Moral Action Committee

The Chairman's Report

Address to The Messengers of the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas
November 13, 2003

 

by Michael Vestal, Chairman

 

We live in the greatest Country in the World.  And we are indeed proud to be Americans and support the leadership of our great Homeland.  Along with the Leadership, we prayerfully support our troops on foreign fields and especially those in harm way.  We are grieved with every life that is loss in the War. And as Believers in the churches of the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas, I know that we ever stand vigilant to pray and encourage the families that are so affected.

But in the days that we live, we know that we are a country, diverse in our beliefs and standards of Morality.  The Term “Morality”, has as many definitions and standards as we have diverse cultures in our Land.  What seems right for some seems wrong for others.      “Right to Life” as we know is a Moral Principal guaranteed within Word of God. But To those who view Abortion as the Right of Choice, to them their view has become their Moral Principle. Alcohol and Drug Addiction within the standards of our time can no longer be considered as Morality Problem, for we have labeled them as sickness that needs to be treated.  Gambling rather through the State Lottery or Para-mutual betting can no longer be viewed as a Moral Problem because of the resources that they provide to our state in revenue and jobs.   Adultery, Divorce, Cohabitation are wholesale terms for the destruction of God’s Standard for Marriage.  But we can no longer deem them Moral Problems, for through these; People say that they have another opportunity for happiness again, and again, and again.  Sexual activities among children and youth are no longer a Moral Issues since the real problem is education concerning disease and plan parenthood.  It is all about making the right choice and waiting for the right time.  Same Sex relationships are view in a new light with the acceptance or tolerance of many today, therefore loses it Immoral Identity.

Philosophers of yesterday as well as today, states that Morality is defined by the Standards of Acceptance of the People of the day.  If that were the case, then I am proud to report to you we now live in an age of No Moral Problems. If that be the case and if that be the Truth.  But the Truth is that we hold to the fact, God has established Standards by which we should live.  The God of the Bible, the God who is the Father of our Lord and Savor Jesus Christ has establish Morality Standards.  They cannot be debated nor overturned by a Majority of any persuasion but are and ever will be the Established Standard of Morality for all Mankind.

In the days to come we will face new challenges to establish the Morality of God in this generation.  We will have to be innovative in our methods of securing these Beliefs we hold so dear.  We recognize the Responsibility of every Believer to vote their conviction based not on convenience but on those Moral Standards of God.  And yet we must be realistic that in a county of so many diverse philosophies views, we will never successfully legislate God’s Morality Standards.

So if not legislature then what…What is the answer in the course of such changing times?

The Answer is not a new one but it is a True One.  It is New Testament One…It is the only answer that will be successful in the transformation of lives.  It is and always will be the only hope for our State, our Country, and all of Mankind.  It is the fulfillment of the Great Commission…Not just enlistment…Not just additions…not just numbers on the board…not just programs but the fulfillment…as people of all ages come to Accept Christ as their Personal Savior…WE the Churches, the Leaders…We are to Teach them Teach them as the Great Commission Commands…to Observe All That He has Commanded.  Yes…WE Must Lead them to Christ…But WE Must Teach them to Observe the All That He has Commanded.  Through out Jesus’ Earthly Ministry, He taught and commanded Morality. God’s Standards of Life.  Jesus said that if we love Him we will keep His Commandments.  Our work within the Churches of the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas is ever so prevalent.  We must be zealot in our desire to Lead others to Christ not only in Salvation but also in Education of all that He Commanded that we should observe. In so doing we shall see a change of Moral Values, one person at a time.

In the year to come, It is my desire to make the Moral Action Committee even more visible and helpful to the churches of the B.M.A. of Texas.  Through our web site at the B.M.A. webnet and through the Baptist Progress, the Committee will ever be vigilant to fulfill our purpose of keeping you informed of various moral issues at hand.  Through this year, we plan to Network with the other Moral Committees of the other states as well as our national Moral Action Committees and other organizations that has the same heart for God’s Standards.  We plan to establish a Moral Issue Training Manual to be available to our churches for educational purposes.

Many remembers, years past, when the Organization T.A.N.E., Texas Alcohol Narcotic Education, would come into our churches through out the year to keep us informed of the problems that we faced with theses vices.  And for years, they reported annually to this meeting.  T.A.N.E. is no longer.   But there is a new Agency… The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Texas (ADACT).  This organization is looking into establishing the same type of program as T.A.N.E.  I will be meeting with the Director of that Agency,  Dr. Dewayne Brawner, who is also Baptist Minister/Belief Therapist concerning the beginning of this new program.  And in the weeks to come, I will be able to report more about this and our involvement with that agency.

So in this time of confusion and diverse ideas that is so greatly affecting our Country, our State and our churches…We Need to look at our Biblical Compass …Be Heading in the Right Direction.