The Christian Post reports that former President, Jimmy Carter, wants to bring together various Baptist denominations to achieve unity. While Rick Warren calls for unity between mainline churches and evangelicals, the ex-President who just won’t go away is now trying his hand at uniting conservatives and moderates, Democrat and Republican Baptists. This would mean that denominations like the American Baptists that long ago sank into the pit of apostasy (think Tony Campolo and Eastern College) are being asked to unite with Baptist groups who have not. Carter says that this is his most momentous thing ever, and William Shaw of the National Baptist Convention USA is right behind him. The Christian Post story says:
“This night and these days, we do a bold and glorious thing: We attempt to express the oneness which was our Lord’s desire for his people,” declared William Shaw, president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, one of the four prominent African-American Baptists conventions participating in the meeting.
What will mark this convocation as a success is the attendance number as well as “the fact that we want to avoid anything other than harmony, cooperation [and] a positive attitude as a group of Christians,” Carter said at a press conference Wednesday just before the meeting began.
Carter, a longtime Bible teacher and a Baptist since he was a child, described animosity among Christians as “a cancer metastasizing in the body of Christ” and it’s that divisive image of Christians that is prevailing today, he said.
Issues that have divided Baptists include the role of women in ministry and marriage, legalized abortion, civil rights for gays, and the separation of church and state, among many others, Carter listed during the opening of the meeting.
Oh, so the issues are only women in ministry, marriage, legalized abortion, gay rights and the separation of church and state. Nothing that can’t be overcome with a smiling compromiser like Jimmy Carter around to help everyone link hands. After all, he brokered the Camp David Peace Accords that achieved Middle East peace for at least ten minutes. The reason that the Peace Accords didn’t end tension in the Middle East and the reason that uniting all Baptists will ultimately fail is that the issues are based on principles of right and wrong. For the Israelis, how much land can they give up before their homeland ceases to exist? For Baptists, how much doctrinally can they give up and still be Christians? For Baptists, the issues are sin and rebellion against God versus obedience to His Word (Women in the pulpit). The issues are life and death (abortion), Immorality versus morality (homosexuality), and those issues are not going to go away just because Jimmy Carter has an apparent need to stay in the headlines in his declining years. The issues are as old as mankind itself.
In his eternal quest for a global group hug, Carter once again tries to unite truth and error. He may deceive a whole lot of people, but he will never succeed in his plan. There are still at least 7,000 Baptists who are not prepared to compromise doctrinally for Jimmy Carter or anyone else.
(That’s why many Bible-preaching Baptist churches are independent. Why waste the time sitting at some convocation of thousands where committees, laced with apostates, deliberate for days on whether lesbian, one-legged parrot owners should be allowed to be pastors?)
Disclaimer: Worldview Weekend, Christian Worldview Network and its columnists do not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article posted on this site. We do however, encourage a healthy and friendly debate on the issues of our day. Whether you agree or disagree, we encourage you to post your feedback by using the feedback button.
I have no problem with Christians being united. Scripture teaches unity and Christ prayed that we would be one as He and the Father are one. Now as soon as Carter and the rest of the believers of his ilk will return to biblical doctrine and the pursuit of holiness under the authority of Christ, then they will be united with those of us who have dedicated ourselves to being disciples of the Lord Jesus.
Unity? Sure! Come on back and be united! Click here to reply to this post
Jimmy Carter
Posted On: 02/02/08 01:02:41 PM
Age 53, OR
I just recently found out that Jimmy Carter brokered that peace by giving out A LOT of our money. That money has come back to haunt us by the PLO remunerating families of suicide bombers. It wasn't a real peace at all. Click here to reply to this post
TRUE CHRISTIANS DO NOT ALL BELIEVE THE SAME
Posted On: 02/02/08 09:48:53 AM
Age 64, OH
When everyone in a group believes the same there is a name for that, it is a CULT. Everyone in the group must believe the same in a cult or be pressured by the rest to do so. Ask anyone in the Jehovah's Witness church what they believe and they will go check with their superior leader, who is a mere man, to see what they believe. It is the same with the Mormons and all of many cults. But any group of true Christians will not all have the same exact beliefs about everything. That is because they are in the process of being saved, and are in different stages of salvation. The word saved in the Greek is in the present ongoing tense. It means I am saved, I am being saved, and I will be saved.- Our spirits are saved and made perfect when the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in our spirits. He is holy and will not dwell except in perfection. Our spirit from that point on always wants to do exactly as the Holy Spirit says. This is the part of us that always wants to do as He says.- Our soul is being saved. It is an ongoing process and will not be complete until we leave this earth. That is why there are greater and lesser glories in heaven. Some refuse to give up many of their false ideas and replace them with the truth of the Lord Jesus. That part of their soul will not be saved. For only perfection will be allowed into heaven. So many will be as little children and NOT be mature in their soul in heaven. Those who study the scriptures and ask Jesus to help them see the truth will change the lies they now believe to the truth and will be mature in heaven.- Our flesh is beyond salvation so Jesus will give us new bodies to be allowed into heaven and we will be saved at that time. From that time on we will always want to do as Jesus says and never have any wrong thoughts or temptations. It will truly be heaven for those who love the Lord Jesus Christ. Lou Click here to reply to this post
Slippery Slope into Liberalism/Modernism
Posted On: 02/02/08 09:43:04 AM
Age 78, MS
I write as an individual Christian and not for the SBC. However, I have kept up with the trend toward what we used to call MODERISM (Higher Critical Method of Biblical Interpretation) which crept into the Christian churches a few generations ago, and to some extent into the SBC. The, so called, mainline churches quickly went over that slippery slope generations ago. The SBC was well on its way until the conservative resurgence beginning in 1979. The book, "Battle for the Bible", by Dr. Charles Lindsell, was, in part, the catalyst that kicked of this resurgence. From its beginning, many churches in the SBC, could not accept this change, with many, though still claiming to be Southern Baptist, and blaming those that saved the SBC from going over the slippery slope, have organized groups such as the Southern Baptist Alliance, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and a few other more liberal sects, including some few State Baptist Conventions and many State Baptist Schools. However, the six seminaries are controlled by the SBC. Liberalism has just about been eliminated from these theological schools. Sad to say, many of the state controlled universities are hardly recognizable as Bapsist schools. Inerrancy is a a no-no to those who take, what they call, a more moderate stance on scripture, though still claiming to be Southern Baptists. Thus, one should be be very discriminating in calling a church, or a group, Southern Baptists. Carter, in his own words, disassociated himself from the SBC a few years ago. A meeting to bring together those of divergant biblical views only means one thing, "Shift to the left." We must abide by the words of Jude, "Earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints," and John, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits." And from Amos, "Can two walk together, lest they be agreed?" Wizely, SBC President Paige, et. al. have chosen not to attend Caterr's ecumental meeting! Click here to reply to this post
Slippery Slope
Posted On: 02/04/08 07:49:40 PM
Age 57, NC
Amen brother from MS age 78. Your years have served you well. Other responders need to read your reply. Click here to reply to this post
Unity is a bad thing?
Posted On: 02/01/08 03:07:06 PM
Age 26, IN
"[I pray] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you." - John 17:21 NIV.
So are we just supposed to ignore that... and all of the other passages in the Bible that talk about the desperate need for unity amongst believers? Click here to reply to this post
Wise Virgins
Posted On: 02/03/08 04:30:12 PM
Age 73, OH
Jimmy Carter needs to read Mt. 25 re. the wise and foolish virgins. They were ALL virgins, but the 5 foolish were Laodaceans. They are one in the same. Both were told to go and buy (pay a price) for their oil and the Laod. were told to go and buy gold tried in the fire. I am so embarrassed by Jimmy Carter. He needs to read the portions in the Bible that he doesn't have underlined, and then he would get the "whole counsel of God". Click here to reply to this post
Unity among Baptist, but not Christians?
Posted On: 02/01/08 09:13:08 AM
Age 44, KY
An excellent article that gets to the heart of the real reason Carter is involved. Carter is truly one to talk of unity, for when the Baptist doctrine didn't suit his life values, he setup his on brand of Baptist; one that better suited HIS BELIEFS and is Politically Correct! Was it in accordance with the Bible, no, but Brother Jimmy felt good about himself, which! And why stop at unifying the Baptist, why don't push for the whole body Christ, unless you think that only the Baptist are the true believers, and the rest of us are Laodiceans or out right heathens! If Carter wanted true unity, he would be calling for a return to Biblical doctrine and teaching of the Truth and not Political correctness.
Anyone who hates Israel as much as Carter seems to, and who be friends evil dictators and terrorist like Castro, Arafat and Chavez the way Carter does, seem to be less than genuine when it come to wanting the glory of the Father magnified and seeing that Father's will be done! Isn't there something in the Bible that says, and I am paraphrasing: "YHWH said, 'I will curse those who curse Yisrael, bless those who bless Yisrael...'"?
Carter needs our pity and our prayers for the scales to be removed from his eyes, the wax from his ears and the stone from his heart! And we need to pray Father YHWH's truth to be taught more than ever before, for the time grows short, it would appear. We need to lean not on our own feeble abilities to unify the Church, but trust in the Truth within the Word, thus if we teach the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth, then and only then will unity be achieved. Barukh attah El Shaddai YHWH!!! Mark Click here to reply to this post
Not a Carter Fan
Posted On: 02/01/08 11:16:00 PM
Age 73, OK
Mark, from Kentucky, is exactly right about the false unity Carter is promoting. Promoting hatred for Israel is no way to promote peace! Would that he would just go away!
Was he promoting unity when he attacked President Bush, from the pulpit, at Corinna Scott King's funeral? What a pitiful specimen of 'humanity' he is, in spite of all the habitats he claims credit for! Click here to reply to this post
Excellent article Ingrid
Posted On: 02/01/08 06:41:29 AM
Age 44, DC
Carter's knowledge of the issues he listed is basically similar to his knowledge of nuclear science--SQUAT! (despite of his boasting such while in office, he NEVER worked as a nuclear engineer). Click here to reply to this post
Jimmy Carter Heads Push For Baptist Unity
Posted On: 02/01/08 06:41:21 AM
Age 55, KY
The only problem is all the baptists who are a part of this are united already, no conservative Baptists be it Southerrn or otherwise are represented and none of the present leadership of the SBC is present, praise the Lord, either. This whole event is nothing more than a showcase of what happens when we leave our first love and lose sight of God's Great Commission for His Church. Click here to reply to this post
Baptist Unity
Posted On: 01/31/08 07:57:22 PM
Age 61, MO
If the Baptists want unity, then they should dissolve the SBC, and retreat to their local church houses, then give up any efforts of unity except that which each of the individuals have in a relationship to Christ. Basic Biblical doctrine will provide all the unity needed in the Body of Christ. George Cancilla Click here to reply to this post
SBC is not involved
Posted On: 02/01/08 09:53:35 AM
Age 40, AL
Why are you bringing the SBC into this? Carter left the SBC because we would not go along with him on these very issues. The article never mentioned the SBC, because the SBC is not seeking unity with Carter. While there are tares in EVERY church, please do not accuse the SBC of heresy. Click here to reply to this post
follow the Holy Spirit only
Posted On: 02/03/08 01:15:18 PM
Age 47, MO
Interestingly the SBC brought us the belief of Seperation of Church and State. They were adamant about it because of the strides Catholics were making in US politics and persuaded Hugo Black to adopt it. Of course the SBC didn't intend the fiasco we got today, but it was the result of chasing religious division instead of unity in Christ. I am not suggesting we all get along at the expense of truth, I suggest we forsake self and seek Christ only. John Click here to reply to this post
The Body of Christ
Posted On: 02/01/08 10:08:27 PM
Age 61, MO
The Body of Christ is made up of all believers who have surrendered to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. Even as these believers gather together locally, they should not be organized in some worldly bureaucratic fashion. Organizations like the SBC make it more prone to fall prey to the likes of a Carter. I personally don't need Lifeway. I have several Bibles for study purposes. George Cancilla Click here to reply to this post
