Expert: Clive Heath - 1/13/2010

Question
What do Baptists teach about the following subjects:  Jews, homosexuals,Muslims, gays and lesbians.  What are basic baptist attitudes towards these groups.  

I am asking because I have an 18-year-old nephew (who is a Southern Baptist), and he expresses prejudice and hatred toward these groups.  Is these attitudes from church?  Is the church supporting this judgmental(if not out and out hateful)attitude towards these groups?  

I find his views and utter lack of empathy to be very disturbing.  I want to know if he is getting this in church or somewhere else.

I'm a Methodist.  

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question.  This issue is very important to me, and I need an answer.  
Michele Turnbow

Answer
Hi Michele,

I hope you are well and thank you for this question which I will do my best to answer for you.

Basic Baptists beliefs toward the people mentioned should not be of hate, we certainly do not practice hate and nor should any one else. As a Methodist I have no doubt you will agree with me.

If your young nephew is getting this from his Church then something is definately and seriously wrong, no Church of any denomination should ever practice or encourage hatred of any kind towards any body.This is not God's will!

We are not here to judge but to show love, compassion, understanding and forgiveness and not hate!
Now if he is getting mixed messages from his Church then he should question them, the elders of his Church should give him time to do this.

If the Church is supporting this judgement then something is seriously wrong with its leadership and gospel!Have you spoken to him about this, find out what he is actually being taught!

I can understand that you find his view to be very disturbing, so do I , as I find that many youngsters have the same view as him, especially over here in the UK. They all seem to be full of hatred towards any one who is different, as Christians we find this very hard to understand this as we are all the children of God.

Many people see things such as homosexuality etc as being a sin, but although we sometimes cannot forgive the sin, we must forgive the sinner.

As for other religious groups then we must listen, understand and respect them.

Unfortunately this world is full of bigotry and hatred usually caused by a lack of knowledge and understanding.Hatred can consume people with out them realising, it then becomes an obsession.

I hope this helps, it is a problem because God gave us all a free will to think and act as we wish, all we Christians can do is to try to guide them to walk in Christ.

Regards and God Bless

Clive Heath