Monday Morning Manna: Who am I? Where am I?

Some days, it is not so much who you are as it is where you are. Years ago, when I was the Baptist Campus Minister at the University of Texas, I proved this to be true. One of my staff members and I arrived late for the weekly Austin Baptist Association Pastor’s Luncheon. When we entered the room, someone said, “The Liberals are here, we can start now.” Compared to some of the extreme conservatives in the room and given the fact that we served in a rather liberal university environment, we were considered to be liberal. That same afternoon, I attended the meeting of the university ministers, entering the room with the Director of Campus Crusade. As we entered, someone said, “The Fundies are here, we can start now.” Compared to some of the rather extreme liberals in the room, we were considered to be fundamentalist. So, am I a liberal or a fundamentalist? It guess it all depends on where I am. Popeye said, “I yam what I yam.” Better yet, Paul wrote, “By the grace of God I am what I am (1 Corinthians 15:10). What are you? Where are you?

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.