Table of Contents - December 2003

• The Book of Revelation and the Global Conflict In the Middle East By William E. Hull
• Thomas Buford Maston- Baptist Apostle of Biblical Ethics By Jimmy R. Allen
• EthixBytes
• Words of Hope For All the World
  • The Legacy of John Paul II. Justice,
  • Mercy, and Johnny Cash,
  • The Transformation of Mr. Jabez By Dwight A. Moody
• The Devastating Effects of Sexual Sin By “Steve”
• The Limits of Kindness By William H. Willimon
• What Did You Say Your Name Was By Hal Haralson
• Book Reviews
  • The Rebirth of Orthodoxy-Signs of New Life in Christianity by Thomas C. Oden Book Reviewed by David Gushee
  • Change Across Culture-A Narrative Approach to Social Transformation by Bruce Bradshaw Book Reviewed by Ronnie Wayne Hood II
  • The Christian Right in American Politics John C. Green Book Reviewed by Darold Morgan
• God With Us By Foy Valentine
• Index of 2003 Journal Issues

The Book of Revelation and the Global Conflict In the Middle East
By William E. Hull

Sermon Three: A New Heaven and a New Earth

Few things attract our attention like the suspense of an unresolved conflict. In every struggle the unspoken question brooding over the plot is, Who will be victorious? As we work through the Book of Revelation, particularly after a closer look at the way that the omnipotent God engages the satanic Beast, the outcome seems very uncertain, especially for the early Christians in Asia Minor. The Roman Empire was growing more antagonistic with each new Caesar. Overwhelming military, political, economic, and cultural power seemed to make it irresistible. The vast majority of the population had meekly surrendered to its sovereignty (13:4), and this mood of submission had made serious inroads into the seven churches addressed by John, all of which were struggling to survive. There was lovelessness in Ephesus (2:4), tribulation in Smyrna (2:9-10), heresy in Pergamum (2:14-15), immorality in Thyatira (2:20), spiritual death in Sardis (3:1), weakness in Philadelphia (3:8), and lukewarmness in Laodicea (3:16).
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Thomas Buford Maston- Baptist Apostle of Biblical Ethics
By Jimmy R. Allen

It is a particular honor to be invited to share this message with you. Among other things, you have produced at Wake Forest University some of the outstanding leaders of Baptist life. Among them is one of the true pioneers in the field of Christian ethics, Dr. Henlee Barnett. T. B. Maston, the man on whom our attention centers today, was his long time colleague in this cause.

My first thought when asked to do this task was an enthusiastic yes. It ought to be a simple matter to speak about T. B. Maston to a generation that had no chance to know him. After all, he was one of the three major mentors of my life. I preached his funeral at his request (and with his instructions). I am chair of the T. B. Maston Foundation fashioned in his name to assist the cause of applying the principles of Jesus Christ in practical areas of life. This task ought to be easy.

However I have found myself trying to catch a moonbeam in a jar. There are so many aspects to the life of this pioneer among Baptists in dealing with ethical issues of racial justice, family life, politi
cal idealism, church-state relations, war and peace, business ethics, gender justice, and sexual ethics
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Updated Tuesday, February 03, 2004

EthixBytes

Words of Hope For All the World

• The Legacy of John Paul II

• Justice, Mercy, and Johnny Cash

• The Transformation of Mr. Jabez

By Dwight A. Moody, Dean of the Chapel
Georgetown College, KY
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The Devastating Effects of Sexual Sin
By “Steve”

     I’d been with the same high-ranking denominational official a few years before, but under different circumstances. Then I chaired an influential committee. After a meeting, he asked me to stay a moment. “Steve,” he said, “you know our state convention’s annual meeting is coming up. Rev. Jones will be nominated for president. He’s a good man, but he’s backed by a group that wants to slash and burn our work. He has a hurtful agenda.”

     Then, looking me straight in the eye, he continued, “Steve, you’re one of the most respected pastors in this state. You’re a good administrator and work well with others. I believe you’re a change agent, but you’re not a zealot. Won’t you consider running for convention president yourself?”
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The Limits of Kindness
By William H. Willimon

The late Carlyle Marney was fond of saying that he had a "private Jew" whom he kept close by him to "keep my religion honest." Fortunately for my religion, Beth Israel Synagogue is next door to my church. The other day over coffee, the rabbi was complaining about the obviously anti-Jewish statement made by one of our local politicians.

"Well," I said, "you've got to remember that this man has limited education and background. I'm sure he sincerely believes that what he said was right."

"So what difference does his sincerity make if what he did is wrong?" asked the rabbi. "Is it still possible for a Christian to be wrong, or is it now only a sin to be insincere?"

The rabbi had me there. Is it still permissible for Christians to question people's behavior? There was a time when Christians wanted to be obedient and faithful. Lately we are content to be sensitive. Once we aspired to justice and righteousness. Our present ethical concern is that we be kind.
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What Did You Say Your Name Was?
By Hal Haralson

     I was signing books in the Rockdale Public Library on November 18. I had told stories from Gentle Mercies: Stories of Faith in Faded Blue Jeans to six different classes of elementary school children that afternoon.

     The children sat in wide-eyed fascination as I told them the “Story of the Double Hearts” and the “Sears and Roebuck Christmas.”

     Samantha entered the library tugging on her father’s hand. I recognized the beautiful ten-year-old girl from one of the classes.

     She wanted a book!
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Book Reviews

• The Rebirth of Orthodoxy-Signs of New Life in Christianity by Thomas C. Oden Book Reviewed by David Gushee
• Change Across Culture-A Narrative Approach to Social Transformation by Bruce Bradshaw Book Reviewed by Ronnie Wayne Hood II
• The Christian Right in American Politics John C. Green Book Reviewed by Darold Morgan

God With Us
By Foy Valentine, Founding Editor

     Lovely things are things that are delightful for their charm, for their beauty, for their harmony, for their grace.

     Christmas is lovely in a thousand ways and for a thousand reasons.

     There is great charm about it, marvelous beauty, fantastic harmony, amazing grace.

     When we think of Christmas, we think of family, carols, treats, food, gifts, celebrations, candy, fruit, nuts, decorated evergreen trees, lights, fellowship, friends, reunions, candles, fruitcake, firecrackers, music, angels, and many, many more.

     Sometimes we think of poetry. There may very possibly be a lot more bad poetry in this world than there is good poetry, of course. Some of it is obtuse, some is abstruse, some is banal, some is maudlin, some is doggerel, and much of it deserves to be folded, spindled, and mutilated.

     Some poetry, however, is wonderful and some of it is truly sublime. It weaves a spell. It soothes the savage beast, calms frayed nerves, inspires the imagination, and stirs the noblest of human emotions.
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