A couple of things, Larry.

1. What is your definition of Baptist?

2. What context of scripture are you talking about?

It is my opinion that you have a very short-sighted view of what is going on at Shorter. As an alumnus of Shorter, I can tell you they are not "being Baptist." Baptist (in the truest sense of the word) stood for freedom. Perhaps you've heard of the four fragile freedoms? Soul freedom, Bible freedom, church freedom, and religious freedom?

Soul freedom: the soul is competent before God, and capable of making decisions in matters of faith without coercion or compulsion by any larger religious or civil body.

Church freedom: freedom of the local church from outside interference, whether government or civilian (subject only to the law where it does not interfere with the religious teachings and practices of the church).

Bible freedom: the individual is free to interpret the Bible for himself or herself, using the best tools of scholarship and biblical study available to the individual.

Religious freedom: the individual is free to choose whether to practice their religion, another religion, or no religion; Separation of church and state is often called the "civil corollary" of religious freedom.

Would you please tell me how Shorter is "being Baptist" after reading these examples?

Also, what context are you talking about? It is my belief that we should interpret scripture based on its sitz im leben (setting in life). It would be shallow and irresponsible of us to read scripture from the mindset of "The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it." If we approach the text with this point of view, what do we do with texts that suggest slavery is normal? What do we do with the texts that endorse genocide?

The reality is our understanding of Truth evoloves as we progress. Do you remember Galileo? He followed Nicholas Copernicus's hypothesis that the earth was not the center of the earth? People thought he was nuts. As a result, he was deemed a heretic, was put on house arrest for the rest of his life, and his books and teachings were banned. Yet, it turns out, he was RIGHT.

In a similar way our understanding scripture changes the more we study and critique it. There is no doubt that we should also take the Bible seriously as a devotional guide and personal narrative for our own faith journey. It would also be irresponsible for us to simply study the text without allowing the text to study us. We must, however, be open to different interpretations and allow dialogue to take place.

So, perhaps things aren't as "liberal" as they seem. Maybe, just maybe, Truth can be found in loving the stranger as yourself, treating the outcast as the Messiah, and believing that God's love will not leave any of us undone. I wish you the best on your faith journey, Larry. I only encourage you to study up and realize that Truth extends beyond the narrow confines of religous fundamentalism.

So, what is Baptist? When I grew up, Baptist meant a loose confederation of churches that depended on independent thought, study of the Bible, and not letting a central organization dictate one's behavior. That all went out the window in the '80's and '90's when the fundamentalist hijacking of the Southern Baptist Convention put right-wing politics and narrow, hidebound interpretations of the Bible in the driver's seat. Litmus tests for Baptist identity became the order of the day.

Needless to say, the current state of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Georgia Baptist Association, along with the president and chief inquisitor of Shorter is about as far from being truly Baptist as it gets, at least in the opinion of someone who was raised in the Baptist tradition up through the '60's. To me, Shorter is a Christian school in name only. Their new interpretations of Christianity are utterly counter to the teachings of the Gospels, and I reject them entirely. Not that they'll care; their self-righteousness seems to be enough for them.

one word cult

Rev. McCoy commented: "All of God’s word is what we are going to be judged by, not part of it taken out of context."

But it is God who will judge us on how well we fulfilled God's word, not the Board of Pharisees or other prooftexters who create a man-made religion based on condemnation and exclusion.

Let's not forget that Moses was ordered by GOD to have his son circumcised or his son would be put to death by GOD. So being a TRUE CHRISTIAN would mean that every young man coming into the college would also be subjected to a circumcision. Also, as a teacher of the bible, let us not forget that if your slave dies after two days of a terrible beating, you shall be put to death. ALSO let us remember that if your wife is not a virgin on her wedding day, you must bring her to the wise council men of Rome to get permission for a stoning. ALSO ALSO DO NOT be caught cutting your grass or doing household chores on the Sabbath day for you will be put to death!! Oh by the way, there are 6 statements in the bible pertaining homosexual acts and there are 362 statements pertaining to the sins of heterosexuals. It's not that GOD hates "straight" people more, they just need more supervision.

Thank You for this weeks "Bible Teacher: Facts from the Bible" GOD BLESS!

How ironic that the baptist preachers are all spouting about not taking the Bible out of context, yet most fill thier bellies at area resturants on Sundays, and shop too. Not keeping the Sabbath Holy? And not to mention the whole greed and idolotry when thier wives purchase designer handbags and expensive clothing. I would like to be able to contribute 5 percent of total costs to a business and have total sponsorship, and control. Oh wait Even God gets ten percent so the way I see it The GBC owes Shorter some serious money, maybe then they can give orphans and widows free scholarships, after all isn't that what the Bible says to do ?

patty2rome said it all perfectly!

I worked and attended school at Shorter. It was Christian (intelligent, loving, and Christian!) before.

It is only sad now.

You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.

-Anne Lamott

Mr. McCoy, I'm glad you wrote. I feel that many Baptists are under the mistaken impression that Shorter was not functioning as a Baptist or even Christian sponsored school prior to these changes. I assume, from reading your comments, that you are not affiliated with Shorter as a current or former student, parent or employee. That would explain this misconception. As a former employee, I can tell you that Shorter was a welcoming place for Christian students, as well as non-Christian students. There were many programs, some specifically Baptist, for students who wished to have a college experience that incorporated a Christian perspective and conservative Christian values. However, the new sanctions are limiting the faculty and staff to an extremely narrow "Christian" point of view. As current faculty leave and new faculty are selected from an extremely limited pool, academic integrity will suffer greatly. It is a sad situation.

Dear Larry -

IT'S A SHAME that under this new lifestyle statement, Jesus Christ himself wouldn't qualify to work for Shorter. Ironic, isn't it?

Larry,

You Wrote:It is amazing just how liberal our moral ethics (or lack of them) have become. Just remember one thing man has changed, God and his word has not. Shorter is a Baptist sponsored school. It needs to function like one, with like-minded teachers and staff.

I reply: Liberal??? Man.....The right wing haters use that word liberal like a Pavlovian bell and the flock says AMEN...

Us liberals actually stand for an individuals freedom of thought. Shorter and the Baptists use selected sections of the bible to further their own personal beliefs on others..

Don't like Gays? No problem...

Don't like Divorcees No problem....

Don't like your wife giving you grief? No Problem.....

Anyone or anything you don't like? No problem some part of the bible will give you the moral ammunition you need to freely hate it.

And Christians whine about us atheists?

Hey...At least if we do not like something we just state why. No hiding behind religion from us.

Rhuidean

Does Shorter ban women from the chapel if they try to enter with their heads uncovered? Or eject them if they speak during services?

Does Shorter University exclude remarried divorcees?

If not, then it cannot claim its actions are biblical. You can't claim biblical inerrancy and ignore the parts that might make your own life more difficult.

We're not judged by only part of the Bible, taken out of context? Isn't that exactly what Shorter is doing by elevating some sins above others and only applying some certain part of the Old Testament to the new Lifestyle Pledge?

There is much emphasis on a future Judgement; yes, there will be at the culmination of History. BUT, let's not forget that we Christians are judged RIGHT HERE and NOW as we are held up to the Revealing Light that is the Life of Jesus the Christ. We professing Christians have to examine ourselves, daily: Are we reflecting Christ-likeness in our relating to other people who may think, feel or act differently than we do? Are we pushing others away from a relationship with Christ by attitudes that are less than Graceful?