A Matter of Perspective:
Focus, Faith, and Fairness
by: David R. Currie, Coordinator

The time we live in as Texas Baptists is both a time of anticipation as well as a time of uncertainty.  Texas Baptists have made it clear that the majority want no part of the fundamentalist movement and yet we do not have a clear sense of direction for the future of our state convention. 

To complicate matters, our Executive-Director, Bill Pinson, who worked so hard keeping us focused on missions and ministry, has announced his impending retirement, creating even more uncertainty over the question of leadership.

A new state convention has been created called the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.  It is comprised of persons and churches who support the fundamentalist movement and no longer want to be a part of the Texas Baptist family. 

They are urging churches openly to leave the Baptist General Convention of Texas.  They cooperate with the Southern Baptist Convention in degrading the BGCT and justifying the fundamentalist movement in Baptist life.  They especially love to hate the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, which is supported by many county seat churches which also relate to the BGCT.  In short, it is above all, a confusing time.  What is a traditional, Bible-believing, Jesus loving, Texas Baptist to do? A few suggestions.

Focus on Jesus Christ

FOCUS on Jesus Christ above all else.  Denominational disagreements must not define who we are.  Persons on both sides of the denominational argument can lose all perspective and define themselves by what they are not.  This is unfortunate and a dead-end to one's spiritual growth.

Each of us is a child of God who should be totally committed to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Before we are Baptists, family members, deacons, pastors, and church workers, etc., we are individual and corporate members of the body of Christ. 

We need to individually, and corporately, FOCUS on JESUS!.  We need to seek his will daily and remember we are His body, we are the extension of the incarnation.  While we have a mission that includes the work of the denomination, we primarily start with our own personal ministry and that of our local church.

Focus on the Kingdom of God

To FOCUS on Jesus is also to focus on the Kingdom of God and our part in it as individuals and as a body of cooperating believers.  We need to ask some serious questions about the effectiveness of our personal witness, our local church ministry and our cooperative partnerships.

Are we helping spread the Kingdom personally and corporately?  Are our partnerships resulting in good stewardship of God's resources?

Focus on Faith

Second, we need to keep our faith.  Yes, these are uncertain times but we worship a BIG God who's plan will not be stopped by the disobedience of some.   God will simply alter his plan and work with those who do FOCUS on His will and purpose.  Whatever the future holds, it will be wonderful and glorious because we worship a wonderful and glorious God.

No, I do not believe it was God's will that Southern Baptists lost their focus on missions and evangelism to become a body primarily focused on political power (both religious and secular politics), but it happened. 

I also believe the future is bright for the those who hold to the Biblical principles long practiced by Southern Baptists.  My FAITH is strong that someday soon, there will be a Baptist cooperative effort that is much larger and more effective than the organization now calling itself the Southern Baptist Convention, which is Baptist in name only.  God ordained our historic practices and He will honor them wherever they are practiced by both local congregations and cooperative bodies.

Focus on Fairness

Third, we need to continue to focus on fairness.  I am proud of our record at TBC on fairness.  We have never advocated any policy or program that in any way was not fair to every Texas Baptist, including those firmly committed to fundamentalism.  As long as I am involved in TBC, you have my word I never will advocate anything unfair.

The Cooperative Giving Study Committee recommendations, which were passed in 1994, were totally fair to every Texas Baptist.  Neither TBC nor the BGCT has ever tried to control the manner is which local churches may partner with other Baptist bodies.  Every church that relates to the BGCT and through the BGCT has the same freedom today it had 50 years ago.  Any changes made in the future must always protect the rights of the minority to cooperate freely as they choose.

We must be FAIR in what we say about each other and to each other.  Through the years I have responded strongly to what I considered to be lies or misrepresentations.  I do not apologize for that.  Lies and false accusations anger me. 

As I have watched twenty-years of what can be considered unethical behavior, and continue to observe it in things like the Missouri Layman's Association video, the website, www.ncbaptist.com, and the SBC Life articles on Valentine and Dunn, I have tried to respond with integrity and fairness, but have occasionally overreacted. 

As we turn toward the future, the fact is, Texas Baptists are distancing themselves from the political struggle and I believe God is leading this new direction.  God gave us Baptist principles and wants an organized group of churches and individuals to lead the way in living them out and demonstrating them to the world. 

I think as we FOCUS on Jesus and His Kingdom, we will continue to make changes, design new programs and partnerships.  I believe that Texas Baptists will lead a rejuvenated traditional Baptist cooperative effort in the 21st century.

I think we will do this because we have a long history of FAITH that is pushing us forward into the future.  We are a people not afraid to dream, not afraid to risk and not afraid to lead.  Texas Baptists have always risen to the challenges of the day and we will do so again with great FOCUS and FAITH in Jesus.

We will move forward with compassion and fairness for those who do not yet have the vision, or who do not even want a new vision.  We will move forward with FAIR concern for those still trapped in fundamentalism, i.e., missionaries and others that cannot be abandoned.

But no one should make the mistake of thinking Texas Baptists are not on the move for the FATHER, with a clear FOCUS, a heart full of FAITH and a commitment to FAIRNESS in all that we do.  Texas Baptist leaders are focused on the FUTURE and I urge all my readers to turn your eyes upon Jesus and where He is leading us.  It is going to be a glorious journey.