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  In Response To ... Baptists Who Can't
                                     Forgive Jesus

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Note: This essay first appeared in the January 2007 Baptist Studies Bulletin.

           In 2005 Baptists worldwide, under the umbrella of the Baptist World Alliance, joined together in agreement on the clearest, most visible and most oft-repeated themes throughout the Bible and the life and teachings of Jesus: God’s redemptive love for the poor, sick, oppressed, downtrodden and marginalized members of society.  Last week, leaders of Baptist organizations throughout the United States, meeting in Atlanta, jointly affirmed the clearest, most visible and most oft-repeated themes throughout the Bible and the life and teachings of Jesus: God’s redemptive love for the poor, sick, oppressed, downtrodden and marginalized members of society. 
           However, a handful of prominent Baptists were quick to criticize both meetings, dismissing the central teachings of scripture and Jesus as nothing more than liberalism.  Russ Moore, dean of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, scoffed at last week’s New Baptist Covenant gathering, charging that focusing on the central biblical themes affirmed by Baptist leaders at the Atlanta meeting is an unacceptable “alternative to Southern Baptist conservatism.”  Southern Baptist leader Richard Land indignantly declared that the “vast majority” of Southern Baptists are not in agreement with emphasizing the central biblical themes embraced by the Covenant gathering.
           Although I often find myself in disagreement with both Moore and Land, I must admit that this time I believe they are at least somewhat correct in their above assessments.  Moore is perceptive to note that their brand of Baptist conservatism stands in opposition to the overriding biblical theme, and Jesus’ embodiment, of God’s redemption of humanity expressed in social justice.  And Land is at least partially on target when he asserts that many Southern Baptists oppose the overriding biblical theme, and Jesus’ embodiment, of redemption expressed in social justice (although certainly not the “vast majority”).  Rather than focusing on the central themes of scripture, Land has repeatedly pointed to a basic list of propositional “views” which he is convinced all true Baptists hold to: anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, pro-Israel, pro-Bush and pro-Iraq War.  He seems oblivious that he is swapping timeless biblical truth for contemporary myopic relativism
           And yet there is a larger issue behind some conservatives' rejection of the central biblical theme of God’s redemptive work through Christ expressed in social justice.  Why do Baptists like Moore and Land have difficulty embracing the whole of the Bible and of Jesus?  Stated quite simply, much of the Bible, and of Jesus, is liberal.  And to today’s Baptist conservatives who allow political ideology to shape the nature of their faith, liberalism is unacceptable and must be opposed at all costs.  Indeed, liberalism is the unpardonable sin. 
           Thus, Baptist conservatives whose faith is fueled by political ideology are unable to embrace the liberal message of the Bible or forgive the liberal Jesus.  Instead, they are consigned to holding the Bible and Jesus at arm’s length while vehemently denying the liberalness inherent in both.  Scripture is useful only if it can be co-opted for a conservative agenda.  Jesus is no longer an acceptable criterion for interpreting Scripture. 
           Yet while an inability to forgive Jesus poses a terrible dilemma for politically-oriented conservative Baptists, a willingness to walk in the footsteps of Jesus may be the most pressing issue facing moderate Baptists today.  The New Baptist Covenant gathering represents an opportunity to move beyond talking and actively participate in the stream of the redemptive work of God through the ages, embodied in Christ and expressed in the scriptural marriage of God’s redemptive love and social justice.  Tens of thousands of children starve to death daily; tens of thousands die each day from simple, curable diseases; poverty grips hundreds of millions; loneliness, helplessness, hopelessness and isolation imprison the souls of untold millions; hatred, warfare, famine and pestilence plague much of the world; and global warming increasingly endangers our planet and threatens our future survival.  In the face of all these afflictions and horrors, the Jesus of the Bible offers redemption to humanity, one life at a time, delivered by those who dare follow him into the midst of the afflictions and horrors.