So I’m a little behind the times on this one, because things have been so crazy. Plus I’ve been struggling with a little bit of writer’s block and wondering if spiritually I’m still in a place where I can write posts fit for a blog titled Imago Dei.
“North America desperately needs a true Baptist witness,” Bill Underwood, president of Mercer University in Atlanta, told Baptist leaders at an April summit last year.
Underwood said the current image of Baptists is largely painted by conservative leaders who frequently appear on television news shows or other media. Such leaders represent some of the most conservative political views and fundamentalist theology among Baptist denominations.
Am I the only one who thinks that the only way you can improve the image of Baptists is if Baptists step up and act the way they want to be portrayed? Forming an initiative, convocation, coalition, or whatever you want to call it isn’t going to do anything to change anything. Talking isn’t going to change anything. If they want to produce change, then they need to change.
And it isn’t going to be a huge group doing the changing. It’s going to start with the individual person. Each person needs to decide that they want to live like Christ, not like the SBC. Then, and only then, will this country begin to see some of the fundamentalist conservatism start to lift.
Amanda: The SBC (and other denominations that have grown too fundamentalist, thanks to the GOP’s 30-year War for Dominance in Politics) do need to change! Thanks for saying so.
Let me share something from the AlAnon book:
If one man calls you an ass, you may disregard him. If two men call an ass, go buy a saddle.
Ass, of course, being the biblical donkey that jesus rode. The reason for being called one is stubbornness in the face of the need for change.
My point is simply that so many level-headed people are telling fundamentalists that they are out of step with life today, that their narrow views on certain issues are divisive to society at large (and to narrow segments that are targetted for their hate), and that using only those parts of the bible that support their agenda that is causing a rift in America.
Amanda, we’ll continue to call the fundamental movement “ass”, until they no longer need the “saddle”.
Naomi
Amanda,
I could not agree more. I am beginning to see with greater clarity our call to love. We as Christians (Baptists or otherwise) have besmudged The Name by quoting moral laws and rules of conduct rather than preaching the Good News that “God was at work in Christ Jesus reconciling men unto Himself.” He gave us the ministry of reconciliation, and we cannot point the way to reconciliation by simply telling people they are sinning and then expecting the unregenerate to live a lifestyle that is possible ONLY by the power of the Holy Spirit living within. We would do well to keep in mind that “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, through Him might be saved. The unregenerate are in bondage. We need to show them the great provision our Lord has made for setting them free. Instead many times we condem them for their shackles and berate them for failing to act as though those shackles did not exist.
Thanks for the excellent post!
–Larry