Christian Ethics Today A Journal of Christian Ethics Volume 16, Number 2 Aggregate Issue 78 Spring 2010

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’” Isaiah 40:3; John 1:23

The Rest of the Story...... 2 EthixBytes...... 3 A “Successful Ministry?” Joe E. Trull...... 4 Civility: In Society and In Politics Ambassador Lyndon Olson...... 5 Baptists, Globalization, and Poverty Ellis Orozco...... 7 The Difference Christ Makes: Marriage David Gushee...... 11 All I Want Is The Truth Steve Blow...... 14 Baylor Regents Devalue Churchmanship Robert Parham...... 15 Pardon me, but I missed your apology... Henry Alford...... 16 Is Your Quiver Full? Wade Burleson...... 17 Sarah Palin and God’s Plan Bill Austin...... 18 The Rich History of Evangelical Feminism Mimi Haddad...... 19 Is Obama a Christian Realist? Q & A with Robin Lovin...... 21 Honoring Walker L. Knight Emmanuel L. McCall, Sr. and Jim Newton...... 22 CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND THE MOVIES Misuse of the Bible: The Book of Eli (2009) Reviewed by Monty Self...... 25 ...... Response by David A. Thomas...... 26 BOOK REVIEWS Seminary in Crisis: [SBTS and the SBC] Reviewed by E. Glenn Hinson...... 27 Ghandi and Jesus: Reviewed by Terrance J. Rynne...... 28 The Big Rich: The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes.....28 The Reason for God/The Prodigal God/Counterfeit Gods Reviewed by Darold Morgan...... 29 An Atheist Defends Religion Reviewed by John Scott...... 30 POETRY Forboding Future and “Never Again” Once Again By Al Stagg...... 31

KUDZU by Doug Marlette The Rest of the Story

n 1995 Foy Valentine developed a grand plan—a Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University. His vision combined three Ivital elements—a Journal of Christian Ethics, a Center for conferences and research, and a Director who would also teach Christian ethics at the new Truett Seminary.* Foy named the journal Christian Ethics Today (CET) and began publishing it out of his own home, sending the first issue to a few hundred of his friends. By 1998, readership had grown to almost 2000, and plans for the Center at Baylor were developed and submitted to President Sloan of Baylor and the Regents. The struggle began. First, the Baylor president wanted Truett to be a European-type seminary—small (no more than 100 students) and one that taught ethics as a part of theology—mainly theological ethics. (James McClendon derided this approach noting ethics “is always left until the last, and then usually left out!”). In addition, Foy was told some regents had read an article in CET which questioned the “free market system,” and they wanted Baylor to have no such publication on their campus. Foy was frustrated. Yet, being a “practical-minded politician,” he decided half-a-loaf was his only choice, and so the Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor was born. Today it holds conferences, publishes a journal, and has a notable staff—however, the director teaches philosophy at the university—Truett still does not have a Christian ethics teacher, though it has grown much larger than originally planned!** The directors of the Journal decided to continue publishing CET as an independent voice for Christian ethics by dissolving the former entity, electing a new Board of Directors, and finding a new editor. I was in transition after early departure from the Baptist seminary in New Orleans (where I had taught Christian ethics for 15 years)—the first Board had interviewed me about the initial position that was nullified by Baylor leaders. I gladly accepted the new position. It is important to note here (as is printed on the back page of every issue), that Foy insisted from the beginning that the Journal “should be sent free of charge to anyone requesting it” and continued “as long as money and energy permit” (can you see Foy’s wry smile as he adds this last phrase?). The new Board wondered how long this unique arrangement would last. Yet, the early 2000 readers have grown this past decade to 6000 plus. Although most are unable to support the journal financially, about 900 readers each year give about $25- 50, with a few dozen who are financially blessed able to give $500 to $1000, and a few a bit more. Other publishers, struggling to survive, are amazed that CET has been able to not only continue to publish, but grow in numbers. Foy’s vision was not a pipe-dream! NOW THE REST OF THE STORY. Was it providential that Foy’s original idea was nullified by Baylor officials back in the 90s? How often do we later look back at events and realize God was more in control than we realized? My point: imagine with the present group of Baylor Regents and the new Baylor president, how severely restricted CET would be if we operated there under the control of the present Baylor administration. (My guess would be that many, perhaps most, of the articles (and certainly the editorials!) would never see the light of day! So, despite the difficulties, the voice and vision of Foy Valentine lives on through this publication. It is indeed, as the Scripture he chose for the masthead reads, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’. (Isa 40:3; Jn 1:23)” Now my personal pitch. If you are able to join this band of about 900 of our readers, to enable thousands of laity, ministers, educators, students, and educational institutions to receive Christian Ethics Today, any gift will be deeply appreciated. But, as I always say, our main goal is readers—not gifts. Spread the word about CET. You, our readers, are our best advertisement!

Joe E. Trull, Editor Fisher Humphreys, Ch. Board of Directors

P.S. Remember for any gift of $50 or more we would like to offer our latest reprint—Calvin Miller’s classic work, The Philippian Fragment–or any of our previously published works: Maston’s Why Live the Christian Life?, Valentine’s Whatsoever Things Are Lovely, Minister & Politics Conference (Audio or Video), Issues 1-50 CD-ROM, and the Trull’s Putting Women In Their Place. ■

*Although to date Truett Seminary does not have a Christian ethics professor or even one course in their curriculum, the endowment fund for the Foy Valentine Chair of Christian Ethics at Truett has reached $800,000—only $200,000 short of a professorship and $700,000 from an endowed chair. **A Christian ethics teacher was listed as the “Number One Priority” of a list of ten presented to a BGCT Committee (of which the editor was a mem- ber) a decade ago, if the Texas Baptists would increase funding to Truett Seminary. The convention did so, but the promise was never kept.

2 • spring 2010 • christian ethics today EthixBytes A Collection of Quotes Comments, Statistics, and News Items

“I’ve learned that people will forget “The church has lost its ability to be a tions and 67 are nation-states.” what you said, people will forget what disciplined community because we’re Sojourners, 3/2010 you did, but people will never forget now, religiously, in a buyer’s market. ❖ how you made them feel.” Christianity has to bill itself as very “A new study from NASA reports that Maya Angelou. good for your self-realization, and 2009 is tied as the second warmest year ❖ that’s killing us because we’re not very since recording began in 1880, falling Comments Concerning Ken Starr good for your self-realization. We’re a fraction of a degree behind 2005, and Baylor University: good for your salvation, which is not and also that 2000-2009 was the hot- “I don’t see Starr as a Robert Gates- the same thing. Stanley Hauerwas. test decade on record.” type, who transcended past politi- ❖ Goddard Institute for Space Studies. cal affiliations and jobs (CIA) to lead “Concerning the trials of terrorists, ❖ A&M.” “I’m not sure why Baylor there have been 3 convictions under “Over one-half of the churches in Texas would even want someone at the helm military tribunal, and 2 of them are do not have even one minister making who, no doubt, will spark negative now free! Over 300 have been tried a contribution to a retirement plan.” reactions among a large number.” J i m in civil courts, and all are in prison Mike Harris, consultant with Mitchell and Colleen McCain Nelson, today.” Rachel Maddow on Meet the Guidestone (SBC). editorial board members Dallas Press (2/4/09). ❖ Morning News blog. ❖ “If Goldman Sachs wants to pay “Baylor is well suited to reflect “In 2008 more people were mur- the entire cost of every congres- on the growth of the central govern- dered in Chicago (509)—mostly with sional campaign in the U.S., the ment” Ken Starr. guns—than U.S. soldiers were killed law of the land now allows it.” “Notice that he did not say the in Iraq (314). More soldiers commit- Political analyst Jonathan Alter in ‘role’ but the ‘growth’ of the central ted suicide in 2009 than were killed in Newsweek. government. And this is to be Baylor’s either Iraq or Afghanistan.” ❖ focus on the world? This man comes The Christian Century and “The Supreme Court ruling that with an unsurprising political agenda, Congressional Quarterly. removed corporate campaign limits is which he already has broadcast in his ❖ the reversal of the Dredd-Scott deci- interview with the Standard. No one “Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from sion on slavery (that ruled persons are can say they weren’t warned.” Hal Birmingham Jail was composed on the property)—the majority ruled property Wingo, Sante Fe, NM. edges of newspaper, pieces of toilet is a person and opened the floodgates “He represents the very best of paper and anything else his confidants for special interests, including foreign what it means to be an active church- could smuggle to King. The letter was corporations, to spend without limits man who puts his belief into action first reproduced only in bits quoted in in our elections!” JET. through his local congregation.” Ken national news outlets, then in full by ❖ Hall, Advisory Comm. Chair. the Friends Service Committee.” “HEALTH CARE: 46.3 million “It was a personal disappointment The Christian Century (1/12/10). Uninsured Americans, 6 million that the new president . . . would ❖ (25.1%) Uninsured Texans, with 12 not have a vital firsthand connec- “In January, 2010, after receiving million under 18, the highest in the tion to Baylor and be an exemplary bailout from American taxpayers, nation.” U.S. Census Bureau, (9/09). churchman.” Dr. Russell Dilday. Goldman Sachs awarded $16.2 Billion ❖ [Note: Starr was raised and baptized in bonuses/salaries to employees, an “Globally, America has the 37th high- (by his pastor-father) in the Church of average of $498,000 each—that figure est quality of health care—just after Christ, his church membership is in a would build three Aircraft Carriers, Costa Rica and just above Cuba!” McLean, VA Bible Church, and since or 14 Cowboy Stadiums, or provide Kathy Kay, BBC reporter on Meet 2004 while law professor at Pepperdine $900,000 per American in unem- the Press. University(Cal.) he has attended the ployment compensation.” ❖ Church of Christ, but he plans to join a NBC Nightly News “Poverty is the worst form of vio- Baptist church.] ❖ lence.” ■ ❖ “Of the world’s 200 larg- Mohandas K. Gandhi est economies, 133 are corpora-

Christian ethics today • spring 2010 • 3 A “Successful Ministry”? By Joe E. Trull, Editor

he chapel speaker, pastor of a sermon to problems he sees with the But it is not just the jet and the Tlarge metropolitan congregation American tax system, criticizing the international travel that is undercov- (and at that time also president of the President and congressional tax lead- er. News 8 also learned that the pas- SBC), was addressing students at the ers as he advocated several conserva- tor’s 10,000 square foot, $1.5 million seminary where I taught. His subject: tive tax proposals, which included estate on Lake Grapevine is not listed “How To Be Successful In Ministry.” several inaccurate claims and old pop- on the tax rolls in his name, but rather One of his twelve secrets of success ular emails that had been debunked as “Palometa Revocable Trust.” was to “Preach Creatively.” He illus- by FactCheck.org.1 Records show that the mega-pas- trated by sharing his present sermon Now comes the most recent story tor was paid $240,000 a year parson- series titled, “What Would Jesus Say about Jr. age allowance; that’s in addition to a To Madonna . . .” or “Bill Clinton . . .” Our ABC affiliate carried a lengthy $1 million yearly salary, according or other notable public figures. “investigative journalism” story about to WFAA sources. The inquiry also That very week my daughter sent the son, “now pastor of one of the learned that in 2007, the popular me a long newspaper interview of his largest and fastest growing churches pastor sold the intellectual property son, who was at that time a rising star in the nation.” The reporter noted of his church’s marketing Web site, in the D-FW area. The young min- this minister is “splashy and hip; his CreativePastors, as well as the church’s ister explained his success was due to message contemporary and cool. His membership mailing list, to a newly- “preaching creatively.” “Right now,” marketing is tops in the world of formed, for-profit company called EY he told the reporter, “I am preaching evangelism, making huge waves with Publishing. a series that is drawing large crowds his sermon in 2008 titled ‘Seven Days Today, CreativePastors.com is used entitled: “What Would Jesus Say To of Sex’ (preached with a king-size bed to sell the minister’s sermons and Madonna? or Bill Clinton? or other on the podium).”2 books for profit. celebrities.” Yet, concerns are being raised One critic, Ole Anthony of the When a student in our Ministerial by church members and by church Trinity Foundation in Dallas asked: Ethics class asked how father and son staff—one former associate described “When did the intellectual property, could be preaching the same series it this way: “The lack of account- the preaching and the Bible notes and simultaneously, my first thought was: ability, the lavish lifestyle that keeps the books—become the property of “The son is probably preaching dad’s increasing, while the attendance keeps the pastor? That’s the property of the sermons!” But I was wrong. Another decreasing.” church.” After three years of monitor- student brought a new book of ser- The TV special reported that the ing, the Trinity Foundation believes mons, written by a Chicago minis- church’s chief financial officer was this pastor has fallen into the same ter titled: “What Would Jesus Say replaced by the pastor’s “personal trap as other televangelists Anthony To . . .?” with pictures of Madonna, attorney, business partner, and fishing has investigated over the years. “They Clinton and other celebs adorning buddy,” who helped create “a complex are sanctifying greed, and that’s what’s the cover. series of business transactions, includ- so evil.” Lecture two that week was on pla- ing travel around the country in a SMU law professor Wayne Shaw, giarism! French-made Falcon 50 private jet; a former IRS agent who specializes in But that is only the prelude to a estimated value, $8.4 million.” tax law, says it’s not unusual for pas- never-ending story. A few years later Parishioners have never been told tors to accrue wealth from church the luxurious home of the famous about the aircraft, staff members resources. But it must be disclosed and father was featured in a special maga- are told there is no plane, the pastor separate from any for-profit business. zine section of his metropolitan news- declined comment, and “several staff “They’ve been given a very special paper titled, “Homes of the Rich and members who have actually been on duty, and they get benefits for getting Famous.” City officials noted the the plane have denied that there is that special duty, such as tax exemp- mansion was illegally declared exempt a plane.” FAA records show that the tions, charitable contribution deduc- from local taxes, and although church minister took possession of the jet in tions,” Shaw said. “I think it’s owed to lawyers tried to exclude the pastor’s 2007, then logged a week-long trip to the public that there is transparency, affluent home from taxation, the city the Bahamas, and one month later the that the public sees that there is not ruled otherwise. jet logged a six-day trip to Chetumal, something bad going on.” Recently the Sr.-father devoted a Mexico. (continued on page 24)

4 • Spring 2010 • christian ethics today Civility: In Society and In Politics By Ambassador Lyndon Olson, Waco, TX

Note: These remarks were given by over 40 or 50 didn’t grow up in any- They had to sacrifice. They didn’t get Ambassador Olson upon accepting the thing like this environment. We didn’t what they wanted when they wanted Texas Legacy Award from the Center live like this. Not in our communities it. Is today’s need for instant gratifica- for Public Policy Priorities at the . . . not in our politics. We lived in a tion a problem? Eighth Annual Texas Legacy Luncheon, political world with strong feelings We are more inclusive today . . . November 12, 2009, Austin, TX. and positions, yes. And we took swings and that is a good thing—but has that at each other politically. But it didn’t good made for increased tensions? hank you very much for this come down to the moral equivalent of Is it the 24-hour news cycle? The Thonor. I appreciate the kind street brawls and knife fights. 24-hour news cycle demands instan- remarks of my friend, Congressman Politics has always been a contact taneous news, which feeds off of con- Edwards. I also appreciate the oppor- sport, but the conflict didn’t permeate troversy, scandal, and easy answers to tunity today to talk to this distin- every aspect of our society and rise to difficult questions. There is scant time guished group about a concern of today’s level of social and verbal hostil- for reflection or reasoned analysis. mine. ity. It is very unhealthy. And I’m not Market forces demand instantaneous I want to talk with you about civil- sure what to do about it. But I know it information and jarring entertainment ity, both in society in general and in when I see it and hear it. And I know it values, not sober analysis or wisdom. our politics in particular. is time we focus as much attention on The news media are more prone to In encourage you to think back our civil behavior as we do on achiev- focus on the loudest, the most outra- . . . for some of us way back . . . to ing our personal and partisan agendas. geous, and the most partisan actors. those report cards we got in the first How we do that, I don’t know. But I And given the rise of the political grade. Most everyone had different want to raise the issue, ask the ques- consultant class, candidates and cam- type cards and categories, but they tions, and encourage you all to give it paigns are louder, more outrageous, were pretty much variations on the your consideration as well. and meta-partisan. Political consul- same basic theme. I’m not talking We live in an era of rudeness, in tants have helped create a permanent about your arithmetic or reading or society in general, in the popular cul- campaign where politics takes prece- penmanship grades. I’m talking about ture, and in our political life. Our cul- dence over governance. The political the comportment column, with things ture today, in fact, rewards incivility, consultants egg on all this for profit, such as Exercises self-control . . . respects crudeness, and cynicism. You can get creating controversy where little or the rights of others . . . indicates willing- on TV, get your own talk show or real- none exists so the message, the theme ness to cooperate . . . uses handkerchief ity series if you out-shout and offend of the day, is played out on TV and (important even before the H1N1 the other guy. Everyone screams, no the media. They’re paid handsomely virus) . . . and, my favorite was usu- one listens. We produce a lot of heat to cause strife and create conflict in ally right up at the top of that 6-week but little light. The proclivity is to order to raise hackles, money, and report card and it’s of particular sig- demonize our opponent. People don’t attention . . . fomenting issues to suit nificance to our discussion . . . “Plays just disagree . . . the challenge to the their agenda. well with others.” other is a battle to the death. Character It’s all about the message, not the We were being taught about and assassination, verbal abuse, obnoxious solution, not the negotiation, the graded on one of the most fundamen- behavior, and an overbearing atten- debate, the compromise to move for- tal skills of our civilization: how to get tion on scandal and titillation—all ward. It’s about who is controlling the along with others. There is a reason that isn’t just reserved to day-time TV message, who is defining the message, that plays well with others was one of anymore—it’s the currency of prime- who is creating the message, who is the first things we were taught and time, of late night, of cable news, of keeping the conflict alive often where evaluated on. And folks, I don’t think the Internet, and of society in general. none existed before the consultant we’re getting a very good grade on plays What happened to us? Should this decided one was needed. Is this what well with others these days. Many of us be a sign of alarm? Is the problem keeps us at each other’s throats? don’t even want to play with someone selfishness—we won’t be denied, we Is it talk radio, attack TV? Is it the we don’t like or agree with. must be immediately gratified? We talk shows, the shout festivals where Where did all of this come from? want everything we’ve ever seen in the absolute hyperbole is the only cur- In the majority of my life this hasn’t movie? How do we live and get along rency? Mean-spirited hyperbole and been the case. Those of us in this room like our parents and their generation? hyperpartisanship breeds cynicism.

Christian ethics today • spring 2010 • 5 Citizens are increasingly cynical this continuous rancor tears the fab- inflicting real damage on each other, about politics and about their govern- ric of our society completely asunder? so we, in our politics, must find con- ment’s ability to work. The damage to Can we survive with this tenor . . . tak- structive ways of resolving disputes the ship of state, to the fabric of the ing no prisoners, giving no quarter? and differences. nation begs repair. I’m asking these questions because Our work is here. We build from Whose job is it to change course you folks here are blessed with skills, the base. We will foster change first by and effect the necessary repairs? I’m talent, experience and a commitment our example . . . by working together, not sure I have the answer to that, but to a positive public policy. You under- respecting one another, and negotiat- I propose that in a room full of pol- stand the importance of maintain- ing our differences in good faith and icy makers and politicians, men and ing and protecting our commonweal with mutual respect. women who talk to the media, who where we strive to serve our clients, Civility is neither a small nor work in the public arena, who hire our community, our country, and our inconsequential issue. The word comes consultants, who set agendas, maybe state. If civil discourse self-destructs, from the French civilite, which is often we have a role to play in making we cannot move on the issues that translated as “politeness.” But it means things better. matter. Think of this as an environ- much more. It suggests an approach You know, I can say that there are mental crisis . . . the environment to life . . . living in a way that is civi- some people in this room, people I being our civil society and our very lized. The words “civilized,” “civilite,” consider dear friends, who understand ability to live and work and prosper and “city” share a common etymol- this problem and I believe share my together. ogy with a word meaning “member concern. To those friends I say, you I don’t want to sound pious or of the household.” To be civilized is and I both know that we disagree preachy here, but if we are to prevail to understand that we live in a society very fundamentally on some very big as a free, self-governing people, we as in a household. There are certain issues, but the truth is that we could must work together. We shouldn’t rules that allow family members to live care less about our disagreements and try to destroy our opponents just peacefully within a household. are more concerned about where we because we disagree. We have to gov- So, too, are there rules of civility can find consensus and reasons to ern our tongues. The Proverbs tell us, that allow us to live peacefully within work and live together to construct a “Death and life are in the power of the a society. As we all learned in the first better future. I consider this kind of tongue” (18:12). How we choose to grade a long time ago, we owe cer- commitment to trust and open dia- use words—for good or for wrong—is tain responsibilities to one another. logue crucial to maintaining a sustain- clearly our choice. The health of our Perhaps we spend a lifetime learning able society. democracy depends upon a robust how to play well with others. So be it. And indeed, isn’t it about building public discourse. It is a crucial goal for a civil society. ■ a better future for our community, for Recognize that I am not saying our country, and for our children? I that conflict in our political life is to say that even on the most intractable be avoided. Hardly so. It is not only of issues, there is room for construc- proper but necessary for candidates to tive debate, for consensus building, vigorously debate the issues of our day for the search for some common and examine their opponents’ records. ground. Don’t let people confuse civility with President Johnson once said to his goody two-shoes niceness and mere Democratic colleague, Gov. George etiquette. Civility is a robust, tough, Wallace of Alabama, during the cri- substantive civic virtue, critical to sis of civil rights in the South: “What both civil society and the future of do you want left behind? You want our republic. Civility entails speak- a great, big marble monument that ing directly, passionately, and respon- says, ‘George Wallace: He built.’ Or sibly about who we are and what we do you want a little piece of scrawny believe. Divisions based on principles pine lying there that says, ‘George are healthy for the nation. Vigorous Wallace: He hated’”? and passionate debate helps us to The people I know in this room define issues and to sharpen positions. are builders. But we are confronting Conflict cannot, should not be a world today where hate seems to avoided in our public lives any more be a predominant factor in the crisis than we can avoid conflict with peo- of incivility confronting our politics. ple we love. But just as members of Where are the rules that govern con- a household, as a family learn ways duct? What happens eventually after of settling their differences without

6 • SSPRINGpring 2010 2010 • • christianchristian ethicsethics today today Baptists, Globalization, and Poverty By Ellis Orozco, Pastor First Baptist Church, Richardson, TX

Note: This message was delivered at forget who you are . . . never forget differences, there are millions suffering the regional meeting of the New Baptist where you come from . . . never forget under the oppressive forces of pover- Covenant in Norman, OK, on August your heritage. I get it grandpa. ty. It is a mind-blowing and dizzying 6, 2009. I didn’t always get it. There was a time to be alive—and most Christian time (during me teenage years) when groups will begin to shrink away and here is a scene in the book of I didn’t want to remember. I didn’t build fortresses of protection against TNehemiah where Nehemiah has want to be Mexican, because I didn’t every perceived danger or threat. But I inspected the conditions of Jerusalem want to be different. But I get it now, believe that we, as Baptists, have been and has called the people together. He Grandpa … and you were right. I pray shaped as a people for such a time as informs them of the situation as he that Texas Baptists would hear my this. We have in our arsenal of faith sees it and then calls them to action Grandpa’s words . . . “Nunca Olivides.” practices the tools we need to ride the saying, “You see the bad situation we Baptists have always been those who, waves of change. are in . . . let us rebuild the wall of somehow, (in spite of their differenc- Those pieces of our Baptist legacy Jerusalem so that we will no longer es) have been able to “put their hands that we have all studied and cherished be a reproach.” The people responded together to working for the common as formative values in the practice of saying, “Let us arise and build.” The good.” our faith, things like soul competency, Scripture then says, “So they put I want us to reflect tonight on why, the priesthood of every believer, reli- their hands (together) to working for historically, that has been so, and why gious freedom (and its soul mate—the the common good” (Neh 2:17-18, that innate Baptist ability to organize separation of church and state), volun- NRSV). and work together for the common tary cooperation based on missionary Baptists have always been those good has shaped us into a force that is zeal, church autonomy (and one of its who somehow (in spite of their dif- uniquely prepared for the challenges of essential benefactors, non-creedalism). ferences) have been able to “put their the 21st century. Specifically, the chal- These stand like great communication hands together to working for the lenges we will face as change agents links towering over the landscape of common good.” in a world that will grow increas- Baptist life. They connect us and ben- My paternal grandfather came to ingly hostile toward Christianity and efit us even before we’re able to name the United States from Monterrey in increasingly apathetic toward the poor. them. 1909 to save his family from the star- The most pressing issue for all of Our Baptist heritage—these Baptist vation precipitated by the Mexican us is globalization. We must preserve distinctives—make us a powerfully revolutionary war. When I was a child a distinctively Baptist witness in the effective Christian force in a rapidly my grandfather lived with us. He world because the world has changed changing world. Please understand, didn’t speak much English. He would and continues to change dramatically. any one of our Baptist distinctives is speak in Spanish. I would answer in Change has always been a part of life. held by a number of different Christian English, and we understood each That is nothing new. What is unprec- groups, but none can claim the unique other perfectly. edented in human history is the rate of combination of beliefs we hold. As As a child the thing I loved most change. The acceleration of change is Bill Pinson puts it, it is “the combina- about my grandfather was that he killing us. Corporations are falling like tion of beliefs and practices (that) sets always had candy and money—and he monolithic giants. Nations are going Baptists apart from other Christian would give it to me. He would see me bankrupt. The world is shrinking at groups. There is a distinctive group of and say, “Venga aqui” (Come here). an exponential rate and collaborative doctrines and polities for Baptists, a I would go sit on his lap. He would efforts are expanding at the speed of a sort of Baptist recipe. Like most recipes, hold me tight and whisper in my ear, microchip. each of the ingredients is not unique to “Nunca olvides” (never forget). And I The world will not be the same Baptists, but the total mix is distinctively would say, “Whatever, Grandpa—you ten years from now, and the church Baptist.” got any money?” is not immune. Churches are trying And I would add, it is that recipe He would place a few silver coins in to live with four and five distinct and that makes us strategically positioned my little hand and would say, “Nunca very different generations worshipping for the race to globalization, and there- olvides.” And I would say, “Yeah, sure under the same roof. And while we fore, strategically positioned to be Jesus grandpa.” I didn’t understand . . . but fight our worship wars, ecclesiological Christ to the world’s poor. now I do. Never forget means never battles, creedal clashes, and doctrinal Our conservative Biblicism com-

Christian ethics today • spring 2010 • 7 bined with our love for religious and religious values should influence ance that might inform a politics of freedom—our penchant for autono- our perception of and participation in moral conscience. Both conservative mous thought and practice combined politics—making a difference in the and liberal religion have become cul- with our passion for cooperation— systems that govern and either hurt turally captive forces that merely cheer our disdain for hierarchal gover- or help people. But while religion on the ideological camps with which nance combined with our respect for belongs in the political world, religion each has identified,” and he warns, accountability through congregational and ideology are not good partners” “Religion as a political cheerleader is leadership—our theological center of (The Soul of Politics, 34). invariably false religion” (36). grace and grace alone, combined with Yale law professor Stephen Carter, The religious right, for instance, our innate suspicion of anything that in The Culture of Disbelief, warns feeling pushed to the margins, “woke smacks of legalism or creedalism—all against “reaching conclusions on up” in the 1970s and 1980s and combine to make us especially adept political grounds and, afterward, decided to become a prophetic force for the challenges of the next century. finding religious justification for in American politics, and I applaud As an example, allow me to refer them, instead of letting genuine that thought. I am just left wonder- to just two aspects of globalization as religious conviction shape honest ing where this “great moral force” was discussed by Thomas Friedman. The political judgments.” And Jim Wallis in the civil rights battles of the 1950s first is from his book, The Lexus and concludes that “perhaps the best test and 1960s. Most Southern (White) the Olive Tree, and the second from his of the spiritual integrity of our politi- Baptist Churches were eerily silent more recent work, The World is Flat. cal commitments is their predictabil- during those years when our nation In the first Friedman describes the ity or unpredictability” (34). It seems desperately needed a moral compass characteristics of the countries and to me that most of what is coming out and a prophetic voice. Or even worse, institutions that will collapse under of the larger Christian community in they were very vocal on the side of evil. the weight of globalization and com- America is extremely predictable. And, more recently, I have to wonder pares them to those that will prosper. The problem is that no one is talk- if they did not have a severe case of In his characterization he notes that ing to each other. If the last three elec- laryngitis when our country entered the nations that are inflexible, totali- tions have taught us anything, they into an unprovoked war, against the tarian, and dictatorial will suffer and have taught us that the polarization of better judgment of most of the rest of languish behind a changing world. By America is complete. And American the world. the same token, institutions that are religion is just as polarized . . . a polar- This is hard for me. I love my controlling, legalistic, and demand ized American church that is the mir- country. I’m an avid Olympics fan conformity at all costs will wither ror image of our polarized culture. and I tear up every time I hear the under globalization. Such nations and Wallis concludes that “the inability national anthem. I feel the pain of institutions will NOT carry us into of either liberalism or conservatism to every American athlete who didn’t the future (212-247). lead us forward is increasingly clear” have a good day. AND I feel the Nowhere is this more important to (21) and that “the two dominant pain of being pushed away from the understand than in our own nation. forms of religion in our time have national conversation because of my Jim Wallis reminds us that “Spiritual failed to provide the spiritual guid- Judeo-Christian perspective. Carter,

8 • Spring 2010 • christian ethics today in The Culture of Disbelief, contends online to collaborate in writing every- world is simply overwhelming. The that “a prejudice against the influence thing from their own software to poor are depending on our witness in of religious commitment upon politi- their own operating systems to their the face of the strongholds of system- cal issues now characterizes many sec- own dictionary to their own recipe ic evil in our state and nation--what tors of American society, including for cola—building always from the Walter Wink calls “the domination the media, academia, the law, and the bottom up rather than accepting for- system,” or “the powers that be.”. corridors of political power.” He notes mats or content imposed by corporate The larger Baptist witness in America that “religious conviction is trivialized hierarchies from the top down” (81). seems to have fixated on a few politi- and becomes quickly suspect when it Everyone in the group is allowed to cally salient issues, and although those seems to be affecting political matters” add their improvements to the prod- issues are not unimportant, in fixating (The Soul of Politics, 32). uct and, they offer the product for on them we have largely abdicated our In plain English, the Christian free! Talk about grace! It’s like the prophetic voice where it counts the Church in America is being pushed to Cooperative Program on steroids. It’s most. We have failed to throw the full the margins. And as an ethnic minor- even beyond that. It’s the walls com- weight of our Baptist strength behind ity in America I say to the church, ing down, all of them, and it’s messy. If the life and death issues that affect the “Welcome to the margins! We’ve been you don’t like messy then you’re going most people. I speak here of the mul- waiting for you!” I agree with most of to have a very difficult time in the 21st tiplicity and complexity of issues sur- the values of the religious right. Where century. rounding the plight of the poor. I think they get it wrong is that they The larger Christian witness in Tony Campolo points out that see being pushed to the margins as a America doesn’t like messy. They like the Christian Coalition, the most bad thing—something to fight against. clean lines; black and white; a place successful religious lobbying group I see it as a good thing. In fact, it may for everything and everything in its in American history, was formed to be the very thing that saves American place—doctrinal purity (as if that were address the need for the government Christianity. really possible). The problem with to support “traditional family values,” The church cannot serve a socio- those who seek to purify the church as it defined them. And yet, the voter political ideology and Christ at the has always been that they wind up guides which the Christian Coalition same time. The church can speak pro- looking more like those who crucified distributed to millions of Christians, phetically only from the margins of Jesus than those who followed him. completely ignored the needs of the society—only from outside the corri- It seems to me that in a day when poor (Speaking My Mind, 126). dors of power, never from the center. all the walls that have separated I don’t have to remind this audi- Both the left and the right seem to nations and people groups are com- ence of Jesus’ concern for the poor. It be fighting for a place at the center of ing down making room for larger and was all-consuming for him. In the Old political power. And any Christianity more effective cooperation, the larger Testament, the subject of the poor is operating from that position will be Baptist witness in America is pulling the second most prominent theme. a controlling, legalistic, and spiritu- out of collaborative efforts and build- Idolatry is the first, and the two are ally oppressive force, unable to dis- ing more doctrinal walls than ever often connected. In the New Testament, tinguish the voices of political allies before. It is one the most frustrating one out of every sixteen verses is about the from God’s voice. And, I would add, problems in Baptist life today. It is poor. In the Gospels, the number is one that is the very kind of institution that absolutely essential that we hold close out of every ten verses; in Luke’s Gospel will wither under the weight of glo- and dear the precious ingredients of one of every seven, and in the book of balization. It is, therefore, imperative our Baptist recipe which allow us to James one of every five. that we remain distinctively Baptist ride the wave of collaborative com- All the politically charged issues of because we have the right recipe to be munities. If we don’t, I’m not sure who Jesus’ day were (it seems to me) side- a prophetic voice, speaking from the else will. AND if we don’t, the ones stepped by him in lieu of his concern margins, in a shrinking and dynami- who suffer the consequences of our for the poor. In his inaugural home- cally changing world. failure are the poor. coming message at Nazareth Jesus sets The other aspect to globalization Remember, we do it for the sake of the agenda for his ministry when he I want to briefly mention is what the poor, the hurting, and the lost. We says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Friedman calls “Open-Sourcing.” In must preserve a distinctively Baptist me, because he has anointed me to The World is Flat, Friedman discusses witness in the world because the poor, preach good news to the poor” (Luke the ten forces that flattened the world. the hurting, and the lost are depend- 4:18a, NIV). Flattener #4 is “Open-Sourcing,” or ing on it. Gandhi said, “Poverty is the Jesus starts his most famous ser- what Friedman calls, “Self-Organizing worst form of violence.” I was a pas- mon by saying, “Blessed are the poor” collaborative Communities.” which tor for ten years in the poorest county (Luke 6:20). And if Hans Dieter Betz basically is “thousands of people in Texas and one of the poorest in the is right in identifying the literary genre around the world coming together nation. The poverty in our state and of the Sermon on the Mount as the

Christian ethics today • spring 2010 • 9 Greek “epitomai,” and I believe he Richard Lischer in his Lyman- JUST WANT TO FOLLOW JESUS! is, then the epitome of Jesus’ teach- Beecher lectures at Yale said, WHEREVER HE LEADS I’LL GO. ing (as compiled by Matthew) is his “Contemporary religion focuses on its AND JESUS ALWAYS LEADS US concern for the poor and the margin- own successes and avoids at all costs TO THE POOR! alized and the oppressed, who com- the paradox of the cross, a move that My mother is at the age where she prised 90% of the population in his has produced a flood of compensatory is starting to give her children (my sis- day. And because of both the Roman words” (The End of Words, 9). The ter, my two brothers, and I) pictures and the religious taxation systems, larger Baptist witness in America is in from her treasured collection of fam- the Jew could not afford to both tithe grave danger of a great “Christological ily albums, some of her most treasured and live. Thus they were labeled the distance”—what Erhardt Guttgemann memories preserved by Kodak. I told “unrighteous ones” (Am Harez). calls “the distance created by the ten- her there is only one picture I want. According to Richard A. Horsley, dency to redefine Christ in some more It is my father’s first grade class pic- around the first century there arose ‘contemporary’ meaning, less depen- ture (from 1939). If you look you’ll for the first time in Hebrew history, dent on just who the crucified Jesus find him on the third row, three kids a minority class of people who lived was” (The Politics of Jesus, 120). over from the right. The reason I want in the cities (mainly Sepphoris and Do you know who Jesus was? He that picture is that there is a hole in Tiberias) and produced nothing, living was poor—he was born poor, he lived the picture, a hole where my father’s instead off the taxation system. These poor, he lived with the poor, he died feet should be. There are about forty citizens of the “consumer city” were poor, and he rose again for the poor! kids in the picture, and apparently he an elite class living off of the working John Howard Yoder, in The Politics was one of only two children in the poor, the Am Harez or the “unrigh- of Jesus, reminds us that “to follow class who was too poor to own a pair teous ones” of the land (Archaeology, after Christ is not simply to learn of shoes. History and Society in Galilee, 79). from him, but also to share his des- The school took the picture and These working poor were the ones tiny” (124). We Baptists love to sing, my father didn’t have shoes. At the who loved Jesus the most, because he “Wherever He leads I’ll go. Wherever age of seven he somehow understood first loved them. His heart was always He leads I’ll go. I’ll follow my Christ that there was something wrong about with them. In fact, there is no written who loves me so, Wherever He leads that, and, therefore, something wrong record that Jesus every entered the cit- I’ll go.” Really? Wherever he leads? He with him. So he brought the picture ies of Sepphoris or Tiberias, the two leads us to the doorsteps of the poor- home and before anyone could see it, largest and most important first cen- est of the poor. He points to them and he cut his own feet out of the picture. tury cities in Galilee. He spent all of then turns to us and says, “Whatever I can see my father as a little seven year his time, it seems, in the small villages you have done for the least of these, old boy so filled with shame that he with the poor. you have done for me.” (Mt 25:40, takes out his pocketknife and carefully If we lose our distinctively Baptist NIV) cuts out his own feet. heritage, there will not be a unified, This means to follow Christ wher- I want that picture because it defines coherent Baptist voice speaking for the ever he takes me, WHEREVER He my father’s life: work hard, work hard, Am Harez of our state and our nation, takes me—without being labeled a work hard, to make as much money as and a greatly diminished one speaking socialist or a communist or a liberal you can so that none of your children for the poor of the world. Both the left or, even worse, dare I say a Democrat! will ever have to cut their feet out of and the right in American Christianity I don’t believe that I’m any of those their school picture. have sold out to one political perspec- labels. And, at one time or another, I My brothers and sisters in Christ, tive for thirty pieces of silver offer- have probably been all of them, and we must preserve our distinctive wit- ing promises that never come true, will be again. ness because no child should ever have and trickle-downs that never trickle). But the words of Paul keep ringing to cut their feet out of any picture of Their political litmus tests ignore the in my ears, “I want to know Christ their life. largest, and in global terms, the most and the power of his resurrection and In the spirit of Nehemiah, I say to devastating issues of our times: all the the fellowship of sharing in his suffer- you, “You see the bad situation we are issues fueled by abject poverty. Their ings, becoming like him in his death, in, let us arise and rebuild our Baptist alliances (or more often, their failure and so, somehow, to attain to the res- heritage and identity so that we will to align with certain groups) betrays urrection from the dead” (Phil 3:10- no longer be a reproach.” their deeper concern with preserving 11, NIV). And may we as a people respond the “American Way of Life” and the I want to know Christ! saying, “Let us arise and build.” And truth as America sees it, rather than And so, I follow no man, no may the generations that follow say of standing with the one who said, “I am socio-political ideology, no denomi- us, “So they put their hands (together) the Way, and the Truth and the Life” national apparatus, no career path. I to working for the common good” (Jn 4:6, NIV). JUST WANT TO KNOW JESUS; I (Neh 2:17-18, NRSV). ■

10 • Spring 2010 • christian ethics today The Difference Christ Makes: Marriage By David Gushee, McAfee School of Theology Atlanta, GA

Note: This article is adapted from the sec- then stabilized in the 1950s. get their hearts broken when trying to ond of three lectures delivered at Missouri But from 1965-75 the divorce rate play by these new rules. Baptist University, October 21, 2009. doubled, and though it didn’t keep But this does not mean that mar- doubling, it never came back down riage is dead in our culture. We are not s I promised, each of these three again. By then, which was during my quite Europe, where it seems that mar- Atalks will have three movements: I childhood, divorce had moved from riage has become truly optional and will begin with a really honest descrip- being a rare thing to a very common may eventually be the experience of tion of what I think is going on in occurrence. For every two marriages in only a minority. No, we continue to get American culture in relation to mar- a given year in this country, there is one married here. But we also get divorced. riage. Then I will try to review with divorce, and that number essentially A lot. A fairly typical path now for you the basics of what the Bible and the hasn’t changed in 35 years. the average American is to marry two, Christian tradition have said about that The other entirely new develop- three, or four times, and to have chil- subject. Each time we will see an obvi- ment was that many people began opt- dren in several marriages, thus creating ous gap between contemporary culture ing out of marriage altogether. The idea a reality in which they are constantly and historic faith. Finally I will offer that standing at an altar promising life- trying to weave families together from some practical suggestions about “the time commitment was just what people the fragments of earlier unions, while Difference Christ Makes,” or ought are expected to do began to be radically also sharing custody with ex spouses or to make, for you in this area of life. In questioned. Cohabitation rates shot lovers. The level of complexity involved every case I will try to be totally honest up beginning in the 1970s and those in trying to manage families like that is and realistic and not hide behind any continue to rise. There had always been truly mind-boggling. safe Christian platitudes or religious a small number of couples who never This has its effects, both on the talk. bothered to get married. But these were frazzled adults and on the kids. I wrote Marriage and American Culture outliers. Now, people who live together a book about marriage that was moti- It used to be that America was a and even raise families together but vated by my years of teaching college culture in which pretty much every- never officially “tie the knot” have kids at Union University, down the one was expected to get married and become a substantial part of the pop- road in Jackson, TN. I was astonished to stay married. I am not talking about ulation. In 1970 there were 500,000 at the number of kids there who had that long ago—even as recently as the cohabitating households. Today, there gone through divorce one, two, or mul- 1950s and early 1960s, the culture are over 5 million. Not coincidentally, tiple times. College is often when kids constantly found ways to reinforce the the marriage rate declined in this coun- have the first chance to really process message that the normal path of the try by 20% from 1995 to 2005. what it was like going through their man and the woman was to fall in love The fact that such a large number of parents’ divorce and parental dating and get married, to have children and people have abandoned the conviction and cohabitating and remarriage and raise them together, and to stay mar- that sex belongs only in marriage, of divorce again and so on. The data is ried for life. course played a huge role in this change. quite clear that except in a minority of Of course there were exceptions. For many men, especially, sex was the cases in which abuse or violence occurs, Most people had relatives who did not great prize that awaited us after the kids are better off being raised in stable quite follow the script. Not everyone long dating and courtship game ended environments by their married mother got married. A baby was born out of in marriage. Once we committed, we and father. Kids can be resilient and can wedlock now and then. And in some got sex. Now, when sex is available on learn to adjust to many things, but to rare circumstances couples separated or the first, second, or third date—and call these constantly morphing family got divorced. It was rare, almost a scan- really, what is dating anymore, anyway? structures a perfectly normal reality is dal you weren’t supposed to talk about, Why bother to get married? In a classi- to go against all the data and thousands as when we find out that the mother in cally offensive expression that I think of years of human history. the World War II era movie “Miracle I first heard from my parents, “Why All kinds of movies are about the on 34th Street” is divorced. If you trace buy the cow if you can get the milk for effects of divorce. Some of them are the numbers back far enough you see free?” By the way, I think this change played for laughs, like Mrs. Doubtfire, that the divorce rate in America began has not been to the benefit of women, which is really about a brokenhearted rising during and after World War I, who are more at risk from sex outside and insanely jealous Dad/ex husband, peaked again right after World War II, of marriage and I think more likely to played by Robin Williams. Some of

Christian ethics today • spring 2010 • 11 them are extremely sad, like the Sandra go to church and may hear something are made from each other, made for Bullock movie, Hope Floats, which is like this. It will strike them as very each other, and made to celebrate each devastatingly realistic about the impact odd: “Some Pharisees came, and to test other when they unite in a one flesh of divorce on the character played by [Jesus] they asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man relationship. And that relationship is Sandra Bullock, and on her daughter. to divorce his wife?’ He answered them, described as marriage. Jesus reaffirms You could name many other movies ‘What did Moses command you?’ They that beautiful narrative as God’s origi- that are really about divorce. said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a nal intention for marriage. He says that Trying to understand why things certificate of dismissal and to divorce a husband and wife are really no longer have changed so much has consumed her.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘Because two, but one—their lives are joined, by the best efforts of a lot of really smart of your hardness of heart he wrote this God himself. And no one is supposed people. Some of these factors might commandment for you. But from the to shatter that bond. No one. Jesus goes surprise you; for example, divorce rates beginning of creation, God made them on in the very next passage to say that seem to be linked to women’s employ- male and female. For this reason a man divorcing someone to marry another is ment and empowerment in contempo- shall leave his father and mother and really just the same as adultery. rary societies. Women are more free to be joined to his wife, and the two shall So for the church, the passage in choose whether to marry and more free become one flesh. So they are no longer Genesis 2, plus Jesus’ interpretation of to leave marriages that they find unsat- two, but one flesh. Therefore what God it, plus the scattered other references isfying. This has saved many women has joined together, let no one sepa- to marriage in the Bible, led to a very from having to deal with abusive or rate’” (Mk 10:2-9). specific understanding of marriage. It horrible marriages, but it has also Actually, there are a lot of churches has for 2000 years been viewed as a contributed to overall increases in the where you will never hear this passage relationship between one man and one instability of marriage. read or preached. It is far too con- woman; to be sexually exclusive and Another factor seems to be that troversial, unpopular, and painful. I faithful; the context for the birth and people have grown accustomed in our remember a time when I gave a series raising of children; and lasting until the capitalist society to trading in or aban- of lectures at a seminary, of all places, death of one spouse. doning products that they don’t like and nearly got thrown out of the place There have been variations on the anymore. When you buy a car or a because I offered a series of talks on the theme in different times and places. For home in 2009 you feel no obligation actual teachings of Jesus about marriage example, the Catholic Church devel- to keep it forever. Some sociologists are and divorce. No, these are not popu- oped the idea that marriage is a sacra- suggesting that the fluidity and market lar words right now. But I promised to ment that confers divine grace on the mentality of capitalist societies makes it expose you to what the Bible and the couple; they also developed the tradi- very easy for people to look for a bet- Christian tradition have actually said tion that marriage is literally indissol- ter deal in every area of life, even their about these issues, so that’s what I am uble. This means not just that divorce most intimate relationships. going to do here. is wrong, but that it is impossible. This Expectations for marriage have also This particular passage is the main idea underlies official Catholic teaching risen. People expect marriage to bring place Jesus talks about marriage and has to this day, which is why the Catholic great emotional and sexual satisfaction. probably proven more influential than Church almost never accepts the legiti- And people increasingly feel entitled any other single Bible passage about macy of divorce. to try again with someone else if those marriage. John Calvin, the great Swiss reform- needs are not being met to the level Scholars have shown that the er, emphasized that marriage is a sacred they expect. Meanwhile, the idea that Pharisees were apparently trying to get covenant, drawing from a few biblical the greatest duty we have is to our- Jesus to weigh in on a legal dispute they passages that suggest this idea as well selves, rather than others, has taken were having about the proper grounds as from the comparison of the hus- broad hold in our culture. for divorce. Rabbinic liberals said the band-wife relationship to that between So your generation is now approach- Bible permits a man to divorce his wife God and his people or Christ and the ing what used to be called marriageable for any reason. Rabbinic conservatives church, as in Ephesians 5. Today most age. Many of your cohorts are delay- said divorce is permitted only for sexual Christian churches and wedding servic- ing marriage; some are deciding not immorality. In Mark’s version of the es communicate the idea that marriage to marry. Others are still taking the story Jesus simply refuses to take sides is a holy vow made between husband plunge. But all of us—and especially all in this dispute. Instead, he drives all of and wife and God. It’s not just a love of you, at your age—are affected by the his listeners back to the creation story affair or even a contract like buying a instability and uncertainty and pain of in which God made Eve and gave her house—it’s a sacred covenant. contemporary marriage. to Adam as his bone of bone, flesh of The idea that marriage is for love is That is where we are. flesh life-partner, the only suitable part- a relatively late development in western Historic Christian Faith on Marriage ner for him. culture and has had fateful consequenc- And amidst that culture some may This story says that man and woman es. The church has not always taught

12 • SPRING 2010 • christian ethics today that marriage should be based on live. This is a fundamental rejection of sion over time. You will need to be the romantic love and was always worried the Christian message about marriage. kind of person, and to marry the kind that basing marriage on warm roman- You will get to choose the path of person, who hangs in there during tic feelings made it vulnerable to peo- that you will follow. You can go with hard seasons. ple thinking they were free to divorce the classic Christian understanding of In my marriage with Jeanie over 25 when those warm feelings cooled. For marriage. Or you can go with the pre- years now, we have moved nine times, about a hundred years, in the 19th and vailing cultural pattern. Which will it had three children, lost two babies to early 20th centuries, the church tried be for you? fetal death, adopted a young adult with to hold the line in this way—it said I hope you will go with the great stress on our family, lived through to people that it was O.K. to marry Christian version. I hope that not one daughter’s serious car accident, had for love, but only once, for better or only because I think that self-identi- one cancer scare, sent two kids off to worse. Now people marry for love over fied Christians are supposed to follow college, had one of them survive a tor- and over and over again, often ending Christ’s teachings. But I hope it is also nado, faced various severe job stresses, up in a sad progression of worse and because (a) it tends to lead to happier and more than once had to wonder worse relationships. lives for adults, and (b) it tends to lead where the money was coming from to Under the impact of Christianity, to much happier lives for children, make ends meet. Such is life. You need both Europe and America once made and (c) it tends to be much better for not just the right beliefs during hard divorce very difficult to obtain. While society. times. You need Jesus. You need the the interpretation of some of the bib- But the difference Christ makes on Holy Spirit. lical passages is complex, Christian this issue is not only that you might You will also need a certain kind leaders understood the Bible to say believe in a Christian approach to mar- of Christian community around you. that divorce should either be never per- riage rather than a cultural one. It is One of the things that our cultural mitted or only permitted in rare cases also in the development of both the changes has meant is that no one real- like adultery or abandonment. The internal and the external resources that ly expects marriages to last a lifetime laws until relatively recently reflected are required to actually live out this and no one much gets on you if yours these values, and so if you wanted a ethic. doesn’t. Churches go soft, the culture divorce, you had to prove in a court of The reality is that our culture will seems to laugh at or encourage divorce, law that your spouse had done some- never go back to a time when people and the law makes divorce relatively thing wrong according to the laws of have to get married to have sex or have easy. Meanwhile friends often seem to that state. Now of course, you prob- to stay married if they do get married. think that friendship means blessing ably know that you can get a divorce If you are going to choose classic, whatever our friend wants to do. for any reason whatsoever. No one has Christian, faithful, lifetime marriage, One difference Christ can make to have done anything wrong. You can you will need to be the kind of person is when he helps us decide to make divorce for “irreconcilable differences” who has the capacity to pull that off. Christian friends and join a church even if you’re the only one who thinks That means that you will need those that calls us to faithfulness instead of there’s a problem. That change hap- resources of character and tempera- blessing whatever junky decision we pened only 40 years ago in U.S. law. ment that are required to navigate a feel like making. We don’t need church So that is where the church has relationship with another person over to be just another voice telling us to been for its 2000 year history. It has a whole lifetime. give in to cultural voices and look out never said that everyone has to get You might recognize this list: love, for number one. We need a communi- married. But it has said that if you do joy, peace, patience, kindness, humil- ty of people who help us follow Christ get married, it is to last for a lifetime. ity, gentleness, and self-control. It’s and be our best selves. Is that who you It is to be the only place where sexual the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians have around you? activity happens. It is where kids are to 5. Successful lifetime marriage requires There are many reasons to dream be raised and cared for. Divorce is to two people who exhibit these wonder- of and work for cultural changes that be a rare exception for terrible circum- ful characteristics on a daily basis—and can maybe help reverse these dev- stances. who also have the seemingly endless astating changes in marriage in our The Difference Christ Makes capacity to forgive themselves and each society. But it begins with Christians So here we have the second of our other when they fall short. remembering our own tradition and three great clashes that we will con- You will have to be the kind of per- following Christ again. Culture will sider in these three lectures: American son who knows how to endure hard care little about our words until we culture has essentially abandoned the times with resilience, toughness, and embody, not just talk about, a differ- marriage ethic that once shaped our courage. Most marriages go through ent way of life. This will be the way culture and laws. Now marriage is one or more very difficult times. Many our culture will come to believe in the optional, and lasts as long as we both times today people give up during difference Christ makes. ■ shall love, not as long as we both shall those times, often regretting that deci-

Christian ethics today • spring 2010 • 13 All I Want Is The Truth . . . By Steve Blow, Columnist Dallas Morning News

ax in Richardson probably again. “My memory is not infallible,” Not true either. Her staff may be Mwishes he had never mailed me. he wrote, “but I seem to remember slightly larger, but it’s right in line I had the gall to ask a question. hearing these quotes on Channel 8 or with that of Laura Bush and other pre- A few days ago Max forwarded Channel 4 news.” decessors. me and 39 others an item about how No, he didn’t. The Internet is a wonderful thing. President Barack Obama was irked It took me about 60 seconds on the It spreads information like never with U.S. military veterans. Internet to discover that the president before. It said Obama wanted veterans to never said those outrageous things. But it spreads lies just as quickly. carry private health insurance to cover Of course not. Do we care? Or do we care more service-related injuries, but that oppo- The made-up quotes come from about smearing our political enemies? sition forced him to scrap the idea. a satirical column written to ridicule Neither Pete nor Max showed any The e-mail said: The President the president. hint of regret about spreading false admitted that he was puzzled by the But now they get passed around as information. magnitude of the opposition to his pro- fact. And I sign once again over our This isn’t partisan concern. I’d say posal. low regard for truth these days. the same if this was circulating about “Look, it’s an all-volunteer force,” A few days before Max’s e-mail, I a Republican in the White House. Obama complained. “Nobody made got a similar one. Seems like this guy’s And, no, the jabs at former President these guys go to war. They had to have name was Pete. George W. Bush never reached this known and accepted the risks. Now they He forwarded a popular e-mail level. whine about bearing the costs of their making the rounds and asked why the It’s so easy to determine if a cir- choice? It doesn’t compute . . . “I thought media never reports such things. culating e-mail is true or false. Go to these were people who were proud to That was easy. www.snopes.com or www.factcheck. sacrifice for their country,” Obama “Because it’s not true,” I replied. org. Or just type a few key words into continued. “I guess I underestimated This one had to do with Michelle Google. the selfishness of some of my fellow Obama supposedly ordering cham- Please resolve to do that before for- Americans.” pagne and caviar from room service at warding anything. If you can’t confirm The e-mail cites the quotes as proof the Waldorf-Astoria. It even includes it, don’t send it. that Obama is “the worst president in a copy of the signed bill. Our editorial pages embarked on American history” and urges readers But it’s all bogus. Ms. Obama a campaign last week to bring more to “pass this on to everyone.” wasn’t even in New York at the time. civility into public discourse. I wrote back to Max and asked for I attached a link to a Web site with That’s nice. But right now I’d settle the source of the quotes. more information about the hoax. for more truth. ■ “I wish I could,” he replied. “This Pete wrote back: “No, not that. The was an e-mail that came to me, and other.” This article originally appeared in the I forwarded it. I have heard or read I scrolled further down his original Dallas Morning News (2/28/10) and is these comments before, but I don’t e-mail and found the one about Ms. reprinted with permission. know the source.” Obama supposedly having a far larger A few minutes later he e-mailed me staff than any previous first lady.

14 • Spring 2010 • christian ethics today Baylor Regents Devalue Churchmanship By Robert Parham, Executive Director Baptist Center for Ethics, Nashville, TN

aylor University regents and advi- While Stone, Armes and Hall strung divinity degree from Liberty Baptist Bsory committee members cheap- together spiritual accolades without Theological Seminary in 2005. He ened Baptist church membership with evidence to back up their assertions, has been on the board of Jews for Jesus their introduction of Ken Starr as the Tom Phillips, a retired judge and advi- since 1987 and is now the board’s institution’s next president. One mem- sory committee member, misstated the chairman. ber of the group completely misrep- nature of the church where Starr has No wonder Paige Patterson, one resented the nature of Starr’s current his membership. He claimed it as a of the architects of the takeover of the church. Baptist church. Southern Baptist Convention, spoke All told, those who spoke watered According to media reports, Starr with enthusiasm about Starr’s election. down the definition of authentic belongs to McLean Bible Church, Starr belongs to a church that affiliates church membership. located in the suburbs of Washington, with same crowd that SBC fundamen- Introducing Starr, Dary Stone, D.C. Starr doesn’t belong to University talists do. Starr’s church uses the same chairman of the regents, said that the Church of Christ in Malibu, Calif., as words to define the Bible that SBC Baylor community needed to under- some have wrongly claimed, although fundamentalists use. stand “what an outstanding life that he he does attend. It was those words and fundamen- has lived as a Christian leader.” Judge Phillips said that Starr talism’s truncated understanding of “He has been an outspoken belonged to an “independent Bible faith that led former Baylor president Christian leader. He’s a man of faith. church, which if it had to be in a slot Herb Reynolds, John Baugh and oth- He’s a family man, a church lead- would be called Baptist, at least we ers to fight for Baylor’s autonomy er,” claimed Stone. “Kenneth Starr would claim it, with perhaps a better and security from the Baptist General embodies all that characterizes Baylor right than any other denomination.” Convention of Texas when it was under University.” Now, would Baylor and other threat of fundamentalist control. Stone said that Starr had “a servant goodwill Texas Baptists really claim Phillips either is confused or doesn’t leader’s heart.” McLean as a Baptist church? see a problem with fundamentalism. Joe Armes, the search commit- The church Web site says, “We are If ignorance of the law is no excuse, tee chair, said, “Starr is a mature and unashamed to say that we understand then untruthfulness is inexcusable. thoughtful Christian with a vibrant the Bible literally, believe that it is iner- Phillips flatly misrepresented the faith that truly defines who he is.” rant and infallible.” On another page, nature of Starr’s church. Ken Hall, chair of the presidential the church identifies itself as being Another individual appears to have search advisory committee and presi- governed by elders, one of whom overstated Starr’s churchmanship. dent of Buckner International, said, has a degree from Dallas Theological Hall said that Starr “represents the “He represents the very best of what it Seminary. All nine elders are men, per very best of what it means to be an means to be an active churchman, who proof texts. active churchman.” . . . puts his belief into action through McLean Bible Church is not a Oh, really? his local congregation of faith.” Hall Baptist church. Starr’s membership is in a church added that Starr is “the epitome of What do we know about McLean in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. what it means to be a Christian ser- Bible Church’s pastor, Lon Solomon? He works at a law school in Malibu, vant leader.” Solomon received a doctorate of (continued on page 24)

Christian ethics today • spring 2010 • 15 Pardon Me, but I missed your apology . . . By Henry Alford, Author of “How to Live”

sometimes find strangers’ manners How did I get here? I’d feel like a responded, “Oh, right.” I so lacking that I have started engag- marm or a scold if I told a stranger Though this response could not ing in an odd kind of activism. I call it that he has bad manners; so instead be described as blanket-like, it never- reverse etiquette: I supply the apology I wage a campaign of subtle remon- theless gave me enough ground to see that they should be giving me. strance. That this subtle remonstrance that I was on the right track. I real- When the ebullient young woman was, in its initial forays at least, mostly ized that I just need to be even more behind the cash register at the gro- lost on my interlocutors did not faze explicit with people. So the other cery store dropped my apple on the me; being able to sublimate my irrita- day, when a stroller-pushing mother ground, she smiled nervously, picked tion was its own reward. semi-vigorously bumped into me at it up and put it in my bag, but said But I like to think that in some Sixth Avenue and Eighth Street—this nothing. So I offered, in a neutral tone instances my behavior, by causing corner is apparently the Bermuda of voice, “Oh, I’m sorry.” This did not others to wonder what I’m going Triangle of manners—I expressed elicit the remorse I hoped it would— on about, may help to carry out eti- remorse, and added, “No one says I’m she simply grimace-smiled and said, quette’s mandate: to promote empa- sorry anymore, so I do it for them.” “That’s OK.” So I added, “Sorry about thy. It’s my distinct hope that the “OK.” that—I really didn’t mean for you to person who is apologized to when she “My idea is that if I say I’m sorry, drop that.” At which she stared off drops my apple is a person who will then at least the words have been into the mid-distance as if receiving have an epiphany the next time some- released into the universe.” instructions from outer space. one drops her apple. She stared at me with equal parts A few weeks later, the skinny, And yet, placated though I am by irritation and faint horror, as if I had 20-something gentleman manning the the realization that I am providing just asked her to attend a three-hour cash register at the pizzeria told me, “I others with gentle, time-released les- lecture on the history of the leotard. can’t break a 20.” So I asked, “Would sons, sometimes the angry little man I continued: “The apology gets you mind terribly if I went next door inside me wants more. Much more. To said, even if it’s not by the right person. and got change?” He said “That’s wit, an apology. It makes me feel better. And maybe fine.” When I returned, no thanks or So I have become more explicit in you’ll know what to say next time.” apology forthcoming from him, I said my acts of reverse etiquette. The other “Wow,” she said. (The tickets for in a flat, non-sarcastic voice, “So sor- day I apologized to a tall, bearded the leotard lecture were $200, or $500 ry—I hope I didn’t keep you waiting?” man who slammed his duffel into me at the door.) Confused, he shook his head no. “I at Sixth Avenue and Eighth Street in And then, finally, came the words forget stuff sometimes,” I said—a cue New York. Then I told him, “I’m say- I have longed these many months to that went unmet. ing what you should be saying.” He hear: “I’ll think about it.” ■

16 • SPRING 2010 • christian ethics today Is Your Quiver Full? By Wade Burleson, Pastor Emmanuel Baptist Church, Enid, OK

uiverfull-theology advocates from accomplishing His plans. The sheath and doesn’t have children, is to be hon- Q[QuiverFull.com] are almost univer- of a condom, or the dissolution of a pill, is ored just as much. Christian honor should sally conservative, evangelical Christians. no more an obstacle to God in the creation be given for who a person is, not what a They seek to convince people that “God of a human being than the lack of mat- person does or doesn’t do. We are always alone” should determine the size of one’s ter was an obstacle to God in creating the cautioned in the Scriptures against honor- family since having a “quiverfull” of chil- universe. ing people based upon the amount of their dren is a “blessing” from God (Psalm 3. Holiness or righteousness is obtained “blessings” or the “size” of their wealth. 127:3-5). For this reason, they will tell by faith in Christ alone. We are declared We are to honor people because they are you that any kind of contraception or any perfectly righteous (justified) by a holy people. Period. desire to prevent the conception of a child God. The woman with faith in Christ who 7. We Christians are “pro-life”—that is, during the coital act is a sin against God. tries her entire life to have one child, and we believe in the sacredness and sanc- In 1985, Mary Pride wrote a founda- cannot for physical reasons, compared to tity of every human life. Our “pro-life” tional text for quiverfull theology entitled the woman with faith in Christ who could arguments, however, ring hollow when The Way Home: Beyond Feminism, Back to have multiple children, but does not for we remove our churches from inner city Reality. Pride argued that family planning contraception reasons, compared to the neighborhoods where our presence could leads to a slide toward the acceptability of woman with faith in Christ who does have help those with poor qualities of life; when abortion and feminism, two things incom- 20 children because of her quiverfull the- we leave our states backlogged with tens of patible with Christianity. Pride wrote ology and refusal to use contraception— thousands of foster children on the rolls, that Christians should reject women’s are all equally holy, equally blessed, equally forcing states to often give multiple foster liberation in exchange for the principles loved by God and equally honored. To say children to unfit foster parents; and when of submissive wifehood and prolific stay- anything less is a denial of the gospel itself. we do little or nothing for those lives that at-home motherhood—thus the modern 4. There are cities full of children who are trapped in hospitals, prisons and com- birth of quiverfull living. are abused, abandoned, and in need. The munity centers. The blessings of a culture To help others know that there are 2009 motion picture The Blind Side dem- and a community might soar more when evangelical, conservative Christians who onstrates what happens when an evangeli- God’s people put more money, more focus, reject quiverfull theology, I offer the follow- cal Christian family adopts a needy inner and more energy in caring for the lives ing eight holes in the theological position city child. It is as Christ-honoring to be already born than talking about those lives of quiverfulls from a conservative, evangeli- naturally childless and help the needy chil- yet to be born. cal (Calvinistic) Christian point of view: dren in the city as it is to have a dozen of 8. Quiverfull theology, if followed logi- 1. Quiverfull theology is based on an Old your own naturally-born children. cally and consistently, leads a husband and Covenant that also had other precepts, 5. The idea that Christians should have a wife to confusion about one’s true and commandments, and laws from God that more children because we are losing the eternal identity in Christ. Confusion about we Christians no longer abide by. The Old “culture wars” and by having more and who we are on earth is not good prepara- Covenant laws were “shadows” or “types” more kids one day we will “out-populate” tion for eternity. There will be no marriage to teach us of Christ, and when Jesus the Muslims, the cults, and pagans is to in heaven. There will be no procreation came, He fulfilled and abolished the Old lose absolute sight of the New Testament in heaven. It is the individual’s relation- Covenant types. The Old Covenant com- truth that entrance into the kingdom of ship with God that is preeminent, and mand was to “go, be fruitful and multi- God is not based on flesh and blood (or the notion that a male is to be “the cover- ply.” The New Covenant command, under culture, color or creed), but faith in the ing” for the female, and the female’s role which we live, is “go and make disciples.” good news that is proclaimed about the is to simply procreate the progeny of the 2. The notion that anyone “prevents” God unique Son of God. We do not need an male as a helpful subordinate to the male, from naming the number of kids a family army of Christian children separate from is to abdicate the NT teaching that every has is anti-biblical, anti-logical, and anti- the world; we need an army of Christian believer in Jesus Christ (male or female) is God at its core. Contraception no more witnesses as salt and light in the middle of a “priest” unto God. Only when full equal- “prevents” God from creating a baby who a decaying and dark world. ity of males and females is comprehended “could have cured AIDS” or “been the 6. It is true that a woman who marries, and experienced on earth will we ever have president of the United States,” than a stays at home, bears children, and nurtures a taste of what human relationships will be man shouting at the sun can keep it from them in the ways of the Lord is to be hon- like in heaven. ■ shining. God ordains the creation of each ored. But it is also true that the woman This article is adapted from a longer version human soul, and nobody prevents Him who marries, but works outside the home that appears on the author’s blog.

Christian ethics today • spring 2010 • 17 Sarah Palin and God’s Plan By Bill Austin, Waco, TX

n a recent news article, Sarah Palin does it mean that God was position- for programs, budgets, and buildings. Iwas quoted as saying that John ing her for a future role in national The other—the conduct-centered McCain chose her to be his running politics? Either view could be right, approach—emphasizes that what mate in 2008 because “It’s God’s or they could both be wrong. God wants above all else is for us to plan.” She is not the first or the last Church leaders often try to sell use godly methods and tactics regard- politician (or preacher) to affirm that their programs by insisting it is God’s less of the outcome of the vote or her (or his) agenda is the specific plan will. Every time I hear someone say project. In this approach, how we and will of the divine Creator. they have a direct message from conduct ourselves is understood to be To me, this is not a political or God, I remember the story about the the will of God. In the goal-centered partisan issue. Democrats as well as preacher who told his congregation approach, what we accomplish is Republicans have made similar pro- that Jesus had spoken to him and understood to be God’s will. nouncements. This is a theological told him to resign from the church. I have always felt that behaving issue that goes to the very heart of per- The entire congregation sprang to with Christ-like conduct and integ- sonal faith, and should be approached their feet and started singing, “What rity is more in the character of God’s with great reverence and humility. To a Friend We Have in Jesus.” will than achieving certain goals. speak with certainty about our plans There are usually two distinct In other words, God’s will is doing being God’s plans raises questions approaches to interpreting the will everything in God’s way, whether we about personal interpretations and of God. One approach is conduct- win or lose. ■ ultimate consequences. centered—the other is goal-centered. If it was truly “God’s plan” for her The latter approach sees God’s will The author is a former chaplain at to run for the vice presidency, does in terms of achieving a certain goal, Baylor University and wrote this article that mean that Sarah Palin’s candi- such as getting a particular job or as a Guest Column in the Waco Tribune- dacy was one of the means that God house, getting a certain person elect- Herald. used to get Barack Obama elected? Or ed president, or winning the battle

18 • Spring 2010 • christian ethics today The Rich History of Evangelical Feminism By Mimi Haddad, President, Christians for Biblical Equality, Minneapolis, MN

ne of my friends works in different “roles” or “functions” than social structures, and vast numbers of OChristian ministry at a large, sec- men. By “role” or “function” they mean girl babies were exposed—left in the ular university. She is passionate about one thing: that women are to be sub- open to die—after birth. Christ; she is a gifted teacher, preacher, missive to male authority. Consider how differently the and apologist; she has dedicated her life This dissonance between what church in New Testament times func- to loving college students. She is tena- women are (created equally by God) tioned! Women—Pricilla, Junia, Lydia, cious in using her spiritual gifts and and what they are to do (take a sub- Chloe, Nympha, Apphia, Phoebe, and willing to live on a very limited sal- ordinate role to men) is a challenge more—served in positions of leader- ary. And, as she told me, “My church to logic. But is it also a challenge to ship. Baptism, open to both men and spends thousands of dollars so I can Christian history and scripture? In fact, women, replaced circumcision as the share the gospel with college students, what evangelical “complementarians” other expression of our inner relation- both men and women. Yet they will are missing is the fact that the shared ship with Christ. Women were not not permit me to preach from the pul- authority and ministry of men and required to be obedient, but to offer pit because I am a woman. This is not women were embraced in egalitarian voluntary submission, just as Paul asks only inconsistent. What is worse, they ways in the work of the apostles—and all Christians to submit to one another are telling me that there is something in the writings and ministry of the early (Ephesians 5:21). wrong with being female!” evangelicals of the 1700s. When Paul wrote in Galatians 3:28 However, in the memory of those Because early evangelicals believed that Jews and Greeks, slaves and free, still living, things have been very dif- that conversion marks the clearest divi- male and female, are all one in Christ, ferent in the evangelical movement. sion in life, they included all believers he offered these words to a culture in Recently, three women in their 80s in the work of evangelism, even if it which nearly half of all people were came into the office of Christians meant challenging social taboos by giv- slaves and more than half were female. for Biblical Equality to volunteer. All ing women and slaves new positions His words are radical indeed when you three attended evangelical churches. of leadership and freedom. The prior- consider that, in Paul’s culture, your All three were raised evangelical and ity they gave to evangelism loosened identity and sphere of influence were went to Wheaton College. And all the grip of prejudice within the body determined by your gender, ethnicity, three remember hearing of female of Christ, challenging the patriarchal and class. To this world Paul boldly evangelists such as Amy Lee Stockton assumptions that dominated church declares that our value and influence and Rita Gould preaching through- culture after the death of the apostles. come not from our parents but from out the Midwest, in places that would To appreciate the roots of this break God, from whom we receive our ulti- surprise some of us today. One of the that evangelicals made with patri- mate inheritance, and our sisters and women, Alvera Mickelsen, told me, archy, let us consider how the earli- brothers in Christ receive the same “You know, it wasn’t until 1950 that est Christian church—that of New inheritance equally from God’s Spirit. women preachers were considered ‘lib- Testament times—had made its own Rebirth in Christ opens opportuni- eral.’ Before that, no one thought twice break from the society in which it ties from equality of function within about women preaching the gospel.” arose. Remember, the Christian church Christ’s new covenant community. The contrast between the experi- emerged in a society where most gender Sadly, after the death of the apostles, ence of these women and that of many expectations had been shaped by Greek the church adopted the cultural devalu- evangelicals in college today tells us that philosophy, which assumed that wom- ation of women. As Chrysostom (347- something vital has been lost for evan- en’s ontology—their being, nature, or 407 C.E.) put it, “The woman taught gelicals. While the patriarchal view, essence—was less morally pure, ratio- once, and ruined all. On this account which holds that women are subordi- nal, or strong compared to men’s. As therefore he saith, let her not teach . . . for nate in their role and their very being, Aristotle put it in the fourth century the sex is weak and fickle.” Throughout has been around for much of history, it B.C.E., “the relationship between the the Middle Ages, while women such was only in the 1970s that a new patri- male and the female is by nature such as Catherine of Siena, Hildegard, and archal religious strain emerged within that . . . the male rules and the female is Theodora provided moral leadership to the evangelical community: the so-called ruled.” And such philosophical assump- the church during war, conflict, corrup- “complementarian” view, which argues tions had consequences in everyday tion, and the plague, theologians such that, while men and women are created life. Women in the ancient world had as Aquinas continued to argue that in God’s image as equals, women have no authority in decision making within women were inferior in nature and ser-

Christian ethics today • spring 2010 • 19 vice. Later, Protestant reformers such gence of the first wave of feminists—a and capacity for ministry—just like as John Calvin and John Knox kept movement that was deeply biblical. men’s—based not on the Fall, but on rank with the patriarchal assumptions For example, A.J. Gordon (1836- Christ’s victory at Calvary. of earlier theologians, even though 95), perhaps the most prominent evan- The egalitarians of the 1800s women were prominent in advancing gelical pastor of his day, was a leading affirmed the authority of the scriptures Protestant faith throughout Europe. advocate of abolition, missions, and and provided a challenge to the pre- Women such as Lady Jane Grey in women in ministry. Gordon believed sumed inferiority of women and slaves, England; Jeanne D’Aalret—defender that Pentecost was the “Magna Charta as it had been put forward by previous of the Huguenots—in France; and of the Christian church,” in which generations of Christians. Ultimately, Katharine von Bora, Martin Luther’s those who had once been viewed as first-wave feminists offered a serious wife, in Germany courageously pro- inferior by natural birth (their being blow to any biblical support for deter- moted Protestant faith, even though and nature) attain a new spiritual sta- mining one’s scope of service based on many were tortured and martyred. tus through the power of the Holy attributes such as gender, class, or eth- The egalitarian view of the New Spirit. God’s gifting no longer rests nicity. Testament church began to re-emerge on a “favored few, but upon the many, Early feminists not only estab- in 1666 with the writings of the Quaker without regard to race, or age, or sex.” lished the hermeneutical groundwork Margaret Fell Fox. It gained enormous Perhaps the most extensive egalitar- for later generations of egalitarians to momentum in the 1800s, during what ian reading of the Bible was advanced build upon, they also fueled activism has been called the “golden era” of mis- by Dr. Katharine Bushnell (1856- that dealt a death-blow to the institu- sions—the largest missionary impulse 1946), a medical doctor, mission- tion of slavery and made it possible for the world has ever known. New cen- ary, Bible translator, and activist who women to gain the right to vote and ters of Christian strength and vital- exemplified the period’s combination become preachers of the gospel. As we ity were flourishing in the Americas, of missionary work, social activism, can see, the liberation of women was a Africa, and Asia, according to mission and first-wave feminism. Her book deeply biblical movement; it began not experts such as Dana Robert. More God’s Word to Women, released in 1919 with secular feminists such as Gloria than half of all Christians were found and still in print, advanced the equal- Steinem in the 1970s, as is often outside the region that had been the ity of women—a position that grew argued, but with Katharine Bushnell, historical heartland of Christianity out of her study of scripture in the Amanda Smith, and A.J. Gordon in for nearly 1,500 years. In all of this, original languages, her observations the 1800s and earlier. women, who outnumbered men on of women’s leadership on the mission The priority given to conver- mission fields 2 to 1, played a central field, and her medical efforts to help sion, so highly valued by evangelicals, role; so did people, such as Amanda abused women both in the U.S. and in pressed them to give women and slaves Smith (see below), who had been born India. new ministry opportunities. The call into slavery. Bushnell begins her theological of evangelism can press us today to The success of women and former basis for women’s equality in Genesis, acknowledge and embrace the gospel slaves as missionaries called into ques- by observing that Adam and Eve leadership of women—empowered by tion gender and ethnic bias in inter- were both equally created in God’s God since the empty tomb! ■ preting scripture—and the church image and called to share domin- This article is reprinted with permis- began to see the importance of liberat- ion in Eden. Satan, not Eve, was the sion from the August 28, 2009, issue of ing them both in church and in society. source of sin (Genesis 3:14-15), and Sojourners (800) 714-7474, www. Between 1808 and 1930, more than sin led to the domination of men over sojo.net . Contact Christians for Biblical 46 biblical publications were issued in women (Genesis 3:16). Most impor- Equality at www.cbeinternational.org support of women’s gospel leadership. tant, Bushnell and other evangelical or (612) 872-6891. These documents signify the emer- egalitarians assessed women’s essence

20 • Spring 2010 • christian ethics today Is Obama a Christian Realist? Q & A with Robin Lovin, Dallas, TX

he Christian realism that theolo- policy meet the broad definition of So, 25 or 50 years from now, we Tgians such as Reinhold Niebuhr a Christian realist? will measure the success of our policies presented after World War II has come A: Here again, we go by what a that started in this century by whether alive again in the Obama years. The leader does rather than what he says. they were able to create a balance of U.S. president says Niebuhr’s work has But Obama’s showing a willingness power between these different institu- influenced him, a point not lost on to engage Iran and North Korea. He tional and cultural forces. And wheth- commentators assessing his first year seems ready to engage the world he’s er they sustained peace and stability as in office. got, rather than the world he wants. well as the balance of power between Robin Lovin, Professor of Ethics Q: But, Christian realism is not states did after World War II. at SMU, has written a new book on just about engaging other nations, Q: Christian realists warn against the subject, Christian Realism and the it also understands leaders must use the pride and self-righteousness of New Realities. Recently he shared these power to achieve certain goals. powerful nations. How do Obama thoughts in a forum: A: This is perhaps where we need and his team avoid that? They seem Q: What is a Christian realist? to look at his Nobel Prize acceptance awfully confident. A: That’s someone who sees poli- speech. The president begins there to A: Yes. That’s the great problem tics through the lens of a Christian articulate a philosophy that is not hesi- of leadership. It requires confidence. view of history and human nature. tant to use power while being cautious The role itself tempts people to over- That primarily means they understand about its limits. The Christian realist estimate their wisdom. That’s why he politics as the work of fallible people has to be willing to use power, but a needs prophetic voices, as well as polit- who tend to overestimate their own realist also is careful not to claim more ical ones, to give him perspective on wisdom and righteousness. For them, power than he really has. the political situation of the moment, the most important thing in politics is Q: That’s a hard balance. How do who can help him see it in a historical to act within the limits of our knowl- you achieve it? context. edge and power. A: It’s a matter of learning from his- Q: Who’s doing that for him? Q: Given that definition, does tory. Certainly Reinhold Niebuhr, the A: That’s an important question the president qualify as a Christian 20th century great figure of Christian because it seems that the president realist? realism, talked mostly about learning himself is the primary realist on his A: It appears that he does. The way from history. We’re told that Obama is team. ■ he has approached domestic politics an interested reader of Niebuhr’s book, and international relations is to move The Irony of American History. by limited steps and to be willing to Q: You note in your new book compromise—too willing, some say. how Christian realism informed the The willingness to compromise is thinking of leaders like Niebuhr, characteristic of the realist’s approach including their balance of power to politics. emphasis that became the Cold Q: But spending $850 billion to War’s guiding philosophy. If anoth- $1 trillion to reform health care is er round of Christian realism takes not a limited step. hold, how do you think we will look A: We see the realism in the con- back in, say, 50 years to see how it trast to the way President Clinton affected our world? went about health care. The Clinton A: The most important change in administration devised the ideal plan, the post-Cold War era is that we no put it before Congress and said “pass longer are concerned with only the it.” The Obama approach has been balance of power among states. The to say, “We’ve got to deal with these world of international relations today enormous health costs, we need to is shaped by corporations, cultural cover more people and I will begin movements and religions, too. The with whatever reforms Congress is assumption that was valid in 1945— willing to put in front of me.” that states control what happens on a Q: Does the president’s foreign global scale—is no longer valid.

Christian ethics today • spring 2010 • 21 Honoring Walker L. Knight Note: This article has been adapted from two papers delivered at a meeting of an informal group of 30 persons (most religious journalists), who worked for and with Walker Knight.

By Emmanuel L. McCall, Sr., Vice President Baptist World Alliance

une 20, 1995 was a momentous Borders, African-American pastor By Jim Newton, Religious Jday in the life of Southern Baptists. of the Wheat Street Baptist Church, Journalist (ret.) Clinton, MS On that afternoon, the SBC in annu- Atlanta, GA. Many Baptists cancelled Professionally and personally, al session passed a “Resolution On their subscriptions. Walker Knight was and is the best edi- Racial Reconciliation on the 150th Walker, however, was undaunted tor and the finest Christian I have ever Anniversary of the Southern Baptist by the negative reactions. He had the known. No other editor of a Baptist Convention.” The SBC repudiated its support and encouragement of the publication has done as much to moti- racist past, asked African-Americans HMB executive Dr. Arthur Rutledge vate, educate and encourage Baptists for forgiveness, and pledged com- and the good will of many of the to improve race relations during and plete allegiance to scriptural teachings staff. Most of all he had his own sense after the civil rights movement of the regarding race. of God’s purpose and his personal 1960s. One person who must have found integrity. For 23 years as editor of Home redemption in the passing of that It was during this time that the Missions magazine published by the resolution was Walker L. Knight. As false dichotomy between evangelism Southern Baptist Home Mission editor of the Home Missions Magazine, and social action raised its ugly head Board, Walker Knight did more to Walker had suffered much as he wrote as a way to impugn the integrity of improve race relations than all other voluminously on matters of racism in racial reconciliation. Walker demon- Baptist editors combined. Yet because America and the need for racial rec- strated his theological abilities and of his modesty and humility, few onciliation in the SBC. His efforts drew upon the gifts of the Christian Baptists who were not active before were not well received. They caused Life Commission and seminary staffs. he retired as editor of Baptists Today in numerous cancellations of the maga- There were ample men and women 1988 know or remember the signifi- zine, ostracism, and public scorn. who were committed to interpret- cant role he played in Christian ethics. I first met Walker in 1966. He ing scripture with integrity. He had a Today at age 85, he is publisher emeri- had come to Kentucky to interview ready reserve of competent scholars. tus of Baptists Today, and his mind is an interracial group of pastors who Beyond these, he found support from as sharp as ever. had been part of the Louisville Baptist other SBC organizations, especially These are audacious words of Interracial Pastors Conference. This Woman’s Missionary Union. praise for a religious journalist many group. begun in 1962 under the When I think of Walker Knight, I Baptists, especially those not involved leadership of Dr. John Claypool, had think of the host of men and women in the civil rights movement of the been very instrumental in helping in the SBC who were stalwarts in 1960s and 1970s, may not know or Louisville avoid the racial trauma that ministries of racial reconciliation— remember. And that is the point of occurred in other southern cities dur- Victor Glass, Wendell Grigg, Arthur this article: there are Baptists among ing the 1960s. Rutledge, Wendell Belew, Hugo us who are rewriting history to elimi- At its height, the conference had Culpepper, John Claypool, Henlee nate facts and trends that do not fit about 800 clergy including church Barnette, Marie Mathis, Alma Hunt, the new directions Baptists have by staffs, denominational staffs, semi- John Havlik, T.B. Maston, Foy majority vote chosen to follow during nary faculties, and retired clergy in its Valentine, Guy Bellamy, Carolyn the last two decades. As a denomina- membership. A united front was pre- Crumpler, and Carlisle Driggers. tion, Baptists are in danger of forget- sented to the churches of both races The list of those who have given ting people like Walker Knight who about reconciliation. their lives in ministries of racial rec- had the courage to take a stand on Walker’s interview covered about onciliation is extensive.1 Only God controversial issues. eight pages in print and pictures. knows them all by name. But high in When Baptists Today celebrated its Other articles about race relations my mind, because of the vehicle he 25th anniversary in 2008, the maga- were in that January, 1967, edition of used and the awareness he created, has zine paid tribute to his role as found- Home Missions. What really angered to be Walker L. Knight. ing editor and publisher. But very little many Southern Baptists was the has been published about his pioneer cover picture of Dr. William Holmes days as editor of Home Missions and

22 • Spring 2010 • christian ethics today MissionsUSA. The North American never egotistical or self-centered. When Martin Luther King, Jr. Mission Board discontinued the pub- • He was gentle in his relation- was assassinated in 1968, Walker lication in 1997. During his 23 years ships, but forceful in writing edito- responded with the weeping and wail- as editor, Walker Knight spoke out rials. ing of a prophet crying in the desert: editorially with courage, prophetic • He was an issue-oriented editor/ “Christians have reacted with a sense of vision, and wisdom. Christian; he always saw the big shame, guilt and repentance wonder- Walker Leigh Knight, a native of picture. ing what they could have done or left Kentucky who grew up in the news- • The one word that best describes undone to help create such a society paper business working for his father, him is the word “integrity.” where prophets of peace and nonvio- felt God was calling him to the minis- Walker was one of the first Baptist lence are killed . . . . Only a Christian try when he was a journalism student editors to deal with the race issue. In and moral solution, only the changing at Baylor University following World the May issue of his first year, he wrote of men’s hearts, only the application of War II, but he did not feel called “to an editorial on “Containing the Race the ethic of Christ, only the response preach.” The field of “religious jour- Issue,” stating “The specter of race of love can bring the necessary solu- nalism” did not even exist as a career prejudice stalks the nation and has tion. Let us greet this tragedy and use- option in those days, as editors of all made its home in the South. Christians less waste of life to purge our hearts of Baptist publications were former pas- face a crisis which will require all the any and all attitudes and practices that tors, not trained journalists. He served grace we have, not only toward those would limit our witness to any and all as associate editor of The Baptist of other races but toward those with persons. Let us confess and renounce Standard from 1949-1959. In 1959 whom we disagree.” He offered 16 the sin of prejudice that has separated he became associate editor of Home practical suggestions. us from our Negro brothers and has Missions, and was promoted to editor In September of 1962 a letter to caused us to look the other way when in 1960. the editor suggested that “it is wise for they have been denied their civil and What were the characteristics that denominational leaders not to take a personal rights as men.” made Walker Knight such a great edi- stand on integration because it would Over the years, the magazine gener- tor and religious journalist? antagonize many of our people.” ated incredible reader response because • He led by example; and had Knight’s response: “I have not taken a it dealt with issues that touched the extremely high professional stan- specific stand editorially favoring inte- lives of the readers. Issues like the sex- dards. gration, but I feel that schools, church- ual revolution, birth control and the • He had the courage to be pro- es, and businesses should be open to population explosion, the influence of phetic regardless of the personal all people who want equal opportuni- society on the church and the church’s cost. ties. I believe this is a moral problem lack of influence on society, the plight • He was a man of vision who was and that possibly we should be antago- of Mexican-Americans who live in always looking to the future. nizing some of our people about the poverty and abuse by the migrant • He believed his calling was to be problem.” farm industry, urban decay and sub- an “agent of change.” One of his strongest editorials, pub- urban extravagance, evangelism and • He was always secure and confi- lished in January of 1968, dealt with social action, the struggle of American dent, never afraid of losing his job. the need for Baptist pastors to speak Indians for equality and dignity, vio- • He acted on his beliefs and his out on controversial issues from a free lence and riots in America, the Hippie convictions, rather than reacting. pulpit. “Silent pulpits are captives of movement, the leisure movement, • He was a servant leader in his the culture of present society and to poverty in America, the world hunger local church, putting into action be silent is to imply that the Bible says crisis, ecology, pollution and the envi- the principles he espoused in his nothing or if it does that the minister ronment, the agony of the aged and national publication. does not believe it. We lose our integ- aging society, the telecommunications • He was always fair, honest, and rity by our silence and the church loses revolution, women’s changing role in transparent, with no hidden agen- its integrity because it does not practice the church, capital punishment, the das. what the Scriptures teach. . . . We have laymen’s revolution, the Christian and • He never played denominational failed to hold up before our people a politics, changing ethnic patterns in or office politics. clear picture of what it actually means America, cooperation with government • He was always fair and balanced to be the church in our day. Too often organizations, Baptist involvement in in coverage of controversy. the church waits in silence as though it the Ku Klux Klan, Baptist churches • He was innovative and always has a vested interest in the status quo, and “Christian academies,” violence in willing to try new approaches. refusing to challenge the patterns of the family, and war in an age of nuclear • He cared about people, and culture, hoping instead to avoid the proliferation. always put others first. necessity of tension-producing con- Perhaps the most beautiful writing • He was humble and modest, frontation.” ever published in the magazine was

Christian ethics today • spring 2010 • 23 Walker’s 1972 poetic essay on world A “Successful Ministry” Baylor Regents Devalue peace, entitled “The Peacemaker.” It (continued from page 4) Churchmanship was so good Jimmy Carter quoted it in one of his presidential addresses. The News 8 report stated, “No one (continued from page 15) Here is what he wrote: is accusing him of breaking any laws, Calif. He belongs to a church on the “It is not just hating war, despis- but perhaps he is violating the cov- East Coast and works at a school on ing war, sitting back and waiting for enant of honesty with his congrega- the West Coast, an arrangement that war to end. It is not just loving peace, tion.” When WFAA asked the pastor has been in place since 2004. wanting peace, sitting back and wait- specifically if he has a personal jet, his What kind of “active churchman” ing for peace to come. Peace like spokesman told the reporter that the can’t find a church where he lives and war is waged. Peace plans its strategy senior pastor travels using commer- works—for six years? and encircles its enemy. Peace mar- cial, charter, and leased aircraft, and How active can one be in his local shals its forces and storms the gates. that he reimburses the church for any church if he lives almost 2,700 miles Peace gathers its weapons and pierces personal trips. away? the defense. Christ has turned it all In addition, the pastor’s spokes- Why would a “church leader” not around. I am to love my enemy . . . do man told News 8 “his board approves have a local church home where he good to those who hate me . . . turn all spending decisions, and their lives? the other cheek. I am the peacemaker.” financial books are audited by an out- If Starr represents “the very best” of And that describes Walker Knight. side accounting firm.” what it means to be an “active church- He is the most Christ-like man I’ve But from a Christian ethics point man,” then Baylor’s leaders have ever known. I am proud and humbled of view, and especially in light of min- redefined churchmanship for Texas to have had the privilege of working isterial codes of ethics,3 it seems obvi- Baptists. Call it minimalism or absen- alongside this man of God whom I ous that there is a lack of transparency teeism. But for honesty’s sake, don’t consider both my mentor and my and accountability and an abundance call it active church leadership. beloved friend. Thanks be to God for of wealth and opulence. The Baylor leaders—who intro- Walker L. Knight. ■ Jesus told many parables about duced Starr—have watered down the misuse of wealth, the danger of authentic church membership and 1 Emmanuel L. McCall, When All God’s greed, and the love of money. In one replaced it with the lowest com- Children Get Together, Macon: Mercer he noted, “Be on your guard against mon denominator from cultural University Press, 2007. all kinds of greed; for one’s life does Christianity. Conservative cultural not consist in the abundance of things Christianity would say that Starr is possessed” (Lk 12:15). a conservative, which means he’s a If Jesus told this modern story as a faithful Christian, according to some. parable, might it be titled, “Successful Political ideology is more important Ministry?” ■ than theology. Party membership is –J.E.T. more important than church member- ship. 1 Read the full story in “Megachurch The need for the regents and advi- Pastor Decries Tax System” in www. sory council to spin Starr’s churchman- ethicsdaily.com (2/11/10). ship is a deeply troubling signal about 2 News reports stated the young pastor how they value church involvement. later confessed that he was unable to Texas Baptists once believed in keep the pledge he challenged his con- the centrality of the local church and gregation to make (a week of daily sex expected faithful church members relations with one’s spouse to “revive to be genuinely active. The tectonic intimacy” in marriage), due he said, plates of Texas Baptist theology have to personal fatigue—he lasted until shifted. ■ Thursday. 3 See pp. 229-257 in Joe E. Trull and This article originally appeared in James E. Carter, Ministerial Ethics EthicsDaily.com (2/26/10) and is (2nd ed.), Grand Rapids: Baker reprinted with permission. Academic, 2004.

24 • Spring 2010 • christian ethics today Christian Ethics and the Movies “It is better to watch a good movie again than a bad movie once!”

Misuse of the Bible standing strong with his convictions; society. The movie has a lot to teach The Book of Eli (2010) he shares a small portion of his faith today’s church. Reviewed by Monty M. Self with Solara by teaching her to pray. Eli In the movie are three sets of char- Little Rock, AR is disturbed when Solara discovers that acters: those that roam the earth, he is in possession of a book, which Carnegie and his men, and Eli. The first ood movies should take us out of is his prized possession. While Solara group are those outside of civilization, Gthis world and transform us into lacks the ability to read or understand who survive by eating human flesh. another reality, while at the same time the significance of the book, she knows Unfortunately, the over consumption either helping us recover part of our that Eli is different. of human flesh causes neurological humanity that has been lost or forcing As the movie progresses, the view- damage and death. These characters us to reconcile what is wrong with our er discovers that we are thirty years symbolize the lust of the flesh and the world. The Book of Eli does both. This passed the last war which ended when consuming nature of sin and our own post-apocalyptic action-drama forces the sky was opened and a powerful appetites. This group is easy to find in viewers to ask about the nature of reli- light scorched the face of the earth. our contemporary religious landscape. gion and more specifically how society After the survivors emerged out of hid- They are not necessarily self-consumed, views the Bible. ing, they blamed religion and the Bible but they are controlled and destroyed The movie begins by introducing for the devastation and all Bibles were by their animalistic lusts and desires. its viewers to Eli (Denzel Washington), collected and burned. The sole surviv- The next major group is Carnegie a silent solitary pacifistic warrior who ing text rests in the possession of Eli! and his men, who are determined to is on a divine mission to deliver a book Ultimately, Eli escapes the town control the Bible and use it to control to an undisclosed location out West. In with Solara, with Carnegie on his heels the masses. Carnegie believes that the addition to his devotion to the book, in pursuit of the book. The interac- words of scripture have power, but he Eli is a spiritual man who regularly tion with Solara changes Eli until he fails to realize that their true meaning is prays, attempts to avoid conflict, and deviates from his mission and rescues not about control. Their true meaning is not tempted by sins of the flesh. Eli her from a band of roaming thieves is about human freedom, devotion to posses a singular purpose—to protect who desire to rape and eventually eat God, and compassion to humankind. the book. her. After killing her attackers, the Like the roaming cannibals, one can With a need for water and a desire two continue westward until they are also see this second group every day, to recharge the external battery of his forced to battle Carnegie and his men those who use religion for their own Ipod, Eli arrives at a makeshift town with the help of an elderly couple who purposes or as a means of control to ruled by a ruthless despot named has a long history of eating those who enslave others. Carnegie (Gary Oldman). Carnegie stop for tea. At the end of the battle, Eli symbolizes the last and most is an intellectual. Like Eli, he is one Eli is forced to choose between his important group—those devout “peo- of the few people left who can read, Bible and Solara’s life. After relinquish- ple of the book,” evangelicals! His high- but he is also a man of ambition. He ing the holy text, Eli is left for dead. est mission is to protect the text, which desires to rebuild human civilization Solara returns to Carnegie, taking him he usually keeps hidden. As stated and become the master of a series of the book he is sure will give him power above, Eli places the protection of the towns like this one, but he only needs over all people on earth. book ahead of everything, including one thing—he needs a particular book, The story ends with an astonish- the principles of justice. Several times which he tirelessly sends his minions to ing surprise twist that changes Eli’s Eli is faced with protecting those who find. For Carnegie it is a text that pos- defeat into victory. Rather than reveal cannot protect themselves from the sesses power—he who reads the book this ending for readers who plan to see aggression of this world. Early in the can interpret it however he desires. the movie, let me simply say there are movie, he fails to protect an innocent And people will follow as long as he clues and predictions along the way woman from rape and several times he uses words from the book. that point the viewer toward this cli- fails to free women trapped in slavery. After Eli whips a gang of Carnegie’s max. The early Eli can be seen often in men in a bar fight, Carnegie attempts The Book of Eli is more than just our theological communities. He is to recruit Eli, tempting him with food, another apocalyptic movie—it is a a theologian who puts the preserva- liquor, and a woman named Solara commentary on contemporary evan- tion of religion and the “sacred text” (Mila Kunis). Eli goes beyond simply gelicalism and religious abuses in ahead of the principles, which the text

Christian ethics today • spring 2010 • 25 teaches. His obsession with hiding and for those who can perceive its mes- Redemption is achieved when the pro- protecting the text borderlines on the sage. Many will reject it for its reli- tagonist overcomes evil, and there is a worship of the Bible. Many devout gious themes, and others will reject new avenue of hope for the future. We evangelicals, like Eli, are willing to it because it challenges their religion. have previously critiqued The Children destroy all those who stand in the way Some Christian’s may reject the movie of Men in this journal. Yet another of their mission. for it brutality and profanity. But similar movie, The Road, based on How often have we placed the wor- for those with eyes to see, the movie Cormac McCarthy’s bestselling novel, ship of the text ahead of the protec- reminds us that the religious often was in the theaters this year. The Book tion of the innocent or the fulfillment contribute to the ugliness of this world of Eli is the most biblical of all these of the principles of justice found in along with the secular. epics, no pun intended. the holy writ? How often have people In a sense, this movie is like a good Mr. Self is correct that The Book been destroyed for the sake of reli- science fiction film. It transports the of Eli is self-consciously centered on gion? The early Eli represents this ten- viewer to another world and forces religious themes. It is the most explic- dency in our modern day churches, them to confront their own social itly religious movie of the year, given the tendency to protect the text, yet fears, prejudices, and destructive that the “McGuffin,” or the prize miss its message. By viewing the early assumptions. being fought over by the good guy Eli and Carnegie, one is able to see and the bad guys, is the Holy Bible, why the screenwriters and directors Response by David A. Thomas which both parties value because of its proclaim that the Bible destroyed the Sarasota, FL divine attributes. The primary value world. It was destroyed by those who onty M. Self and I are on the conflict in The Book of Eli symbolizes followed the paths of early Eli and Msame page when he notes that the ongoing issues of many real con- Carnegie. Not until Eli embraces the movies can provide an escape, but they temporary religious conflicts: what is ideas of justice and compassion found can also transform viewers. My way the true meaning and the proper use in the text, does he (and the viewer) of putting it is, movies are rhetorical of the power of the Bible in life and discover the true purpose of the book because they are social texts. They use in our society? Hence the title of Mr. and salvation. narrative, the sound track, and visu- Self’s essay, Evangelicalism’s Misuse of The last of the major themes in the al imagery to influence attitudes to the Text. movie is the contrast between those either reinforce or subvert our values, The reader may agree or disagree who can see and those who cannot. both as a culture, and as individuals. with his specific interpretations, but Not until the end of the movie does The Book of Eli is such a social text. not with the important function of the viewer learn that Eli is at least par- It intends to make a spiritually sig- movies as social texts. It is not my role tially blind, if not completely without nificant statement, to be more than either to endorse or to challenge his sight. He is unable to see the world. It mere entertainment, although the star criticisms of the misuses of evangeli- is at this moment that his earlier state- power of Denzel Washington (who is a calism in these pages. The reader will ment, “walk by faith, not by sight,” devout Christian in real life), the kung determine whether the critic’s take becomes more powerful. During the fu action sequences (he did all his own on the story is true, in keeping with movie only two characters are able to stunts), and the romantic sub-plot are other stories one knows to be true, or read from the Bible—Eli and Solara’s certainly entertaining enough. whether it tells the whole story with- mother. The imagery is gripping—in This movie is one of several end- out leaving out important aspects. a world desperate for the water of life of-the-world sci-fi scenarios that Those are the tests of narrative ratio- only those who are blind can truly Hollywood has offered recently. A nality. I am pleased that Mr. Self ven- read from the book that quenches that lone protagonist struggles to preserve tured to contribute his critique to the thirst. a treasured value against destruc- ongoing conversation. ■ The Book of Eli is a powerful movie tion by an overwhelming evil force.

26 • Spring 2010 • christian ethics today Book Reviews “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed.” Francis Bacon (d. 1626)w

Seminary in Crisis: The alities of these two presidents and in Dr Hull displays the qualities of a Strategic Response of his analysis of the strategies they pur- superb historian, objectivity and sym- sued in response to the “conservative pathetic insight, in his evaluation of The Southern Baptist resurgence” in the Southern Baptist these two strategies. One can only con- Theological Seminary Convention, and he, rightly I think, jecture whether the McCall strategy to the SBC Controversy attributes their radically different strat- to free the institution from denomi- William E. Hull. egies especially to their personalities national control might have worked, Atlanta: Baptist History & Heritage and experience in Southern Baptist for the trustees, who had to make the Society, 2010. life. key decisions, did not try it. For those Reviewed by E. Glenn Hinson, He portrays McCall, with whom who think they should have because Baptist Seminary of Kentucky he worked closely from 1958 to 1975, numerous colleges succeeded in doing as a hard-nosed “realist” toughened it, Dr Hull astutely notes how different ou won’t see them, but I’m shed- by immersion in denominational life are the constituencies of boards of col- Yding tears as I write this review. from seminary days onward as pastor leges and the seminary—college boards Not because it’s a bad book; far from of an influential church, President of largely composed of lay persons with it, it’s a brilliant and engaging book, Baptist Bible Institute in New Orleans no dependence on the denomination, a “must” read for anyone who cares as (in process of becoming New Orleans the seminary of clergy more depen- deeply as I do for Southern Seminary. Seminary), Executive Secretary of the dent and far less secure in relation to No, I’m weeping deep down inside SBC Executive Committee, President the denomination. The outcome of the because, with his unmatchable gift of Southern, and, before retire- Honeycutt strategy is clear: it eased the for words, Dr Hull has replayed in ment, President of the Baptist World trauma of change and perhaps limited a graphic way the tragic story of the Alliance. damage to the seminary while putting diversion of Southern Seminary from McCall’s strategy, which his retire- the reins of it fully in the hands of the the purpose which James Pettigrew ment in 1982 prevented him from inerrantists. Honeycutt did his best to Boyce envisioned for it—the uniting implementing, was to line up finan- protect faculty and staff, his colleagues of a diverse and divided people call- cial and other resources which would for so many years, but by the time the ing themselves Southern Baptists. I’m enable Southern Seminary to survive inerrantist trustees eased him out, he weeping even more because an awful independent of the SBC. He por- had to watch with pain the departure debilitating disease, Lou Gehrig’s, trays Honeycutt, whom he knew as of the majority of them. slowly eats away at the life of Bill Hull a fellow student but with whom he You will want to know that Dr and will keep him from the writing of would not have worked closely as he Hull did not end his final testament a sequel setting forth in more detail did with McCall, as an “idealist” who as a scholar on so somber a note. He the road Baptists in the American was, above all, a respected academic suggests that Southern Baptists should South might travel to make Boyce’s with some experience in business but be able to try still in a new day to ful- dream a reality in radically different none of the intensive engagement in fill Boyce’s dreams. If they don’t, they circumstances and with a different set denominational life that set the pat- should expect to continue the “free of challenges today. tern for McCall’s leadership. The fall” which the denomination is now The major focus of Seminary in Honeycutt strategy, which I think Dr witnessing. I can’t use space here to Crisis is the contrasting strategies of Hull has described fairly, accurately, outline the ideas he has laid out so two presidents—Duke K. McCall and and with commendable insight, relied carefully in a few pages. He insists that Roy L. Honeycutt—who guided the on a confidence in the “covenant” there is no inherent reason why con- institution Boyce founded 150 years that bound the denomination to the servatives and moderates cannot pur- ago through one of the most critical seminary and the seminary to the sue theological education together in periods of its history since its rebirth denomination. When his “holy war” one outstanding school. He invokes with only seven students at the end of speech failed to rally enough moder- the example of Fuller Seminary, which the War between the States. No one ates at Dallas in 1985 to wrest control brought together conservatives and I know can equal Bill Hull—student, from inerrantists, he chose the route of Pentecostals to become the largest professor of New Testament, dean and accommodation as the best way to save evangelical seminary in the world. I provost during the McCall years—in the institution and the people who can only express the ardent hope and his understanding both of the person- were giving their lives to it. prayer that some other scholars and

Christian ethics today • spring 2010 • 27 leaders with Dr Hull’s intense concern careful summaries of the main think- clear that these concepts are eons away for an educated ministry for Baptists ers discussed. However, it could be from the minds and hearts of these might take up the challenge he offers even more compelling had the author entrepreneurs. That, of course, is the in this final chapter. ■ included other theologians propos- major reason for reviewing this book, ing a non-violent Jesus, one obvious which emphasizes very little of direct example being Martin Luther King, Christian insight. One is left to draw Gandhi and Jesus: Jr., who had been influenced by his own conclusions about the ethics Gandhi theologically and exemplified of such behavior. There are multiple The Saving Power of non-violent resistance in lived praxis. illustrations of the biblical prediction, Nonviolence Yet, Rynne’s book is a good starting “Whatsoever a man sows, that also Terrence J. Rynne New York: Orbis Books, 2008. point for those interested in discover- will he reap.” Reviewed by Heike Peckruhn ing the theological, philosophical, and The author chronicles four families practical merits of non-violence. ■ who have impacted for decades Texas Iliff School of Theology. life, history, politics, morals, economy, ynne’s book provides a study banking, sports and newspapers— Rinvestigating the life of Jesus and The Big Rich: The Rise families whose massive wealth origi- Christian salvation theories through nally began with the discovery of oil in a lens informed by Gandhian non- and Fall of the Greatest the Lone Star State. violence. He provides an insightful Texas Oil Fortunes This book is about these four Bryan Burroughs summary and discussion of Gandhi’s New York: Penguin Press, 2009. families—the Cullens, the Hunts, the life and the concept of satyagraha Reviewed by Darold Morgan Murchisons and Sid Richardson (and (firmness in the truth), and highlights his relatives, the Bass family). Here are Richardson, TX influences thereof on the theology of the accounts of the famed Texas wild- four white, male Christian theolo- first and lasting impression of catters and their incredible luck—luck gians (C.F. Andrews, J.H. Yoder, B. ABurrough’s very popular book is that often was tied into risk-taking, Haering, and W. Wink). its readability—it simply makes for questionable timing, and mean-spirit- Traditional Christian theories of fascinating study. Non-Texans can ed decisions. Here were men who were salvation, Rynne argues, have been learn quickly volumes about “the street-smart, devious, hard-working, based in violence as God’s means to Texas Myth.” A second and lasting and colorful, with one characteristic bring about justice, and theorized impression from this reading is the in common—they garnered immense Jesus’ death on the cross as a histori- shock that comes when immense wealth for themselves and their fami- cal, metaphysical, and bloody event wealth and moral judgments meet lies. And in the case of the Hunts, settling God’s desire for retribution- head-on. Add the adjective “sudden” multiple families (the bigamy of H.L. based justice. With the help of Gandhi to these staggering and almost unex- Hunt is bluntly incredulous). and the selected theologians, Rynne pected fortunes, and lo, these true sto- Interlaced with the emergence of reads the life of Jesus as essential ries seem hard to believe. The author staggering wealth (and we are talk- component of God’s salvific action, mesmerizes his readers not only in the ing about billions of dollars) are the and provides a reconceptualization of amazing story of the discovery of oil, intriguing stories of the abuse of salvation as nonviolent resistance to but also in the impact of this huge wealth and its impact on children and violent systems by communities fol- wealth upon four families. grandchildren whose life-styles, to say lowing Jesus’ example. Lessons abound for Christians who the least, are far from typical Texas Rynne’s book is insightful and rel- are committed to ethical and bibli- behavior—mansions, multiple mar- evant as it provides the reader with cal values, as it becomes so tragically riages, huge ranches, private aircraft,

28 • Spring 2010 • christian ethics today Neiman-Marcus shopping binges, and Ralph Sockman, pastor of the governesses, private boarding schools, The Reason for God/ Christ (Methodist) Church. Time will Ivy-league colleges, excesses in sex, and The Prodigal God/ ultimately tell. alcohol—all combine to make anyone Counterfeit Gods In The Reason for God, one can with a commitment to solid Christian Timothy Keller sense a blending of basic Christian behavior almost gag with revulsion. New York: Dutton, 2008, 2008, 2009. orthodoxy and theology. The text Then add to this strange list their Reviewed by Darold Morgan evidences a wide reading of various peculiar ventures into ultra right-wing Richardson, TX authors, past and present. Add person- political waters and the use of oil al illustrations from the author’s expe- money to influence politicians all the imothy Keller, pastor for more riences as a caring and sensitive pastor, way to the American presidency. The Tthan twenty years of the Redeemer and one immediately discovers full author refers adroitly to the members Presbyterian Church in New York bodies, intellectual, warm, convincing, of the Bush family and its relationship City, has written three books, all of and solidly biblical material. There is to Texas oil money. which are evidence of superb, relevant, a beautiful reaffirmation that one can An obvious error that missed the and powerful preaching in an area not be a genuine follower of Jesus Christ proof readers is their reference to W.A. known today for responsiveness to in this brittle age of skepticism, doubt, Criswell (as “William”) and Dallas’ evangelical truth. More than five thou- and pessimism. First Baptist Church (as Dallas Baptist sand people, many young and single, Keller’s second book, The Prodigal Church), both major connections to gather for worship each week in this God, is a refreshing insight into Jesus’ the H.L. Hunt family. remarkable congregation. In addition Parable of the Prodigal Son. He con- Religion does come to some of to this graphic statistic, this congrega- tinues to strengthen his original prem- these families, but it comes late—and tion has established numerous other ise that in this age when technology not at all to many of them. Some have churches in this region and beyond. has become so dominant, God had made major contributions to educa- Keller’s inaugural book, The Reason dynamically revealed himself in Jesus. tional and medical facilities, but the for God, is perhaps the strongest of the Imagine nine sermons coming from waste of money and opportunity is three. He hits head-on some of the this one parable, delivered in time at classic in the unfolding tragedies these surging issues confronting not only this New York pulpit—sermons with four families (Bunker Hunt’s attempt New Yorkers but people in all direc- fresh insights built around his sub-title to corner the world’s silver market and tions—doubt, agnosticism, the empti- “Recovering the Heart of the Christian the forced sale of the Dallas Cowboys ness of a materialistic culture, the clash Faith.” Indeed this is a good read! by the Murchison family are two of evangelical truth with a dominant The most recent of Keller’s books is major examples). technocracy, and the theological issue Counterfeit Gods—the subtitle is “The The last chapters in the sagas of of suffering and evil versus biblical Empty Promises of Money, Sex, Power, these unusual Texas families is yet to supernaturalism. and the only Hope that Matters.” The be written. Hopefully, some major Though the jury may still be out ethical overtones of this volume are not and positive lessons have been learned (since we are so close to this Manhattan only obvious, with multiple applica- from the facts and foibles of “The Big phenomenon), it appears that Keller is tions that are publicized daily in televi- Rich.” The book does end with sev- moving alongside some of the legend- sion news-casts, but Keller’s approach eral of the progeny moving positively ary New York preachers of another is compellingly persuasive as he con- into positions of community leader- generation—Harry Emerson Fosdick fronts these ancient/modern idolatries ship and generosity. May their tribe (a Baptist) at the famous Riverside of money, sex, and power in a contem- increase! ■ Church, George Buttrick at the porary way. Again his book is solidly Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, grounded in familiar biblical theology,

Christian ethics today • spring 2010 • 29 and again he has multiple literary allu- gerate negative things done in the acclaimed work on charity (Who Really sions and shared pastoral experiences. name of religion. (cf. Christian Ethics Cares by Arthur Brooks).He cities his- This is a hard-hitting book that con- Today, Summer 2007). This book by torical evidence that a vast majority fronts these savage demands in the atheist Bruce Sheiman smashes all of violence attributed to religion was society where Keller ministers. He has those arguments. And it is based on actually caused by political, psycho- remarkable skills for probing ancient verified facts, not visceral feelings. logical, and other influences. And he biblical stories which have surprising I began reading books on both points out that atheistic cultures in and succinct applications in a com- sides of the God debate over 50 years the twentieth century (represented by plex and modern day with multiple ago. This is the first by an atheist Stalin, Mao and others) were responsi- lifestyles that I can recommend—enthusiasti- ble for many times more victims than Each of these books is relatively cally. However, strictly speaking, it religious extremists throughout all of brief. They lead quickly to helpful is not on the “God” debate because history. applications, not only in megaplex cit- Sheiman makes no arguments to In a section headed “Empirical ies but wherever people are found who defend his atheism. And he candidly Evidence Atheists Cannot Deny,” need reminding that biblical truth is acknowledges he wants to believe in Sheiman cites hundreds of studies relevant, timeless, and applicable to God “because, on balance, religion showing that religion is associated personal needs everywhere. provides a combination of psycho- with positive mental and physical Consider not only discovering logical, emotional, moral, communal, health factors such as: altruism and this New York pastor, but also shar- existential, and even physical-health generosity, consolation and coping, ing his books with someone who is benefits that no other institution can optimism and hope, gratitude and for- challenged by the searing problems of replicate.” He says his book “is a first” giveness, marital satisfaction and fam- suffering, doubt, sin, and theological as “there has not been a mainstream ily commitment, et. al. confusion. ■ book defending religion as a cultural Two suggestions if you read this institution, irrespective of the God book: First, in the Introduction notice question.” the interesting distinction Sheiman An Atheist Defends Sheiman has been a student of phi- draws between what “consumers” of losophy and theology for thirty years, religion experience (meaning, values, Religion: Why Humanity but his writing is clear and concise. He purpose) and what “producers” of Is Better Off With supports his conclusions with findings religion offer (organization, doctrine, Religion Than Without It from thousands of published studies. scripture). Almost all critics of religion Bruce Sheiman He shows that religious people are far emphasize the latter to the exclusion of Alpha Books, 2009. more likely to abide by the Golden the former. Second, don’t get bogged Reviewed by John Scott Rule than atheists and agnostics. He down in Chapter 1—it is a good but Dallas, TX exposes a major flaw in a well-known esoteric discussion about the mean- survey conducted by Marc Hauser of ing of life and the purposes of myths rguments in best-selling books Harvard that concluded, erroneously, and rituals. Subsequent chapters focus Aby militant atheists Richard that atheists and agnostics are just as on concrete evidence that proves “the Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, moral as religious people. world is a better place because people and Sam Harris recite and exag- Sheiman draws from the highly believe God exists.” ■

Cumulative CO2 canada China germany india south africa united kingdom united states Emissions (1900-2005) from fossil fuels, in millions of metric tons 24,300 92,950 73,208 25,895 12,414 55,034 318,432 Foreboding Future By Al Staggs, Sante Fe, NM

It’s Dickensesque, It’s the kind of condition “Never Again” Once Again That fostered the French Revolution, When there are many with too little Oppresive living conditions in Palestine And too few with too much. under the heavy hand of Israel suggest the government of Israel The structures of laws, and many of its citizens, Customs, policies and usual business practices along with many American Jews May soon be replaced by marches, strikes, and conservative American Christians Protests and even violence who gave their uncritical support to Israel, Growing out of this universal sense of despair. are suffering from a state of denial.

A system that habitually and legally rewards Holocaust-deniers are reprehensible; the rich Palestinians, at the expense of the poor but so are all of those, mentioned above, Is no longer legal, who do not acknowledge the sub-human No longer moral. existence of the Palestinians. It’s not the Great Depression But the Great Oppression. Nothing is more outrageous than the brand of evil that denies there is cause for criticism. For the present to change How can one understand Eli Wiesel, May require an upheaval Holocaust victim and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, The likes of which this nation when he says that he cannot criticize Israel? has never before experienced. He, of all people, should know better. Inevitably, eventually, a bold new change Must be forced upon the opulent Not to criticize Israel in the face Because they will not willingly agree to of this monstrous and militant injustice The major reversals which are required to forced upon the Palestinian people Greatly reduce the great gap between the rich and is to denigrate the memory of the Shoah. the poor. “Never Again” has happened once again.

Capitalism, the Free Enterprise system is on the hot seat Trickle down had trickled out. There’s far less for the well-endowed to give To charity and charity was never the answer to this disparity anyway.

And the church whose overhead always mandated Budgets which reflected mere pocket change to human need Will now be required to cut even deeper into those meager allotments The churches are trapped by their financial structure and by maintaining The houses in which they meet to pay homage to a God who Most certainly has a preferential option for the poor.

canada China germany india south africa united kingdom united states Percentage decrease bolivia brazil cambodia columbia indonesia 24,300 92,950 73,208 25,895 12,414 55,034 318,432 in forestland (1990-2007) 7.3 9.3 22.7 1.3 27.3 Christian Ethics Today A Journal of Christian Ethics “We need now to recover the prophethood of all believers, matching our zeal for the priesthood of all believers with a passion for the prophethood of all believers.” —Foy Valentine, Founding Editor

MISSION The Christian Ethics Today Foundation publishes Christian Ethics Today in order to provide laypersons, educators, and ministers with a resource for understanding and responding in a faithful Christian manner to moral and ethical issues that are of concern to contemporary Christians, to the church, and to society. PURPOSES • Maintain an independent prophetic voice for Christian social ethics • Interpret and apply Christian experience, biblical truth, theological insights, historical understanding, and current research to contemporary moral issues • Support Christian ecumenism by seeking contributors and readers from various denominations and churches • Work from the deep, broad center of the Christian church • Address readers at the personal and emotional as well as the intellectual level by including in the Journal narratives, poetry, and cartoons as well as essays • Strengthen and support the cause of Christian ethics Christian Ethics Today was born in the mind and heart of Foy Valentine in 1995, as an integral part of his dream for a Center for Christian Ethics. In his words, the purpose of the Journal was “to inform, inspire, and unify a lively com- pany of individuals and organizations interested in working for personal morality and public righteousness.” When the Center was transferred to Baylor University in June 2000, the disbanding Board voted to continue the publication of Christian Ethics Today, appointing a new editor and a new Board. The Journal will continue to be pub- lished four times annually. From the beginning Christian Ethics Today has been sent without charge to anyone requesting it, “as money and energy permit.” More than ever before, your financial support is “greatly needed, urgently solicited, and genuinely ap- preciated.” The Christian Ethics Today Foundation is a non-profit organization and has received a 501 (c) (3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. Gifts are tax deductible. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Fisher Humphreys, Chair Pat Anderson Carolyn Dipboye Babs Baugh Aubrey H. Ducker, Jr. Tony Campolo Darold Morgan Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler David Sapp

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