You’ve probably seen the news that Jimmy Carter has ended his 60 years of involvement with the Southern Baptist Church to protest the Baptist practice of “quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses” to justify cruelty to women.
I myself broke with the Southern Baptist Church 25 years ago when they began systematically persecuting Kevin Bacon. So I am glad to (belatedly) welcome President Carter to the club.
Nonetheless, I’m a bit disappointed that he remained silent on the equally-troubling Baptist practices of quoting carefully selected Bible verses to justify that “all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy,” that Jesus “was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary,” that Jesus “by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer,” that “it is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations,” that every Sunday “should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion,” that “Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly,” that “Christ will judge all men in righteousness,” that “the unrighteous will be consigned to Hell,” that “homosexuality is not a ‘valid alternative lifestyle,’” and that life begins “at the moment of conception.”
Not to mention the Southern Baptist practice of publishing insipid ghost-written syndicated advice columns.
One step at a time, I guess.
