A Civil Forum at Saddleback

There have been times, many times, when I have been a little embarrassed by my "baptistness." Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for the baptist distinctives; priesthood of every believer, authority of Scripture, etc.  I am proud of the mission work we do together around the globe, and our connections with Buckner benevolences and Baylor hospital, but honestly, our baptist "brand" has been badly tarnished.  When everyone from Jesse Jackson and Jimmy Carter to Jesse Helms and Bob Jones call themselves Baptists, your brand has ceased to signify anything specific about who you are.

When people read "Baptist" on the sign outside our church, they read meaning into our name based on their past experience with another baptist in another place or time... and honestly, who knows what that might have been?

So, this past Saturday night was like a breath of fresh air.  In primetime on CNN, Fox and MSNBC Dr. Rick Warren, Baptist, led a civil forum between our two presidential candidates at his church in Lake Forest, California.  He was kind, affable, gracious, and for the most part, so was the Saddleback congregation.  He didn't shriek, belittle, or deride anyone.  He asked intelligent and probing questions.  He listened respectfully for insightful and thoughtful answers.

He did not compromise our faith or mitigate his values or beliefs. He did not make a fool of himself or embarrass Christ on national television.

He even concluded the evening with the rather Christlike assertion that God intends for us all to be civil to one another in spite of our differences. He called on all Americans to join the political debate with kindness and civility as our companions.

I was inspired.  Not so much with American politics, which still seems pretty dicey this cycle, but I was inspired by Warren.  Maybe Baptist doesn't have to be a bad brand after all. Perhaps a new generation of Baptists will emerge who will demand that Baptist be synonymous with Christ-like living and being instead of aloofness, judgementalism, and ignorance.

For my part, I think I'll try to aim that direction, too. Perhaps together, we baptists, can redefine the term in this generation.

If you missed the Civil Forum, I've included a link to get you started...