Isn’t it enough that many in our society see Baptists as dimwitted dinosaurs and serial bigots? Isn’t it bad enough that people tend to believe Baptists handle snakes and play Deliverance music in church? Does it sit well with you that Baptists are thought of as people who do not play nice with the other children of the world? Ask a people group or denomination what they think of Baptists and you may not like the reply.
Is any of this true? Well, Baptists would have to admit that a few odd apples have poisoned the pie from time to time. Baptists would also have to admit that getting along with each other is a true feat; and, Baptists should consider that their longstanding superiority complex, historically exemplified by the many, is not a badge of honor or piety. All of this means that Baptists are human and foible-prone much like other religious groups who have warts and carry heavy baggage. It’s also true that on occasion a genuine nut surfaces that dominates the media attention. Sadly, this is why Baptists tend to be painted with the same broad brush used on the occasional oddball. The majority of Baptists may be compassionate and principled, but the larger society sees only the unique aberration who receives the airtime. It’s the same issue faced by people after a tornado or other natural calamity. It seems the media always chooses to interview a person that least exemplifies the populace: Yep, me and the little missus wuz sittin’ down to a mess of collard greens when a big noise cummed up and next thang I knowed the barn blowed by the winder. And you know whut? It did sound like a freight train.
It only takes a few members of any group to provide an inaccurate picture of the larger body. The Idaho missions team caught taking kids out of Haiti exemplifies this problem for Baptists. These people may have had good intentions, but good intentions never trump the laws of a country. International adoptions are long and arduous affairs that cost great deals of money. I know this because I’ve gone through it twice. It is uniquely horrible for Haitian kids right now but this dubious attempt to save thirty has made things worse for all of the children of Haiti. Today it is difficult to airlift seriously ill children out of the country and honest adoptions are at a standstill. History will show that it all began with a few woefully unprepared Baptists with flawed plans who, even with good intentions, made Haiti an even worse place for children. That’s hard to do. So I can’t help but ask, why did it have to be Baptists?
MM
MM,
While I appreciate the overall sentiment of your message, I must disagree with you in a few ways. The group of Idaho Baptists certainly suffered from poor planning and (probably) poor theology, but is it really fair to blame them for larger woes that children in Haiti currently endure? Probably not. Yes, they create a PR problem for Baptists in general, but I really don’t think that they represent the worst problems facing us. The major issue is not only that we “do not play nice” with others but that we don’t even play nice with each other. Articles such as this don’t help. Again, the sentiment is fine but the method is not. I believe that you are using a “broad brush,” too. You construct a snake-handling, collard-eating straw man and then easily blow him down. Aren’t we negatively (and condescendingly) stereotyping those who disagree with us? Are you saying that this group handles snakes? Deliverance was set in Georgia, not Idaho. And what’s wrong with collards anyway? (in addition to being healthy, they are quite tasty if prepared correctly)
Perhaps you are just trying to “vent” frustration at one specific group of Baptists and I am taking you too seriously. If so, I apologize. However, I suggest that in the future that we should be more careful with our own “broad brushes” when describing those with whom we disagree. There is no need to kick the Idaho Baptists while they’re down. It is obvious that they don’t represent all Baptists. We have bigger concerns that need attention.
Sincerely,
jason
A CBF Baptist in GA
There has been so much focus on this incident which was basically a misunderstanding. Yet very little interest has been shown for the Christian Missionaries who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving the Haitian people.
On January 12 a 7.0 Richter scale earthquake struck the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti, bringing widespread death and destruction to the western hemisphere’s poorest nation. The earthquake killed at least 200,000 people, injured at least 300,000 others, leveled at least 250,000 residencies, and destroyed or severely damaged at least 30,000 commercial structures. It was Haiti’s largest and most destructive earthquake in more than 200 years.
Beyond the statistics, the human suffering is amongst the most heartbreaking the world has seen in some time – the break-up of families, the orphaned children, the lack of food and water, the emotional and physical pain, the fight for daily survival.
This tragedy, however, has born witness to the generosity of Americans once again and others throughout the world who have given of themselves financially – donating roughly $528 million as of late January. But long before the earthquake put Haiti on the world radar screen, it stood out for its dismal standard of living. For generations Christian missionaries have come to do what they could. They were there on January 12 before the bottom fell out. A few of them even made the ultimate sacrifice. We wanted to honor these individuals here and welcome your additions and suggestions if we have missed anyone.
Jeffrey J. Rodman, President and CEO of Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting is featuring the stories of devotion and achievement which inspire all of us on the Christian Grant Writing company’s website at https://npfunds.com/blog/?p=380.