TEXAS BAPTISTS COMMITTED EMAIL NEWSLETTER
FROM: DAVID R. CURRIE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I do not send these out very often but there are several matters that I want to bring to your attention. Most have to do with the increasing power of the Religious Right and their misuse of the name of Jesus for political power. At Texas Baptists Committed, we are strong supporters of Religious Liberty, a truly historic Baptist principle.
First of all, I want to remind you that we are strong believers in religious liberty because of our commitment to the Scriptures. For a wonderful article on the biblical and theological basis of religious liberty see Jim Spivey's article at www.bjcpa.org/Pages/Resources/Pubs/spivey.html . For information on the history of Baptists and Religious Liberty, see this excellent article by Buddy Shurden, http://www.bjcpa.org/Pages/Resources/Pubs/shurden.html . Both are from the website of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs which contains many wonderful articles on this important Baptist principle. Visit there at http://www.bjcpa.org/ .
I am truly alarmed at the way faith is being used to divide America . This is wrong, Biblically and ethically. A recent example is the effort to link the Christian Faith with the consideration of some U.S. Senators to do away with the filibuster option. To say that this is a religious issue is to misuse the name of Jesus for political practices. To host a rally in a Baptist church for such a political issue is beyond belief. Several good responses to this outrageous act have been written but the best two I have read are the ones written by Marv Knox,
http://www.baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=3282 , and one written by Melissa Rogers at the Baltimore Sun (you will have to create a free username and password to view), http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.religion22apr22,1,5152382.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true .
Further evidence of using faith in America divisively is the recent attack on the judiciary system. Obviously, there can be extremes on both sides, but Pat Robertson's statements are particularly inflammatory: http://www.baptists4ethics.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=5710 .
Baptist Press is up to their typical slander tricks. Bill Underwood, whom I've never met, was named interim president of Baylor University last week. It did not take Baptist Press long to attack Underwood. In their May 3 release, they interviewed Underwood about his involvement with Planned Parenthood, http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=20717 . They did not do an article about his faith, his church involvement, the excellent articles and speeches he has made about his support of Baptist principles, they just dug up his involvement with a controversial organization.
This is typical of Baptist Press. They are a political organization. Read the stories they do on a regular basis. At least half deal with political issues. Actions speak louder than words so look at their actions and what they emphasize and you will see what I mean. I have a long history on dealing with the unethical actions of Baptist Press and wrote a lengthy article about it several years ago, http://www.txbc.org/2000Journals/Sept2000/Sept00baptistpressa.htm .
Finally, the Religious Right is working hard to get its message into the public school system. Odessa is considering offering a study of the Bible as an elective course. My initial reaction is that this is fine, as long as other faith texts might also be offered as electives in public schools. But then I read an article on it in the Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/050105dntexodessa.62beb225.html . It turns out one of the writers of the curriculum they are considering is none other that David Barton, the leading critic of religious liberty and the separation of church and state in America . He has a very slick presentation where he claims America was founded to be a Christian nation and that our founding fathers intended for only Christians to be allowed to hold public office. I consider him a very dangerous man to say the least. You can visit his slick website at http://www.wallbuilders.com/ . Be careful as you read it, he is very slick and twists the truth like an expert. He will have you agreeing with him because he is only telling you half the story and he makes it sound believable. For an excellent review of what Barton is really about, see Brent Walker's article, http://www.bjcpa.org/Pages/Resources/Pubs/Critique%20of%20America's%20Godly%20Heritage.html .
If you read all this, you will have spent a great deal of time and effort and I want to thank you. The fact is, the future of our great country is at stake as there is a well financed effort to destroy the First Amendment being led by many Christians in general and Southern Baptists in particular.
Just remember one thing though. How many wars have been fought in America over religion? The answer is none. Most of the wars being fought around the world today are tied in some way to religion. Why would we trade our wonderful system for one that will only create bloodshed and pain? Let's keep America free for all Americans of all faiths. The First Amendment works.
Feel free to forward this email to anyone you choose. Thanks.
5/05