Baptists from across the nation gathered in Atlanta around of theme of “Unity in Christ” and for all practical purposes pull it off to the amazement of some and to the joy of most. There has been much controversy at times in Texas over the meaning and agenda of the New Baptist Covenant meeting coordinated by President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Jimmy Allen. Some fear this meeting was nothing more than a smoke screen to give Democrats access to “preach” to Baptists about their vision of America.
Although I did not have the privilege of attending the meeting in person by the modern miracle of technology I watched the keynote speakers presentations and sermons. I must admit I was pleasantly surprise at the tenor of the meeting and at times deeply moved by the challenges. If you had to select one message to watch I would recommend the message by Tony Campolo from Eastern University. However, I must warn you that you would be wise to wear “steel-toed” boots because he preached in the manner of Old Testament prophet Amos calling for us to rise up out of our middle class delusions and be the people of God in the world.
One of the highlights of the meeting was the “preaching” of President Bill Clinton. In my opinion where you like him or not, President Clinton is one of the most remarkable politicians of our day, and in this setting he challenged Baptists of all colors and persuasions to reach out to each other. He quoted the words of Paul who wrote:
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (I Corinthians 13:12 KJV)
Clinton observed the reason love is so critical among brothers and sisters in Christ are the fact we do “see through a glass, darkly”…we all think we are right, and yet the harsh reality is that we simply “know in part” on this side of eternity. Moderates and Conservatives play the game “king of the hill” with truth and values, but the fact of the matter could be we are both “right” and we are both “wrong”. We need to move toward “both/and” thinking instead of “either/or”. We need to embrace our differences and seek “win/win” solutions to most of our problems.
As a wise old politician President Clinton challenged Moderate and Conservative Baptists alike with these penetrating words:
“We have to find things we can do together, and we have to treat them with respect and honor. We must approach those who disagree with outstretched hands, not a clenched fist.”
As hard as it may be for some to admit it, I believe Clinton is right. We must find things we can do together and the list is long when our hearts are in the right place.
As the NBC closed, the question of the day revolved around whether we witness a wonderful “moment” in Baptist history or the beginning of a “movement”. I hope and pray we witnessed the birth of a movement that will inspire us to lay aside our differences and rally together for the sake of the Kingdom of God on earth.
May our prayer continue to be:
Thy Kingdom come and thy will be done…on earth as it is in heaven!
Especially among Baptists!
Thanks for the excellent and fair reflection on the gathering. It is too bad you could not make it in person as it was a truly wonderful time of fellowshipping and worshipping with fellow Baptists. I pray that this will only be the beginning of greater unity and willingness to work together for the Gospel.
David:
Thanks for your reflections on this meeting. It was truly a blessing to be a part of such a great gathering of God’s people. The diversity was refreshing, exhilarating, and, at times, challenging. But then again … I’ve always loved a good challenge (that’s why I love pastoring!).
Anyway … thanks for your open and honest evaluation. It means a lot to me coming from you.
blessings,
ellis
I must admit, I have had trouble since the very beginning getting past the political shadow that Clinton, Carter and Gore cast on this event. I’d originally been told that they were there for the press attention “to help draw a crowd.” With the attendance and participation being about half of what they originally estimated, it would seem that wasn’t necessary. In the long run, they all pretty much managed to stay away from the political remarks and statements during the celebration itself, with the exception of a couple of things that Gore and Carter managed to slip in, but their presence caused the secular press to bill the event as a left wing counter weight to the religious right. That’s the image that most people have, with the exception of those who participated.
Getting a rather diverse group of Baptists together for a meeting in the same room was an accomplishment worthy of note. Whether they move forward to closer cooperation as a result remains to be seen. Baptists value their independence and autonomy, and moves toward greater cooperation are slow to start, and slow to progress. And in terms of racial reconciliation, as Baptists we are behind most other Christian denominational groups. But somewhere, at some point, someone has to take the initiative.
I would encourage those who have supported this new Baptist covenant to take one further step, which I believe would help unify Baptists around their faith in Christ and their foundation in scripture, and that is to add the tragedy of abortion to their list of social injustices. If your heart goes out to the victims of war, it should go out to the millions of unborn children whose eyes were never opened to see the light of day. Say what you want about politics, the silence of the New Baptist Covenant on this tragedy is a political statement. Surely, those Baptists also believe in the sanctity of human life.
Ellis Orozco, I think you were one of the brightest stars in Atlanta last week.
Lee, I think you’ve missed the point. The Celebration was all about coming together in unity around the things that unite us, not the things that divide us. Dr. Walter Shurden put it in perspective at the Mainstream Baptist Network breakfast. Calling our attention to Luke 4:18-19 (the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry) and Matthew 25:31-46 (just a few days before Jesus went to the cross), he said, “This is what Jesus took seriously….This is Bible stuff, not political stuff….This is not a Democratic or Republican agenda; this is Jesus’ agenda.” For too long Baptists have fought about things that Jesus didn’t talk about.
As to the press billing it a left wing counter weight, can you cite your evidence? As a trained journalist, I was very interested in how the secular press would report it, whether reporters would “get it.” Certainly the presence of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and many other major American daily newspapers was due to the presence of Carter, Clinton and Gore. That they gave the entire event such serious and comprehensive coverage was the big surprise. I tried to read all the stories I could find online. THE ONLY PLACE I saw the word “liberal” was in reporting SBC criticism.
Last Saturday the New York Times article and photo stretched across the top of 5 columns. The headline read, “30 Baptist Groups Build a Bridge Toward Unity/Meeting Transcends Politics and Race.” The accompanying cutline read, “Almost 15,000 Baptists met this week in Atlanta for the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant, putting aside theological and political differences. Southern Baptist leaders criticized the effort.”
Just food for thought,
You said:
Although I did not have the privilege of attending the meeting in person by the modern miracle of technology I watched the keynote speakers presentations and sermons.
Imagine if this was planned to be a technological event rather than an attempt to show “power in numbers”. Think of how much more effective and less political it could have been!