"Way down in Columbus, Georgia; way down in the Columbus Stockade..." Thus the song begins about the "stockade blues." Well, I just don't know how blue things will go in Columbus, Georgia when the Georgia Baptist Convention meets this week (in fact, when you read this, all the shouting will be over).

The Baptists, perhaps I should say we Baptists, will contend with two controversial subjects: homosexuality and Pentecostalism. I hope my Pentecostal friends won't think immediately that I think for one second there's a connection.

First the Baptists are sure to vote that any affiliated church that accepts homosexuality as a valid Christian lifestyle does not merit nor deserve association with the Georgia Baptist Convention. I agree. To me, it would be the same as any church suggesting that adultery is an acceptable Christian lifestyle.

Sin is sin is sin. No matter your definition of "is." However, I regret it comes to this: that the official state convention must stand up and vote that sin is sin. All 66 books of the Bible long ago voted unanimously that sin was bad, wrong, and that God didn't like it.

Yet, perhaps it's necessary for such a voted stand. Some churches, even under the Baptist label, are ordaining men and women who are proudly standing outside of the closet. And we say, "no way, Jose or Josephine." The militant homosexual community can't understand that we sincerely believe that God hates the sin, but loves the sinner. And that's our Baptist posture, believe it or not.

Now, on to the other matter of being Pentecostal. It seems that the strong winds blowing out of Pensacola and Toronto are blowing some strange (at least to Baptists) practices into some of our churches. What has been suggested by the Georgia Baptist leadership is an amendment which would disassociate any Baptist church that intentionally promotes speaking in tongues and the spiritual phenomenon known as "being slain in the Spirit."

Again, I regret it has to come to this. I suppose a similar measure would have to be undertaken were a significant number of Baptist churches adopting a "Catholic" doctrinal lifestyle. Baptist life has its distinctives just as Pentecostal life has its distinctives. Both have much to learn from one another while not forsaking their differences.

A Baptist church that promotes the speaking in tongues and "being slain in the Spirit" perhaps has left its Baptist moorings and personality. It's more of a Pentecostal church. You see, we can all have our distinctives and still love and respect one another. Unity in our Lord Jesus Christ does not require abdication of our heritage nor our home court practices.

Who's right? Well, I don't want to make a call. I do want to continue being a Baptist who is in fellowship with my fellow believers who are Pentecostal and Liturgical and whatever. On some things, I may be right and you may be wrong. On other things, you may be right and I may be wrong. Truly, we all can't be right at the same time. Nor wrong. And, when we all that's right, all of us get to heaven, it won't matter. It will be a day of such rejoicing because we all will be singing and shouting the victory Christians together.

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