PSYC 355 LAB PROJECT EXCERPT The following text is the basis for the Lab Project and Discussion Board Forums. The excerpt is taken from: Quarles, C. (2011, August 18). Southern Baptists must learn to 'choose our battles wisely.' [Louisiana] Baptist Message. You are not required to read the entire article, but if you wish to read it, it has been included in the Module/Week 3 Additional Materials folder. \"For the last three years, Louisiana College has administered a newly-developed BASE (Belief Assessment of Spiritual Essentials) exam to incoming freshmen to determine how well they understand the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. These are not the lofty doctrines that only erudite ivory tower theologians discuss and debate in the back rooms of dusty libraries; these are essential gospel truths that a person must understand and believe to be considered truly Christian. Such doctrines include humanity's sinful and lost condition, Jesus' identity as God, the necessity of faith in Jesus for salvation, and our Lord's bodily resurrection. Here are some of our discoveries: 78 percent believe that all people are basically good and have no real need for a Savior 65 percent cannot identify a simple definition of new birth in a multiple-choice question. They think that being 'born again' means experiencing reincarnation or transmigration in which a person who has died returns to earth in another life form so that they can make up for the sins of the past. 54 percent think that faith in Jesus is unnecessary for salvation. In their view, as long as a person believes in a god and has fallen in love with him, her, or it, he is right with that god. 42 percent believe that people go to heaven because of their personal morality rather than because of Jesus' sacrificial death. 32 percent do not know that Christianity affirms the Deity of Jesus Christ, even though the NT repeatedly insists that faith in Jesus as God is necessary for salvation. 25 percent do not know that Christianity claims that Jesus literally rose from the dead. Overall, our freshmen scored a 67 percent on the BASE exam, a failing grade, despite the fact that 90 percent of the college's incoming freshmen claim to be Christians and nearly 60 percent of them grew up in our own Louisiana Baptist churches!\" I-- ....... 1acaWC; DU ..azc:u: ....., --- Southern Baptists must learn to 'choose our baHies wisely' I I I j ! i ! / ./ ' OJ <> ...."'. / Southern Baptists are a scrappy wisdom to walk away from the skirSpiritual Essentials) exam to incoming bunch. We have never been ones to walk mishes that may cost much without really freshmen to determine how well they away from a good fight. contributing to his primary mission. understand the essential doctrines ofthe The problem with being scrappy is The wisdom of this principle is afChristian faith. that we are sometimes a little too eager firmed by the teaching of our Savior These are not the lofty doctrines that to jump into the fray. I fear that Southern himself (Luke 14:31) who urged kings to only erudite ivory-tower theologians Baptists are about to stepinto a battle count the cost before they go to war. discuss and debate in the back rooms of without properly calculating whether the Although I have strong convictions dusty libraries; these are essential gospel conflict is wise. about the biblical and historic truths that a person must understand and The looming conflict to Baptist doctrine of election, I believe to be considered truly Christian. which I refer is the battle over am convinced the battle over Such doctrines include humanity's Calvinism. Like any battle this Calvinism is an unwise battle for sinful and lost condition, Jesus' identity conflict could potentially escalate Baptists. as God, the necessity of faith in Jesus for into an all-out war. Even as I The number ofAmerican salvation, and our Lord's bodily resurrecwrite, battle lines are being confatalities in the Civil War extion. templated. ceeds that ofany other conflict Here are some ofour discoveries: Many fear that this battle CHARLS QUARLES in our history. The War Between 78 percent believe that all people are has the potential to divide our lC VICe President the States taught us that battles basically good and have no real need for national convention, fragment Integration of Faith between brothers are usually the a Savior state conventions, and split local and learning most costly. 65 percent cannot identify a simple churches. While war has not yet Similarly, the conflict over definition ofnew birth in a multiplebeen declared, the distinct sound Calvinism will likely result in choice question. They think that beof sabers rattling can be heard. many casualties and, tragically, it will be ing "born again" means experiencing Before Baptists enter this conflict, I a battle between brothers. reincarnation or transmigration in which want to urge caution. Battles are not to be Brothers will become enemies and a person who has died returns to earth in entered lightly. friends will become foes. Those who another life fonn so that they can make In the 5th and 6th century BC, the should be fellow-soldiers and allies in up for the sins ofthe past. Chinese military strategist and philosoanother conflict will engage each other. 54 percent think. that faith in Jesus is pher, Sun Tzu, wrote The Art ofWar. The By the time the smoke ofthe battlefield unnecessary for salvation. In their view, book explained military strategies that clears, we will grieve too late at the toll as long as a person believes in a god and still guide the American military today. the battle has taken. has fallen in love with him, her, or it, he Sun Tzu's is perhaps best known for What then is the battle we should is right with that god. this wise advice: "Now the general who wisely choose? The battle we must com 42 percent believe that people go to wins a battle makes many calculations in mit to is the age-old battle for the Bible. heaven because oftheir personal morality his temple ere the battle is fought. The Though Baptists claim to have won rather than because of Jesus' sacrificial general who loses a battle makes but few that battle, we didn't. It is critical that we death. calculations beforehand. Thus do many renew our commitment to that battle and 32 percent do not know that Chriscalculations lead to victory, and few fight it without distraction especially attianity affinns the Deity ofJesus Christ, calculations to defeat: how much more no this moment in history. even though the NT repeatedly insists calculation at all!" This advice is nonnalThe claim that Baptists did not win that faith in Jesus as God is necessary for ly reduced to the old adage: "Choose your the battle for the Bible will probably salvation. battles wisely." puzzle many readers. However, evidence 25 percent do not know that ChristiThe wise general does not every to support this claim is plentiful; . anity claims that Jesus literally rose from He carefully calculates which For the last three years, Lowslana the dead. are fighting in order to acCollege has a newlyOverall, our freshman 67 'ohsh hiS ultimate cause. He has the developed BASE (BehefAssessment of percent on the BASE exam, a fadmg August 18,2011 www.baptisbnessage.com. [loUISIANA] BAPTIST MESSAGE grade, despite the fact that 90 percentpercent ofthe college's incoming freshmen claim to be Christians and nearly 60 percent ofthem grew up in our own Louisiana Baptist churches! Baptists seemed to have declared our victory in the battle for the Bible prematurely. We failed to recognize that real victory does not arrive with completion of an air campaign. Victory comes only after the long, arduous ground war. True victory in the battle for the Bible did not arrive when the convention reasserted its commitment to our Baptist confession and began to elect denominational leaders who revere God's word. Real victory in the battle for the Bible will come only when Baptist pastors faithfully expound God's word every Lord's day and when Baptist church members diligently study the Scriptures as an act of personal devotion. V-day will not arrive until those who claim to be God's people know and cherish the fundamental teachings ofthe Bible. When an entire generation that sits in our churches is completely unaware of the most essential truths ofour faith, will we turn from proctaiming the glories of Jesus' deity, the grace of an old rugged cross, the power of an empty tomb, and the necessity of faith in Jesus, to fight over divine mysteries that none ofus can fully comprehend? In the face ofenonnous threats from universalism, naturalism, atheism, and mysticism, will we baUle each other over Calvinism? I hoPe not. We Southern Baptist scrappers do not need to go looking for a new fight. We need to renew our commitment to an old one. Charles Quarles is VICe Presidentfor Integration ofFaith and Learning at Louisiana College and Dean ofLC:SO Caskey &hool ofDivinity. I .1 i \\