Richard Land, as chair of the Committee on Ethics, voiced his opinions relative to President Obama, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton having exploited the situation using erroneous information. While much of Land’s statements turned out to be accurate, his position with the SBC was hardly the place, nor was it the time to insert our organization into this political mess.
Meanwhile, the powers that be of the Southern Baptist Convention seemed overanxious to respond to criticism of non-member, self-appointed counselors to the Baptists. They pressured Land to meet with chosen black leaders in Nashville where he apologized — not for the contents of his remarks, but for having disrespected the likes of Sharpton, Jackson and Obama — in a session that lasted nine hours. Have we lost our minds?
On June 2, the Associated Press reported that these same “powers that be” reprimanded Land and forced him to lose his syndicated radio program. The AP story accurately pointed out the obvious motives for the SBC action hinges on concern for dwindling membership and a move to actively recruit black members.
The non-white members of our organization are just as Christian as me or any other member of an SBC church. Nevertheless, is it ethical, right, prudent or Christian to cave in to the demands of a group that now comprises 9.8 percent of a 16 million-member organization simply for the sake of being political expedient?
Please pray that our messengers to New Orleans keep foremost in their minds that they are sent to serve our Lord and the other 90.2 percent of members, as well — and for no other reason.
James W. Anderson
Talladega
