Texan Digitial • August 20, 2014 • Issue #35

August 20, 2014 • ISSUE 35

In Grand Saline, a town once characterized by violent and racially motivated crimes and a town still plagued by ethnic tensions, one church decided to make a bold move toward healing in its community by hiring an African-American interim pastor to lead their mostly white congregation. Knowing it would be the “talk of the town,” the church pressed on, certain of the Lord’s leading and hopeful for community-wide restoration.

WILL HOUSTON PETITIONS TO PUT NON-DISCRIMINATION MEASURE TO A VOTE, BE VALIDATED? NO COST, ONLINE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR FALL EDUCATION

Gary Ledbetter

Why should churches look like heaven?

T

his issue of our digital magazine highlights a couple of churches making intentional moves toward greater multicultural fellowship, both within a congregation and between congregations. It sounds elementary, but such efforts have a lot of moving parts, just as the people involved have a lot of moving parts.

Perhaps this is well-illustrated as the nation watches the St. Louis-area community of Ferguson torture itself nearly to death over racial disharmony. I know there have been a series of provocations in this story, but the misunderstanding between communities is at the root of this sprawling event. I mention Ferguson because here we see in an extreme form the pattern of race relations in our nation.

For a while it seems like we understand each other better than we do, and then something happens that highlights our differences in assumptions, expectations and experience.

Any simple explanations of the unrest in Ferguson—and there have been many—are reductionist and useless. In the same way, any simple explanation of misunderstandings between neighboring people groups elude us.

Among people of good will and great similarities—Christian folk—there is still a great diversity of style, language, culture and experiences. And these things sometimes divide us. In America we have the luxury of indulging that diversity; here in Texas I get to choose from among a variety of churches within 10 minutes of my home. If I prefer contemporary or traditional or gospel or Tejano music on Sunday morning, those options are right at hand. I can also pick from different preaching styles and doctrinal emphases just among the SBTC churches close to my home. These options give me the ability to worship with just the folks I prefer and in just the style I prefer. That privilege is rare in history and rare in the world.

Perhaps it’s something that even we Texans should not take for granted.

Twenty-five years ago, I lived in one Midwestern town in a metro area of over a million but with exactly one Southern Baptist church within a 10-minute radius of my home.

Expanding the circle to 20 minutes garnered two more small and struggling churches. I worshipped with the folks who were there and in the style of their tradition.

Other places in our country have fewer even evangelical churches sprinkled across the map. In Russia, a country with a long Christian heritage, we walked and rode busses for nearly two hours to get to the only Baptist church in a city of 2 million. Many of the Orthodox churches we walked past were closed, by the way. Some of you could tell similar stories in places where you’ve lived. Will hardships narrow our choices and eventually drive us to worship with people we don’t understand as well? It’s happened to other believers, and we can’t assume it won’t happen here.

There’s another thing that has helped believers in other nations look past ethnic and cultural preferences— persecution. In the past five years, I’ve heard more talk about persecution in the U.S. from serious people than in the previous 20 years. Perhaps more disturbing is that serious people less sympathetic with Christianity are suggesting limitations to religious liberty. We can now imagine a day when some churches will be taxed out of existence, when pastors will be penalized for preaching an unpopular gospel, and when believers will be more focused on what we have in common than on what we don’t. Is persecution what it will take for us to sincerely embrace those we know to be our brothers and sisters?

Our convention’s Look Like Heaven emphasis is not radical. We’re not suggesting that churches merge but rather that they fellowship together and find ways to minister side by side. My mostly Anglo church has congregations of Black, Hispanic and Asian Southern Baptists nearly in sight of its parking lot. We share a community already, a common ministry field. When our church visits in our own neighborhood, we often find folks who prefer to speak Spanish or Vietnamese who will not likely worship with us, even if they are believers. A dynamic partnership with our sister churches will assist our ministries and be a provocative example to the community we’re trying to reach together with the same gospel.

Of course we know that heaven is going to be filled with the redeemed of all people. Nothing that formerly divided us will be worthy of notice in the presence of our Lord. But Christians begin to experience a taste of heaven in this life through our fellowship with the Lord and with his people.

Consider what we’re missing if that fellowship is limited by our own imaginations and background. I just wonder if there are good things God intends us to experience and share with the world but that we are missing because we keep to ourselves. Wouldn’t it be pretty easy to find out?

CONTENTS ISSUE #35 /////////////////////////////////////////////

3

LifeWay examines possible sale of 14.5-acre property in downtown Nashville

LifeWay Christian Resources has hired the help of a consulting agency to explore whether sale of some or all of its downtown corporate offices could be a move of good stewardship.

3

LifeWay suspends sale of Driscoll books

With Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll and the church he leads, Mars Hill, having been removed from the Acts 29 church planting network’s membership, LifeWay has opted to suspend the sale of his books for the time being.

7

Panel discussion new at September apologetics conference

Registration is open for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Confident Christianity Conference which will be held at Fort Worth’s Southcliff Baptist Church, Sept. 19-20. The annual apologetics conference, now in its third year, has evangelism at its core and seeks to equip Christians to share and defend their faith.

12

COVER STORY AfricanAmerican serves as interim pastor in town scarred by racial violence and KKK activity The East Texas town of Grand Saline was once a hotbed of racist activity—a place where AfricanAmericans feared nightfall for the violence it might and did often bring. It was known as one of many “Sundown Towns.” Today, however, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Church Planting Associate Richard Taylor, an African-American, serves the town’s Main Street Baptist Church as interim pastor. He calls it simply “a God thing.”

5

Pastors call foul on Houston’s handling of non-discrimination ordinance petition

A judge has set a Jan. 19 trial date for Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance (ERO), continuing suspension of the ordinance that began with submission of a petition to put the measure to a city-wide vote. Opponents of the ordinance, including a large number of Houston pastors, gathered thousands of signatures on the petition and submitted them to the city for validation in July.

10

Registration open for SWBTS’s free, online classes

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s president and first lady will both teach free, online classes this fall in a continued effort to make serving local churches a priority. Paige Patterson will teach a class on Romans, and his wife Dorothy will teach Biblical Theology of Womanhood along with professor Candi Finch. Both classes are open to students and non-students.

TEXAN Digital is e-published twice monthly by the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, 4500 State Highway 360, Grapevine, TX 76099-1988.

Jim Richards, Executive Director Gary Ledbetter, Editor Keith Collier, Managing Editor Sharayah Colter, Staff Writer Russell Lightner, Design & Layout Stephanie Barksdale, Subscriptions Contributing Writers Paul F. South, Mark Coppenger, Matt Queen, Tammi Reed Ledbetter, Bonnie Pritchett To contact the TEXAN office, visit texanonline.net/ contact or call toll free 877.953.7282 (SBTC)

Briefly /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// GOLDEN GATE SEMINARY BUYS NEW CAMPUS, REQUESTS NAME CHANGE

ABEDINI RECEIVES DEATH THREATS FROM ISIS MILITANTS BEING HELD IN SAME PRISON

Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary has purchased a six-story building with a ready-to-build lot to house its Southern California campus. The property includes more than 700 parking spots and is located east of Los Angeles near the Ontario International Airport. The seminary hopes to change its name to Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The situation for Saeed Abedini, being held in an Iranian prison because of his Christian faith, has worsened as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorists being held in the same prison have now issued death threats for the pastor.

Click here to read the story from Baptist Press

Click here to read the story from Baptist Press

CLOSING ARGUMENTS CONCLUDE IN TEXAS ABORTION CASE Judge Lee Yeakel is expected to rule in about two weeks on a case challenging abortion restrictions in a law passed last year. If the restrictions are upheld, clinics that do not meet the standard of surgical centers or that have doctors without hospital admitting privileges would be shut down.

Click there to read the story from The Guardian

VIRGINIA SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LEGALITY AWAITS DECISION The fate of a Virginia same-sex marriage ban deemed unconstitutional July 28 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit depends upon whether the Supreme Court decides to hear an appeal. Without Supreme Court intervention, the commonwealth could begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses Aug. 20.

Click here to read the story from the Washington Post

MOORE, METAXAS AMONG GROUP CALLING FOR TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF ISIS More than 50 religious leaders comprise the coalition calling on President Obama to intervene in the “campaign of genocide” the Islamic State is waging against Christians and religious minorities. Signers of the petition say they do not glorify war or underestimate its risks but see the total destruction of the Islamic State as necessary to halt the deadly attacks.

Click here to read the story from Religion News Service or here to read the story

2 TEXANONLINE.NET AUGUST 20, 2014

LIFEWAY EXAMINES POSSIBLE SALE OF 14.5-ACRE PROPERTY IN DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE LifeWay Christian Resources has hired the help of a consulting agency to explore whether sale of some or all of its downtown corporate offices could be a move of good stewardship. A Tennessee newspaper estimates the value of the property at $80 million. About 1,100 LifeWay employees work at the location.

Click here to read the story from Baptist Press

LIFEWAY SUSPENDS SALE OF DRISCOLL BOOKS With Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll and the church he leads, Mars Hill, having been removed from the Acts 29 church planting network’s membership, LifeWay has opted to suspend the sale of his books for the time being. The Acts 29 board said in an Aug. 8 statement that the nature of the accusations against the pastor are such that it would be “untenable and unhelpful” to keep Driscoll and Mars Hill in the network.

NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE PRESIDENT’S COMMITMENT TO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY CASTS SCHOOL INTO CULTURE WAR PREVIOUSLY AVOIDED The president of Gordon College joined a group of religious leaders in July, calling for an exemption to federal workplace protections for homosexual and transgender workers. The president says his decision was based on the desire to allow institutions to maintain their right to “hire for mission.” The college is an evangelical institution known for being tolerant of opposing ideas and less conservative than other Christian schools.

Click here to read the story from the Boston Globe

Click here to read the story from Baptist Press

U.S. NAVY REVERSES BAN OF BIBLES IN BASE GUEST ROOMS Two months after removing 3,000 Bibles from its 39 guest lodges, the Navy has reversed the decision. A letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation questioning the constitutionality of the placement of religious material in Navy Guest rooms originally prompted the Navy to remove the Bibles in June. While the decision has been reversed, the Navy says its religious accommodation policies are “under review.”

Click here to read the story from Religion News Service

MARRY YOUNGER, BAPTISTS ADVISE SINGLES While the average American male marries at 29 and the average American woman at 26.6, according to 2013 Census data, some Southern Baptists say the wait is not a good idea. After an original USA Today article, Jon Akin and Andrew Walker clarified their comments in Baptist Press, saying the “covenant” view of marriage makes waiting for financial stability less of a consideration and that avoiding sexual temptation is more important and easily addressed by reducing the wait to marry.

Click here to read the story from Baptist Press —Briefly section compiled from Baptist Press, other news sources and staff reports

ERLC ANNOUNCES NEW THINK TANK TO HELP CHRISTIANS ADDRESS CULTURAL ISSUES Seventy research fellows in four categories make up a new Research Institute headed by the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. The fellows will help the ERLC generate materials churches can use to engage cultural and religious liberty issues.

Click here to read the story from Baptist Press

AUGUST 20, 2014 TEXANONLINE.NET 3

4 TEXANONLINE.NET AUGUST 20, 2014

January court date set for Houston non-discrimination ordinance BOTH SIDES ALLEGE MISCONDUCT WAS INVOLVED SURROUNDING A PETITION TO PLACE THE ERO ON NOV. BALLOT.

By Bonnie Pritchett HOUSTON

A judge has set a Jan. 19 trial date for Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance (ERO), continuing suspension of the ordinance which began with submission of a petition to put the measure to a city-wide vote.

Opponents of the ordinance, including a large number of Houston pastors, gathered thousands of signatures on the petition and submitted them to the city for validation in July. They say city officials acted outside of their charter-defined authority in disqualifying a portion of the petition’s signatures. City officials have denied the charge and said petition organizers “came to court with unclean hands.”

At least a dozen attorneys for the city and the lone attorney representing local pastors agreed to January trial date in the 152nd District Court, Friday (Aug. 15) but not before accusations of wrongdoing were leveled by both sides during questioning by Judge Robert Schaffer.

“CITY ATTORNEY DAVID FELDMAN DID NOT HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO INTERVENE WITH THE VALIDATION AND ACTED AS JUDGE, JURY AND EXECUTIONER BY DECLARING 2,750 ENTIRE PETITIONS INVALID DUE TO HIS CLAIM OF TECHNICAL PROBLEMS,” —DAVE WELCH

Schaffer, who heard arguments in the lawsuit against the city by opponents of the ordinance, will preside over the jury trial in January.

The lawsuit filed Aug. 5 by representatives of the No UNequal Rights Coalition alleges the city’s petition certification process, which resulted in the disqualification of more than half the petition pages, was unlawful and indiscriminate. They sought an injunction to overturn the city’s invalidation of the petition and to force a city-wide vote on the ordinance. Attorneys for the city argued no misconduct occurred on the part of city officials but charged that petition circulators were guilty of wrongdoing.

City officials claim the petition gathering process was fraught with irregularities resulting in the disqualifications.

“There are multiple incidences of fraud and non-compliance,” Geoffrey Harrison, an attorney with Susman Godfrey representing the city, told the judge.

Religious overtones interjected into the proceedings and comments to the media punctuated the battle over the ordinance which gives civil rights protection to individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

City Attorney David Feldman said following the hearing that local law firms were hired to help with the case and that some offered their services pro bono. He justified hiring the additional legal assistance because “we have some pretty powerful opponents.”

“You’re right!” shouted someone from the crowd of plaintiff’s supporters, most of whom represented churches working to repeal the ordinance.

Feldman quipped, “They’re powerful in terms of their relationship with God.” AUGUST 20, 2014 TEXANONLINE.NET 5

Andy Taylor, the attorney representing local pastors and petition organizers, told reporters he was satisfied with the suspension of the controversial ordinance pending the outcome of a jury trial in January. Taylor said evidence will reveal the city acted unlawfully in disqualifying thousands of petition pages and the valid signatures on them.

Andy Taylor, of Andy Taylor and Associates, was the lone representative arguing for the plaintiffs.

At least 12 attorneys representing the defendants—the City of Houston, Mayor Annise Parker and City Secretary Anna Russell—sat across the table from him and two of his clients. Looking toward the opposing counsel, Taylor referenced David meeting Goliath at the start of the hearing.

Before formal proceedings began, Schaffer pressed Taylor to justify an injunction when a trial on the merits of the case was inevitable.

Taylor argued his clients—Jared Woodfill, Steven Hotze, F.N. Williams, Sr., and Max Miller—needed assurances the ordinance would be suspended while the referendum dispute remained unsettled. An injunction would ensure that.

He also argued the plaintiffs represent all Houston residents harmed by the city’s actions. The summary disqualification of petition signatures by the city attorney’s office was not “legally appropriate,” and, therefore, stymied 6 TEXANONLINE.NET AUGUST 20, 2014

the opportunity for Houstonians to vote on the matter, Taylor said.

He accused Parker of thwarting efforts to put the issue to a vote claiming “her agenda is more important than their right to vote.”

Parker, a lesbian who in January travelled to California with her long-time partner Kathy Hubbard to get married, has said passage of the ordinance was personal because it was about her. LGBT advocates have rallied in support of the mayor and the fight for the ordinance.

Trying the merits of the case is exactly what Taylor wanted, as it will determine whether city administrators, Parker and Feldman in particular, acted outside the purview of the city charter in disqualifying more than half of the petitions.

“The charter is very specific,” Taylor told Schaffer. “Our legal case is we did all those things, and Anna Russell so found we did.”

Opponents of the ordinance circulated petitions calling for a referendum in June. Within 30 days

55,000 signatures were collected, and 31,000 were pre-verified by petition organizers and submitted to the city secretary July 3.

Before petition pages were expunged from consideration, Russell’s office had validated 17,846 out of 19,177 signatures, a 93 percent validation rate and more than enough to call for a vote on the ordinance. Feldman’s office, however, reviewed all 5,199 petition pages for proper submission criteria and found “irregularities” with 2,750 pages. In so doing, Russell was left roughly 15,000 signatures to inspect for validation, more than 2,000 shy of the required number to call a referendum. In a letter dated Aug. 1 to city council, Russell stated there were not enough valid signatures to certify a referendum.

“They have fabricated their entire case on a house of cards that has already fallen,” Harrison said of the petition gathering process.

Plaintiffs argued Feldman did not have the authority to dismiss the pages and that Russell’s initial validation of signatures should stand. Taylor told the judge he had evidence showing the criteria Feldman used to dismiss some pages were not drawn from the city charter and were inconsistently applied. He cited one petition page signed and circulated by Houston City Councilman Oliver Pennington that had been dismissed because the councilman had used his common name, Oliver, and his legal name, Olin, on the same page.

Taylor also argued the charter article requiring all petition circulators be city of Houston registered voters is unconstitutional, citing U.S. Supreme Court and circuit court rulings.

Repeal of that mandate alone would clear thousands of signatures for validation and “catapult

us beyond the required number,” Taylor said.

Among the plaintiffs are pastors, parachurch leaders and citizens who have opposed the Equal Rights Ordinance since its introduction

by Parker in April. The ERO, passed by city council in May, provides civil rights protections to individuals already covered by city, state and federal law and adds sexual orientation and sexual identity to the list of protected qualities.

As Taylor began presenting evidence for his case, Schaffer asked opposing counsel to meet him in his chambers. Following the brief recess, Schaffer declared both sides agreed to a trial on the merits of the case. The ordinance, which was suspended with the submission of the petitions, will remain suspended pending the outcome of the trial.

“We got everything we wanted,” Taylor told reporters following the hearing.

A win for the plaintiffs in January would put the matter before the city council which could then repeal the ordinance or call for a vote during the next general election in November 2015.

Parker, who was out of town, did not release a statement on the hearing, but Janice Evans, chief policy officer and director of communications for the mayor said in an email to the TEXAN, “The petition validation process was fair and legal. The plaintiffs simply didn’t meet the City Charter and Texas Election Code requirements for a voter referendum. From the beginning, we have been confident that the city’s process would be upheld by the courts.

Today’s decisions in two courtrooms are further affirmation of that belief.”

In case of an unfavorable ruling by Schaffer, Taylor had also filed suit in the 14th State Court of Appeals asking the court require the city secretary present her initial validation certification to city council. Justices William Boyce, Tracy Christopher and Martha Jamison remanded the case back to the 152nd District Court.

A press release from the Houston Area Pastors Council, an organization representing more than 300 area churches and an opponent of the ordinance, hinted there may be additional legal action to come that could place the ordinance on the November 2014 ballot.

Panel discussion new at September apologetics conference

By Sharayah Colter FORT WORTH

Registration is open for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Confident Christianity Conference, which will be held at Fort Worth’s Southcliff Baptist Church, Sept. 19-20. The annual apologetics conference, now in its third year, has evangelism at its core and seeks to equip Christians to share and defend their faith.

Bruno Molina, SBTC ministry associate, says a panel discussion has been added to this year’s conference to allow attendees to hear speakers respond to and interact with questions they submit at registration. The panel discussion will be held after lunch on Saturday.

Molina says the conference will equip Christians to understand better what they believe and why they believe it.

“It’s important to love God with all our minds, and it’s a way of preparing ourselves to share the gospel in what is fast becoming a post-Christian context,” Molina said.

“This conference is different from just about any other conference we do because it’s all about getting answers to questions people don’t typically ask in a Bible study or life group environment.”

In addition to the panel discussion, workshops and keynote addresses, Christian apologist and author Norman Giesler will participate in a question-and-answer session. Joining Giesler in the speaker lineup are Sam Dallas, Barry Creamer, Marry Jo Sharp, Terri Stovall and Rudy Gonzalez.

Molina said this conference will be well-suited for AUGUST 20, 2014 TEXANONLINE.NET 7

“THIS CONFERENCE IS DIFFERENT FROM JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER CONFERENCE WE DO BECAUSE IT’S ALL ABOUT GETTING ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS PEOPLE DON’T TYPICALLY ASK IN A BIBLE STUDY OR LIFE GROUP ENVIRONMENT.”

BARRY CREAMER is president and professor of humanities at Criswell College in Dallas.

He also hosts the radio show “For Christ and Culture” on 90.9 KCBI.

MIKE KEAS is professor of the history and philosophy of science at the College at Southwestern and an adjunct professor in Biola University’s M.A. Science and Religion program.

—BRUNO MOLINA

both students and adults, with sessions tailored toward each. He highly recommends bringing entire youth groups to the conference.

“If I was a youth leader, I would definitely be bringing my youth to this,” Molina said. “We need to equip them before they go to college and get discouraged about their faith in God. This conference especially applies to them.”

To register and to watch a video about the conference, visit here. Registration is $25 for adults and $10 for students.

Among the topics to be addressed at the Friday-Saturday event: 4Biblical Responses to Contemporary Sexual Issues 4How to Lose Your Faith in College 4How to Use Apologetics in My Generation 4Intelligent Design or Unintelligent Evolution 4The Top Five Questions Women Ask and How to Answer Them 4Asking the Right Questions in Evangelism to Catholics 4Reaching out to Muslims 4Reaching out to Buddhists 4Reaching out to Hindus 4Conversational Evangelism

8 TEXANONLINE.NET AUGUST 20, 2014

TERRI STOVALL is dean of women’s programs and associate professor of Women’s Ministries in the Jack D. Terry School of Church and Family Ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

RUDY GONZÁLEZ is a former Jehovah’s Witness and current professor of New Testament and director of the William R. Marshall Center for Theological Studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

MARY JO SHARP is a former atheist and current assistant professor at Houston Baptist University. Sharp is also on faculty with Summit Ministries and administrates the website Confident Christianity.

SAM DALLAS is minister to students and minister of apologetics at Reece Prairie Baptist Church in Burleson. He is pursuing a doctor of ministry in evangelism and North American missions from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

NORMAN GEISLER is an internationally known speaker who has lectured in all 50 states and 26 countries. He is the founder and president of the International Society of Christian Apologetics and the co-founder and distinguished professor of apologetics at Veritas Evangelical Seminary.

EDGARDO FERRER is associate pastor of Hispanic ministries at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Cedar Hill. He is an active member of the International Society of Christian Apologetics.

Bible Conference follows ‘Rend the Heavens’ theme

By Tammi Reed Ledbetter FORT WORTH

“Rend the Heavens,” based on Isaiah 64:1-4, is the theme for the Nov. 9-10 pre-convention Bible Conference to be held in MacGorman Chapel of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Conference president Michael Dean, pastor of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, is anxious to see participants “join together in seeking God in his Word and in fervent prayer for the great revival that God desires and that we all need.”

Speakers for the Bible Conference include Richard Ross, professor of youth ministry at Southwestern Seminary; Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn.; Michael Pender, pastor of Fallbrook Church in Houston; Eric Thomas, pastor of First Baptist Church in Norfolk, Va.; Steven Smith, vice president for student services and communications at Southwestern Seminary, and Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano.

Chris and Diane Machen of Frisco will lead in worship. John Lee, associate pastor for worship and music at Travis Avenue Baptist Church will lead combined choirs from Fort Worth area churches, including Travis Avenue and North Richland Hills Baptist Church.

Dean observed, “There appears to be a stirring of the Spirit of God among his people these days. There is a growing hunger to see God move in an extraordinary way in

our lives, in our churches and in our land. As the SBTC Bible Conference approaches, we want to set our sails to catch the wind of God’s reviving activity.”

Following the Bible Conference Monday morning session, the Ministry Café will offer a panel discussion answering, “How do you lead your people through seasons of refreshing?” Panelists include Thomas, Graham and Gregg Matte, pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church. Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. and the dialogue starts at noon in Truett Auditorium, concluding at 1 p.m.

In addition to Dean, Bible Conference officers include First Vice President Scott Maze, pastor of North Richland Hills Baptist Church in North Richland Hills, and Second Vice President Dongsun Cho, assistant professor of systematic and historical theology at Southwestern Seminary and as-

sociate pastor of Hanuri Church in Dallas.

2014 Bible Conference Schedule SUNDAY, NOV. 9 Evening Session | 6 p.m.

Congregational Worship with Chris and Diane Machen Message: Steve Gaines MONDAY, NOV. 10 Morning Session | 9:15 a.m.

Congregational Worship with Chris and Diane Machen Message: Eric Thomas Ministry Café | 11:30 a.m.

Venue: Truett Auditorium Speakers: Eric Thomas, Jack Graham, Gregg Matte Afternoon Session | 1:15 p.m.

Congregational Worship with Chris and Diane Machen Message: Steven Smith sbtexas.com/am14

AUGUST 20, 2014 TEXANONLINE.NET 9

Registration open for SWBTS’s free, online classes No fees, no homework, no long application will allow greater ease of access to theological education.

By Sharayah Colter FORT WORTH

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s president and first lady will both teach free, online classes this fall in a continued effort to make serving local churches a priority. Paige Patterson will teach a class on Romans, and his wife Dorothy will teach Biblical Theology of Womanhood along with professor Candi Finch. Both classes are open to students and non-students for audit at no cost or for three credit hours at the standard tuition rate. Those not currently enrolled at the seminary need only fill out a two-page form to take either class.

Both classes are offered as massive open online courses, otherwise known as MOOCs—an increasingly common method of education among leading universities and one that allows Southwestern to expand its ministry of education beyond its physical campuses.

Terri Stovall, dean of women’s programs, said that is exactly why offering the popular Biblical Theology of Womanhood class as a MOOC was a sensible decision.

“Southwestern exists to serve the churches, and women are a significant part of the church” Stovall said. “Recognizing that women may not always be able to travel to campus for classes but desire to be trained and equipped to best be used by God, we want to make access to significant theological education not only possible but easy. Online and distance learning is sec10 TEXANONLINE.NET AUGUST 20, 2014

ond nature to the young generation of women who are already doing good things for the kingdom.”

For Stephanie Manter, a busy wife and mother of three children, the flexible-access class paired with biblically rich content led her to enroll in the class.

“I work full time outside the home. I’m the church pianist, the church treasurer and a Sunday school teacher. I haven’t attended a ladies’ Bible study in several years because the evening time I have with my children before they go to bed is precious,” said Manter, a member of Inglewood Baptist Church in Grand Prairie.

“Sometimes I miss attending an adult Sunday school class, and even the sermon time can be distracting with the two oldest kids sitting with us. All that to say, I don’t want to become stagnant in my Christian growth, and this seems like a great opportunity to keep learning. An online class is the best fit for me right now, and the fact that it is free is perfect.”

Dorothy says the content of her class is the result of a lifelong study of what the Bible has to say about being a woman. She said what she learned in her own personal search of the Scriptures has shaped who she is as a wife and mother—roles she continually cites as her highest priorities and joys.

“There is no study that has been more influential in defining my role as wife and mother, as well as a teacher of women,” Dorothy said. “The formation of this course started at the beginning of my marriage and ministry as I read through Scripture, asking the Lord, ‘What does the Bible have to say to me as a woman?’ I identified key passages and over the years have taught these passages to women. I personally believe this is the pathway to finding the key that unlocks the door to genuine biblical womanhood and ultimate obedience to the Lord.”

Finch calls the class’s approach systematic—something she believes makes the class one of the seminary’s most popular classes among women.

“We don’t avoid the difficult passages or hard-to-understand issues,” Finch said. “We just dive right on into the Bible. This semester we are doing what we can to make this class available to the wider community because biblical womanhood is under attack in our contemporary culture. We live in a Fifty Shades of Grey, Girls Gone Wild kind of world. We want to equip women to be able have confidence in studying God’s Word and his plan for them and be able to communicate that truth in this age with gentleness and respect (1 Pet 3:15).”

Stovall said the systematic approach allows women to discover that even “what some would call the ‘boring passages of Leviticus’ take on new importance as we understand God’s purpose of protection and provision for women in that time and culture.”

Katie McCoy, a Ph.D. student and editor of Southwestern’s BiblicalWoman website and blog, took the class before but still plans to audit it for a “refresh of the content.” In juxtaposition with cultural trends among authors and bloggers to set the Old Testament and the New Testament up against each other, purporting to find inconsistencies and unresolved tensions, this class illuminates the seamless bond between the two sections of the Bible, McCoy explained.

“What is perhaps most valuable about this class is that you’ll learn to develop a non-contradictory view of womanhood,” McCoy said.

“So many times our misunderstanding of the Old Testament leads us to pit it against the New Testament or even believe that

God somehow changed his posture toward women before and after the time of Christ. This class equips women to think deeply about how God has revealed himself to women as well as his heart for women.”

The fall course, Biblical Theology of Womanhood 1, will survey the Old Testament. Biblical Theology of Womanhood 2 will focus on the New Testament and will be offered in spring 2015. Those auditing the course will not have homework assignments and will be able to access the lectures through Blackboard in real time or at their convenience by watching archived lectures. McCoy said this feature makes it a good fit for mothers who want to watch during children’s naptime or entire women’s ministries and small groups who wish to watch it together when they meet.

President Patterson says his class, which will also be available on campus or through Blackboard in real time or in archives, will be a relevant study appropriate for church members dealing with current-day issues.

“We are very hopeful that a large number of laypeople from the churches will take the online course on Romans either for credit or at least for audit,” Paige said.

“The contemporary church has a profound need to grasp the doctri-

nal teachings of the book of Romans. I believe that it will radically alter the lifestyles of our people to know what God says about the great issues of the day.”

Paige marveled that the Lord enabled writers to pen the Bible in such a way that its content is not bound by time or culture but appropriate and applicable to every person in every nation at every point in history and modernity.

“Reading a book that is nearly 2,000 years old might seem to be the historian’s playpen, but somehow under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul wrote a book that is more up to date than tomorrow’s newspaper,” Paige said.

“Unveiling what to think about almost every issue facing society and the church today is amazingly within your grasp in understanding the book of Romans. Far from being a laborious exercise in theoretical investigation of an ancient book, every second of class time will be dealing with the current issues of life and eternity. I pray that hundreds of our Texas Baptist people will join us for this study.”

To sign up for Romans, which begins Aug. 26, visit here. To sign up for Biblical Theology of Womanhood, which begins Aug. 21, visit here. Read more about the biblical womanhood class here.

AUGUST 20, 2014 TEXANONLINE.NET 11

AFRICANAMERICAN SERVES AS INTERIM PASTOR IN TOWN SCARRED

BY RACIAL VIOLENCE AND KKK ACTIVITY

By Paul F. South GRAND SALINE

The East Texas town of Grand Saline was once a hotbed of racist activity—

a place where African-Americans feared nightfall for the violence it might and did often bring. It was known as one of many “Sundown Towns.”

Today, however, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Church Planting Associate Richard Taylor, an African-American, serves the town’s Main Street Baptist Church as interim pastor. He calls it simply “a God thing.”

12 TEXANONLINE.NET AUGUST 20, 2014

PHOTOS BY RICK LINTHICUM

“As I served the church over the past year prior to being called there as interim pastor, God just began to join our hearts and unite our hearts together, so I knew that God was up to something,” Taylor said. “It wasn’t just because of the immediate love I had for them but the apparent love they had for me as well.”

Taylor spent a decade as director of evangelism for the Baptist Convention of New York and believes this latest calling on his life in Grand Saline has a twofold purpose: healing a broken church and healing a community shattered by a turbulent racial past.

“Even though I knew bits and pieces of their history,” Taylor said, “I felt that if God had placed me on their hearts that this was going to be a phenomenal God thing that would not only heal the church but also be the catalyst in the community for racial reconciliation.”

While the racial divide in Grand Saline is not as wide as it once was, it’s still a town, as recently as last month, haunted by its history.

The local newspaper, the Grand Saline Sun, reported on the suicide of a retired United Methodist pastor this past July who set himself afire and left behind a note expressing grief and guilt for not doing more to bring reconciliation in his hometown.

When Taylor met with church leaders at Main Street, he faced the racial issue head on.

“I refused to allow it to be the elephant in the room that everyone knew but no one was willing to address. So, we dealt with it—the implications of it— that it would be the talk of the town and the community for making such

“I REFUSED TO ALLOW IT TO BE THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM THAT EVERYONE KNEW BUT NO ONE WAS WILLING TO ADDRESS. SO, WE DEALT WITH IT—THE IMPLICATIONS OF IT—THAT IT WOULD BE THE TALK OF THE TOWN AND THE COMMUNITY FOR MAKING SUCH A BOLD STEP. BUT THEY WERE CLEAR THAT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT GOD HAD TOLD THEM AS A COMMITTEE AND AS A CHURCH AND THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO STEP OUT ON FAITH THAT I WAS THE MAN GOD HAD PLACED ON THEIR HEARTS TO LEAD THEM THROUGH THIS TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.” —RICHARD TAYLOR

a bold step. But they were clear that this is exactly what God had told them as a committee and as a church and that they were willing to step out on faith that I was the man God had placed on their hearts to lead them through this transitional period,” Taylor said.

Main Street endured a difficult period leading up to the decision to call Taylor in the interim role, in part because they lost their former pastor, who resigned in January for health reasons. The Grand Saline family was divided, hurting and broken, Taylor said.

“I knew coming in that the first thing we needed to do was to start liking each other and loving each other,” Taylor said. And out of the overflow of what God was doing in our individual lives, then we could start making a change in the community. So the greatest struggle, initially, was mending relationships. We’ve crossed that hurdle.

There’s an excitement and a zeal and an energy that did not exist when I got there.”

While Southern Baptists of Texas and Southern Baptist Convention churches are engaged in inten-

tional efforts—like the “Look Like Heaven” emphasis—to be more diverse in their congregations and in leadership, Taylor believes something else was at play in Grand Saline.

“I’m excited to be part of a convention that’s doing that,” Taylor said of convention cross-cultural efforts. “But I don’t think [this] had anything to do with any of that, in honesty. This was a pastor and people whom God, through his sovereign will, brought our paths together.”

Inside the walls at Main Street Baptist, the congregation has rediscovered its joy. Now, the church is focused on what Taylor terms “The Assignment,”—Christ’s Great Commission.

“I think my service there is bigger than just preaching and filling the pulpit. But God in his sovereign will is trying to unite mankind.”

In his short time as interim, Grand Saline has conducted a revival, called Revive Our City, aimed, Taylor said, at “Making Grand Saline Grand Again,”—all part of The Assignment.

AUGUST 20, 2014 TEXANONLINE.NET 13

And in his time at Main Street, Taylor has also seen the church’s attendance rise. Census figures indicate there are 20 African-American families in Grand Saline.

He wants to reach out not only to them but to all people, letting them know they are welcome not just to sit in the pews but to become part of the life of the church.

Many Baptist churches have plateaued, are declining or are dying because they refuse to do what Grand Saline’s Main Street church did—step out of their comfort zone and take a bold step, Taylor said. He bluntly told Main Street leaders that he was going to make them uncomfortable because he was different.

“I believe that’s what God wants to do: Shake us from our tradition,

14 TEXANONLINE.NET AUGUST 20, 2014

“I’VE NEVER BEEN LOVED MORE BY GOD’S PEOPLE

THAN I HAVE BEEN AT MAIN STREET.” —RICHARD TAYLOR

to shake us from our comfort and shake us from our sleeping, to help us to understand the urgency of doing The Assignment, which is to reach people and make disciples,” Taylor said. “I am excited. God is up to something in Grand Saline and in the Main Street Baptist Church. It’s just exciting to be a part of it.”

There is a lesson that comes from the Grand Saline story, Taylor said.

“Our history, as painful as it might be, is not a determination

for what God will do if we would make ourselves available.”

And, though Main Street Baptist may have stepped from its comfort zone, and as a result, God has used Richard Taylor to have an impact, Main Street Baptist has touched Taylor’s heart as well.

It’s an imprint a long way from Grand Saline’s days as a “Sundown Town.”

“I’ve never been loved more by God’s people than I have been at Main Street.”

Like Taylor said, it’s a God thing.

LOOK LIKE HEAVEN EMPHASIS MAKES STRIDES IN REMOVING RACIAL BARRIERS, RESTORING RELATIONS

By Paul F. South HEMPSTEAD

A town of 6,000, Hempstead, Texas, has made national news headlines for all the wrong reasons. Hempstead was known as a place where racial conflict routinely afflicted the community.

“There’s a lot of poverty, a lot of brokenness,” said Kevin Jordan, pastor of First Baptist Hempstead. “There are absentee parents and kids who are virtually homeless. We deal with those issues. All of that swarms together for a volatile situation that the church exists within.”

While First Baptist Hempstead is mostly white, the community is predominately African-American, Latino and Asian, changing over the years the way Texas has been transformed during the past three decades.

Jordan and his flock are trying to reach out to Hempstead, as Southern Baptists of Texas Convention churches across Texas seek to open arms and open doors to changing communities and changing cultures through the Look like Heaven emphasis, a five-year initiative that began in July. The goal of Look Like Heaven is to build cross-cultural relationships among SBTC pastors and churches, with the idea that greater diversity means greater opportunities for evangelism.

“We’re hoping to show some of the diversity that is and has grown in the last number of years and hopefully to foster those who may not have stepped outside that comfort zone to go ahead and do that,” said Barry Calhoun, director of mobilization and fellowships for the SBTC and leader of the Look Like Heaven emphasis.

As the face of Texas changes, the make-up of churches in the state needs to change as well, Calhoun said. Between 70 and 74 percent of SBTC churches are plateaued, declining or closing their doors, in part because those congregations have not reached out to their changing communities. Look Like Heaven hopes to change that.

Look Like Heaven began under the leadership of former SBTC President Terry Turner in an effort to make Texas churches look like the communities they serve and like the kingdom described in Revelation 7—a portrait of heaven that includes every race, ethnicity, tribe, tongue and people group.

“Hopefully this is a way to create and help foster some more inclusion in worship styles and in membership within some of our churches. If we can be intentional, hopefully we can break down any walls that may perhaps still exist out there in some areas and in some of the leadership we have,” Calhoun said. “I think that’s where Dr. Turner wants to go. Dr. Turner is really going all out.”

In Hempstead, the fields are ready for a Look Like Heaven-type harvest. The town is 50 percent Hispanic, 30 percent AfricanAmerican and 22 percent Anglo, with a smattering of Asian and other minorities.

According to LifeWay Research data published by the TEXAN last year, Southern Baptist churches do not mirror the larger comAUGUST 20, 2014 TEXANONLINE.NET 15

munity. According to the survey, 85 percent of pastors say the church should strive for racial diversity.

Yet, only 13 percent of pastors say they have more than one racial or ethnic minority in their congregations.

The numbers may make the dream seem light years away. But Turner, pastor of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church, believes progress is being made. On a national level, SBC Executive Committee President Frank Page has taken steps to reach across ethnic and racial lines by initiating advisory councils for several ethnic groups.

“The main initiative is for us to get to know each other in a better way,” Turner said. “I think so often when you are part of a majorityorganized and-run convention, ethnicities that are minorities don’t always feel like their styles of worship, their methods of serving the Lord are always a part of the conventional movement. ... Too often, we don’t know one another or make allowances for worship differences.”

Jordan learned a valuable lesson in his first year in Hempstead. Last March, a traditional four-night revival drew Anglo worshippers but did not accomplish a goal of drawing in African-American and Latino residents of Hempstead to hear the gospel.

“We drew in Anglos, and we were glad to have them, but we didn’t accomplish our goal,” Jordan said.

Later, at a basketball tournament where his daughter was playing, Jordan noted that many in the African-American community flocked to the event, staying for every game. That sparked the idea for a church-sponsored three-on-three basketball tournament.

On a recent Sunday, a young man who played in that tournament, 16 TEXANONLINE.NET AUGUST 20, 2014

“WE HAVE TO HAVE A TRUE, DOWN TO EARTH CONVERSATION ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS PEOPLE AND WHO WE ARE AS CHRISTIANS, BECAUSE I WOULD IMAGINE THAT EVEN TODAY, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO QUESTION THE VALIDITY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVING HUMANITY. THOSE IDEAS ARE BAD THEOLOGY. IT’S BAD DOCTRINE. IT’S BAD STUFF THAT WAS EMBRACED DURING THAT TIME (IN THE PAST) THAT HAS TO BE OVERCOME.” —TERRY TURNER

where the gospel was presented, received Christ. It’s a victory in a town where wins come hard. Jordan’s efforts to reach Hempstead in a variety of ways—from attending school board meetings, visiting with African-American pastors and even writing a newspaper column—have come with unexpected challenges. A young man who attended a service at Jordan’s church was asked to leave because of a behavior issue. The result? Jordan received a death threat.

“That would be a surprise—the volatility of that situation and the enemy’s use of that volatility,” Jordan said.

But there are more victories than ominous surprises these days in Hempstead.

“I have African-American friends in town who call me their pastor even though they’ve never been to our church,” Jordan said.

Turner and Jordan have partnered together as part of Look Like Heaven, preaching to each other’s congregation, igniting a serious conversation on race and ethnicity within their sermons.

“For me, it’s depended on being a little more sensitive to the kinds of questions that our people need to be asking and answering,” Jordan said. “The divide in our churches is evidence to our culture that we

don’t have a better handle on this than they do. That’s an affront to the gospel. That’s really a problem when even in our churches we can’t answer and effectively deal with the race issue.”

Turner, whose parents were born near the turn of the last century at the peak of the Jim Crow South, believes there are remnants of the segregationist past that the church must overcome.

“We have to have a true, downto-earth conversation about who we are as people and who we are as Christians. Because the history of the American culture has messed us up racially, I would imagine that even today there are unconverted people who question the validity of African-Americans having full humanity. These kinds of stereotypes and misnomers have been associated with America’s past bad theological beliefs. It’s bad doctrine. The residuals of America’s past negative thought patterns have to be overcome as we move forward.”

Turner believes that if his parents were alive today, they would be encouraged by the SBTC’s Look Like Heaven emphasis.

“Twenty or thirty years ago, we would never talk about something like this—Look Like Heaven. But today it’s possible because our communities are changing. “(My

parents) would have loved it. They would have thought it was a great advancement for the society. They would have said ‘things are looking up.’”

Even in Hempstead, a place with a troubled racial history and the recent death threat toward Jordan, things are looking brighter. Jordan’s congregation has embraced efforts to reach the wider community that has the complexion of the old Sunday School song: “Red, brown, yellow, black and white…”

“We are an Anglo church attempting to reach an ethnic community,” Jordan said. “We don’t have the answer for that. We have

simply applied ourselves to taking the gospel to whoever will hear it from us. That’s as much of this story as we have. We have a lot of African-American kids and a lot of Latino kids. But we don’t have this thing figured out. We know only that we have made progress in being able to have a voice.

“When we look at reaching our community, the Look Like Heaven campaign is simply reaching our community as it is. It’s a gospel application. We are an Anglo church in a diverse area, and we need to reach those folks (of other ethnicities).

“The Look Like Heaven initiative

“WHEN WE LOOK AT REACHING OUR COMMUNITY, THE LOOK LIKE HEAVEN CAMPAIGN IS SIMPLY REACHING OUR COMMUNITY AS IT IS. IT’S A GOSPEL APPLICATION.” —KEVIN JORDAN

is our obligation to take the gospel to everyone. That’s the message I would want people to take from this.”

AUGUST 20, 2014 TEXANONLINE.NET 17

Matt Queen

Ann Coulter is almost right. Missionaries are “idiotic” fools … for Christ’s sake.

C

hristian narcissism annoys Ann Coulter. In a recent column, “Ebola Doc’s Condition Downgraded to ‘Idiotic,’” Ms. Coulter opines about the missionary work of a Samaritan’s Purse affiliated doctor and a SIM USA affiliated nurse in Africa by asking: “Why did Dr. Brantly [and his nurse] have to go to Africa? … Can’t anyone serve Christ in America anymore?”

She contends: “If Dr. Brantly had practiced at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles and turned one single Hollywood power-broker to Christ, he would have done more good for the entire world than anything he could accomplish in a century spent in Liberia. … If he had provided health care for the uninsured editors, writers, videographers and pundits in Gotham and managed to open one set of eyes, he would have done more good than marinating himself in medieval diseases of the Third World.”

According to Ms. Coulter, a new kind of narcissism has emerged among Christians.

Any honest Christian would admit that the rise of celebrity pastors and the tendency to promote theologies based more on one’s self than one’s Bible have contributed to a frustrating form of Christian narcissism.

However, it’s another kind of so-called “Christian narcissism” that annoys Ms. Coulter these days. Ann Coulter is annoyed by a “Christian narcissism” that she perceives encourages Christians to retreat from the casualties they have incurred in the American culture wars. Having abandoned the fight because of battle fatigue and name calling, she says, these AWOL Christian “soldiers” 18 TEXANONLINE.NET AUGUST 20, 2014

travel overseas on mission trips so they can do good things that will help them feel better about themselves and their Christianity.

She writes: “[That’s] why American Christians go on “mission trips” to disease-ridden cesspools. They’re tired of fighting the culture war in the U.S., tired of being called homophobes, racists, sexists and bigots. So they slink off to Third World countries, away from American culture to do good works.”

Ms. Coulter’s disturbing comments have managed to raise the ire of many Christians across the nation, including this Southern Baptist.

Do growing numbers of Christians appear to be abandoning the culture wars here in America? Yes, they do. Should this fact disturb the Christian community and encourage us to get back into the culture war fight? Yes, it should. Does the fact that fewer Christians are fighting the culture wars mean that overwhelming scores of them now flood the international fields? Certainly, no, it does not.

Although I do not know the extent to which Dr. Kent Brantly and Nurse Nancy Writebol intentionally proclaimed the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ while serving in Monrovia, Liberia, I do train and personally know intentionally gospel-proclaiming missionaries on international fields across the globe. As recently as last week, I spoke with a missionary family who just moved overseas to do good work by sharing the good news. Ms. Coulter may be surprised that these missionaries were met with name-calling from some of the nationals among whom they now live. Wherever they go, they cannot escape being called names, either by some prejudiced overseas nationals, by enemies in the American culture wars, or by a provocative, conservative talking-head.

These missionaries, and others like them, have not retreated from “the culture war in the U.S.” to do good works in order to feel better about themselves. They have heard Jesus’ command to his disciples: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19); and yes, Ms. Coulter, “all nations” includes Monrovia, Liberia.

These missionaries endeavor to do more than merely leave the comforts of “American culture” to perform good works for others elsewhere; they endeavor to do the best work of all everywhere in making disciples of Jesus.

Anticipating this response, Ms. Coulter appeals to the Bible: “The same Bible that commands us to ‘go ye into all the world and preach the gospel’ also says: ‘For there will never cease to be poor in the land.’ Therefore I command

you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’”

While utilizing the spirit of Deuteronomy 15:11 throughout her article, Ms. Coulter fails to address how she also incorporates Mark 16:15 in it. Christians must incorporate and apply Deuteronomy 15:11 here in America, but they must not dismiss Mark 16:15 abroad as Ann Coulter argues because a greater threat than an Ebola epidemic exists. Ms. Coulter correctly explains: “Ebola [an incurable disease with a 90 percent fatality rate] kills only the body.”

However, sin has a much greater fatality rate and kills more than the body … it ravages the soul.

A greater threat than an Ebola epidemic exists.

Humans contract Ebola from bodily fluids, but sin infects us all (Romans 3:10, 23). Sin’s remedy cannot be found in experimental drugs or isolation from others. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, offers the only cure when anyone repents and believes that his substitutionary death on the cross for our sins, his burial in the tomb, and His resurrection from the dead alone can and will save him. However, in order for people to repent and to believe, they must hear the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:13). They must hear the good news, Ms. Coulter, and if we do not go, they will not hear.

Ms. Coulter’s contention of “idiocy” among American Christians does not appear to be specifically with an Ebola-infected doctor and his nurse; rather, this “idiocy” extends generally to so-called “narcissistic” Christians who dare to make Jesus’ command to his disciples their mission. Are vocational and/or short-term missionaries “idiotic” fools, as Ms. Coulter contends? If you ask me, I defer to the response of the apostle Paul to similar critics in his day.

He wrote, “We are fools for Christ’s sake … we are without honor” (1 Corinthians 4:10). So, yes, vocational missionaries and those of us who serve overseas as short-term missionaries are fools— fools receiving no respect from the world, all for the sake of Christ.

—This article first appeared at theologicalmatters.com. Matt Queen is assistant professor of evangelism and associate dean for doctoral programs in the Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He also occupies the seminary’s L.R. Scarborough Chair of Evangelism.

Mark Coppenger

A word for Ann Coulter and her critics

S

ome declare or imply that Ann Coulter is not a Christian because of her recent harsh words for the short-term missionary doctor who contracted Ebola and for the often acerbic tone of her columns. Who knows? But I have heard her express the gospel in uncompromising terms, and I admire her pointed and frequently insightful speech in a universe of political correctness and charm offensives.

What I do know is that the church folks who condemn her would have to jettison much of the church if they consistently applied the standards they impose on her for kingdom membership. And I offer some observations that might help to put her words in perspective. In this, I speak as frequent short-term missionary, with tours in Eastern and Western Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and South America, as well as around the U.S. Along the way, I’ve managed to contract Hepatitis A from filthy food, to be bitten by a rat in my hotel bed and to be confined to quarters by local police anxious over Muslim backlash. I suppose I should be offended by Coulter’s dismissive remarks, but I think they’re helpfully provocative. So let me pitch in with a word to both Ann and her critics.

To Ann’s Critics 1 Christians talk this way all the time. In calling Dr. Brantley “narcissistic” and “idiotic,” she joins countless Christians who size up their fellow believers’ behaviors and ministries with such expressions as “What were they thinking?!”; “How gutless was that?” The prompt can be any number of things—a mother who insists on keeping a screaming baby in the church service; a pastor who offers himself up for humiliation (e.g., a pie in the face) if the church reaches its high-attendance goal; a mom who brings her dysenteric child to Vacation Bible School; a church that mortgages itself to the hilt to fund a lavish auditorium; a youth director who serves saltines and Coke on a retreat to make the Lord’s Supper more “relevant.” We’re always hacking AUGUST 20, 2014 TEXANONLINE.NET 19

on each other, though, albeit, not as publically as did Ms. Coulter.

2 Some short-term missionary work is expensive fluff. Having been on the giving and receiving end, I can say that there are participants as much concerned with a cool trip, a time of rugged testing, bucket-list check-off, herd solidarity, spousal pressure, credential building or even romance prospecting. These trips can tap funds better used elsewhere and inconvenience the full-timers on the field, with little kingdom impact.

3 Samaria and the Uttermosts are, indeed, cooler than Jerusalem.

Some people who get excited about street witnessing in Central America wouldn’t cross the street to witness to their American neighbors. The former gives you status back home; the latter could make you a social pariah. And while it doesn’t cost you anything to sing Amazing Grace under a village tree in central Africa, putting a Bible verse up in your office cubicle or writing a letter to the editor on gay marriage could cost you a promotion or friendships. On their return, we give missionaries a chance report before the church, pictures included. Meanwhile, the wife who graciously suffers the crushing sullenness of a hateful husband in hopes that he and the children will be saved and blessed gets no acclaim. The conscientious and cheerful Christian bus driver doesn’t get his night at church to show selfies of his on-time arrival at work on a day when he didn’t feel good.

4 Evangelicals have undermined the notion of calling. It used to be easier to say that Dr. Brantley felt called to do his dangerous medical mission work in Africa. Now, 20 TEXANONLINE.NET AUGUST 20, 2014

many find such talk to be piously gaseous, dangerously mystical and irritatingly presumptuous. Paul may have had his supernatural Macedonian call, but, in our day, we’re supposed to limit ourselves to thoughtful assessment of our how we might “maximize our ministry” according to some sort of career calculus. We shouldn’t be so hard on Coulter when she tries to do the math by the algorithms we’ve adopted.

To Ann:

1 Jesus is the Light of the World. Of course, Brantley’s Texas is part of that world, but there’s a lot of light there already compared some very dark places on earth. That’s why Jesus gave us

in the public square. And look at Franklin Graham, who heads Samaritan’s Purse. He’s known both for his fearless utterances regarding America and his mercy projects overseas.

3 Short-term missions generates long-term discipleship.

As a young pastor, I led several groups to the Amazon region of Brazil, where we preached the gospel, showed the Jesus Film, did door-to-door witness, built churches, pulled teeth and did surgery. I think we did some good for the Brazilians. I know we did a lot of good for our folks, who grew substantially, whatever their initial motivation for going. As one of our trainers observed, “Get your people overseas on a mission trip,

“JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. OF COURSE, BRANTLEY’S TEXAS IS PART OF THAT WORLD.” the Great Commission to spread the Word around. Besides, as our nation sinks into a post-Christian morass, we may well need fresh Christian light from the mission field, reminding us of the truth and power of Scripture. For instance, “backward” Episcopalians in Africa are reminding their “progressive” American counterparts that Romans 1 is still in the Holy Bible.

(By the way, as my daughter observed, Ms. Coulter should be thankful that some “idiotic” Christians from the Middle East brought the gospel to her European forebears.)

2 It’s both/and. Watch the Southern Baptists: They field a large foreign mission force, with thousands of short term volunteers while bearing the good witness back home, whether as evangelists, disaster relievers, marriage counselors or prophetic voices

and they’ll discover they’re eagles rather than turkeys. Once they get back, it’ll be hard to keep them out of the air.” Amen.

4 Missions can make you more conservative. A little exposure to physical and social conditions in the “developing world” can give you a better perspective on the nature of poverty, the status of women, and the cause of multiculturalism, making you less susceptible to over-the-top pronouncements on the “horrors” of America.

PS: God “owns the cattle on a thousand hills,” and he can fund his good work, including rescue jets for his saints felled in the line of duty.

—Mark Coppenger is professor of Christian apologetics at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and managing editor of the online Kairos Journal.