The issue between the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) and Royal Lane Church (RLC) reminds me of ‘Pillars of the Earth,’ by Ken Follett. He writes stories of feudalism where peons were controlled with threats of damnation by Church Fathers while ‘land grabbing’ was conducted by Lords of the Lands or Kings.

Working classes were caught in tensions between the Church and Kings who sought the products of the hands and hearts of the people: their hard work, music, art, services and adoration so that the powerful could build empires.

Threats of eternal damnation – burning in hell’s fires, kept ‘sinners’ who paid alms and penalties for their bread under oppressive control for centuries. The basic attitude of fiefdom does not honor the integrity of each soul – people were like chattel – to be used by endowed powerful figures at will.

It is still evidenced today; when some Priests, having taken the vow of celibacy, use ‘privilege and protection’ to defile youthful innocents without recrimination.

In the case of Royal Lane Church and the BGCT, the attempt to control and deny on the basis of threat that smacks of ‘the age old burning in hell’ theme is still alive and well.

The Royal Lane Church community seeks to build on Christ’s unequivocal love. It’s a place where there is no sorting of those that are loved and those that are not to be loved. It is a place where people, who choose to align themselves with the ministy at Royal Lane, are embraced and honored for their heart-felt desire to be servants and to worship God without being denied their self-hood.

While, I admire any attempt to support services to people who have been caught in the woes of sickness, hunger and despair such as with missions paid into by Royal Lane to the BGCT for feeding the hungry, I am relieved that Royal Lane, by default, has found another path through which it will have a finer, bigger, and brighter light to which hungry souls can turn.

It would be astoundingly redemptive if the Baptist General Convention of Texas would awaken to a day when they do not feel compelled to judge and threaten eternal damnation of particular souls who need to express their self-hood in the midst of those who accept them as they are. To judge and piously doom someone to hell if they don’t follow restricted ‘religious’ tenants denys the humanity of those judged while endangering their own integrity amidst the broader community. As noted above, it reminds me of the dark ages.

Have you seen this blog?

http://stopbaptistpredators.blogspot.com/2010/03/whats-really-in-closet.html