but my favorite part came before Carter had said a single word.Everyone present knew how hard Carter has worked to bring people of the world together, including Baptists. His efforts have not always been successful, but that hasn't stopped him from trying, and even his detractors should recognize that.
Carter was greeted with a sustained standing ovation that didn't end until he motioned for the congregation of well over 10,000 to be seated. That expression of spontaneous appreciation for a man I admire was special, something that was clearly meaningful to the former president. It's a moment that I (and my digital picture file) will remember for a long time.
10 comments:
The bedrock Baptist doctrine is not tolerance for diversity but tenacious adherence to the gospel of Jesus Christ. One of the most fundamental principles of that gospel is that a man "must be born again" or he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
In one of his books expounding his "faith", Mr. Carter stated that he is "being" born again. I guess that means he misrepresented the case when he ran as a born again candidate for the presidency. I guess that means that he isn't quite yet in the kingdom of God.
Whatever Mr. Carter is religiously, he isn't a Baptist. He is a liberal, not even conservatively nor moderately so, but just a plain old garden variety liberal.
The Southern Baptists owe a debt of gratitude to the men who fought to drive this sort out of their ranks.
Mark Osgatharp
Wynne, Arkansas
Mark,
I think perhaps you're putting too much emphasis on nomenclature. I've always received Carter's words to be closely aligned with those of the Apostle Paul when he openly declared that he had to die the to his flesh daily. It was a call to be spiritually renewed each and every day.
It is sad to me that a man who has done so much to physically express the love of Christ to those around the globe would be openly berated by such as yourself.
While you slap the label of "liberalism" on Mr. Carter as if it is a scarlet letter, I can only hope that others could be as liberal in their love for the unreached.
jpland,
Here are some choice quotes from Mr. Carter's book "Living Faith". They demonstrate that he isn't a 42nd cousin to a Baptist.
1. He says that the God of the Old Testament is, "a stern, judgmental figure, very different from the loving, forgiving Jesus I knew from the gospels" (p.24).
2. He says of the relationship of Judaism to Christianity:
"The covenant with God is shared by Jews and Christians, with faith in one God as the unifying element" (p.36). He further wrote, "Of course, the fellowship of faith is even larger than the Christian world."
In addition to these things he stated that he believes in evolution (p.29), female pastors (p. 194), and that those who condone homosexuality should not be excluded from Christian fellowship (p 194).
He also said that every word in the Bible is not literally true. Of course, he has to take this position in order to justify his ungodly, heretical and unscriptural opinions.
In his book "Sources of Strength" Mr. Carter stated that the book of Revelation's description of heaven is "innaccurate" (p. 151). So I guess he has been there and checked it out for us, huh?
No sir, Mr. Carter is not a Baptist nor even a close relative. He is not conservative. He is not moderate - even if being moderate were a virtue, which it is not.
He is a hard core, dyed in the wool, full fledged, card carrying, bug-eyed modernist liberal. All of his social work serves only to deceive people into thinking there is something wholesome about his aberrant theology.
With all their talk about soul freedom and tolerance for diversity, Mr. Carter and his crew represent the exact sort of thing of which Peter spoke when he said,
"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption."
Mark Osgatharp
Wynne, Arkansas
Mark,
Again, you have reverted to name-calling. It's not a feature that becomes any of its bearers. Even if you do it under the premise of "telling it how you see it" or "telling the truth".
My statement stands as this. Jesus indicated that we would know the tree by the fruit it bears. I see the fruit of Mr. Carter's work throughout the world.
The "fruit" of the self-righteous is often closed-door meetings for elite members of this super-special club and unloving lectures about splinters in the eyes of others.
jpland,
You said,
"Again, you have reverted to name-calling. It's not a feature that becomes any of its bearers...... The 'fruit' of the self-righteous is often closed-door meetings for elite members of this super-special club and unloving lectures about splinters in the eyes of others."
You mean name-calling isn't becoming except when you are calling me "self-righteous". Another name comes to my mind: hypocrite.
Mark Osgatharp
Wynne, Arkansas
Mark,
I feel the need to shout out "Simmer down, simmer down!"
I did not call you self-righteous. I was using it as a comparison of the fruit that we see in Mr. Carter's life.
The only way I could have been calling you self-righteous is if those items I mentioned are the fruit that you bear.
And for the record, I'll openly admit that I'm a hypocrite. It is good to know that eventhough I have my short-comings and my own issues, I don't have people clamoring behind me that I should be removed from their midst.
jpland,
You said,
"I did not call you self-righteous."
Yes you did and you know you did and anyone, including the Lord, who read your post knows you did. There is no need to compound your hypocrisy by lying about it.
Mark Osgatharp
Wynne, Arkansas
Friends ... let's cool it, please, and write respectfully or not at all.
Mark,
I know that on forums it is difficult to convey tone. In addition, it is impossible to choose the perfect words so that a point is taken exactly as intended. Let me try to explain to you my point. If you still take it as me calling you self-righteous, then so be it.
You have used some very strong and harsh words to describe Mr. Carter. While you use those words to be negatives, I have tried to point out the good things that he has done under the mandate of loving our brother. To me, the fruit that he bears does not align with the labels that you apply.
Similarly, all I know of you is what I see written above and through other comments on this website. Surely there is much more to you, as a person, than what is posted here.
My statement regarding the fruit of the self-righteous is intended to indicate as the product from those who "fought to drive this sort out of their ranks." And, as I said, a comparison of the fruit that is evident in Mr. Carter's life.
So let me end with these 4 points:
-Mr. Cartledge. I apologize for the "flame" that has ignited here.
-Mr. Osgatharp, I did not intend to call you self-righteous. As you point out, readers may feel otherwise. I do not presume to know the full will of God, but I agree that he knows my heart.
-I am fully aware how my comments have come across. If your fruits are indeed "closed-door meetings for elite members of this super-special club and unloving lectures about splinters in the eyes of others", then yes, I have called you self-righteous. This is neither the forum nor the time for such, and if that is the case, I am indeed in error for that.
-In all honesty, Mark, your last post made me laugh.
Mark, I just want to say thanks for all those references to Carter's writings. I'd never have known how bad he was without it. I was falsely assuming he was a good man by what I had heard and SEEN so far.
Thanks again.
BTW, works surely don't get one into heaven, but it's certain they help those in need.
"What you have done for them you do for me."
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