You don't speak for me.
As most of you know who read this, I am a Baptist, and that means one thing --you can't tell me what to do! Baptists are natural offspring of the Enlightenment: we (traditionally) cling to our autonomy, and we loudly claim that religion is a personal choice and can in no way be imposed upon an individual by a government, church, ordained clergy, or any other exterior force aside from the Holy Spirit and only then at the acceptance of the individual. (I certainly hope that is a fair assessment of the Baptist tradition, feel free to correct my misinterpretation).
While I am a Baptist, I am first and foremost a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ; I am a Christian. As such, I tend to hold certain beliefs that are considered universal across denominations: the divinity of Jesus, his resurrection, the Trinity (though I guess that would exclude Unitarians, Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses, but...) the value (authority, etc.) of the Scriptures, etc. However, as a Baptist, this means there are certain things I do not share in common with my sisters and brothers of other denominations: I don't baptize infants; I don't have a (traditionally) sacramental understanding of communion; I believe in the primacy of the Scriptures (say, over tradition); I believe in the autonomy of the local church and that only believers should be baptized. With all that being said, however, I don't for one second feel I have the right to speak for any other Baptist, let alone any other Christian, and I certainly don't believe that any other Baptist/Christian has the right to speak for me.
I grant you that there are many Christians who publicly say things that I agree with (Bill Moyers, Tony Campolo, even Jeremiah Wright), and there are many who have said things publicly that I don't agree with (Sarah Palin, Pat Robertson, even Jeremiah Wright)--notice a pattern?
Anyhow, I'm writing all of this in light of the recent tragedy in Haiti and the "Reverend" Pat Robertson's latest example of ignorance. Now, I must confess that some have been overly critical, but their criticism is not unwarranted. Robertson has said idiotic things before from the cozy center of his "Christian Broadcasting Network" (look back at 9/11, Katrina, etc.), but this time it's more than ridiculous. I think I'm irritated most by the confident way he made (and makes) his claim as if it was dictated directly from the God-head. Listen Pat, if you want to spew stupidity across the airwaves for unsuspecting folks to digest, at least have the decency to call your network by its true name--"RBN: The Robertson Broadcasting Network."
And just as a final word: Pat Robertson, and all of those "Christians" who think that they have sealed the deal on the faith, those who think that they have an exclusive pass to communion with Christ, you don't speak for me!
While I am a Baptist, I am first and foremost a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ; I am a Christian. As such, I tend to hold certain beliefs that are considered universal across denominations: the divinity of Jesus, his resurrection, the Trinity (though I guess that would exclude Unitarians, Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses, but...) the value (authority, etc.) of the Scriptures, etc. However, as a Baptist, this means there are certain things I do not share in common with my sisters and brothers of other denominations: I don't baptize infants; I don't have a (traditionally) sacramental understanding of communion; I believe in the primacy of the Scriptures (say, over tradition); I believe in the autonomy of the local church and that only believers should be baptized. With all that being said, however, I don't for one second feel I have the right to speak for any other Baptist, let alone any other Christian, and I certainly don't believe that any other Baptist/Christian has the right to speak for me.
I grant you that there are many Christians who publicly say things that I agree with (Bill Moyers, Tony Campolo, even Jeremiah Wright), and there are many who have said things publicly that I don't agree with (Sarah Palin, Pat Robertson, even Jeremiah Wright)--notice a pattern?
Anyhow, I'm writing all of this in light of the recent tragedy in Haiti and the "Reverend" Pat Robertson's latest example of ignorance. Now, I must confess that some have been overly critical, but their criticism is not unwarranted. Robertson has said idiotic things before from the cozy center of his "Christian Broadcasting Network" (look back at 9/11, Katrina, etc.), but this time it's more than ridiculous. I think I'm irritated most by the confident way he made (and makes) his claim as if it was dictated directly from the God-head. Listen Pat, if you want to spew stupidity across the airwaves for unsuspecting folks to digest, at least have the decency to call your network by its true name--"RBN: The Robertson Broadcasting Network."
And just as a final word: Pat Robertson, and all of those "Christians" who think that they have sealed the deal on the faith, those who think that they have an exclusive pass to communion with Christ, you don't speak for me!
CPT
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