The Uncertain Future of Faith-based Child Care

Earlier this week, the same-sex adoption bill (SB320/HB7013) passed the Senate. The bill aligns Florida law with previous rulings from the courts that a ban on same-sex adoptions was unconstitutional. Immediately, the House began working on a bill that would protect faith-based organizations, such as Florida Baptist Children's Homes. HB7111 is a bill that seeks a "conscience clause" to the same-sex adoption legislation that would allow faith-based organizations to continue to qualify prospective parents for adoption in accordance with its beliefs and values.


The bill has passed the House but has been met with substantial opposition in the Senate. The Senate legal position is that the bill is "duplicative and unnecessary." They believe that the Florida Religious Freedom Restoration Act will adequately protect the desire for faith-based organizations to operate within the parameters of their religious beliefs and convictions. The Senate legal opinion fail sto take into account two real-world factors:  

1. Activist courts are engaging in ideologically-driven and result-oriented decisions in cases involving gay rights.
2. A number of faith-based organizations have been forced to close in states that have similar religious freedom legislation, but do not have conscience clauses (Catholic Charities in Boston and Washington DC). With the legalization of same-sex marriage, adoption and foster care agencies that partner financially with the state are being forced to qualify same-sex marriage families as potential adoptive families.

Florida Baptist Children's Homes helped 106,000 children last year. We want to help another 106,000 this year. FBCH will continue to operate according to its values and convictions, but such operation will be tested in the courts. There are groups that would rather see less children helped than to see faith-based organizations be given the freedom to operate within the context of their beliefs.

Same sex adoption is legal in Florida and there are many agencies that will gladly qualify same-sex couples for adoption. There is enough need with regard to our children so that all of these agencies can work for the benefit of children under the terms of their individual worldviews.

The Senate Rules Committee will be reviewing the bill this Monday, April 20. Our Senator is Charlie Dean. He is not on the rules committee, but he may know those who are and have some influence with them. His email is Dean.Charles@FLSenate.gov. Here is a link to the Rules Committee should you feel compelled to contact them and ask them to support the conscience clause language found in HB7111: Support HB7111

Dominican Republic Day 5

DR Blog, Thursday, March 5, 2015

Parkview Baptist Church

We began our devotion by singing happy birthday to Anita. We all agreed that there is nothing more noble than serving others on your birthday. Charles Snipes talked about two words in the Bible that have made a difference in his life. "Come" unto me..."go" into the world. When we come to Jesus, we are compelled to go and share with others. Charles shared how fortunate he felt to be able to do this kind of work.

Today was our last day of work. We primed the interiors of three more houses bringing our total to four houses completely primed and ready for paint for the next group. We went back and saw the houses we painted on Sunday and Monday. These were houses whose walls were built by one group, stuccoed by another, and primed by another. By today, the Dominican workers had run electric, and installed light fixtures, cabinets, and doors. We are reminded of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 2:6-8, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor." Ultimately, we each do our part, according to God's design, and the kingdom advances to the glory of God.

Over the course of several days, over 100 children heard Bible stories, learned principles of the Golden Rule, sang songs about Jesus, and made crafts that we pray will remind them of our time with them. This afternoon we went out to the baseball field (built by a previous Orphan's Heart team) and played with the children for a couple of hours. We played everything from baseball, to frisbee, to jump rope, and volleyball. We were pleased to be able to leave the sports equipment with Pastor Cavier and pray that it will be another tool to help him share Jesus with this community that he has been called to serve.

Our guides, Howie and Fernandez, treated us to a couple of brief excursions on the way back to our apartment. We got a personal tour of the local coffee manufacturer, saw how they dried the beans and got a free sample. We stopped by an ice cream shop (yes, we had ice cream before dinner.) Then we drove out to the beach and enjoyed a nice breeze and beautiful view.

Highlights:
We saw this week how God puts the right people in the right place at the right time. He multiplied our efforts so that we were able to accomplish more than what the site manager ever expected of us. Mission trips develop special kinds of small group relationships--relationships that are not just confined to a classroom, but built on doing the work of the kingdom and sharing the love of Jesus with others. We trust that we have demonstrated that love this week. We trust that exposure to the needs of this community will make us more sensitive to the needs in Lake City. We pray that being missionaries in the Dominican Republic will help us to be better missionaries at home.

Dominican Republic Day 4

DR Blog, Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Parkview Baptist Church

Our hostess, Ivelisse, treated us to a Dominican dish for breakfast this morning called mangu (mashed up green plantains.) She has been a wonderful hostess this week. The food has been excellent. Jim started our day with a devotion from 2 Timothy 2:11 and talked about the joy that comes from serving the kingdom. We trust that God is pleased with the work we have already done and will joy in the work to come. Our motivation is to lift up Jesus as our Savior with the work being done as a mere vehicle to advance the Kingdom.

Today on the job site, we built the second half of the wall on our house. This part of the project required teamwork for every aspect of it. We had some people on ladders and some on the ground all day. We went from passing blocks up the ladder earlier in the day to passing buckets of concrete later in the afternoon. Our team finished the walls and still had time to put primer on the interior walls of another house.

We had a record number of children come to the children's program today (about 75). Pastor Cavier joined our team for the day and told the story of David and Goliath. In keeping with the Golden Rule theme, the children learned about being trustworthy today. They decorated bags that we will use as goodie bags for the last day tomorrow.

Before heading back to the apartment, we drove up the mountain to the aqueduct that the government has built that will eventually provide water for future irrigation systems in the community. We got a great look at the houses and community transformation center. We also stopped by the river where Jim treated himself to a quick swim.

Highlights:
During the lunch period, several members of the team walked down to the school in town. The staff and faculty were extremely welcoming to our team. While we were at the river, three little girls from our children's program met us and walked with us. It was really neat to see them reach out and hold Jennifer's hand as we walked down the trail. Anita enjoys holding babies so that some of the older siblings can do the craft assignments. We pray that we make much of Jesus as we make new friends.

Dominican Republic Day 3

DR Blog, Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Parkview Baptist Church

Our day began at the breakfast table with Anita bringing our morning devotion. In anticipation of building walls today, she shared Ephesians 2:19-22, a verse that reminds us that we are citizens of God's kingdom, members of God's family, and bricks in God's dwelling place. The building we built today is made of styrofoam, but it is held together with steel and concrete. Our lives and our churches are nothing more than styrofoam, but they become strong when they are held together by Jesus.

Pastor Cavier was leading devotionals with the workmen as we arrived on site. Our team began gathering blocks for building the walls on house number 59. Only the outside steel was in place so we began building the outside walls while a crew drilled the holes in the slab for the steel on the inside walls. We marked the "cornerstone" with our church name. By lunch we had finished the first half and we were ready to place the steel and pour the bond beam after lunch. We poured the concrete (by hand using buckets) and still had time to prime the exterior of a fourth house.

The overall theme of the week for the children's programs is "The Golden Rule." Today's lesson focused on being honest. The children had fun learning about Jonah.  In addition to the snack time, which is always a hit, the children really enjoyed playing with bubbles. The children had made individual letters  that spelled "The Golden Rule" and they were excited to see their letters up on the stage today. 

Highlights:
Geraldine was moved by a little boy who stood up during the prayer and repeated it as it was being said. Our team was glad to hear that some of these children would be available to sponsor through Orphan's Heart new child sponsor program. Charles enjoyed the camaraderie of the Dominicans as we worked side by side with them today. They taught us some Spanish words and we taught them some English words. They really have a great work ethic and attitude. With every block the team put into place, we were reminded that Jesus is our Cornerstone and His Church is His chosen dwelling place.

Dominican Republic Day 2

DR Blog, Monday, March 2, 2015

Parkview Baptist Church

The day started with Geraldine Snipes leading our devotions before breakfast. She shared Acts 15:36 and a personal story of a church she and Charles worked on and then revisited several years later. The church, once thriving, was now in disarray--a great reminder that our church must remain on mission and outward focused, always ready to do the kingdom work God has called us to do.

It was awesome to see Pastor Cavier leading pre-workday devotionals with more than fifteen of the workers when we arrived on site. He was teaching them about the parable of the wheat and tares. Much like many small groups in our churches, the men seemed reluctant to speak when the pastor asked questions, but a few did and for the most part, the majority of men were engaged in the teaching. Devotions are not mandatory, so we are praying that God is using Pastor Cavier to do a great work here among these men.

Work today was much like yesterday. We painted the interiors of two more houses bringing our total to four (one more than expected.) After lunch we primed the exteriors of three houses to get them ready for paint. We were grateful that God blessed us with cloud coverage and a good breeze. It made painting outside very enjoyable. We met some of the neighborhood children as they stopped by to see what we were doing.

The ladies did a great job in two Bible sessions with the children. The morning session had about twenty children and the afternoon session had more than forty. Our team was prepared with enough snacks and balloon animals for everyone! The Bible lesson for today was the story of the Good Samaritan and the theme of the lesson was "be kind."

We met a pastor from Santiago, DR, whose ministry focuses on impoverished families who use their children to scour garbage dumps for items that may be resold or recycled for pennies. They help get the children away from the garbage dumps and into schools.

Highlights:
Jennifer met a young man, twelve years old, who was caring for four younger siblings and the conversation was a blessing even though it was in really broken Spanglish. Mike learned how to roll a bicycle tire using a cut plastic milk jug tied to a stick (a trick he learned from Luis.) Jim souped it up by painting white walls on it. One young lady, about thirteen, had to leave a little early because she had to go fix lunch for her younger siblings. We realized today just how important family is to this culture and we feel blessed to to be included in their family.

Dominican Republic Day 1

DR Blog Sunday, March 1, 2015

Parkview Baptist Church

We are grateful to God for a safe and uneventful travel day, yesterday. A few of us immediately began enjoying the cuisine choices that are not readily available in Lake City--pastelitos in Miami and empanadas in Santo Domingo. I promise that these posts will not be all about food, but we enjoyed fresh mango this morning as we gathered for breakfast and our morning devotions. We have certainly enjoyed the hospitality of our hosts.

Our first day on site was a blessing. We worshiped with the gathering at the Community Transformation Center. The pastor taught the people two new songs, "Draw Me Close to You," and "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High." Of course they were sung in Spanish but we sang along with them. Pastor Cavier preached from John 2:1-8 and really pressed the fact that Jesus is our only hope because Jesus is our only true God. (At least that is what we think he was saying.) I do know that he preached verse by verse and appreciated the expository method by which he preached.

After worship, the team began painting the interior of a house and very quickly worked up an appetite for lunch. After lunch, the men finished up the interior painting of two houses (with multiple coats.) The ladies had a great Bible time with almost thirty children. They introduced the Golden Rule and talked about caring for others. The children were excited to color pictures and get their snack.

Since we were still adjusting to the new schedule, morning devotions were moved to the evening. Pastor Mike shared some thoughts about the four different types of missions commissions in the Bible and encouraged the team to make much of Jesus during our stay.

Some highlights:

As our ladies were teaching the children a song, the children began singing it in their own language. It was a joy to see the families together. We were grateful that so many children came back in the afternoon.What a great reminder that the kingdom is much bigger than any one ethnicity or nation.

SBC, GCB: Is It Really About Our Name?

Over the past year, there has been much discussion about the possibility of a name change for the Southern Baptist Convention. This idea is not a new topic of discussion among Southern Baptists. But with the renewed SBC emphasis on church-planting, many of the church planters claimed that identification with the SBC created a hindrance to their planting efforts. Bryant Wright, President of the SBC, appointed a task force to research the implications and impact of a name change. What they found is what most most of us already knew--legally changing the name would be expensive and rebranding would be very difficult.

But the task force did make a recommendation that would allow church planters to identify themselves with the SBC using a non-legal SBC descriptor, GCB or Great Commission Baptists. SBC churches and church plants are autonomous, meaning they are self-governing, self-identifying, and self-theologizing within the framework of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (or like-minded confession.) This means that churches can call themselves whatever they want and include any descriptor they choose in their name. Many SBC churches have already made name changes and have removed "Baptist" from their names because they believe they serve areas where that label is a hindrance to their work. They did not need convention approval to do this. Neither do Church planters need our permission to use this kind of descriptor.

At the convention, there was much debate over affirmation of the addition of this descriptor to the SBC. Those against the descriptor missed the point of what this motion was really about. They rightly said that the motion wasn't necessary. They at times incoherently tried to make a case against rebranding. One even argued that since we were not fulfilling the Great Commission, we would be lying to call ourselves Great Commission Baptists. I was saddened by some of these arguments simply because this motion was not about the name of the SBC. The motion was really an opportunity for our convention to overwhelmingly support our church planters and the evangelistic work that they are doing in difficult areas of our nation. Many of these arguments really affirmed how little the churches in our denomination understand the difficult dynamics of church planting.

This motion was a plea from our church planters, many of them young and just out of seminary, for support from our denomination for their work. It was a chance for us to empathize with them and appreciate them for what they do. It was an opportunity for us to show them that they too have a voice in their convention. Debate over this motion only added to their skepticism about the SBC. It gives them cause to abandon the denomination that they may feel ultimately abandoned them. We will continue to wonder in amazement why our denomination is in decline if we continue to indirectly ignore the voice of our new generation of pastors and leaders.

The resolution passed, 53% to 47%. I am glad that the motion passed. I am saddened that it was such a close vote. At some point, Southern Baptists (at least 47% of us) are going to have to stop looking backwards, longing for the glory days of the way things used to be. We need to be forward thinking and that means affirming our planters who are theologically and doctrinally like-minded and giving them the tools to be successful Southern Baptist church planters, planting Great Commission focused Baptist churches.

Book Review: The Meaning of Marriage

Today our society offers many views of marriage. We are challenged to overlook or redefine the traditional roles of husband and wife in search for a more “relevant” institution—one that abandons the biblical picture of marriage in favor of a more culturally acceptable and politically palatable one.

Bob Dawson offers the following review of Tim Keller’s book, The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with Wisdom from God. Just click the title for details and other helpful reviews from Amazon.com.

The Meaning of Marriage

Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God

By Timothy Keller

With Kathy Keller

Are you getting married next month? Have you been married for fifty years? Perhaps you are some where between these two extremes.

Timothy Keller makes his case for the complexities of marriage by drawing heavily on Ephesians 5:18-33 where Paul talks about a man leaving his mother and father and clinging to his wife.

A man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery….

Ephesians 5:31-32

In the first chapter, The Meaning of Marriage” he states: I’m tired of listening to sentimental talks on marriage. At weddings, in church, and in Sunday school, much of what I’ve heard on the subject has as much depth as a Hallmark card. While marriage is many things, it is anything but sentimental. Marriage is glorious, but hard. It’s a burning joy and exhausting victories. No marriage I know more than a few weeks old could be described as a fairy tale come true. Therefore, it is not surprising that the only phrase in Paul’s famous discourse on marriage in Ephesians that many couples can relate to is verse 32 printed above. Sometimes you fall into bed after a long, hard day of trying to understand each other, and you can only sigh, “This is all a profound mystery!” At times, you marriage seems to be an unsolvable puzzle, a maze in which you feel lost.

“I believe all this, and yet there’s no relationship between human beings that is greater or more important than marriage……And that is why, like knowing God himself, coming to know and love your spouse is difficult and painful—yet rewarding and wondrous.”

In the chapter The Secret of Marriage Rev. Keller quotes ethics professor Stanley Hauerwas as follows:

Destructive to marriage is the self-fulfillment ethic that assumes marriage and the family are primarily institutions of personal fulfillment, necessary for us to become “whole” and happy. The assumption is that there is someone just right for us to marry and that if we look closely enough we will find the right person. This moral assumption overlooks a crucial aspect to marriage. It fails to appreciate the fact that we always marry the wrong person.

We never know whom we marry; we just think we do. Or even if we first marry the right person, just give it a while and he or she will change……The primary problem is…learning to love and care for the stranger to whom you find yourself married.

Rev. Keller goes on to explain that a biblical marriage is not a contract but a covenant. He goes to great lengths to explain the difference and how that difference is vitally important.

So if you are looking for a spouse or trying to strengthen your marriage of many years this book is for you. Whether you are a man or a woman, it will clarify what you should be looking for in a future spouse and it will point out how you should be relating to the spouse you have.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to make their marriage the truly biblical covenant marriage that God wants it to be.

May God bless,

Bob Dawson

  

Keller, Timothy. The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with Wisdom from God. Dutton Adult, 2011. 288 pages. $25.95 ($14.34 at Amazon).

The Hypocrisy of Dan Savage

Last week while speaking at the National High School Journalist Conference in Seattle, Dan Savage hurled insults at students who left the room because they were offended by his remarks concerning the Bible and its position with regard to homosexuality. The irony is that he made his comments at a conference that was themed around an anti-bullying message. He even implicated himself as a bully when he said, “It’s funny that someone who is on the receiving end of beatings that are justified by the Bible, how pansy-a*** some people react when we push back.”

Forget the irony for minute. Savage makes the claim about the Bible that pro-homosexual activists have been making for years, that since the Bible got its views of slavery wrong then there is a one-hundred percent chance that its views on human sexuality are wrong as well. He basically levies the accusation that bullying towards homosexuals takes place because the Bible calls it an immoral act and that Christians justify their bullying from a biblical worldview.

Savage makes many assumptions in his argument. First and foremost he seems to assume that Christians who operate from a biblical worldview are the primary source of homosexual bullying. He assumes that Christians simply ignore other types of sexual behavior that the Bible speaks against. He also assumes that people who attack homosexuals are true Christians. Because he does not understand biblical Christianity, Savage creates what he thinks is a Christian for the explicit purpose of arguing against Christianity. In philosophy, that is called a straw-man. My response to Savage is that his own worldview, secular humanism, logically concludes that homosexuality is unnatural, and that we do not need to create straw-men secular humanists to make our case.

Darwinian evolution teaches that animals evolve in such a way as to maintain survivability in their respective environments. We have many different species of animals that came from a particular genetic descent because they evolved through chance mutations in order to fit their environment. Darwin also argued that species that did not evolve became extinct. Darwin assumed that the species that were the most fit survived. For Darwin life was all about survivability and the perpetuation of the species.

Evolution is to humanists what the Bible is to Christians—the underlying foundation to their worldview. The problem with humanists like Savage is that they fail to see that there is no place for homosexuality in their own worldview. Biologically, there is no way for a population that is entirely homosexual to perpetuate itself. The only way that homosexuality can exist is if it does so in a heterosexual society. According to Darwinian evolution, homosexuality should cease to exist because it biologically, genetically cannot survive on its own. It would have to evolve to heterosexuality in order to do so.

Christians can argue against homosexuality from multiple worldviews. Humanists like Savage can only argue for homosexuality by attacking the worldviews of others. In order to justify homosexuality, they have to step outside of their own worldview and admit that there is such thing as morality and then they have to convince people that humans are capable of defining their own morality, hence the attacks on the Bible and Bible-believing Christians.

Nobody develops their worldview in isolation. Every thinker is influenced by other thinkers. Because we are thinking beings, we choose the influences that form our worldview. Christians that operate from a biblical worldview have chosen to let the Bible stand as their authority. Others, such as Savage have chosen other forms of influence in the development of their worldview. Here is the difference: Savage’s worldview allows him to hurl insults at people that he would call bullies. A biblical worldview mandates that we love those who are trapped in the sinful lifestyle of homosexuality. So, who are the real hypocrites?

Concerning My Patriotism...

Now that the dust has settled on September and we are through the busyness of hosting gospel-centered meetings with the Strength Team, I want to take a moment to reflect and proverbially “clear the air.” Evidently, there has been some backlash with regard to the message I preached on September 11, “The Cage of Fear.” http://www.pbclc.com/home.aspx?igid=30035

I am not exactly sure what parts of the message were offensive. I cannot find anything in the intent of the message that would be considered biblically or doctrinally unsound. But something was offensive nonetheless and since I made statements that contrasted our country to heaven and patriotism to the gospel, I at least want everyone to be clear as to where I stand with regard to the privilege of being able to live in the greatest country in this world.

I cannot state it more simply than to say, “I love this country.” I am as patriotic as any American. As often as we are able, our family participates in an annual Independence Day boat parade. Every Memorial Day I mourn the loss of life sacrificed for this nation. I have served this country in the US Army and would still to this day defend it and its ideal of freedom against all enemies, foreign and domestic. My heart was broken on September 11, when our nation came under attack by coward terrorists who possess no sense of honor or courage and settle instead for taking innocent, civilian human life rather than facing their enemies on the field of battle. They have created a new battlefield and I for one am grateful for a government that is willing to take the fight to their lands.

Many of you do not know that I had the privilege of serving at ground zero with SBC Disaster Relief efforts. I was involved in serving the first response teams that were required to sift through the rubble and debris looking for evidence that would help to bring justice to the terrorists and vindication to the victims. I counseled with them and wept with them as they worked to unravel the mystery of the event that changed our nation. I carry the same weight of emotion, concern, and memory that many of you do when it comes to commemorating the events of 9/11.

At no time did I ever intend to communicate the idea that justice should not be served and that the people that are responsible for terrorism around the world should not be held accountable for their acts. Evil exists and it exists in the form of people whose hearts are not inclined toward God and the truth of His Son, Jesus Christ. The church empowered by the cross, sits in opposition to this evil by demonstrating in words and actions, what it is like to live under the glorious lordship of Jesus. We have the privilege of experiencing in part, the kingdom that will come at the return of Jesus. We oppose evil by living out the principles of the kingdom. And given the tension between a citizenship in a perfect, heavenly place and a residence in an imperfect, unrighteous, sinful place, we may find some of the kingdom principles difficult to live out in our everyday experience, especially when we are forced to choose between these principles and our cultural/patriotic/political worldview. Dr. Russell Moore (Dean of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) was right when he said (via twitter), “Toby Keith and Jack Bauer don’t speak for us today [9/11/11]. Let our neighbors hear from us justice and mercy, with a Galilean accent.”

The point of that message, which for whatever reason was missed by some, was that fear paralyzes us and keeps us from standing opposed to evil in a godly way. We may oppose it but in our sinful nature, that opposition manifests itself in hatred, bitterness, and yes, even racism when we are trapped by fear. Parkview is a healthy church (regardless of the rumors that surfaced in Lake City the week after that message) because it is willing to be confronted by the message of Jesus and wrestle with statements such as, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Mt 5:44).

I stand by my conviction that as great as our Declaration of Independence is, it does not come close to the freedom that is proclaimed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And as great as our Constitution is, it does not compare to the principles that govern the lives of citizens of the kingdom of God. May we “if it is possible, as much as depends on [us], live peaceably with all men” (Rom 12:18), especially others who claim the name of Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Quarterback Churches

In an effort to promote increased giving to the Cooperative Program, the Florida Baptist Convention is kicking off a campaign to encourage churches to become Quarterback Churches. The idea is for churches to increase their CP gifts by .25% (1/4 of one percent) each year for the next four years, which when you do the math increases the church’s overall giving by 1% by the beginning of year four.

Increased CP giving is absolutely necessary if Florida Baptists are going to remain faithful to the mission to which we have been called. I hope that many of our churches will become Quarterback Churches and begin the process of increasing their CP gifts. Whether we like it or not, the Florida Baptist Convention must make changes in order to compete with other mission agencies for local church dollars. The more our churches invest in the CP, the easier it will be for these changes to occur. Quarterback Churches will be on the front line of helping our convention become a leader in mission and missionary efforts in our fields of receptivity.

In an effort to recognize increased giving among some churches, we forget that there are churches in our convention that have not wavered in their commitment to the Cooperative Program. They will never be Quarterback Churches because they have for the past ten to twenty years been Fullback Churches, churches that were willing to carry the ball into the trenches and stretch their ministry dollars in order to invest in a Cooperative Program that many had abandoned. The Quarterback Campaign is designed to move the average giving levels of churches from 6% to 7%, which will make an incredible difference. But Fullback Churches have consistently led this Convention with their gifts of 10-12% each year.

This year there will be churches recognized as Quarterback Churches because they increase their giving by 1% over the next four years, but their backstage, boardroom strategies that reduced their missions giving in the past will remain unnoticed. While I am grateful for the churches that will step up as Quarterback Churches, I want to make sure that the Fullback Churches know how much we appreciate them. I love the campaign idea and I hope the Florida Baptist Convention leverages these increases to maximize efficiency in its mission. Listing names on a website, and most likely in a newspaper article in the future, alienates those who have sacrificed for years in order to give to a cause that is bigger than any one particular church. In my estimation, these churches are already included in a list that will probably never be published, Fullback Churches. But then again, rarely does the fullback expect the attention.

What will save Anthony Weiner?

With the news that Congressman Anthony Weiner was going to seek treatment for his sexual addiction, Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary tweeted, “Dear Congressman Weiner: There is no effective ‘treatment’ for sin. Only atonement, found only in Jesus Christ.” Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, founder of This World: The Values Network took exception to Mohler’s comments claiming that Mohler was trying to proselytize the congressman. Rabbi Shmuley responded to Mohler’s comments in an article in The Jewish Journal titled, “An Evangelical Attempts to Proselytize Anthony Weiner.”

In his response, Rabbi Shmuley made three statements that demonstrate just how different evangelical Christianity and Judaism really are. These statements are based on incorrect assumptions that Rabbi Shmuley makes about evangelical Christianity. He assumes that we believe that “salvation through Jesus Christ grants immunity to sexual sin” and that Christianity will prevent sin. No one with a correct understanding of evangelical Christianity would make these claims as they run contrary to Scripture, Old and New Testaments. Our faith does not prevent sin but it does provide a way out. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Cor 10:13, ESV) Here, God supplies that which is necessary to overcome sin and temptation to those who have placed their faith in Him.

Rabbi Shmuley says, “Redemption comes about not through anything we believe but how we behave.” In this statement he makes redemption a matter of self-determination. We can will ourselves to be obedient enough to be redeemed. However, Genesis 15:6 concerning Abraham, the father of Judaism, “And he (Abraham) believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness” (NKJV, emphasis mine). To his credit, Rabbi Shmuley rightly says, “It is not faith that guarantees our morality but rather an ironclad commitment to righteous action, be we atheists or theist.” I believe this is true, but while faith does not guarantee our morality, neither does our morality guarantee the kingdom.

Secondly, Rabbi Shmuley says, “Redemption is never a function of belief and always a function of deed.” To support his view, he quotes Jesus in Matt 7:16, “You will know them by their fruits.” The Rabbi makes an excellent point and most evangelical Christians that I know will readily admit that there is a tension and a struggle between faith and obedience. The Rabbi in his statement though creates a rather extreme false choice that distinguishes between two biblically inseparable concepts, faith and works. In order for his statement to be aligned with Scripture (Old and New Testaments), it should read, “Redemption is always a function of belief that results in deeds.” James and the writer of Hebrews affirm the emphasis of obedience that comes from faith, but this obedience is empowered by God, not our will.

Thirdly, Rabbi Shmuley says, “Atonement comes not from belief in Jesus Christ but from getting on your knees in front of the wife whose heart you broke, begging her forgiveness, and placing yourself in an environment of change that will help sustain your new moral commitment.” Anthony Weiner should absolutely do these things and in them he and his wife may experience reconciliation. But to ascribe atonement to this act of self-vindication is to limit the concept of atonement to earthly relationships. Rabbi Shmuley grossly misses the point of the atoning sacrifice when he says, “Judaism is emphatic that when it comes to sins that pertain to human relationships, not even G-d can forgive. The injured party must be approached directly.”

The statements made by Rabbi Shmuley stem from the same type of moralistic deism that trapped the Pharisees of Jesus’ day into thinking that self-determination, self-righteousness, and self-vindication was enough to gain entrance to the kingdom. Nicodemus even struggled with the spiritual side to Jesus’ teaching. Rabbi Shmuley makes a similar mistake in limiting concepts such as redemption and atonement to the physical realm and physical relationships. However, he goes one step further. While the Pharisees of Jesus’ day misunderstood faith, Rabbi Shmuley seems to completely dismiss faith as irrelevant. The Bible is very clear when through the writer of Hebrews the Holy Spirit reminds us that, “without faith it is impossible to please [God],” (Heb 11:6, NKJV).

Contentment vs. Complacency

In their newly published book, The Faith of Leap, Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch present an awesome challenge to the church to step up and pursue the adventure to which we have been called. The premise of the book is that if we are going to take on the responsibility of being light in a dark world, we will be required to assume a certain level of risk--one that is not dissimilar to that of first century Christians who realized that claiming "Jesus is Lord" was countercultural and counter-political to the driving and safe worldview of the Roman Empire that readily declared "Caesar is lord."

Before I get to what I believe is right about the opening chapter, I want to to take issue with one paragraph. In order to validate their position, the authors believe that we must impose on God's character the same type of risk that we as humans experience. In doing so they present a theology that closely resembles the theology of "Open Theism." Open theists assume that since our risk stems from a lack of knowledge and control, then our God who takes risks must do so from the same perspective, a lack of knowledge and a lack of control. I agree that God seemingly took risks when he gave Adam a choice, and when He came in the flesh, and when He entrusted His mission to a church. But in God's economy, risk and knowledge and control do not stand in opposition. God is still omniscient and omnipotent. What is risky for us is not so for God. The authors admit that this particular theological debate is beyond the scope of the book, so they correctly keep the ideas of risk and courage centered on the church and it's mission today.

The real motivation for this article is to make sure that we as a church understand the difference between contentment (the topic for many of our Sunday School classes for June 19) and complacency. When we teach about contentment, we are speaking in terms of materialism, calling, and the circumstances of this world or our lot in life. Contentment in this sense battles our natural inclination towards covetousness, envy, and greed. Paul articulates the Christian perspective when he says, "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me," (Phil 4:1-13, ESV).

However, Paul never allowed his contentment to take on the characteristics of complacency. To do what he did in writing sometimes scathing letters to churches showed that he cared and was passionate about his calling. His unwillingness to allow John Mark on the second missionary journey showed that he was passionate about his convictions. He risked friendships at the expense of truth and conviction. He pursued the adventure of being a Christian in ways that many of us would never consider. Paul wrote, "Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure," (1 Cor 11:24-27, ESV).

Paul was content, but he was never complacent. As believers, contentment with regard to the things of this world should never be misconstrued as complacency with regard to the kingdom. Are we, individually and as a church, willing to let urgency and risk drive our mission and purpose? Here is a question to consider, how often do we operate in the realm of mediocrity (in our individual faith and in the corporate life of the church) because we have mistaken complacency for contentment?

Final Thoughts on May 21

With the hoopla of Harold Camping's May 21 predictions now finally beginning to wane, I want to share some final thoughts--at least until October when Camping predicts the world will end. Just to be clear, according to his written tracts and information on his radio station websites, May 21 was supposed to be the date of the rapture and October 21, the day of destruction. October 21 is not a revised prophecy. It was part of the original all along.

I am not a prophet in the predictive sense, but I did predict what Camping would do on May 22 in light of a failed prophecy. He did what other false prophets have done in the past, spiritualized his vision. Camping, like Charles Russell (Jehovah's Witness) before him, believes now that the judgment has occurred but it did not play out in a physical rapture the way he thought it would.

While Camping continues to err in trying to calculate and set dates that are reserved for the wisdom and sovereignty of God, he does get one thing right. Jesus will return to establish His kingdom. In His first appearance on earth, Jesus came as the Suffering Servant to inaugurate a kingdom that would be offered to those who believe. When all who will believe have believed, Jesus will come again, this time, not as a Suffering Servant but a Conquering King. The Bible says that he will come in all His glory and that everything that is anti-Christ (captured in the term Babylon in Revelation) will be judged. His judgment will be final, physical, and quick.

What I noticed about my own attitude towards Camping is that while I (rather unfortunately) stated several opinions that were not constructive, I realized that I thought differently on May 21. Even in the midst of mocking his theology, he had me thinking about certain actions and attitudes that I would want to avoid should that day or any day for that matter be the last day. In hindsight, I think we too often feel that Christ's return could be immediate, but we file it away in the recesses of our minds so that we are not forced to consider our lives in light of His imminent return.

I hope that between now and October 21 and beyond, should the Lord grant us that much time, that I will learn to live each day thinking intentionally about my actions and attitudes, my pursuit of holiness, and my service to the kingdom through His church. Are there thoughts that I don't want to be thinking when Christ comes? Are there conversations that I don't want to be having when Christ comes? Are there places I don't want to be when Christ comes? The return of Christ should not paralyze us with fear, but should serve to motivate us with the urgency that gospel deserves. In embracing this gospel, we escape the judgment that awaits those who continue to reject the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This gospel is God's plan of salvation and deliverance to all who believe.

The Death of Bin Laden: A Victorious Battle in a Just War

The news of the death of Usama bin Laden spread like a wildfire through news outlets, social media, baseball parks, and New York City streets. National pride gripped Americans’ hearts and souls and the nation seemed to shout a unified and harmonious, “Hallelujah,” reminiscent of the voices of the citizens of Oz upon hearing that the Wicked Witch was dead.

While we rightly consider that some amount of justice has been served, we should exercise caution in our celebration. The Bible says in Ezekiel 33:11, “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.’” God’s desire for anyone, no matter how evil, is for faith and repentance to eventually grip their hearts and to turn towards Him for life. We must make sure that our motive or cause for celebration is not vindictiveness towards bin Laden, but gladness towards the families who have suffered because of his work. These families get to experience some semblance of justice and closure.

Before the din of American nationalism could subside, critics were already questioning the justification of such an act, questioning the right of the United States to be in Afghanistan and Pakistan, much less the right to use such force in going after one man. The answer to such critics can be found in Scripture and in a theological/philosophical worldview of what has been labeled, “just war.” I know that for many people, there is no such thing as a just war, but the reality of the human condition and inclination towards war necessitates a mediating position between pacifism and imperialism.

The just war theory was formulated by Augustine in the midst of the Christianization of the Roman Empire under Constantine. Prior to Christianity becoming the dominant belief system, Christians were in such minority that they were able to ignore any imperial claims made upon them by the Empire. As Christianity spread, it became more difficult for Christians to maintain a pacifist position as increasing pressure was placed on them to serve in the armed forces. Augustine adapted the rules of warfare developed by classical thinkers like Plato and Cicero to Christian thought. He taught that war should be fought in order to secure justice and reestablish peace. He also taught that war must be conducted under the direction of proper ruling authorities and characterized by an attitude of love for the enemy (the opposing forces theoretically serving in the same frame of mind, in loyalty to their ruler.) Any promises made to the opposition should be honored such as a clearly defined mission and the parameters of the mission. (R.G. Clouse, “War,” Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd Ed. Walter E. Elwell, ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001)

The Bible says in Romans 13:3-4, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good and you will receive praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” The pursuit of Usama bin Laden was not the pursuit of a person who may have been guilty of crimes against humanity. Bin Laden was proud to acknowledge his role in the attacks that killed over three thousand civilians and led to a war that has killed thousands more, civilians and servicemen. As limited as human justice is, it was served in the death of Usama bin Laden.

As glad as I am to hear that there is one less terrorist in the world today, I am saddened by the fact that the news came too late for the American service men and women who have already given their lives for this cause, who were not able to celebrate with us the victory of this particular battle—a victory that comes in the context of the much larger war they have been fighting for a decade. Of course, they have already seen firsthand the true justice that comes to those who reject God and the gospel of His Son, Jesus.

A Sad Day for Freedom of Speech

The headline in an article on USA Today online reads, “Supreme Court rules in favor of church that pickets funerals.” The story behind the headline is that of the activities of Topeka-based Westboro Baptist Church led by “fundamentalist” pastor Fred Phelps. Phelps and his followers stage picket protests at the funerals of soldiers who have died in combat presumably to send a message of judgment on the United States for its acceptance of and policies toward homosexual behavior. This particular ruling came in the context of a lawsuit filed against Westboro by a family of a Marine whose funeral was the target of a protest. The reason I believe this is a sad day for freedom of speech is not because the Supreme Court’s decision to protect their speech wasn’t right, but because this kind of speech exists in the first place by a group that claims to be believers in Jesus Christ.

What does a Christian response to this story look like? How should we frame our opinion as to right and wrong in this case? First, we need to be careful in supporting any attempt to restrict Westboro’s right to voice an opinion. As disagreeable as their words might be and as dishonoring to God’s Word as their actions are, we must support their right to voice their views if we have any chance of continuing to voice our own. I hope that the actions of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) are successful in diminishing the effect of the protests. The VFW has vowed to screen the funeral processions from the protesters using busses and other means so that the families can mourn their losses in private.

With that said, we need to distance our belief system from that of Westboro Baptist Church. Ed Stetzer rightly said on a twitter post, “The only correct part in the name of “Westboro Baptist Church” is that it is in Westboro.” Its actions demonstrate that it is not Baptist and it is not a Church. I am saddened that the idea of fundamentalism is now vastly different from what the term meant in the early 1900s. In the midst of theological liberalism, fundamentalism embraced the inerrancy of God’s Word and the theology of orthodox Christianity. Now, the word is used to describe fringe, radicals in all kinds of religious systems. So we must distance ourselves from the labels that have changed meanings over the years.

We must also remain on mission, knowing the true church proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ, not Moral Deism (a belief that defines God according to a certain set of moral standards). It is obvious that Westboro has no regard for the Great Commission (Mt. 28:19-20). While God raised up prophets in the Old Testament to call His people back into obedient fellowship, Jesus has commissioned His church in the New Testament to “make disciples of all nations.” The centrality of our preaching is Christ crucified and risen, neither of which are present on the signs being held at these various protests. To substitute this message for the priority of any other message is to be disobedient to the commands of Christ at multiple levels. Westboro’s message truly is one of hate rather than love and they somehow think that unspiritual people can be manipulated and guilted into thinking spiritually without being born again (1 Cor. 2:14).

Personally, I hope this is the last story about Westboro Baptist Church to ever make the news. I hope that media outlets will not give them the attention they seek. In the meantime, we must love Lake City in such a way, that they will see the good in our name Parkview Baptist Church and understand truly that we are really both, “Baptist” and “Church.”

Is May 21 really the end?

The pamphlets are being distributed and the busses are rolling through Lake City, FL. and many other cities around our nation announcing May 21, 2011 as the Judgment Day. Some receive the pamphlets out of curiosity. Some receive them out of politeness. My fear is that some will receive them looking for answers and in the end will be deceived and view all Christianity as just another religious scam. If anything good can come from the message of this group, it is that believers must be fully informed and passionate about pursuing the truth of God’s Word and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The source of the pamphlets being distributed and the organizers of the various caravans that are moving from city to city is Family Radio. Family Radio was founded by Harold Camping in 1988 with the acquisition of a radio station in San Francisco. It began as an open-forum talk radio station that allowed callers to ask Camping questions about various verses in Scripture and he would in turn give an interpretation.

In 1988, Camping separated himself from any denominational affiliation claiming that the church age had ended. He began leading followers to leave their churches. He believes that churches do not employ the Bible as their sole means of authority and that church doctrine and hermeneutic dictate how the Bible is understood in the context of that church. Of course the assumption made by Camping in such a statement is that his doctrine and hermeneutic are correct. He ignores the fact that every interpretation of Scripture (including his) is driven by some methodology. The key to biblical interpretation is consistency. The hermeneutic that the Reformers employed (and that we employ) is based on the historical, theological, and grammatical context of each verse. Camping denies that this is the best way to understand Scripture opting instead to switch between literal and allegorical readings of Scripture. Again consistency is the key and a brief survey of his interpretations show that he is not consistent in his exegesis (technical understanding of a text) or his hermeneutic (interpretation of a text.)

In the pamphlet, The End of the World Is almost Here!, Camping attempts to prove biblically that the Rapture will take place on May 21, 2011. For Camping, the Rapture is the time when Jesus will save His followers from His wrath, a series of plagues that will bring about the ultimate destruction of the universe by October of 2011. He claims to be able to calculate the date based upon two verses in the Bible: 2 Peter 3:8 and Genesis 7:4. In Genesis 7:4 the Bible says:
For after seven more days, I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made. (NKJV)
In 2 Peter 3:8 the Bible says: But beloved do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (NKJV)

Camping’s math tells him that May 21, 2011, is exactly seven thousand years from the date of the flood. Two assumptions based on biblical interpretation drive this calculation. One assumption is that 4990 B.C. is the exact year of the flood. The second assumption ignores the simile (a poetic device used for comparison) of 2 Pt. 3:8 and says that the day of Gen. 7:4 is a literal and an allegorical period of time. “Therefore, with the correct understanding that the seven days referred to in Genesis 7:4 can be understood as 7,000 years, we learn that when God told Noah there were seven days to escape worldwide destruction, He was also telling the world there would be exactly 7,000 years to escape the wrath of God …” There is no possible reading, casual or technical that could possibly tie these two verses together this way. Furthermore, Camping misses the point of the 2 Pt. 3:8 passage.

The point of 2 Pt. 3:8 is to disclose the patience of an infinitely merciful God even when His people are being persecuted. In other words, God is patiently waiting for all who will be saved to be saved even though His people must suffer in the meantime. I do not believe that God contradicts himself. When Jesus told Peter and the rest of the disciples, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only,” he would not later in the power of the Holy Spirit reveal this information to Peter in some code that only a few would be able to understand. The Bible was not written in order to hide the mysteries of God but to reveal them and to do so plainly.

Camping’s call for repentance and reliance on the mercy of God is admirable. He is accurate when he says that only the Bible should be considered the Word of God. He says to, “Turn away from your sins and humbly beg, beseech, and implore God for forgiveness.” Unfortunately, his presentation is void of any true gospel presentation. Instead, he implies that the mercy of God is not bestowed based on faith in Jesus Christ but on the fact that one has embraced the warning of May 21, 2011 as the Day of Judgment. He says, “And thank God that in His great mercy He has given you this warning of destruction that is almost here, and the great hope that you, too, might be one whom God will bring to heaven to be with God…” It is the great mercy of God displayed in the gospel of Jesus that we must embrace. A proper understanding of the gospel is what saves us, not an accurate prediction of the end of the world. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and in that belief we have life in His name (John 20:31).

Camping’s message in his book 1994 was that the end of the world would come in 1994. This 2011 message by Camping and his followers is equally wrong and deceitful. Any attempt to set a date for the return of Christ is futile and only compounds and empowers the fulfillment of 2 Pt. 3:3, “That scoffers will come in the last days…saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’” In other words, Camping promotes a “Christianity” that will be subject to scrutiny on May 22, 2011, and those of us who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ and are called to proclaim it until he returns will simply continue to proclaim that gospel in light of heretics such Harold Camping.

Thanks Ida--for the message we didn't hear

I find it amazing the number of emotions one can experience in such a short period of time during a denominational convention. I have experienced the joy of worship, the anxiety of business, the disappointment of apathy, and the amazement at the number of opinions that are out there—one of which will expressed here.

We do not often think in terms of that which did not happen. Tropical Storm Ida changed the convention program for us. Ed Young, Jr. was scheduled to bring a message, but because of the weather, had to cancel. I was disappointed because I love the creativity that Ed Young brings to the pulpit. I subscribe to his newsletter. However, I was curious as to why he would have been invited to speak at our convention in the first place for two reasons.

First, I find it interesting that Ed Young would be scheduled in a time slot labeled “Biblical Message.” I tend to think of expository preaching when I hear these terms--not something Ed Young is known to practice on a regular basis.

Second, I think it is interesting that the Florida Baptist Convention would schedule a keynote speaker who does not believe in the concept of the cooperative program. Several years ago I heard Ed Young make a statement about not being willing to use his resources to cross oceans to share the gospel when people in his own backyard need the gospel. I understand his concern and agree that our churches need to be missional agencies in their cities. Not long after that statement, Fellowship Church crossed the gulf and established a pastor-by-DVD church when it took over the ailing First Baptist Church of South Miami.

I have appreciated the messages that we have heard thus far. The Pastor’s Conference speakers have been extremely encouraging and John Cross’s message left us with a challenge that we must all seriously consider and set up perfectly the ideas that will be considered today. This morning, I want to do the unusual and thank God for the message we didn’t hear.

EDGE in the Beulah Baptist Association Newsletter

In August 2008, Parkview Baptist Church launched a worship service for college-age people called EDGE. The purpose of EDGE was to provide a bridge that would help young people transition from church involvement through a youth group to kingdom involvement through the church. Now in its second season, EDGE continues to help young people identify their role in the kingdom and pursue God’s plan and purpose for them.

The concept and inspiration for EDGE came primarily from a book written by Leonard Sweet called The Gospel according to Starbucks. Sweet uses the acronym EPIC to describe worship that is larger than life. EPIC continues to be the driving force behind EDGE worship—a worship that serves a purpose bigger than any of our own individual agendas. EPIC worship stands for experiential, participatory, image-rich, and community. None of these concepts are new to the established church. They simply manifest themselves in different ways according to the culture and personalities of each congregation. We happen to use various forms of multimedia, dialogue, and music to experience and proclaim the gospel. EDGE worshippers experience community while proclaiming the gospel through the observance of communion each week.

While EDGE takes on the characteristics of its own congregation, the purpose is not to be a stand alone church. Instead, EDGE worshippers are challenged to use the experience to make their Sunday worship more meaningful, regardless of the church in which it occurs. While research has shown that 18-25 year olds tend to drop out of church at a faster rate than most age groups, several young people from EDGE are plugged faithfully into Sunday morning worship experiences and engage in activities that many authors say are antiquated and no longer relevant to this generation such as a choir that still wears robes. For instance, six EDGE worshippers sing in the Parkview choir every Sunday.

EDGE meets in the basement of Parkview Baptist Church on Thursday nights. As we try to find ways of helping other people in this generation find their place in the kingdom, the time may change, but for now the doors open at 8:30 for cappuccino and worship begins at 9:00 pm. EDGE has taken on a coffee-house atmosphere. The great thing about working with young people is that if the Lord decides to morph EDGE into a high-energy concert atmosphere, then that will be fine. Parkview’s pastor, Mike Tatem, leads the preaching/teaching portion of EDGE. Josh Smith, Nikolai Lee, Cynthia Roman, and Travis Crosby (all LCCC students) make up the rest of the worship leadership team. You can find us on facebook under Parkview Edge or on google at parkviewedge.blogspot.com. We hope you will stop by on line or in person and join us as we pursue EPIC worship and a larger than life faith.

Health Care Reform and the Public Option

On September 21 at the SBC Executive Committee, Guidestone Financial Resources president O. S. Hawkins announced that he and leaders from a coalition of 32 denomination-backed health insurance programs are concerned about the impact of President Obama’s proposals for health care reform (Baptist Press, http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=31316). With all of the partisan political rhetoric, the President’s incessant public appearances, and lobbyist commercials about health care reform between the news stories about health care reform, how are we to process the abundance of information?

The controversy stems from the inclusion in the proposal of a public option health insurance. So far, many of the opinion articles that I have read that support the president’s proposal have argued that health care costs are out of control and something must be done. I think many if not most people would agree that this is true. The problem is that a public option does not address health care costs; it addresses health insurance costs.

A public option might provide insurance at a lower premium, but in reality, it will be subject to the same market pressures that private insurance companies face. A public option will charge a lower premium and pay the same high prices that other insurance companies have to pay for treatments and prescriptions. Hawkins rightly stated, “You can’t compete with somebody else who doesn’t have to not just make a profit, but doesn’t even have to break even [and] can print money and support it with your tax dollars.” As with any government interference in the free market, a public option has an unfair advantage and inevitably inflates costs as markets try to compensate for their disadvantage.

A public option will have to establish a structure similar to private companies in order to determine what will or will not be covered. Currently, doctors determine how many patients they will see and which insurance companies they will accept. The proposal has no authority to force doctors to see patients that carry public insurance. In other words, the public option offers no real change to the system and only superficial cost saving to people who will use it.

These factors fuel the scare about “socialized medicine.” Because of these competitive disadvantages, the public option could end up being the only option, as private insurance companies choose to move out of the health care industry and focus on more profitable and competitive markets such as life, home, and auto insurance.

The real solutions to health care reform will only be found when legislators begin to focus on the market forces that drive health care costs. Tort (law that defines what constitutes legal injury and establishes liability) reform directly addresses the cost of doing business for doctors—costs that are directly passed on to patients (and subsequently their insurance carriers.) Legislation that provides incentives to good doctors to accept more patients and more private insurances may possibly force bad doctors out of business. The assumption is that bad doctors stay in business out of the leftover patients and insurance coverage that good doctors refuse to accept.

I am not an expert in economics or the medical industry. I admit that my solutions may not be solutions at all. I do believe that if we are going to argue in support of an idea, our arguments should actually support the idea. If we are going to propose a solution to a problem, the solution should address the problem.