Letter to The Editor

This is my "Letter to The Editor" regarding a story you can access at http://cumberlink.com/news/local/opinions-vary-on-gsa-club-in-big-spring/article_ff43799c-d601-11e1-877d-001a4bcf887a.html. It involves a statement that a member of my church, and good friend, *Rodger Diehl made regarding the allowance of a Gay-Straight Alliance club at Big Spring High School. Hopefully, it will be printed in The Sentinel soon.

*Because of Rodger's health, his statement was read by one of Community's Elders, and Northern High School history teacher, Marc Anderson.

July 25, 2012

To The Editor:

In a board meeting of the Big Spring School District, on July 23, 2012, Penn Township resident and Community Christian Fellowship (Carlisle) member, Rodger Diehl, gave a balanced opinion regarding the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance club at Big Spring High School. As reported by The Sentinel, Diehl’s statement expressed the conviction of the majority of Evangelical Christians against homosexuality, but also stated Christian compassion toward students who make homosexuality their lifestyle choice, and a common-sense understanding that legal precedent allows for the existence of diverse clubs in a public school.

While The Sentinel reported opinions by other area Christians, Diehl’s comments were the most compelling and convincing. Other dissenting opinions to the club’s formation included fellow Christians invoking the ideals and morality of our nation’s “Founding Fathers (the framers and signers of the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution).”

Space does not permit a full commentary of the faith of our nation’s founders, but one fact needs to be understood: The majority of them were not Evangelical, or biblical Christians. Most of them were Christian Deists (believing God existed, but not engaged in the world) who were not looking to establish a Christian nation, but a pluralistic society governed by Enlightenment thinking. While we should be appreciative of the contributions of our nation’s founders, to invoke their posthumous authority on all spiritual, cultural and legal matters today is incorrect. However, if we insist to do so in this circumstance, one should only have to look at the First Amendment to understand that our founders desired a nation where diverse opinion was protected in the public conversation.

Rodger Diehl correctly stated the biblical view against homosexuality in his statement to the Big Spring School Board, but also presented a reasonable and rational viewpoint for the situation at hand. Big Spring High School is not a Christian school, but rather a public school where many ideas and opinions about faith and morality exists. If Newville area residents want to ban this club, then they will have to accept the ban on every club, like the Christian Club. Frankly, Big Spring High School, and all high schools, needs the Christian club more than they don’t need the Gay-Straight Alliance.

Sincerely,

Sandy Adams Jr.
Lead Pastor, Community Christian Fellowship
Penn Township Resident/ Big Spring School District Taxpayer
Carlisle, PA 17015

"It's All Relative"

This coming Sunday, July 22nd, I'm beginning a six-week series on the prevailing philosophy of our time, Relativism. The series, It's All Relative: Challenges to Truth, will examine Relativism and five common statements that come out of it that challenge the biblical Christian view of absolute truth.

At risk of sounding melodramatic, this may be the most important series I've preached to date. Relativisim not only challenges core beliefs of the Christian faith, but is also responsible for, and reflective of, the lazy approach of most people in our country towards faith, morality, and the search for truth. One could say that Relativism was "made in the U.S.A.," which is ironic (and disturbing), because to many, the United States is considered, or at least was, a "Christian nation."    

I hope this series is embraced by my church, and listened to by many online. However, I'm fearful that some will look at it as a just a series of lectures on philosophy and not grasp the importance of understanding this topic. Therefore, please understand, if you are a Christian who believes in absolute truth, you are in the minority. Also, if you are a parent and are planning on sending (or already sent) your child to a non-Christian college, you should know that this will be the dominant worldview they will be exposed to. 

So, what do you tell your child when they come home and say "truth is determined by each individual"? How will you respond to your co-worker who says, "all religions basically teach the same thing"? What will your answer be to that person you just shared the Gospel with who swats away your impassioned presentation with "what's true for you isn't true for me"? Hopefully, the next six-weeks will give you a better understanding of the challenges we are facing from Relativism, and equip you with responses to statements like, "it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you sincerely believe." Yeah, that one makes my eyes roll too!  

Thoughts for My Free Will Baptist Friends

Four years ago, I wrote a blog on my MySpace page (remember MySpace?) after Michelle and I spent two days at the National Association of Free Will Baptists (NAFWB) annual convention in Charleston, WV. Michelle and I both grew up in this denomination, were educated at its main college, and were members of it until our late 20's.

This year's annual convention begins tomorrow, July 15th, in Memphis, Tennessee. So, I decided to update my blog from four years ago, and repost it for my FWB's friends to think about.

For some of you, this is the first time you've ever heard of the NAFWB and may wonder who this group is. Here is a little background info:

-Free Will Baptists trace their American roots to the early 18th century in North Carolina and early 19th century in New England.

-In 1935, the National Association of Free Will Baptists was formed.
-The NAFWB is a denomiation of 2,600 churches with around 300,000 in membership in 40 plus states and several foreign countries. 

-The denomination reflects an Arminian view of thelogy as opposed to Calvinism. In short, Arminians believe God has offered salvation to all and humanity can freely choose to accept or reject Christ versus the Calvinist view that God has chosen those who would be saved and cannot resist God's grace.

-The denominational headquarters are in Nashville, TN as well as the main denominational college.

-The denomination reflects a more conservative theology and politics, but is very diverse in its ministry approaches.

-The NAFWB hold a four day convention every year during the third week of July in a different city across the country. This year's is in Memphis, Tennessee.

I grew up in the Free Will Baptist denomination and was a member of it until 2000. I've pastored two Free Will Baptist churches, am a graduate of Free Will Baptist Bible College and for three years was on staff at the college. Although, I am not a member of the denomination any longer, I do find myself being interested in its functions and decisions. So, for my friends who are still Free Will Baptists, here are some of my thoughts and suggestions about the NAFWB:

1) Free Will Baptists are very good and kind people. I'm reminded of this when I worship at a FWB church, or attend a convention.

2) The denomination has a committed core, but a very uncommitted membership. There are a lot of pastors, churches and members in the denomination that do not support the denomiational departments and ministries which is limiting the growth and influence of the denomination. For example, I remember in college the statment being made in chapel that out of 2,600 FWB's church, only 800 gave a gift of ANY KIND to the denomination. I'd say that number is still accurate today.

3) The NAFWB needs to change its name. We are living in an increasingly theologically illiterate society and to emphasize a name where most people in America do not even know what the word "Protestant" means should cause Free Will Baptists to consider a shorter, more precise and less confusing name. The basic tenets of Free Will Baptist theology are "Free Will, Free Grace and Free Salvation," so why not consider a name like "The National Association of Free Baptists" (Free Baptists for short)? This shortens the name and emphasizes the main tenets of the denomination's theology and not just one point.

4) FWB's need to reconsider their stance on alcohol for church membership. While the denomination can make statements regarding the dangers of alcoholism and the social ills associated with it, and even require total abstinence for ordained ministers, it is unrealistic and unreasonable to demand people abstain from alcohol to be a member of the denomination. Having now lived in Maryland and Pennsylvania and attended three seminaries, I have come to learn that one can be a committed, evangelical Christian and partake of alcohol. To require total abstinence of alcohol for church membership for most people in the United States would be like asking a North Carolinian to give up sweet tea, and from the size of some of the FWB's pastors I see that's not a bad idea (funny, how drunkenness is always emphasized but gluttony gets overlooked). More importantly, a position requiring total abstinence for everyone is not biblical, no matter how you slice and dice the Scriptures. 

5) The NAFWB needs to adopt a major educational plan. This week in Memphis, delegates to the convention will be voting on a proposal to change the name of Free Will Baptist Bible College to Welch College. While this long-overdue proposal is a step in the right direction, it is not enough. Welch College needs to become a Christian liberal arts university, with a graduate school and seminary operating under its auspices. By the way, I'm not the first to suggest this, and know that several FWB's leaders have expressed it - I'm just adding my support to the idea. To see how this move can dramatically increase the enrollment and influence of a college, check out the similar moves that Eastern University (of the American Baptist denomination) made in the 90's and Y2K.

6) The current leadership and board of the Home Missions Department needs to be replaced ASAP. This arm of the denomination is one of the reasons FWB's are not growing. There is not a clear vision of church planting, nor a competent understanding of how to accomplish it in the 21st century from the men entrusted to run this agency. While there are some home missionaries doing cutting-edge and pioneering work, Home Missions is not producing and preparing enough church planters to contribute to significant church growth to the denomination. For FWB's to continue to exist, the Home Missions Department needs a complete overhaul in philosophy and personnel.

7) Free Will Baptists need to continue to undersand there are a variety of ways to do ministry. Some churches are hymn singing, Southern Gospel churches where the pastors wear suits and ties, while others are rock music playing, hand clapping churches where the pastors wear goatees and flipflops. Which leads to my last observation...

8) A denomination can be united without having uniformity. What is interesting about Free Will Baptists is that in doctrine, they essentially all believe the same thing. They are not as theologically divided as Presbyterians, United Methodists or Episcopalians. In essence, Free Will Baptists agree on the basic tenets of the denomination's theology, but differ on practical areas of ministry. Emphasize the unity and throw out the idea that all churches have to be uniform. Enjoy the diversity of ministry options within the group and encourage one another as you attempt to reach the world for Christ.

From time to time, I am tempted to rejoin the NAFWB and maybe one day I will. While there are times I miss not being in a denomination, I do not miss some of the silliness that goes on between grown-ups who profess the same Lord. I guess that is one of the struggles all Christian have to face, whether they are Free Will Baptists or not.