When a boy in my first grade class in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, called Susi a bad word, Billy punched him in the nose. After Billy got ten whacks with the principal’s paddle, he said “I don’t care about the ten whacks. It was the right thing to do. Pop always says that real men fight for what they believe.” On the other hand, Johnny, my other friend, got the opposite message from his daddy, “It’s never right to fight. If you fight, you’re just admitting that you’re not smart enough to work things out by talking.” Because of their beliefs, both of my friends stayed in trouble during and after school. Consequences always follow beliefs. Some consequences are helpful, others are hurtful. That’s true for little boys, but also for parents, churches, businesses and governments.

As a CBF (Cooperative Baptist Fellowship) church, Woodland supports historic Baptist convictions such as soul competency and religious freedom. Those who reject these beliefs or minimize their importance tend to experience a different set of consequences from those who are committed to such beliefs. When we choose our convictions, we choose our consequences. For example, groups that support religious freedom tend to emphasize (1) personal responsibility, (2) an awareness of one’s personal limitations and humility, (3) equality between laity and clergy in one’s access to God, (4) respect for differing religious beliefs and traditions, (5) learning from each others, exchange of witness, cross-questioning and listening to one another and (6) gentleness, kindness and building friendships rather than winning arguments. On the other hand, groups that minimize the importance of religious freedom tend to emphasize (1) their group alone as having all truth, (2) that other faith groups are ignorant or are the enemies of God, (3) God has a few chosen leaders who have more access to God than ordinary people, (4) people, who have beliefs that are different from theirs, are threatening and dangerous and (5) anger and confrontation are holy characteristics that prove the level of one’s faith. Little boys and big people too have to live with the consequences of their convictions. Woodland chooses the CBF way. See you next week at this same place where we’ll look at another historic Baptist belief that separates Woodland from many Baptist groups. . Bill Nichols.