Letters to the Editor

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.

BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS

Thanks

Thank you, John Sullivan, for your Feb. 16 article providing a synopsis of the work of Baptist associations and their autonomous relation to the Florida Baptist Convention. Crucial to the effectiveness of the local association is the participation of 1) pastors, 2) certain church staff, and 3) lay representatives. These need to be present at Executive Committee meetings as reports of ministries are shared and future strategies planned. We do make time for things that are important to us. Missions is of paramount importance to us. This begins with one another, the stronger lending a hand to the weaker as we – together – go into our Jerusalem and beyond. It begins with the association of churches. We can accomplish more through prayer and cooperation – together – than we could ever accomplish alone. The association is not another mission project. The association is who we are, helping strengthen existing churches while planting new churches – together!

J. David Southerland Florida Baptist Association, Tallahassee

MUSICAL MUSH?

Other thoughts

First, while I agree with Mr. Colson (Feb. 16) that theological content is of prime importance in the selection of worship music, there are times when a song like “Draw Me Close” is entirely appropriate. Worship is a wonderful rhythm of revelation of God to us and our response to Him. If “Draw Me Close” is preceded by worship elements which reveal to us the glory and majesty of God, then this song serves well as a response of desire for fellowship with the Father. The simple lyrics remind me of David’s longing for God’s presence in Psalm 51, and Peter’s reply to Jesus, “Lord, to whom would we go?” Second, repetition has a place in worship. Jesus’ words of worshiping in spirit and truth, and Paul’s admonition to sing with the Spirit and understanding point to the need for worship involving the whole person. Used wisely, repetition gives truth time to seep from the cognitive to the intuitive, from the head to the heart, from understanding to spirit. Third, worship and unity are inextricably linked in Scripture. When I encounter something in worship to which I have trouble relating, an edifying response would be to pray that God would use it to “draw close” my fellow worshippers who do relate to that particular expression. If I believe theology is in error, voicing my concern privately to the worship leader will help to preserve the unity of the congregation, my relationship with the leader, and possibly will be productive!

Bill Davis Tallahassee

EVOLUTION

‘Fails on all counts’

Thank you for publishing two, good articles on Intelligent Design (March 2). It is interesting to note that the two participants in the “Debating Design” forum were a mathematician and philosopher vs. a biological philosopher. Based on their expertise, the evolutionist biological philosopher should have conceded before they started because there are no credible fossils that are transitional from one kind to another, and the transition by blind chance from fish to philosopher is statistically impossible. Incidentally, it is an outrage that our Florida Sunshine State Standard for Science (SC.F.2.3.4) requires students to “know that the fossil record provides evidence that changes in the kinds of plants and animals in the environment have been occurring over time.” During this session of the Florida State Legislature, parents should be requesting their legislators to enact legislation requiring that no scientific concept or theory be taught as established fact that has not been verified by the scientific method – observed, repeated, and tested. Evolution fails on all counts.

Philip McDaniel Milton

POSTMODERN SPIRITUALITY

Thanks

Thank you for publishing the Baptist Press article on Donald Whitney’s presentation on “Postmodern Spirituality” at Southern Seminary’s Collegiate Conference. Like Whitney, some of us have been troubled by the way in which a presumed “relevancy” to the postmodern culture has of late become the sole criterion for determining the value of any church practice or spiritual experience. Donald Whitney sounds a much-needed corrective (and one which for Baptists should need no defense) when he says: “The Bible is the measure of the validity of any spiritual experience….”

R. Wayne Stacy, PhD Jacksonville

REPORTING NEWS

Thanks

Thanks, Florida Baptist Witness, for the terrific job you do in reporting the “real” news on such tough issues as the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, homosexuality, and faithfulness to the Bible. The March 9th issue was chock full of solid information on these topics. It is hard to understand why approximately half of most church congregations vote for middle-of-the-road or outright “liberal” politicians who bow to the very forces that are chipping away at our religious rights and family values. I am often dismayed to talk to other churchgoers who vote either Democratic or Republican simply “because they always have” rather than studying the candidates and issues that should matter more to us as God’s children and servants than what they promise for our economy. However, here’s a challenge for married Christian couples: As we fight to preserve traditional marriage between a man and a woman, let God help you in sticking through the hard times! At a divorce rate of 51 percent within the church, we can’t exactly prove to the world that gay marriage will unravel traditional marriage. It seems we’re doing a fine job of it ourselves.

Sheryl Young Tampa

PUBLIC EDUCATION

Secular worldview

Concerning the article by Edward E. Gamble (“A new ‘public’ school system?” Feb. 23), I agree with him 100 percent. Mr. Gamble expressed the feelings my wife and I have towards education. Two years before our child began kindergarten we prayed about where to send our child for his education. This was a tough decision because private school is expensive and we live in an area with good public schools. However, when you understand that all school does is indoctrinate a person with certain beliefs and opinions then the choice is clear, we wanted our child to learn the same thing at home, school and church to help him develop a biblical worldview instead of a secular worldview. The information Mr. Gamble provided should shake all Christians with children in public schools to their core.

Robert K. Baird Valrico