Carter & Clinton Do Not Speak for Me

Since when did Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton become spokesmen for Baptists? I did not realize Baptists were facing such calamitous conditions. Let me state it most emphatically—JIMMY CARTER AND BILL CLINTON DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME!

And what is it that Mr's. Carter and Clinton are speaking about? They are organizing a new campaign to unify Baptists, and I quote,

ATLANTA (ABP) -- Advocates of the "New Baptist Covenant" championed by former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton predicted it will help heal the racial divide that has separated Baptists in America since before the Civil War.

Speaking on behalf of 40 Baptist denominations and organizations in the United States and Canada Jan. 9, Carter and Clinton -- two of the world's most famous Baptist laymen -- announced the groups had committed to put aside more than a century and a half of social and theological differences to unite behind an agenda of compassionate ministry.

Somebody please get me some Tylenol!

Click here to read more: http://www.abpnews.com/1605.article.

While reading I asked myself, “Am I that far out of touch with Baptists?” When I read it a second time, I asked, “Are Carter and Clinton that far out of touch?”

The real keeper of the story comes toward the end, when some who support the movement commented:

While the Baptists who came together in Atlanta Jan. 9 were thrilled to have the support of two former presidents -- both Democrats -- they also recognized their movement will be limited if only moderate and progressive Baptists, and only Democrats, get on board.

Mercer's Underwood told reporters at the Atlanta announcement that Carter and Clinton "are not here in their capacity as political leaders, they are not here in their capacity as Democrats. They are here today in their capacity as Baptists. We anticipate that there will be many other Baptists participating in this endeavor who also happen to be public officials that happen to be Republican."

McCall agreed: "I think it's very important so that it doesn't come off as a political thing. It would be easy to interpret, with the two Democratic presidents, that it was a political thing. I think it's important to find other Republican Baptists and bring them into it."

"If this is seen as a Democratic agenda, that won't benefit any of us," said ABC's Medley. "And if it doesn't do the pan-Baptist thing, then it will have failed. I hope we do have conservative folk there, as well as progressive and moderate folk. Regardless of where we may be in political parties and things like that, these are things that we're committed to as the body of Christ, and that agenda is larger than a political agenda."

Please! What are they drinking? Would someone please pass the Kool-Aide?

Do not get me wrong. I am for unity. But I think unity should be based on Scriptural and doctrinal integrity, not a political, a social agenda or even the empathetic sounding “compassionate agenda of ministry”.
At this point I am reminded of the saying, “If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, walks like a duck and smells like a duck, chances are it is a duck.” This looks, sounds, walks, and smells like a political agenda.

When you use two lightening rods like Carter and Clinton, you automatically spark a brush fire of resistance. If you want an example, re-read what I have just written. I could never support “The New Baptist Covenant” thanks to the spokesmen who are promoting it.

Apparently I am not the only person having problems with other parts of Mr. Carter’s agenda. Click here for this tidbit of information released the same day: http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=24746.

I guess the next thing you know Baptists will do is ask Madonna to speak for us about sexual abstinence, Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Trump about walking in humility, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejab about world peace.

I am curious to hear your thoughts.