By Jimmy Carter
GOOD EVENING: I COME REPRESENTING MARANATHA BAPTIST CHURCH IN PLAINS, GEORGIA, AND SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT AS A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, A DEACON - AND IT SEEMS MY PREEMINENT CREDENTIAL IS THE HUSBAND OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS DEACON. WE HAVE A TOWN OF 635 PEOPLE, WITH EIGHT CHURCHES IN THE CITY LIMITS AND, I GUESS NOT SURPRISINGLY, THREE OF THEM ARE BAPTIST.
I ACCEPTED CHRIST AS SAVIOR WHEN I WAS ELEVEN YEARS OLD AND BEGAN TEACHING BIBLE LESSONS 65 YEARS AGO, AS A NAVY MIDSHIPMAN, BUT THIS CELEBRATION OF A NEW BAPTIST COVENANT IS THE MOST MOMENTOUS EVENT IN MY RELIGIOUS LIFE.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 160 YEARS, WE ARE CONVENING A MAJOR CONVOCATION OF BAPTISTS FROM THROUGHOUT THIS CONTINENT WITHOUT ANY THREAT TO OUR UNITY OR FREEDOM CAUSED BY DIFFERENCES OF RACE, POLITICS, GEOGRAPHY, OR THE LEGALISTIC INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURES.
AS DR. WILLIAM SHAW HAS SO BEAUTIFULLY EXPLAINED IN HIS SERMON, OUR COMMON THEME IS BASED ON THE WORDS OF OUR SAVIOR WHEN HE RETURNED TO NAZARETH AFTER HIS FIRST MIRACULOUS MINISTRY AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE. I QUOTE, AGAIN, FROM THE GOSPEL OF LUKE – THE WORDS OF JESUS:
"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HATH ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR; HE HATH SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PREACH DELIVERANCE TO THE CAPTIVE, AND RECOVERING OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THEM THAT ARE BRUISED, TO PREACH THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." [LUKE 4:18]
HIS WORDS ARE BOTH INSPIRATIONAL AND A CALL TO ACTION AS WE STRIVE TO EMULATE, IN OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL WAYS, THE PERFECT LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. THERE IS NO WAY TO AVOID HIS EMPHASIS ON THE POOR, BROKENHEARTED, CAPTIVES, BLIND, BRUISED – AND ALSO ON LIBERTY. WE PRAY, AS DID CHRIST, THAT THE "SPIRIT OF THE LORD" WILL BE UPON US, AND THAT WE WILL ALSO "PREACH THE GOSPEL," TRUSTING THAT THIS IS AN ACCEPTABLE YEAR – ALTHOUGH PERHAPS LONG OVERDUE.
WE COME TOGETHER IN PEACE AND HARMONY, WITH COURAGE TO FACE FACTS, AND TO SEARCH FOR INSPIRATION. WE ARE READY TO MAKE COMMITMENTS – INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY – TO SERVE THE PRINCE OF PEACE WITH EAGERNESS, TO SPREAD HIS GOSPEL, AND TO INSPIRE HARMONY AMONG OURSELVES AND ALSO AMONG OTHER CHRISTIANS.
TO MAKE THIS COMMITMENT LASTING OR PERMANENT WILL NOT BE EASY. THE TEMPTATIONS OF SELF-CONGRATULATION AND SELF-EXALTATION ARE POWERFUL, AS IS OUR HUMAN INCLINATION TO BE ENJOYABLY INSPIRED DURING EXCITING MOMENTS LIKE THIS AND THEN LAPSE INTO RELATIVE COMPLACENCY.
WE CONVENE WITH THANKSGIVING, HIGH HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS BUT ALSO WITH HUMILITY AND PRAYERS THAT OUR DELIBERATIONS WILL BE GUIDED BY THE PERMEATING SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST, WITH NO CRITICISM OF OTHERS OR EXCLUSION OF ANY CHRISTIAN WHO WISHES TO JOIN THIS CAUSE.
THIS CONVOCATION IS THE CULMINATION OF SEVERAL EARLIER EFFORTS. THERE WERE MEETINGS AT THE CARTER CENTER IN THE 1990S, OF BOTH TRADITIONAL AND MORE CONSERVATIVE SOUTHERN BAPTIST LEADERS. THE GROUP INCLUDED AT LEAST SEVEN PAST AND FUTURE PRESIDENTS OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, AND WE ISSUED A UNANIMOUS PUBLIC STATEMENT. LISTEN TO THIS EXCITING EXCERPT:
"WE RECEIVE THE HOLY SCRIPTURE AS INSPIRED AND AUTHORITATIVE, AGREEING THAT THE CRITERION BY WHICH THE BIBLE IS TO BE INTERPRETED IS JESUS CHRIST.
"WE BELIEVE IN THE PRINCIPLE OF LOCAL CHURCH AUTONOMY, AND OUR FAITH CONTINUES TO BE BASED ON THE HISTORICAL BAPTIST PRINCIPLES OF SOUL COMPETENCY, PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS, SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, COMPASSION FOR UNBELIEVERS, AND RESPECT FOR ALL PERSONS AS INHERENTLY EQUAL BEFORE GOD."
WE THOUGHT AT THE TIME THAT THIS COMMON COMMITMENT WAS ADEQUATE AND BINDING. BUT, TRAGICALLY, THE TENTATIVE MOVEMENT TOWARD HARMONY WAS SHORT-LIVED, AND THE HOPE OF FURTHER MOVES TOWARD RECONCILIATION REMAINED SOMEWHAT DORMANT UNTIL ALMOST EXACTLY TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN A DECISION WAS MADE TO TRY TO BRING TRADITIONAL BAPTISTS TOGETHER TO DISCUSS COMMON BELIEFS AND COMMITMENTS.
DR. WILLIAM SHAW (NATIONAL BAPTISTS), BILL UNDERWOOD (MERCER UNIVERSITY), JIMMY ALLEN (FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION), DAVID GOATLEY (NORTH AMERICAN BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP), TYRONE PITTS (PROGRESSIVE NATIONAL BAPTISTS), AND OTHER LEADERS THEN MET SEVERAL MORE TIMES TO EXPLORE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP AND COOPERATION.
OUR GROUP AFFIRMED A COMMON DESIRE AMONG MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF BAPTISTS TO PROMOTE A POSITIVE, NON-EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM OF SHARING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FREEDOM AND PRACTICAL WAYS TO FULFILL OUR DUTIES AS CHRISTIANS. THERE WAS A UNANIMOUS COMMITMENT TO TRADITIONAL BAPTIST VALUES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MORALITY, THE PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, AND RESPECT FOR RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY.
LAST JANUARY, MORE THAN 80 PARTICIPANTS CONVENED TO ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR THIS CONVOCATION, BASED ON AN OVERALL THEME OF UNITY IN CHRIST, STILL WITH THE PRIMARY GOAL OF SPREADING THE GOSPEL. WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE ENHANCEMENT OF ENDANGERED MORAL VALUES IN AMERICA INVOLVING POVERTY, HEALTH CARE, SUPPORT FOR THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, REHABILITATION AND EQUITY IN TREATMENT OF PRISONERS, SHELTER FOR THE POOR, PEACE INSTEAD OF CONSTANT WARS, AND THE PREVENTION OF ABUSE OF CHRISTIANS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
WE ARE MEETING AT A TIME WHEN THE GLOBAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS NUMERICALLY STRONG. WE ARE ENCOURAGED AND NOT ESPECIALLY SURPRISED TO REALIZE THAT APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF THE WORLD'S PEOPLE PROFESS TO BE CHRISTIANS. OUR MOST NOTABLE "COMPETITORS" ARE MUSLIMS, WHO COMPRISE ONE-FIFTH OF THE TOTAL, WITH BOTH US AND THEM GROWING EQUALLY AT A VERY SLOW RATE.
WHILE MANY OF OUR OLDER CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA ARE RELATIVELY DORMANT, THERE IS A RAPID EXPANSION OF FAITH AMONG THE MORE ACTIVE AND INSPIRED CHRISTIANS OF AFRICA, LATIN AMERICA, AND ASIA. LIKE MANY OF YOU, I HAVE FELT THE EXTRAORDINARY PASSION AND DYNAMISM WHILE WORSHIPING WITH BAPTISTS IN NIGERIA, GHANA, LIBERIA, NICARAGUA, AND SOUTH KOREA.
WE AMERICANS NEED TO REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO SPECIAL CORRELATION BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND FREEDOM, SINCE THE THREE LARGEST DEMOCRACIES ON EARTH ARE PREDOMINANTLY HINDU (INDIA), CHRISTIAN (UNITED STATES), AND ISLAMIC (INDONESIA). PERHAPS MORE SURPRISING IS TO LEARN THAT THE THIRD LARGEST NUMBER OF CHRISTIANS IN A NATION HAS GROWN JUST DURING THE LAST THREE DECADES TO BE IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
IN THE EVANGELICAL COMPETITION WITH OTHER BELIEFS, SINCE THE FOUNDING OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCHES, OUR ADVANTAGES HAVE BEEN DERIVED FROM THE PURITY AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF JESUS' OWN COMMITMENTS: TO PEACE, JUSTICE, HUMILITY, SERVICE, FORGIVENESS, AND THE ALLEVIATION OF SUFFERING. OUR STRENGTH AND EFFECTIVENESS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PREDICATED ON A WILLINGNESS TO WORK HARMONIOUSLY WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS TO ACHIEVE THESE COMMON GOALS.
ROSALYNN AND I HAVE VISITED MORE THAN 125 NATIONS SINCE LEAVING THE WHITE HOUSE, AND WE AND OUR HOSTS HAVE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RELIGION. AMONG THE UNSAVED PEOPLE ON EARTH TODAY, WHAT IS THE PREVAILING IMAGE OF CHRISTIANS? IT IS NOT THE DEDICATED AND SACRIFICIAL WORK OF OUR MISSIONARIES OR THE INSPIRED WORDS OF BILLY GRAHAM OR OTHER GREAT PREACHERS. IT IS THE IMAGE OF DIVISIONS AMONG BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST AS WE STRUGGLE FOR AUTHORITY OR ARGUE ABOUT THE INTERPRETATION OF INDIVIDUAL VERSES IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE ARGUMENTS AND EVEN ANIMOSITIES AMONG CHRISTIANS ARE LIKE A CANCER THAT IS METASTASIZING WITHIN THE BODY OF CHRIST. THIS PLAGUES US WITH DIVERSIONS FROM HIS MINISTRY AND PRESENTS TO THE WORLD A NEGATIVE IMAGE OF CHRISTIANITY THAT IS DIRECTLY OPPOSITE FROM THE GENTLE AND LOVING ASPECT OF THE ONE WHOM WE PROFESS TO WORSHIP.
THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM, BUT ONE THAT ALSO THREATENED THE VERY EXISTENCE OF THE EARLY CHURCH. IN HIS FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS, PAUL WROTE:
"NOW I BESEECH YOU, BRETHREN, BY THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT YE ALL SPEAK THE SAME THING, AND THAT THERE BE NO DIVISIONS AMONG YOU BUT THAT YE BE PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER IN THE SAME MIND AND IN THE SAME JUDGMENT." [1 COR.1:10]
THE EARLY CHRISTIANS WERE DEPARTING FROM THE BASIC GOSPEL OF CHRIST BY ADDING THEIR OWN ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FELLOWSHIP AND SALVATION. FOR SOME, IT WAS THE PREREQUISITE OF ADOPTING JUDAISM AND BEING CIRCUMCISED BEFORE ACCEPTING CHRIST. OTHERS WERE IMPOSING A CREED CONCERNING THE EATING OF MEAT SACRIFICED TO IDOLS, OR WHICH SABBATH DAY TO CHOOSE. THERE WERE ALSO DISPUTES ABOUT WHO WAS THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE APOSTLE AS THE SPOKESMAN FOR CHRIST. (WAS IT PAUL, PETER, APOLLOS, OR SOME ELOQUENT LOCAL PREACHER?).
PAUL MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED MODERN DAY DEBATES, BUT HE MADE IT VIVIDLY CLEAR THAT TO SUBSTITUTE ANY OTHER ISSUES, NO MATTER HOW IMPORTANT, FOR THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT SALVATION WAS AN ABOMINATION THAT COULD DIVIDE CHRISTIANS ONE FROM ANOTHER AND SUBVERT EVANGELISM FOR JESUS CHRIST.
WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT PAUL'S LETTERS WERE OUR EARLIEST NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES, WRITTEN BEFORE THE BOOK OF MARK OR THE OTHER GOSPELS. AT THE TIME, THERE WERE PERHAPS ONLY A THOUSAND CHRISTIANS IN THE WORLD, IN SCATTERED CONGREGATIONS, ALMOST COMPLETELY UNORGANIZED, AND A THREAT NEITHER TO THE JEWISH AUTHORITIES NOR TO ROME. WITH RELATIVE HARMONY DURING THE NEXT THREE CENTURIES, AND THE HELP OF A CHRISTIAN EMPEROR, THE NUMBER OF PROFESSED BELIEVERS IN CHRIST INCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MILLION, MORE THAN HALF THE CITIZENS OF THE VAST ROMAN EMPIRE. THIS EXPANSION COULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IF MEMBERS OF THE EARLY CHURCH HAD BEEN AS DIVIDED AS WE ARE TODAY.
TO REDEFINE OR CHANGE THE GOSPEL HAS BEEN A TEMPTATION FOR MANY CENTURIES, EITHER TO DILUTE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE SO THAT IT IS MEANINGLESS OR TO IMPOSE MANDATORY HUMAN INTERPRETATIONS OF SPECIALLY CHOSEN TEXTS.
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, THERE WAS A TRAGIC EXAMPLE OF ENFORCED RELIGIOUS BELIEF THAT WAS WIDELY PROMULGATED AND COMMONLY ACCEPTED BY MY FELLOW BAPTISTS IN PLAINS, GEORGIA -- AND BY MOST OTHER CHRISTIANS IN AMERICA. THE MEANING OF CERTAIN VERSES WAS TWISTED, FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, TO SAY THAT BLACK AND WHITE PEOPLE MUST NOT WORSHIP TOGETHER. ALTHOUGH THE LEGAL FOUNDATION FOR RACIAL SEGREGATION HAS BEEN REPEALED, SOME ELEMENTS OF THIS DISCRIMINATION STILL PERSIST.
WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MANMADE ISSUES ARE STILL CAUSING SERIOUS AND DEBILITATING SCHISMS WITHIN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. WE BAPTISTS ARE QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE CONFLICTING OPINIONS THAT HAVE DIVIDED US, AND SIMILAR PROBLEMS AFFLICT METHODISTS, EPISCOPALIANS, ANGLICANS, PRESBYTERIANS, LUTHERANS, CATHOLICS, AND OTHERS WHO ARE PROFESSED BELIEVERS IN THE GOSPEL MESSAGE THAT PAUL WAS ATTEMPTING TO DEFEND.
HAVING WITNESSED SOME OF THE MOST INTENSE DEBATES WITHIN THE POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS WORLD, I AM NOT MINIMIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONTROVERSIES.
LET ME ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS, BUT PLEASE REFRAIN FROM GIVING ME YOUR ANSWER:
NOW I'LL LET YOU ANSWER THESE NEXT TWO QUESTIONS:
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE APOSTLE PAUL REMINDED THE EARLY CHURCHES THAT THE GOSPEL IS NOT OF HUMAN ORIGIN, AND THAT ITS SIMPLE MESSAGE SHOULD NOT BE DISTORTED – EVEN BY HIS OWN PERSONAL BELIEFS. HE TOLD THE CORINTHIANS, "WHEN I CAME TO YOU, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I DID NOT COME PROCLAIMING THE MYSTERY OF GOD TO YOU IN LOFTY WORDS OR WISDOM. FOR I DECIDED TO KNOW NOTHING AMONG YOU EXCEPT JESUS CHRIST, AND HIM CRUCIFIED." [1 COR. 2:1-2]
AND PAUL MADE CLEAR IN HIS WORDS TO THE CHURCHES IN GALATIA THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO DISCRIMINATION AMONG CHRISTIANS:
"FOR IN CHRIST JESUS YOU ARE ALL CHILDREN OF GOD THROUGH FAITH. AS MANY OF YOU AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE CLOTHED YOURSELVES WITH CHRIST. THERE IS NO LONGER JEW OR GREEK, THERE IS NO LONGER SLAVE OR FREE, THERE IS NO LONGER MALE AND FEMALE; FOR ALL OF YOU ARE ONE IN CHRIST JESUS." [GAL.3:26-28]
THERE IS CERTAINLY NOTHING WRONG WITH BELIEVING IN FUNDAMENTALS, THE MOST IMPORTANT OF WHICH IS THE BASIC GOSPEL MESSAGE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED:
"WE ARE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST." (THE AUDIENCE REPEAT).
DESPITE OUR INEVITABLE HUMAN DIFFERENCES, UNDER THIS SIMPLE BUT PROFOUND BANNER WE BAPTISTS AND OTHER CHRISTIANS CAN AND MUST STAND UNITED.
FINALLY, LET US REMEMBER THAT EACH ONE OF US HAS A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO REACH FOR GREATNESS IN THE SERVICE OF CHRIST, AND TO ENSURE THAT SUSTAINED ACTION COMES OUT OF THIS CONVOCATION. WE WILL BE STUDYING AND SOON DECIDING HOW TO COLLABORATE ON MISSION AND EVANGELISM PROJECTS, AND OTHER INITIATIVES INVOLVING HEALTH CARE, POVERTY REDUCTION, THE PLIGHT OF PRISONERS, THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD, AND PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
LET US PRAY THAT GOD'S SPIRIT WILL LEAD US AS WE SHARE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MORALITY. LET US BAPTISTS AND ALL OTHER CHRISTIANS BE BOUND TOGETHER IN CHRIST, IN A SPIRIT OF PEACE, LOVE, FORGIVENESS, AND COMMON PURPOSE.
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