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Christianity Today, April, 2008 |

The Other Baptists

New alliance may be more partisan than it lets on.

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra | posted 3/05/2008 09:41AM

Headlined by former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, the New Baptist Covenant meeting in January attracted about 15,000 Baptists to Atlanta. Although speeches throughout the event called for ...

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Gramma-Maine

Posted: March 09, 2008 10:00 AM


It is very obvious that this alliance of the "other Baptists" is politically motivated, when you have the likes Jimmy Carter, Bill(immoral to the core)Clinton and Al Gore leading the "Covenant," which I had not heard about until now. The TRUTH shall set us free, and it only by way of repenting of our sins and accepting Jesus Christ as one's Saviour and Lord that people will be truly free.

Roger - Australia

Posted: March 05, 2008 10:44 PM

Rather than being an issue of right-wing politics vs left-wing politics, which should never divide Christians, isn't this more an issue of conservative Christianity (=traditional, biblical Christianity) vs liberal Christianity (= a hybrid of feel good easy believism and the spirit of this age)? More importantly than being left-wing, Tony Campolo is liberal. I would have thought any Christian group supported by Jimmy Carter would have to be the same. Lets not hide behind global warming and social justice, when the real issue is whether one believes in the authority of the Bible (or not).

Dr RA Blacketer

Posted: March 05, 2008 7:53 PM

The extremely bitter and highly partisan comments on this artcle demonstrate that the author has done a great job; she has hit the nail right on the head. When the church ties itself to one particular political ideology or party, it always comes at the cost of the gospel, the cost of our integrity, the cost of our mission. Where Dobson sins on the right, Campolo sins on the left. The gospel is not left wing politics, nor is it right wing politics. When it is portrayed as one of these, it is no longer the gospel, it's political spin. Not to mention liable to taxation by the IRS. "Do not put your trust in princes" [or parties or ideologies, one might add], "in mortal men who cannot save." Psalm 146:3.

Keith

Posted: March 05, 2008 3:30 PM

This was a terribly biased and poorly written article. It was just as inevitable as the sunset that the SBC and this publication would criticize any effort to engage in intellectual and spiritual discourse over vital issues of this day. This is the "my way or highway" crew. We critcize Carter yet applaud the inept and dishonest performance of the current administration. We criticize Clinton and give Cheney and Haliburton a free pass. Seems that we have been totally co-opted by a politcal conservitism, which does not always seem Christian. If we evangelicals do not wake up soon we will lose any appearance of honesty.

John G.

Posted: March 05, 2008 2:48 PM

If Clinton, Gore and Carter are involved, then the purpose is obviously political, and left-wing political at that. All three have squandered their opportunities to make a positive difference in this nation and the world by their support of (or, in Carter's case, failure to oppose) abortion, homosexuality, and radical special interest groups. And Carter's anti-Israel statements make his theology suspect, as well. They can utilize faith-talk when it suits their purposes (as is also true of Mrs. Clinton and Senator Obama), but their actual actions and positions put them outside the pale of orthodox Christianity. I am not questioning their salvation (God alone knows this), but their failure to line their ideas up with the Scriptures.

Joel	Posted: March 05, 2008 1:34 PM


Perhaps, SBC president, Frank Page, is correct in saying that the New Baptist Covenant seemed "intended to unify only one wing of Baptists," in contrast to the SBC which had become a wing of the Republican party. If the Covenant, like the Baptists of old, embraces soul freedom, then I say, "praise the Lord."

William

Posted: March 05, 2008 1:34 PM


"More partisan"? More partisan than what? Surely not the Southern Baptist Convention, who's leaders in recent years have acted in such an overtly partisan political manner that they seem to almost literally believe that GOP really does stand for "God's Own Party".

Former Baptist Fred

Posted: March 05, 2008 12:21 PM

It is almost comical if not so sad when after twenty plus years of aggressive purges of 'moderates' at all SBC schools, seminaries and missions, battles over irrerancy and evolution, open marriage of the SBC and the Republican party and the parading of every Repulican Candidate including three times married Newt Gingrich and now SBC President, Frank Page is wondering, "if there is a true openness to a dialogue and an inclusion of conservatives" about the New Baptist Convenant. Wow!?

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