First Baptist Church of Arlington Protest/Press Conference for Steven Nelson (Friday 11/11 @ 10am)
On October 31, 2024, I sent the letter attached below to every email address listed on the First Baptist Church of Arlington’s website. This was the first opportunity I gave the church to respond to deep concerns that a great many have about the way that they handled the aftermath of the murder of Rev. Clint Dobson, the subsequent trial of Steven Nelson and the resultant death sentence.
Indeed, after the death sentence was handed down, First Baptist pastor Dr. Dennis R. Wiles glowingly remarked, “We have all waited for this day…this guilty offender is being appropriately punished.” In the years since the tragic murder of Rev. Dobson, First Baptist has betrayed their own stated belief that they are concerned for the souls of the world and done absolutely nothing to reach out to Nelson or anyone associated with him.
Due to a lack of response to the letter, our response has grown. On Friday 15 at 10am CT, I’ve organized a press conference with other supporters across the street from First Baptist (at the corner of West South St and S Pecan St) to speak directly to the evil of a pastor and church supporting an execution and to demand their repentance.
Each subsequent failure to respond with the grace and hope of Jesus Christ will lead to an added level of response. Make no mistake, Steven Nelson’s life is on the line and we will demand that all who claim Christ to act as such.
October 31, 2024
To the leadership and people of First Baptist Church of Arlington,
Greetings. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. As a body of believers, I am aware of the tragedy that you (along with the people of the church you were helping plant) faced in 2011. By all accounts, Rev. Clint Dobson was an amazing pastor and an even more amazing person. Even in our present moment, the survival instinct of Judy Elliot remains beyond inspiring. The horror and pain that Steven Nelson unleashed is beyond what the mortal heart can ponder. I can’t imagine how confusing of a time his subsequent arrest, trial and sentencing was. On some level, I can even understand why you as a church pushed for a death sentence (or at least did nothing to stop one). These words are not meant to minimize the courage of either victim or the resilience of your church in the face of this tragedy. They are intended as an invitation to Christian love and grace. While the mortal heart might be incapable of forgiveness, with God all things are possible.
Perhaps, it is important to explain my personal juxtaposition to the tragedy. I serve as Nelson’s spiritual advisor. This term is a legal term that the State of Texas uses to designate someone as a person facing execution’s pastor. In recent months, I’ve had the opportunity to come to know Nelson and find him to be a person deeply familiar with the love and grace of God. While such talk often seems cliché, Nelson has grown tremendously since these crimes took place. But this is not necessarily a letter about Nelson. More so, this is a letter about you.
When I heard of your satisfaction that Nelson received the death penalty, I was deeply disturbed. In John 13:35, Jesus makes clear, “They will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Of course, Jesus also commands us in Mark 12:31, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is nothing loving about killing someone. Presently, there is a growing movement of believers dedicated to saving the life of Nelson. In the face of a looming execution date of February 5, it seems the only loving thing to do would be to join us.
Of course, I’m not unaware that a great many Christians support the death penalty. Forgive me for the continued use of scripture, but I have been told that you are a church deeply invested in the Word of God. How can someone believe in executions in the light of John 8:1-11?
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Jesus stopped the only execution he ever attended besides his own. Based on this passage, Jesus’ instruction to the believer with regard to the execution of Nelson is clear, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” We are called to be a people that is daily growing more like Christ. 1 John 2:6 tell us that we are even responsible for “…living just as Jesus did.” The bottom line is this…Jesus Didn’t Kill. How can you or anyone else call yourselves Christians if you don’t fight to stop Nelson’s execution? Can you imagine Rev. Clint Dobson immersed in love and standing in glory demanding the execution of Steven Nelson? You know that grace doesn’t work like that.
On top of arguments based on our shared faith, Nelson’s legal team has presented solid forensic evidence that Nelson wasn’t the only person that participated in this crime. Yet, Nelson was the only person ever convicted…the only person ever sentenced to death. Even from an unabashedly secular perspective, how is this fair?
If you’re like me, the legal arguments matter less than the spiritual ones. In John 10:10, Jesus makes it very clear that we must follow his example and always stand on the side of life, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” In the coming days, I am going to be directly challenging you. Regardless of who you think the thief is, Jesus tells us that we must be about life…abundant grace filled life. Bottom line…Jesus Didn’t Kill.
Let there be no doubt, there is a great test upon you. Will you repent of your past support of the death penalty? There is still time. Surely, the witness of Rev. Dobson demands more than the missteps of the past and the indifference of the present. There is still time to save Steven Nelson. Do not let the extravagant grace of God pass you by.
If you are interested in joining our campaign to save Nelson, I am more than happy to discuss next steps.
“Now to HIM who has the power to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine according to the power at work in us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood
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