Lessons from the dark side

The Atlanta Braves are terrible. They have not won a game in more than a week.

Yet, since they moved southward in 1966, my loyalty has been for better or worse. But the worst part needs to stop soon.

So I keep listening, watching and going as time allows. In fact, there are lessons to be learned even in disappointment.

Aging third baseman Chipper Jones left a game last week with yet another nagging injury. I slapped the steering wheel while hearing the news on my car radio.

During the next inning, broadcaster Jim Powell passed along the report that Chipper had hurt his hip and — using familiar baseball disabled list terminology — "is listed day-to-day."

Fellow announcer and Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton responded: "Aren't we all?"

Good point. Take nothing granted and enjoy the day — even when your favorite team is sitting at the bottom of the division standings.

45 good words

As the new Newseum was being planning on prime real estate between the Capitol and the White House in Washington, D.C., Freedom Forum CEO Charles Overby wondered if his big idea of having the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution displayed prominently would ever happen. He envisioned two possible obstacles.

"Sometimes architects think you work for them," said Overby, a seasoned journalist and former director of Baptists Today, upon receiving the news journal's annual Judson-Rice Award April 22. Then he wondered if building-design watchdogs in D.C. would allow what might be seen as a big sign. In both cases, he heard good news.

The architect's rendering of a 74-foot-high marble engraving of the First Amendment that would face Pennsylvania Avenue pleased Overby very much. And how could anyone in the nation's capital consider the guiding and protecting words of the First Amendment to be out of bounds?


The popular Newseum — First Lady Michelle Obama told Conde Nast Traveler magazine that her daughters sure enjoy going there — has much to remind Americans about freedom.

Overby said that some might think that bringing the words "news" and "museum" together would result in boredom. But the place is fascinating, interactive and ever-changing.


Within the seven-layers of exhibits are 14 theaters including a 4-D time travel adventure, a large section of the Berlin Wall, a memorial to journalists killed in the line of duty, an impressive gallery related to 9-11, the largest collection of Pulitzer Prize photographs ever assembled, an interactive newsroom (where you can be filmed as a reporter), the Unabomber's cabin, Tim Russert's office (including his baseball collection) and, yes, even Elvis is in the house.


A visit to the Newseum should be a part of any visit to the nation's capital. And, daily, wherever we are, we should be grateful that our nation's founders gave us these 45 words to protect freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition.

Here they are:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[Photos from top to bottom: Front of Newseum; Overby welcomes Baptists Today directors and staff; communications tower from atop World Trade Center; Tim Russert's baseballs]

Keeping company with the tragic past

Gerald Harris’ editorial titled “Breaking family ties painful, but sometimes necessary” in The Christian Index, official publication of the Georgia Baptist Convention, is condescending toward Mimi Walker, co-pastor of Druid Hills Baptist Church, specifically, and toward women in general.

It is also an insult to that fine congregation that has remained faithful despite great sociological change in their Atlanta community. And it should be offensive to any honest and reflective Christian whom Harris does not permit to have a different interpretation on this subject than his without being dismissed as unfaithful to the Bible.

However, his writing puts him in the company of Baptist and other church leaders who made the same arguments in defense of racial inferiority and the slavery of persons of African decent.

For example, Harris claims that “The Bible is clear on this issue…” while selecting an isolated biblical passage that supports his position and ignoring both those parts of scripture that affirm women in leadership roles as well as those even more restrictive than he wishes to argue.

He points to 1 Timothy 2:11-14 to bolster his claim that women are not to teach or have authority over men. And, of course, he ignores the supposedly inerrant preceding instruction (in vs. 9) that calls for women to dress modestly without “braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes.”

It is just flat dishonest!

And no amount of patronizing about how women are of equal value but restricted to different roles can gloss over the sexism here. As Susan Shaw of Oregon State University, who has done major research on Southern Baptist perspectives on women’s roles, once noted: In such cases, the roles with all power always go to men.

Defenders of slavery took the same approach, however, by isolating verses such as Ephesians 6:5-6 (“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ; not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart”) while ignoring the broad and deep biblical message of human worth and equality.

Also like those who argued for slavery, Harris asserts that he and his ilk are true to the Bible while those in disagreement “adjust (their) sails to catch the wind of popular opinion.” He reiterates: “Neither should our interpretation of Scripture become so accommodating to our secular society that every assumption and concept fits snuggly into our humanly-devised system of theology.”

But what if it is Harris’ system of theology that is humanly devised? Did not secular society reach the gospel truth on racial equality and the unspeakably inhumane treatment of African slaves well ahead of many church leaders? Absolutely!

Also, in both cases, proponents claim to defend God's intended order of authority rather than merely a humanly-devised social structure that they find comfortable and beneficial.

If fundamentalist Baptists continue to be the last holdouts on basic issues of human worth and equality, and keep building their flimsy cases on highly selective scriptural evidence at the expense of the broader biblical truth, who is going to listen to what else they might say?

Hopefully, there will not be many who do so — and even fewer who will judge the merits of the wonderful Christian gospel on such remaining blind spots.

Those who argued so passionately that the only true biblical interpretation was one that supported racial inequality and human bondage were dead wrong. So are Harris and those who make this equally poor case — and aggressively impose it on others.

As the old folk song asks: “When will we ever learn?”

And, for God’s sake, at least admit that the potential for error — so clearly evident in the past — still exists today. It is amazing how those who affirm biblical infallibility are so willing to assume the same authority for their human interpretations of a hand-picked verse or two while ignoring parts of the very same chapter.

Faith for a new generation

USA Today featured an article in late March on the way Millennials do faith and politics. I pulled it out, tucked it away and just read it again.

The focus is on a Pew Research Center study showing that those born after 1980 — the first generation to come of age in the new millennium — are seeking alternatives to the religious and political brands of past generations.

As the article's writer, Stephen Prothero of Boston University, asks: "Can you blame them?" What is it about the polarized political and religious climate that dominates our culture that one would find attractive?

The Pew Report showed that one in four Americans ages 18-29 do not claim affiliation with any faith group. But as Prothero notes, it is not unusual for young people to take that course before returning to their religious roots after marrying, having kids and moving toward retirement.

My former pastor, Bill Self of Johns Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Ga., calls them "church alumni" — and has spent a good part of his long ministry re-engaging them in congregational life.

But the numbers are higher for Millennials. The work of reconnection will be more challenging for churches in the future.

However, Prothero warns that the rise of those who list their religious affiliation as "none" could be misinterpreted. Unaffiliated does not equal an absence of faith. In fact, only 3 percent of Millennials claim to be atheists.

And, as author Diana Butler Bass has noted, those claiming no faith "are rejecting us for the right reasons." They see the church as too judgmental and hostile toward those with different viewpoints.

Prothero concludes that this generation is not rejecting faith as much as they are branding — both in religious expression and politics.

He offers this insight from the classroom: "Although the independence of the Millennials is often misread as apathy, my college students are deeply engaged both spiritually and politically ... They are suspicious, however, of large cookie-cutter organizations that want to 'brand' them."

Church leaders, tempted to tell younger generations what they should think and do, might benefit from more time listening to why they are looking for something different than the polarization that we have been advancing for a good while. In fact, we might learn a better way of being faithful.

Return of the longwinded preacher

Yikes! Dr. Tom Long of Emory University's Candler School of Theology said recent studies have shown that sermons are getting longer for the first time in decades.

It is hard to imagine, given the truth of the adage: The mind can only comprehend what the backside can endure.

Sitting in the same place for an extended period of time is something I avoid. That's why movies are hardly ever in my plans. I'd rather walk around somewhere.

Interestingly, Dr. Long said younger preachers — who see themselves as primarily teachers — are blowing the curve. They will take 45 minutes or more to deliver the weekly goods.

Many preachers of my generation swore to never make pew sitters endure the longwinded sermons that were all too familiar to us from childhood.

(And, too often, long sermons are just shorter sermons subjected to repetition.)

Typically, we follow the advice of the late Dr. John Carlton, who taught preaching and worship to many of us: "If you can't say it in 20 minutes, say it next Sunday."

At the First Baptist Church of Chattanooga, Tenn., where I am pinch-preaching each Sunday, the quality of the sermon is not guaranteed. But one can be assured that it is never a marathon.

Listeners can only plan out their week and choose a lunch spot for so long. And maybe catch a little something in between that makes the week more meaningful and joyful.

Thanks, Velda

After checking into my third consecutive hotel on the last leg of an 1,150-mile run up and down I-75, my primary goal was to hit the bed as soon as possible. Five days of talking, listening and driving had exhausted me.

There was no mint nor chocolate on the pillow, as is sometimes the case, but something more satisfying and appropriate. The woman who had prepared the room left me this note.

It showed no evidence of hurried scribbling nor award-winning penmanship. But in carefully crafted printing, the handwritten note read:

"Welcome
May the Lord's love always light your path
Have a great day
Velda"

It seemed so honest, personal and from the heart. I'd rather have this sincere note from an unknown hotel housekeeper than all the volumes a bookstore can hold from experts explaining the best ways to share faith.

It was clear to me that this woman's path is illuminated by the love of God even when doing mundane tasks for meager wages — something most of us would spend all day grumbling about if willing to do it at all.

Thanks, Velda, for the note and needed perspective. I benefitted from both.

Subscription sales and the power of suggestion

A mission to sell more news journals took me from Tennessee into Kentucky where the presence of KFC was immediate and abundant. Chicken-ladened billboards abound.

And the birthplace of Col. Harlan Sanders is listed as an "attraction" on the info sign at the Corbin exit of I-75. I didn't stop, having just stretched my legs at an antique mall devoid of any good baseball stuff. But may catch it on a return trip.

Checking into my hotel in Lexington, I was pleased to see so many good dinner choices within walking distance — since getting back into my car was undesired. Bounding down the sidewalk on a perfect spring evening, I carefully considered my options.

Malone's. Carrabba's. Max and Erma's. T.G.I.Friday. Old Chicago. Outback. And many more.

But as I crossed Man O' War Blvd, a KFC on the corner caught my eye — and apparently my taste buds. After completing my combination exercise/restaurant search, I entered KFC and ordered the combination grilled chicken meal.

The Colonel made me do it. I had been conditioned by the signs and symbols along the Interstate.

There has to be a lesson here that will help with selling subscriptions to Baptists Today. I've just got to figure out what it is.

Think again

The late Jerry Falwell and other Religious Right pioneers made a lot of political hay in the 1980s about the demise of American culture. One of their common scapegoats was the sensible judicial decision in the '60s that ruled against government sponsored Bible reading and prayer in public schools.

Yet Falwell and company, cranking up the emotion, referred to the rational prohibition — that is consistent with First Amendment protections — as "expelling God from our schools."

Such a description misrepresents both the guidelines and the nature of God who is not so easily controlled.

While debates over the proper roles of religion in public education continue, there is less intensity. However, I was surprised to see — mostly on Facebook — about the misconception that God was somehow kicked out of the classroom.

On one level, it is easy to see how a person of deep faith would want spiritual nurture to be provided to all school children. And it was certainly not an issue for many of us who grew up in communities with little or no religious diversity.

It was the always-insightful church observer Martin Marty, I believe, who said: "Prayer in school makes lots of sense — until you think about it."

A little noodling can quickly lead to a discovery of the pitfalls of permitting public school educators (while performing a government function) to advance particular religious beliefs to the exclusion of others.

In most schools today, teachers and students come from all kinds of religious traditions or none. Parents who truly value the spiritual nurture provided in the home and church of their choice are not likely to want a person in authority taking on that role — especially if from a completely different religious tradition.

Fortunately, a lot of good work has gone into providing school officials with Constitutionally-sound guidelines for the proper role of religion in public education including the rights of students to voluntarily gather for religious activities. An excellent resource is Finding Common Ground: A Guide to Religious Liberty in Public Schools by Charles Haynes and Buzz Thomas.

One of the many wonders of being an American is living in a nation that — thanks to Madison, Jefferson and others — guarantees the religious freedom of every individual. It is a freedom to celebrate, not misrepresent for political gain.

Whom to appoint to 'lustiest committee?'

As one who makes use of words and phrases on an ongoing basis, I am intrigued by CAPTCHA.

CAPTCHA (an acronym for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) was created to reduce spamming and to ensure an individual rather than a machine is making an online decision.

My encounters with the odd words and phrases usually come when being ripped off by Ticketmaster or, more often, when posting my blog to a web site.

Sometimes the phrases make sense like a recent request to type in "the Heisman." Most do not, such as "elevate halstead" (although a town in England bears that name) and "smoggiest Rocke" (which might suggest mountaintop pollution).

When typing in "is Hinch," I thought of former Major League catcher A.J. Hinch although he posted a mere .219 career batting average. Baseball was still on my mind when the CAPTCHA for the day was "after double." (Bunt him over to third?)

My favorite, however, was a recent request to enter "lustiest committee." One can only wonder how appointments are made.

OK, so I'm easily entertained. And drained from too many hours of putting words and phrases together for yet another publishing deadline. Substance will have to come later.

It's hard to top the resurrection, but it doesn't keep some from trying

The wonderful Easter celebrations we enjoyed this past Sunday should give us hope throughout the year. It is simply the greatest news imaginable.

One would think the Resurrection of Jesus would be enough to gain and keep our attention. But many church leaders seem intent on adding their own pizazz.

A New Hampshire congregation's helicopter drop of some 60,000 eggs to some 10,000 persons below resulted in trampled kids. One witness described the scene as "chaos" — not a word often associated with the resurrection.

Note: It is suppose to be an Easter egg "hunt" — not a bombing.

In Corpus Christi, Texas, one church drew a crowd by giving away televisions, furniture and other prizes. The focus of news reports was more on a bubbly woman praising God for her BMW rather than for eternal hope.

I saw a local news report in which the pastor of a church that sponsors a large outdoor Easter service told how his faithful had prayed away the rain — even though rain was essentially not in the forecast. I guess a "miracle" other than just Jesus being raised from the dead was needed to punctuate the occasion.

And perhaps keeping raindrops off that outdoor gathering tied God up too much to stop the earthquakes in Mexico and Southern California. Or, as I'm sure the pastor would explain, those people just didn't pray as faithfully as his flock.

There are many wonderful ways to celebrate Easter. Trying to upstage the resurrection is not one of them.