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I'M
A NON-TEXAN WHO SUPPORTS TEXAS BAPTISTS COMMITTED I'm not a Texan. I've been a Baptist pastor for 50+ years, but I've never even preached a sermon in Texas. But I am a strong supporter of Texas Baptists Committed. I joined and support TBC because I am an "Honor Jesus First" fundamentalist - a fundamentalist, that is, written with a small "f." I believe with no reservations the fundamentals of the Christian faith as Baptist folk have historically understood them. I believe in the divine inspiration and authority of the Holy Scriptures in all matters of faith and practice. I believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, His works of miracles and healing, His atoning death ("He died for me and in my place"), His bodily resurrection, and His living presence in my life and that of all other believers. I believe in and honor the full Lordship of Jesus Christ, that He is Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords, the One who alone is worthy. I believe that He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. I also believe in an eternal Heaven and Hell. I am NOT, however a Fundamentalist, that is, one with the capital "F." I respect individual Fundamentalists as brothers and sisters in the family of God. I am saddened, however, that their actions indicate that they are more interested in dominating Baptist life and in controlling what other Baptist Christians believe than in loving fellow Christians with the same kind of love Jesus demonstrated (and still demonstrates through the Holy Spirit). It seems that Fundamentalists are more likely to ask, "What do you believe about the Bible?" rather than asking, "Do you trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord?" They also tend to declare, "If you don't agree with me you're a liberal," in place of asking, "What would Jesus do?' Fundamentalists appear to focus more on political power and control than on missions and evangelism. Most worrisome about capital "F" Fundamentalists, (like the leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention who rammed through the recently approved Revised Baptist Faith and Message), is their creed-like concept of "doctrinal accountability" and their implied denigration of the full deity and Lordship of Jesus Christ. I support TBC because of the leadership the organization provides in assisting Baptists in all states affiliated with the SBC to understand why it is crucial to honor Jesus first and to stand firm against the control agenda of the new Baptist-type Fundamentalists (the capital "F" kind). TBC advocates resistance to any form of "mind control" by self-appointed SBC guardians who believe they alone know the mind of God and that they alone know how to interpret the Bible correctly. If you are like me in honoring Jesus Christ as Lord above any and everything else, you should support Texas Baptists Committed. If you believe like I do that Baptist people before 1979 were nearer to the true beliefs of the Christian faith than this new breed of control-oriented dogmatists, you should join TBC. If you believe in and honor the divine inspiration and authority of the Bible in all matters of faith and practice just as Baptist folk have always done, then help TBC in its task. If you feel you are not a second-class Baptist because you don't happen to believe that Fundamentalists are the only ones who know what the Bible means, then join TBC. They will provide you with reliable facts and information. With them you'll share in a crusade to honor Jesus first, find genuine Christian love (the agape type), warm acceptance, joyful fellowship and real freedom. Join up with Texas Baptists Committed and you'll be working with Baptists who honor the full deity of Jesus Christ without dilution. With them you'll feel you really belong. That's my experience. So if you are an "honor Jesus first" kind of Baptist, I urge you to give TBC a try. September 2000 |