Do Texas Baptists Have Amnesia? 
By Billy Ray Parmer  
Director, Gloria Al Padre 

This is a very good question to ask considering what I hear in conversation with Texas Baptists and as I listen to Texas Baptist pastors and people. Many Baptists have some type of lost memory.

First Example:

I still hear talk of reconciliation. Do Texas Baptists not remember that at the recent Orlando SBC Convention, a motion to form a reconciliation committee was voted down? Forget it. The bully who beats up the nice kid and takes his lunch money will not give it back due to the appeal of words.

Second Example:

Do Texas Baptists not remember the proven deception of the former Home Mission Board? In the 1995 Annual of the Baptist General Convention of Texas there is a full report of the BGCT/HMB Study Committee. This report is on pages 124-133. 

In case you have forgotten the deceptive practices of the HMB I will remind you. They reported 4,913 home missionaries in the 1994 report. Of these, 1,099 were unpaid Mission Service Corps volunteers. 3,774 were jointly paid by HMB and some other Baptist entity, only 102 were full time salaried missionaries.

There were 343 salaried employees at the HMB office. HELLO! Texas Baptists, do you not remember this report? 

To request funding for 4,913 missionaries and have only 102 salaried missionaries and no qualifying or clarifying statement about the situation in their funding advertisements and requests is deceptive advertising.

These are only two of many occasions of deception and denial, practiced by those who have captured the SBC and its institutions.

Do you want future generations to be trained by those who are forced to sign and teach the doctrines of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message? Doctrinal integrity is more important than harmony. That was why Jesus so strongly confronted Pharisees in His ministry and why Paul confronted Peter publically about his incorrect practice of his faith.

Have the Baptists who want peace at any price forgotten the reaction of Jesus to legalistic interpretations of the law? Have they forgotten that Paul confronted Peter publically and forcefully for Peter's bowing under pressure from the Judaizers? 

Wake up Texas Baptists! 

January 2001