Shaping Community:

Discipleship and the ‘outside world’

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
April 22, 2008

(ABP) -- Quite by coincidence, I had just finished reading Carolyn Jessup’s Escape when the news stories broke about the raids on the Texas ranch of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints. The “escape” of the book’s title is from an abusive, polygamous marriage. Yet there was for me an unexpected coda to Jessup’s story. Her eldest daughter, on turning 18, returned to her father and the Fundamentalist Mormon Church.

Are we there yet?

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
March 25, 2008

If you’ve ever traveled with children, you will inevitably hear these four words. When my children ask, “Are we there yet?” I usually try to give a response vague enough to distract them so that won’t repeat the question. Of course, when we travel the long distance to Alabama to see my husband’s family, there are only so many distractions.

Unity in the church at the expense of truth

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
March 11, 2008

In his speech at the recent New Baptist Covenant celebration, John Grisham urged his hearers to spend as much time ministering out in the streets as they do in the church. No doubt this is in many ways an admirable sentiment, although I do wonder how much time the average Baptist spends in the church to begin with.

Marriage in the marketplace

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
February 26, 2008

I don’t wish to be thought unperceptive, but apparently the world I had always known has ended without my being aware of it.

An economy of scale to pursue edification, discernment

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
February 14, 2008

I recently had the privilege of enjoying the hospitality of the Englewood Christian Church of Indianapolis. This congregation isn’t as well known as Saddleback, nor has its pastor (Michael Bowling) ever been interviewed by Larry King, but its story is as exciting as any told by Joel Osteen.

Worshiping with helmets

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
January 29, 2008

Recent reports about the age of messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention have alerted some to the “graying” of the convention. Specifically, the percentage of messengers aged 18-39 dropped from a high of 35.9 percent in 1985 to a low of 16.1 percent in 2005.

Who is the master of the house?

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
January 15, 2008

The upcoming Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant, with its promotion of religious liberty, raises the question of how as Baptists we ought to understand true Christian freedom.

Does Christmas matter to the world?

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
December 18, 2007

On a recent trip to my hometown, I was surprised to hear some beautiful Russian Orthodox music performed by the "Singing Christmas Tree” in my childhood Southern Baptist church in North Carolina. Perhaps I should clarify this. I wasn’t surprised the music was beautifully sung; the choir always does a wonderful job. The surprise was hearing Orthodox music in a Baptist environment.

The power of choosing what we remember

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
November 13, 2007

Like other American holidays – such as Labor, Memorial and Presidents days – Veterans’ Day has lost much of its original significance for a considerable part of our population and has become the occasion for yet one more three-day weekend. There are commemorations of the honored dead and our leaders mark the day in appropriate ways. But this is not the story that will lead the news. And persons are able to speak -- apparently without irony -- of “celebrating” the day by taking it off from work.

God exists. The real question is, do you?

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
October 30, 2007

Christopher Hitchins has been barnstorming the country of late promoting his most recent book, god is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, making an argument similar to Richard Dawkins in God is a Delusion.

What divides us as important as what unites us

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
October 16, 2007

The recent media firestorm over Ann Coulter’s comments on whether or not the Jewish people require “perfection” follows the predictable pattern. Like Captain Renault in the movie Casablanca, the hosts of various news programs professed themselves “shocked, shocked” to discover that Coulter had said something hateful. (Meredith Viera on “The Today Show” being a particularly egregious example.) This was despite the fact that only a few days earlier, Ann Coulter had appeared on these same programs promoting her most recent book, a collection of many hateful things she has said.

On behalf of indoctrination

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
October 2, 2007

Several years ago, I invited a local surgeon who was an Orthodox Jew to come and speak to my undergraduates about the specifics of his faith. One of the points he emphasized was the importance of family and of marrying within the faith. Even more, their marriages, while not fully arranged, were heavily guided with input and wisdom from the elders. There was no dating, only arranged meetings between couples that took place in very public places.

Living in sight of a coffin

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
September 4, 2007

On a recent trip to England, I visited the ancient Norman church, Saint Mary’s, Iffley, where a 13th-century anchoress (a female hermit) by the name of Annora resided. She lived enclosed in a room attached to the cathedral, with a stone coffin lid on the floor of her cell.

Christian discipleship created in our own image

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
August 2, 2007

Some time back I happened across a human-interest story in the “religion” section of an out-of-town newspaper. It was the headline, “For some youths, one church isn’t enough,” that caught my eye. The story focused on a teenager, Emily, who dutifully attended the “traditional” church of her family and also attended another, much more lively, church with her peers. It seems a “win-win” situation.

'Historical amnesia' and the Christian creeds

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
July 2, 2007

Professor Walter Shurden has commented recently on the diverse dangers arising for what he terms the “historical amnesia” of the Baptist people.

Are local Baptist churches wholly autonomous?

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
June 12, 2007

A philosopher once said “the meaning of a word is its use.” He didn’t mean that a word can mean anything but rather that words can mean different things according to their context. I remember arguing with a former professor about this. I offered the word “circle” as having a singular meaning. Doesn’t it always refer to something round and, well, circular? His response: “What about a women’s circle?”

The duty to subordinate that which divides us?

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
May 29, 2007

A few nights ago, just at bedtime, my husband and I heard some kind of owl -- at least we assumed it was an owl -- announcing its presence among the oaks in our backyard.

The best way to a full Baptist remembrance

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
May 15, 2007

The 400th anniversary of the Jamestown colony is big news, at least here in Virginia. The visit of Queen Elizabeth II excited a flurry of comments on proper protocol, and at least one TV reporter wondered aloud why Governor Kaine would address the media without a necktie.

Communities don’t prevent violence, but they help us cope

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
May 2, 2007

“We are all Hokies now.” So reads a banner that appeared at a Baptist church near our home. It tries to express the empathy that most Virginians feel in the wake of the terrible murders at Virginia Tech. The school is so large and its alumni base so vast that almost everybody knows somebody who is a Hokie.

Practice resurrection throughout entire Easter season

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
April 17, 2007

Happy Easter! My greeting might seem misplaced, especially in light of the recent horrifying Virginia Tech shooting. On a much smaller scale, many of us are weighed down with other worries and anxieties. But isn’t Easter already over?

Formation and malformation in the body of Christ

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
April 3, 2007

The recent meeting of the Mainstream Baptist Network was the predictable celebration of “freedom” as the cornerstone of what it means to be Baptist. I will note only in passing the irony of a group that describes itself as “mainstream” celebrating he autonomy of the individual.

Good manners and speaking the truth

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
March 15, 2007

The early onset of the presidential campaign has brought with it a renewed call for a “return to civility.” There seems, however, little prospect for any immediate restoration of such civility, assuming that it ever existed. I think there are two reasons for this. First of all, we’re not sure any longer what such civility would look like and secondly, there is a great deal at stake.

The freedom of fasting

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
February 26, 2007

It’s already Lent and so far we’ve had a relatively snow-free winter here in Hanover County, Va. While the schools provided the kids with a couple of delayed openings and at least one “just in case” closing, there hasn’t really been any of the white stuff on the ground.

Are acceptance and rejection the only choices?

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
February 13, 2007

The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina got a lot of attention recently by passing the following resolution: “Among the churches not in friendly cooperation with the convention are churches which knowingly act to affirm, approve, endorse, promote, support or bless homosexual behavior.”

Hearing God’s voice

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
January 17, 2007

Years ago during my sojourn at Southern Seminary, William Hendricks, my theology professor, told us of a young man who informed him, “God told me you shouldn’t be teaching here anymore.” Professor Hendricks’ response was direct and to the point: “And God told me you’re crazy.”

Christmas trees and menorahs:
Sharing space or sharing a story?

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
December 19, 2006

I’m willing to bet that no one has a favorite holiday story about time spent in an airport. The main thought that we have involving airports is that we spend as little time as possible in them. Of course, if we’re dashing through an airport, desperate to make our connection, then and only then might we long for a few more moments in O’Hare or Jackson-Hartsfield.

Waiting with a purpose

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
December 7, 2006

When I was giving birth to our first child, one of the nurses asked my husband how he was doing, since he was just standing there, having nothing to do but watch me struggle through labor. My husband, who would have much preferred to be anywhere else but there, said (quoting John Milton), "They also serve who only stand and wait."

‘The truth shall make you odd’

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
November 22, 2006

As we await the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group about what “to do” in Iraq, I can’t help but be struck by the poverty of our imaginations. Just what, if anything, can we do to shore up the new Iraqi government, to help stabilize the Mideast or to prosecute the “war on terror”?

Pluralism as idolatry

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
October 24, 2006

The widely publicized case of military Chaplain Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt awaits appeal. Klingenschmitt, a priest with the Evangelical Episcopal Church, prayed in the name of Jesus while wearing his uniform at a White House ceremony organized to protest the Navy's ban on sectarian prayers at military events that soldiers are required to attend.

'Baptism by fire' truck

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
October 11, 2006

Our party for my son’s sixth birthday was a big success, mostly because we had a fire truck visit from the local fire department. We had the requisite games, music, cake and balloons, but the high point was the firetruck.

What the Pope really said

Beth Newman, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
September 26, 2006

Lost in the sound and fury of Islamic response to the Pope’s perceived attack on Muhammad is his direct attack on the cherished assumptions of the secularized West. We in the West pride ourselves that our removal of faith from the public sphere has delivered us from so-called "sectarian" violence that bloodied Europe in the 17th century. The language of faith is assigned to a private, irrational (i.e. subjective) sphere.