>> This is the September 2014 issue containing the October Bible Study Lessons
7 churches of the Revelation 32
baptiststoday.org Birthday Blessings Creative parties can teach lessons on giving 4
‘FROM MOUTH TO EAR’ Can preaching still communicate? | 31
FA TH™ BIBLE STUDIES for adults and youth 17
John D. Pierce Executive Editor [email protected] Julie Steele Chief Operations Officer [email protected] Jackie B. Riley Managing Editor [email protected] Tony W. Cartledge Contributing Editor [email protected] Bruce T. Gourley Online Editor [email protected] David Cassady 30 Church Resources Editor [email protected] Terri Byrd Contributing Writer Vickie Frayne Art Director PERSPECTIVES Jannie Lister The importance of audience recognition Customer Service Manager [email protected] and respect 7 Kimberly L. Hovis By John Pierce Marketing Associate [email protected] Eight things the church needs to say 11 Lex Horton By Tom Ehrich Nurturing Faith Resources Manager [email protected] What to do when your minister leaves 14 Walker Knight, Publisher Emeritus By David W. Hull Jack U. Harwell, Editor Emeritus 42 DIRECTORS EMERITI Thomas E. Boland IN THE NEWS R. Kirby Godsey The Whole Story: Mary Etta Sanders Edit wars: Wikipedia’s eight religious pages Rabbi expresses gratitude for Winnie V. Williams people can’t stop editing 8 Baptist congregation’s hospitality BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nursing home evangelism gets mixed reviews 9 Donald L. Brewer, Gainesville, Ga. (chairman) Cathy Turner, Clemson, S.C. (vice chair) Golden Gate Seminary campus fetches FEATURES Nannette Avery, Signal Mountain, Tenn. $85 million 10 Mary Jane Cardwell, Waycross, Ga. ARTS CAMP: Birmingham congregation Jack Causey, Statesville, N.C. takes summer classes to rural setting 15 Anthony D. Clevenger, Pensacola, Fla. Turkish official: Women shouldn’t laugh James M. Dunn, Winston-Salem, N.C. in public 10 By Terri Byrd Jack Glasgow, Zebulon, N.C. Frank Granger, Athens, Ga. Most Americans say shelter, not rush to deport, BAPTIST THEOLOGY: Part 3 36 Cynthia Holmes, St. Louis, Mo. By Fisher Humphreys David Hull, Huntsville, Ala. child migrants 10 Fisher Humphreys, Birmingham, Ala. ASK the THEOLOGIAN: Part 4 38 Andrew McGill, Chattanooga, Tenn. Rabbi David Saperstein tapped as religious William T. Neal, Stone Mountain, Ga. freedom ambassador 10 Roger Paynter, Austin, Texas Kathy B. Richardson, Rome, Ga. BWA addresses issues, encourages Charles Schaible, Macon, Ga. Macon Sheppard, Clemson, S.C. Turkish Baptists 30 Walter B. Shurden, Macon, Ga. Jim Strawn, Dunwoody, Ga. Scholars say women in the early church Leo Thorne, Valley Forge, Pa. often overlooked 35 Sarah Timmerman, Cairo, Ga. David Turner, Richmond, Va. Tom Waller, Alpharetta, Ga. Clem White, St. Petersburg, Fla. Vickie Willis, Murfreesboro, TN Cynthia Wise, Birmingham, Ala. Donna Wood, Macon, Ga. Cover photo Page 4 READERS SERVICES
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ACON, Ga. — Patrick Johns’ first TWO BAGS FULL more and more stuff, better toys, the next best birthday celebration featured col- thing,” she said. “Celebrations such as these orful decorations, his two-handed “At first, some of the guests asked questions help us step outside of ourselves and truly see dismantling of a well-decorated about why we were doing it, but most of them others.” Mcake, and nice presents brought by happy were supportive and thought it was a great Jessica also noted that those who attend guests. The books they brought, however, idea,” said LeAnn. “We ended up with two the party might gain a better appreciation for were in honor of Patrick’s birthday but not bags of children’s books.” what it means to be a Christian and engaged in ultimately for him. So, along with others, Amelia Bedelia and congregational life. “A couple of months ago, our local news Pete the Cat came to the party but soon left like “This shows people outside of the church station covered the Children’s Miracle Network other guests. They will end up in the hands of that we are sincere, that we want to help event for our children’s hospital,” said Patrick’s children whose early years have included chal- others, and that we truly do care,” she said. mother, LeAnn Gunter Johns of Macon. “One lenges unknown to most families. “Birthday celebrations in which people volun- request caught my attention and I thought, Someday Patrick will have greater awareness teer their time or bring donations can help the ‘We can help with that!’” of and, his parents hope, a deep appreciation for church be the church, the light of Jesus, help- the unique way his first birthday was marked. ing others move through the darkness.” “I plan on including this story in Patrick’s BOOKS OF LOVE “I would love to see more of these types baby book as a special way to celebrate his of celebrations happen,” she added, noting Each year, the Children’s Hospital of Central first birthday — sharing his love of books with that not only birthday parties for children Georgia sends a book to each child who has other children,” his mother said. hold such possibilities. “We had a senior adult spent extensive time in the neonatal intensive couple ask for canned food instead of presents care unit (NICU). This continues until the NOT ABOUT STUFF for their anniversary party.” child is 5 years old, LeAnn learned. “We love reading books in our house Birthday celebrations in which so this really stuck with me,” said LeAnn, a children bring food, clothing CAUGHT VISION minister and mother of two sons. “As I was or toy donations, or make Julie Long, associate pastor and minister of planning our younger son Patrick’s first gifts to an animal shelter or children and families at First Baptist Church birthday, I thought about how many books other charity in the name of of Christ in Macon, said children old enough and toys we already have in our playroom the birthday girl or boy, or aid to do so will likely enjoy exploring with their and remembered the story about the chil- in caring for those in need, parents some gift-giving possibilities. dren’s hospital needing books.” serve as good reminders “I think it works best when the idea She called the child life specialist that one of the main comes from the passion of the child,” she said. at the hospital to make sure this was reasons for the church “Most of the children I have observed who still a need. The response: “Absolutely! is to help others, said have done this have chosen a project that hits We always need children’s Jessica Asbell, minister to home with them.” books!” children at First Baptist Church Sometimes there is a personal connection So LeAnn and her of Roswell, Ga. through either an organization where the child husband Barry, a Such unique parties, she has volunteered or a cause that has touched physician, decided said, serve two purposes: provid- a family member or friend. One child asked to invite family and ing items and services to those in for pencils for a school in Liberia, she said, friends to attend need and reminding those with because they had met some students who came Patrick’s first birth- much that the real joys of life from there and learned of the need. day party — and aren’t found in material gain. “There are no shortages of places or peo- to bring children’s “Ideally speaking, this ple with need,” said Julie. “They are not hard books to be donated approach helps keep us from to find.” to the children’s getting so caught up in Awareness of needs and a desire to help hospital. our culture’s yearning for are rooted in congregational life, she noted.
4 PICK A THEME hemed birthday parties are a good way to approach alternative gift T - ter to children at First Baptist Church of “For instance, a superhero-themed birthday party could easily have the tag- line of “Save the world from hunger” or “Save our children from hunger,” she said. “With this, children could bring canned goods, peanut butter, rice, etc.” Here are some websites she suggested for getting ideas:
added, may give ideas about what items - ing a local women and children’s shelter to see what they need. Children desiring to help others don’t have to end their birthday celebrations empty-handed, Jessica added. “If children still bring regular presents to the party, the birthday person could rest of the presents to a shelter that has children,” she said. “This could be a good compromise for the child, as he or she her presents, while at the same time giv- ing to those who don’t have very much.”
“Many of these celebrations that I’ve than bringing gifts. have the wonderful opportunity of encourag- observed were born out of their experiences in Another, she recalled, asked guests to ing families and specifically children to think church,” she said. “The kids learn about a mis- bring pet foods for a local animal shelter. about the world around them and how they sion organization or people in need, and then Carrie Veal, minister to children at Myers can make a difference in it.” they want to respond.” Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C., has However, she noted, this unique approach This serves as a reminder to church lead- observed more families opting for charitable to observing a birthday or other milestone ers, she explained, that the connection to the birthday celebrations in recent years. should be something warmly embraced by the church’s mission can go both ways: The church “The most common is a toy drive for Toys one being honored. needs to keep its mission stories in front of the for Tots,” she said. “I think for children this is “Children will respond to helping others,” people, including the children, and then the the most tangible act for them.” said Carrie. “This is seen every year at Vacation church needs to support and assist children Carrie said she gets particularly excited Bible Schools. Children will bring their pen- when they catch the vision. when birthday celebrations are tied to the nies and dimes as an offering for a variety of mission of the church. non-profits. This can be easily transferred on GREAT POSSIBILITIES “One of my main goals in ministry is to the smaller scale of parties.” Ruth DuCharme, children’s minister at incorporate children into the life of the church, Carrie, who recently moved to the Highland Hills Baptist Church in Macon, local and global,” she said. “If families are con- Charlotte church, said she is interested in talk- remembered a birthday party invitation that nected with their church and their church is ing with her colleagues about how to better asked for donations to the church’s mission passionate about literacy, families could host a incorporate this very personalized approach to fund in honor of the birthday girl rather book drive in the place of presents. Churches ministry into congregational life. BT
5 quotation remarks —Blogger Rachel Held Evans, urging churches to not “assume people know all the nuances of your particular tradition” (rachelheldevans.com)
—Philip Willan, author of The Vatican at War, on Pope Francis’ strong condemnation of the Mafia (RNS) —Missiologist Benjamin L. Corey, who blogs at Formerly Fundie (patheos.com) —Jonathan Merritt, senior columnist —Actor George Clooney to USA Today, responding for Religion News Service to a British tabloid’s claim that his fiancée’s mother opposes their marriage on religious grounds (RNS) —Craig Hazen, director of the Christian Apologetics —Russell Moore, president of Southern Baptists’ program at Biola University, on the frequency of Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, after visiting unaccompanied children who crossed the familiar sayings being attributed to the Bible (CNN) U.S. border (MSNBC) —Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun Magazine (Salon) —Carey Nieuwhof, an author and the lead pastor of —Stephen Miller, pastor of worship arts at The —Caleb Flores, blogging at madeformore.com Connexus Church near Toronto (careynieuwhof.com) Journey in St. Louis (Relevant)
6 Editorial By John Pierce
The importance of audience recognition and respect
However, some Christian leaders get of “sin” as understood theologically, but also an confused about their audiences and authority obvious violation of that which widely called when speaking in the public arena. Or they for equality and justice for all. simply insist that what they claim as truth The words offered by the ministers group should be legally enforced as truth for all. in North Carolina fit a congregation willing to and respect for one’s audience are The concern is not that one give up his hear them. A secular nation (and that’s a good vitally important. or her commitment to biblical authority, but thing in that it allows for faith to freely flour- recognize that not everyone shares this source ish) does not (make that, should not) base its any moons ago, Professor George of authority — nor should they be expected to laws on what anyone thinks is “totally clear” Braswell — in a seminary class on in places of religious diversity and freedom. according to a particular interpretation of one’s M cross-cultural communications — To imply that one’s own biblical perspec- choice of holy scriptures. reminded us students that different subgroups/ tive be the norm for all others fails a basic Though historically verifiable, this impor- audiences use different languages. Therefore, it understanding of reli- tant point is always challenged by those who is crucial to speak a language that the particu- gious liberty, American foolishly argue that this nation’s laws are based lar group understands in order to be effective. civics and the audience at on the Bible — and therefore their interpreta- Christians at large, various denominations hand. tions of the Bible should be the law of the and traditions, and individual congregations In a recent article land. have their own languages — often a series of from Baptist Press, Pastor Such a theocratic perspective requires code words and acronyms. Bate Garman of Life one to ignore the overwhelming history of A good communicator knows when and Church in Morganton, the United States that details how carefully where to use shared language and when to speak N.C., is reported to — thanks to Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and in terms more widely known and understood. have read a statement courageous Baptists who influenced their good For example, how one speaks in the pulpit or to from the North Carolina Pastors’ Network in thinking — the Founders sought to protect a Sunday school class should be different than support of the state’s ban on same-sex mar- all Americans from being subject to anyone’s when speaking to a civic club, an ecumenical riage. According to the report, he was speaking understanding or application of the Bible or gathering or before the county commission. on behalf of the ministerial organization’s any other religious pressure. However, even our congregations (and president, David Kistler. The reverend from the hills of North especially the larger audiences to which we “We the NCPN believe marriage is God’s Carolina and all of us would do well to remem- often speak) are becoming increasingly diverse institution,” Garman read from the statement. ber: When speaking to your church or any in background and beliefs. So good com- “We also believe the Scriptures to be totally other gathering of shared believers, it is wholly munication in all settings requires even more clear that marriage is between one man and appropriate to tell them (in a shared language) attention to the awareness, language and sensi- one woman.” what you believe your Bible tells them to do or tivities employed. He appealed to something authoritative not do. But when speaking to the citizens of An important part of that awareness is for himself and his ministerial colleagues. The your county, state or nation, the same author- the recognition that what we might hold as problem is that the good reverend assumes ity doesn’t work. authoritative may not be so widely held. To wrongly that the state or nation is his church Taking such an approach does not dis- assume so leads to miscommunication. — or should, at least, carry out their beliefs. respect one’s own deep convictions. Rather it Even worse, to seek to force one’s source Confessing that one’s personal motivation acknowledges a clearer understanding of the or sources of religious authority on all others for a particular cause is rooted in faith is fitting larger audience and the benefits of liberty. in the public arena often alienates listeners and and expected. The faithful often respond to the We all have the right and privilege to creates animosity. sense of a divine call based on one’s interpreta- argue our cases for what we believe governing It is wholly appropriate for a minister (or tion of scripture. documents should allow or not allow and to other Christian person) to speak of the Bible’s One good example is the U.S. civil rights make clear our personal preferences. But how claims as authoritative during a sermon, Bible movement of the 1950s and ’60s, in which we do that is important. study or in any other church setting. (Even Christian (and other religious) convictions And, always, it is more effective to know if “what the Bible says” really means “what I motivated advocates to seek change. But the the audiences to which we speak — and to think the Bible says.”) injustice being addressed was not only an issue respect them. BT
7 Religion News Service
edit \e-d t\e vt wars \wärz\ n
When he was a student at Brigham and regulations for editing the open-source site such as “Clothing” and “Church etiquette,” total nearly 150,000 words. regardless of whether the images were relevant. Any registered user can create an entry on When Willey edits an article, he says, Wikipedia, a collaboratively edited encyclope- he avoids inserting opinions and instead uses dia. Volunteers write Wikipedia’s 30 million a trusted source, such as Richard Bushman, articles in 287 languages. a respected emeritus historian at Columbia he read filled him with frustration. Willey, 29, is now a Wikipedia adminis- University. trator, which gives him more administrative Willey will occasionally edit pages on he article focused on polygamy, which privileges within the volunteer-driven website. other religions, such as Islam or Baha’i, or gen- seemed odd since Mormons officially The physics graduate is looking for full-time eral articles on Christianity. “Nobody likes to T outlawed the practice in 1890. work, so his editing is only an occasional side be misrepresented,” he said. “It didn’t say what Mormons believe or project. And it’s only partly driven by his faith. Those who engage in outright hate speech what made them unique,” Willey said. “I had “I don’t edit as an are dealt with swiftly and blocked, but combat- the thought, ‘Who’s editing this stuff?’ and agent of my religion,” ing more subtle hate speech can be tricky. that got me hooked.” Willey said. “I’m not “If somebody’s abiding by the rules, it’s Since editing that page and add- going out of my way to hard to block a contributor who’s writing an ing 50 percent to the content, Willey has promote a certain point article if they’re ambiguously promoting some- made more than 8,000 edits to the edit- of view. I am motivated thing,” Willey said. able online encyclopedia, mostly on articles by when people say Roger Nicholson was on the same path related to Mormonism. His top edited pages things that aren’t true.” as Willey, editing Wikipedia pages related to include entries on Joseph Smith, Mormons, It could be tempting Mormonism for two years to experience what Mormonism, and Black people and for Wikipedia editors to the editing was like. His story, featured in the Mormonism. portray their own faiths Deseret News, ended after he decided all the The problem confronting many in the best light, or for people outside of the “edit wars” weren’t worth the headaches. Wikipedia editors is that religion elicits pas- faith to paint a negative picture. In 2009, “It’s kind of like the Wild West of the sion — and often, more than a little vitriol as Wikipedia banned people using the Church Internet,” said Nicholson, who works with a believers and critics spar over facts, sources and of Scientology’s computers and some of group called FairMormon instead. “You could context. For “Wikipedians” like Willey, trying Scientology’s critics from changing Wikipedia spend days and accomplish the change of a few to put a lid on the online hate speech that can articles about Scientology. Wikipedia said be endemic to Wikipedia entries is a key part members of the church and some critics sentences and that was it.” of their job. engaged in “edit wars” by adding or removing Among the Wikipedians, a large per- Religion is among several of the top 100 complimentary or disparaging material. centage self-identify as atheists, followed by altered topics on Wikipedia, according to “The worst casualties have been biogra- Christians, Muslims, Pastafarians (devotees a recent list published by Five Thirty Eight. phies of living people, where attempts have of the farcical religion of the Flying Spaghetti Former President George W. Bush is the most been repeatedly made to slant the article either Monster) and Jews. contested entry, but Jesus (No. 5) and the towards or against the subject, depending on Many of the smaller religious groups have Catholic Church (No. 7) fall closely behind. the point of view of the contributing editor,” editors who are deeply passionate about them, Islam’s Prophet Muhammad (No. 35) and a committee wrote in its decision to ban users. but some smaller religions that aren’t as appeal- Pope John Paul II (No. 82) are included, as Some users might go out of their way to ing to Westerners (including Native American well as all manner of religions, like Jehovah’s portray a religion in a bad light. Several years or Central Asian American traditions) are cov- Witnesses, Islam, Christianity and Scientology. ago, a user who went by the name Duke53 ered less well, Carter said. And countries and topics with religious sensi- attempted to ensure Mormonism’s sacred Using Wikipedia’s rules, Carter says, reli- tivities are also controversial, including global undergarments got as much exposure as possi- gion can be difficult to independently verify, warming and Israel. ble — it’s not a topic the church generally likes especially when there’s a range of opinions Wikipedia is the fifth most-trafficked web- to discuss. He added images to as many articles about what events took place and what they site on the Internet and its complex policies as possible, including to Wikipedia articles mean. BT
8 Religion News Service Bus stop to eternity Nursing home evangelism gets mixed reviews
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, John McFadden, a retired United Church the federal law that governs patient privacy. of Christ minister and the memory care and her team gathered around a dia- “You can’t give follow-up information in nurs- chaplain at Appleton Health Care Center in gram of the nursing home’s floor plan ing homes and assisted living homes. We don’t Wisconsin, said spiritual care in elderly home bring anything in.” settings ranges from a “wonderful, person- and determined how to split up to Ministry officials had contacted a nursing centered” approach to those “fearful that some avoid praying with anyone twice. home here ahead of time to get permission for of the residents are going to go to hell if they the visit. After checking in, the team immedi- don’t do the deathbed confessions.” Most owe made her way to a room where ately went to work for about an hour. religious groups, he said, tend toward the first a 93-year-old woman lay in her bed Sometimes, Rowe and her five-member option. R while her 87-year-old roommate sat in team asked residents who couldn’t speak for But McFadden said a Catholic resident, a wheelchair. Rowe knelt between them and nonverbal answers, such as blinking their eyes or for instance, who might not be aware of a went through her “Nursing Home Gospel squeezing a hand if they agreed with the script. conservative Protestant context, could think, Soul-Winning Script.” The website of Revival Ministries “‘These are church people, so it’s got to be OK’ “Fill me with your Holy Spirit and fire of International includes detailed instructions and kind of goes with the flow.” God,” the 93-year-old repeated. “I’m on my on how to search Google for nursing homes, During Rowe’s recent visit here, some way to heaven. I have Jesus in my heart.” determine the size of a visiting team based on residents were more receptive than others. A Rowe was soon off to the next room, but the number of beds and tally the decisions 57-year-old man halted a solitaire game on his before she left, acknowledged that she might garnered during the visits. laptop and let Elizabeth Christiensen, another never see them again on earth. “I’ll see you Of the millions of souls the ministry Bible institute student, pray for “a favorable girls in heaven!” she chirped. claims to have won, Gonyon says more than report” at an upcoming doctor’s appointment. Welcome to the world of nursing home 500,000 came from commitments and recom- Abebech Tebeje, a first-time trainee from evangelism, where teams of lay evangelists mitments at retirement and nursing homes Silver Spring, Md., found her English script target senior citizens for one last chance in this since 2007. was too hard for a bedridden resident to repeat. life for glory in the next. “Pastor Rodney says: ‘The retirement When she switched to Amharic from her native Rowe, who attends The River at Tampa home is the bus stop to eternity,’” Gonyon Ethiopia, the man followed along and repeated Bay Church, was in town for a three-week said. her words. “Celebrate America” revival in downtown “Many of these people, they don’t have But a woman, who was standing in Washington led by the church’s pastor, Rodney friends or families that visit,” said Lauren another room when Tebeje approached, lis- Howard-Browne. Each night, attendees heard Bowerfind, a 27-year-old student at Howard- tened as she started the script and eventually Howard-Browne preach at the Daughters of the Browne’s River Bible Institute who was on said: “Not today. I’ve got to think about it.” American Revolution’s Constitution Hall. By Rowe’s team. “We’re the only Jesus that they In the hallway, where the 1950s song day, as others hit the subway stations or visited may see.” “Lollipop” was piped through the sound sys- Capitol Hill, Rowe and other team members Some experts on elder spirituality said the tem, the evangelists discussed whether each made a beeline for local nursing homes. methods give them pause. Nursing home resi- discussion merited an addition to their count “Do you know, for sure, that you will dents are, after all, a mostly captive audience or not. Once outside, Bowerfind tallied their spend eternity in heaven?” Rowe would ask a — many of them hobbled by mental as well as total: 16. typical resident. physical ailments. To those who question their mission, Pastor Eric Gonyon, coordinator of the “In a sense, it’s good that they were Gonyon said the ministry answers to a higher Celebrate America revival, reviewed the rules remembering older people who often are just power. before the teams departed. totally not remembered, but I do just have “We have no response to those who are “If you do go to the nursing homes or some reservations about the sort of conver- critics other than obeying Jesus and the Great assisted living homes, there’s HIPAA rules and sion emphasis,” said Nancy Gordon, director Commission to preach the gospel regardless of we do follow them,” he told about 60 people of California Lutheran Homes Center for the physical condition of the hearer,” he said. at a training session, referring to the Health Spirituality and Aging. “Eternity will answer their questions!” BT
“Some experts on elder spirituality said the methods give them pause. Nursing home residents are, after all, a mostly captive audience — many of them hobbled by mental as well as physical ailments.”
9 shouldn’t laugh in public (ABP) — A picturesque 126-acre Southern to gather a total of $21 million prior to the (USA Today/RNS) — Many Turkish women Baptist seminary campus with sweeping views property sale. The sale includes a two-year were doubled over with laughter July 29 of San Francisco Bay brought $85 million in a lease-back, allowing the seminary to continue after their country’s deputy leader said in sale finalized recently. operations at the current site while officials a speech assailing “moral corruption” that Golden Gate Baptist Theological finalize an agreement for the new campus. women should not laugh in public and Seminary plans to use sale proceeds to relo- Golden Gate trustees voted in March to sell should not talk on their mobile phones so cate its main campus in Mill Valley, Calif., to the prime real estate located seven miles north much. Southern California, and for a new regional of the Golden Gate Bridge and purchased in Speaking at a celebration marking the campus in the San Francisco Bay Area. 1953 for $400,000. The buyer is North Coast end of Ramadan, Deputy Prime Minister Seminary President Jeff Iorg said in a Land Holdings, a billion-dollar trust of a fam- Bulent Arinc took aim at contemporary press release that the deal adds $50 million ily foundation started with wealth from oil and life in Turkey, arguing for more chastity, into an endowment, which took 70 years ranching in Texas a century ago. BT humility and reading of the Quran and less consumerism, oil consumption and sex in the media, the Hurriyet Daily News Court: Ground Zero cross can stay at 9/11 museum reported. (RNS) — A cross-shaped beam from the from the presence of the beamed cross, result- Social media lit up as news of the wreckage of the World Trade Center can ing in headaches, indigestion and mental pain. speech spread, with hundreds of Turkish remain on display in the The atheist group filed an women posting photos of themselves and National Sept. 11 Memorial appeal after a lower court dis- friends laughing in public places. and Museum at Ground Zero, missed the lawsuit, shifting the a three-judge panel of the 2nd focus from the cross to asking U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for an added plaque that would rush to deport, child migrants ruled, dismissing a lawsuit say something like “atheists brought by atheists. died, too.” (RNS) — Most Americans say the waves American Atheists filed a An observer would under- of children crossing into the United States federal suit in 2012 claiming stand that the cross was also from Central America are refugees flee- the 17-foot display at the museum built with a an inclusive symbol for any persons seeking ing danger at home. And they say the mix of public and private funds was unconsti- hope and comfort in the aftermath of the 9/11 U.S. should support these children while tutional. The group said its members suffered attacks, federal Judge Reena Raggi wrote in the reviewing their cases, not deport them from both physical and emotional damages court’s decision. BT immediately according to a new survey by the Public Religion Research Institute. Democrats (80 percent), independents Rabbi tapped as ambassador for religious freedom (69 percent) and Republicans (57 percent) favor offering support to unaccompanied (RNS) — President Obama tapped Rabbi A Reform rabbi and lawyer, Saperstein, children while a process to review their David Saperstein as the next ambassador-at- 66, has led the Religious Action Center of cases gets underway. large for international religious freedom, the Reform Judaism for 40 years, and has spent his Most major religious groups say first non-Christian to hold the job, which was career in Washington, focusing on social justice the same, including white evangelical created in 1998. and religious freedom issues. He was instru- Protestants (56 percent), white main- If confirmed by Congress, he will head mental in the 1993 passage of the Religious line Protestants (67 percent), minority the State Department’s Office of International Freedom Restoration Act, which requires the Protestants (74 percent), Catholics Religious Freedom, and will be tasked with government to show a compelling reason for (75 percent) and the religiously unaffiliated monitoring religious freedom abuses around any action that impinges upon the exercise of (75 percent). the world. religion. BT
Church of England approves women bishops School paddling declines though support continues (RNS) — After 20 years of turmoil and (USA Today/RNS) — The use of corporal have on children has increased, the number angry debate, the General Synod of the punishment on disobedient students — com- of students paddled in public schools nation- Church of England said “yes” to women monly known as paddling — is banned this ally has decreased — going from 342,038 in bishops. At a July meeting in York, the school year in three counties in Florida and 2000 to 217,814 in 2009-10, according to the General Synod gave final approval to leg- two in North Carolina. That leaves hundreds Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. islation introducing the changes by the of school districts in the 19 states where the Studies have shown that in states where required two-thirds majority. Overall, the practice is still legal. paddling is allowed, it’s used disproportion- Synod voted 351-72 on the measure. Ten As the number of studies showing the ately on minority students and those with abstained. BT negative effects that corporal punishment can mental, physical and emotional disabilities. BT
10 Guest Commentary By Tom Ehrich ,
Eight things the church needs to say
SIX: We would tell what we see in the world church, presenting sex as a first-order — not in the woe-is-me, sky-is-falling, Satan- is-winning manner people expect from us concern, telling other people how to — but just what we see and how we think God lead their lives and lending our name cares about it. to minor-league politicians, what SEVEN: We would speak of hope, a durable, would we have to say? solid-rock hope that God is God, and God can use us to make a difference. e need to figure that out, because we are wearing out our welcome as EIGHT: We would talk of joy. Not giddiness, tax-avoiding, sex-obsessed moral W not even happiness, as the world understands scolds and amateur happiness, but that deeper response to God politicians. that feels whole and peaceful. In fact, I think we are getting tired of our- Personally, I think these eight things are selves. Who wants to what we ache to say. They are why we walked devote life and loyalty to in the door of a church in the first place. They a religion that debates are why we stay, despite abundant reasons for trifles and bullies the leaving. outsider? Everyone has a theory about “why people So what would we are leaving the church,” “why millennials don’t say and do? No one thing, of course, because come to church,” “why churches are dying” we are an extraordinarily diverse assembly of and “what’s wrong with society.” believers. But I think there are a few common words we would say. Personally, I think we should stop worry- ing about institutional outcomes — especially ONE: We would say the name “Jesus.” We outcomes that we hope will prove we were might mean different things by that name, but right all along — and try instead just to be he is the center, the reason we exist. hopeful, joyful, active people of faith. I think we should take our parts in the TWO: Allowing ample room for our diversity, great political debates — power and wealth, we would say what we mean by faith in God. after all, were Jesus’ primary concern — but Not how right we are and how wrong others are, then agree that, whether X or Y gets elected, but an I-message: Here’s why I believe in God. God will still grieve our cruelties and suffer- ings, and we will all have much work to do as THREE: We would tell stories about God’s believers. impact on our lives. Not grand doctrines, not Whatever the label — progressive or airtight theories, not definitions of who’s inside conservative, contemporary or traditional, the circle and who’s outside, but stories of denominational or nondenominational — we personal encounter. will each have something unique and necessary to contribute. FOUR: We would listen to other stories, There is more binding us than dividing respectfully, not defensively, eager to hear what us. For division comes from our small and self- our fellow Christian has to say. ish places. Binding comes from God. BT
FIVE: We would each tell as honestly as we can how we are trying to lead our lives in the —Tom Ehrich, a church consultant and light of our encounters and stories. We would Episcopal priest based in New York, sketch the bridge between faith and action. is a columnist for Religion News Service.
11 Online Editor In their own words
AND THE AMERICAN
he fall of Atlanta to Union armies on Sept. 2 dominates this month’s story- T line. Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood, unable to prevent Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s advance upon Atlanta, abandons the city, but not before ordering the burning of all military supplies and installations. The city is aflame as Sherman’s troops march in. Upon occupying Atlanta, Sherman sends a message to U.S. President Abraham Lincoln announcing that “Atlanta is ours, and fairly won.” Slaves remaining in the city welcome their newfound freedom, while white civilians are soon ordered to leave the city. Columns of refugees flow southward by rail, horse, wagon, and carriage and on foot. Many of Atlanta’s 150 years ago in trench warfare, are growing desperate. Food white Baptists relocate to Macon and, in supplies run out mid-month. Fortunately, a ! the weeks and months to come, worship in successful raid to capture nearby cattle pro- the city’s First Baptist Church, joining other September 1864 vides temporary relief. Atlantans who previously fled to Macon. Meanwhile, Confederate forces are driven Even as clear heads north and south realize Following the capture of Atlanta, out of the Shenandoah Valley, after which the end of black slavery is near, a desperate Abraham Lincoln pens a letter to Eliza Union troops destroy the region’s crops to slaveholding culture, reflected among Southern Gurney, a Quaker widow, in which his words further deprive Lee’s army of food. Late in the Baptist leaders, clings with determined ferocity echo his Baptist Calvinist upbringing: month Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant begins to the religiously-fueled certainty that liberty an offensive to breach Confederate lines at is for whites only. One Southern Baptist edi- The purposes of the Almighty are Petersburg and assault Richmond. Grant gains tor this month, echoing decades of Southern perfect, and must prevail, though we ground, but Lee successfully counter-attacks, Baptist pro-slavery rhetoric, condemns the erring mortals may fail to accurately temporarily holding back the tide. The inevi- abolitionist “Yankee nation” as “blinded by perceive them in advance. We hoped for table, however, has been set in motion. It is fanaticism and infidelity” in their attempts to a happy termination of this terrible war only a matter of time before Richmond, the destroy the South’s slave-based way of life. long before this; but God knows best, Confederate capital, falls to the enemy. Even as the Confederacy is collapsing, able- and has ruled otherwise. We shall yet As the North celebrates the capture of bodied white men are bound by duty to resist the acknowledge His wisdom and our own Atlanta and Lee worries about the fate of invading northern hordes. Readers of Southern error therein. Meanwhile we must work Richmond, a routine notice of a runaway slave Baptist newspapers this month are again earnestly in the best light He gives us, appears in the Richmond Daily Dispatch, an reminded that deserters from the Confederate trusting that so working still conduces ordinary offer of a reward that hints of the Army are ungodly traitors deserving of death. to the great ends He ordains. Surely He resistance of the city’s black Baptist commu- On the home front, Baptist associational intends some great good to follow this nity to slavery and white supremacy: meetings throughout the Confederacy this mighty convulsion, which no mortal month reflect a weariness of the war. In such could make, and no mortal could stay.. gatherings, many white Baptists remain defi- Two hundred and Fifty dollars ant, some by now have lapsed into silence, and So significant is the capture of Atlanta that the Reward for my Servant, Edward, others fear — whether openly or quietly — president sets aside Sept. 5 as a national day of twenty or twenty-one years old, black, that the war is lost. celebration in the United States. The victory stout and likely; has a scar near or Conversely, the future for black Americans ultimately assures Lincoln’s re-election in the upon one ear; is a good house servant. in the South, Baptists included, is looking November presidential election. He left my farm on Sunday night, brighter with each passing day. BT The harsh blow to the Confederacy in the 28th ultimo, and is, I believe, in Georgia is followed by setbacks for the South Richmond, where he has relatives and —Bruce Gourley is executive director of the in Virginia. The soldiers in Confederate Gen. friends. He may possibly be found at Baptist History & Heritage Society. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, by the African Church, or other meetings For a daily log of “This Day in Civil War now having defended Petersburg for months of Baptist negroes. History,” see civilwarbaptists.com.
12 !" #$%& '()*+)
‘Beehive shower’
ELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Visitors to the hundreds of times over the years. But that morning a spectacular world’s first national park have much to see with abundant sight greeted me, a sight I had never seen before. Ywildlife, scenic vistas and approximately 10,000 thermal “Beehive was erupting in all her glory, which I had seen many features. times previously. Yet at that moment the wind was blowing firmly Now they can also view Bruce Gourley’s photo of Beehive to the west, and the view from my distant vantage point on a Geyser that won him the grand prize in the Yellowstone Park small rise was dramatic. Sheets of wind-carried spray were cascad- Foundation’s “Capturing Wonderland” photo contest. ing westward, forming a misty veil that made a line of lodgepole Gourley, executive director of the Baptist History and [pines] in the foreground stand out in stark contrast.” Heritage Society and online editor for Baptists Today, is owner of Bruce said he quickly parked his car, grabbed his camera and the popular website, Yellowstone.net. He lives in Bozeman, Mont., got out to shoot the scene. Later in the day, when reviewing his and visits the park often with his camera in tow. photos, he realized his good fortune in the time of his arrival. In an interview with the Foundation, he told of how he “The iconic nature of the photo led me to process it in black captured the award-winning image: and white, for an even more dramatic effect,” he said. “Early one overcast morning in June of this year, I turned To view the photo online, visit brucegourley.com/photography onto the drive leading to the Old Faithful Inn parking lot, as I have where this image and others are available for purchase. BT
13 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). What to do when your minister leaves By David W. Hull
e lifted, grunted and sweated on a leaves a church. I realize that there are many Grieve (vv. 37-38) — There is always grief hot summer night to load a rental kinds of leavings these days. when a minister leaves a church. Regardless W truck with a few belongings. My Some are abrupt and messy, such as forced of the reasons for the leaving, pain results and wife had been called as a pastor in another state, terminations or moral failures. Others are in tears often flow. That is how it should be. and this truck contained a few pieces of furni- response to the call of God to serve in another It should never be easy to bring an end- ture and books to help her get started until the place or in another form of ministry. Whatever ing to the ministry bonds between a minister rest of our furniture arrived a few months later. the cause for the leaving, it seems to me that and the church. Ministry is so much about Because of her call to serve, I had a healthy church will always follow the lead of relationships that there is no way to transition announced my retirement from pastoral min- the Ephesian church. from the most intimate of working relation- istry in order to move to where Jane will be my Guided by this great ships without grief. pastor. In the midst of this sadness over leaving passage from Acts 20, The Ephesians teach us well — go ahead and excitement over going, several guys from and based on my personal and weep. Grief is how we respond to loss, our church showed up to help us load the truck. experiences this summer and the departure of a minister creates a loss. It is easy and fun to unload the truck of leaving the First Baptist I am grieving over leaving a church I loved and when a new minister arrives, but it is a special Church in Huntsville, Ala., served for 12 years. kind of love and support to do the heavy lifting I suggest that churches I have shed my own tears, even though required when a minister leaves. think about doing the there is gladness and excitement about a new I thought of that great passage from Acts following things when a chapter of ministry that lies ahead. 20:17-38 when the Apostle Paul bids the minister leaves. When your minister leaves, will you grieve? Ephesian elders goodbye: “When he had fin- ished speaking, he knelt down with them all Pray (v. 36) — Whatever the reason Embrace (v. 37) — What a powerful pic- and prayed. There was much weeping among for the leaving, your minister will need your ture! In the midst of their tears from sadness them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, prayers. This person has prayed for you in and grief, the Ephesians “embraced Paul and grieving especially because of what he had said, worship, in hospital rooms and funeral homes. kissed him.” Go ahead and grieve, but don’t let that they would not see him again. Then they A good minister knows that prayer is vital to your grief settle into anger or bitterness that is brought him to the ship” (vv. 36-38, NRSV). all that happens in the work of God. a possible response when hurting. The passage ends with, “They brought So, the best gift you can give at the time Instead, let your grief be transformed into him to the ship.” These guys were doing the of departure is to pray. A healthy church knows gratitude. Allow your thankfulness for the ser- same thing in another ritual of farewell. They that at times of transition the minister will be vice of your minister to lead you to bless, affirm, brought me to the rental truck with the same praying for the congregation and the people “embrace” and “kiss” as your minister leaves. generosity of spirit that the folks in Ephesus had will pray for the minister. That is what Paul A church that is able to “embrace” a minister done long ago. and the people in Ephesus did. It is not that when he or she leaves will be the kind of church My departure from the pastoral ministry complicated to do — but too often forgotten. who will openly embrace the next minister. after 35 years has given me a great opportunity When your minister leaves, will you pray? When your minister leaves, will you to reflect on what happens when a minister embrace? *** SALE PRICE! A healthy church will pray, grieve and embrace AN EXPERIMENT as a minister leaves. This is the best way to IN CHRISTIAN accompany the minister to the ship. $15 (U.S.) This journey to the ship — or the truck INTERNATIONALISM $35 (INT) — is done in faith because you trust in the The fascinating story of the founding God who will soon send someone your way and 60-plus-year growth of the European Baptist with a truck to unload. BT Theological Seminary as told by graduate and —David Hull, who recently retired as pastor of masterful researcher Carol Woodfin First Baptist Church of Huntsville, Ala., is the Georgia coordinator for the Center for Healthy ORDERS: Baptist History & Heritage Society, Churches. He lives in Watkinsville, Ga., where 151 Broadleaf Dr., Macon, GA 31210 [email protected] / (406) 600-7433 his wife Jane is a pastor.
14 Contributing Writer Arts CAMP Birmingham congregation
ARION, Ala. — It was an overcast day, but the spirit was bright as M children danced along the sidewalk of Judson College on a July day. Black and BELOW: white, ages 6 to 12, they were switching classes at Seed Camp, an arts camp created by McBrayer spoke about the Perry County series of guests helped me introduce instru- Birmingham’s Vestavia Hills Baptist Church in possibility with minister of music Terre Johnson ments to kids, and we watched as experienced partnership with the college. and children’s choir coordinator Beth McGinnis. players gave them the opportunity to try out “I’m headed to photography!” called out All believed they could take components of the a violin, guitar, mandolin or banjo,” he said. one little girl with a big grin. Arts on the Mountain Camp to the rural setting. “Most of all we talked about how music brings “I was in silk screening,” said an older boy, As they began to dream about an arts people together and gives them something to “and I scanned my drawing into a computer.” camp in Perry County, they contacted Gwen enjoy all of their lives — as each player told The arts camp came about because McCorquodale, dean of the education depart- about learning at their ages and how they found Vestavia Hill’s missions committee was inter- ment at Judson College and a member of Vestavia their instruments.” ested in partnership ministry with regional Hills. She had been very invested in and involved “One little boy, about 11 years old, took engagement. Mike McBrayer, minister of with the school system in Marion, Ala. the mandolin from an instructor and, with a discipleship and missions, explored the pos- Gwen was excited about the prospect of an little guidance, started making rhythmic chops sibilities. Returning to Perry County, Ala., was arts camp provided by her church and held at like he’d done it forever,” Furr added. “We of primary interest. Judson College. She connected church leaders might see him on stage one day!” Perry County is home to Judson College with Scott Bullard, Judson’s vice president and Reflecting on the camp later, McBrayer and Sowing Seeds of Hope, a rural poverty ini- academic dean. noted how the kids who came to the camp tiative with the Together for Hope program of Nancy Akins, Vestavia’s minister of chil- brought their own gifts to the experience. the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. dren, joined McBrayer and McGinnis to “They were grateful for the week of camp In recent years Vestavia Hills had offered an assemble a team, shape the program and secure and expressed how glad they were to have some- arts camp to children in their own community. needed resources. They put together an artis- thing new and special to do during a week in Called “Arts on the Mountain,” the camp had tic team of almost 30 adults to travel to Perry the summer.” experienced a lot of success. County to lead classes. McBrayer drove the bus to pick up the Between 50 and 70 children participated kids for camp and take them back home. “By in the camp each day. Some students were chil- the second day, they were showing up at the dren of professors and other college employees. bus stop early and would get on the bus saying, Others came from throughout Marion and the ‘We’ve been waiting for you for an hour!’” surrounding rural communities. One of the best reminders of the reason Programming included classes in silk for hosting an arts camp came from Terrell, the screening, photography, choir, creative writing, kind of kid who brought laughter and dancing drama, guitar, recorder, origami and recreation. wherever he went. He hopped on the bus every Gary Furr, pastor of Vestavia Hills Baptist morning after the first day with a big smile and Church and a member of a bluegrass band a cheery, “I love you, Mike!” called Shades Mountain Air, led a class in And off to camp they would go. BT which he taught the basics of guitar, banjo and mandolin. —Terri Byrd is the coordinator for Alabama “In our class on ‘Strings and Things,’ a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
15 New releases from Faith BOOKS
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Order now at nurturingfaith.info The Bible Lessons that anchor the Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are written by Tony Cartledge in a scholarly, yet applicable, style from the wide range of Christian scriptures. A graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div) and Duke University (Ph.D.), and with years of experience as a pastor, writer, ™ and professor at Campbell University, he provides deep insight for Christian living without “dumbing down” the BIBLE STUDIES richness of the biblical texts for honest learners.
Teaching resources at nurturingfaith.net
For adults and youth HOW TO USE THESE BIBLE STUDIES September lessons in this issue 1. Order a copy of Baptists Today news journal for EACH MEMBER of the class. The Bible Growing Pains Lessons are found only here. Oct. 5, 2014 2. Teachers can go to nurturingfaith.net to access all of the free resources needed for presentation. Simply Silent Speech click on “Adult” or “Youth.” Psalm 19
Teaching the Lessons Oct. 12, 2014 After reading The Bible Lessons by Tony Cartledge Rebels Without a Cause starting on page 18, teachers can access Exodus 32:1-14 helpful teaching resources (at no charge) at nurturingfaith.net. These include: Oct. 19, 2014 * Tony’s video overviews Holy Boldness * Adult teaching plans by Rick Jordan Exodus 33:12-23 * Youth teaching plans by Jeremy Colliver * Tony’s “Digging Deeper” notes and Oct. 26, 2014 ”The Hardest Question” A Good End to a Good Life * Links to commentaries, multimedia Deuteronomy 34:1-12 resources and more Youth Lessons How to Order are on pages The Bible Lessons in Baptists Today are copyrighted 22–23. and not to be photocopied.
* Orders may be placed at baptiststoday.org or Adult teaching plans by Rick Jordan of the 1-877-752-5658. Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina are available at nurturingfaith.net * The price is just $18 each for groups of 25 or more — for a full year — with no additional costs. Thanks, sponsors! * All online teaching resources are available at no These Bible studies for adults and youth are sponsored through generous charge and may be printed and used by teachers of gifts from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (Bo Prosser, Coordinator of the Nurturing Faith Bible Studies. Congregational Life) and from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation. Thank you!
© Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org | 17 Psalm 19
with Tony W. Cartledge
Oct. 5, 2014 Silent Speech
t has happened to you, hasn’t it? Perhaps you were sitting on a moun- I tainside, or by the ocean, and the sky was amazing. Maybe the heavens were brilliant blue and populated with towering clouds like mounds of cotton candy. Maybe you were agog over the brilliant light show of a colorful sunset, or watching the dawning sun crack the horizon and leap into view – and it was Psalm 19:3-4 – as if you heard God’s own voice saying “There is no speech, nor are there to you: “I’m here.” words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all The psalmist had never fl own the earth, and their words to the among cumulous pillars as we can end of the world.” today, but he had seen thunderclouds stream in from the Mediterranean Sea and drop their payloads across the hills of Judah. He had watched the sun slide there is a connection: Both parts of the by gravity, giving way to the vacuum of gently through vibrant layers of color psalm speak of God’s self-revelation, space. They thought of the earth as being when the winds called hamsin fi lled the through the heavens in vv. 1-6, and fl at and topped by a solid dome (the air with desert dust. through the law in vv. 7-14. Though the fi rmament), keeping out cosmic waters And he had heard God speak with- style, vocabulary, cadence, and content above and below the earth. out words. of the two sections are quite different, The ancients imagined that the sun, the psalmist’s conjunction of the poems moon, and stars followed set patterns Words without sound effectively demonstrates that God’s or tracks set into the dome-like fi rma- (vv. 1-6) message can be revealed either with ment, while clouds fl oated in the space words or without them. beneath. Our Copernican model of the Psalm 19 is a favorite psalm for The psalm begins with a poetic cel- universe is quite different, but speaks many people, but also a curious one: ebration of God’s splendor as revealed even more loudly of God’s greatness. It appears to consist of two different in the expansive beauty of the sky: “The Imagine what the psalmist would have psalms that have been combined into heavens are telling the glory of God, said if he had been able to grasp the one. The fi rst six verses of the psalm, and the fi rmament proclaims his handi- place of our earth as a tiny dot near the which is labeled as part of the Davidic work.” Note the repetition between the edge of one galaxy among millions of collection, speak in majestic terms of fi rst and second halves of the verse, a galaxies. For those who believe God God’s self-revelation in the glory of the typical style of Hebrew poetry known is the creator of all things, the wonder sky and the daily movements of the sun. as “synonymous parallelism.” In this of God’s creation becomes far more The latter part shifts to a shorter and verse, as in other examples throughout expansive than the psalmist could ever more repetitive rhythm while giving Psalm 19, the second line of the verse comprehend. praise for God’s commandments. repeats or expands upon the thought The heavens speak constantly, the The effect of moving from the fi rst expressed in the fi rst line. psalmist says, through both day and section to the second is jarring, but In v. 1, “the heavens” and “the fi r- night (v. 2). The astounding beauty mament” both refer to what we would of clouds and sun shouts glory during Additional background information call the sky. The ancient Hebrews did the day, and the unfettered glow of the online where you see the “Digging not understand, as we do, that the earth is stars in a land with no electricity to Deeper” icon round, with an atmosphere held in place fuel competing ground-light puts on a
18 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes nightly show that would have been awe- unaware (vv. 11-12). Most of us have inspiring. are available at more than enough known failures to While v. 2 speaks of the heavens nurturingfaith.net confess, so the psalmist’s worries about gushing forth “speech” and declaring being forgiven of hidden faults may “knowledge,” vv. 3-4a clarify that heav- enlightenment to the eyes (v. 8). seem over the top, but it illustrates the enly speech requires no words: “There Note the series of synonyms in depth of his commitment to keeping is no speech, nor are there words; their vv. 7-9: laws, decrees, precepts, com- God’s teachings. voice is not heard; yet their voice goes mandments, and ordinances all relate to The translation of v. 13 can go out through all the earth and their words the covenant between God and Israel. in one of two directions. Literally, it to the end of the world.” The plural They bring such spiritual profit because begins “Also keep your servant from verbs refer to the heavens, which speak all are “of the LORD.” The “fear of proud (ones) …” The Hebrew word in both day and night. the LORD” in v. 9 is not another syn- translated “proud” or “presumptuous” In vv. 4b-6, the psalmist focuses on onym for God’s laws, but the mindset is a plural adjective, but what does the sun as a particular witness of divine that motivates one to find inspiration it modify? The NRSV assumes that glory. God has set up a heavenly tent for in divine guidelines for life that are it describes bad company – insolent the sun, he says, from which it emerges pure, lasting, true, and “righteous alto- people whose harmful influence the each day like a proud bridegroom on gether” (v. 9). [See the online “Hardest psalmist hopes to avoid. his wedding day, or like a strong runner Question” for more on this.] Most translations, however, see eager to begin his course. As the personi- God’s law in all of its manifesta- “proud” or “presumptuous” as referring fied sun runs his circuit from one end of tions is more appealing than the finest back to the word for “sins” or “errors” the heavens to the other, “nothing is hid gold or the sweetest honey, the psalm- in the previous verse. As the psalm- from its heat” – a reminder that nothing ist insists (v. 10). Note how repetition ist sought to avoid unknown faults, he hides from God, either. is used for emphasis: The law is more also asked God to keep him from more If you felt inspired to write a poem desirable than gold – “even much fine obvious sins. Thus, NIV11 has “Keep or devotional thought about how God gold.” It is sweeter than honey – even your servant also from willful sins,” has spoken to you through the wonder “drippings of the honeycomb.” and NET has “Moreover, keep me of creation, what would you write Have you ever thought of the law from committing flagrant sins” (HCSB, about? Would you echo the psalmist’s as more enviable than gold or more NASB95, and KJV are similar). fascination with the heavens, or speak delicious than the sweetest baklava? Thus, the psalmist fears falling of God’s presence in a mountain vista, a Probably not – but can you imagine under the sway of willful sins, not majestic waterfall, or a tropical beach? living in a world where there are no presumptuous people, as he seeks a Have you sensed God’s glory in the laws, where everyone can do as he or blameless life, free of “great transgres- bright blue of glacier melt, or the color- she pleases and get away with it, where sion” (v. 13). ful fish of a coral reef? property rights are not respected, where The psalm concludes with a verse Can you think of other ways in no system exists to provide services for that millions have memorized: “Let the which God speaks without words? the common good? words of my mouth, and the meditation The societal laws that bring order of my heart, be acceptable to you, O Sweetness without sugar to the world in which we live may LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (vv. 7-10) not excite us, but life would be very (v. 14). As noted above, Psalm 19 makes an different — and much less pleasant — The psalmist began his prayer abrupt shift in v. 7. The cadence is less without them. For Israel, the source of by applauding God’s ability to speak musical and more pedantic, and the the law was God, and it served not only through heavenly wonders, even with- theme turns from vistas of sky to to maintain societal order, but also to out words. He continued by praising matters of law. ensure a proper relationship with God. God’s gift of the law – revealed through Many readers would consider the The psalmist recognized that as a source words – that taught him to live rightly. move from heavenly heights to legal of daily encouragement and revelation He then closed the prayer with a plea tenets to be a major comedown, but from God. that his own words and thoughts might faithful Hebrews saw the law as the be pleasing to the God who empowered basis of their life with God, and thus a Devotion without guile and delivered him. source of daily inspiration. The law was (vv. 11-14) What are some ways you believe God has spoken to you? What kind of no collection of moribund rules, but a With v. 11, the psalmist turns from cel- words do you use in speaking of your- set of principles that could “revive the ebrating God’s law to praying for the self to God? Self-revelation works in soul” and “make wise the simple” ability to keep every precept and avoid both directions. BT (v. 7), bringing joy to the heart and every fault, even those of which he was
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 5, 2014 | 19 Exodus 32:1-14
with Tony W. Cartledge
Oct. 12, 2014 Rebels Without a Cause
umans have a remarkable abil- ity to shape things to their own H way of thinking, including their view of God. We may not be conscious Exodus 32:11 – of it – or like to admit it – but many of “But Moses implored us have customized our theology to suit the LORD his God, our own comfort level. In other words, and said, ‘O LORD, we want to relate to God on our own why does your wrath terms, rather than God’s terms. burn hot against We are not the fi rst. Today’s text, your people, whom which records a pivotal moment in the you brought out of history of Israel’s relationship with God, the land of Egypt marks an impatient people’s attempt to with great power reshape their relationship with God by and with a mighty hand?’” making a god they could see.
A narrative interruption ours, too. We know what it is to pro- for the people grew impatient in Moses’ Exodus 32-34 marks a bleak beginning claim our trust in Christ and seek to live absence and wondered what had become to the covenantal relationship between faithfully, only to fall short and slide of him (v. 1). From the time they had God and Israel, which had been formal- into disobedience. Faced with the pain left Egypt, Moses had been present with ized in chapters 19-24. Hardly more than of sin’s results and the knowledge that them, along with the cloud by day and a month passed before the people corpo- we have disappointed God, we may also pillar of fi re by night, as visual remind- rately broke the covenant by fashioning repent and experience the forgiveness ers of God’s presence. For more than a a golden bull to represent Yahweh and that only God can offer. We know what month, however, both had been absent, then worshiping before it. it is to be more like Aaron than Moses. and the people chafed at the change. This section is crucial for under- They wanted a god they could see. standing the relationship between Aaron’s misguided capitulation With no indication that Moses God and Israel because it introduces (vv. 1-6) would return soon – if ever – the people the theme of covenant, rebellion, and Chapter 32 begins where chapter 24 reverted to the style of religion they had covenant-renewal that becomes an leaves off, with Moses having ascended observed in Egypt and demanded that all-too-common pattern in succeeding Sinai to meet with God while leaving Aaron construct for them an image to years. God loves the people and offers his brother Aaron in charge, along with use as a stand-in for Yahweh: “Make to bless them as they obey the covenant a little-known man named Hur. The gods for us, who shall go before us.” regulations, but the Israelites inevitably visible presence of God moved from Despite the plural word, the people fall into idolatry and rebellion. This the head of the camp to the top of the weren’t asking for a new or different leads to divine punishment, followed by mountain, where a cloud covered the god than Yahweh, and they weren’t an outpouring of grace when the people mountain for six days and “the appear- naïve enough to think that anything repent. ance of the glory of the LORD was like constructed by humans could be divine. The story sounds familiar to us a devouring fi re on the top of the moun- In typical ancient Near Eastern fashion, because it is not just Israel’s story, but tain in the sight of the people of Israel” however, they believed that a visual (24:16-17). representation of a god could function Additional background information Whether the cloud and fi re remained as a conduit for communication through online where you see the “Digging visible during the 40 days Moses spent worship, sacrifi ce, and prayer. Deeper” icon on the mountain is unsaid and uncertain, Aaron, feeling pressured by the
20 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes people, perhaps uncertain about Moses’ v. 10 is couched as an open invitation whereabouts, and possibly eager to are available at for Moses to plead for a different out- exercise leadership, agreed to the nurturingfaith.net come. Why tell Moses to go down to people’s demand. Showing impatience the people if he planned to carbonize with their impertinence, perhaps, he them anyway? Why say, “Now leave instructed the men to “snatch off” (not Bible or images of God best suit our me alone” if not in hopes that Moses just “take”) the golden earrings of their inclinations, and in doing so we miss would in fact interfere and intercede for wives and children and bring the pre- out on the richness of the multifaceted the people? cious metal to him (vv. 2-3) so he could image of God that we find in scripture. Moses did just that, seeking not fashion it into an image. While we may prefer a God who only to placate God’s anger but also to The people were suitably impressed is all love and mercy, we cannot over- mount a logical and persuasive argu- with Aaron’s handiwork, declar- look the scriptures’ insistence that God ment for a different course of action ing “These are your gods, O Israel, also judges. While we may want every (vv. 11-13). who brought you up out of the land sinner to get what he or she deserves, Moses’ plea for God to show of Egypt” (v. 4). Since the people we must also acknowledge God’s per- mercy had its intended effect: “Then had identified Moses as “the one who sistent grace. We may like the idea that the LORD relented and did not bring brought us up from the land of Egypt” God is always present and looking after on his people the disaster he had threat- in v. 1, it seems evident that they identi- our needs, but the Bible also speaks of ened” (v. 14). The verb translated as fied the calf with Yahweh, whom Moses God’s inscrutable ways that are beyond “relented” is in a form that can mean represented. our comprehension. “have compassion” or “take pity” Aaron sought to reinforce the con- The second commandment declared as well as “be sorry.” In the light of nection in no uncertain terms, building that graven images were not to be used Moses’ petition, Yahweh was moved an altar before the image while declar- as proxy symbols for Yahweh. Now, as with compassion to be merciful and not ing that the next day would be a festival then, God wishes to be sought, known, destroy the people. to Yahweh (v. 5). Anxious to begin, and worshipped by faith and not by This is not to say that the guilty the people rose early the next morning sight. ones got off scotch free, according to to offer both burnt offerings and fel- the text that follows. The story goes on lowship offerings as they had done in Moses’ faithful intercession to say that when Moses saw the image the earlier covenant ceremony (24:5). (vv. 7-14) with his own eyes, he grew angry and Without Moses and the cloud present as Back on the mountain, Moses was inspired the Levites to slaughter 3,000 symbols of God’s presence, the golden unaware of what was happening below, people (vv. 19-29). Moses then had a bull served as a stand-in for Yahweh. but Yahweh knew. Referring to Israel turn of heart and sought to make atone- While “burnt offerings” were as “your people, whom you brought out ment for the remainder of the people, wholly consumed on the altar as a of Egypt,” God told Moses they had offering to have his own name blotted means of seeking atonement, “fellow- “become corrupt” by violating the cov- from “the book you have written” if ship” or “peace” offerings were eaten enant, making an idol, and sacrificing to God would not forgive. God agreed to by the people, with only a token por- it (vv. 7-8). remain with the people, but also struck tion burned on the altar (the visceral fat The NRSV’s translation of God’s them with a plague (vv. 30-35). The and tail of sheep) and a small amount command for Moses to “go down” is story is one of judgment as well as shared with the priests. Thus, when the a weak effort to translate two impera- grace. people “sat down to eat and drink,” they tive verbs (“go” and “descend”) that How do you respond to a story like sat down for a festal meal, after which together could be translated “Scram! this? Do you take satisfaction in seeing they “rose up to revel” (v. 6, NRSV) Get down there!” guilty people “get what they deserve” or “play” (NET, KJV). The word used The people had thought God was for bad behavior, whether it’s a hard life sometimes referred to sexual activity, absent, but Yahweh had seen their or hard time? Or are you more likely to leading some commentators to imagine actions (v. 9), and declared a furious feel a compassionate motivation to help a scene of widespread debauchery, but intent to destroy Abraham’s descen- the wayward find a better way of living? that isn’t necessarily implied. A more dants and start over with Moses, making The story reminds us that both apt translation might be “they started to his family into a great nation (v. 10). judgment and grace are ultimately in party.” But was Yahweh really resolved to the hands of God. What’s in our hands For modern believers, this text is a incinerate the people who were called is the opportunity to pray for those who reminder that we also have a tendency God’s “treasured possession” and have fallen short, to intercede for God’s to make God over in our own image. “kingdom of priests” (Exod. 19:5-6)? mercy in their behalf – and to hope that We pick and choose which parts of the Yahweh’s statement to Moses in someone is praying for us, too. BT
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 12, 2014 | 21 Youth Lessons by David Cassady and online youth teaching resources (at nurturingfaith. net) by Jeremy Colliver build off of the Bible lessons by Tony Cartledge.
Youth lessons are made possible through the generous YoOctober 5 — October u 26, 2014 th support of the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation.
Speak OCTOBER 5 Psalm 19 during the day, just as God’s love shines Think About It: on the world. No person or thing is left Psalm 19 starts with how God speaks and o you answer your phone when it untouched by the love of God. We hear ends with a prayer that the psalmist will be rings? Better yet, how often does or sense God when we have those “awe” able to “speak” words that are acceptable someone actually call you? More moments or just stand and experience the D to God. How aware are you of your words often than not, you and your friends com- beauty and peace of nature. and actions? municate through texting. When you get a But God doesn’t only speak through call, you know it is probably from your par- creation; God speaks through the law given ents. But how do you hear from God? to the Hebrew people. We sometimes see Make a Choice: The writer of Psalm 19 tells of hear- laws as restricting, but the Hebrew people The psalmist makes it clear that God speaks ing from God and how God chooses to be saw the law as the instructions for their in a variety of ways. We have the option to revealed to others. lives. They desired the law and described listen for God or to follow our own thoughts. In this psalm, God is revealed in two it as more desirable than “even much fine How will you choose to listen for God? ways: through the heavens (vv. 1-6) and gold.” The commitment that the Hebrews the law (vv. 7-14). God speaks through had for the law was so great, they prayed the heavens during the day and night, not that they would be able to keep every part using words but in the work of creation. of the law — and even those parts they did Pray: Everything is warmed as the sun shines not know about! “Let the words of my mouth, and the medi- tation of my heart, be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”
Idols OCTOBER 12 Exodus 32:1-14 end of the covenant. While Moses was Think About It: meeting with God on the mountain, the God is not visible to us. Even when Jesus would die if that happened!” We all Israelites were melting their gold and came to live among the people, one of know it sounds ridiculous when we creating a golden calf. those closest to him doubted him. How do say it, but we say it anyway because Maybe Moses shouldn’t have left the “I you avoid seeing God? we are trying to show the importance people alone at the bottom of the mountain something has in our life. without a leader who could keep them in There are a lot of things that we check. But all the people had to do was to consider important, and it is important to look up to the top of the mountain and see Make a Choice: have things that we are passionate about the “glory of the Lord” to be reminded of Every day we choose to place things or and truly care about. However, we can’t whose they were and who their leader was. people above God, sometimes without alter our life so that these things control The people of Israel couldn’t even consciously deciding to do so. What are us. When that happens, we have made that keep the covenant for 40 days and instead tempting idols you should choose to limit? thing or person an idol. reverted back to the religious practices Exodus 32 recalls the story of how the they were supposed to have given up. So people of Israel created an idol. Moses pled with God on behalf of the Pray: The covenant with God had been cre- people, and his pleading moved God with God, forgive us when we do not keep you in ated with the people of Israel, but they compassion so that the people were saved. the center of our lives. Help us cast out the didn’t start out on the right foot with their idols that we place in our lives.
22 Need vs. Want OCTOBER 19 Exodus 33:12-23 broken, God told the people to head to Think About It: the promised land but without God. God When Moses asked to know God’s ways, he e all have lists of things that we needed some space to determine what desired a deeper understanding of God that really want. Amazon makes this to do with these chosen people. Moses, would lead to a life more faithful to God. easy — you can even tag things yet again, stood before God and pled for W How does your desire to know God lead to a to add to your “wish list.” You can then his people. The hope for a response came life more on track with God? share that list with other people who may from the favor that God found with Moses. want to give you a gift. We are fortunate Moses asked to know God’s ways so that to live in a society where we don’t have to he would know how to proceed with God. wish for a lot of our needs. But how often The desire to know God led Moses Make a Choice: do we demand our wants? into a deeper understanding of God and God did not show Moses what he wanted, After the people of Israel created a a life that is more fully dedicated to God. but showed Moses what he needed to see. covenant with God, their desire for the Moses’ pleading won favor with God again, When you pray to God, do you ask for what presence of God became so great that they and God chose to remain present with the you want or what you need? built an idol — the exact opposite of what people. Moses found rest in this statement, they were supposed to do! because he knew that without the presence Knowing that the covenant had been of God, there would be no people of Israel. Pray: God, may we seek your presence and grow in understanding your ways.
Bios OCTOBER 26 Deuteronomy 34:1-12 his earlier lack of faith in God to produce Think About It: water for the people. Before Moses climbed It’s not only the bios that you write about acebook has an entire section for to the top of Mount Nebo, he blessed the yourself, but also your everyday living that “About.” Twitter allows you to post a people of Israel one last time. tell others who you are. How would some- short blurb about yourself. Instagram The people of Israel mourned the F one else describe you by what they see and focuses on your picture more than the death of Moses for 30 days. He had led hear from you? words you write. Whatever platform you them for more than 40 years, and now he choose, you have the ability to describe was gone. But Moses did not leave them yourself to the world that connects to without a new leader. He had pronounced, Make a Choice: social media. in front of all of Israel, that Joshua would Moses didn’t get the option to write be their next leader. Before the people of How you are portrayed to the world around his own bio on Facebook, Twitter or Israel moved on to Joshua as their leader, you is a choice that you get to make every Instagram, but his bio was shared a however, they gave a tribute to Moses. day. What choices do you need to recon- different way. He was remembered as one who was sider to reveal who you really are? God told Moses to climb to the top of “face to face” with God, and there has not Mount Nebo so that he could see into the since been a prophet like Moses. He was promised land. At this point, Moses knew unequaled as a prophet of God, and he Pray: his death was near and that he would not lived in service to the people of Israel. God, may our actions and our words reveal step foot in the promised land because of who we truly are so that we can be good ambassadors for you.
23 Exodus 33:12-23
with Tony W. Cartledge
Oct. 19, 2014 Holy Boldness
ave you ever felt that you had fallen so far from God’s way H that you must have lost God, too? A sense of God’s absence can feel more frightening than the dread of God’s judgment. Sometimes God seems absent because we have neglected to keep up the relationship. Sometimes God’s pres- ence may seem to fade when darkness or tragedy strikes. Sometimes we go Exodus 33:14-15 – so far off the path of obedience that we “He (God) said, ‘My presence will go assume God has written us off. with you, and I will give you rest.’ And he The people of Israel came close to (Moses) said to him, ‘If your presence will that last alternative. not go, do not carry us up from here.’”
The threat of God’s absence permanent absence. on God’s command to lead the people The book of Exodus revolves around Following that account of rebellion, onward, Moses said “but you have three primary themes: deliverance, we fi nd a conversation in which God told not let me know whom you will send covenant, and presence. God raised up Moses to lead the people on to the land with me” (v. 12). God had promised Moses to deliver Abraham’s descen- of promise, but without the divine pres- in v. 2 to “send an angel before you,” dants from captivity in Egypt, and ence. God promised to “send an angel but having an angel go before him was called them into a covenant relationship before you” to drive enemies from the hardly suffi cient when Moses wanted as God’s special people, Israel. Through land, “but I will not go up among you, God to be with him. mighty works and powerful words, as or I would consume you on the way, for Moses based his appeal on the favor well as signs in fi re and cloud, God’s you are a stiff-necked people” (vv. 1-3). God had previously shown to him: “Yet presence with Israel was manifest. When Moses conveyed these words you have said, ‘I know you by name, The covenant was hardly made to the people, they responded with and you have also found favor in my before it was broken, however. While abject mourning, stripping off all orna- sight.’” Moses spent 40 days encamped with mental jewelry and trappings as a sign Leaning on his favored relationship God on Mt. Sinai, the people grew of grief and remorse. with God, Moses bluntly asked God’s impatient and fashioned a golden bull The fear that God’s presence would intentions. to represent the invisible presence of depart was devastating, but not yet cer- “Show me your ways” in this con- Yahweh (see last week’s lesson). tain. Although God had threatened not text is not so much an appeal for further This action not only violated the to travel further with them, they were revelation of the law, but for an answer covenant, but also backfi red. Fearful to wait and mourn while “I will decide to the question of what God had decided of Yahweh’s apparent absence, the what to do to you” (v. 5). to do with Israel (v. 5). Moses appar- people constructed an image to repre- What would God decide? ently hoped that God’s pleasure with him sent Yahweh’s presence. But the action would extend to the people with whom he had the reverse effect: God threatened a An appeal for God’s presence identifi ed and inspire a continuing mani- (vv. 12-17) festation of God’s presence: “Consider Additional background information Moses, the great intercessor, made a too that this nation is your people” (v. 13). online where you see the “Digging heroic appeal for God’s presence to Notice the chain of events that is Deeper” icon remain with the people. Refl ecting part of Moses’ entreaty: “Now if I have
24 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes found favor in your sight, show me your essence, Yahweh would reveal the glory ways, so that I may know you and find are available at of God’s character. This is not to deny favor in your sight.” For the people as nurturingfaith.net a visual component: The story that fol- for Moses, seeking a better understand- lows (extending through 34:9) clearly ing of God’s ways leads to a deeper insists that God placed Moses in the cleft knowledge of God, which should lead “The LORD said to Moses, ‘I will do of a rock, covered him with the divine to more faithful obedience and thus the very thing that you have asked; for “palm,” and passed by in a way that continued favor. Modern believers you have found favor in my sight, and I allowed Moses to see something new, if should take note. know you by name.’” The verse makes only a celestial afterglow. How do we interpret v. 14? The the plain claim that God was persuaded Even so, the most important rev- words “with you” (in most translations) by Moses’ intercessory plea, and agreed elation was not what Moses would are not in the text, which could literally to maintain a manifest presence among see, but what he would hear. Earlier, be read as “My presence will go, and I the people. the text put much emphasis on God’s will give you rest.” The “you” in “I will The theological insight of this pas- knowing Moses by name. Now Moses’ give you rest” is singular rather than sage is universal and ongoing as it relates request for deeper knowledge is met by plural, leading to two options for inter- to the relationship between God and a better acquaintance with God’s name. pretation. Commentators commonly humans. As John Durham writes, “No In making the divine goodness (or take the singular “you” as a corporate people, no matter how religious they “beauty”) pass before Moses, God said reference to Israel as a whole rather are and for whatever reasons, can be “I will proclaim the name ‘Yahweh’ than to Moses alone. It was not uncom- a people of God without the Presence before you, and I will be gracious to mon for Old Testament writers to use of God” (Exodus, Word Biblical whom I will be gracious, and will show the singular form in this way. Commentary [Word Books, 1987], 448). mercy to whom I will show mercy” (v. If this is the case, “I will give you 19, slightly adapted from the NRSV). Seeing is believing rest” could be the first instance of the This is one of several conscious (vv. 18-23) promise that God would lead the people parallels between Exodus 33 and the to Canaan and give them “rest” from One might expect God’s agreement to story of Moses’ call in Exodus 3. their enemies (Deut. 12:10, 25:19; Josh. send Moses into paroxysms of joy, but a The name “Yahweh,” first revealed to 1:13-15, 21:44, 22:4, 23:1). combination of boldness and insecurity Moses through the burning bush, proba- The text suggests that God was led him to press even further, essentially bly derives from a causative form of the speaking to Moses alone, however. asking God to “prove it” or “show me” verb “to be.” God is not only the great Although Moses spoke in behalf of the by granting him a visual manifestation “I Am,” but also “The One Who Causes people, they were not a party to the of divine glory. To Be.” Moses would not see how God conversation. In this case, the singular Why would Moses ask this thing? looks, but learn how God is. He would “you” would refer to Moses, and “I will He had first met God through divine not see God’s face, but he would hear of give you rest” would be God’s response revelation in a burning bush accompa- God’s character. to Moses’ deep angst over the fate nied by an audible voice (Exodus 3). He God is the one who ultimately is of the people. It’s as if God caved to had seen God go before Israel in a pillar and the one who causes to be, the one Moses’ persistent pleas with “OK, I’ll of fire and radiant cloud. He had not who is loyal and loving, disposed to set your heart at ease and go.” only watched the cloud of God’s glory grace and mercy as well as judgment. Not fully reassured, Moses pressed come and rest on Mount Sinai, but had This text is a helpful reminder that for a clear and all-or-nothing answer: “If also walked into it. At the tent of meet- God wants to live in relationship with your presence will not go, do not carry ing, he had conversed with God “face to humankind, but must be accepted on us up from here” (v. 15). God’s presence, face, as one speaks to a friend” (33:11). God’s terms. We cannot shape God’s Moses argued, was the proof that both he And yet, Moses wanted to see more, nature to suit our fancy any more than and Israel had found favor as Yahweh’s to know more, to believe more. And so we can shape a divine image and call it special people, distinct from all others he dared to ask “Show me your glory, I Yahweh. We must take God exactly as (v. 16). If God should withdraw evidence pray” (v. 18). Moses’ language was def- God is. of the divine presence from the Israelites, erential and polite, but still audacious. We may not like this truth, but it is what would there be to distinguish them God’s response was both yes and no. one we need to hear. God did not show from anyone else? For Moses, this For Moses’ own protection, God could Moses what he wanted to see, but what was a matter of life or death. Without not be fully seen, “for no one shall see he needed to see – and the explication the presence of God, there would be no me and live” (v. 20 – see “The Hardest of God’s character as living, active, Israel. Question” for more on this). Rather than loving, and gracious is a lesson we With v. 17, all doubt is removed: exposing Moses to the glorious divine cannot hear often enough. BT
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 19, 2014 | 25 Deuteronomy 34:1-12
with Tony W. Cartledge
Oct. 26, 2014 Deuteronomy 34:10 – A Good End to a Good Life “Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel an death ever be good? Or put like Moses, whom the LORD another way, can there be a knew face to face.” C good death? We tend to think of death as an enemy, a fearful specter that steals us away from life and love and family. There comes a time, how- ever, when all of us must die, and some dyings are better than others. We grieve at the thought of tragic deaths, young deaths, painful deaths, violent deaths, lonesome deaths, and rightfully so. None of us wants to die young, to linger in pain, or to die alone. If we could choose the circumstances of our death, I suspect most of us would wish for it to come at the end of a long impending death and reminded him Moses was an old man. Shortly before, and fruitful life, still in possession of that he would not be allowed to enter in introducing Joshua as his designated our basic faculties, and knowing that we Canaan. successor (31:1-8), Moses had declared, are not alone. As the story unfolds, Israel is “I am now 120 years old. I am no longer Such was the death that Moses encamped on the plains of Moab, just able to get about …” (31:2). experienced, with the added elements of east of the Jordan River. The fertile Moses’ professed infi rmity did not it taking place on a mountaintop and in oasis of Jericho, the gateway to the prevent him from scaling the highest the course of a conversation with God. Promised Land, lies a few miles west of point of the mountain, to a peak called Moving up the river. God instructs Moses to climb Pisgah, from which Yahweh “showed (vv. 1-4) to the top of Mount Nebo, from which him the whole land,” from Dan in the he can see Israel’s fi nal goal. north (near Mount Hermon) to Ephraim Moses is the most prominent human The reason Moses cannot enter, in the northwest, to Judah and as far character in the Torah (or Pentateuch), we are told, goes back to a wilderness as the “distant sea” (vv. 1-3). The list the fi rst fi ve books of the Bible — stopover where God had told him to is hyperbolic: On a clear day, Moses second only to God. Once he appears, speak to a rock face to produce water could have seen as far north as the peak with his birth recorded in Exodus for the people during a dry stretch, but of Mount Hermon and looked deep into 2, Moses is so dominant that the Moses struck the rock with his staff in the lands of Judah and Ephraim, but the Pentateuch came to be known as “the addition to making the speech (Num. Mediterranean Sea is not visible from Books of Moses,” 20:2-13). For this bit of grandstand- Mount Nebo. Today’s text comes at the end of ing, interpreted as a failure to have full Some scholars interpret Yahweh’s Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch, in faith in God, both Moses and Aaron act of showing Moses the land and a transitional passage that leads us were banned from the land of promise reminding him that it had been promised directly to the book of Joshua. The (32:50-52, cf. Num. 27:14). to Abraham’s descendants as a ceremo- story follows directly from Deut. 32:48- Knowing that he would not return, nial way of Moses claiming the land on 52, where God told Moses about his Moses pronounced a fi nal blessing on the Israel’s behalf, but it may simply refl ect Israelites (ch. 33) before beginning the Yahweh’s desire to show Moses the Additional background information rugged climb up Mount Nebo. As moun- land, even if he could not enter. online where you see the “Digging tains go, Nebo is not particularly tall at Our text describes Moses as a man Deeper” icon 2,680 feet, but it is arid and rough, and who was both physically active and
26 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes spiritually faithful throughout his life – ended.” It was time for next steps, and even to the very end. Some of us may are available at the first of those was to acknowledge be nearing the end of life’s journey, nurturingfaith.net Joshua as Moses’ authorized successor while others have far to go, and none of and leader. us know where or when the road will At Yahweh’s word, Moses had (v. 7). This suggests that Moses’ ear- end. Are we like Moses, always on the commissioned Joshua “in the sight lier claim that he could no longer “get move, finding purpose for life in serving of all Israel” and charged him to “Be about” (31:2) must have been an inten- God and serving God’s people? Such strong and bold, for you are the one tional exaggeration as he prepared Israel faithfulness does not bring a promise of who will go with this people into the for Joshua’s leadership. land that the LORD has sworn to their long life or even good health, but it will Verse 8 describes the people’s pro- ancestors to give them; and you will put make the life we have a better one, both tracted mourning over Moses, but the them in possession of it. It is the LORD for us and for others. text does not tell us how they learned of who goes before you. He will be with their leader’s death. We presume that Moving on you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Moses would have told Joshua what to (vv. 5-8) Do not fear or be dismayed” (31:7-8). expect, and it is possible that his associ- Joshua was described as being Moses’ death is told in the simplest of ate may have accompanied him on the blessed by Moses and “full of the spirit terms: “And he died there, Moses, the mountain: the text mentions only Moses, of wisdom,” so that “the Israelites servant of Yahweh, in the land of Moab, but does not say he was alone. If Joshua obeyed him, doing as the LORD com- according to the word of Yahweh” (a or someone else had gone with Moses, manded Moses” (v. 9). We know from rather literal translation of v. 5). What he could have reported Moses’ death and stories yet to come that the Israelites do you suppose it means to die “accord- the disappearance of his body. were not always obedient: their history ing to the word” or “at the command” If Moses had gone alone after tell- was pockmarked by one rebellion after of Yahweh? ing Joshua that he would die on the another. They did, however, accept It’s unlikely that the narrator means mountain, he could have waited a suit- Joshua as their new chief, and “listened to say that Moses consciously keeled able time before sending search parties to him” (the literal meaning: obedience over because Yahweh told him to, as to confirm that Moses was no longer is implied). implied by the NRSV’s rendering that there, and thus declared him dead. The passage closes with a brief he died “at the LORD’s command.” The Israelites grieved for Moses as but enthusiastic tribute to Moses, who Rather, since God had previously told fervently as they had earlier complained “knew God face to face” and presided Moses that he would die on Mount against him. Instead of the typical seven over signs and wonders so powerful and Nebo (32:48-52), one could say that his days of mourning, for 30 days “the frightening that they would never be demise arrived “according to the word of Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of forgotten by the Egyptians or by Israel Yahweh.” Moab” (v. 8). The people had depended (vv. 10-12). Moses’ burial is couched in mys- on Moses for more than 40 years, but Have you ever wondered what tery, including the question of who now he was gone, and his absence was people will say about you when you’re buried him. The NRSV glosses over the palpable. What would happen now? gone? It is unlikely that we will receive question by changing the verb to pas- Let’s bring this closer to home: accolades as unparalleled prophets or sive (“he was buried”), but the Hebrew How do we expect to die? Some of miracle workers, but will there be some- of v. 6 says “he buried him in the land us may expect to expire kicking and one to say “No one could have loved of Moab, across from Beth-peor, and screaming, resisting death at all costs, me more than my mother did,” or “No no one knows his burial place until this while others anticipate a more peaceful one could have been a better role model day.” The subject of “he buried him” transition from this world to the next. than my dad”? Will there be someone to must be Yahweh, who buried Moses Unlike Moses, we cannot expect to say “I couldn’t ask for a kinder friend,” in a secret place (or instructed an angel know when we will die, but we do know or “The church never had a more faith- to do it), presumably to prevent the that we will die. Moses did not wait ful member”? Israelites from building a shrine and until his final day to prepare for death, Whether we live 20 years or 120, venerating the site. That would explain and neither should we. we want our lives to count for some- why the narrator could insist that no one thing good. We want to be remembered knew the grave’s location, even to the Moving forward fondly when we’re gone. To make that time of his writing. (vv. 9-12) happen, we don’t have to be a prophet A note tells us that Moses’ eye- The narrator signals a shift in the story like Moses, just the best “me”— with sight remained keen until the day of his with the last phrase of v. 8: “Then the the opportunities given us — that we death, and “his vigor had not abated” period of mourning for Moses was can be. BT
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 26, 2014 | 27 Classifieds Director of Music: Pastor: Associate Minister of Music: Pastor: Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Congregational Care Minister for Serving Christ:
Reader’s Response and the missionary movement during the energized by improving people’s lives as by past three or more decades. The Christian saving their souls.” movement has blossomed in the majority A significant portion of the world’s EDITOR: I heartily affirm the article by world in the southern hemisphere while wilt- population remains deprived of the Good Tony Cartledge, “The conundrum of moder- ing in the Western world. Authentic biblical News. By our apathy do we make the Gospel ate Baptist missions” (August 2014, p. 29). mission has not died, but is thriving in the invalid? Never. As Baptist missionaries, my wife and I hands of non-white Christians who bear the With renewed zeal may we reinvest in the served in eastern Africa and Europe with the Good News from anywhere to everywhere. sending of long-term personnel who become [SBC] Foreign/International Mission Board That is the diagnosis. incarnational servant-messengers. May our and with CBF Global Missions for a total of The prognosis must not exclude zeal for missions revive so that we, as moderate 32 years. I have been a professor of missions Western Christians. Cartledge’s conclusion Baptists, will continue to serve together with for 15 years in schools in the U.S. and Europe. rings true: “… If we truly believe in the faithful Christians of the majority world. Cartledge’s article delineates accurately Great Commandment as well as the Great Earl R. Martin what has transpired for world Christianity Commission, we’ll find a way to become as Fort Worth, Texas
28 The Lighter Side By Brett Younger
Fumbling the Bread of Life
hen you go to a new place, you We wish our mistakes would fade away, but hope that the new people will think they keep showing up to remind us that we are W you are smarter than you are — or not all we hope to be. at least smarter than the people at the old place We need the church because we need think you are. Moving is a chance to leave a place to go when we feel empty. We bend behind every time you dropped something under the weight of unfulfilling routines. The you needed to hold on to, tripped over your glories of motherhood give way to baby-related shoestrings or forgot what you were supposed chores that must be repeated with nauseating to remember. monotony. The subject we loved in college Carol and I recently began serving as becomes a dull job we must keep to pay the interim ministers at Santiago Community bills. The retirement we looked forward to Church in Santiago, Chile, more than 4,000 for 20 years shows up five years too late to miles from any of our old places. This inter- be enjoyed the way a 50-year-old imagines national, interdenominational congregation is retirement. made up of gracious Christians who have never The hope of the Christian faith is not that been to a Baptist church — or even wanted to! we will get it right, but that God loves us in I went to worship the first Sunday hoping spite of our foolish ways. The gospel is not “Be that our new congregation would think that I good, kind and friendly.” The gospel is not “If am smarter than I really am. I was concerned at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” The about the details of the Lord’s Supper in this gospel is “We fumble the bread of life, and Anglican/Presbyterian/Methodist/just-about- God loves us anyway.” everything-but-Baptist church. You and I need the Lord’s Supper because After the sermon (which they keep tell- floor. I kneel on the other side of the choir to sometimes we trip. We drop things. We forget ing me is shorter in Chile) the minister walks tie my shoe, a skill that most master as a child. what we should have remembered. We need a to the front, receives the offering plates, holds Then I remember that I was supposed to place where we can join with others who, like up the money, says a prayer, calls for the pass- take communion first. I am now the loser with us, need God’s grace. BT ing of the peace, walks to the table, leads his shoe untied who dropped the bread and the Great Thanksgiving, recites the words of took communion at the wrong time. I want —Brett Younger is associate professor of preaching institution, eats the bread, drinks the wine those in the congregation to think of me as at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology. that is not Welch’s, moves along the railing the kind of minister who keeps his shoes tied, sharing the bread, circles the choir, along the holds on to the body of Christ, and takes com- rail, and around the choir several more times. munion at the right time, but that is not going I did almost none of this when I was pastor of to happen. NOW AVAILABLE Mother Neff Baptist Church in Moody, Texas. Most of us want the people at church to The service is going as planned. I receive think we are better than we are. We would the offering (pesos weigh more than you think), like to be admired, but communion is for and the congregation willingly passes the people who are not always impressive. The peace. But when it comes time to share the Lord’s Supper does not depend on us doing bread, I walk toward the railing, stumble just a it perfectly, because communion is about the little, and fumble several pieces of the body of forgiveness God gives in the bread of life and Christ. If this was a Roman Catholic congrega- cup of grace. One of the requirements for com- tion, I would have been on the next plane back ing to the table is admitting that we are not to Georgia. as smart as we wish. We are part of the church I kneel to pick up the bread of life and because we are imperfect. hide those pieces under my thumb. I stand and Christ’s table is for those who need a place say, “This is the body of Christ,” and hear the to go when they do something wrong. We tell sacred response, “Your shoe is untied.” This a seemingly insignificant lie that threatens to Available as a digital download is not what I expect, but it is accurate and poison everything. We speak a careless word (ebook) or in print at explains why communion wafers have hit the that haunts us. We betray someone we love. nurturingfaith.info
29 Contributing Editor
EDITOR’S NOTE: Our extensive coverage of global Baptists is made possible through generous gifts from Roy and Charlotte Cook Smith of Winston-Salem, N.C. To discuss how your support can enhance the communication ministry of Baptists Today, please call 1-877-752-5658 or email [email protected].
ZMIR, Turkey — When Baptist World the work of Baptists in Turkey while call- Alliance leaders decided to hold the orga- ing on the Turkish government to increase Coada receives human I nization’s annual gathering in Turkey this religious freedom; expressed concern and sup- rights award summer, the purpose was to encourage local port for Christians in danger of persecution, Baptists as much as to conduct business, share while condemning the kidnapping of 200 reports, and enjoy fellowship with Baptists girls in Nigeria; cited “gravest concerns” about from nearly 60 countries. increased restrictions on religious liberty in Turkey, the western part of what is often Myanmar; supported Baptists in both Ukraine Coada, a Baptist pastor, was praised for called “Asia Minor” in biblical studies, was a and Russia, while calling for peace and rec- prime target in Paul’s missionary journeys, and onciliation in Ukraine; called for Baptists to girls and women who are vulnerable to was home to many of the earliest Christian support efforts to fight corruption and pro- churches, including all seven of the churches mote justice among governmental and business sexual slavery. mentioned in Revelation 2-3. leaders worldwide; and voiced concern about Coada founded shelters, schools, Important councils of the emerging Catholic the massive influx of unaccompanied minors to job training, and other programs to assist vulnerable women and their chil- Church were held in Nicea and Constantinople the U.S., calling on government leaders to seek (now Istanbul). Eastern Orthodox churches a resolution to the crisis and for churches in under the umbrella of Bethania Christian constitute most of the 350 Christian churches in the area to practice hospitality to the children. Turkey, which is now almost 98 percent Muslim, services for orphans and elders. though many are non-practicing. BWA LEADERSHIP - Turkey’s constitution calls for the govern- The Council elected Paul Msiza of South cal engineer during the Soviet era before ment to be secular, but it exercises significant Africa to a five-year term as president of the sensing a call to preach, said that when control over religious expression, particularly BWA, with his term set to begin at the Baptist among Muslim sects. Christians are not per- World Congress, to be held in Durban, South “Is there something I can do, that the secuted, but often find their religious freedom Africa, July 22-26, 2015. church can do?” restricted through measures such as difficulty Msiza, the second obtaining building permits and state recogni- African to serve as BWA trade have threatened Coada’s life, pre- tion for churches to operate. president, will succeed senters said, but he has persevered in his Turkey has only four Baptist churches. John Upton of Virginia, mission to help others. Earlier this year, they banded together to form who has served since the Alliance of Baptist Churches in Turkey, 2010. the process of submitting and approving reso- electing Ertan Çevik, pastor of Izmir Baptist Msiza was general lutions, and to reinstitute “BWA Day” on the Church, as president. secretary of the Baptist second Sunday of February and the preceding Three Baptist pastors from Turkey Convention of South Saturday (for Seventh Day Baptists). attended the meeting, and were instrumental Africa from 2001-2010, in arranging an impressive lineup of govern- and was president of the All Africa Baptist ment spokesmen from both the ruling and Fellowship 2006-2011. He currently serves as NEW MEMBERS main opposition parties to address the opening pastor of the Piniel-Salem Baptist Church in Four Baptist unions were approved as new session of the meeting. Pretoria, and is chair of the local arrangements member bodies: Chin Baptist Churches, USA; The speakers encouraged religious tourism committee making preparations for the World Baptist Community of the Faithful in Africa, in Turkey and praised religious liberty. With a Congress in Durban. Democratic Republic of the Congo; Baptist presidential election looming, however, some Twelve vice-presidents were also elected, Evangelical Community in Central Africa, hearers remained skeptical. with Jan Saethre of Norway tapped to serve as Democratic Republic of the Congo; and the first vice-president. Emmanuel Baptist Church of Ethiopia. AT ISSUE During other business sessions, the Irish Baptist Networks was recognized as The BWA’s General Council spoke out on General Council re-elected General Secretary an associate member, and several other applica- a variety of issues through approving six Neville Callam to another five-year term. tions for membership were noted as pending. resolutions, down significantly from the 17 On Callam’s recommendation, the With the additions, BWA includes 231 resolutions approved during the 2013 meeting Council agreed to shuffle titles and responsi- conventions and unions in 121 countries, in Jamaica. bilities for current commission groups while representing 177,000 churches and 42 million The resolutions praised and encouraged adding three new commissions, to streamline members. BT
30 Contributing Editor From mouth to ear Can preaching still communicate?
ZMIR, TURKEY — “Three points and Pastors should recognize what a powerful encourages them to text any questions they a poem,” the old caricature of a typical thing it is that people will come to church and have to the youth pastor, who can bring them I sermon, will no longer hold most church sit for an hour in hopes of receiving a word up later in the service. members’ attention — but what will? from God, said Jim Somerville, pastor of First Wallace Charles Smith, pastor of Shiloh Five preaching practitioners offered sug- Baptist Church in Richmond, Va. Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., observed gestions during the North American Baptist “The secret to good preaching is to have that “we have perhaps erred on the side of Fellowship meeting, held in July in conjunc- something to say and then find a way to say biblical exposition and cultural insights” in tion with the BWA’s annual gathering. it,” he said. preaching, producing sermons that are more “Preaching is complicated,” said Joel “In the old days, you could just go to the academic than practical. Still, he argued for Gregory, professor of preaching at Baylor Bible,” Somerville said, but today preachers sermons that have a discernable structure. University’s Truett Seminary, noting “a shift in “almost have to persuade people that this word “The whole idea of sermon ‘points’ adds emphasis on how to get it said, from mouth to from the Lord is authoritative.” structure to the rhetorical moment so there’s ear.” Preaching is becoming more cinematic, something memorable about it,” he said. “We Preaching in the 19th and 20th centuries Somerville said, as speakers need to have some markers in tended to be rhetorically focused, Gregory focus on finding new ways to the narrative for people to drop said, a deductive and cerebral exercise of linear communicate the gospel. their anchors in.” thought that had the congregation wanting to The goal is worth the Smith noted the chal- make notes and write down the sermon’s points. effort, Somerville added: “When lenge of “trying to factor pulpit That’s changed significantly during the you look out at people you love, time in a Twitter/Facebook past few decades, Gregory said, with a swing you will do almost anything it world.” In a traditional African- toward narrative and inductive preaching that takes to get that word across.” American church, he said, the is more evocative and focused on metaphors Stephen Cook, pastor norm for a preacher’s pattern or images rather than expositional points and of Second Baptist Church in is to begin slowly and build sub-points. Memphis, Tenn., spoke to momentum, following the How, then, can one communicate the gos- the immense responsibility of mantra “go slow … rise higher pel message “in a way that will engage people preaching. … catch fire!” But in a Twitter who like non-linear thinking”? “On any given Sunday world, he said, “you get only Gregory noted Leonard Sweet’s recent I’m aware half the congregation almost didn’t about three minutes to catch fire.” book, Giving Blood: A New Paradigm for come,” he said, but for those who attend, Preachers must recognize that words have Preaching. Sweet argues that image and “I can’t find any other place in the world where power and can lead to memorable rhetorical metaphor, rather than a series of expositional someone gets everyone’s attention for 20 min- moments, he said. The struggle is finding a points, are coming to the forefront utes or so every seven days.” way to get the message across during the time of preaching. Contemporary preaching faces a genera- people are willing to pay attention. Gregory pointed to evidence of this in tional challenge not seen by earlier preachers, Despite the obstacles, Gregory noted that Baptist Preaching: A Global Anthology, a book Cook said. “Preaching at its best has to be preaching is persistent, citing Clyde Fant’s he edited that was launched during the BWA pastoral and recognize that we are living in an observation that “Preaching is always stub- meeting. The book contains 35 sermons from unprecedented time: this is the first time we’ve bornly there.” Baptists around the globe. had five generations alive at the same time.” “Preaching is inherently worthy of a place Of the six sermons from North American As a result, preachers have to be “poly- in the church,” Gregory said. A symphony con- preachers, Gregory said, “Two of the sermons lingual,” able to communicate with multiple ductor doesn’t walk out and count the house are very directive and denotative; the other generations, he said. to see if it’s worth the effort of engaging the four are more indirect and evocative.” While many believers “have been fill- orchestra, but simply drops the baton because “Preaching has had to change and shift ing up on fast-food spirituality,” preachers the music itself is worthy of playing, no matter to meet the needs of the people where they should look for ways to involve people in the how large the crowd. are,” said Naomi Tyler-Lloyd, pastor of Trinity experience of learning, and to have spiritual “We might be heartened, in a post- Baptist Church in the Bronx, N.Y. People com- conversations with each other, Cook said. He modern culture, to hear that preaching is the ing into church “are not linear, and many are noted that the young people in his church tend same way,” Gregory said. “When the hour for seekers,” she said, “unfamiliar with traditional to sit up front, but often use their phones or preaching comes, there is an inherent worth in didactic preaching.” tablets during the sermon. Cook sometimes proclaiming the word of God.” BT
31 Contributing Editor
Christian pilgrims who want to visit “the Holy land” should broaden their view beyond the traditional desti- nation of Israel and its immediate environs: other sites have their own CHURCHES claim to sacredness. Turkey often considered hen an early Christian leader who identified himself only as “John” ‘the other Holy Land’ W wrote the startling letter com- monly called the “Revelation” or “Apocalypse” 7 of John, he did not send it to Jerusalem or Capernaum, but addressed it to seven pioneer churches located in the western part of what was then called Asia, and is now called Turkey. Church tradition identifies the author as John the Apostle, holding that he left Jerusalem and came to Ephesus due to persecu- tion under Herod Agrippa. While on the island of Patmos — where tradition says Roman authorities had banished him for a time — John saw a cinematic vision of the future, and wrote dire warnings to the seven churches lest they be unprepared for cosmic upheavals he expected to arrive soon. The apocalypse John anticipated has yet to happen, and the churches he addressed are long gone, but pilgrims still find inspiration in visiting “the seven churches of the Revelation.”
EPHESUS Speaking in Jesus’ name, John addressed the churches in order, following a sharp arc that moves counterclockwise generally northwest from Ephesus to Smyrna and Pergamum, then southeast through Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. The church in Ephesus, where many believe John lived during his latter years, was first on the list. John praised the congregation for its hard work, patient endurance, and intol- erance of false teachers, but lamented: “You have abandoned the love you had at first.” The remains of Ephesus (now Epes) and the effort to uncover them are both huge: An upper city was home to administrative build- ings, a small arena for council meetings and a medical center. Luxurious terrace homes with indoor plumbing, mosaic floors, and walls adorned with frescoes lined a hillside across from a broad avenue that was home to shops, public bathrooms and temples.
32
In the lower city, an impressive library the church had faced affliction and poverty, sympathized with a sect called the Nicolaitans, hosted a large collection of scrolls, and a mas- along with false teachers that he called a whose teachings remain obscure. sive outdoor theater facing the harbor seated “synagogue of Satan.” On the acropolis of Pergamum one can up to 25,000 people. Anticipating persecution, he charged the detect the ruins of royal residences along with John became a patron saint for the area. believers in Smyrna to be faithful unto death a majestic temple to Trajan, who was emperor In nearby Selçuk, a massive basilica was built so that they might receive a crown of life. from 98-117 C.E. (see cover). over the traditional site of John’s tomb during The modern city of Izmir covers most of The steepest theater in the ancient world the sixth century. Though destroyed by the ancient Smyrna, though the ruins of public overlooked a long colonnade and a path leading Mongols in 1402 and pillaged for building buildings and a large column-lined market- to a massive altar to Zeus. A temple to Athena materials, its ruins continue to impress visitors. place have been uncovered. was at the heart of a compound housing the The commercial life of Ephesus centered Tradition holds that John became a men- ancient world’s second largest library, from around three important trade routes and its tor to Polycarp, the second-century bishop of which Mark Antony reportedly gave Cleopatra harbor, which was painstakingly dredged from Smyrna who died as a martyr. The 17th-century 200,000 scrolls as a wedding present. a riverbed leading to the Aegean Sea. When the Saint Polycarp Church continues to function, Below the acropolis, Pergamum was home harbor silted in and could no longer be main- reminding believers to be faithful unto death. to a large asclepion, or healing center, where tained, the city was abandoned. physicians used various baths, herbs, dream interpretation and positive thinking as healing Pilgrims who know that story may ask PERGAMUM themselves if their “first love” for Jesus has methods. John next addressed the church in Pergamum fallen victim to the silting of other demands. Today’s visitors may wonder if it was the (now Bergama), about 62 miles north of roughly armchair-shaped altar of Zeus or the Smyrna. He praised the church at Pergamum snakes marking the asclepion that led John to SMYRNA for persevering despite the presence of “Satan’s call Pergamum the home of “Satan’s throne,” The second church John addressed was in the throne,” but took it to task because some but they are reminded to hold firm in the faith coastal city of Smyrna, 35 miles north and members reportedly followed the teachings of and receive the “hidden manna” John promised slightly west of Ephesus. John spoke of how the old Moabite shaman Balaam, while others to those who conquer.
33 THYATIRA LAODICEA Now buried beneath the modern town of The last congregation John addressed was Akhisar, Thyatira is remembered as the home- Laodicea, another 64 miles to the southeast town of Lydia, a dealer in purple goods who and at the end of the arc in his literary track met Paul in Philippi, where she was baptized through the seven churches. Only a few miles and hosted early believers in her home (Acts east was Colossae, and across the Lycus River 16:14-14, 40). was Hierapolis, both of which were also home Inscriptions and archaeological evidence to early believers. suggest that Thyatira was a hub of artisanal Laodicea was situated on a high ridge near activity, including a brisk trade in fabrics and important trading routes, supporting a large indigo dye. commercial center with impressive temples and Today, just a few jumbled ruins from later a large market area. From Laodicea, one could periods are visible within a fenced-off area of look across the valley and see where Hierapolis Akhisar’s downtown, about 50 miles southeast perched atop a massive white travertine forma- of Pergamum. tion created by mineral springs rich in calcium The book of Revelation congratulated the carbonate. Christians in Thyatira for growing in deeds, The church in Laodicea was famously faith and love — but rebuked them for tolerat- charged with being neither hot nor cold, ing a woman named Jezebel who called herself but lukewarm — not unlike the bland and a prophetess but reportedly promoted immo- PHILADELPHIA tepid water brought to the city by a system of rality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. The sixth city addressed in the Apocalypse was aqueducts. Early believers, like modern pilgrims, Philadelphia, another 30 miles to the southeast Drinks are most appreciated when served were reminded to avoid temptation, holding and now hidden beneath the modern city of hot or cold, but lukewarm drinks — like the fast to their faith and listening for the Spirit’s Alasehir. bottled water visitors typically drink on the bus guidance. In Philadelphia, the oldest remains still — can be hard to swallow. visible are a few standing columns of brick It was to the church at Laodicea that SARDIS that once supported the arched roof of a sixth- Christ said “Behold, I am standing at the door, century church dedicated to the Apostle John. knocking; if you hear my voice and open the About 30 miles southeast of Akhisar are the The church in Philadelphia, though noted door, I will come in to you and eat with you, ruins of ancient Sardis (now Sart), an impor- as having but “little power,” was notably the and you with me” (Rev. 3:20, NRSV). tant city that was once the capital of Lydia. only church of the seven that received no Pilgrims to “the other Holy land” are Nearby mountains and the Pactolus River criticism. Because its members had patiently reminded that Jesus’ iconic invitation was not an sands were rich in precious metals, and during endured trials, John wrote, God had set before evangelistic call, but an invitation for believers to the reign of King Croesus (560-547 B.C.E.), it an open door. experience renewed fellowship with Christ. metallurgists learned to separate gold from A topiary mosque in a park near the ruins While the early churches are gone and the silver in the naturally occurring electrum. The of St. John’s church is a reminder that the door ancient cities lie in ruins, members of today’s ability to mint coins of nearly pure gold or of witness is still open in a country where only churches may be thankful that the invitation silver made Croesus legendary for his wealth. one percent of the population is Christian. remains open. BT Sardis was home to a towering temple to Artemis, a wonder of the ancient world that was more than twice the size of the Parthenon in Athens, with fluted marble columns nearly 60 feet high. Downhill from the temple, one can find the remains of a bustling city where one end of a large public gymnasium has been partially restored in spectacular fashion. In the third and fourth centuries, a nearby Roman bath was converted into a lavish Jewish synagogue that could seat 1,000 persons, the largest in the ancient world. Sardis was a wealthy and apparently healthy city, but John’s letter accused the church there of being dead despite its lively appearance. Though a few were faithful, John wrote, the majority needed to repent and awaken to life before Christ arrived as a thief in the night.
34 Contributing Editor The larger picture
as co-workers of Paul, Duvol-Poujol said. service ministries. The role of Junia has been shadowed by Women such as Phoebe also served as dea- Junia ring a bell? How about Tryphena a debate over whether junia is a masculine or cons in the early church, she said, though the feminine name. The difference turns on an title later shifted to men only. accent mark, but the oldest manuscripts did Lozano pointed to other early women were active in the early church, not use accents. who lived an ascetic life as early nuns. These When the marks were added, the name included Macrina the Younger, who lived in was regarded as feminine for more than a Cappadocia during the fourth century. Three of 1,000 years, until Epiphanius in the 13th her brothers became bishops, including Gregory eeting this summer in Turkey, home century called her of Nyssa, Basil the Great, and Peter of Sebaste. to many of the earliest churches, the “Juniam” (masculine), Macrina’s father arranged a marriage for M Baptist World Alliance’s Doctrine and Duvol-Poujol said. her at age 12, but the intended husband died Christian Unity Commission explored women’s The Nestle-Aland criti- before the wedding, and she chose to live as roles in the early church. cal edition of the New a nun. She so impressed her brothers that Valerie Duvol-Poujol, of France, noted Testament, commonly Gregory of Nyssa wrote “The Life of Macrina” that Michaelangelo’s famous painting on used by scholars, used as a testament to her devotion. She was instru- the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel — the one the feminine form until mental in leading her family to convert their in which God’s right hand stretches a finger the 13th edition in 1927, estate at Pontus into a monastery and convent. toward Adam — shows that God’s left arm is when it was changed to Marcella and Paula, who lived in the late cradling Eve. Most people fail to see the larger masculine — but it was fourth century, were well-educated women picture, she said, and that is also true in our changed back to feminine who also lived as ascetics and had considerable reading of the Bible, where women are present in the new 28 th edition. influence on the church father Jerome, who but often overlooked. In Romans 16, Paul translated the Bible into Latin. Marcella was Romans 16 speaks of Phoebe, Junia and puts no limitations on an early proponent of monasticism: both were several other women who were close com- women’s involvement in later regarded as saints. panions of Paul, she said: Of 26 people Paul ministry, Duvol-Poujols Lozano said there is some evidence mentioned by name in the book, eight were said: “It’s impressive that that women may have served as priests or women, but few are known. Paul takes the time to presbyters, with responsibilities for multiple Duvol-Poujol, a New Testament professor thank women for their churches, though the evidence is disputed. at Paris’ Institut Catholique, pointed to ways participation in ministry.” The role of women as mothers was also that some translators have obscured the role of Nora Lozano, who teaches at the Baptist important in the early church, Lozano said. women. University of the Américas in San Antonio, Saint Monica, for example, mother of the Phoebe (Rom. 16:1-2) is called a “servant Texas, offered an overview of women leaders famed 4 th-5 th century theologian Augustine of the church” (diakonos) and a prophet (pros- in the early church. Women were among early of Hippo, is remembered as a role model for tatis). While diakonos is typically translated as martyrs for the faith, she observed. parents to be concerned about their children’s “deacon” with reference to men, Phoebe is called These included Blandina of Lyons, a salvation. a servant. The diakonos was often a minister or Christian slave who refused to renounce her Lozano said it was painful to be reminded emissary who taught or preached the gospel, faith. She was tortured and killed in 177 C.E., how women’s roles in the church have been Duvol-Poujol said, things that Phoebe did. during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. downplayed and continue to be suppressed. The word prostatis was typically used to Perpetua and Felicitas, a noblewoman and “We have made some progress in the describe Roman officials, and in 1 Thess. 5:12 her servant, were executed along with several Baptist family,” she said, but “we still have a and Rom. 12:8 it describes church leaders. The others as part of a military celebration honor- long ways to go. We are losing bright women titles Paul ascribed to Phoebe were titles of ing emperor Geta’s birthday in 203, and later who are prepared for ministry but cannot find authority and honor, Duvol-Pujoul said: honored in an early Christian text. a place of service.” “She was a leader, minister and supporter of In some early churches, Lozano said, It is imperative for supporters to “act in the church.” “widow” was not only a state but also an office, our circles of influence to empower women,” Prisca (Priscilla) is mentioned in six New well established by the second century and Lozano said: “As Baptists, we need to recover Testament texts, and in four of them — all sometimes marked by ordination. Widows the doctrine of the Holy Spirit and let people in contexts of ministry — she is mentioned who received support from the church were minister on the basis of spiritual gifts and not before her husband Aquila. Both are identified expected to visit the sick and engage in other gender.” BT
35 Baptist theology 3
his is the third in a series of six articles Rather than generalizing about other writ- resurrection must include a concern for jus- on academic theology written since ers, he engages discrete ideas from particular tice. Justice includes care for people who are T 1950 by Baptists. In this article we will books, one at a time. Most of the theologians, poor, enslaved and abused, and also care for review four more theological monographs philosophers, poets and novelists with whom the earth. It includes the liberation of women that show some of the range and creativity of he converses are major writers. and the ordination of women. It also includes Baptist theology. dialogue with other religions, since the resur- THORWALD LORENZEN rection means that God’s love is universal and that salvation is not reserved for those with PAUL FIDDES The second theological monograph is faith in Jesus. Participating in God: A Pastoral Doctrine of the Resurrection, Discipleship, Justice: Affirming The best way to grasp the meaning of the Trinity by Paul Fiddes was first published in the Resurrection of Jesus Today by Thorwald resurrection is not by reason or even by wor- 2000. Fiddes has spent his entire career at Lorenzen. ship, though these are helpful. The best way Oxford University, where he is now a professor Lorenzen was born in Germany. After is by discipleship. The Anabaptists were right: of systematic theology. teaching theology for several years in the One must live the way that Jesus taught, espe- In this book he says that we can know Baptist seminary at Rüschlikon, Switzerland, cially in the Sermon on the Mount, if one is to God by participation but not by observation. he moved in 1995 to Australia to serve as grasp the message of Jesus and his resurrection. The Trinity is a community comprising three pastor of the Canberra Baptist Church. Lorenzen is a pastor-theologian who has subsistent relations, or relations that are real In this 2003 book Lorenzen expresses sounded a forceful call to discipleship. He is within themselves rather than existing between his conviction that theologians have missed realistic about the forces of darkness and death, subjects. There are no persons at the end of the the point of Jesus’ resurrection. Conservatives but the resurrection of Jesus encourages him to relations; the relations are the persons. insist the resurrection was an objective event, continue to pursue justice hopefully. Though If the Trinity were three conscious per- and they use it as an apologetic to prove the his book contains careful and persuasive argu- sons, Fiddes says, that would be tritheism. The truth of the Christian faith. They ignore the ments, in the end its central thesis seems to be persons are not static but are movement, like fact that at Easter there were no neutral observ- carried forward as much by witness addressed a dance, weaving in and out, permeating each ers, and they emphasize the empty tomb at the to the reader’s conscience as by argument. other. Subsistent relations cannot be visualized, expense of the appearances of the risen Christ. but that is appropriate since God is mystery. On the other hand, existentialist theo- God acts by persuasion, never by coercion. logians such as Rudolf Bultmann say the ELIZABETH NEWMAN Fiddes thinks that persuasion is more powerful resurrection was an experience in the lives of In her 2007 book Untamed Hospitality: than coercion. the first disciples rather than an act of God in Welcoming God and Other Strangers, Elizabeth In creating the world, God became vulner- history. Newman conducts a running campaign against able and invited suffering into the divine life. In Lorenzen’s view, both groups are distortions of Christian hospitality. It’s not All Three Persons suffer, not just the Son. God mistaken. The resurrection was neither the about being nice, it’s not something you do as forgives by suffering. This is eternally the case, resuscitation of Jesus’ corpse nor an interior an individual, and it’s not trivial. but it is most evident and fully accomplished experience of the disciples. It was rather an act When Christians gather to worship, they in the crucifixion of Jesus. Because the entire of God that created a new reality. participate in the triune hospitality of God world is sacramental, metaphorically speaking, The appearances stories are a necessary and are thereby trained to practice authentic the world is the body of the Trinity. and also a sufficient ground for having faith hospitality. “Hospitality is not something we Fiddes hopes this book will be pastorally that God raised Jesus from the dead. The accomplish but a life we are given as we grow helpful even to readers who are not convinced empty tomb stories are probably true, but they in dependence upon God and one another.” of his understanding of the Trinity, and in this are not necessary for that faith. Newman thinks that the greatest contri- he is successful. This is good because, so far Lorenzen believes it is a mistake to found bution the church can make as it enters the as I am aware, no other Baptist theologian has the Christian faith only on the teachings of postmodern world is simply to be the church. embraced the theory, which originated with St. Jesus, as many theologians today do. The Christians need to see through the lies moder- Thomas Aquinas, that the Three Persons are proper foundation for Christian faith is the nity tells. subsistent relations. resurrection of Jesus. It also is a mistake to Liberal democracy does not seek the Fiddes is immensely learned. He conducts affirm the resurrection without also affirming common good but rather frees individuals to an insightful conversation with traditional and that the one who was raised is none other than compete and thereby to pursue their individual contemporary theology. He does the same with the one who was crucified because of his pas- goods. Democracy is therefore complicit in an philosophy. For good measure, he does the sionate commitment to justice. ontology of competition and violence. People same with literature. Therefore, Christian faith based on the cannot become who they were meant to be
36 by competing and winning. changed, and the earth has been taken from Africa who initially collaborated with Science is not the only way to know real- us.” colonialism but came to oppose it. ity; faith is a way of knowing, too. Scientists Since the church can’t abrogate race, the have faith just as religious people do, and they way forward is a renewal of the Christian was captured and enslaved as a youth. He are rooted in a tradition as much as religious imagination. Bearing in mind that God created became a Christian, learned about business, people are. places and peoples and that colonialism has purchased his liberty and wrote a narrative of Religion is never a private matter. It is a replaced these with race, the church must try his life. public and political one. In all education there to imagine what real Christian community and must be catechesis before there can be genuine intimacy look like. In addition to these stories, Jennings debate. For Christians the goal of education The author carries out his work princi- engages in lengthy, running conversations with must be love of the triune God. Newman says pally by narrating and interpreting the stories many other thinkers. This is a passionate book there are no easy solutions to the church’s of four persons: by a brilliant theologian about a topic that the problems. She writes: “The church is not author believes deserves more attention than it ours but God’s; we are therefore free from the has received. BT seduction of trying to save the church and the Portugal, described a slave auction held in world.” Lagos, Nigeria, in August 1444. —Fisher Humphreys is professor of divinity, Newman’s message is similar to that of emeritus, of Samford University in Birmingham, a theological movement in England and else- Jesuit missionary who arrived in Lima, Peru, Ala. This series is a revision of part of a longer where known as Radical Orthodoxy. She is in April 1572. article titled “Baptist Theology Since 1950,” urging Christians to resist the seductions of th-century published in Baptist History and Heritage modernity, including capitalism and liberal Anglican missionary bishop to southern (Fall 2013) and used by permission. democracy, by belonging to the hospitable community of the triune God, the church. Thoughtful Christians need relevant, reliable WILLIE JAMES JENNINGS Colonialism and slavery have been variously information that connects them to good ideas, interpreted. In his 2009 book The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race, quality resources and one another. Willie James Jennings offers a theological And Baptists Today needs you! To fulfill its unique and important interpretation. Jennings teaches theology at Duke Divinity mission, Baptists Today relies on generous giving. School and was formerly the academic dean there. He says that slavery separated peoples or more than 30 years, this news jour- Nurturing the Future of Baptists Today from the families, cultures, languages and lands nal has been on the cutting edge of is a three-year campaign to provide the that had made them peoples. Deprived of these Faddressing the issues individuals and funding needed to move forward in pub- things, they ceased to be a people. congregations face with courage and faith. As lishing a trusted, high-quality news journal, The only identity that remained for them times and technology have changed, so have maintaining a daily-updated web presence was their bodies. That is a racial identity. the news journal and its related resources. and producing innovative new resources. Colonialism thereby constructed race. What haven’t changed are the jour- To do so with confidence and vitality, On the racial scale, white was the norm, nalistic commitments and the vital role of we ask you to make a generous three-year and whites assessed all others in terms of those who support this ministry of commu- pledge. We need you! how closely they approximated that norm. nication with faithful giving. Colonialism segregated people. Slavery com- modified them. Their value was understood in Please make your pledge today. Together, we can do this. terms of their utility as workers. HERE’S HOW: The colonizers were Christians, and Christian theology colluded with their coloniz- ing. It adopted a supersessionist interpretation 31208-6318. of Israel, that God had replaced Israel with the church rather than grafted the church onto Israel. made online anytime at baptiststoday.org/donate. This made Christianity susceptible to a racial understanding of people. It was an For more information on supporting Baptists Today, inversion of the Christian message of the incar- call toll-free 1-877-752-5758. nation of the Son of God who came as a Jew to the land of Israel. Jennings writes: “The elimination of Baptists Today, Inc. is a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a strong commitment race is beside the point. The world has been to stewardship. Your gifts are both needed and appreciated.
37 Ask the Theologian: Part 4
Baptists Today the board with Humphreys. His responses appear here in print (as the fourth entry in a series) as well as in full on video at baptiststoday.org.
QUESTION from Roger Paynter, pastor of Christians do not just believe things about First Baptist Church of Austin, Texas: Jesus. We believe in him; we trust him. And the life of the church is not just a mat- Every young clergy person I interview is all about ter of trying to follow Jesus’ teachings the way social justice and concern for the poor. While this is these changes have been for the good. people follow the teachings of Marx or Mao. most encouraging, I never hear anything about a per- When couples live together and have The church has a personal relationship with sonal relationship with Jesus. How do we address this? children before they marry, they are not con- Jesus in the sense that the Spirit of Christ is pres- forming to the Christian understanding of ent in the church, guiding and empowering the FH: Last year a half dozen other theologians marriage because they have not made the church as we attempt to live by Jesus’ teachings and I engaged in an extended conversation commitment to stay together permanently, and carry out the mission God has given us. about the phrase “personal relationship with “in sickness and in health.” Jesus.” To my surprise I found myself resisting I suspect that in many cases the issue is the phrase, and I’ve tried to figure out why. QUESTION from William Neal, president that they do not love deeply. Genuine lovers of Developmental Disabilities Ministries One thing that troubled me was the always want their love to last “as long as we of Georgia and a member of First Baptist individualism. We say, “I have a personal both shall live.” It’s superficial lovers who say Church of Decatur, Ga.: relationship with Jesus.” We never say, “The “as long as we both shall love.” church has a personal relationship with Jesus.” How is the theology behind Christian marriage I have been surprised at how quickly The phrase treats as private what is in fact likely to change in light of society’s new acceptance society has changed its attitude about gay mar- a social reality. of gay marriage as well as heterosexual couples riage. It was so much faster than the change Another thing that troubled me is that the living together and having children prior to mar- about woman’s suffrage and the change about phrase seems to imply exclusivism and superi- riage? It seems the attitude toward divorce and racial integration. ority. “You may believe in Jesus, but I have a God’s acceptance of it has already changed. A few years ago I asked a friend in New personal relationship with him.” York who watches all this closely why he A third thing that troubled me was that FH: Our understanding of marriage has been seemed so confident that our society would the phrase suggests a familiarity that I think changing for a long time. Don Browning become more accepting of gay people. He said is irreverent. Our relationship with Jesus is described what he called the Bible’s long march that America had changed about race even intimate, but we are not peers. We are close toward monogamy. though no white couple ever woke up one day to Jesus because he loves us and saves us and For much of the church’s history, marriages and said, “We have a black child.” All over because we are grateful and want to try to do were arranged by families rather than chosen by America couples are waking up and saying, with our lives what he calls us to do. the spouses themselves. And husbands received “We have a gay child.” There’s another problem that isn’t implied their wives’ dowries when they married. I think a lot of Americans see gay mar- by the phrase, but people who use the phrase For much of its history the church’s riage as a justice issue. Is it fair and just to give often function this way. Their personal rela- understanding of marriage was entangled with heterosexual couples a tax break when they file tionship with Jesus becomes so important to patriarchy. Husbands were dominant and wives a joint return and not make the same break them that following Jesus, living the way he submissive. For many but not all Christians available to gay couples? Is it fair to allow a het- taught, seems a secondary matter. this has been replaced by egalitarian relations, erosexual person to visit his or her spouse in the Some Christians prefer to dispense with and companionship has become an important Intensive Care Unit and not allow a homosexual the phrase rather than to have to address all goal for marriage, alongside other goals such as person to visit his or her partner? And so on. these problems. This is understandable; after having children. I am not aware of any reason the increased all, the phrase isn’t found in the Bible. And, as noted in the question, the church acceptance of gay marriage should erode the On the other hand, the phrase does alert has dramatically altered the way it treats people traditional understanding of heterosexual us to some things we need to remember. who have been divorced. In my judgment, all marriage.
“Christians do not just believe things about Jesus. We believe in him; we trust him.”
38 QUESTION from David Turner, pastor of Because of these concerns, we reacted theologian Geoffrey Wainwright startled his Central Baptist Church in Richmond, Va.: against the sacramental system. One expression listeners at an ecumenical meeting by say- of that was that some Baptists refused to use ing, “As far as the issue of baptism goes, the How would you explain the difference between an the word “sacrament” and used the word Baptists have won!” ordinance and a sacrament? Why don’t Baptists “ordinance” instead. Of course, most churches still practice have sacraments? The reaction is understandable and to infant baptism. Is there any way to bridge the some extent justifiable. But it can be taken too gap? I think there is. FH: One definition of a sacrament is that it far. I think this is done when, for example, we Baptism is initiation into the church. Our is an outward and visible sign of an inward restrict the meaning of the Lord’s Supper to a primary objective in restricting baptism to and spiritual grace. In that sense the Bible, for memorial. believers is to have a believers’ church. But a example, is a sacrament. It is true and important that when we are believers’ church can be achieved if the churches It is outward and visible; we can hold it in taking the bread and wine we are remembering that baptize infants insist upon confirmation as our hands and read it with our eyes. It contains the Lord’s death until he comes. But that is not an essential part of Christian initiation and then something that is inward and spiritual, namely, the whole story. use confirmation as an occasion to call upon the gospel of the Lord. We believe that God The communion table is the table of the people to affirm their faith in Christ. works through the Bible to give us grace, that Lord. Christ is present with us as together we The great Anglican scholar Alan is, God’s loving help for our lives. take the bread and wine. He ministers to us Richardson did this. In an article titled In this general sense there are many spiritually through this sacred meal. “Christian Initiation” he said that infant sacraments. One medieval list included 32 baptism “is justified only if baptism and con- sacraments. The Catholic bishop of Nashville, QUESTION from David Turner of firmation are looked upon as together making James Niedergeses, once said to me, “We are Richmond: up the one act of Christian initiation.” all sacraments to each other.” This was done also in “Baptism, The Roman Catholic Church and the Do the family baptisms referenced in scripture Eucharist, and Ministry”: “In the case of Eastern Orthodox Churches also use the word allow for the possibility of infant baptism as an infants, personal confession is expected later, “sacrament” in a more limited sense, to refer appropriate model of baptism? and Christian nurture is directed to the elicit- to seven religious rites. They are baptism, ing of this confession. . . . The personal faith confirmation, the Eucharist or Lord’s Supper, FH: Yes, family baptisms are evidence that the of the recipient of baptism and faithful partici- penance and reconciliation, anointing of the early church practiced infant baptism. So is the pation in the life of the Church are essential sick, marriage, and ordination. fact that Paul saw a parallel between baptism for the full fruit of baptism.” We Baptists practice four of these: and circumcision. I am a loyal Baptist, committed to believ- baptism, the Lord’s Supper, marriage and Both were rites of initiation, and Paul ers’ baptism. On the other hand I deeply regret ordination. spoke of baptism as a “spiritual circumcision” that the practices of infant baptism and believ- In the Catholic and Orthodox Churches (Col. 2:11-12). And infants were circumcised. ers’ baptism are dividing the Christian church. two of these sacraments have priority over the On the other hand, there is other evidence I feel that, since we Baptists contributed to others. They are baptism and Eucharist. There in the New Testament that supports restricting this division by insisting on believers’ baptism, are two justifications for this priority. baptism to believers. In the Great Commission we are obligated to try to mend it in whatever First, unlike the other five, these both Jesus spoke of baptizing those who become ways we can. picture the gospel events: Baptism, when prac- disciples (Matt. 28:19), and at Pentecost Peter One way is to affirm the appropriate- ticed by immersion, pictures Jesus’ burial and spoke of baptizing those who have repented ness of understanding Christian initiation as resurrection, and the Lord’s Supper pictures (Acts 2:38). comprising both baptism and confirmation. Jesus’ broken body and his blood. You may be surprised to know that in In the end, all the churches want to affirm the Second, also unlike the other five, Jesus ecumenical circles today it is routine to think value of infants growing up in the faith and commanded his followers to do these two of believers’ baptism as normative. The most life of the church, and all the churches want things. That is why we call them ordinances, influential Christian theologian of the 20th those infants, when they come of age, to trust which means commands. century, Karl Barth, and his well-known con- in Christ and to commit themselves to live as Baptists, like many other Protestants, have temporary, Emil Brunner, both supported Christians in the fellowship of the church. BT had serious concerns about the sacramental believers’ baptism even though they were system that was developed by the medieval members of churches that baptized infants. Catholic Church. We are troubled by what In the Roman Catholic Church the RCIA, —Fisher Humphreys of Birmingham, Ala., seems to us to have been magical or super- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, treats has written several books on theology includ- stitious understandings of the Eucharist. believers’ baptism as normative. The most ing Thinking About God: An Introduction to We also are troubled by the way the widely discussed of ecumenical documents, Christian Theology, The Way We Were: How Church sometimes seemed to use the threat of titled “Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry,” says Southern Baptist Theology Has Changed and withholding the sacramental means of grace as that “baptism upon personal profession of What It Means To Us All, Fundamentalism leverage to gain power. The ultimate power is faith is the most clearly attested pattern in the (with Philip Wise) and God So Loved the not the power to kill someone; it is the power New Testament documents.” World: Traditional Baptists and Calvinism to damn someone eternally. In 2008 the eminent Methodist (with Paul Robertson).
39 Reblog
Selections from recent blogs at baptiststoday.org
approach “a properly Christian form of ‘com- trumps all else — including love and grace. What a shame! ing out of the closet.’” And Lambert pastorally That’s why love is always conditional. warns parents not to be too “creeped out” by Therefore, fundamentalist Christianity, with By John Pierce confessions of same-sex attraction — noting its narrow view of rightness loaded with with great theological depth that “sin is sin.” condemnation, is one of the more hostile hree Southern Baptist “biblical coun- Also, the professors advance the widely- environments in which a young gay or lesbian seling experts” have given advice to disclaimed case for sexual orientation reversal person could find himself or herself today. Tfamilies with gay or lesbian children that results from a heavy dose of confession Beliefs are firmly set in the concrete of that is frighteningly unloving and unhealthy. and discipline — more discipline, of course, certainty that allows for no doubt or reflection According to Baptist Press, seminary profes- than is required of heterosexuals since there are — or admitting being wrong in the past — sors Heath Lambert, John Babler and Sam permitted expressions of sexuality for them. and empowers them to proclaim (as did Babler Williams call for “unconditional love” — then So the advice from these “biblical counsel- in this article) that the Bible is clear in stating throw in their conditions. ing experts” to those experiencing same-sex that homosexuality is a sin issue. They propose a so-called “culture of hon- attraction is this good news: Come out and Never mind that such cocksure claims esty” where family members with same-sex confess or be condemned! about the Bible’s clarity were and are used attraction can “confess their sins and ask for And we wonder why so many young per- to justify human slavery, to portray persons help.” Those are big conditions. sons with same-sex attraction attempt suicide and of color as inferior to whites, and to demean For them, acknowledgment of homo- sometimes succeed, or why so many people in women — as well as other injustices carried sexual orientation must be accompanied by general want to have nothing to do with a church out in the shameful name of the Christian the confession that such feelings deserve that keeps putting such conditions on love. gospel. condemnation and treatment. Apparently, Not surprising, these Southern Baptist These men, who want young people truly unconditional love of a son or daughter leaders seem more concerned about doctrinal struggling with their sexuality to bear such requires too much from them. purity than showing Christ-like love. Babler shame, are the ones who should be ashamed “Ultimately this loved one’s eternal des- warns families with gay or lesbian children to themselves — ashamed of misrepresenting the tiny may rest in” the needed confrontation “keep their theology and their biblical belief Gospel, of calling Christian families to be less of sin, said Babler, who apparently believes intact, and not accommodate due to the fact than fully loving of their children, and of put- heterosexual orientation is an additional that it’s one of their loved ones …” That’s a ting the preservation of their losing cultural requirement for life eternal. “big temptation,” he said. war and narrow doctrinal boundaries above all Williams calls this heavily-conditioned In fundamentalism, doctrinal purity else.BT Paul’s hill
By Tony W. Cartledge
hristian visitors to Athens, Greece, are often drawn less to the classi- Ccal wonders atop the Acropolis and more to the adjacent stony outcrop known as the Areopagus, or Mars Hill. The Greek name combines Ares, the Greek god of war, with pagos, the word for a big piece of rock. The Roman god of war was named Mars, so they called it Mars Hill. It is a relatively small hill of solid rock that is slick, Athens, as recorded in Acts. He declared that he had come to teach them uneven and difficult to walk across. Yet, the Paul had created such a stir with his about the true God, the one they had sensed, high visibility of the outcropping made it teachings in the synagogue and marketplace but not yet known. ideal for public trials. that a group of Epicurean and Stoic phi- Remembering Paul’s defense while In Roman times, a council concerned losophers invited him to appear before the standing on the slick, uneven stone of Mars with ethical, religious and cultural matters esteemed council. Paul, standing in full view Hill, often struggling for balance, one cannot was also called the Areopagus, after the meet- of the temples on the Acropolis, noted that help but be thankful for the God that Paul ing place. It was such a debate that brought he had observed a number of altars to various proclaimed, the one “in whom we live and the Apostle Paul there during his visit to gods and even one “to the unknown god.” move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). BT
40 THE JUDSON-RICE SOCIETY Supporting the mission of Baptists Today
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ifts from individuals are extremely important to the ongo- Ging and expanding ministry of Baptists Today and its Nurturing Faith resources. Our goal is to expand the Judson- Rice Society to 200 persons this year — a good number since 200 years ago Luther Rice and Ann Hasseltine Judson and Huey and Charlotte Bridgman Adoniram Judson were launching their own ministries of missions, education and Frieda H. Byrd Bob Stephenson communication. Will you join us? Whether sending a monthly gift of $100, as some do, or in Hardy Clemons Ed and Sarah Timmerman another way, YOUR GIFTS may be made Toni Clevenger Joe and Cathy Turner by check or online at baptiststoday.org/ Estate of H. Edgar Twine donate. All persons making annual gifts of Josephine Warren $1,000 or more in 2014 will be recog- Clem and Carole White nized as part of the Judson-Rice Society. Winnie and Woodie Williams However, knowing of your plans to sup- port Baptists Today this year helps us to plan. Simply return the form below with your pledge and/or gift. Or, call toll-free at 1-877-752-5658 to indicate your sup- port. Thank you!
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I/we will give $______in NAME ______support of Baptists Today in 2014. PHONE ______Please indicate how the gift EMAIL ______will be given: _____ One-time gift enclosed ADDRESS ______One-time gift paid online ______Monthly gifts of $______Other: ______STATE ______ZIP ______Please return to Baptists Today, P.O. Box 6318, Macon, GA 31208-6318. Baptists Today Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization under the careful stewardship of a trusted, self-perpetuating Board of Directors. THE WHOLE STORY Jewish congregation’s leader expresses gratitude for Baptist church’s generosity, grace and open-heartedness don’t really know if anyone knows the whole story. The whole story is painful. It is Ibeautiful. When my little congregation formed in January 2004 as a havurah, our first meetings were held at a local church in Concord, N.C. One of our interfaith couples suggested that church; one of the two spouses was an active and happy member at that church. So we met in their fellowship hall once a month or so for about a year. None of us knew that there was a deep division in the community about our presence. None of us knew that the minister — who has long since moved away — was being visited each week by church members who believed Jews worshipping in the church was a real danger to the community. She told me later what they had said. “The Jews will destroy the church.” I had a few other minister friends in Concord. One was Pastor Steve Ayers of McGill Baptist Church. Wounded and shocked, I told him what had happened. He said, “Come to McGill, Barbara.” So we moved to a Baptist church in Concord. families, that was a daunting challenge. education class every year and spoke on a range We knew that some Jews would auto- Steve told me that McGill Baptist would of different topics to a community of enthusi- matically assume that we were messianic and refuse to take any rent; whatever money we astic and loving learners. would not dare to come and find out otherwise. had should go to the restoration. I stood before the congregation recently We knew that some people would call To this day, I remind congregants that to thank them. I cried through each word. I McGill and ask if Jews met there. some of the letters on our first Torah were put thought of the things that had happened to me We knew that both congregations might there by Baptist generosity. in that sanctuary. take a hit for their conviction that they could Sometimes, despite all our busy sched- Before we made the move to McGill, worship in the same space with love, tender- ules, we managed to do congregational things the congregation had invited me to deliver a ness and respect. together: a joint Hanukkah-Christmas party, a talk on Judaism. After a long and wonderfully In the first year we were at McGill we trip to see the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit when it enthusiastic conversation with congregants at a learned we would have to raise thousands came to Charlotte. program that was supposed to last an hour and of dollars to restore our first Torah. For 12 I visited the McGill Baptist adult turned into almost three hours, I turned to my
42 In the Know conviction that they could worship in the same space with love,
tenderness and respect.” Melanie Baggao of Placentia, Calif., has been endorsed by American Baptist husband, Ralf, and said, “I think I better apply as we move closer to the university area, to International Ministries as a development to rabbinical school — I need to know a lot another location and a different part of the way worker to serve in Lebanon. more than I do to answer questions like those.” on our path. Later, I joked that I got the “call” in a He reminded his congregation — and us Doris Joe Caudle Blacker died July 8. She Baptist sanctuary. — that living the love of God is our task. We are and her husband, Robert, were American I have sung Avinu Malkeynu with passion the face of the divine, he said. Sometimes we are Baptist missionaries to the Hopi-Navajo and power in that room. I have prostrated onto the only messengers to others for that love. congregation at Keams Canyon (Ariz.) its floor. I have felt the souls of my ancestors He spoke about what it means to love oth- Community Church, before assuming the attending to our prayers. ers who are not always like you, who speak or pastorate of Shepherd of the Hills Church I have heard birds chirping at the window look or act differently, but who need your out- in Morenci, Ariz. while we sang Elohai neshama, “my God, the stretched arms, your heart and soul extended. soul you have given me is pure.” B’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God Robert G. Gardner died Aug. 11 in Macon, I have seen my congregants dance across were we created. Each of us is a face of the Ga. A church historian and author, he was the sanctuary floor. Children have sung prayers Divine. senior researcher at Mercer University fol- and chanted from our Torahs. To all of you at McGill Baptist Church: lowing his 1994 retirement from Shorter We have celebrated, and celebrated, and For your grace, your generosity, your open- College where he taught religion and phi- celebrated again. heartedness, and your love, I say again, losophy for 37 years. God has flowed right through my bones. “thank you.” How could I manage to tell those gener- God knows the whole story. BT ous people at McGill that I became a better rabbi in their sanctuary, that I learned how to (This column written by Rabbi Barbara serve the Holy One there? Thiede of Temple Or Olam first appeared as At the recent service, Pastor Steve gave a blog at adrenalinedrash.com, and is used by Temple Or Olam a blessing. He wished us well permission.)
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