For me to write publicly is a living lesson of how careful I have to be. I write as a pastor of Eastside Baptist Church because that’s what my church called me to do, but nothing I write, without church congregational approval, is an official statement of the church I pastor. Nothing I write in the paper, nothing I say on the radio, nothing I write on my personal blog page is ever an official statement of my church. That said, everything I say or right is a public representation of the people I lead. Which is why, when I was recently dubbed a “Christmas Turd” on the local Craigslist Rants and Raves because of my ongoing newspaper column I was asked to write years ago, I stop for reflection of how that public opinion about me, and the church I pastor, is cause for careful examination.
Not to be less bold, to be extremely careful.
Yesterday, the Baptist Messenger, a publication by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO) released an open letter to Oklahoma Baptists regarding abortion and protecting human life.
In light of the political attention rising from an awakening conscience across the nation and the pending Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act introduced to the Idaho House of Representatives State Affairs Committee three weeks ago, I find the released open letter by the GBCO a confusing voice in the current movement to abolish abortion in the state of Oklahoma.
I’m far removed from the public discussion in the state of Oklahoma so consider my observation moot in their conversation. My take is only from that of a distant kinsman.
What I like about what the GBCO open letter said…
- “The BGCO is categorically opposed to abortion, and it is our prayer and goal to see lives saved and an end to abortion in Oklahoma and beyond.”
- “We will continue to strive for the day in which every human life—unborn and born—in this state and beyond is protected. With all the strength God gives us, we resolve to build a culture of life that recognizes each person is made in His image (Gen. 1:27). God help us.”
I can get behind this and say that neither of those statements surprise me.
However, what does surprise me, and likely many others is that a state convention released an open letter that would at the same time not support a bill that would otherwise abolish abortion all together. Admittedly, as I said earlier, I am far removed from Oklahoma. I want to know what these brothers see that I don’t. I want to believe that they are acting in good conscience under the leading of right thinking.
Furthermore, my confusion is not disconnected from their open letter. (Mind you, they did not right this open letter to Baptists in Idaho.) Baptist polity is a very unique critter. We are independent and voluntarily cooperate or agree. I think it is fitting for a Baptist institution to speak out, but as that independent institution not on behalf of the others. In other words, I don’t mind that the BGCO spoke into the political discussion, I wish more would. I don’t even mind that their conclusion is different than mine. It is more true that no Baptist in Oklahoma is waiting to hear what a Baptist in Idaho has to say. One thing I continue learning is that disagreements mostly help us better articulate.
This much I’m certain we agree upon, only the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, as described by the Bible alone, will change the intent of the heart of any issue facing our states or united nation. Nothing, save the blood of Jesus at His death.
My concern/confusion is where it appears they are speaking on behalf of all Baptists in Oklahoma. As I understand Baptist polity, I know they are not. It does seem confusing to weigh in with conclusion on a bill’s demise before it is even tested. Every bill has to eventually be tested with skilled arguments and an eventual ruling.
- The open letter makes it appear certain that “SB 13 will (likely) be invalidated immediately by the courts, if it passes at all, and we cannot save lives with legislation that never goes into effect.”
- I never want anyone to act against their conscience, but for a Baptist institution to claim “In the meantime, we cannot in good conscience get behind SB 13 as it is proposed” seems unclear at best. To claim to be historic advocates for the unborn, and I think they are, and then “in good conscience” not support a bill to abolish abortion, is most confusing.
I will continue to watch what is going on in Oklahoma while actively appealing to God to raise up a voice from pastors in the state of Idaho to assure our legislators we want them to give the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act a day for debate.
Here, on this matter, I think it better to have tried and lost than to have never tried at all. I think Oklahoma Baptists have been trying, and may God grant them grace to live in a state one day that forbids the murdering of babies born and unborn.
May God give this grace to a state in the union this legislative session. My prayer, may it be Idaho! This seems nearly impossible because the bill still sits idle at the chairmans desk and one of my representatives (Rep. Clow) does not want this bill open for debate. Nothing is impossible for my God.
May the conscience of the Idaho legislators be awakenened in our day. If not in Idaho, may God give this mercy to Oklahoma in this day. If not in Oklahoma, Texas; if not in Texas, South Carolina; if not South Carolina, then in the most unlikely place of the state of Washington where just this week a bill was introduced to do the same.
