Ronald Reagan often said that "Facts are stubborn things." On one occasion he misspoke and accidentally said, "Facts are silly things." A recent
column about Rick Warren by Don Hinkle, editor of
The Pathway, demonstrates that Hinkle apparently ascribes to the notion that facts are silly. The problem for Hinkle, who cited the wisdom of Reagan in the column, is that Reagan was correct that those stubborn facts cannot be ignored.
As Hinkle critiqued the decision of pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren to cohost a presidential forum with a liberal religious group, Hinkle meandered into other topics during the column. One area into which he briefly wandered and left a trail of inaccuracies was that of the ministry of the Baptist World Alliance. Just before falsely attacking Warren and the BWA, Hinkle said that such critiques could only be offered as "long as it is done respectfully and accurately." Unfortunately, he failed to follow such a standard. Hinkle followed the column on Warren with another
one two weeks later that rehashed inaccurate attacks on the BWA he made in a
column four years earlier.
Perhaps attempting to set a record for the most errors in a single sentence, Hinkle criticized Warren for speaking at the BWA's 100th anniversary gathering. Hinkle wrote, "He spoke to the BWA just after Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) messengers overwhelmingly voted to withdraw its membership from the liberal organization that routinely ridiculed Southern Baptists and chummed-it-up with two-bit thugs like Fidel Castro." There are four significant errors within this one sentence as Hinkle smears the ministries of the BWA.
First, Warren's speech actually occurred over a year after the SBC's vote and not "just after." Hinkle should remember the timeline better. After all, he was an out-spoken critic of the BWA and strongly urged the SBC to withdraw from the organization, although Hinkle's arguments then included many inaccuracies. Hinkle's claims about the BWA were so fallacious, that then-BWA general secretary used a
column by Hinkle as the primary example of erroneous attacks made against the BWA. Hinkle's most recent
column attacking the BWA repeated many of the arguments from the piece that Lotz exposed as incorrect. Lotz
explained that Hinkle's claims "are laced with generalizations, second hand information, guilt by association, and a misinterpretation of the facts of what actually happened." Lotz also noted that Hinkle had never "attended a BWA meeting and thus the accusations are hearsay and prejudicial." Lotz then exposed Hinkle's inaccuracies and distortions. Those stubborn facts keep coming back to discredit Hinkle's claims.
Second, the BWA is not a "liberal organization." Although Hinkle offers nothing to substantiate his claim, he did provide some examples to supposedly prove this assertion in his 2004 column falsely attacking the BWA. The BWA's Lotz clearly dealt with Hinkle's false claims of liberalism where Hinkle either misreported an incident or used an unofficial comment of one BWA member to castigate the entire organization. Hinkle, the author of a book defending the flying of the Confederate battle flag, even attacked the BWA for inviting Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who led the efforts to bring reconciliation in South Africa after the sins of apartheid. Just because an organization has someone address topics like racism and reconciliation does not mean that organization agrees with all of the positions of that speaker. As Lotz explained, "It is a stretch to accuse the BWA of liberalism because we hear an outstanding world figure report on reconciliation and the end of racism!" In reality, Baptists in many parts of the world think that Southern Baptists are liberal in comparison. Those stubborn facts keep coming back to discredit Hinkle's claims.
Third, Hinkle claimed without evidence that the BWA had "routinely ridiculed Southern Baptists." Nothing could be further from the truth. In his column critiquing Hinkle's claims, Lotz wrote, "The BWA loves the SBC and wishes that we could stay together ... Meanwhile, whatever the decision made by the SBC convention meeting in Indianapolis this June, we want our Southern Baptist friends to know that they will always be welcome to our conferences and congresses! Come celebrate with us our centennial!" Lotz's words could hardly be considered routine ridicule. Additionally, the BWA's president at the time, Billy Kim of South Korea, was honored by the SBC leadership at the 2008 SBC annual meeting. During the presentation, SBC leader Morris Chapman called Kim an "extraordinary individual," a "world Baptist statesman," and an "outstanding ambassador for Christ." Chapman also commended Kim for being respectful as the SBC left the BWA, even though Kim disagreed with the decision and encouraged the SBC not to leave. Chapman explained, "He was always a gracious Christian gentleman who listened to our concerns." Far from routine ridicule, the BWA continually encouraged SBC leaders to remain steadfast in remaining united with the rest of the global Baptist family for missions, fellowship, and worship. Those stubborn facts keep coming back to discredit Hinkle's claims.
Fourth, Hinkle accused the BWA of having "chummed-it-up with two-bit thugs like Fidel Castro." Hinkle has made this false attack on the BWA on other occasions. As I
noted following a 2006 column by Hinkle that included this fictitious claim, Hinkle attempts to make the evangelistic work of the BWA seem inappropriate. The
Baptist Press of June 28, 2000 reported that as a result of a visit from BWA leaders, the Cuban government allowed shipment of 50,000 Bibles into the country in 1989. After BWA leaders met with Castro in 2000 to plead for more religious liberty for the Cuban people, Cuban Baptist leaders expressed their thanks to God as a result of the BWA's visit to their nation. Victor Gonzales, a physician who served as general secretary of the Baptist Convention of Western Cuba, told the
Baptist Press of July 11, 2000, "I praise the Lord that this has been a great, great dream come true. It has been an unforgettable week for Cuban Baptists. It is the Lord opening the doors in Cuba." Gonzales was especially excited about the two evangelistic rallies--the first for Cuban Baptists in 41 years--that each attracted 3,000 individuals. BWA leaders also led more than 40 evangelistic services in churches. One BWA leader even witnessed to Castro. As Lotz explained in his column responding to Hinkle's 2004 attack on the BWA, "We rejoice that since our visits Bibles are now readily available and that in the past ten years the Baptist community has grown from 40,000 to 200,000. We rejoice that that whereas five years ago house churches were not permitted, today there are 2,500 house churches and 1,500 churches and missions!" Baptists everywhere should be excited to be part of such evangelistic efforts in Cuba. Those stubborn facts keep coming back to discredit Hinkle's claims.
While Hinkle continues to falsely attack the important ministries of the BWA, the Baptist General Convention of Missouri is proud to support the BWA in its quest to unite Baptists around the world for missions, worship, and fellowship. The BGCM is a full member of the BWA and its regional body, the North American Baptist Fellowship. Lotz spoke at the BGCM's 2005 annual meeting and the NABF's leader, Alan Stanford, spoke at the BGCM's 2006 annual meeting. Both men shared inspiring stories about the ministries of the organizations. The BGCM also hosted three welcome events in 2007 for the BWA's new general secretary, Neville Callam of Jamaica. The BGCM continues to support the vital ministries of the BWA because we understand those stubborn facts about the BWA. It is a ministry organization that every Missouri Baptist should desire to be a part of and support.
After his column attacking Warren, which included errors besides those about the BWA, Hinkle declared in another
column that there was no reason to be part of the BWA. Really? Tell that to the Baptist minister who was wrongly imprisoned in Azerbaijan that the BWA
supported and fought for his eventual release. Tell that to those who suffering recently in the nation of Georgia who
received quick aid from the BWA. Tell that to the Christians being attacked and killed in India that the BWA is currently
working to help. To turn our backs on the BWA is to literally turn our backs on our brothers and sisters around the world in their times of need.
When Reagan argued that "facts are stubborn," he was quoting in part John Adams: "Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." No matter what Hinkle may wish or be inclined to believe, he simply cannot alter what the facts and evidence clearly prove--the BWA is an important organization helping Baptists fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. In his column attacking Warren, the BWA, and others, Hinkle admitted he was among those who "may sometimes misunderstand Warren's words and deeds." Considering Hinkle's clear misunderstandings about the BWA, it seems that with that sentence Hinkle may have finally correctly recognized those stubborn facts.
