Why Does It Always have To Be a Baptist?

Isn’t it enough that many in our society see Baptists as dimwitted dinosaurs and serial bigots? Isn’t it bad enough that people tend to believe Baptists handle snakes and play Deliverance music in church? Does it sit well with you that Baptists are thought of as people who do not play nice with the other children of the world? Ask a people group or denomination what they think of Baptists and you may not like the reply.

Is any of this true? Well, Baptists would have to admit that a few odd apples have poisoned the pie from time to time. Baptists would also have to admit that getting along with each other is a true feat; and, Baptists should consider that their longstanding superiority complex, historically exemplified by the many, is not a badge of honor or piety. All of this means that Baptists are human and foible-prone much like other religious groups who have warts and carry heavy baggage. It’s also true that on occasion a genuine nut surfaces that dominates the media attention. Sadly, this is why Baptists tend to be painted with the same broad brush used on the occasional oddball. The majority of Baptists may be compassionate and principled, but the larger society sees only the unique aberration who receives the airtime. It’s the same issue faced by people after a tornado or other natural calamity. It seems the media always chooses to interview a person that least exemplifies the populace: Yep, me and the little missus wuz sittin’ down to a mess of collard greens when a big noise cummed up and next thang I knowed the barn blowed by the winder. And you know whut? It did sound like a freight train.

It only takes a few members of any group to provide an inaccurate picture of the larger body. The Idaho missions team caught taking kids out of Haiti exemplifies this problem for Baptists. These people may have had good intentions, but good intentions never trump the laws of a country. International adoptions are long and arduous affairs that cost great deals of money. I know this because I’ve gone through it twice. It is uniquely horrible for Haitian kids right now but this dubious attempt to save thirty has made things worse for all of the children of Haiti. Today it is difficult to airlift seriously ill children out of the country and honest adoptions are at a standstill. History will show that it all began with a few woefully unprepared Baptists with flawed plans who, even with good intentions, made Haiti an even worse place for children. That’s hard to do. So I can’t help but ask, why did it have to be Baptists?

MM