Time to stop telling lies, half-truths
Toby Druin,
Editor, The Baptist Standard

Published in The Baptist Standard Feb. 25, 1998.

While, as I stated in last week’s editorial in this space, there may be some disagreement about some things, there is no disagreement on whether Christians should tell the truth. Exodus 20:16: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor,” doesn’t leave much room for interpretation. If I were to paraphrase it, however, I would say, “Don’t tell lies about your fellow Baptists—or anyone else—and if you don’t know firsthand what a person believes, don’t try to tell others what he believes.” Among the six things listed in Proverbs 6:16 that the Lord hates is “a lying tongue.” Half-truths are lies, too.

A lot of false witness is being borne these days—lies are being told—as churches are faced with the choice of joining the new Southern Baptists of Texas convention. One church was asked recently to vote on whether it wanted to affiliate with the new convention after being handed a so-called ballot listing things allegedly believed by Southern Baptist Convention and Southern Baptists of Texas Convention as opposed to alleged beliefs of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and leadership of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

The beliefs supposedly held by CBF and leadership of the BGCT included “Does not agree with Genesis 1-11. Does not accept the virgin birth. Does not believe the scripture to be all God breathed, inspired and true. Believes women should be ordained into the ministry as deaconesses or ministers. Accepts homosexuals and does not encourage them to abandon this lifestyle of choice. Believes it is OK for homosexuals to be ordained as deacons/deaconesses or ministers.” The alleged beliefs of the SBC and SBT, of course, were stated as the opposite.

I don’t know what CBF leaders believe, so I will follow my own advice and not tell what I think they believe, even though I think I know the heart of Daniel Vestal, current CBF coordinator. Before you repeat what he believes call him and ask him. His phone number is (770) 220-1600.

I know what BGCT leaders believe; I have rubbed shoulders with most of them long enough to know they are committed Christians and Baptists, with whom I am glad to work and worship. They love the Lord and His word and live out their faith daily. I am willing to accept them on that basis without submitting them to an inquisition, and this is not to imply that I doubt for a minute what they believe.

Baptists can agree on some basics and disagree on a lot of other things. There was a time when we were willing to accept that and get on with trying to win the world to Jesus. Someday we need to silence the Pharisees and get back to working together.

Last week I stated my feelings toward homosexuality; it is repulsive and contrary to what the Bible teaches. It is wrong. In the Nov. 12 issue of The Standard, I stated what for me constitutes a Texas Baptist— ”a person who has joined or been baptized in a Texas Baptist church after having confessed his faith in Jesus Christ, the virgin-born, crucified, resurrected, coming-again Son of God, as Savior and Lord; who believes in God as creator of heaven and earth; and who believes the Bible is the God-inspired and God-preserved record of His dealing with men.”

This morning, the day I am preparing this editorial, I read Numbers 1-2 and Matthew 27:1-31 in my read-the-Bible-through-in-a-year program. I’ve read all the Bible many times, but last year got on the yearly program and plan to stay on it the rest of my life. If I didn’t believe the Bible, Genesis to Maps, I wouldn’t be spending a significant part of every morning reading it and praying about what it says to me. I have never seen the original autographs the inerrantists make so much of; I believe the Bible I have now.

The tragedy of the last 18 years of Baptist life is we have destroyed trust in our fellow Baptist Christians. It started with such false statements as “No Southern Baptist seminary professor believes the Bible” and continues today with such trash as the so-called “ballot” being distributed to promote membership in the new convention. It’s time real Baptists put a stop to it.

March 1998