Posted on 11/01/2005 5:35:12 PM PST by KeithHinson
I originally posted this as a reply but am new to this web site. Here it is as a new thread:
Volunteers working with the Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief Unit honored the request of the host pastor to set aside canned water with an Anheuser-Busch logo. At no time was anyone deprived of water. In fact, there was a huge surplus of bottled and canned water available at the Clewiston relief site. There was never any disruption in the supply of water being given out to members of the public who continued to receive food, water and other types of assistance from Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief workers.
It is an absolute falsehood to suggest -- as many irresponsible bloggers have -- that the Baptist volunteers withheld the basic needs of life from Floridians impacted by the hurricane. Contrary to misinterpretations of news reports, no one was denied access to water.
One may disagree with the strong stand that many Southern Baptists take against the consumption of alcohol. One may even regard such opposition to alcohol as offensive.
But it's impossible to say truthfully that this conviction caused any inconvenience or shortage for victims of Hurricane Wilma. The facts are exactly the opposite.
The fact is that virtually all of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers serve selflessly -- taking time away from employment and family to minister in the name of Jesus Christ. Churches such as First Baptist Church, Clewiston, graciously serve as host sites -- providing a place where food, water and other necessities of life may be obtained by anyone in need -- without regard to religion or any other demographic consideration.
-- Keith Hinson, public relations associate
Alabama Baptist Convention State Board of Missions
Montgomery, Alabama
I am not Southern Baptist, but I have no problem with what they did under these circumstances; everyone received water, without delay.
Real simple. It made a few people upset that the Southern Baptists were sticking to their personal convictions in a manner that deprived NO ONE of drinking water.
So a story was reported just so...to make you think the SBC applied their well-known stance against alcohol producers in a way that prevented victims from receiving water.
The false accusers could then use this lie (that people didn't receive water) as a lame justification for launching personal attacks against the SBC and their volunteers.
This is a tactic the left uses all the time so that they can attack people they disagree with about moral issues when they are afraid to engage in honest discourse.
In my experience with Baptists, and I HAVE had some, the only reason for their relief efforts is to try to convert others.
And P;lanned Parenhood would NEVER donate anything to a prolife group.
Someone at the SBC accepted the donation, if they were not going to use the water it should never have been accepted and could nheve been donated elsewhere. I wonder what happened to the water in the end, is it in the landfill?
I don't care what their (or your perception of their) hidden motive for their volunteer work is. (what? were they requiring church membership to receive water? I don't think so)
I just appreciate the SBC effort to help people in need.
BTW, another tactic used by the left is to contribute a motive to someone else(based upon an anecdote) as a way to declare 'them'- as well as their motive - as Automatically bad. That is not logical.
It may or may not be their inner motive (there could be other motives that escaped your sensors) and we may just want to thank them for their volunteer work instead of looking for a way to take pot-shots.
You might just as well have said: While their volunteer work to help people may have appeared to be an act of kindness, it was really just selfishness.
The SBC people I have met have been good conservative people who vote Republican.
As a Southern Baptist I can tell you that it isn't the only reason we do this. Number one is that the Bible says to help those in need and if a person asks why we do it we then share with them why. I don't see many athiests out there doing an organized relief effort or the pagans or for that many other major denominations.
I just am thankful that there were teams of people from out of state here in my neighborhood the very next day with their chainsaws, tarps, tools, food, water and willingness to help out people who were devastated. Let's just say the Red Cross isn't that welcomed in some places around here because they only take people's money then ride around doing nothing.
Of course.
Your examples are totally off-base, as is your view. The cans had water and were not labeled as beer in any way.
If y'all really think water is evil, God help you.
As a Southern Baptist myself, I feel my pastor and church would have done the same, which is donate the water not in the Busch cans. This is because there was a surplus of both and no one went thirsty!!
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