel for deaf- 1980s have an emphasis on spiritual forma- ecumenism and Baptist history. ness,” he said, “but, let tion. Each individual teaching those classes Baptist Seminary of Kentucky President me say, I wouldn’t take has some personal connection with Hinson. Greg Earwood said knowledge of his field, a million dollars for “Glenn started a good work of spiritual experience in the classroom, passion about what I have learned because I have had to formation among us, but it is far, far from teaching and love for Christ and the church cope with this handicap.” over,” Allen said.” If we truly wanted to made Hinson a natural choice when the Hinson said he probably would have honor him, then what we would do is put school set out to hire its first faculty been a better teacher with good hearing, our energy and our resources into seeing members in 2001. but he benefited from improving hearing- that his work of contemplation and action But Earwood said Hinson, a lightning aid technology that allowed him to on spiritual formation for ministers and rod for attacks from the right during the continue his work. Once more at the point laity continues.” Southern Baptist Convention controversy of being unable to function in a classroom, John Inscore Essick, recently named in the 1970s and 1980s, feared he might Hinson soon will have cochlear implants assistant professor of church history and hurt the seminary’s reputation and attempts installed. Hinson’s successor at the Kentucky semi- to raise money. Hinson said a second lesson he learned nary, introduced a panel of Hinson’s former “Of course none of that has come to while teaching came in 1960, when he took students responding to his remarks. be,” Earwood said. “Dr. Hinson has been a his first church-history class on a field trip “Seminary professors are often, for bet- valuable representative of our seminary, to the Abbey of Gethsemane. Their host ter or for worse, like a stone dropped into a faithful in his commitment to us, a blessing was Thomas Merton, a Trappist Catholic calm pool,” Essick said. “Ripples, endless and encourager to me, and we are grateful.” monk who wrote more than 60 books on ripples, go out from that point.” Hinson’s teaching career nearly ended spirituality. To Hinson’s horror, one of his “You,” he said to Hinson, “have been as soon as it began. Near the end of his first students asked why someone with Merton’s like a very fine stone dropped into a very year at Southern Baptist Theological intellect would waste his life in a monastery. needy pool, and you have left many ripples Seminary in 1959, Hinson noticed trouble Hinson said that, rather than rebuking as a result of that.” hearing some of the questions of his stu- the student, Merton smiled and answered: The Baptist Seminary of Kentucky dents. That began decades of worsening “I am here because I believe in prayer. That began classes in 2002 with 14 students and deafness, which continued to dog him is my vocation.” held its first commencement with three throughout his career. “You could have knocked me over with graduates in 2005. To date the seminary has Not much later, due to working 20 a feather,” Hinson said. “I had never met graduated 13 students. The school offers hours a day completing a dissertation while anyone who believed in prayer enough to two master of divinity degrees, taught by carrying a full teaching load, he wore down think of it as a vocation.” three full-time and 15 adjunct faculty. and also lost his voice. Hinson pondered Merton’s words Before coming to the Kentucky semi- “The loss of one vital faculty is diffi- alongside the Protestant rubric, “God has nary, Hinson taught at Baptist Theological cult, but the loss of two in quick succession no hands but our hands, no feet but our Seminary at Richmond from 1992 until can be overwhelming,” Hinson said. “I felt feet, no voice but our voice.” retiring in 1999. BT

26 | Baptists Today • May 2009 I N F O R M A T I O N Reconciliation, collaboration echoed at Baptist Border Crossing celebration

Story and photo by Bill Webb judgmentalism; God will reward you for Word & Way that.” The example of Philip and the Ethiopian IBERTY, Mo. (ABP) — Speakers chal- was a classic example of border crossing, lenged nearly 1,000 ministers and Coffey said, noting it called for an Arab L laypeople from several Baptist denom- Christian to share the gospel with a black inational groups and Midwestern states to man — high up in government — who had become agents of reconciliation, collaboration been castrated. and justice during the Baptist Border Like Philip, be creative, know how to Crossing April 2-4 at Pleasant Valley Baptist apply the Bible and trust the providence of Church in Liberty, Mo. God, Coffey said. The event was the second of four Knight, also founder of Can Do Mini- regional New Baptist Covenant celebrations stries, reminded listeners of the imperative to set for 2009 — the outgrowth of a national cross borders to engage in the simple act of meeting held in Atlanta in 2008. bringing others to Christ. President Jimmy Carter was present Pointing to the account of a paralyzed during the Friday morning worship session, man being lowered to the feet of Jesus by sharing the platform with African-American four determined friends, she suggested every- preacher and evangelist Carolyn Ann Knight. one present could relate to the paralytic. Referencing his unsuccessful efforts to bridge “Someone, somewhere, took you to divisions in the Southern Baptist Convention, church, told you about Jesus.... Someone Carter called listeners to come together, prayed for you,” she said, noting the helpless especially setting aside racial differences. Carolyn Ann Knight urged diverse Baptists man received healing and salvation because to bring others to Christ. Jim Hill, executive director of the Baptist Jesus noted the faith of the man’s friends. General Convention of Missouri, co-chair experience of crossing the border between As the four friends discovered, “getting of the event with Wallace S. Hartsfield II, Jews and Gentiles to evangelize Cornelius, people to Jesus is not easy,” she said. “Being a senior pastor of Kansas City’s Metropolitan Goatley observed, “It wasn’t Peter’s idea to Christian is not easy. It is not comfortable Missionary Baptist Church, said organizers color outside the lines; it was God’s revelation. and smooth.... God wants to use you — your “felt we needed to get to know each other in “At the times God colors outside our faith — to lift someone up.” the communities where we live.” lines, some of us are stressed,” he added. In an animated closing sermon, speaker, “It really is our prayer that God starts “[But] God is in the habit of calling us out- author and professor Tony Campolo com- something among us that we can’t control,” side the lines we have been coloring inside.” pared the fall of ancient Babylon — he said. “My life is made up of border crossings,” destroyed by materialism — to America. Hartsfield outlined the three-point goal Baptist World Alliance president David In Babylon, almost anything was avail- of organizers. Coffey of Great Britain said, noting he had able for purchase, he said, including people. “We challenge you to meet at least one visited Egypt in January, Jamaica and Cuba “There is growing up in Babylon another person at this meeting and forge a relation- in February and Jordan and Romania in city; it is the church of Jesus Christ.” ship,” he said. “We challenge churches to March. “We have sought the welfare of our- make a commitment with another church.” Coffey credited Carter with “rehabilitat- selves, not the welfare of others,” he charged. After forming those relationships, he said the ing the good name of Baptist people.” “The church has got to be different” and pur- next step would be to collaborate on ministry Citing the experience of Philip in bring- sue justice for those in their communities projects. ing the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch, who are most vulnerable, he said. North American Baptist Fellowship pres- Coffey reminded listeners to be sensitive to Wallace S. Hartsfield Sr., now retired as ident David Goatley, who also is executive God’s calling, be prepared to make sacrifices pastor of Metropolitan, the church of which director-secretary of the Lott Carey Foreign (“it goes with the gospel”) and not to be his son is pastor, reinforced Campolo’s call to Mission Convention, told participants, “I judgmental. seek justice for the vulnerable. BT have a hunch that God is not particularly “Some of you have been wounded” by concerned about the lines we have drawn.” disinformation, denigration and discrimina- —Bill Webb is editor of Word & Way, the Preaching about Peter’s unexpected tion, he said. “But you have to stand against historic newspaper of Missouri Baptists.

May 2009 • Baptists Today | 27 P E R S P E C T I V E t h e l i g h t e r s i d e Saving Jesus an aisle seat By Brett Younger

hen I was nine years old, I Crash portrays people who are a In Jesus Christ, Superstar, Jesus acts heard a preacher at a revival mixture of saint and sinner. Who knew an more likely to tie-dye a T-shirt than clear W say, “Before you buy a ticket, obnoxious racist could also be a loving son? the temple. ask yourself, ‘Is this a movie I would be Or that Matt Dillon — who also starred in In The Passion of the Christ, Jesus is a proud to be watching if Jesus comes back Herbie Fully Loaded — could play both? superhero who withstands more torture in the middle of it?’” Field of Dreams makes me want to call than the audience can watch. You might think this would curtail my my father, play catch with my son and In The Last Temptation of Christ, Jesus movie going, but I took it wrong. I figured forgive Kevin Costner for Waterworld. seems too confused to be capable of writ- that if Jesus was coming back soon I didn’t Hoosiers may look like it’s about tiny ing any portion of the Sermon on the need to study or clean my room. I should Hickory High’s Indiana state basketball Mount. go to the movies. I’ve seen a lot of movies championship, There aren’t many, but some wonder- waiting on the second coming. but it’s really about ful movies take faith seriously. Admittedly, some films prove the evan- second chances and In Doubt, Philip Seymour Hoffman gelist’s point. I would be a smarter person the gift of grace. and Meryl Streep personify doubt and con- if I had not seen most of Will Ferrell’s Robin Williams viction. Hoffman’s priest raises the question movies. (I did have the good judgment to plays a messianic of whether doubt can hold a church miss Step Brothers.) I realize that I should teacher in The Dead together. stop attending movies involving vampires, Poets’ Society who In Tender Mercies, Robert Duvall gets aliens or Adam Sandler. I imagined hearing implores his students, sober, gets baptized, sings in the choir and Jesus laughing at me during Mamma Mia. “Carpe diem. Seize the day. Make your puts his life back together. Since the story There are movies, however, that have lives extraordinary.” His preaching isn’t far is set in Texas, he writes country songs more to say than some revival preachers. from “have life and have it abundantly.” about it. These films usually don’t mention Jesus by Jesus has to have a soft spot for any In Shadowlands, Anthony Hopkins name, but they are about the kind of truth movie that helps us walk in the shoes of plays C.S. Lewis coming to grips with the Jesus proclaimed. They help us understand strangers. heartbreaking death of his wife Joy — who what it means to love, hate, suffer and My guess is that Jesus doesn’t care for should not have been played by Debra celebrate. most of the films that are supposed to be Winger. I could have done without the out- about him. He seldom challenges anyone The Mission presents the tragic story house scene, but Slumdog Millionaire isn’t in the movies. Jesus is usually depicted as of a Jesuit priest in Brazil destroyed by the just about money, fame and fortune; it’s too boring for us to imagine religious church’s greed. about faith, hope and love. people wanting to execute him. In Babette’s Feast, the main characters have substituted religion for life, but in the middle of a supper paid for by lottery “Yes, I want to subscribe today!” winnings, they discover communion. Susan Sarandon’s nun in Dead Man print subscription I have enclosed a check in the amount of $ ______Walking has real faith as well as real doubts. J 1 year $20 Gandhi didn’t memorize the Four J Name ______2 years $35 Spiritual Laws, but as a turn-the-other- online subscription Address ______cheek Hindu, he puts Christians to shame. J 1 year $15 City ______State _____ Zip ______If Jesus comes back in the middle of J 2 years $25 one of those films, I’ll suggest that we stay Phone (______) ______for the rest of the movie. BT Email ______Church ______—Brett Younger is associate professor of preaching at Mercer University’s McAfee Please fill out this form and return it to Baptists Today, School of Theology. P.O. Box 6318, Macon, GA 31208-6318, or call 1-877-752-5658.

28 | Baptists Today • May 2009 REBLOG — Selections from recent blogs at BaptistsToday.org P E R S P E C T I V E

A visit with Doug Maag

By John Pierce, In a sense, every student the Maags posted March 14, 2009 encountered felt somewhat adopted. A www.bteditor.blogspot.com school administrator once asked Doug if someone from Wieuca might visit the stu- ow’s this for commitment? Doug Maag dents at Bauder Fashion College once a H taught a college Sunday school class at month. Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta “Once a month is not enough,” Doug from 1964 until 1998. And it was more than told her. So he and Maagie would pay the a Sunday morning duty. young women a visit every Monday. Many “Those were blessed days,” the became active in his college Sunday school 90-year-old Texan told me one recent class. afternoon when I stopped by his current Countless students who bumped into residence in Macon, Ga., where he’s known Doug along the way are forever grateful — as the “Mayor of Morningside” (Assisted including Dave Stewart, a Georgia Tech Living). During the 13 years I did campus alum who now serves as Baptist campus ministry in metro Atlanta, Doug was some- minister for Southern Polytechnic State one to know and emulate. He simply loved University and Kennesaw State University helping young adults grow into maturity. off to college were taken under the wings in Marietta, Ga., (a position I once held). “Do you ever see ol’ Cow Lot?” he of a local church family. “I am a Christian today because of asked, quickly reminding me that his nick- Sandra Meeks, ironically from Macon, Doug Maag’s teaching and witness,” Dave name for former student Don Lott — my Ga., where Doug now lives to be close to told me when learning of my recent visit. first Baptist Student Union (BSU) president his daughters and their families, was the “I don’t have a lot of heroes, but Doug at Southern Tech and an active Wieucan — first student he and Maagie “adopted,” he Maag is way up on my short list.” came from a Western wear store back in told me. But there were dozens of others It’s been a long time since Sears & Texas. including Mark Pike who played football for Roebuck transferred Doug to Atlanta. But It seems that everyone in Doug’s the Buffalo Bills after finishing at Georgia hundreds of students are grateful they did. sphere has a nickname. The Wichita Falls Tech. And I loved it when this 90-year-old After Maagie died in 2005, Doug came native himself has long been known as would fill in my mental blanks. down to Macon where his loving family is “Horns.” “Doug, remember the time in the nearby. And “Tex” the terrier keeps him Digging back in his mind through the early ‘80s when I took a group of Wieuca company as well. decades, Doug went on to name dozens of students to New York City?” I asked. “It My afternoon with Doug inspired me. other students — some I knew and many I was initiated by a Georgia State student ... There are lessons to be learned from such did not. Todd ...” a faithful example. Year after year, Doug and his late “Todd DuBose,” he snapped back. “He Among them: Find a place of ministry wife, Norma — lovingly known as “Maagie” ended up moving to New York ...” (Indeed. that fits your interest and gifts — and dig — participated in the once popular adopt- Todd is now a psychology professor in in for the long haul. Thanks for being such a-student program in which students going Chicago, my Internet search revealed.) a good example, Doug. BT

Desiring for de-baptism

By Tony W. Cartledge, very Baptist idea that he wasn’t old enough ing “de-baptism” want to withdraw from posted April 2, 2009 to make his own decision at five months, the Catholic Church. The Italian Union of www.tonycartledge.com sought to have his name removed from the Rationalists and Agnostics says about 2,000 rolls of the Anglican church, and was people per month download “de-baptism” friend pointed me to an article at advised that he should post a renounce- forms from its website. A Breitbart.com that describes a growing ment announcement in the London On the one hand, it’s sad to see such trend among European atheists to seek Gazette, a newspaper that carries official hostility toward churches, and so many “de-baptism.” records. people turning away from their family’s The writer reports that more than So he did. faith traditions. On the other hand, the 100,000 Britons have downloaded “certifi- Other Britons have made even stronger movement powerfully illustrates the wis- cates of de-baptism” as a way to renounce complaints. Michael Evans, 66, branded dom of the Baptist principle that it should the faith that was chosen for them by their infant baptism as “a form of child abuse.” be up to all individuals — not their fami- parents. Similar movements have sprung up in lies — to choose whether or not they will Londoner John Hunt, who holds the Spain and Italy, where most of those seek- follow Christ in the waters of baptism. BT

May 2009 • Baptists Today | 29 I N F O R M A T I O N

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May 2009 • Baptists Today | 31 F E A T U R E BY JULIE LONG AND RICHARD F. WILSON The changing place and face of missions

MONROVIA, Liberia — Ricks computers and a wide variety of tools that could be used in the school’s agricultural Institute, a K-12 school that is part emphases. of the Liberian Baptist Convention’s The next year, Menjay visited Macon again and spoke to the congregation about work, and the First Baptist Church the challenges Ricks Institute faced. A church of Christ in Macon, Ga., have member asked, “What is one tangible need our congregation can meet?” forged a partnership that shows Olu answered: “A 15-passenger van. We the changing place and face of need a way to transport the work teams that come to help us.” Before the lights were missions. turned off that night, pledges for nearly $7,000 toward a van purchase had been he modern mission movement, espe- offered. cially for Baptists, is rooted in the The congregaton rallied around that The Ricks Institute choir processes in for a ded- T heroic work of William Carey, mis- ication ceremony. Photo by Richard Wilson. project and, in January 2008, a gently-used sionary to India, and Ann and Adoniram passenger van emblazoned in Ricks’ school Judson, missionaries to Burma. Carey and Mercer University, was a refugee of war, flee- colors — burgundy and gold — was loaded the Judsons were bearers of a distinctly ing the horrors of a bloody coup d’état in into a shipping container and sent to Liberia. Western religion to equally distinct Eastern 1980 that sowed the seeds of an even blood- The van’s interior was filled with linens and cultures. ier civil war that raged in Liberia from 1990 bedding to stock the recently renovated boys’ Inevitably, Carey and the Judsons and until 2004. In retrospect, his arrival was the dormitory at Ricks. the generations who followed their models planting of a small providential seed with the The physical and spiritual distance carried more than the Gospel. They carried potential to undo the horrors of strife in between Ricks Institute and First Baptist the West along with their Bibles and their Liberia and with the potential to transform Church began to shrink in dramatic ways. zeal to share Christ. For at least two cen- one congregation’s idea of missions. No one Children from the church began correspon- turies Christian missions to Asia, Africa and thought that Olu would return years later ding with Ricks students through pen-pal South America increasingly became a compo- and challenge the congregation to live out letters. Books were collected for the Ricks nent of colonialism too. With colonialism the Gospel that is proclaimed week by week. library. also came a spirit of paternalism that But the quiet presence of a refugee of war in A turning point in our youth group’s benignly assumed the West is best. our midst was a small seed — like in Jesus’ interest in Ricks came when they attended Late in the last century, attitudes of mis- parable — that grew in ways no one ever Passport Camp in Wingate, N.C., in the sionaries and students of missions began to imagined. summer of 2008. Their camp pastor for the change in important ways. Colonialism and After graduation from Mercer and grad- week was James Blay, dean of students at paternalism, rooted in the West, have begun uate studies at Duke University and Boston Ricks Institute. The students’ eyes were to give way to authentic partnerships University, Menjay returned to Liberia in opened to how much they could learn from between Christians in the East and West. 2005 at the pleading of the Liberian Baptist someone in another part of the world. The transformation — “conversion” is not Convention to begin the restoration of Ricks Ricks Institute now had a face for the too strong a term — has important implica- Institute, which before the wars had been the youth group: James Blay, a new friend and tions for the future of Christian missions in premier boarding school in the nation. role model. The place and face of missions our world. Mercer professor Richard Wilson rein- were indeed changing. Two Liberians had At Macon’s First Baptist Church, that troduced his former student to the Macon come to the States and touched the lives of change began with the arrival of Liberian congregation when he learned that Menjay our church members. Both gently challenged refugee Olu Menjay in the early 1990s and is was committed to creating Gospel Partners our understanding of missions and partner- maturing through his work in post-war as a new way of doing missions. Menjay ships. Liberia as the principal of the Ricks Institute. made a brief presentation in 2006, and the With the deepening of relationships and Menjay, who came to Macon to attend church responded by sending school supplies, the churning of energy around Ricks

32 | Baptists Today • May 2009 F E A T U R E

Institute, the next step was obvious. We the work ethic and school pride shown by offer to the other. The most memorable part needed to go and witness first-hand what the Liberians who worked alongside them of the journey was the sense that this project was going on in Liberia. We needed not only and humbled by the hospitality received. was our common goal. to collect and send things, but we also Students, faculty and staff expressed sin- The First Baptist workers had come to needed to go and be a part of the story. cere gratitude. We were moved by the that auditorium from halfway across the On a hot Liberian evening in June integrity set as a high standard for the Ricks globe. The Ricks workers had come from 2008, Menjay and Wilson mused about how community, and how they refused to be across campus. But we both were there for the school and congregation could cement influenced by the corruption that exists in the same reason. We saw in that place, in their partnership. Could it be that the two their country. We learned from their ingenu- that very room we were tiling, a picture of communities of faith could work together, ity as they solved problems in the work by hope and an expression of love. side-by-side, on repairing that dismal creatively using what they had. Most of all, We have the memories, too, of the faces auditorium at Ricks? A trip was born. we were changed by the picture of hope we of those who worked side-by-side. Both the Ricks’ auditorium, the location of daily saw there. We had the conviction that we place and the face of missions have changed. assemblies and the primary gathering place were, indeed, partners. “Not for self, but for others,” is the for the school, needed work. The tile floor Our church’s experience in Liberia Ricks Institute’s motto. It is also the confes- laid in 1963 had suffered the damage of became for us a new way of doing missions. sion that drives our global partnership and occupation during the civil war and was a When we think of missions, we now knits us together as brothers and sisters in safety hazard. Sunday school classes and think of actual people whose names we know. the worldwide community bound together individuals at First Baptist bought boxes of When we pray, we can pray for Mr. Robert through the faith, hope and mutual love of tile and, in November 2008, more than and Mr. Isaac, master carpenters at Ricks. We people united by Christ. 6,000 square feet of tile were shipped, along pray for Marcus, who tends his garden after We hope to build upon our shared with all of the necessary tools and materials school so that he can grow food for the poor. commitments for years to come. BT for the preparation work. We pray for Sabrina, a budding journalist Then, in March 2009, five church mem- who interviewed us for the school newspaper. bers — Wilson, Julie Long, Cathy Logue, When we give money, we can see how our —Julie Long is minister to children and Charles Matson and Jason Todd — went to gifts are being used do to Kingdom work. families at Macon’s First Baptist Church, Ricks Institute to lay the new floor. During Teaching and learning is a two-way and Richard F. Wilson is chair of the the time at Ricks, the team was impressed by street; each community has something to Christianity department at Mercer University.

May 2009 • Baptists Today | 33 F E A T U R E BY TONY W. CARTLEDGE, Contributing Editor

Part one in a two-part series on David and leadership King David: leadership guru

Ancient Israel’s greatest leader never wrote a book on leadership, but his life was a model of solid, innovative leadership — until it devolved into unfocused failure. Today’s leaders and would-be leaders could learn from him.

he biblical story reveals two people in significant roles (2 Sam. 8:15-18). Davids. The first is an upward David understood that good leaders David who is focused and faithful know how to delegate responsibilities. Good T and demonstrating everything leaders understand that they can’t do every- wanted in a leader. In the book of First thing, and don’t have to do everything. They Chronicles, that is the only David we meet. do their part, and do it well, and generally But the author of First and Second work longer hours than anyone else — but Samuel reveals David warts and all, so we they also recognize when someone else can do know the downside, as well. We can learn something better than them, or at least from both Davids. instead of them, so that they can focus on other things. Positive lessons from the upward David “David”, Caravaggio, 1606-07, Oil on wood, (1 Sam. 16 – 2 Sam. 10) Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna 4. David exhibited courageous confidence that David’s ascension to power is related relationships he cultivated. He was loyal to inspired others. with great admiration in 1 Samuel 16 – Saul even though the paranoid king wanted The story of young David defeating the 2 Samuel 10, along with some retrospective to do him in. giant Goliath remains popular not only notes in 2 Samuel 21 – 24. The Chronicler He maintained a close friendship with because it is a delightful story, but also relies heavily on the same traditions Saul’s son without using it to undermine the because David exhibited the kind of courage (1 Chron. 11 – 29). In these stories, David king. After being forced from the court, and trust in God we would all like to have. exhibits a number of notable leadership David built an army from outcasts who were When David arrived in the Valley of Elah, he qualities. longing for a leader, carefully choosing found a boastful enemy and a demoralized captains within the group. army: he appears to have been the only one 1. David was well-rounded. David could forge strategic alliances with present who believed in a power greater than When Saul’s counselors sought a musical influential families in Judah and even build a his own. therapist for the troubled king, one of them mutually beneficial relationship with a chief When David challenged the imposing knew of David, and described him as being among the rival Philistines. He could negoti- enemy and then backed up his words with “skillful in playing, a man of valor, a warrior, ate with political opponents within the actions, the other soldiers were inspired and prudent in speech, and a man of good pres- nation and with hostile kingdoms without. encouraged to believe that they could also ence; and the LORD is with him” (1 Sam. Effective ministers learn to identify the succeed, and they routed the Philistines. 16:18). traditional leaders in a church, along with the It’s hard to over-emphasize the importance Could one ask for a better letter of refer- obstructionists and the emerging leaders — of confidence and courage in a leader. That ence? This is no child, but a grown man who and they work extra hard to build positive, does not mean leaders have to always win the has demonstrated both practical and artistic productive relationships with them. first time or make it look as easy as David did skills as well as a pleasant personality and with Goliath. But when others see leaders per- insightful speech. Most impressive, however, 3. David surrounded himself with quality severe and push ahead in the face of obstacles, was the conclusion that God’s presence could people and depended on them. tough times or even doubts, they realize they be discerned in the young warrior. One can’t help but be impressed by the can be confident and courageous, too. David, in short, had multi-dimensional number of people involved in David’s life. As skills and a magnetic personality that drew an adult he was constantly befriending peo- 5. David made careful, strategic decisions. others to him. ple, recruiting supporters, building networks But there’s more to leadership than and delegating responsibilities. inspiring people to follow. Leaders also need 2. David had impressive relationship skills, He assigned three nephews to become to know where they are going, and how to and used them. chief lieutenants, looked to Abiathar the get there. In David’s life we see evidence that Good leaders are good with relation- priest and Nathan the prophet as spiritual David knew how to make careful, strategic ships. David was not only very personable, counselors, recruited Hushai and Ahithophel decisions that contributed significantly to his but also intentional about the kind of as government advisors, and placed other leadership.

34 | Baptists Today • May 2009 F E A T U R E

David knew when it was time to step Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, according forward (as he did in challenging Goliath), to 1 Chronicles 13:1-14, says that David but he also knew when it was time to leave. involved all of Israel’s leaders in making the When Saul turned against David, he could decision. have remained and challenged the king, but Involving other people in decision- chose to step aside. making serves at least two purposes. The first Sometimes the smartest thing a leader is that getting input from other people may can do is to recognize that it’s time to go. well lead to an even better idea or one that is When that happens, there’s no shame in real- more acceptable. izing the time has come to move on, to learn The second purpose is that getting oth- from the experience, and to find a new place ers involved helps them to take ownership of of service, even if it’s starting a new enterprise the decision — it’s not only the leader’s idea altogether, as David did when he left Saul’s or ministry, but also something the church or court and went south to Adullam. organization owns and supports as its own David made several strategic decisions as decision. One can talk ad infinitum about the he stood on the cusp of becoming king. pastor being the “vision-caster” of a church, In 2 Samuel 1, he was careful to make it clear for example, but if the church doesn’t buy that he was not complicit in Saul’s recent into the vision, it won’t become reality. death, and publicly mourned the fallen king. He chose not to seek leadership but to let 7. David trusted God for leadership, and others call him into it (2 Sam. 5:1-5), and followed. this put him in a much stronger position. Abundant evidence suggests that the Being called to a pastoral role is not like upward David intentionally trusted in God to being named king (though some might like to lead him, and actively sought God’s leadership. think of it that way). Nevertheless, we recog- While David and his men were at Keilah nize the value of having a church seek out a as Saul was pursuing David and trying to kill leader, rather than the other way around. him, the text tells us no less than three times Once David became king, he showed that David “inquired of the Lord” by asking brilliant leadership through several strategic the priest Abiathar to seek an answer from decisions. He built important ties of friend- God (1 Sam. 23). Later on, we read that ship by praising Saul’s valiant supporters from David sought divine guidance before pursuing Jabesh Gilead, and by showing unexpected the Amalekites who had razed his city of and unprecedented kindness to Saul’s grand- Ziklag (1 Sam. 30:8). son Mephibosheth. Through both of these In 2 Samuel 2:1, we learn that he actions, David built bridges to those who inquired of the Lord before going up to might be most likely to oppose his leadership. Hebron to be made king over Judah, and later David understood that having opposition he sought God’s guidance before attacking the is a part of reality, and the best way to deal Philistines after he had become king of Israel with it is to reach out to opponents by build- (2 Sam. 5:17-25). A story in 2 Samuel 21:1, ing bridges, by offering friendship and which is chronologically out of place, tells of kindness even if it is not returned. how David sought God’s guidance during a Perhaps David’s most brilliant political time of great famine. decision was his choice of Jerusalem as his The frequency of stories about David capital: it was midway between the feuding seeking divine guidance suggests a pattern in tribes in the north and south, and had never which he sought to live in keeping with God’s been conquered by the Israelites. David led will. He sought God’s way, rather than his army to take the city and established it as David’s way, and as long as he did so, he a politically neutral and geographically central exhibited model leadership. seat for his government. Sadly, there came a day when that Good leaders make good decisions time changed, and a lot of other things changed after time, which leads to growing trust from with it. BT others and even stronger ability to lead. Editor’s note: The second article on David and 6. David often led by consensus rather than leadership, titled “King David: warts and all” command. will appear in the June issue. These articles are Good leaders make good decisions, but adapted from a series of lectures presented to they rarely make them alone. For example, the Smoky Mountain Institute of Christian the story about David’s desire to bring the Studies.

May 2009 • Baptists Today | 35 P E R S P E C T I V E t h e m e d i a s h e l f Reviews by Jackie Riley

The Green Earth Challenge global warming, melting Legacies of Care Integrating Faith & the Environment icecaps, soil and air con- The Center for Family and Community Winnie Williams tamination, non-native plants in forests, war, Ministries of the Baylor University School of The American lifestyle is devastating the earth’s erosion and overfishing. Social Work is committed to helping congre- natural resources. For example, Americans A long-time educa- gations become more involved with/be of make up 2 percent of the world’s population, tor who is well read and greater service to their neighbors. And, the but use 25 percent of the world’s fuel. well traveled, Williams is Center teaches a broad Christians are major contributors to the uniquely qualified to concept of who our abuse of the environment, but unfortunately write this layperson’s guide, having visited neighbor may be: have been late in connecting morality and five continents and lived among the native “The one who ethics to ecology. Winnie Williams believes it inhabitants in several countries. Her personal walks beside us on is our moral and spiritual obligation to pro- experiences and convictions will inspire either this journey of life tect creation, however. To encourage individual readers or study groups. may not be one we Christians to integrate their faith with care “Questions for reflection” at the end of recognize or know. … for the environment, Williams has written a each chapter and lists at the end of the book Look more deeply, and you layperson’s guide to ecology and creation care. on ways to promote creation care in all areas will see Christ.” Writing with her typical brand of pas- of life can make for meaningful personal To assist congregations in community sion for a cause, Williams ably weaves biblical application. ministry, the Center has developed the insights with research, personal reflections “Walking Alongside” curriculum/resources. with challenge. In an interesting fashion and $15.00/ pb / 144 pp / Smyth & Helwys Publishing / One part of this series is Legacies of Care, a with appropriate photos, she introduces read- ISBN 978-1-57312-522-2 / www.helwys.com CD containing reproducible lesson plans and ers to topics such as acid rain, deforestation, teaching leaflets. This six-week study address- ing poverty is designed to help individuals and churches think about these questions:

• Who is my/my church’s neighbor? • What is my/my church’s responsibility toward my/our neighbor? • How have others responded, and what does that teach me/us? • What do scriptures say about my/our neighbor and what my/our response should be? • How does that affect me/us, and what can I/my church do?

Simple and easy to use, each lesson in Legacies of Care begins by summarizing the previous one and checking on progress of the personal challenge chosen. Lessons then move to presentation of biblical, historical and con- temporary content along with application for today. While much accountability is built into the lessons, they are nevertheless warm and inviting with a visual design of footprints and arrows to illustrate the concept of journeying together. Churches of every size and locale would do well to engage in a study of this curriculum piece.

http://www.baylor.edu/social_work/cfcm/

36 | Baptists Today • May 2009

F E A T U R E BY KEN CAMP, Baptist Standard Families Redeeming the time

DALLAS (ABP) — In tight economic times, families should recognize making memories doesn’t mean breaking the bank, family ministry experts agree.

ream vacations to Disney World can be meaning- sticking to that schedule demands discipline when coaches ful memory-building times for families, but so call extra practices, extra-credit school assemblies are offered can shared trips to a store or afternoon drives and opportunities for overtime at work arise. D down country roads. “Parents have to decide they really want to do it,” she The times that just happen can be as meaningful as the said, pointing to one family she knows who designated 6 p.m. fancy vacations — and maybe more so, said Diana Garland, Saturday to 6 p.m. Sunday as their family Sabbath time. dean of the Baylor University School of Social Work. “That’s the time they committed to turn off all the elec- “Fun does not have to be expensive.” tronics and spend time together without all the background Sometimes, carefully planned trips fail to live up to noise,” she said. expectations, but time spent together eating a meal, doing Parks, museums and historical sites offer opportunities household chores, shopping at the grocery store or learning for families to have fun and learn things together at little or some new skill — like playing a musical instrument or a new no cost, Anderson added. game — offers unbeatable family memories, she noted. “Pretend like you’re a tourist in your hometown,” she “Quality time is not really scheduled as much as it is suggested. something that happens in the middle of the quantity of time Significant time together as a family may be accom- spent together. Some of the most precious moments happen plished by something as simple as setting one evening each in the middle of just living life together,” Garland said. week as “family night in the kitchen,” said Diane Lane, pre- Meaningful family times don’t require big budgets or school and children’s ministry specialist with the Baptist elaborate timetables, but they do demand some intentional- General Convention of Texas. ity, said Cathy Anderson, children’s minister at First Baptist “Choose something easy like spaghetti,” she suggested. Church in Marietta, Ga. “Give each member of the family some assignment — cook- “I’m a big fan of the designated family night,” Anderson ing the main dish, preparing a side dish or dessert, setting said. Scheduling a night each week for a family activity and the table and cleaning up after the meal. And then rotate the

38 | Baptists Today • May 2009 F E A T U R E

“Quality time is not really scheduled as much as it is something that happens in the middle of the quantity of time spent together. Some of the most precious moments happen in the middle of just living life together.” assignments so nobody has to do the same Family mission trips — whether to a hands’ would be a great verse for a picnic in thing two weeks in a row.” remote location or close to home — require the park. Dole out the bologna sandwiches Time spent making simple crafts some advance planning, said Chris Boltin, and lemonade, recline on the checkered together also can be precious, Lane noted. short-term assignments and partnerships blanket, stare into the sky. Recite your verse Parents with young children can find easy manager with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and play the old tried-and-true game of craft projects with spiritual applications at Global Missions. Families should begin by finding shapes in the clouds. Truly, the no cost online from BaptistWay Press discovering their passions and interests, he heavens will declare glory.” (www.baptistwaypress.org), she suggested. recommended. • Don’t spend a lot. “Good memories come in Some of the time-management princi- “Spend some time as a family discussing all shapes and sizes — and mostly without ples in Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of things that you already like to do together,” the need for money,” he stressed. “Take pic- Highly Effective People apply directly to busy Boltin said. A family that enjoys working tures, play board games, create a scrapbook, families who struggle to find ways to spend outdoors might do the yard work for an eld- share walks, build a temporary fort out of time together, said Keith Lowry, BGCT erly neighbor, or a family that enjoys playing some of that stuff you’ve been threatening family ministry specialist. board games might volunteer for an activities to throw out of the garage. My grandpa Lowry quotes Covey: “The key is not to time at a local convalescent center, he made me a dilapidated little tree house one prioritize what’s on your schedule but to suggested. summer. I thought it was the best tree schedule your priorities.” That means paying Family mission trips may involve inter- house on the planet. I still do!” attention to crucially important matters — national travel, but they also may be to an • Worship together. “Creating family memo- like family — first when making plans. unfamiliar part of town, he noted. ries doesn’t demand that families miss “If you want to be happy with the life “Something as simple as traveling across church,” he observed. “Many families check you’ve built, you’ve got to be in charge during town may be a difficult cultural journey,” out of church for the summer. But church construction,” Lowry said. Boltin observed. “You want this to be a fun, is an especially important component of a “If you don’t decide, and decide now, productive and meaningful time together. By healthy summer.” someone or something else will decide for taking the time to truly know your family, • Serve side-by-side. “Volunteer for meaning- you. Don’t look back at the end of your life potential problematic issues can be avoided.” ful service projects that allow you and your and wish you had made different decisions. Obviously, a full-fledged mission trip to child to spend valuable summer time Make those decisions now. ... Leave a path a remote location demands participants do together,” he advised. “Participate in back- you won’t be sorry to see your children and their homework — checking age restrictions, yard Bible clubs, vacation Bible school and grandchildren follow you down.” requirements regarding special expertise and other endeavors that promote knowledge, Ministry experts agreed family service estimated costs. fellowship and an opportunity for saving projects strengthen faith development and Families should have a clear understand- faith to be sparked by the Spirit of God. For family relations. ing of expectations and responsibilities in “Children develop faith and character in advance, he added. many, summer has often been the most relationships with the adults in their lives,” “Be sure every member of your family formative time for faith to blossom and Anderson said. understands their individual roles and impor- flourish.” Parents do well when they set a good tance to the trip,” Boltin said. “Nothing can • Take it easy. “Plan for significant times of example for their children, modeling service replace the feeling that you have been a part rest and relaxation,” he said, remembering to others. But they do even better when they of something greater than yourself and have fondly an old porch swing that served as an involve their children in working alongside made a difference in the world around you.” informal gathering place for his family. them, Garland stressed. Richard Singleton, a counseling program “Each summer, our family would gather, “It’s important for children to learn supervisor with STARRY, part of Children At clutching sweet tea in mason jars, feet about serving outside themselves. It’s espe- Heart Ministries in Round Rock, suggested swinging in the air and stories flowing as if cially important for children and adolescents several ways families can create meaningful from the land of milk and honey. We to realize the importance of who they are and memories: paused. We rested. We grew closer to God what they do now,” she emphasized. “Too and each other. often, we ask children what they want to do • Focus on Scripture. “God loves to shower • Unplug. “Bless your children or grand- when they grow up, as if we don’t value who families with blessings built on the founda- children with a Sabbath away from all the they are now.” tion of his word,” he said. “Take a familiar gadgets, gizmos and games,” he recom- Service activities can be as simple as an passage for a test drive under the summer mended. “Go slow. They won’t like it at first, older child reading to a preschooler or families skies. ‘The heavens declare the glory of but if you find a way to make it meaningful, visiting nursing home residents, she noted. God; the skies proclaim the work of his they’ll remember it for a lifetime.” BT

May 2009 • Baptists Today | 39 What do these churches have in common? Through group subscriptions to Baptists Today, they keep up with the latest issues facing Baptists.

Ardmore Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C. First Baptist Church, London, Ky. Mars Hill Baptist Church, Mars Hill, N.C. Boiling Springs Baptist Church, Boiling Springs, N.C. First Baptist Church, Lumberton, N.C. Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, N.C. Boulevard Baptist Church, Anderson, S.C. First Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. Mount Zion Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. Broadmoor Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, La. First Baptist Church, Madison, Ga. National Heights Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Ga. Broadway Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. First Baptist Church, Madison, N.C. New Heights Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. Brunswick Islands Baptist Church, Supply, N.C. First Baptist Church, Marion, N.C. Northminster Baptist Church, Jackson, Miss. Chadbourn Baptist Church, Chadbourn, N.C. First Baptist Church, Mocksville, N.C. North Stuart Baptist Church, Stuart, Fla. College Avenue Baptist Church, Lenoir, N.C. First Baptist Church, Morganton, N.C. Northwest Baptist Church, Ardmore, Okla. College Park Baptist Church, Orlando, Fla. First Baptist Church, Morrow, Ga. Oakmont Baptist Church, Greenville, N.C. Covenant Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C. First Baptist Church, Mount Airy, N.C. Peachtree Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. Cullowhee Baptist Church, Cullowhee, N.C. First Baptist Church, Mount Olive, N.C. Piney River Baptist Church, Lowesville, Va. Druid Hills Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, Tenn. Pintlala Baptist Church, Hope Hull, Ala. Dunwoody Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. First Baptist Church, New Bern, N.C. Providence Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C. Edenton Baptist Church, Edenton, N.C. First Baptist Church, Orangeburg, S.C. Providence Baptist Church, Cookeville, Tenn. Emerywood Baptist Church, High Point, N.C. First Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla. Providence Baptist Church, Hendersonville, N.C. Faith Baptist Church, Georgetown, Ky. First Baptist Church, Rome, Ga. Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C. Fernwood Baptist Church, Spartanburg, S.C. First Baptist Church, Rutherfordton, N.C. Reynoldson Baptist Church, Gates, N.C. First Baptist Church, Ahoskie, N.C. First Baptist Church, Savannah, Ga. Rolling Hills Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Ark. First Baptist Church, Aiken, S.C. First Baptist Church, Sanford, N.C. Rolesville Baptist Church, Rolesville, N.C. First Baptist Church, Anderson, S.C. First Baptist Church, Southern Pines, N.C. Second Baptist Church, Liberty, Mo. First Baptist Church, Asheville, N.C. First Baptist Church, Spruce Pine, N.C. Second Baptist Church, Memphis, Tenn. First Baptist Church, Bladenboro, N.C. First Baptist Church, Tifton, Ga. Second Baptist Church, Richmond, Va. First Baptist Church, Cape Girardeau, Mo. First Baptist Church of Wheaton, Silver Spring, Md. Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. First Baptist Church, Carolina Beach, N.C. First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C. Shades Crest Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala. First Baptist Church, Carrollton, Ga. Forest Hills Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C. Smoke Rise Baptist Church, Stone Mountain, Ga. First Baptist Church, Clemson, S.C. Franklin Baptist Church, Franklin, Va. Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, Fayetteville, N.C. First Baptist Church, Columbus, Ga. Grace Fellowship Baptist Church, Meridian, Miss. First Baptist Church, Commerce, Ga. Grandin Court Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va. South Main Baptist Church, Houston, Texas First Baptist Church, Conway, S.C. Greystone Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C. St. Andrews Baptist Church, Columbia, S.C. First Baptist Church, Dalton, Ga. Haddock Baptist Church, Haddock, Ga. St. Matthews Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. First Baptist Church, Decatur, Ga. Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla. Tabernacle Baptist Church, Carrollton, Ga. First Baptist Church, Forest City, N.C. Highland Hills Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. Tabernacle Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C. First Baptist Church, Fort Myers, Fla. Highland Park Baptist Church, Austin, Texas The Lakeland Fellowship, Lakeland, Fla. First Baptist Church, Frankfort, Ky. Holmeswood Baptist Church, Kansas City, Mo. The Memorial Baptist Church, Greenville, N.C. First Baptist Church, Gainesville, Fla. HomeStar Fellowship, Raleigh, N.C. The Oaks Baptist Church, Lyons, Ga. First Baptist Church, Gainesville, Ga. Hope Valley Baptist Church, Durham, N.C. Trinity Baptist Church, Cordova, Tenn. First Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C. Johns Creek Baptist Church, Alpharetta, Ga. University Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, La. First Baptist Church, Greenville, S.C. Kathwood Baptist Church, Columbia, S.C. Vineville Baptist Church, Macon, Ga. First Baptist Church, Greenwood, S.C. Knollwood Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C. Watts Street Baptist Church, Durham, N.C. First Baptist Church, Hawkinsville, Ga. Lakeside Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, N.C. Wieuca Road Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. First Baptist Church, High Point, N.C. Lakeview Baptist Church, Camden, S.C. Wingate Baptist Church, Wingate, N.C. First Baptist Church, Huntsville, Ala. Lamberth Memorial Baptist Church, Roxboro, N.C. Winter Park Baptist Church, Wilmington, N.C. First Baptist Church, Kannapolis, N.C. Lexington Avenue Baptist Church, Danville, Ky. Woodmont Baptist Church, Nashville, Tenn. First Baptist Church, Lavonia, Ga. Loray Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C. Yates Baptist Church, Durham, N.C. First Baptist Church, Lexington, N.C. Lystra Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, N.C. Youngsville Baptist Church, Youngsville, N.C. First Baptist Church, Lincolnton, N.C. Madison Baptist Church, Madison, Ga. Zebulon Baptist Church, Zebulon, N.C. Your church can be better informed, too FOR AS LITTLE AS $450 A YEAR (minimum 25 subscriptions at $18 each). Just send a list of names and addresses, along with a check, to: Baptists Today, P.O. Box 6318, Macon, GA 31208-6318. (For more information, call toll-free 1-877-752-5658.)