Perception is reality, and the immersionists might be losing - or are we all losing?
While I've been concentrating on whether Darrel Adams, or Keith Hinson, is the one telling the truth in the NBC vs. SBC saga, Jennifer has been concentrating on more basic issues:
Everyone in the crowd that day got water. The Anheuser-Busch water got distributed. But the thing is, it's not about the water. That's what Jesus was trying to tell the Pharisees. It's about an attitude that fails to look deep enough into the hearts of hurting people to see what they see. To look at it from the perspective of one who has never tasted a drop of Living Water and, sadly, they never will.
On the one hand - Did the Baptists arm the Enemy?
She may have a point, judging from some of the coverage resulting from this episode. I'll grant that some of these people are probably looking for any excuse to slam Christianity or some subset thereof, but you have to admit that there are a lot of comments along these lines.
Alabama Baptists Refuse to Give Water to Katrina Victims....Filed under Hypocrisy, poor, Baptists....As one whose family was kicked out of a Southern Baptist church in the 60’s because my dad went to work for Joseph Schlitz brewery, I’ll admit my bias!...
Ok, folks, these religious right groups are just going too far. Some might argue that they've BEEN going too far for a while now, and that may be true, but recent happenings have started to really set me off....
What the junk is that about? Is a stand for pharisaical pseudo-righteousness in the face of need going to impact a world for Christ? Is there ANYTHING at all Christ-like about a group choosing not to give water because of the presence of a label from a beer manufacturer?
Gotta love those "ABC" (Anything But Christ-like) Christians. I suppose that denying food and water to those in need is part of God's plan to teach Christianity.
On the other hand - Even if the Baptists sinned, is this news?
Meanwhile, look at it from the Southern Baptist point of view. They volunteer their time, they provide hurricane relief, and they get criticized in every direction. And that's the thanks they get? Here's what Rose of Sharon said:
I live in Ft. Myers, Florida....Southern Baptist[s] are one of the first responders in the time of a national crisis. They work in conjunction with the Red Cross. Not only do they provide food, clothing, showers...etc, they also present the gospel of Jesus Christ in these crisis times....No one went thirsty because they chose not to use the water from Anheiser Busch, there was water given out by Southern Baptist, just not the water from alcohol producers....These good folks, that leave their homes, usually from other states and freely give of their time and monies to help out those in need, in my opinion, did the right thing. The Southern Baptist are not saying...too bad, thirst to death. They are the ones there helping. I live about 50 miles from Clewiston, hundreds of Semi-truck loads of water, ice and food have passed my way headed in that direction. They acted very much as Jesus would have wanted them to act. They didn't condem[n] anyone for taking the water from the Red Cross....
roseofSharon54
Very proud to be a Baptist
ps: Don't believe everything in the media. They won't tell the whole story. They will always major on the negative...go see for yourself the great work all relief agencies are doing in Florida and along the northern Gulf Coast states. Last year when this area was hit by 4 major hurricanes, I took a group of teenagers to Punta Gorda Florida to help. The Southern Baptist from all over American were there, and they were the first to get there as well.
In essence, it's quite literally a case of "damned if you do." The Baptists are being judged according to the Law, and as we all know, humankind has proven itself pretty incapable of keeping the law.
So, even assuming that NBC is right and Keith Hinson is lying, is it really that newsworthy to report that Baptists sin? (It's kinda like saying that night is dark.) Why are atheists and some Christians judging the Baptists and finding them wanting? How many Southern Baptists will refuse to participate in future relief efforts because of all the criticism they've received over this one?
Conclusion
It's a tough call. Yes, this episode (which may or may not have happened) is giving people a fresh chance to slam Christians for their deeds not matching their words. Yet, even if the criticism is justified, is it appropriate? Will it have a positive impact on the workings of the Great Commission, or will it cause Southern Baptists and others to retreat from the mandate of the Great Commission because of the grief that the world...and the church...has heaped on them?
Questions to ponder:
- Should the Southern Baptists cease all relief efforts?
- Should the Southern Baptists continue their relief efforts, but put their relief workers under the control of People for the American Way managers, handing out water, ice, and condoms?
- Should the Southern Baptists continue to manage their own relief workers, but set up kegs at relief sites?
- Should the Southern Baptists change their position on alcohol just because a lot of Christians say they should?
- And as long as we're at it, should Catholic priests be allowed to smoke crack and practice polygamy?
Too bad the Ontario Vineyard Village Association restricts itself to business matters - it would have a LOT of fun setting up a politically correct religious movement.
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