Letters to the Editor

Published August 4, 2005

Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 250 words.

CATHOLICISM

‘Romanist’ church

I was reading Don Walton’s article on Pope John Paul (April 28). As I read I wondered why so many Baptists refuse to confront the lies and dangerous teachings of the Catholic church. In previous times, the great evangelists termed the Catholic church “Romanist.” The “Romanist” church teaches a gospel of works, a second chance in “purgatory,” baptismal regeneration, Mary being virgin-born, papal infallibility and substitution for Christ (which fits the description of anti-Christ) and much more. We cannot consider the Roman church as a partner in the Gospel. It rejects the Gospel and incorporates paganism. It leads people to hell. It is more popular to stand against homosexuality and liberalism (as we should), but Romanism is just as bad and deadly.

Pete Garbacki
Spring Hill

CHURCH HEALTH

Unhealthy symptoms

First, please accept my sincere appreciation for splendid leadership in the production of our Witness.

In the July 14 issue, I read the statement by the new pastor at Bellevue, in Memphis, Steve Gaines: “We need to stop talking about church growth; we need to talk about church health. A healthy church will grow.”

Many of our churches are in poor (spiritual) health. In my readings and observations over the past few years, I have discerned a “symptomology” in these churches. The three most conspicuous indicators seem to me to be: (1) Relatively low percentage of tithing members; (2) Relatively low percentage of church budget designated or missions and other forms of outreach; (3) Relatively low percentage of church members who attend Sunday School on a regular basis. I have not (yet) attempted to relate these symptoms to the degree of sound biblical preaching in such churches. Most of us will agree that this is a vital factor in the formula.

The church of our Lord and Savior will never have a strong voice in dealing biblically with the array of moral and cultural sins that are besetting our nation–and the world–until we get prayerfully serious about treating our “poor health.”

Let us pray, and fervently so.

John D. Smith
Winter Haven

DUAL ALIGNMENT

SBC, CBF

As the pastor of a church dually-aligned with the SBC and CBF it is always difficult to explain to church members the on-going rift between the two entities. We get along at our church and believe that the Kingdom of God is much larger than the SBC or CBF. Therefore, we support both in their missionary endeavors.

Articles like the July 14 Baptist Press article “CBF removes reference to Jesus in purpose statement” create confusion. Some wonder why CBF no longer believes in Jesus. Others wonder why two prominent leaders in the SBC (Moore and Mohler) would take petty potshots at CBF.

We just baptized several new believers in Jesus Christ and returned from a mission trip to one of the poorest districts in the United States where Jesus was shared. We love Jesus and serve him faithfully.

Interestingly, a quick glance at the original SBC charter and SBC constitution reveals language similar to what the CBF Assembly just voted to accept. Jesus is not mentioned in the SBC purpose statements either. Does this mean the “eclipse of Christ” in the SBC? Why don’t some more mature leaders in the SBC tell Moore and Mohler and the Baptist Press to get over the CBF-bashing? Why continue this animosity? Why disrupt my church family? Why not join us in reaching people for Jesus? After all, it’s His church and His kingdom we are all a part of.

Gregory C. Magruder
Gainesville

MODESTY

Parents at fault

Are there any mom’s out there that feel frustrated each time they take their teenage daughter shopping? What has happened to modesty in our nation? What has happened to modesty in our churches?

I am a mother who is fed up with the fashion industry promoting less and less fabric and more and more skin. An industry that is more concerned with making our girls feel the need to be “sexy” instead of special. I have a 14 year old daughter that is a wonderful, godly young woman who I am very proud of, but even she pushes very hard to be like all her friends. She has great friends-good girls, but they are also influenced greatly by the media and what adults are trying to sell them.

When are we “adults” going to grow up and actually instill in our young people that it is what is on the inside that matters most? When are we going to stop being intimidated by our children and take the position of parent again? When are Christian parents going to stand up for godly modesty again?

Just go to any Mall and look around-for that matter go to any church on Sunday and look around. There you will see shirts and pants that are skin tight revealing everything God has blessed them with, skirts and shorts that are so short that they have to sit down carefully to not flash others those most private parts that most people really don’t want to see, and bare bellies with all kinds of jewelry displayed. Why do they dress this way? I would like to suggest that it is not all their fault. I believe the fault lies in mothers and fathers who have bought into the lie that their child will not be popular if they do not dress sexy and who allow their children to dictate what they will buy. These kids don’t usually have money of their own so who is buying these “hoochie” clothes? Yep, that’s right, their parents! When are we going to wake up? If we are to raise girls with a sense of real self-worth, a self-worth that is much more than skin deep, we must stop buying the clothes that are “in style” and declare to the fashion industry loud and clear that we are fed up. The question really is: Are you fed up or complacent? What message do you want to give your daughter? I want my daughter to know that I love her more than I love the approval of her friends and her friend’s parents. My goal is to be the parent that teaches her daughter that she can be beautiful without compromising modesty. I hope that more mothers will join me in this goal.

Terri Mathews
Milton

Links of Interest

How to become a Christian

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