>> This is the March 2015 issue containing the April Bible Study Lessons

Adoption causing evangelicals to 38 grapple with race

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‘Contrary to our Faith’ Mel Williams tackles the scourge of poverty 4

New Baptist Covenant takes action 11 BIBLE STUDIES for adults 17 FA TH™

BAPTIST PROFILES IN CONSCIENCE John D. Pierce Executive Editor [email protected] Julie Steele A new William H. Whitsitt Chief Operations Officer [email protected] Heritage Society Series Jackie B. Riley Managing Editor ! [email protected] Tony W. Cartledge Tommy Douglas shaped Contributing Editor [email protected] Canada’s commitments to Bruce T. Gourley social justice Online Editor/Contributing Writer [email protected] BY BRUCE GOURLEY David Cassady Church Resources Editor [email protected] Vickie Frayne Art Director Jannie Lister 30 Customer Service Manager [email protected] Kimberly L. Hovis Marketing Associate [email protected] IN THE NEWS PERSPECTIVES Lex Horton Nurturing Faith Resources Manager Drayton and Mary Etta Sanders Thanks for 15 changing, challenging, [email protected] lead effort to support, strengthen and rewarding years 7 Walker Knight, Publisher Emeritus secure news journal’s mission 9 By John Pierce Jack U. Harwell, Editor Emeritus Executions drop to lowest level A grieving Christian, and that DIRECTORS EMERITI in two decades 12 which is to come 28 Thomas E. Boland By Bill Ellis R. Kirby Godsey Jonathan Edwards’ collected works Mary Etta Sanders available for download Learning to disagree agreeably Winnie V. Williams 12 29 By Bill Wilson BOARD OF DIRECTORS Catholic groups rally against climate change Donald L. Brewer, Gainesville, Ga. (chairman) amid intense church debate 13 ‘I survived a short-term mission trip’ 34 Cathy Turner, Clemson, S.C. (vice chair) By Brian Howell Edwin Boland, Johns Creek, Ga. Religious college presidents agree on Mary Jane Cardwell, Waycross, Ga. ‘calling,’ common threats 13 FEATURE Bob Cates, Rome, Ga. Jack Causey, Statesville, N.C. Rabbi Jack Moline succeeds Welton Gaddy Profoundly personal: Anthony D. Clevenger, Pensacola, Fla. Kenny Crump, Ruston, La. at Interfaith Alliance 14 How adoption has forced evangelicals Doug Dortch, Birmingham, Ala. to grapple with race 38 James M. Dunn, Winston-Salem, N.C. Pope’s ‘rabbits’ comment heightens By Sarah Pulliam Bailey Jack Glasgow, Zebulon, N.C. discussion of birth control Frank Granger, Athens, Ga. 14 Cynthia Holmes, St. Louis, Mo. Temple in Iceland to honor Norse gods 15 David Hull, Watkinsville, Ga. Becky Matheny, Athens, Ga. Turban confusion: Tommy McDearis, Blacksburg, Va. Andrew McGill, Chattanooga, Tenn. Americans clueless about Sikhs 35 William T. Neal, Stone Mountain, Ga. Roger Paynter, Austin, Texas Science vs. religion: Kathy B. Richardson, Rome, Ga. Charles Schaible, Macon, Ga. Researchers find more of a Charlotte Cook Smith, Winston-Salem, N.C. three-way split 42 Sarah Timmerman, Cairo, Ga. David Turner, Richmond, Va. Clem White, St. Petersburg, Fla. Vickie Willis, Murfreesboro, TN Cynthia Wise, Birmingham, Ala. Donna Wood, Macon, Ga. Photo by John Pierce. Story on page 4. READERS SERVICES

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DIRECTOR EMERITUS O Baptists Today SBC Today PeaceWork Seeds ‘Contrary Baptists Today by Union Baptist Church, the city’s largest African-American congregation — that drew 540 people. Good ideas that have become good faith’ programs emerged, he said. “We help children by helping parents get Mel Williams coordinates efforts to tackle poverty better jobs,” he noted. Churches have partnered with schools, URHAM, N.C. — During his 24 End Poverty Durham brings together 15 and there is greater connectivity between the years as pastor of Watts Street Baptist to 20 leaders, representing diverse faith groups, privileged and the poor now. And the related D Church here, Mel Williams was well each month to raise awareness of the needs issue of race, he said, is being more directly known for his community engagement. Mel and to develop plans to reduce and ultimately addressed. served as president of Durham Congregations eliminate poverty. “We have to deal with race,” Mel said. in Action, co-founded Religious Coalition for The leaders identified five major areas “That’s become a crucial part of this.” a Nonviolent Durham, and co-founded End that impact the poor: education, housing, Mel came from simple roots — “the edge Poverty Durham 10 years ago. health care, jobs, and family support — which of poverty,” as he described it — to graduate In retirement (in 2012), he became includes daycare, transportation and “all the from Wake Forest University and Yale Divinity coordinator of End Poverty Durham, an orga- things that help families to work.” School. He seeks to open opportunities for nization of interfaith and community groups One successful program, started in 2007, others as were opened for him. working together for the single purpose found is the Durham Economic Resource Center While a ministerial student at Wake in the organization’s name. He hangs his hat, (DERC) — a warehouse where low-income Forest, Mel’s inclination toward social justice he said, at MDC, a nonprofit think tank study- residents can buy new clothes and other items issues was enhanced by his professors, friends ing “pathways out of poverty.” at drastically reduced prices. and especially one guest speaker. The then- The disparity between the privileged The contact made with shoppers, sophomore is still inspired by the words he and the poor in Durham has long concerned however, opens the door for supervised job heard in chapel from Martin Luther King Jr. in Williams. He points to escalating poverty rates training. And the program is working, said 1962 — calling the church to be “headlights” of 18 percent for adults and 28 percent for Mel, helping people move to self-sufficiency. rather than “taillights” in the cause of racial children. He calls the situation “unacceptable, Working in collaboration, End Poverty equality. shameful and contrary to the teachings of our Durham also addresses child poverty through In Durham, N.C., Mel is indeed a head- faith.” a broader effort in East Durham called REAL light that illuminates the way ahead. However, He doesn’t fight the battle alone. In fact, Durham (Relationships, Equipping Allies and he doesn’t seek the spotlight for his own efforts. much of his work involves connecting the Leaders) that matches families in poverty with “My role is in the background trying to various resources from within the wider com- supportive allies. make this happen,” he said. “I’m convinced munity. And the city’s mayor is onboard with A growing emphasis on child poverty led there are people with resources to make a the effort. to a faith summit in January 2013 — hosted difference.” BT

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—Pastor Eric Spivey of First Baptist Church of Cornelia, Ga., after a man who stayed in remarks the church’s cold weather shelter in January was later arrested for a brutal murder (nowhabersham.com)

—President Jimmy Carter, 90, on the thousands of annual visitors to Maranatha Baptist Church in —Oklahoma County Deputy A.J. Graffeo, who Plains, Ga. responded to a call that someone had vandalized the pastor’s study at True Light Missionary Baptist Church, after discovering the culprit to be a raccoon (koco.com) —Pastor George Mason of Wilshire Baptist Church, —Russell Moore, president of the SBC Ethics & sharing with New Baptist Covenant participants about Religious Liberty Commission, calling House GOP collaborating with Friendship-West Baptist Church to —Pastor Kyle Henderson of First Baptist Church of leaders’ decision to not vote on the Pain-capable address payday lending in Dallas (Story on page 11.) Athens, Texas, on the difficulty in creating effective Unborn Child Protection Act “moral cowardice” ecumenical and interfaith coalitions to address (Baptist Press) pressing community needs (BNG) —Pastor Debleaire Snell of First Seventh-day Adventist Church in Huntsville, Ala., on the growing congregation’s plan to add a worship time on Sundays rather than Saturdays only (Huntsville Times) —John Dominic Crossan, emeritus professor of religious studies at DePaul University, on Bible scholar Marcus Borg who died Jan. 21 (New York Times) —President Obama to the National Prayer Breakfast in February

—Stephen Smith, in a Christianity Today article on —Dennis Bickers, resource minister with American how a new Microsoft development might shape the Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky, who future of intensive Bible study works with bi-vocational churches, urging them to Faith in the address conflicts and toxicity before calling a new pastor (ethicsdaily) marketplace

Christian businesspersons, —Jayne Davis, minister of spiritual formation at —Mohamed Ahmed, a gas station manager in please check out the new Wilmington (N.C.) First Baptist Church and co- Minneapolis who uses his anti-terror website author of Hopeful Imagination, quoting a South averagemohamed.com to counter the social media Faith Positive blog African tribesman whose words spoke to her own need campaign used by the Islamic State to lure young at baptiststoday.org. to “create margin” (BNG) Muslim Americans (RNS)

6 Editorial By John Pierce Thanks for 15 changing, challenging, rewarding years

Fifteen years ago last month I embarked authors, sponsors and customers. scattered and busy staff, we are indeed a team. Other resources such as an excellent Thanks to the Board of Directors — and on a new and different journey as church-based children’s curriculum will be those who served before — who counsel, executive editor of this autonomous, published when funding is secured. And the affirm and direct this ever-changing, good first volumes of the Nurturing Faith Bible work. These wonderful friends give of their national news journal. It has been a Series, for short-term group study, will be valuable time, cover their own expenses to be demanding yet rewarding experience. available soon. engaged in this effort, and are among the most Last year, we generous financial contributors. t times the challenges seemed over- launched Nurturing Faith Together we have shared times of chal- whelming — working at the busy Experiences with trips lenge and celebration. Your faithfulness A intersection of fast-changing communi- to Montana/Wyoming through both is greatly appreciated. cation technology and ever-shifting sociological and Israel/West Bank. By nature, I am a reflective person. But realities facing churches and faith organizations Both were wonderful with so much constantly ahead that needs today. And sustaining an independent mission opportunities for editors attention — the next deadline, fundraising that relies on gifts from individuals and organi- and readers to spend time goal, Board meeting or event — there is not a zations is not easy. traveling and learning lot of time for looking back. The changing religious landscape — as together. When I do, however, the primary feeling well as shifts within denominational entities Responses from participants were so is one of deep gratitude for the many persons and congregations — has made for continual positive that we are planning more Nurturing who’ve shared the journey and supported the observation, evaluation and redirection. Long- Faith Experiences — often in partnership with expanding mission with time, talent and finan- range planning has given way to being nimble another organization. (See the back-page ad.) cial gifts. Our future is as bright as the strength and alert — always open to seizing the good Independence doesn’t mean isolation, but of our commitments and the abundance of the moments that arise. voluntary collaboration. We engage in a variety resources we invest in this unique venture. Indeed, challenges are often opportunities of projects with many partnering groups. Technology and sociology are ever chang- for doing something better and different than Our collaborative efforts are based on ing — and will continue to do so. Finding before. The many changes within our own solid trust, shared responsibility and mutual the right balance of print and electronic com- organization have been phenomenal when benefit — with the ultimate goal of serving munication will require ongoing efforts. Yet considered in whole. thoughtful Christians and their congregations. the need for thoughtful, reliable, and helpful Baptists Today has evolved from a tabloid So, thanks to all who bring their gifts and information and quality resources remains. publication to a 44-page, full-color news jour- talents to combine with ours to do more than So thanks to all who help fulfill and nal that contains the Nurturing Faith Bible we could do apart. expand this mission in a context of freedom, Studies by Tony Cartledge. These Lectionary- Thanks to the amazing colleagues, past creativity and hope. based studies are used by many classes and and present, whose commitments far exceed Keep it up, please. We need you and others other groups around the nation — with access their job descriptions. Though a small, in order to move boldly and wisely ahead. BT to excellent teaching resources online. A few years ago Baptists Today leader- ship wisely formed Nurturing Faith, Inc. as a wholly-owned subsidiary to provide books and other good resources with the same com- mitment to creativity, quality and respect for deeper thinking. The innovative book-publishing venture, a collaborative effort with the creative services firm, Faithlab, uses the latest publishing tech- MAKING A GIFT to support the ministry of Baptists Today is just nology and in-house marketing advantages. It one click away. Make a gift online at baptiststoday.org/donate. has exceeded our predictions and keeps grow- Your generous giving is most helpful and deeply appreciated. ing. Thanks to all the Nurturing Faith book

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Leading the way: Baptists Today’s Baptists Today Baptists Today Baptists Today — and for tomorrow Drayton and Mary Etta lead resources to secure the future. Attention is being news journal’s board and was among the first to given to estate planning designations that will be named as directors emeriti. effort to support, strengthen and make a significant impact on the expanded “Since the origin of Baptists Today I have publication ministry. appreciated and admired the dedication of this secure news journal’s mission Board Chairman Don Brewer of news journal to publishing informative and Gainesville, Ga., expressed appreciation for truthful articles from all areas of Baptist life,” ctive lay leaders Drayton and Mary Etta and confidence in those willing to co-chair this she said. “I have seen firsthand how tenuous it Sanders of Dalton, Ga., are voluntarily effort that will draw upon the leadership, coun- is to adhere to this mission without institutional Aheading up an effort to raise needed sel and generosity of many. funding.” funds to support the autonomous news journal “I can think of no one more knowledgeable “I have also seen how much Baptists Today Baptists Today and its related Nurturing Faith or respected than Drayton and Mary Etta to means to readers of both the print and web,” church resources. lead our campaign,” he said. “Their enthusiasm she continued. “I have seen the development of They are co-chairing a new campaign — to for this project amazes me.” Nurturing Faith, a first-rate Bible study curricu- be launched widely next month — that addresses Vice Chair Cathy Turner of Clemson, S.C., lum and book-publishing arm of Baptists Today. both short- and long-term needs to keep the described Drayton and Mary Etta as skilled We can be proud of the excellence of all these publication ministry strong and growing. mountain climbers who face each task with entities.” “We are a small but important prophetic experience and perseverance. “Baptists Today does more with less finan- voice … in a world that worships money, power “They bring wisdom and enthusiasm along cially than anyone would believe possible; and entertainment,” said Drayton Sanders, a with a lifetime commitment to make things therefore I sincerely feel that the time has come retired physician and longtime missions vol- stronger and better,” she said. “They value for all of us to step up and make significant pro- unteer, of the Baptist movement served by the Baptists Today like countless others and are will- vision to secure the future of this autonomous 32-year-old, independent news journal. “As ing to help make it financially stronger. We all publication,” said Mary Etta. “Drayton and I are sure as the voice of the prophets in the Old will be asked to be on the team!” committed to working toward this goal.” Testament and that of John the Baptist in the Drayton said their early contacts with “A number of years ago we decided to New Testament were needed in their days, be others who value the publication’s ministry pro- include Baptists Today in our estate plans, and assured the prophetic voice of Baptists Today is vided much optimism. “The relationships have now we have resolved to be careful to give more needed now.” been established; the product is first rate; and regularly to the operational fund,” she added. The campaign will address the three-fold the money is there. People are just waiting to be “Please join us in this endeavor. Together we need for sufficient annual operational funds, asked.” can give Baptists Today the firm financial foun- a growing reserves account and endowment Mary Etta served for many years on the dation it deserves.” BT

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!"#$% &'( )*#"#! +% ,#*' )-.$/. Call to action New Baptist Covenant moves focus from meetings to ministry

a pretty word; covenant is about action,” said coordinator Hannah McMahan, in a video presentation during the opening session of the New Baptist Covenant Summit that fol- lowed a reception at the Carter Center. he two-day, mid-January gathering here highlighted “covenants of action” T designed to engage Baptists, across racial and convention lines, in shared local ministries.

‘DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS’ Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, in wel- coming Baptist leaders to the Carter Center, commended the four current projects — “covenants of action” — tied to the New Baptist Covenant. He referred to the projects in Birmingham, St. Louis, Dallas and Atlanta vulnerable” — charging interest rates that can MOVING OUT as “experiment stations” and “demonstra- add up to 500 percent annually. tion projects” that show how Baptists can Friendship-West Baptist Church, a pre- The New Baptist Covenant began with a 2008 work more cooperatively to impact their dominantly African-American congregation, mass gathering in Atlanta that drew more than communities. and Wilshire Baptist Church, predominantly 15,000 Baptists from across North America Carter noted the negative impact that Anglo, are challenging the practice in Dallas. and across racial and organizational lines to payday lending has on “those who are most Wilshire pastor George Mason said there hear well-known speakers — including two are 25 businesses practicing “predatory lend- former U.S. presidents and best-selling novelist ing” within a five-mile radius there. John Grisham — call for a wider embrace of In St. Louis, three Baptist churches — the “Luke 4 mandate” to bring good news to St. Luke Memorial, Harrison Avenue and the poor, sight to the blind and freedom to the Kirkwood Baptist — are addressing payday oppressed. lending along with other issues impacting Following some regional gatherings, the poor. the attention shifted from meetings to doing Three Birmingham congregations — ministry out of the relationships formed Baptist Church of the Covenant alongside through these earlier meetings. Tabernacle and Vestavia Hills Baptist churches The recent summit offered a variety of — are working to curb childhood hunger by inspiring sermons and informative presenta- cooperatively filling school backpacks with tions and panel discussions, but the focus was food for the weekend. clearly on the covenants of action in which Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church two or more neighboring congregations from has joined with Greater Piney Grove and different Baptist traditions come together to Park Avenue Baptist churches to address the address a pressing community need. problem of illiteracy. This cooperative effort For more information on creating a is being led by young ministers from the three Covenant of Action in your community, visit congregations. newbaptistcovenant.org. BT

11 Executions drop to lowest Jonathan Edwards’ collected level in two decades works available for download USA Today ASHINGTON (RNS) — Driven Religion News Service in part by continuing legal dis- putes related to lethal injection EW HAVEN, Conn. — The collected W th drugs and state moratoriums on the death works of Jonathan Edwards, the 18 - penalty, the 35 people executed in the U.S. N century preacher and one of America’s in 2014 marked the fewest in two decades, most famous theologians, are now available for according to a year-end report by the Death download thanks to Logos Bible Software. Penalty Information Center. But for those who don’t want to cough up The center, which opposes capital $1,289.95 to purchase them, there’s good news: punishment, also found that the 72 death The Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale Divinity sentences issued in 2014 represents the School lets you view them online for free. fewest in 40 years. The colonial preacher was instrumental in “What’s going on here is that we are America’s Great Awakening and is known for seeing capital punishment slipping into fiery sermons such as “Sinners in the Hands to Christian faith during the past generations, irrelevance as a criminal justice tool,” said of an Angry God.” The 26-volume collection, but many find the tradition to be a bit thin Richard Dieter, the center’s executive direc- “The Works of Jonathan Edwards,” comprises theologically and intellectually,” Marsden said. tor. “The country is re-thinking this as an more than 10,000 sermons, articles and letters “Calvinism provides them with a very substan- effective remedy.” that were indexed between 1953 and 2008. tial intellectual and theological heritage.” The declining numbers come as several “Edwards is widely recognized as one of Douglas Sweeney, professor of church states and the federal government are locked the most important American thinkers and history at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in disputes over their use of lethal injec- religious figures and as a major figure in the outside Chicago, said many modern-day tion drugs. The state of Oklahoma halted history of Christian thought,” said Kenneth believers are rediscovering Christianity’s tra- executions for the remainder of 2014 after Minkema, executive director of Yale’s Jonathan ditions and roots. In recent decades, many a botched execution in April. The federal Edwards Center. “Publication of his works is churches focused on trying to be culturally government, involved in a legal challenge to important for providing resources for those, relevant, throwing off dusty hymns and ritu- its lethal injection protocol, has not used its such as students, who wish to learn for the als to embrace more modern, hipper worship execution chamber since 2003. first time about his influences, thought and experiences. Many now seek to re-connect with Perhaps most striking about the 2014 legacies.” older forms of the faith. report, Dieter said, was that Texas — the The release of Edwards’ work is more than “Modern evangelicalism was so pragmatic nation’s perennial leader in carrying out the a historical contribution. It comes at a moment … for much of the 19th and 20th centuries that death penalty — was no longer alone at the of renewed interest in the preacher, especially its roots in the tradition shriveled up,” said top after 17 years. It tied with Missouri for among conservative evangelicals and “New Sweeney, author of Jonathan Edwards and the the most executions, with 10. Meanwhile, the Calvinists,” mostly evangelicals who are aco- Ministry of the Word. “Evangelicals today are seven states that carried out executions last lytes of Edwards’ brand of Calvinist theology. into church history again, seeking nourishment year marked the lowest number in 25 years. According to Minkema, there are more for their faith.” Connecticut state Rep. David Labriola, than 4,000 books, articles, dissertations and Even so, some question whether a full a Republican who helped lead an unsuccess- other writings on Edwards, and they keep embrace of 18th-century Puritan thinking will ful fight to maintain capital punishment in coming from publishing houses. work in a 21st-century context. Can a message that state, believes there is strong national George Marsden, professor emeritus of that focuses on the damnation of sinners and support for the death penalty, as long as it is history at the University of Notre Dame and torments of hell awaken the modern masses applied fairly and efficiently. author of Jonathan Edwards: A Life, has also like it did for Edwards and others? Today’s But Labriola said there has been pub- noticed newfound interest in Puritan thinkers preachers are working in a pluralistic culture lic “frustration” with an often-protracted like Edwards among some modern Christians. that Edwards never could have imagined. appeal process and the costs associated Among the contributing factors, he Regardless, the release of Edwards’ work with supporting the legal challenges of the cites the influence of Edwards and Calvinism is a boost for devotees who think his message condemned. on prominent evangelical pastors such as didn’t die with him in 1758. “It can take more than 20 years to Timothy Keller of New York City’s Redeemer “The Yale project has been tremendously resolve some of these cases,” Labriola said. Presbyterian Church and John Piper of influential in enhancing Edwards’ study,” “I continue to support the death penalty Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis said Marsden, “and it is the availability of the because I believe there are some crimes who seek to imbue their brand of Christianity whole range of his works that has helped many so heinous, that is the only appropriate with more intellectual and theological heft. people realize that Edwards stands among the punishment.” BT “Evangelicalism has brought many people top Christian theologians of all time.” BT

12 Catholic groups rally against climate change amid intense church debate

“encourage the conversion of hardened hearts.” Religion News Service That could be a tall order in light of cur- rent arguments over climate change in U.S. atholic environmental groups from politics and in the American church. around the world announced a new The GCCM is the first alliance of its kind C global network to battle climate and it was unveiled recently to coincide with change just as many Catholic conservatives Francis’ trip to the Philippines, where Typhoon are sharply criticizing Pope Francis’ campaign Haiyan hit in 2013. The killer storm was seen to put environmental protection high on the as evidence of the effects of climate change, a church’s agenda. topic the pope has frequently addressed. “We are certain that anthropogenic His focus has worried and angered many (human-made) climate change endangers church conservatives, who view Francis’ eco- God’s creation and us all, particularly the logical push as further evidence of the liberal poor, whose voices have already spoken of the tilt of his papacy. impacts of an altered climate,” the new Global by caring for all of God’s wondrous creation,” Conservative Catholic commentators have Catholic Climate Movement says in its mission the statement continues. been trying to downplay the authority of any statement. The GCCM said it intends to push for papal statements on the environment — they “Climate change is about our responsibil- international treaties to battle global warm- contend such statements are based on flawed ity as God’s children and people of faith to care ing but said it is approaching the issue from science, not sound doctrine — while others for human life, especially future generations, a moral and biblical perspective and hopes to have simply dismissed them. BT

Religious college presidents agree on ‘calling’ and common threats

Colleges and Universities, cited plans by the “ferment” about such religious freedom issues. Religion News Service Education Department to change how it rates He said leaders of “purpose-driven” institutions universities. are concerned not only about overreaching gov- ASHINGTON — Should religious “We’re very concerned that the proposed ernment but also accrediting agencies that need colleges be bound by the same union approach of the Department of Education will to “respect faith-based universities’ rights to W and labor rules as secular universi- lump all institutions into the same categoriza- remain true to their ideals.” ties? Or be rated by the same criteria? tion system,” said Starr. Starr and Garvey — both former law Those questions and more are being tack- “We’re concerned that the rating system school deans — have jointly addressed religious led by the presidents of three major universities will fail to reflect, almost by definition, the freedom issues in the past, and Joel, who also is who say they are united in supporting the values enormous diversity in our pluralistic system of a lawyer, said he sees advantages to faith-based that faith-based schools bring to higher educa- higher education.” universities discussing the future of private tion even as they grapple with government CUA President John Garvey said there higher education together. regulations that can challenge them. are numerous regulations that are challenging “Faith-based universities are not about to For the first time, the top officials of Baylor faith-based schools — from the Obama admin- deny their raison d’etre,” said Joel, whose uni- University, Catholic University of America and istration’s contraception mandate to a December versity is a new member of NAICU. “I think Yeshiva University led discussions in Washington ruling by the National Labor Relations Board that more and more universities, particularly on the “calling” of faith-based universities. that permits some religious and other private private universities, have to say what we are Baylor University President Ken Starr said university faculty members to unionize. about and what makes us indispensable.” BT faith-related schools are charged with helping “They’re telling religious schools who their students learn about “living life purposefully,” faculty can be and what the terms and condi- which he said goes beyond simply helping stu- tions of employment are, that is to say, what dents get jobs and be productive citizens. they can teach,” said Garvey, whose Washington “That’s very good, but is that enough?” campus is the only school in the country said Starr, who leads the large Baptist university, overseen by the U.S. Conference of Catholic in Waco, Texas. “We want to take the conver- Bishops. “That the government ought to have sation to a broader level of what is in fact the some say over the people and the courses that education enterprise all about at its very best, at are being taught at religious universities — least from our perspective.” that’s a big deal for religious freedom.” All three leaders see challenges to the reli- Yeshiva University President Richard Joel gious freedom of their institutions from the — whose New York-based Jewish school was U.S. government. Starr, who is a board member the subject of a 1980 Supreme Court decision of the National Association of Independent about NLRB regulations — said there is always

March 2015 13 Rabbi Jack Moline to head the Interfaith Alliance

Announcing Moline’s appointment Alliance is an excellent match. Religion News Service in January, the Interfaith Alliance cited his “I know this organization. I love this decades of work on civil rights and religious organization,” said Moline, who chaired its ASHINGTON — Rabbi Jack freedom issues and his 27 years leading Agudas board from 2006-2008 and was on the search Moline, a congregational rabbi who Achim, the Northern Virginia synagogue where committee that picked the alliance’s last W briefly led he is now rabbi emeritus. leader, Baptist minister C. Welton Gaddy, who the nation’s top Jewish “He has been a powerful voice in defense stepped down in December after 16 years. “We Democratic group, is the of religious freedom for everyone, regardless will not lose any momentum as we continue to new head of the Interfaith of his or her faith or belief,” said Helio Fred protect faith and freedom, challenge extremism Alliance, a staunch voice Garcia, chairman of the Interfaith Alliance and build common ground.” in Washington for the board. “He understands the value of bring- Said Gaddy of Moline: “When you care separation of church and ing together diverse voices and perspectives about an organization and its mission like I do, state and other progres- to challenge extremism and build common knowing that organization is in good hands is sive causes. ground.” very satisfying, comforting and exciting. Moline is the fourth Moline, 62, who last December resigned “I couldn’t be more pleased to have a leader and the first non- as director of the National Jewish Democratic leader with his qualities guiding the direction Christian to head the 20-year-old alliance, Council after less than a year on the job, said of an organization whose mission is probably which represents more than 75 faith traditions it became clear that he wasn’t the right person more important today than it was when it was and secularists, too. to lead the council. But he said the Interfaith founded,” Gaddy continued. BT Pope’s ‘rabbits’ comment raises issue of birth control

fuzziness from Francis and suggested that his Religion News Service predecessor, Benedict XVI, a theologian with a reputation as a doctrinal hardliner, would ope Francis seems made for the Age never have been so wobbly. of Twitter. A case in point were his Yet in 1996, when he was Cardinal Joseph P remarks in which he affirmed the Ratzinger, Benedict said much the same thing. Catholic Church’s ban on artificial contracep- He told an interviewer that couples who tion but derided the idea that “in order to be already have several children should not be good Catholics we have to be like rabbits” and reproached if they do not want to have more, produce litters of kids. and that questions about regulating births are “No,” he told reporters on a flight personal pastoral matters that “can’t be pro- home from the Philippines. “Responsible jected into the abstract.” parenthood.” Moreover, Paul VI mentioned “responsible Moments earlier, Francis had signaled parenthood” in his 1968 encyclical and cited his approach to the vexed birth control issue the various “physical, economic, psychological when, with equally quotable verve, he said the and social conditions” that could go into mak- contraception ban “does not mean that the traditional big families (the pope said three ing decisions about when and whether to have Christian must make children in series.” children seemed about right) as well as under- children, stressing the primacy of individual He noted that during a parish visit some mine advocates of natural family planning conscience. months ago, he even “rebuked” a woman who (controlling birth rates without using contra- Francis clearly reaffirmed the ban on arti- was pregnant again after having seven children, ception) by seeming to give aid and comfort to ficial contraception as “prophetic,” especially all delivered by Caesarean section. “But do you the church’s enemies. given declining birth rates in the West. want to leave seven orphans?” Francis told her. But Francis wasn’t breaking new ground. Yet as Francis often does, he is shifting the “That is to tempt God!” He himself told an interviewer last year that focus from the “rules” to the principle behind Birth control supporters said the analogy Pope Paul VI’s famous encyclical reaffirming the the rules. He wants Catholics to be more open demeaned people, who should make what- artificial contraception ban, Humanae Vitae, to life and family and children, however many ever decisions they want about the number of was “prophetic” but said the real issue is “mak- they have, and he does not think that wealthy children they have, and when they have them ing sure that pastoral action takes into account Western countries should be telling other soci- — or not. that which is possible for people to do.” eties how and when to procreate. Conservative Catholics and contraception In other words, there is the rule, but the “For the poorest people, a child is a trea- opponents were also dismayed by the latest church must be merciful and understand- sure. It is true, we must also be careful here,” from a man who’s been dubbed the “blab- ing — and use common sense. Some church Francis said. “But for them, a child is a trea- bermouth” pope. He appeared to criticize conservatives saw that as more lamentable sure.” BT

14 Religion News Service Temple in Iceland to honor Norse gods

is a founder of the Asatru Folk Assembly, one beyond this little space and time. Another rea- of several Asatru organizations in America, and son is some people feel the desire to get back to he estimates there are as many as 20,000 U.S. their ancestral roots.” in Iceland, the first to honor these practitioners. People are drawn to Asatru for That last bit has caused some trouble for multiple reasons, he said. Asatru practitioners in the past. The Nazis three Norse gods since the Vikings “Some of it, I think, springs from a borrowed some aspects of Asatru to justify plowed the seas 1,000 years ago. need to have spiritual autonomy in a world their pursuit of a “pure Aryan race.” And that is excessively complex and is inhibitive today, some white supremacist groups claim he construction of the new temple on of individual freedom and expression,” he Norse beliefs. McNallen, however, said true a hill overlooking the capital city of said. “Many people are looking for continuity Asatru has nothing to with racism. BT T Reykjavik was first reported by Reuters. It reflects a growing interest in Viking religion both in Iceland and beyond. “I don’t believe anyone believes in a one- eyed man who is riding about on a horse with eight feet,” Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson, a high priest of Asatru, as the worship of Norse gods is called, told Reuters. “We see the stories as poetic metaphors and a manifestation of the forces of nature and human psychology.” Icelandic followers of Asatru — or Asatruars — reached 2,400 out of a population of 330,000 last year, government statistics show. The new temple will be used for wed- dings, funerals and naming ceremonies — a big deal to the Vikings of yore and today. But don’t look for any animal sacrifices; contempo- rary Vikings make symbolic sacrifices instead and focus on values of hospitality, honesty, self-reliance and honor. Belief in the Norse gods died out in Iceland and much of Europe about 1,000 years ago when Christianity swept through. But Asatru saw a revitalization in the early 1970s, when young people brought a renewed interest to many earth-based religions. It was recog- nized as a formal religion in Iceland in 1973. There are now “kindreds” — communities of Asatru worshippers — in places the Vikings never saw, including Australia, New Zealand and at least 21 U.S. states, including Arizona, Mississippi and Idaho. Stephen McNallen is considered by many to have fostered Asatru’s rebirth in the U.S. He

“Many people are looking for continuity beyond this little space and time. Another reason is some people feel the desire to get back to their ancestral roots.”

15

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

Teaching resources at nurturingfaith.net

HOW TO USE THESE April lessons in this issue BIBLE STUDIES Season of Easter 1. Order a copy of Baptists Today news journal 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 for EACH MEMBER of the class. The Bible Of First Importance Lessons are found only here. 2. Teachers can go to nurturingfaith.net to access all April 5, 2015 of the free resources needed for presentation. Simply click on “Adult” or “Youth.” The Book of Love John 1:2-2:2 Teaching the Lessons Walking in the Sunshine After reading The Bible Lessons by Tony Cartledge April 12, 2015 starting on page 18, teachers can access helpful teaching resources (at no charge) at 1 John 3:1-7 nurturingfaith.net. These include: Children of God * Tony’s video overviews April 19, 2015 * Adult teaching plans by Rick Jordan * Youth teaching plans by Jeremy Colliver 1 John 3:16-24 * Tony’s “Digging Deeper” notes and Real Love ”The Hardest Question” April 26, 2015 * Links to commentaries, multimedia resources and more How to Order The Bible Lessons in Baptists Today are copyrighted and not to be photocopied.

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

© Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org | 17 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

with Tony W. Cartledge

April 5, 2015 1 Corinthians 15:3 – Of First Importance “For I handed on to you as of fi rst impor- tance what I in turn had received: that aster: who doesn’t like it? Be- Christ died for our sins in accordance yond the colored eggs and candy, with the scriptures …” E beyond the bright new clothes, Easter brings thoughts of springtime and renewal, of new hope and new life. Far more than a spot on the calen- dar reserved for holidays from work or school, Easter is the crux of Christianity. If there were no Easter, there would be no church and no Christian faith. There would be no hope for life beyond mortality aside from the vague aspira- tions of various world religions. The Apostle Paul understood that when it comes to our hope and faith in Christ, everything hangs on the resur- rection.

The gospel truth (vv. 1-2) questions about spiritual gifts, including that period. Many Jews had come Our text comes near the end of a letter tongues (12:1-14:40). to expect a day of resurrection at the Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. It As we come to chapter 15, Paul end of the age, though others remained turns to questions about resurrection in skeptical. Among those who did expect Paul mentions a previous letter (1 Cor. general and Christ’s resurrection in par- a resurrection, some thought everyone ticular. The Gospel records are so clear would be raised, while others believed stance we can be sure of, so it’s known about Christ’s resurrection that it may only the righteous would rise again. as 1 Corinthians. seem strange to us that early believers Some anticipated a bodily resurrection, In the letter, Paul calls for unity and would question it. The Gospels had not while others imagined a more spiritual deals with a number of thorny issues yet been written, however, or accepted return from the dead. that have been raised by members of the as authoritative scripture. The emerg- An emerging belief system that church. These include questions about ing church depended on oral traditions became known as Gnosticism (from sex, both within marriage and outside passed on by witnesses of the events, the word gnosis, “knowledge”) brought of it (5:1-3, 6:12-20, 7:1-29); questions sometimes second or third hand. questions from a different perspective. about lawsuits (6:1-11); questions about Although early witnesses made the While there were different strains of relationships within the community, resurrection a central teaching of the Gnosticism, all put a heavy emphasis especially with regard to those who were gospel, there were others who ques- on the belief that one must gain secret more sensitive about eating food that may tioned it. The uncertainty in Corinth knowledge needed to ascend to a spiri- have been ritually offered to idols before may have grown from Jewish believers tually higher plane of life. Gnostics con- resale (8:1-11:1); questions about wor- in the congregation, or from the teach- sidered one’s physical existence to be ship and the Lord’s Supper (11:2-34); and ing of competing religions. Jewish belief in a resurrection had egated to the lower world. In their view, Additional background information begun to develop in the second century only the spirit mattered: the notion of a online where you see the “Digging BCE, best illustrated by the apocalyp- physical resurrection was unnecessary. Deeper” icon tic sections of the book of Daniel from

18 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes church, some adherents taught that there The voice of experience was a distinction between the human are available at (vv. 8-11) Jesus and a spiritual Christ, whom they nurturingfaith.net To these testimonies Paul adds his own believed had rested upon Jesus prior to life-changing encounter on the Da- mascus Road. As recorded in Acts 9, knowledge to ascend to the highest of The foundation of faith Paul had been a zealous Jewish rabbi spiritual levels, they argued, while the hu- (vv. 3-7) named Saul who was rabidly seeking To counteract troubling questions about out Christians to persecute when Christ Living amid this hodgepodge of the resurrection, Paul underscored what appeared in a blinding light, manifest- competing claims, it’s little wonder he considered to be the heart of the gos- ing himself to Paul “as one untimely that some believers began to question pel, the message he had received from born.” whether Jesus was really raised from the earliest witnesses and had passed on Paul believed Christ had literally the dead, and whether they could also appeared to him, so he had no qualms look forward to a bodily resurrection. “Christ died for our sins in accordance about calling himself an apostle who Paul could not let such questions go with the scriptures, … he was buried, … had seen Jesus and been called as his unchallenged, for they denied a founda- he was raised on the third day in accor- messenger. His purpose in writing was tional truth of the gospel. So, he writes dance with the scriptures, … he appeared not to glorify himself, but to testify that to remind the Corinthians “of the good to Cephas, then to the twelve” (vv. 3-5). the resurrected Christ was still alive and news that I proclaimed to you, which This brief recitation bears the marks able to reveal himself. Thus, the change you in turn received, in which also you of an early confession of faith that was in Paul’s own life was further evidence stand” (v. 1). repeated in the churches. Verbs carry of the resurrection: “By the grace of Salvation comes only by means of the freight in these brief statements: God I am what I am, and his grace this gospel, Paul insists, “through which Christ died, and was buried. Both verbs toward me was not in vain” (v. 10a). also you are being saved, if you hold are in the aorist tense, indicating com- God’s grace – manifested through the pleted action. risen Christ – had brought Paul to salva- to you – unless you have come to But death was not the end. tion and given him strength to “work believe in vain” (v. 2). Jesus was raised from the dead, and harder than any” (v. 10b). Thus, Paul Notice that Paul uses the present appeared to Cephas (the Aramaic form insisted that his own life and work, no tense to describe salvation as an ongo- of “Peter”) and the twelve (disciples). less than that of the original apostles, was ing process: “though which you are The verb form of “was raised” is in the convincing testimony of the resurrection being saved.” Baptists have tended to perfect tense, which in Greek indicates of Christ and the validity of the gospel. compartmentalize salvation as a one- something that happened in the past but Paul believed that Christ’s resur- time event of “getting saved,” with the - unfortunate result that many believers cance for the present. Jesus rose from believers. His own life demonstrated assume they are set for eternity, with no the dead, and remains alive. that the doctrine of resurrection in- further participation required. The verb is also passive in voice, volves more than the hope of a future Paul would have none of this. He showing that Christ did not raise himself, transformation: It also transforms the notes two conditions: 1) that believers but was raised by the power of the Father present experience of Christians who (cf. Acts 2:23-24, 3:15, 4:10, 5:30). are “raised anew” to a new and abun- they have not “come to believe in vain.” The Old Testament canon had not dant life (see Rom. 6:1-14). For Paul, true believers continue to Consider spending some time medi- express and practice their belief. Failure word translated as “scriptures” liter- tating on Paul’s statement: “By the grace ally means “writings.” Still, many Jews of God I am what I am.” What has God there is no real faith to begin with. considered most of the books we now made you to be? Do others see evidence The statement about believing in call “scripture” to be authoritative. of the resurrection in you? vain could be interpreted in two ways. Paul does not name particular texts he Is this promise also for us? Despite First, Paul could be speaking rhetori- our culture’s current fascination with cally, with tongue in cheek: “unless all Isa. 25:8, 53:5-12; Ps. 16:10; and Hos. vampires and zombies, some modern of our belief is in vain” – in which case 6:2 are good candidates. no one would be saved. Secondly, the The original confession may have notion of a bodily resurrection. The faith expression “believe in vain” could sug- ended at v. 5, but Paul strengthens his Christians hold in a bodily resurrection is gest that some who had gone through case by adding that Jesus later appeared a far cry from storybook notions about the the motions of belief fell short of devel- to more than 500 people at one time, living dead, however: it is the promise of oping an effective faith. and to “all the apostles” (vv. 6-7). a life that never really ends. BT

LESSON FOR APRIL 5, 2015 | 19 John 1:2-2:2

with Tony W. Cartledge

April 12, 2015 Walking in the Sunshine

he late Roger Miller had a hit in the 1960s with a cheerful tune T that went like this: “Walkin’ in the sunshine, sing a little sunshine song; put a smile upon your face as if there’s nothin’ wrong. Think about a good time you had a long time ago, thinking about forgettin’ about your worries and your woes – walkin’ in the sunshine, sing a little sunshine song.” Most people prefer walking in the 1 John 1:9 – sunshine rather than gray and cold or “If we confess our sins, he who stormy days, for obvious reasons, both is faithful and just will forgive literally and metaphorically. Miller’s us our sins and cleanse us from song suggested that we can change our all unrighteousness.” outlook by force of will: “pretending can make it real,” he sang: “a snowy from the human man Jesus, upon whom life was revealed, and we have seen it,” the “heavenly Christ” dwelt for a while. he insisted: “the eternal life that was While positive thinking and a sunny Thus, it is important for John to with the Father and was revealed to us” disposition can help, we know that emphasize from his personal experience (1:2). pretending doesn’t make it real. Today’s that Jesus was both human and divine. text also speaks to a way of walking in The author’s use of “we” in 1:1-4 from personal experience, John pro- the light that is real – not the sun’s light, serves to add the testimony of other ceeds to denote two purposes in writ- but the light of God. apostles or eyewitnesses, strengthen- ing his case: “We declare to you what fellowship along with us” (1:3). Knowledge and joy was from the beginning, what we have The word translated as “fellowship” (1:1-4) heard, what we have seen with our eyes, is the familiar Greek word koinonia. One cannot read the opening verses of what we have looked at and touched The fellowship John has in mind is 1 John without being reminded of the with our hands, concerning the word of not a church dinner or social occasion. prologue to the Gospel of John (1:1- life” (1:1). Koinonia comes from a root word that 18). Both Scriptures speak of Jesus John wants to leave no doubt that means “common,” and in the New as the eternal Word of life who came the Word of life was made physically Testament it describes the common manifest in Jesus, that Jesus is the bonds that Christians share as fellow Both point to Jesus as the Son of God, Christ, the Son of God and that the children of God, saved by the same Word was present “from the grace from the same sin to the same end tion and life. beginning” (compare John 1:1). of abundant and eternal life. In many John is careful to stress his eye- cases, early believers shared not only a by an early form of Gnosticism, appar- witness testimony. He is not like a common faith, but also a common purse ently claimed that a spiritual or heav- to be used for the common good. enly “Christ” should be distinguished glimpse of an old blue sedan speed- John’s second purpose in writing is ing away. He speaks of “what we have “so that our joy may be complete” (1:4). Additional background information heard,” “what we have seen with our Here John includes his readers in the online where you see the “Digging eyes,” “what we have looked at and word “our.” If he enjoys koinonia fel- Deeper” icon touched with our hands” (1:1). “That lowship with them, if they are partners

20 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes in faith and devotion to Christ, then to our inability to live without sin, they are family. It is not just his own joy are available at offering redemption we could never have that concerns the writer, but the joy of nurturingfaith.net gained on our own. To claim that sin is all God’s children. - ance of God’s teaching and to devalue Light and forgiveness the death of Christ as unnecessary. (1:5-2:2) imperative of living as Jesus taught us John does not want his readers to to live. That means being honest with Having warmed to his subject, John believe this aberrant teaching, but he ourselves, with God, with each other. It raises a concern that darkness threatens knows how they might be tempted. Old means walking together in fellowship the church and its fellowship with God, Testament stories about God and Israel with God and with others, believing to- who is light. pointed to one failure after another as gether that “the blood of Jesus His Son We recall again the prologue to God’s people traded the redemptive call cleanses us from all sin.” John’s Gospel, in which the Word is of God’s covenant for the siren song of Walking in the light of Christ leads life, “in him was life, and the life was idolatry. As the eighth-century Israelites to forgiveness: “The blood of Jesus his the light of all people. The light shines forsook social justice and appropriate Son cleanses us from all sin,” John said in the darkness, and the darkness did (1:7). The word for “cleanses” is in the not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5). John prostitution, so the early church was present tense in Greek, which denotes the baptizer was described as one who threatened with those who would forsake continuous action. The constant grace came to bear witness to “the true light, the fellowship of those who walk in the and continuing forgiveness offered by who gives light to everyone” (John 1:9). light for the misguided ways of darkness. Christ is good news, for even those who The metaphor of light versus dark- John wants his readers to recognize want to walk in the light continue to ness is common in the Fourth Gospel the falsehoods inherent in the false struggle with sin. (see also John 3:19-21; 8:12; 11:9-10; teaching they were hearing and to con- Those who claim the light but walk 12:35-36, 46), so we are not surprised fess their sins, trusting in the one who in darkness are deceived, John said when the author of 1 John, who prob- “who is faithful and just will forgive us (1:8), perhaps having bought into the ably drew on the same traditions, turns our sins and cleanse us from all unrigh- to the same metaphor: “God is light and teousness” (1:9). evil and the spirit is inherently good. in him there is no darkness at all” (1:5). - One who claims to have fellowship for writing: “so that you may not sin” enced by philosophies that thought of with Christ while “walking in darkness” (2:1a). He wants to counteract the lies of God as an impassive heavenly spirit, is a liar, while those who “walk in the those who would discount the serious- unconnected with life on earth or with ness of wrongdoing, while assuring the anything physical, including sin. Some forgiveness of sin and fellowship with believers that “we have an advocate with taught that the body was not only evil one another (1:6-7). the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; but also inconsequential, and may have “Light” was a favorite term among sought to prove it by indulging in all mystics who claimed to have special sins, and not for ours only but also for manner of gluttonous or immoral be- “enlightenment” that others did not the sins of the whole world” (2:1b-2). have. Their concept of light was ab- In opposition to those who would count. stract and apart from daily life, but for discount Jesus’ death, arguing that sal- John saw their argument for the lie John, the concept of God as light is vation comes through a separate Christ that it was. “If we say that we have no suffused with ethical and moral content. as a spiritual guide, John reminds his sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth Those who look to the light of God readers that Jesus serves not only as our is not in us.” He understood what Jesus perceive their need to pattern their lives advocate but also as the one who recon- and the prophets before him taught, that after God’s teaching. ciles us to God. God cares deeply about what we do and This leads to a second metaphor, In some way beyond our full com- how we treat each other. A good God that of “walking” in the sense of how prehension, Jesus himself has acted to calls for good people. we conduct our lives. Those who walk grant us clean slates, second chances, Those who confess their sin and in the light of God have fellowship with forgiven sins. God, while those who claim to have We, no less than John’s original who claim to have no sin make God out fellowship with God “but walk in dark- readers, face competing ideas about to be a liar (1:9-10), John said. The Old ness” are lying and “not practicing the faith and life. We can spurn God’s offer Testament scriptures speak often of the truth.” of grace and go over to the dark side, or reality and the consequences of sin. In John calls on his readers to recog- we can seek forgiveness and walk in the sending Christ to the world, God spoke nize the goodness of God and the moral light. Which will it be? BT

LESSON FOR APRIL 12, 2015 | 21 1 John 3:1-7

with Tony W. Cartledge

April 19, 2015 1 John 3:1a – Children of God “See what love the Father has given oes anything in the world have us, that we should the power to touch us like be called children D children? For parents, teachers, of God; and that is or anyone who has regular contact with what we are.” them, children can bring overwhelm- ing pride – or devastating grief. Many of us have children, and all of us have been children: Think of ways you have brought delight or distress to your parents, or ways in which your own children or grandchildren might have blessed or bothered you. The author of 1 John spoke force- fully of Christian believers as the chil- dren of God. As such, he believed, they should live like God’s children with children of God (vv. 1-7) or children of Life could be hard for early Chris- dent of God’s care with regard to their the devil (vv. 8-10). tians in an antagonistic society, and security. How could anyone be privileged to some might have wondered how God’s enter a relationship as children of God? children could be treated so poorly. The The children of God It is because of God’s great love for us, reason, John says, is that the world does (vv. 1-3) John says. We could not earn our way not know or appreciate believers be- into God’s heart with even our cutest cause it doesn’t know God; thus it can John’s writing takes on an added edge behavior, but God loved us when we hardly be expected to show kindness to of excitement in 3:1, though the NRSV were neither cute nor particularly love- God’s children. offers a rather reserved translation: “See able. “We love,” John will say, “because While American believers are more what love the Father has given us, that likely to be ignored than attacked, the we should be called children of God.” John describes God’s love with unpleasant truth is that believers in In contrast, NIV11, HCSB, and NET the word agape (uh-GAH-pay), a term many places are still persecuted and conclude the sentence with exclamation that was rarely used outside of Chris- prosecuted, arrested or shunned, some- points. tian contexts. Early believers used it to times even tortured because of their The image of believers as God’s faith. This does not happen because children carries forward the theme of gracious love that God has shown to us they have done wrong, but because their the previous verse: “If you know that and expects from us. oppressors reject God and thus reject he is righteous, you may be sure that ev- With the added phrase “And we the believer’s life as a child of God. eryone who does right has been born of are!” John assures us that we are not We don’t have to face hostility in him” (2:29). In the coming verses, John just called God’s children: we are God’s will stress the connection between the children. We stand, here and now, as Heartache and tragedy can come even believer’s nature as a child of God and children of a God who is faithful and within a supportive community, even to its outward expression through right be- true and loving, a God who will neither God’s children. Whatever our current havior. He concludes that all are either forget us nor fail us. The verse is remi- state, John insists that a glorious future niscent of John 1:12: “But to all who lies ahead, a day when heaven’s myster- Additional background information did receive him, he gave them the right ies will be revealed and we will learn to online where you see the “Digging to be children of God, to those who be more like God. Deeper” icon believe in his name…” While we hope for what is yet to

22 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes come, we live in the present, and our Testament counterpart, though different position is already secure. John says: are available at in some ways and not yet considered “Beloved, we are God’s children now” nurturingfaith.net evil, was called satan, which means (v. 2). In the light of that hope we strive “accuser.” John hopes that, as the to “purify” ourselves: to become more adversary was unsuccessful in tempt- like the people God has called us to be hamartía. Like its Hebrew counterpart, ing Christ to abort his mission (Mark (v. 3). 1:12-13, Matt. 4:1-10, Luke 4:1-13), John urges all believers to that same mark, failing to live up to God’s stan- so God’s children will resist tempta- end, to look toward the day when we dards, violating the ethical and moral tion and choose to live in righteousness meet our ultimate parent, and hoping ideals expected from a child of God. rather than sin. that when we meet, there will be a Sin creates a barrier between The language in v. 9 is surprisingly family resemblance. humans and God, precluding fellow- graphic in its description of Christians ship. But, John reminds us, Christ “was being born of God because God’s The issue of sin revealed to take away sins, and in him “seed” (sperma) abides in them. As hu- (vv. 4-6) there is no sin” (v. 5). As we abide in man parents pass on genetic materials For growth and maturity and God- Christ and strive to become more like likeness to take place, believers must him, we are less in thrall to sin and children, something of God’s nature is take seriously the issue of sin. John more open to fellowship with God. implanted in believers. Thus, John says, doesn’t mince words on that account. If Christ has forgiven our sin, we A surface reading of vv. 4-10, are free from its bondage. That is not because they have been born of God.” which seem to suggest that true believ- to suggest that we become perfect and John uses the perfect tense for “have ers never sin, can leave us wondering if never fall short – we all know better been born,” indicating a past action that any are truly secure. It can be helpful, than that. Still, those who “abide in continues to have force in the present. as we read these verses, to understand him” strive to avoid sin and become Past forgiveness inspires present obedi- something about verbal tenses in New more like Jesus. This truth may seem ence. Testament Greek. The present tense self-evident, but John needed to ad- This is how John says one can typically indicates ongoing or continu- dress it, probably because some people identify a child of God and a child of ous action. The aorist tense generally who had left the church (2:18-19) were the devil: one’s daily walk – whether indicates point action, usually in the teaching precisely the opposite, claim- characterized by sin or by an effort to past but sometimes in the present. The ing that God is neither concerned with overcome sin – betrays one’s parentage. perfect tense describes something that sin nor connected with Jesus. Few movies portray the contrast happened in the past but continues to be between good and evil better than the true in the present. Children of the devil Star Wars series, in which young Luke In vv. 4-6, John addresses the subject (vv. 7-10) Skywalker engages often with the of sin: “Everyone who commits sin is John has little patience with those who powerful and malevolent Darth Vader guilty of lawlessness,” he says, but “No – a good man gone bad who happens one who abides in him sins; no one who who persist in doing wrong do so be- to be Luke’s biological father. Darth sins has either seen him or known him.” cause they are not children of God, but Vader implores Luke to “come to the This statement seems strange, for of the devil, John says, who “has been dark side” and serve the evil emperor, John has previously argued that anyone sinning from the beginning.” who claims to be without sin is a liar but remains true to what is good. Ul- (1:8, 10), but those who confess their deeper than a disagreement between or- timately, Luke’s loyal love wins over sins can trust Christ to forgive (1:9), thodox teaching and misguided notions Vader, who experiences a redemption of restoring the relationship. arising within the church. The ultimate sorts as he dies while defending Luke There is some comfort in noting from the emperor’s efforts to torture the that the verb underlying “who commits and the Son of God, who “was revealed young man into submission. sin” in v. 4 is a present participle, and for this purpose, to destroy the works of When watching Star Wars, it’s not the verb translated twice as “sins” in the devil” (v. 8). In this verse, “practic- hard to tell who is on the good side, and v. 6 is also in the present tense. This ing sin” and “sinning from the begin- who is on the dark side. When observ- suggests the sense of continually prac- ning” are also in the present tense. ing those who claim to know God, John ticing or living in sin, as opposed to one The Greek word translated as “dev- who strives to do right but occasionally il” is diabolos (from which we get the between the children of God and the stumbles. word “diabolical”), a term that means children of the devil: their actions tell The Greek word used for “sin” is “slanderer” or “accuser.” The Old the tale. BT

LESSON FOR APRIL 19, 2015 | 23 1 John 3:16-24

with Tony W. Cartledge

April 26, 2015 Real Love

ll you need is love,” sang the Beatles in their number one “A hit from 1967. Peter Cetera’s “Glory of Love” reached number one in 1986, as did Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love.” According to bobborst.com, no less than 127 songs with “love” in the title have achieved number one status in the U.S. since Benny Goodman sang “Taking a Chance on Love” in 1943. We love the subject of love: we sing about it, talk about it, and fantasize about it. But popular notions of love are often far from the real thing. In today’s text, John points to Jesus as the 1 John 3:17 – prime example of true love, and chal- “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods lenges believers to follow the Lord’s and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?” example. sentimental affair that feels good and Now, in essence, John is again challeng- True love is mainly self-oriented, but a love that ing Christ-followers to “walk the walk” (vv. 16-17) is directed toward others and willing to and not just “talk the talk.” go not only the second mile, but also to Suppose we see someone living in v. 11, where John reminds readers of the last mile. Christians in America are poverty or struggling to bear a heavy “the message you have heard from the rarely faced with a situation in which load without adequate resources. If we beginning, that we should love one they are called to put their life on the have the ability to help them but do not, another.” He then cites the story of Cain line for the sake of another, but we are can we claim that God’s love abides in murdering his brother as an example of to learn from his example that love us? The sense of “abiding” is central what happens when hate reigns means doing whatever it takes to meet to John’s teaching: as believers are (v. 12). The world might hate believers, the needs of others. This is especially called to abide in God, so God’s Spirit, but those who follow Jesus are to re- true within the family of faith. presence, and love abides in them. Our spond with love, knowing that they have While few are faced with making outward behavior gives evidence of eternal life. Those who do not love, John what lies within: the presence of Christ says, abide in death (vv. 13-15). low Christ should be willing to make should be manifest in what we do. But love can be risky, painful, or Not many people are called to give even fatal. With reference to Jesus, John biblical text makes this more clear than their life for another, but the call of the says “We know love by this, that he laid v. 17: “How does God’s love abide in needy brother and sister is constant. We down his life for us – and we ought to lay anyone who has the world’s goods and may never know if we would be brave down our lives for one another” (v. 16). sees a brother or sister in need and yet or heroic or committed enough to die The kind of love John describes is refuses help?” for someone else, but every day we have serious business. It is not a mushy or Earlier, John had charged that some the opportunity to help those who are in believers claimed to have fellowship need – or to ignore them. Our response Additional background information with God while walking in darkness, in either case will reveal whether the online where you see the “Digging and urged them to demonstrate their love of God truly resides in us. Deeper” icon faith by walking in the light (1:6-7). The scene John describes indicates

24 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes and to share, and becomes acutely aware are available at persuade God to give us anything we of another’s need, but looks the other way nurturingfaith.net want, or that God rewards obedience by rather than offering assistance. saying “yes” to our every request. We know what it is like to feel Context is important: the promise of compassion, and how easy it is to look reveals how much time and effort we 3:22 must be read in the light of 5:14, the other way so we’re not plagued by the put into loving others as Jesus loved us. nagging needs of others. Our character- In the next three verses, John turns in prayer, but conditions it on asking istic response reveals the relative health to a discussion involving the heart, not within the purview of God’s will: “And of our faith. When we consider our daily as the seat of love, but as the source of a this is the boldness we have in him, that response to those who are in need, can clean conscience for those who love as if we ask anything according to his will, we say that the love of God resides in us? Jesus did. Modern folk commonly asso- he hears us.” People who love unself- As noted above, in this context, ciate love with the heart, and the simple John seems to be speaking to and about image of a bivalve heart is ubiquitous in in prayer because they will not ask for the Christian community, where believ- Valentine’s Day promotions, sweetheart anything that is outside of God’s will: ers are most aware of needs in the lives cards, or surrounding initials carved on they “obey his commandments and do of their brothers and sisters in Christ. As trees. The ancients associated feelings what pleases him.” Christ-followers, John’s readers would with the gut rather than the heart, which And what are God’s command- have been a small minority in a hostile they saw as the seat of thinking, deci- ments? What does it take to please environment who may have needed sion-making, and the conscience. God? For the writer, “this is his com- one another to ensure survival. In that When we love “in truth and ac- mandment, that we should believe in the setting, it was appropriate to focus on tion,” John says, we can “know that we name of his Son Jesus Christ and love needs within the community of faith. are from the truth, and shall assure our one another, just as he commanded us” The principle behind it, however, hearts before him” (v. 19). The word (v. 23). should certainly extend beyond the translated as “assure” typically means We might have expected John to church. The ethic of caring for the poor “to persuade” or “to convince.” Thus, echo Jesus’ insistence that the two and the stranger was an important ele- NET says we “will convince our con- greatest commands are to love God with ment of Old Testament teaching, and science in his presence.” heart, mind and soul; and to love our Jesus echoed the importance of ministry John seems concerned that some neighbors (Mark 12:28-31). For John, to the needy on a regular basis. As the readers will be too hard on themselves, loving God is entwined with investing church grew from a persecuted minor- and given John’s strong “either/or” one’s life in God by believing in the ity to a larger and more popular place language, that’s not surprising. But the name of Jesus. In this sense, “believe” in society, church leaders put greater writer’s purpose is not to make believ- means far more than giving intellectual emphasis on caring for others outside of ers feel guilty, give up because they assent. To believe in Christ is to devote the faith community as well as within. are not perfect, or feel unwarranted one’s self to God, which implies a deep This remains a challenge for believ- doubt that they are truly God’s children love for God. ers. If members of a church care only because of uneasy hearts. Fortunately, The love we have for God through for their own and neglect the needs of our standing with God does not rest on Christ motivates us to love as Jesus homeless persons in their community, our personal judgment. Rather, John re- loved, which means loving one another. storm victims in other states, or persons minds his readers, “God is greater than Though John thought primarily of suffering from disease or famine in any our hearts, and he knows everything” reciprocal love within the faith commu- part of the world, can they claim that (v. 20). There may be times when we nity, the call to compassion extends far the love of Christ abides in them? are uncertain, and we need to trust in beyond fellow believers. Our trust in God and love for others The bottom line ourselves. is both evidence and assurance that we (vv. 18-24) On the other hand, “if our hearts do abide in God and God abides in us, a In the following verses, John plows - relationship experienced as well through ahead, further elaborating what it means dence in our standing before God the indwelling of the Spirit (v. 24). to share Christian love. Talk is easy, but (v. 21), John says. Then we can pray John insists that true love is not found with greater boldness, believing that God faith in God, sensing the Spirit’s pres- “in word or speech, but in deed and hears us and responds to our prayers. ence and of a joyous future yet to come? truth” (v. 18). Our actions speak louder We must not read too much into Do your actions of obedience and love than our words, even to us. A quick look v. 22, as “prosperity preachers” and match your assurance? If not, some seri- at our checkbooks or our calendars some surface readers tend to do. This BT

LESSON FOR APRIL 26, 2015 | 25 Classifieds In the Know William Fitzgerald Brown was ordained to Senior Pastor: ministry on Jan. 18 by University Baptist Church, Charlottesville, Va. He is the son of Kent Brown and Ann Brown, who serves as president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Music Minister: Robert Cochran is executive director/minister of the D.C. Baptist Convention. He previously served the Washington, D.C., fellowship of churches as associate executive director. Rich and Laura Freeman of San Pedro, Calif., will serve as associate missionaries in Turkey through American Baptist International Ministries. Jill Jenkins will retire in May as children’s pas- tor at Johns Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Ga., where she has served for 20 years. Senior Pastor: minis- Bob Lee is pastor of Huguenot Road Baptist ter of music and minister of youth and Church in North Chesterfield, Va., com- children. ing from New Highlands Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, Va. Scott Stearman is pastor of Metro Baptist Church in New York City, coming from Kirkwood Baptist Church in St. Louis. Mark Wiggs will serve as a Cooperative Baptist Children’s Minister: Fellowship volunteer at the United Nations representing the Baptist World Alliance. He is an attorney from Jackson, Miss., and longtime religious liberty advocate. Pastor: Ed Sunday-Winters is pastor of First Baptist Church of Phenix City, Ala. He previously served Ball Camp Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tenn. BT Advertise with Baptists Today Print or Web Classified Ads Web Display Ads Price (per week)

associate minister for families and congregational care Information / Ad Space: [email protected]

26 +% +$0/. 1#0$2.% In their own words

AND THE AMERICAN

he sun is setting on the Confederate 150 years ago forward. The Cedar Fork Baptist Church States of America. With most of the " in Tennessee this month resolves “that we T South now under Union control, calls declare a non fellowship against all aides and from Confederate offi cials and religious leaders March 1865 abetters of the rebelion until satisfaction be to never give up appear to ignore reality and made by them to the church in the letter and defy logic. when Confederate forces momentarily break spirit of the Gospel.” A judge writing in the Confederate General Robert E. Lee, the Union line at Petersburg and drive toward Georgia Baptist Christian Index concedes that knowing the hour is near, contacts Union the enemy’s supply lines. The Federals, how- African slavery may be doomed, not because General Ulysses S. Grant in hopes of conven- ever, easily turn back the advance and retake it is against the will of God, but because slave ing a meeting to “iron out the differences” lost ground. By the end of the month Union marriages have not been legally recognized and between the North and the South. The North, troops are close to breaking through Rebel honored in the South. however, having effectively won the war, has no defenses guarding the Confederate capital of Other white Southern Baptists, however, interest in negotiation. Instead, U.S. President Richmond. remain as confi dent as ever. White supremacy Abraham Lincoln addresses the future in his Black Baptists south and north, while yet and black slavery are the unchanging will of second inaugural address, the last paragraph awaiting the culmination of the war, are seiz- God. The South may not be winning on the invoking God’s help in fi nishing the fi ght and, ing the opportunity to establish autonomous battlefi eld, but the many religious conversions afterward, in healing America’s wounds: churches. Among the black Baptist congrega- that have been wrought in the armies of the tions founded this month are: First African South are an even greater victory. With malice toward none, with char- American Church of Evansville, Ind.; Zion “Triumph and joy, suffering and sorrow, ity for all, with fi rmness in the right Baptist Church of Portsmouth, Va.; Shiloh hardships and peril, have all brought us near as God gives us to see the right, let us Missionary Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va.; to our Maker; and the greater our peril — the strive on to fi nish the work we are in, and Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Klein, more severe our calamities, the more have we to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care Texas. In addition, the “colored members” of felt the nearness of God,” declares a newspaper for him who shall have borne the bat- the First Baptist Church of Nashville, Tenn., editorial. Embedded within this narrative of tle and for his widow and his orphan, petition to become a separate and independent righteous victory despite earthly defeat is a to do all which may achieve and cher- church, eventually establishing the First Baptist post-war path for a decimated South, a re-writ- ish a just and lasting peace among Church Capitol Hill. ing of history that, upending logic, transforms ourselves and with all nations. In Savannah black Union regiments, with losers into victors undaunted in their divine Baptists well represented among the troops, mission of upholding white supremacy. Part of the envisioned national healing takes arrive to assist in Reconstruction efforts. During these fi nal days of the the form of helping former slaves transition Charleston is the scene of a grand celebration Confederacy, even with the Reconstruction into lives of freedom and opportunity, to led by freedmen. In both cities, thousands of of some southern states already under way, which the Freedman’s Bureau, established this former slaves are learning to read and write it remains to be seen whether Lincoln’s hope month, is tasked. Tens of thousands, perhaps under the tutelage of missionaries from the of “malice toward none” and “charity for all” hundreds of thousands, of black Baptists North and other charity workers and, in some will overcome inherent racism both north and acquire help from the bureau in the months cases, local black Baptist leaders. Good and south, much less the biblically-infused militant and years to come. kind intentions notwithstanding, paternalism white supremacy that drove the nation into Before freedom can fully reign, however, is common among white northerners working war and even now defi es defeat. BT remaining Confederate armed forces must be among the freedmen. subdued. Early in the month Union armies Some white Baptists of the South embrace —For a daily log of “This Day in Civil War expand their control in North Carolina, in the coming end of slavery and prepare to move History,” see civilwarbaptists.com. the process destroying many Baptist meeting houses and utilizing others as temporary hos- Editor’s note: This series commemorating put your name in the book and send a pitals. From sheer desperation the Confederate the 150th anniversary of the American Civil signed copy to you. The $100 sponsorship, government allows the recruiting of “negro minus the cost of the book, is a charitable soldiers” to reinforce army ranks depleted by War is coming to an end. However, Bruce deaths and desertions. Even though there is an Gourley has graciously agreed to let Baptists gift. implicit understanding that military service Today, through Nurturing Faith Books, Make your contribution online at will be rewarded with freedom, few slaves don publish this well-researched material in book baptiststoday.org/donate or send a check the Confederate gray. form. to: Baptists Today, P.O. Box 6318, Macon, A bright streak of light fl ares ever so Sponsors are needed to make this GA 31208-6318. Please indicate it is for briefl y across the darkening southern horizon happen. If you will join in the effort, we’ll “Gourley book.”

27 Guest Commentary By Bill Ellis

A grieving Christian, and that which is to come

Friends die; one after another. Then his wife walked away while he was a “Charles,” a long-time friend, was a master Each time a dark disorder. seminary student and he was left to raise two craftsman and teacher of industrial arts. He A ceaseless banging of shutters. children. We reconnected after many years, and was a gentle, quiet man who replaced moldings Upstairs there, in the mind. then I watched him die of cancer before the around pillars on my front porch. I often think birth of grandchildren. I have been fortunate to of his kind manner when I pass by them. fter reading these opening lines of have five grandchildren grow up before my eyes. “Max,” another colleague at Eastern Rosemary Dobson’s pessimistic poem “Hoot,” another football teammate and Kentucky, taught accounting and had the mind- “Grieving” at the British Museum last a groomsman in our wedding, was a great set of an old-fashioned Baptist thinker. Our A th year, and now being in my 75 year, I think Christian gentleman. He died in a farm accident children grew up together. Though stricken more and more about mortality and those I have a few days after his 75th with polio as a child in Arkansas, he persevered said goodbye to over my lifetime. birthday. He was always to become a great teacher and friend. Now dead It is not easy to mourn the loss of friends. good for a story of the old more than a quarter of a century, I sometimes They continue to bless me with memories. days — though we often ponder how he would assess some Baptist issues. “Earl,” died on the football field at had different versions. “Dixie,” the personification of an old- Georgetown College in 1962, not from an “Lin” I had known for fashioned southern lady with her white hair tied injury but from the effects of encephalitis. I more than three decades in a bun, was a mentor in my earliest teaching wonder what his life would have been like. as a colleague at Eastern days. She and my mother staunchly supported “Aggie” served as a role model and mentor Kentucky University. the WMU through the dark days of the late 20th in my first teaching and coaching job at Harrods- However, there was never century. I was privileged to be at her bedside burg High School in 1962. Adolph Rupp’s any closeness between us until I called on him when she died. first All-American, Aggie’s wealth of stories has for advice. As a prostate cancer survivor, he “Ted” and “Joy” rented us a “granny flat” encouraged me to become a teller of stories. guided me through the early recovery process during our six months in New Zealand at “David,” another teammate at Georgetown after I had surgery. And, then he died as the Massey University in 1989 and guided us in College, studied to become a Baptist minister. cancer returned. It was a blessing to visit him in understanding the Kiwi lifestyle. They prob- his last days and hold his hand as two women ably thought us a bit quaint as we sought out a by his bedside sang “Amazing Grace.” Baptist church each Sunday. I did not see a lot of “Mitch,” who was When we visited New Zealand last year a teaching and coaching colleague at Shelby we stayed a couple of days with “Warwick,” a County High School in the mid-1960s. He former history colleague at Massey and a mem- was quiet but always insightful and humorous. ber of a Brethren church. I reminded him that When he called one of my columns in Kentucky he owed us a visit. With some health problems, Monthly magazine “your best damn one yet,” I Warwick said he would not be able to make the knew indeed it was good. And then he was gone. trip. “Tom” was Kentucky’s historian laure- “Well, I reckon the next time we meet will ate. This courtly southern gentleman from be in heaven,” he said in his distinctive Kiwi Mississippi mentored me from my earliest idiom. At first speechless, I replied, “Well, that university teaching days. I was overwhelmed won’t be so bad.” with teaching, but wanted to publish. “Do your That will be enough, won’t it? research and then sit down and write,” he said Before I meet up with Warwick I first want “Seeking Justice: bluntly one day. Always on the right side of to see William Matthew “Liam” Ellis, my great- Baptists, Nashville, and Civil Rights” issues, he lived to be nearly 102 years old and grandchild. Born 13 weeks premature, his lungs had a clear mind to the last. were too weak to sustain life. He died on Feb. 4 APRIL 20-22, 2015 “Jerrel,” a fellow history teacher from of this year. I never got to hold him, but in Indiana, and I didn’t get together often, but heaven he will greet me and hold my hand as I American Baptist College when we did we discussed religion and history. am welcomed home by my Heavenly Father. BT First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill With our wives we visited Auschwitz a few years Nashville, Tennessee ago. The only true unbeliever I have ever known —Bill Ellis, who taught history for 40 years, is well asked me, “Where was God?” I had no the author of six books including a biography of Information: http://www.baptisthistory.org/ quick or glib answer. And then, he died a few E.Y. Mullins. He is currently writing a biography bhhs/conferences/2015conference.html months later before we could talk again. of humorist Irvin S. Cobb.

28 Editor’s note: This article in the series “Transitions: Helping churches and church leaders in changing times” is provided in partnership with the Center for Healthy Churches (healthy-churches.org). Learning to disagree agreeably By Bill Wilson

- Sadly, the vast majority confesses they have healthy, non-anxious fashion. not. Our culture seems to encourage indirect, Why not? What makes this level of malicious and mean-spirited conversation conversation so difficult? when we disagree with someone. Instead, the Part of the reason is our natural tendency biblical call is to go to someone out of love, his team together. He was determined to avoid conflict. Most of us were raised to not anger, and to do so with an eye toward to get the players refocused on the be polite, respectful and non-argumentative. resolution. Thank God for those traits. Simply venting, or “getting things off things that made for winning. However, throughout the Gospels, Jesus your chest,” is more about our self-centered- invites us to a deeper level of relationship that ness than about building up the body of s they knelt before the coach, he held delves into honest disagreement as an opportu- Christ. It takes thoughtful self-examination up a football. “Gentlemen, today we nity for greater intimacy rather than division. to expose the mixed motives and personal start over. THIS IS A FOOTBALL!” A Some of the people I loved best as a pastor agendas that cloud our thinking. Often, our I feel the need to call the local church and who taught me the most were those who outrage is more about us than it is about the around me and make a similar pronounce- had the gumption to dis- one who frustrates us. ment: “Brothers and Sisters in Christ, when agree with me agreeably. I Spiritual and personal maturity is a pre- we disagree, Jesus said we are to talk TO one can name them and recall requisite to managing conflict in a healthy another, not ABOUT one another!” many a day when they fashion. When it is not present in one party, Matthew 18:15 (NRSV) has not been came to me with a con- the biblical mandate still exists, and requires us excised from scripture. “If another member of cern and I found myself to work harder at containing and controlling the church sins against you, go and point out having to admit they were our emotions. the fault when the two of you are alone.” right, or arguing against Frustration, self-doubt and exasperation In the midst of a series of direct teachings them with all my might. bubble up and gnaw at our spirit. Thankfully, about how his followers are to relate to one Whatever the out- Jesus encourages us to find others (Matt. another and the world, Jesus gives us crystal come, I knew we would walk out of the study 18:16) to help us in the midst of conflict. clear instructions on how to manage conflict. as better friends than we entered. Those rela- Healthy churches will establish clear and He goes on to suggest follow-up strategies for tionships were marked with some common well-communicated ways of dealing with con- dealing with disagreements. threads: We did our disagreeing in private, we flict. Inviting the congregation into regular Unfortunately, we rationalize and justify had a shared love for our church, we respected conversations about “pinch points,” areas of ourselves as exceptions to this foundational one another deeply, and we refused to talk frustration and unmet expectations help keep component of New Testament community. about each other to others. emotions at a civil level. In our work at the Center for Healthy I am a far better minister because those A personnel committee should have as Churches we find ourselves invited into many men and women took Matthew 18 to heart one of its primary tasks to keep staff conflict opportunities to witness conflict firsthand. and overcame their reluctance to speak hard on the radar and closely monitored. Dealing We do so willingly, as we believe that conflict words to me. with conflict is an increasingly important prac- is an opportunity for God’s people to come Another, more common barrier to our tice of a healthy congregation. to grips with issues that often are ignored or taking this habit to heart is that we have not Jesus had it right. Now we need to get back glossed over. cultivated our own emotional and spiritual to the basics and follow his instructions. BT However, we are constantly amazed at health to the point that we are comfortable how this basic component of congregational practicing Jesus’ clear command. It takes sig- —Bill Wilson is president of the health is ignored or willfully violated. Rather nificant ego strength to confront someone in a Center for Healthy Churches. than deal directly with those they disagree with, we frequently find situations where clergy and laity alike have managed to triangle, sabotage, ignore, gossip about, manipulate, and generally mistreat those with whom they disagree. On more occasions than I can count, I have asked someone: “Have you gone and talked with this person about your concerns?”

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Editor’s note: This is the first article in a series that highlights the Baptist principle of liberty of conscience. The series is supported by an endowment gift from the William H. Whitsitt Baptist Heritage Society, whose mission is carried on through the pages of Baptists Today.

BAPTIST PROFILES IN CONSCIENCE Tommy Douglas shaped Canada’s commitments to social justice

n the summer of 1931, a Ph.D. student Marx, however, disagreed. Declaring studying sociology at the University of Smith to be too idealistic, he insisted that I Chicago encountered the depths of human industrialization would create a greedy plutoc- hopelessness. Some 75,000 men were living in racy that would impoverish workers. For Marx, the city’s Depression-era camps, barely staying Smith’s goal of a prosperous working class alive. could only be realized if the people at large, Many had once been doctors, lawyers and rather than a small group of elites, controlled bankers. This swelling sea of hollowed-out the means of wealth creation. humanity stunned the young man studying As if to add weight to the economic societal problems. Seemingly everywhere were debate, the new nation of Canada promptly, in gaunt bodies and faces portraying a mixture of the name of capitalism, blazed a path to the far despair, fear and shame. right of Smith, in the process enacting Marx’s Only two years earlier the United States nightmare scenario. From its inception into the had been a land of prosperity. And now, as the early 20th century, Canada’s government was observer would later recount of that summer dominated by elitist capitalist parties that gave in Chicago, there “were little soup kitchens run industry free reign, enlarged the wealth gap by the Salvation Army and the churches. In between the poor and the rich, and provided the first half-hour they’d be cleaned out. After little to no social services to the people or that there was nothing… It was impossible to protections for workers. describe the hopelessness.” In the midst of this storyline of corpo- How could America allow this to happen? United States was focused on national rebuild- ratist-controlled Canada, Tommy Douglas Why wasn’t the government taking action to ing following the recent conclusion of the was born into a working class family in 1904 provide for the basic necessities of its needi- American Civil War, the winds of economic in Falkirk, Scotland, some 20 miles from the est citizens? Had capitalism failed American change were sweeping throughout the Western birthplace of the economist Adam Smith. society? world. In 1910 the Douglas family migrated to Some 71 years later the student who spent In 1867 German philosopher and econo- Canada, seeking work. Settling in Winnipeg, that summer among Chicago’s hopeless masses mist Karl Marx, for two decades a prominent the family lived modestly. was chosen by the citizens of America’s north- proponent of socialist theories, published In the months prior to the move to ern neighbor as “the greatest Canadian of all Capital: A Critique of Political Economy, a Canada, little Tommy had injured his knee time.” significant volume that offered a stark rejoinder and, when the leg became infected, underwent Thomas Clement “Tommy” Douglas was to Adam Smith’s influential 1776 capitalistic several operations in Scotland that seemingly his name, and he was a Baptist minister. tome, The Wealth of Nations. alleviated the problem. Soon, however, the Smith, a Scottish philosopher and econo- infection returned. mist and the father of modern economics, had BEGINNINGS Too poor to afford an operation in established the classical definition of capitalism Canada, Tommy’s parents were resigned Canadians often scoff at how little Americans as regulated free markets buttressed by progres- to their son having his leg amputated. know of their northern neighbor. Few sive taxation and government-funded public Fortunately, a kind surgeon intervened and Americans know, for example, that Canada education and designed to combat wealth agreed to perform the operation for free, sav- became a nation on July 1, 1867, at which inequality. ing the young boy’s leg. The experience would time the Dominion of Canada officially An advocate of living wages for the working influence Douglas’ view of the world for the became a self-governing entity within the masses, Smith pointed out that nations collapse rest of his life. British Empire. when too much wealth is accumulated in the At 14, Tommy became a Baptist, a faith The timing of Canada’s independence hands of too few, a problem that capitalism in group that in Canada identified with common impacted the nation’s early identity. While the the ascendant industrial age could prevent. people. At about the same time, having already

30 experienced Canada’s gaping class inequality, University, where he earned a master’s degree in Inspired by H.L. McNeill, president of Tommy witnessed the even harsher realities of sociology in 1933. While enrolled in McMaster, Brandon, and J.S. Woodsworth, political and corporatist Canada. Douglas spent the summer of 1931 studying at Christian socialist in Canada, Douglas turned the University of Chicago, also a Baptist school. to the biblical model of the Kingdom of God BAPTIST EDUCATION There he encountered the Depression- in order to formulate a Christian response to era hobo camps. Deeply disturbed by the Depression-era hopelessness and violence. While labor unions were legal in Canada, American government’s inability to prevent Douglas spoke of the Kingdom of God employers were free to ignore the unions and such dire poverty, Douglas also criticized as “righteousness and justice” for “every person to fire anyone at any time for any reason. In members of the Socialist Party who, waiting addition, corporations were allowed to ask the in it.” for a revolution, quoted Marx and Lenin while government to send military troops to quell “Every person in the kingdom has a right doing nothing to help the destitute. worker strikes, a request the government was to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Douglas’ troubling summer of 1931 in ready and willing to fulfill. Douglas came to believe. “In this kingdom we Chicago was followed by ill news from home. It was not unusual for military and police are members of one another, and the strong In September, in the province of Saskatchewan, forces to maim and even kill strikers in order must help to carry the burdens of the weak.” miners went on strike over low wages and poor to put down labor disturbances. In the agricultural province of working conditions. The RMCP opened fire In 1919 massive unemployment and soar- Saskatchewan some two-thirds of families on the strikers, killing three. ing inflation led to what became known as the experienced impoverishment during the early As were his experiences with unafford- Winnipeg General Strike. Some 30,000 private Depression years. The extreme poverty expe- able health care and the Winnipeg General and public-sector workers left their jobs simul- rienced by his own parishioners and other Strike of 1919, the Social Gospel and Chicago’s taneously, crippling the city. residents of Weyburn led Douglas to start a hobo camps alongside the murder of yet more Winnipeg’s business owners, bankers, and local unemployment association, a club to pro- unemployed men in 1931 were transformative politicians quickly condemned the strike and vide food, clothing, friendship and hope. experiences for Douglas. invited the government to intervene. On what With the encouragement of church became known as Bloody Saturday, government members, Douglas — by now a polished and police forces charged into a crowd of strikers. ‘HUMANITY FIRST’ forceful speaker — became involved in local Thirty strikers were injured. And from a While continuing his education Douglas mar- politics on behalf of the poor and impover- rooftop on Winnipeg’s Main Street, Tommy ried Irma Dempsey, his college sweetheart, ished, a trajectory that eventually led him to watched the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and took the pastorate of the Calvary Baptist leave the pulpit in order to minister among shoot and kill a worker. Church in rural Weyburn, Saskatchewan the larger flock of the general public in While the memory of that day was forever province. Saskatchewan. etched in his mind, the teenager went on with life. Now healthy, he became a successful ama- teur boxer. He also apprenticed as a printer, earning his journeyman papers. Douglas’ growing Christian convictions, however, led him to return to school to pursue a career in ministry. He enrolled at Brandon College, a Baptist school affiliated with McMaster University, where he finished high school and studied theology and sociology. An exemplary student, he became a cham- pion debater, wrote for the school newspaper and became president of the student body. And during his six years at Brandon he studied under professors who advocated the Social Gospel. From his professors Douglas learned of a Christianity that was concerned both with social justice and individual salvation. Earning his way through college by preaching in rural congregations, Douglas’ sermons were often focused on social reform and helping the poor, about “building a society and building institu- tions that would uplift mankind.” A gifted speaker, the collegian also earned money by speaking at church suppers and service club meetings. Completing his degree from Brandon in 1930, Douglas then enrolled at McMaster

31 In a world where the capitalism of Adam was voted into the House of Commons, part of Douglas’ most monumental contribu- Smith had been abandoned in favor of thinly- Canada’s Parliament, as a CCF representative. tion, however, was yet to come. By the time he veiled plutocracy, Douglas by now viewed He served in the House for the next nine years, retired as premier of Saskatchewan in 1961 in Christianity and 20th century capitalism as during which time he was also elected as the order to become the first leader of the newly- incompatible. Yet he also opposed communism. leader of the Saskatchewan CCF. formed New Democratic Party, he had long Informed by his Christian conscience, In the 1944 provincial election Douglas worked to enact universal health care for all Douglas helped form a new political party in led the CCF to win 47 of 53 legislative seats, provincial citizens. In 1962 Saskatchewan Canada, the Co-operative Commonwealth thus becoming the premier of Saskatchewan adopted Douglas’ Medicare plan. Four years Federation (CCF). The founding conven- and the head of the first democratic socialist later, Canada enacted nationwide Douglas’ tion of the party, of which Douglas played an government in North America. universal health care coverage. Of his singular important role, established as its platform uni- For the next 17 years, provincial voters achievement of universal health care, Tommy versal pension, health and welfare insurance; retained Douglas as premier. In Saskatchewan, Douglas said: unemployment insurance; a minimum wage; Douglas led in the creation of government- and farm security. owned utility enterprises (cooperatives), public I felt that no boy should have to The platform was a vast departure from education, the unionization of public service depend either for his leg or his life Canada’s historical corporatist, unfettered and the implementation of free hospital care upon the ability of his parents to free-market ideology. On the other hand, for all citizens. The Trade Union Act the CCF raise enough money to bring a first- CCF principles were quite similar to those of enacted, providing minimum wages and other class surgeon to his bedside. And I Adam Smith, the seemingly forgotten father of worker protections, was called “the most pro- think it was out of this experience, capitalism. gressive piece of legislation on the continent.” not at the moment consciously, but Thus, while the CCF was roundly criti- At the same time, however, Douglas through the years, I came to believe cized by many, including Christians, as socialist advocated and fostered responsible private that health services ought not to have or even communist, the “socialism” of Douglas enterprise. To the astonishment of his critics, a price tag on them, and that people and the CCF was supported by the democratic Saskatchewan, long viewed as a backwards prov- should be able to get whatever health process of popular votes and had roots in both ince, prospered financially and soon became one services they require irrespective of the economics of Adam Smith and the teachings of the fastest growing provinces in Canada. their individual capacity to pay…. of Jesus. The party’s ethos was summarized in In addition, under Douglas’ leadership Improving people’s economic con- its slogan: “Humanity first.” in 1947 the Saskatchewan Bill of Rights was dition is not an end in itself; it’s a passed, guaranteeing freedom of conscience means to an end…. I never thought ‘GREATEST CANADIAN’ and religion for all (reflecting early Baptist a man could save his soul if his belly convictions as written into the 1663 Rhode was empty or that he could think Tommy Douglas’ Christian conviction that all about things like beauty and good- Island Charter penned by John Clarke) and persons were deserving of basic human rights ness if he had a toothache…. echoed the convictions of early Baptists Thomas forbidding discrimination in employment, lodging and services, as well as enshrining Helwys, Roger Williams, John Clarke and oth- Douglas remained in political service to his many other fundamental human rights. ers. Political involvement was for the sake of country until 1979. During his many years of The Saskatchewan Bill of Rights preceded advancing the welfare of all of humanity, rather public service he refused to enrich himself as the adoption of the United Nations Universal than Christianizing government or society. did so many other politicians. Instead, he often Declaration of Human Rights by more than a Successful in local and regional politics, went into personal debt in order to finance his year. Douglas in Canada’s federal election of 1935 campaigns and political travels. In retirement Douglas lived modestly, passing away in 1986. Douglas’ political convictions, informed and inspired by his Baptist faith and con- science, transformed Canada by lifting up the working masses and providing hope to all the nation’s citizens. In 2004 Douglas was voted by Canadians as “the greatest Canadian of all time” for his role as the father of Canada’s health care system. While he is little known outside of his own nation, one could reasonably argue that Canadian Tommy Douglas was the most influential Baptist of the 20th century, perhaps alongside Martin Luther King Jr. Few Baptists, after all, have altered the trajectory of an entire nation by living out their faith convictions. BT

—Bruce Gourley is executive director of the Baptist History and Heritage Society and online editor/contributing writer for Baptists Today.

32 Recent releases from Faith BOOKS

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A septic tank collapses and human “All of us who recognize the authority of God remains are discovered. Adrian upon our lives, and choose to live under it, Stockwood receives word that Ora have experiences worth sharing. They are Mae, the dying African American who like pathways that help to lead others safely raised him, is accused of murder. across the pitfalls of life. In this way, our Leaving his life at the university and lives are like bridges, and, when we share returning to his rural hometown, he them and the things that God has taught us $16.00 pb encounters the hurts, frustrations, through them, we are like bridge builders.” $9.99 ebook regrets and secrets that surrounded With these words, Jennifer Wylie, introduces his exile from that life. Battling these $16.00 pb | $9.99 ebook readers to her personal story of servant leadership. internal demons and opposing eternal forces, Adrian struggles for truth and peace for himself and Ora THE PARADIGM PASTOR: JESUS AS A Mae…. Read the rest of this fictional story that author Phyllis PARADIGM FOR THE PASTOR OF TODAY Tickle described as “engrossing, moving and quite beautiful” and Trudy Usner Pettibone that kept her “totally absorbed right up to the last page.” Although his main mission was to recon- cile creation with the Creator, Jesus was DEEP FAITH: INVITATION TO A an exemplary pastor through his teaching, DEEPLY ROOTED LIFE preaching, pastoral care, training, etc. Trudy Dennis Atwood Pettibone believes that looking at the life of Followers of Jesus know that we Jesus through the lens of the pastorate can $16.00 pb should be engaged in daily prayer, provide a better understanding of this chal- Scripture reading, worship, fellow- lenging and rewarding position to which she and others have ship, and ministry, but we often been called. In her book, she focuses on scripture texts that are not. Life gets in the way, or we support the various aspects of Jesus’ pastoral ministry. get overwhelmed by the process, or we do not see the value in spiritual CHRISTMAS: THEN AND NOW growth. As a result, church seems Jon R. Roebuck shallow and our faith is weak and $16.00 pb | $9.99 ebook unattractive to the world. In this Without exception, everyone to whom we book, Dennis Atwood introduces – or reintroduces – ordinary preach has heard the story of Mary, Joseph Christians to the core issues vital to personal and corporate and the child in the manger. So how do we spiritual formation. make the message of Christmas relevant, new and exciting, season after season? In Visit nurturingfaith.net for curriculum this collection of 25 original stories, with set- and publishing information. tings varying from centuries ago to modern $16.00 pb Shop at nurturingfaith.info life, Jon Roebuck offers a fresh look at God’s $9.99 ebook unfolding plan of redemption and grace offered through the child born at Christmas.

Order now at nurturingfaith.info Guest Commentary By Brian Howell, !-1*"-'1! ‘I survived a short-term mission trip’

This past summer, as I waited for my plane in Tegucigalpa, I browsed one of the air- righteous anger, participants in STM teams often fail to connect the poverty they witness port’s many gift shops looking for something for my 14-year-old son and found, among to colonial history, the globalizing economy the soccer jerseys and dried toads, a bright orange T-shirt emblazoned with a colorful and institutional problems. Too often, the take-away is that we, who enjoy relative wealth, have an obligation to help, but that there isn’t really much we can aves of short-term missionaries will lives of 21st-century Christians? do. The poor serve as a kind of shrine and the head out again during spring break. Scholars of tourism have long argued that trip as a pilgrimage. WAnd, with summer, we’ll again enter tourism is a kind of secular ritual where alien- The solutions, if there are any, are internal Short Term Mission (STM) season. ated moderns create liminal spaces in which to to the country. The only difference we can Combining adventure tourism with experience authenticity and communitas. make, as concerned outsiders, is to sign up for Christian charity, STMs have exploded in Structuring tourist spaces as “sights,” and more trips and to build more houses. popularity in the past 20 years. Conservative tourist performances as “not home,” vaca- Of course, there are models of STM that estimates put the number of U.S. participants tioners use tourism to escape temporarily the explicitly address the causes of poverty and the at 1.6 million per year. anomie of contemporary life by indulging in ways rich countries are both implicated and These trips of service and evangelism hedonism and rituals of renewal. responsible. Christians themselves are some range from domestic stints that may last only STMers are well aware of the overlap with of the toughest faultfinders of STM, and they a few days to international voyages that last tourism, and, in many cases, work very hard to have in some cases sought to address these cul- weeks or months. They provide members of distance themselves from the identity of “tour- tural dynamics in creative and effective ways. every denomination significant encounters ist.” The most withering critique of these trips At the same time, there is no doubt that with new contexts, unfamiliar cultures and is that they’re “just Christian tourism.” the symbolic nature of the encounter in STM poverty. Yet STM travelers employ much of the is fraught with overlapping meanings often As an anthropologist and a Christian, I same language of seeking something “authen- unexamined by those planning and participat- have a conflicted relationship with STMs. I tic,” and of being renewed by their travels that ing in these trips, some of which work against find them both fascinating and a bit repulsive. scholars of tourism note as central to tourist the intended goals. These trips often take relatively naive narratives. As Christians everywhere gear up for U.S. Americans into vulnerable communi- The difference is that STM travelers seek the next STM season, we would do well to ties around the world. While the neo-colonial authentic spiritual experiences, rather than consider how we might make these travels an dynamics are inescapable, the host communi- “the real Costa Rica” or “authentic Italy.” The opportunity to thrive for all who participate ties are savvy and the encounter is complex. STMer finds “true faith” and people who “really on both sides of the trip, and not simply an I have studied these trips, and it is clear know how to rely on God” among the poor. encounter to survive. BT that STM groups have served as links to pow- Contemporary life, cluttered with tech- erful communities (creating “bridging capital”) nology, squeezed by competing demands, and —Brian Howell, professor of anthropology and provided important resources to under- oppressed by pressures to succeed, appears at Wheaton College in Illinois, is author of resourced places. STM travelers attest that the virtually un-Christian when compared with the Christianity in the Local Context: Southern trips are “life changing.” (seeming) simplicity of the life of the poor. Baptists in the Philippines (2008) and The changes may not always be expected Like retreats, camps and neo-monastic Short Term Mission: An Ethnography of (or desired) changes, but there’s no doubt that practices, STMs offer the fragmented Christian Christian Travel Narrative and Experience these encounters cause some visitors to redirect self a chance to re-imagine a more authentic (2012), and co-author of Introducing Cultural their lives toward service and social justice. and purer faith. Anthropology: A Christian Perspective (2011). A larger question is, “What does the This is not to say that STM visitors exclu- This Sightings column is distributed by the popularity of these trips suggest about U.S. sively or explicitly romanticize poverty. But Martin Marty Center at the University Christianity generally?” Is there something even when they hear stories of suffering and of Chicago Divinity School greater to the importance of these travels in the exploitation and they express compassion and (divinity.uchicago.edu).

Scholars of tourism have long argued that tourism is a kind of secular ritual where alienated moderns create liminal spaces in which to experience authenticity and communitas.

34 Religion News Service

Turban confusion: ASHINGTON — Most Americans them and “they perceive that you are a human Sikhism, which developed in North India know little or nothing about Sikhs being like anybody else.” five centuries ago, is the fifth-largest faith in the W and many mistake the turban-wear- The Washington-based campaign hopes to U.S., where Sikhs have lived for more than 100 ing faithful for Muslims, a new survey shows. use the survey results to aid Sikhs in dispelling years. Its key tenets include devotion to God, The survey, commissioned by a nonprofit misperceptions about their monotheistic faith truthful living and service to others. seeking to build positive images of U.S. Sikhism, and reducing violence against its members. It Earlier studies have documented mistreat- found that 60 percent of non-Asian-Americans recommends that Sikh gurdwaras, or houses of ment of Sikhs, including that half of Sikh said they had no knowledge of Sikhs (pro- worship, and other organizations emphasize the students are bullied in school. A shooting at an nounced “siks”). Eleven percent said they were faith’s focus on equality and explain the turban Oak Creek, Wis., temple in 2012 that killed six close friends with a Sikh person, and 31 percent as an expression of their faith and values. was one of the deadliest acts of violence against said they had never interacted with a Sikh. It has been difficult for Sikhs to communi- a faith community in the U.S. since the 1963 “We want to make sure that we pave a cate those values. church bombing in Birmingham, Ala. way for a conducive environment for our future “We hold incredibly progressive values,” Crimes against Sikhs have increased since generations so they don’t have to take off their said Gurwin Singh Ahuja, another co-founder 9/11. turban to hide or to feel sorry for their iden- of the National Sikh Campaign. “Sikhs believe Joshua DuBois, former faith outreach tity,” said Rajwant Singh, a co-founder of the that men and women are equal, that all faiths adviser to President Obama, joined other National Sikh Campaign, at a news conference should have the right to practice, and we have to Christian and Jewish leaders at the announce- at the National Press Club. do a better job of communicating those things.” ment of the campaign and recalled traveling to When researchers at Hart Research Assoc- Researchers found that when survey Oak Creek with first lady Michelle Obama. iates showed images of Sikhs to people taking an respondents were given information about Sikh “Sikhs are beautiful threads in the tapes- online survey, more respondents said they were history and beliefs, their impressions grew from try of this country,” said DuBois, the founder looking at Muslims than Sikhs. No one identi- “neutral” to “warm.” Groups with the most sig- and CEO of Values Partnerships, citing their fied a woman shown without a turban as a Sikh. nificant change in views included Republicans, contributions to the U.S. military, the medical Jaswant Sachdev of Phoenix, Ariz., recalled Hispanics and Americans ages 65 and older. community and youth service projects. how he used to be called “ayatollah” before 9/11, “When people learn this information, it “I’ve seen what happens when we don’t and was compared to Osama bin Laden after it. creates a fundamental change in the way they know the Sikh story,” he added. “I‘ve seen first- “It is always the turban which causes suspi- think about Sikhs and it’s transformative,” said hand what happens when ignorance and bigotry cious fear in the person who has seen me for Geoff Garin, president of Washington-based reigns. But a new day is dawning in America the first time,” he said, adding that people grew Hart Research Associates, whose survey was because we’re finally getting to know our Sikh more comfortable with him after he talked to conducted in August and September 2014. brothers and sisters.” BT

35 Media By Jocelyn McClurg, $.2-1-#' '.3! !.$4-/. Pure malarkey Teen admits his book about going to heaven was fiction

Christian publisher has stopped selling have gone to heaven and returned. The best an incredible story to share … of events at the The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven known is Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo, accident scene and in the hospital while he Anow that the young subject paralyzed a No. 1 USA Today bestseller that was turned was unconscious, of the angels that took him in a car crash says the story of going to heaven into a movie. through the gates of heaven itself.” is not true. The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven But in his open letter, Alex wrote: “I said Tyndale House told both NPR and The peaked at No. 46 on USA Today’s list. I went to heaven because I thought it would Washington Post that it has withdrawn the According to the publisher’s description get me attention. When I made the claims best-selling 2010 book by Alex Malarkey and of the book, “in 2004, Kevin Malarkey and his that I did, I had never read the Bible. People his father, Kevin Malarkey. 6-year-old son, Alex, suffered an horrific car have profited from lies, and continue to. They The publisher made the decision after Alex accident. The impact from the crash paralyzed should read the Bible, which is enough. The wrote an “open letter” to the retailer LifeWay Alex — and medically speaking, it was unlikely Bible is the only source of truth. Anything that said, “I did not die. I did not go to Heaven.” that he could survive. written by man cannot be infallible.” It was posted on the Pulpit and Pen website. “‘I think Alex has gone to be with He also said: “Please forgive the brevity The Malarkey book is one of a spate of Jesus,’ a friend told the stricken dad. But two (of the letter), but because of my (medical) bestsellers about and by those who say they months later, Alex awoke from a coma with limitations I have to keep this short.” BT

When I made the claims that I did, I had never read the Bible.” A recent release FROM Faith BOOKS

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36 The Lighter Side By Brett Younger Tasting God’s goodness

The first prayer many of us offered was a The chain gets an extra 73 cents and you get Many of us learned to eat in church. prelude to mealtime: an extra 400 calories, but you do not enjoy The food at Baptist potlucks is comfort food God is great. God is good. them. The sheer size of what we have lessens — green bean casseroles with fried onion Let us thank God for our food. our appreciation. We have learned to think that rings on top, macaroni salad (a wonderful bathtub-sized drinks and Chris Christie-sized oxymoron), and chocolate cakes with names Some of us progressed to: portions are normal. like Mississippi mud and Coca-Cola cake Thank you for the world so sweet. So then we try the latest diet: Atkins that cannot be found in restaurants. We were Thank you for the food we eat. diet, Body for Life diet, cabbage soup diet, down-home folks, so the only sauces allowed Thank you for the birds that sing. fruitarian diet, gluten-free diet, grapefruit were gravy and ketchup. A few young Baptists Thank you God for everything. diet, lacto-vegetarian diet, macrobiotic diet, mistook a love for fried chicken for a call to the Mediterranean diet, raw food diet, South ministry. One grown-up version is: Beach diet, taste-free diet, vegan diet, or the The menu for the heavenly banquet looks Bless the food upon the dishes rotation diet — which took two of the longest different in different churches. Catholics still as you blessed the loaves and fishes. months of my life. eat fish on Friday. Greek Orthodox churches As the sugar hides in the tea, We forget that food is central to faith. are famous for baklava. Latter-Day Saints eat let me hide myself in Thee. The Old Testament is filled with dietary laws, funeral potatoes — hash browns mixed with cooking instructions, and Rachael Ray-like mushroom soup — which does not explain If you had an older brother, you may have why their congregations are getting larger. details on how to share a good meal. The pri- learned this grace for breakfast: Our lives are more sacred when we recog- mary image of the kingdom of God is the royal Oh, dear God, with a kindly twist, nize that our food is sacred. Starting your day feast. Isaiah describes the coming messianic send down biscuits as big as your fist. with a spinach omelet makes it a different day banquet: “God will prepare a lavish dinner for than if you begin with a Nutri-Grain candy bar all peoples, a feast of rich food, a banquet of This prayer sounds like one your favorite aunt on the way to work. A sandwich at your desk aged wine.” might recite: is less holy than lunch with a cherished friend. Jesus ate his way across Israel — accepting We humbly ask thy blessing Sitting down for dinner with your family is one dinner invitation after another, eating with on the turkey and the dressing, more Christian than a frozen pizza scarfed the religious people and the not-religious-at-all on the yams and cranberry jelly, down in five minutes. Eating reminds us of people. He described the blessing of the king- and on the pickles from the deli. God’s good gifts. dom as “sitting at his table.” The Pharisees Bless the apple pie and tea. In the goodness of food we see the good- Bless each and every calorie. responded by calling Jesus a “glutton and a ness of God. We need to enjoy our food more, Let us enjoy this big old dinner, drunkard,” but Jesus said that the kingdom of even if some of us need to eat less of it. We tomorrow we can all get thinner. God is a feast. should diet when we have to, and as strenu- ously as we should, but when we get that Many people do not pray for food with the exercise out of the way, we should eat same gusto that they used to, because joyfully. food now seems like the enemy. The world belongs to those According to one study, 31 per- with tongues to taste it. Savor cent of Americans are “obese” the good food God has given. while another 34 percent are Give what you eat your full labeled “fat.” The remaining 35 attention. Be grateful for the percent are categorized as “feeling life it brings. Eat slowly and taste superior.” the goodness of God. BT Supersizing was a big move outward. You order a cheese- —Brett Younger is associate burger value meal for $4.74. professor of preaching at Your server asks, “Would you like Mercer University’s McAfee to biggie-size it for only $5.47?” School of Theology.

37 Religion News Service

Profoundly personal How adoption has forced evangelicals to grapple with race relations

Before she and her husband adopted tension in New York City, Ferguson, Mo., and whose deaths have put race into a national con- elsewhere. versation — the family talks about race more a son and daughter from Ethiopia, And evangelicals aren’t alone: A new frequently. Her son learned about America’s popular evangelical blogger Jen Gallup poll found that 13 percent of racial history in public school during Black Americans believe racism is the country’s most History Month in February. Hatmaker said she had a different important problem, the highest figure since the “Every time we talk about it, there are 1992 verdict in the Rodney King case sparked tears, there’s confusion,” said Hatmaker, riots in Los Angeles. who said her son lives in a “no man’s land” couple years ago, I would’ve said And, as Gallup noted: “After barely regis- because he’s black but not necessarily African- we’re moving to a post-racial society tering with Americans as the top problem for American. “He didn’t understand he was “A because I was so under-exposed to two decades, race relations now matches the coming into a culture with a racial bias.” people of color and the issues they deal with economy in Americans’ mentions of the As the wife of a pastor, Hatmaker said on a daily basis,” said the white Christian country’s top problem, and is just slightly her Austin, Texas, church of about 600 people author, whose home renovation to make space behind government (15 percent).” is filled with an estimated two or three dozen for their growing family of seven was featured That same Gallup poll also found that adoptive families, including many who have on HGTV. nonwhites are more than twice as likely as adopted interracially. She and a number of As evangelicals have turned their atten- whites to call race relations or racism the female evangelical leaders and Bible teachers tion toward adoption in the past decade, country’s most important problem. who have adopted interracially, like fellow families like the Hatmakers are grappling with As the Hatmakers’ son Ben, 11, creeps Austin-based author Jennie Allen, are mulling race relations in a profoundly personal way, closer to the ages of Trayvon Martin and ways to use their influence to discuss race. especially as national news spotlights racial Michael Brown — unarmed black teenagers “We have to do the humble hard work of

38 society because I was so under-exposed to people of color and the issues they deal with on a daily basis.” listening,” Hatmaker said. “We serve a God have concerns about race. of justice and equality, and I’m anxious to see “If anything, adoption exposes evan- the transformation he’s prepared for us in our gelicals’ weaknesses as well as strengths,” said culture right now.” Moore, who is white and adopted two white Perhaps more than most religious groups, children from Russia. “In any given month, white evangelicals have a complicated history I’m dealing with a couple adopting a child of with race: The Southern Baptist Convention another race dealing with relatives who object, was born with a defense of slavery, and many sometimes in nakedly racist terms.” southern Christians upheld Jim Crow laws. Adoption has forced evangelicals to recon- Even as more recent generations of evan- sider all manner of issues, from poverty to race gelicals began to oppose racism, sociologists to health and international relations, Moore Michael Emerson and Christian Smith’s 2001 said. book, Divided by Faith, found that most white “I’ve seen predominantly white churches evangelicals see no systematic discrimination that have become more intentional about against blacks. reaching out to African-American communi- Kathryn Joyce, author of The Child ties because now the ethnic barrier has been Catchers, who has raised questions about evan- broken within the church,” said Moore, who is gelical adoptions, has been surprised by the president of the Southern Baptists’ Ethics and number of conversations about race on Religious Liberty Commission. adoption forums. “People who previously assumed that “Self-critique is happening with a lot of racial prejudice was back in the Jim Crow era conversations focusing on big issues like racial are awakened by it with their own kids.” justice, social justice, class, privilege,” Joyce Interracial adoption can be fraught with said, saying she first heard about Martin’s 2012 unseen road bumps, as some white parents find death on an evangelical adoption forum. themselves navigating cultural differences. “These parents, mostly moms, were think- Linda Hargrove, a black mother of three ing about race early on because they had this black adoptive children who lives in North personal connection.” Carolina, said she encourages her white friends To be sure, Christians have cared for who adopt to go the extra step with their orphans for centuries, but the most recent children, like helping their black daughters do wave of interest came alongside the focus on their hair with up-to-date styles. the global HIV/AIDS crisis, a shrinking world “It gets me when anyone says love is with the increase of technology and well- colorblind,” Hargrove said. “You want to be known Christians becoming adoptive parents, able to help them to do well in life, to be aware such as musician Steven Curtis Chapman and that some people might treat you differently.” retired mega-church pastor John Piper. The colorblind mentality can be prevalent Piper, a white pastor who grew up in the in evangelical churches, said Jaeran Kim, who segregated South and has spoken on his own was adopted into a white evangelical family history of racism, now has an adopted daugh- and is researching evangelical adoption while ter who is black. working on her Ph.D. from the University of “Nothing binds a pastor’s heart to diver- Minnesota. sity more than having it in his home,” Piper “There’s a difference between celebrating wrote in his 2011 book, Bloodlines. diversity and understanding racism,” said In any given week, especially when there’s Kim, who is Korean-American. “While I’ve a flashpoint in the culture, Southern Baptist seen movement toward celebrating diversity, I leader Russell Moore says he now hears from think we have a long way to go when it comes white evangelical parents of black children who to racism.” BT

39 Reblog

Selections from recent blogs at baptiststoday.org Something beyond idealism

By John Pierce

ecently, when reporting on the Islamic State’s continuous barbarism, CNN’s R Wolf Blitzer discussed claims that an American hostage had been killed in Jordanian airstrikes. The conversations were primarily, and appropriately, about the likelihood this infor- mation was propaganda — an attempt to drive a wedge between Jordan and the U.S. However, I was struck by Blitzer’s repeated references to the “idealism” of 26-year-old Kayla Mueller (whom the network named only recently). The Arizona native was captured in August 2013 while leaving a hospital run by woman: serious faith. commitment, altruism, self-sacrifice and risky Doctors Without Borders. (Sadly, later it was Is it idealistic to give oneself in sacrificial service say something else. learned that the young woman was indeed dead.) service to others? If so, Jesus was the most I wouldn’t go to such a place at such a There is no level low enough for these idealistic person to ever live. time, nor would I consent to that experience militants who show complete disregard for Perhaps this young woman just read or for those I love most deeply. Not because I humanity. Even one seeking to help others is heard the words of Jesus and (unlike most of us dismiss such perspectives and actions as ideal- considered a political target. who claim to follow Jesus) decided to actually istic, but because my faith is not that deep and Indeed it takes some idealism to go to heed them. strong. Syria to help alleviate the deep suffering of Tagging her as idealistic is a dismissive Putting oneself at risk for the sake of oth- throngs of refugees. But it seems that some- way of saying, “She shouldn’t have gone there.” ers is surely more than idealism. It is the way thing much more motivated this bright, young However, Jesus’ repeated calls to faith, of Christ. BT

or Britain. Old stuff making current news Third, researchers at Anglia-Ruskin University in Cambridge, England, report that By Tony W. Cartledge of using religion as a front for radical evil. they have found evidence of Post Traumatic Second, and on a lighter note, French Stress Disorder (PTSD) among Assyrian sol- hose who care about archaeology might Assyriologist-cum-gourmet cook Jean Bottero diers as early as 1300 BCE. be interested in a few tidbits about old recently translated three cuneiform tablets from Analyzing translations of Assyrian cunei- T stuff in the current news. Yale University’s Babylonian Collection, and form texts ranging from 1300-609 BCE, the First, the Islamic extremists behind the billed them as the world’s oldest cookbooks. researchers found instances of soldiers being ISIS movement continue to demonstrate their The recipes contained on the tablets visited by “ghosts they faced in battle.” That inhumanity. Not only do they indiscrimi- reveal that the ancient Mesopotamians were could fit with symptoms of what is now called nately murder and maim current residents of wild about onions of every variety. That’s not PTSD. the land they’re overrunning, but they also too surprising, for onions continue to be the Previously, the earliest reference to some- have taken to destroying priceless and irre- world’s most commonly produced food crop thing like PTSD was from the Greek historian placeable artifacts of human heritage. according to BBC Magazine, which says 175 Herodotus, who described a case in which Iraq News has reported that ISIS mili- different countries produce onions — twice as a soldier named Epizelus went blind during tants have blown up large parts of the ancient many as produce wheat. the battle of Marathon in 490 BCE, “though wall of Nineveh, capital of the Assyrian king- The top onion-eating nations are Libya, nothing had touched him.” dom — modern-day Mosul. Albania, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, where the If only such symptoms would strike those Such behavior has no justification. The average person eats about 34 kg (that’s misguided fighters who do the bidding of fact that anyone would participate in such 75 pounds) of onions per year. That’s more the would-be caliph of ISIS, and turn them atrocities is a sad commentary on the dangers than three times the amount eaten in America against each other. BT

40 Quality& Value brought together in one trusted resource

Churches with group subscriptions to Baptists Today are well informed — and have consistently excellent Bible studies for Sunday school classes right in hand. See, there’s room here. Add your church’s name to the growing list. Discover the benefits of once-a-year ordering and the special rates for 25 or more — and even deeper discounts for orders of 100 or more. Call toll-free 1-877-752-5658 or visit baptiststoday.org. Religion News Service Science vs. religion Researchers find there is more of a three-way split unnoticed before in endless rounds of debates pitting science vs. religion. hey’re more strongly religious than most “Traditionals” (43 percent of T Americans), and more scientifically knowledgeable than “Moderns” (36 percent) who stand on science alone, according to two sociologists’ findings in a new study. “We were surprised to find this pretty big group (21 percent) who are pretty knowledgeable and appreciative about science and technol- ogy but who are also very religious and who reject certain scientific theories,” said Timothy O’Brien, co-author of the research study, released in the American Sociological Review. Put another way, there’s a sizable chunk of Americans out there who are both religious and scientifically minded but who break with both packs when faith and science collide. Post-Seculars pick and choose among identify as conservative Protestants — know science and religion views to create their own facts such as how lasers work, what antibiotics “personally compelling way of understanding do and the way genetics affects inherited the world,” said O’Brien, assistant professor at illnesses. the University of Evansville in Indiana. But when it comes to three main areas “Post-Seculars are smart. They know what O’Brien and co-author Shiri Noy, an assis- where science and Christian-centric religious scientists think. They just don’t agree on some tant professor of sociology at the University views conflict — on human evolution, the Big key issues, and that has impact on their politi- of Wyoming, examined responses from 2,901 Bang origin of the universe and the age of the cal views,” said O’Brien. people to 18 questions on knowledge of and Earth — Post-Seculars break away from the When the authors looked at views on the attitudes toward science and four religion- pack with significantly different views from authority of the Bible and how strongly people related questions in the General Social Surveys Traditionals and Moderns. said they were affiliated with their religion, conducted in 2006, 2008 and 2010. Areas where the factions are clear: Post-Seculars put the most faith in Scripture Many findings fit the usual way the and were much more inclined to say they were science-religion divide is viewed: The universe began with a huge strongly religious. And where science and faith Moderns, who stand on reason, scored explosion: conflict on hot-button issues, they side with the religious perspective. high on scientific knowledge and scored lowest For example, Moderns are the most sup- on religion questions regarding biblical author- portive of embryonic stem cell research and ity and the strength of their religious ties. Traditionals, who lean toward religion, abortion rights for women, but Post-Seculars, scored lower on science facts and were least Human beings developed from who are nonetheless largely positive about sci- likely to agree that “the benefits of scientific ence and society, are more skeptical in both earlier species of animals: research outweigh the harmful results.” areas, O’Brien said. However, the data turned up a third Candidates running in the 2016 elections perspective — people who defied the familiar might take note. Where people fall in these breakdown. The authors dubbed them “Post- three groups can predict their attitudes on Secular” to jump past a popular theory that political issues where science and religion both Americans are moving away from religion to The continents have been have claims, O’Brien said, even after account- become more secular, O’Brien said. moving for millions of years and ing for the usual suspects — social class, Post-Seculars — about half of whom will move in the future: political ideology or church attendance. BT

42 Leaving New York American Bible Society heads to Philadelphia

Religion News Service

fter almost two centuries in New York City, the nonprofit American Bible A Society is moving its headquarters to Philadelphia. “New York has become so extraordinarily expensive that nonprofit staff cannot afford to live in proximity to headquarters,” said Roy Peterson, the society’s president and CEO. “We don’t have a cohesive, synergistic global headquarters staff right now. And that’s why we wanted to find a city that was diverse, rich with culture and churches and language, but yet affordable.” The headquarters in Philadelphia, a block from the Liberty Bell, will open around June. It will be housed on the eighth and ninth floors of a building shared with Wells Fargo & Co. under a 25-year leasing agreement that can be renewed for another 25. The Bible society also has proposed a ground-level “Bible Discovery Center.” A small staff and the Museum of Biblical Art, which is independent but affiliated with the ABS, will remain in New York. ABS leaders realized they were sitting on a valuable asset in midtown Manhattan. The 12-story building on Broadway is for sale and is estimated to be worth about $300 million. The society, which supports Bible reading and seeks to have the sacred text translated into all the world’s languages, expects a staff of more than 200 will occupy the Philadelphia building within two years. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said the city is “honored to welcome American Bible Society to its new home.” BT

43

Adventure and Inspiration

NURTURING FAITH EXPERIENCE: MONTANA Historic Belton Chalet, West Glacier JULY 13-18

Leader: Ken Mottram, a hospital chaplain and experienced guide with deep knowledge of the Glacier region and 29 years of exploration

Hosts: Editors John Pierce and Bruce Gourley, who will offer a photography workshop

his Nurturing Faith Experience offers a unique opportunity to enjoy classic Western hospitality (beltonchalet.com) and some T of nature’s most remarkable beauty with a personal touch. From airport arrival to departure, our group will be well hosted by local friends who will provide opportunities for shared experiences as well as optional recreational activities.

While the itinerary is still being developed, Monday and Friday nights will be spent in Bozeman with a welcome dinner at the Montana Ale to Bozeman, Mont., arriving by 3 p.m. on July 13, with departures House and a get-acquainted session. The other three nights will be at anytime on or after July 18. (Add $250 to guarantee a private room the highly praised Belton Chalet where nightly sessions will be casual throughout the stay.) but informative. Daytime tours and optional recreational activities will fill the daylight hours. TO SECURE A SPOT, please send a deposit of $400/person to Baptists Today, P.O. Box 6318, Macon, GA 31208-6318 or call COST $1,850/PERSON includes all personalized ground transporta- (478) 301-5655 to pay by credit card or register online at baptiststoday. tion and tours, lunch and dinner daily, a cowboy cookout, boat ride org. Deposit is refundable until May 1. Balance of payment is due and group sessions. Participants are responsible for their own airfare on June 1. Questions? Email [email protected].

LOOKING AHEAD: NURTURING FAITH EXPERIENCE: COASTAL GEORGIA SEPT. 28 – OCT. 2 With theologian John Franke, author of Manifold Witness: The Plurality of Truth FA TH Registration details to follow. EXPERIENCES 2015