A Texas Baptist church has feet firmly planted in sinking biblical sand.
Promoting abortion, linking with Planned Parenthood. We saw it with the United Methodists and the Episcopal, the Presbyterians (USA), the Disciples of Christ, but somehow, seemingly immune, have been the Baptists. Now, true Baptists would probably not say that LakeShore Baptist Church in Waco, TX represents them, but most true Baptists would also trust the church sign because “Baptist” is a label that still tends to have some bottom lines (except maybe with the infamous Westboro Baptist clan)—and being pro-life is one of them across the board–but not across town from the nation’s most famous Baptist university.
Lakeshore’s statement of faith appears as mainstream as most Baptist churches. But, in fact, this church that claims the name of Jesus has a “covenant group” that supports abortion rights. The Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas Covenant Group is hosting a seminar this Wednesday called “Standing up for Planned Parenthood Why Healthy Texas Women and Families Matter” with Pam Smallwood the “Chief Administrative Officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas and has been on the forefront of dealing with recent political efforts to cut funding to women’s health programs.”
But this seminar isn’t some random anomaly. It’s actually a central part of this church. In fact, it sounds more like it’s getting kickbacks from Planned Parenthood as it advertises its Covenant Group this way:
The Lake Shore Baptist Church’s Covenant Group for Planned Parenthood supports the local affiliate, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, which is a mission of our church.“ The mission of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas is to assure that quality, comprehensive reproductive health care and education are available to all.
Notably, in its statement of faith it says it values a strong belief in the separation of church and state, even as it vocally battles for the political efforts of Planned Parenthood.
There are so many troubling things about this, but the greatest is obvious: the church considers one of its missions to be supporting and promoting the nation’s number one abortion provider as one of its missions focuses.
Most church missions groups are focused on things like saving lives and taking the gospel to all people, serving those in need and helping the oppressed. Apparently the pre-born only get to be part of the church’s mission if they don’t get killed in the womb first—and when Planned Parenthood is involved, it’s a safe bet a whole lot of people are getting killed before they take a breath outside the womb.
LakeShore Baptist doesn’t just hosts seminars and small groups, though; it also lists Planned Parenthood as a budget allocation:
Its few hundred dollars of allocation may not seem high, but when compared with the allocations for church ministries, it’s comparable to some others the church funds, such as a local food ministry, “Gospel Café” which was allocated only about $50 more than Planned Parenthood.
That a church is connected to abortion isn’t in itself stunning with the advent of groups like the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice which use Jesus to support abortion, but what’s extra troubling about this is the other part of the budget where LakeShore shows its affiliation with local Baptist organizations, some of which are mainstream and do not support abortion.
A case in point is the Baptist General Convention of Texas, which LakeShore gives to but who have a pretty strong sanctity of life statement that condemns all elective abortion, which Planned Parenthood, of course, makes its profit from doing.
However, it likewise notes its affiliation with the Alliance of Baptists who declare:
We began as a dissenting voice in Baptist life more than 25 years ago. For more than 20 years we have affirmed the call and ordination of women in ministry and the full acceptance and embrace of the LGBTQ community. Today we are the many voices of progressive Christians seeking to respond to the continuing call of God in a rapidly changing world.
CLICK LIKE IF YOU’RE PRO-LIFE!
The divided allegiances show that LakeShore Baptists is trying to appeal to the masses and then press its agenda to the ones who enter its hallowed halls. Its own website shows this:
As I ponder this church’s inappropriately named small group, a “covenant group,” which might be mistaken for a nice Bible study where people make biblical covenant, I can only reflect on what the prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 28:17-19:
Also I will make justice the measuring line,
And righteousness the plummet;
The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
And the waters will overflow the hiding place.
18 Your covenant with death will be annulled,
And your agreement with Sheol will not stand;
When the overflowing scourge passes through,
Then you will be trampled down by it.
19 As often as it goes out it will take you;
For morning by morning it will pass over,
And by day and by night;
It will be a terror just to understand the report.”
Indeed, no covenant of death can stand in the face of true justice. His name is Jesus, and He came in the womb as a baby from an “unwanted pregnancy.” No doubt Planned Parenthood would have counseled Mary to abort Him.
Then who would LakeShore Baptist claim to worship each week?
LifeNews Note: Susan Michelle Tyrrell is the editor of Bound4Life’s blog.
