I have been a Baptist for 74 years and have taught Sunday School for over 60 years. I can speak as a long-time Baptist.

What concerns me are the last two editions of the Biblical Recorder. Inside was page after page of “fluffy” writings about by-laws, rules, etc.

I asked myself “What could all of this possibly mean for bringing people to know and love Jesus Christ?” I also pondered who in the world will read all of this. What would Jesus think about all this excess garbage in what is supposed to be an inspirational publication about Him?

I’m afraid He would have said, “I never said these things, I never mentioned petty mounds of rules and bylaws about following Me.”

Jesus would have said, “I spoke the Beatitudes and the Lord’s Prayer. That is all you need for salvation with Me.”

Alas, we take up time, effort and interest in things like the many pages of worthless material some Baptists think are important as in the last two editions of the Recorder. It makes me question the direction of us Baptists.

Call me a Fundamentalist. Yes, perhaps I am.

I am getting more and more appalled at the nonsense and worthless things that our denomination is doing in the guise of Christianity. I live by one rule: “What would Jesus do?” He would not do a lot of the worthless things presently done in our Baptist Church.

I am still a Sunday School teacher and choir member of Zion Baptist Church.

Bill Rhymes 

Shelby, N.C.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Bylaws of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSC) require that any changes to the Articles and Bylaws that govern the functioning of the BSC be printed in the Biblical Recorder at least twice before the annual meeting at which messengers will consider those changes and vote upon them. This is a laudable safeguard and should inspire trust in the process by which this Convention of churches conducts the business that enables them together to care for others, share the gospel and dare to attempt great things for the Kingdom.)