Volume > Issue > Note List > Who's Afraid of the Southern Baptists?

Who’s Afraid of the Southern Baptists?

It’s no mystery why the Southern Baptists have been growing: They evangelize.

Anybody got a problem with that? Well, the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago does. You see, the Southern Baptists hope that the year 2000 will see some 100,000 Southern Baptists come to Chicago to perform social service and witness verbally to the Baptist faith.

So, what’s the problem? It’s a free country, isn’t it? Freedom of religion, and all that.

Well, according to an excellent news story in The Wanderer (Jan. 6, 2000) by Mark Tooley, a Methodist, the Council is principally worried that Baptist evangelism could provoke “hate crimes” against non-Baptists. Yeah, right! Does anybody have evidence that Baptist evangelizers incite violence? Would the Council lobby the government to forbid Billy Graham from holding revival meetings? Would the Council try to ban Jerry Falwell from TV?

Enjoyed reading this?

READ MORE! REGISTER TODAY

SUBSCRIBE

You May Also Enjoy

When Will the Defiance End?

The Catholic Church has nothing to learn from other religions doctrinally.

False Savior

The expense of maintaining our own illusions of godliness must finally crush our spirits or turn us back to God.

Are “White Lies” Ever Permissible?

On its face, the debate seems insignificant to the point of banality: Can a lie be morally justified? Yet, the matter cuts to the heart of our moral heritage.