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
It's a very dangerous precedent for religion to be dictating from where we get our drinking water ...
I totally understand. To others it is folly! That is the way of the world.
To God it's folly too.
So there was plenty of water. So next time someone needs water Anheuser Busch may decide not to send water because there may be some crazy baptists around, and next time there may hot be water available. Never look a gift horse in the mouth , Even if its a Clydesdale.
Something ought to be done with the distribution system that groups with potential objections only get what they have personally approved of in advance, that way supplies don't go to potential waste. (For a non-Baptist example, you wouldn't give pork products to a Muslim group.) By the way, has the municipal water system in that area come back to a healthful status yet?
Thanks for your post.
you wouldn't give pork products to a Muslim group
Yes I would. In fact I would see that each one is buried with a little piece.
Fun-nee. OK, Jewish.
I know! Someone turned the water to beer. Where oh where, could somone find a similar precedent?
Controversy abounds.
Thank you, Keith, for providing information and facts on this subject.
When the subject was brought up, many assumed that some went without water due to the Baptists religious convictions.
Although I am not a Baptist, I am sure that those who offered their time and help would have given up their own water to the victims of the hurricane, before allowing them to go without.
That they held onto their religious convictions in the face of criticism is something that deserves admiration and respect.
Those who judge the Baptists for this act should answer this:
Which would you do?
Stick with your religious convictions in the face of criticism and judgment?
Or ignore your convictions due to fear of criticism and judgement?
Very bad example. This is WATER. EVERYONE drinks water. Except for Creos. They live on God's Glory.
Take this. An emergency volunteer denies you treatment because it is against their religious convictions to extend the life of an idiot.
Easy to say something grand like this. Hard to actually do that.
Now, nobody wants them to pass out something that they feel contradicts their message. But I bet the Salvation Army or the Red Cross would have been glad to take the evil water off their hands.
Everybody ought to just get over it and get a life.
with that said - I would suggest that Mr. Hinson get his keyboard back here and start responding to some folks.
On that note I'm calling it a night - I've been drinking beer. But I'm RC not SBC, so it's not forbidden, it's mandatory (or at least it was when I was growing up)
They IMPOSED their religious convictions on others. That makes them no better than Muslims.
Thank you, Keith, for bringing this to our attention. Without your post, I would have missed seeing another example of religious bigotry by the Southern Baptists.
Signed, a former Southern Baptist surrounded by family members that are all Southern Baptists but still somehow remain sane inspite of their associations. Oh yeah, they have no problem drinking water (or beer) coming from a brewery. For some religious fanatic to decide who gets what based on some false presumption of biblical philosophy during an emergency is the height of responsibility and y'all deserve all the bad press you get.
Much grass for putting it more graciously than I did. Yes, I wouldn't want anybody telling them to pass out something that they think sends a wrong message, but perhaps they could have considered letting some other charity use it.
That deserves a double bump.
Do turkeys drink beer?
Only in a socialists' eye.
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