Parham gearing up for 2011

[Stephen Fox]

Pays Tribute to President Carter:

http://www.ethicsdaily.com/2011-new-bap ... -cms-16874

[Jim]

Pays Tribute to President Carter:

http://www.ethicsdaily.com/2011-new-bap ... -cms-16874

Given the context of the scripture to be used in the 2011 version of the NBCC, it is amazing that these people could have chosen it. It comprises the words of Jesus when he made it plain that this scripture was fulfilled in him and only in him. When he elaborated on his words, he was banished from the town and manhandled to a hill for a Muslim-like execution (remember Saddam and his sentencing of people to be thrown from the roofs), but he shook off his captors and walked away.

One could hardly conjure up a more self-serving screed than this one by Parham of the renowned ETHICS DAILY.com. He wrote this: “But robust moral advocacy and muscular collaboration will be mostly missing, except for a few organizations with a pan-Baptist vision and purpose such as EthicsDaily.com …” Far from being a unifier of Baptists, the Carter-led NBCC is divisive, one reason being his insistence that same-sex unions should be certified legally in each state, another way of approving homosexual behavior at a time when the military has been forced by a female judge to get relief from the courts for its own policy based on facts/experience/common-sense.

To be even more divisive though more to the point, Carter could have chosen as the new theme the words of Jesus found in Matthew 11:21-24. That ought to set the brethren’s teeth on edge while at the same time remarking the growing impotence of a church collective that is so caught up in political correctness that it may soon forswear the Bible in favor of the NFL Drug Policy.

Ah well…Parham noted that Carter walked briskly, as opposed to staggering-in one supposes, so he did at least report a world-shaking event.

[KeithE]

Pays Tribute to President Carter:

http://www.ethicsdaily.com/2011-new-bap ... -cms-16874

Given the context of the scripture [Luke 4:18-19]to be used in the 2011 version of the NBCC, it is amazing that these people could have chosen it. It comprises the words of Jesus when he made it plain that this scripture was fulfilled in him and only in him. When he elaborated on his words, he was banished from the town and manhandled to a hill for a Muslim-like execution (remember Saddam and his sentencing of people to be thrown from the roofs), but he shook off his captors and walked away.

Quite an intepretation there Jim.

14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."[a]

20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

22All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.

23Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.' "

24"I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27And there were many in Israel with leprosy[b] in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian."

28All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. 30But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

It is clear that the "Muslim-like execution" attempt was by those Nazarenes who did not receive His teaching to preach the good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners, provide recovery of sight to the blind, and release of the oppressed. Today those who oppose the social gospel (help to the poor, health care) and release of prisoners/oppressed (e.g. GITMO) are like the ones at the brow of the hill.

It is a very far stretch to say on the basis of the end of vs 20, that "Jesus .. made it plain that this scripture was fulfilled in him and only in him". The fulfillment referred to Isaiah's prophecy of the coming of an Annointed One mentioned in vss 17,18. That "and only in him" is your addition to justify ignoring the marginalized today.

We do best if we follow Jesus's example by being a disciple on His missions. The NBCC thinks we ought to be following Jesus too.

One could hardly conjure up a more self-serving screed than this one by Parham of the renowned ETHICS DAILY.com. He wrote this: “But robust moral advocacy and muscular collaboration will be mostly missing, except for a few organizations with a pan-Baptist vision and purpose such as EthicsDaily.com …”

I agree this was somewhat self-serving but read in a larger context:

From my perspective, without President Carter, North American Baptists will continue to sail apart with occasional pleasantries and a few temporary moments of cooperation.

But robust moral advocacy and muscular collaboration will be mostly missing, except for a few organizations with a pan-Baptist vision and purpose such as EthicsDaily.com, Central Baptist Theological Seminary and a few others. After all, denominational offices by definition are reluctant to loosen their grip on churches and coffers.

Bluntly put, without Carter, North American Baptists remain at a distance from one another. With Carter, North American Baptists come together to form friendships, to cooperate across denominational trenches and to give witness to the best of the Baptist tradition.

it was more Carter-serving (a bit of hero-worship when it will take much more than Carter to make our world more "Kingdom"-like).

Far from being a unifier of Baptists, the Carter-led NBCC is divisive, one reason being his insistence that same-sex unions should be certified legally in each state, another way of approving homosexual behavior at a time when the military has been forced by a female judge to get relief from the courts for its own policy based on facts/experience/common-sense.

There was no derison of Carters efforts coming from the attendees of NBCC 2008.

And you'll have to show me where Carter is insistent that all states should certify same-sex unions. Not saying he didn't advocate this somewhere, but you will have to show me. Here are some of Carter's statements on homosexuality including his view that homosexuality is a sin.

To be even more divisive though more to the point, Carter could have chosen as the new theme the words of Jesus found in Matthew 11:21-24. That ought to set the brethren’s teeth on edge while at the same time remarking the growing impotence of a church collective that is so caught up in political correctness that it may soon forswear the Bible in favor of the NFL Drug Policy.

Quite an exaggeration saying church may forsake the Bible in favor of the NFL Drug Policy, but I suppose it is standard RR strawman humor - exaggerate and then condemn.

Quite an interpretation of Matt 11:21-24 as well.

20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.[a] If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

Even the Sodomites (whom I assume Jim believes are gay/lesbian) are better off than those who have not repented, and have not believed in Jesus although they have been witnesses to miracles.

Ah well…Parham noted that Carter walked briskly, as opposed to staggering-in one supposes, so he did at least report a world-shaking event.

I for one hope that the 2011 NBCC is a world-shaking affair that gets the church more into following Jesus's ministry of helping the marginalized.

[Tim Dahl]

I would like to nominate KeithE for: The Spin Stops Here Golden Spur

Tim

[Ed Pettibone]

I would like to nominate KeithE for: The Spin Stops Here Golden Spur

Tim

Ed: If you where to modify that to " Jim's anti NBC spin stops Here Golden Spur" I would second the nomination.

Of course KeithE and others of us attended the 2007 New Baptist Covenant Celebration and JIm of KY, did not.

Even I would some times quibble with certain specifics of President Carters theology. But shoot i some times quibble with folk who hold PH.D's in Theology and I have only a MA/RE, from the Old SBTS at Louisville, where Jimmy was the featured speaker the day Bruce Gourley and I graduated in the largest class ever at that institution.

Keith's rebuttal of Jim's tirade is very well done.

[Jim]

I would like to nominate KeithE for: The Spin Stops Here Golden Spur

Tim

Ed: If you where to modify that to " Jim's anti NBC spin stops Here Golden Spur" I would second the nomination.

Of course KeithE and others of us attended the 2007 New Baptist Covenant Celebration and JIm of KY, did not.

Even I would some times quibble with certain specifics of President Carters theology. But shoot i some times quibble with folk who hold PH.D's in Theology and I have only a MA/RE, from the Old SBTS at Louisville, where Jimmy was the featured speaker the day Bruce Gourley and I graduated in the largest class ever at that institution.

Keith's rebuttal of Jim's tirade is very well done.

If you attended the NBC in 2007, you missed it by a year…but who’s counting anyway? I do not speak with authority, however, not having the MA/RE, but it wouldn’t matter since “she ain’t what she used to be,” no, “she ain’t what she used to be!"

[Ed Pettibone]

I would like to nominate KeithE for: The Spin Stops Here Golden Spur

Tim

Ed: If you where to modify that to " Jim's anti NBC spin stops Here Golden Spur" I would second the nomination.

Of course KeithE and others of us attended the 2007 New Baptist Covenant Celebration and JIm of KY, did not.

Even I would some times quibble with certain specifics of President Carters theology. But shoot i some times quibble with folk who hold PH.D's in Theology and I have only a MA/RE, from the Old SBTS at Louisville, where Jimmy was the featured speaker the day Bruce Gourley and I graduated in the largest class ever at that institution.

Keith's rebuttal of Jim's tirade is very well done.

If you attended the NBC in 2007, you missed it by a year…but who’s counting anyway? I do not speak with authority, however, not having the MA/RE, but it wouldn’t matter since “she ain’t what she used to be,” no, “she ain’t what she used to be!"

Ed; You are right Jim, the initial NBC celebration was in 2008 not 2007 If you go to http://www.baptistlife.com/flick/NBCovenant.htm you will see Pictures from that event that Flick posted for me in February of 08