The Abomination that Causes Desolations (8-26-04)

Jesus said, "When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation's standing where it does not belong -- let the reader understand -- then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." (Mark 13:14)

Never have those words meant more to Mainstream Baptists than they do today. Our seminaries ceased to be temples of learning long ago. It has always been painful to watch once fine institutions of higher learning gradually become indoctrination centers, but the chapel service at Southwestern Seminary yesterday made it clear that their desolation is utterly complete.

Baptist Press reports that, after the chair of the county Republican Party Chair spoke, Jerry Falwell endorsed a candidate for President during a chapel service at Southwestern Seminary. He is quoted as saying, "The press is here today expecting me to get into politics, which I'm not going to do, except to tell you to vote for the Bush of your choice." After Falwell spoke, Seminary President Paige Patterson advised students that voter registration tables would be set up at the door of the chapel all week.

B.H Carroll, L.R. Scarborough and all the other deceased presidents of the Seminary must be spinning in their graves. If ever there was a Baptist equivalent to the tables of money changers at the Jerusalem temple, voter registration tables at the door of a chapel service preaching partisan politics must be it. Nothing could make it clearer that our Baptist birthright as champions for separation of church and state is being exchanged for a bowl of pottage.

Baptists are advised to flee the Southern Baptist Convention. It's name should be changed to "Ichabod" ("the glory has departed," 1 Samuel 4:21).