# 13 May 3, 2010
A rose by any other name is still a Rose!
Just because you call a cat a dog does not mean he will bark!
#1
Many, if not most churches are ordered by a corrupt polity. God's blessing comes to His people when they honor His word. Most churches have men in leadership roles that function as 'directors'. They label them deacons but they function as a Board of Directors. Their actions are almost always best characterized by limiting, preventing, stopping, eliminating, etc. Worse, these individuals rarely meet even the bare minimum of spiritual qualifications required in the text for Leaders (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1; Acts 6). They are disqualified for leadership by these deficiencies. It matters not one whit what the Constitution or By-Laws say. If the personnel are disqualified by the text of Special Revelation, no amount of filibustering or tradition can overcome God's disapproval of such shabby reality. Does this profile sound like home? If so, you need a drastic and biblical overhaul of the Polity of the assembly where you worship.
#2
Every NT church found in the text has a plurality of Elders. Their responsibility is the spiritual oversight of the body. They will be held accountable for the spiritual health and transformation of God's people who serve under their care (Heb. 13:17). Many churches are fearful of what has been stated as 'Elder Rule'. An Elder is an Elder is an Elder. All Elders are to honor Peter's profile for Leadership Protocol (1 Peter 5:1-5). Some basic exegesis and word studies make it profoundly clear that Elders are the norm in the NT church and that their leadership is to provide vision, maintain orthodoxy, and to nurture the growth of God's people. They must teach and preach the Word of God with authority, compassion and unflinching persistence.
The American church is suffering what I label a "precipitous decline'. This is an indisputable reality (www.theamericanchurch.org). Little wonder. The key to intentional disciplemaking is Modeling. When the model is corrupt, so goes the people. This applies in churches as well as families. Correct this polity issue. Place biblically qualified men in leadership and witness God's blessing upon His church. Making this change is filled with risk. It requires compassion, time and tenacity. I will provide a full-fledged process to anyone who inquires. 803 776 5282 or info@igniteus.net.
**This issue is pervasive, crucial and must be modified if the church in America is going to once again flourish. COURAGEOUS and WISE leadership is required to make this transition. The Good News is - - it is possible.**
Resources
Biblical Eldership, Alexander Strauch
The Book on Leadership, by John MacArthur
The Shepherd Leader, by Timothy Witmer
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Hindrance #5 Lukewarm Faith
#12 April 26, 2010
Part 1
The text of Scripture has much to say about wholeheartedness. The unrelenting tendency of sinners is like that of water and electricity. They all seek the path of least resistance. People and Sinners almost always seek the least common denominator. They do not seek out the most passionate, spiritual and godly model to pattern their life after. Paul cautioned the Corinthians about comparing themselves with themselves. I do not believe that any of my readers will challenge the premise that spiritual fervor, pure devotion to the LORD is significantly less today than it was even 10 years ago. We are on the fast track to the abyss. This week I dealt with three (3) local church situations in which there is deep-seated strife. The reason in every case - denial of the authority of Scripture.
Part 2
The resoultion for this Laodicean Limp is in part:
A. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom
B. Man does not live by bread alone - restore genuine surrender to the postulates of the text
C. Develop and maintain a Leadership Selection & Development profile that honors the text
D. Exercise genuine church discipline. Not punishment-loving accountability, life in community
E. The application of an intentional disciplemaking metric with consistency and evaluation.
Dump the ludicrous myth that the local church is to be governed by a democratic process.
Consider the Lord's response to subjective self-evaluation.
So because you are lukewarm -- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. (Rev. 3:16).Friday, April 16, 2010
Measuring Ministry - Baptisms or Transformation?
April 22, 2010
On April 20, 2006 I sent a message to Marshall Fagg at the State Convention. My appeal was that we focus on Making Disciples not counting baptisms. Our own HMB study revealed that we could locate fewer than 10% of those baptized one year after their baptism. If they cannot be located they most certainly are not being disciple.
In his response Rev. Fagg stated: “Numbers are important because:
1. They represent souls who will eternally escape the awful judgment of a Holy God.
2. They represent potential disciples who have been given the task of proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth.
3. They represent those who have become a part of the family of God and the Body of Christ.
In response to #1. It is not ‘’souls’ that God redeems but people. The motivation is not merely to ‘escape judgment’, but, to be sanctified. As redeemed men live holy lives in the midst of a sinful world Christ is glorified.
In response to #2. Where in Scripture are we instructed to baptize potential disciples? If in fact they are not truly redeemed they most certainly are NOT to proclaim the gospel - - they are lost.
In response to #3. It is not baptism that marks a person as a member of the family of God. That identification, according to the text of Scripture, is repentance and holy living.
I submit and continue to appeal for a radical and biblical re-orientation of our Theology. Evangelism is not a separate component. Rather, it is the first phase of disciple-making. Until we recognize that fact and modify our practice accordingly, we will continue to suffer the ravages of a dysfunctional metric drawn from the culture not the text of Scripture. Jesus said Make Disciples. When will we focus on obeying all that He has commanded?
Ladies & Gentlemen. We interrupt our series of Hindrances to Transformation to bring you this important message. Rev. Marshall Fagg was until recently responsible for Evangelism in the State Convention of SC, SBC. In 2006 this writer had a series of exchanges with Rev. Fagg. Part of this exchange is the substance of the message that follows.
Is it any wonder that the church in America is impotent and lethargic when people at this level embrace such theological distortions. Pray for Reformation and Renewal - - sound Theology that leads to Healthy and Effective churches that make disciples fully formed in the Image of Christ, obeying all that Jesus commanded.
On April 20, 2006 I sent a message to Marshall Fagg at the State Convention. My appeal was that we focus on Making Disciples not counting baptisms. Our own HMB study revealed that we could locate fewer than 10% of those baptized one year after their baptism. If they cannot be located they most certainly are not being disciple.
In his response Rev. Fagg stated: “Numbers are important because:
1. They represent souls who will eternally escape the awful judgment of a Holy God.
2. They represent potential disciples who have been given the task of proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth.
3. They represent those who have become a part of the family of God and the Body of Christ.
In response to #1. It is not ‘’souls’ that God redeems but people. The motivation is not merely to ‘escape judgment’, but, to be sanctified. As redeemed men live holy lives in the midst of a sinful world Christ is glorified.
In response to #2. Where in Scripture are we instructed to baptize potential disciples? If in fact they are not truly redeemed they most certainly are NOT to proclaim the gospel - - they are lost.
In response to #3. It is not baptism that marks a person as a member of the family of God. That identification, according to the text of Scripture, is repentance and holy living.
I submit and continue to appeal for a radical and biblical re-orientation of our Theology. Evangelism is not a separate component. Rather, it is the first phase of disciple-making. Until we recognize that fact and modify our practice accordingly, we will continue to suffer the ravages of a dysfunctional metric drawn from the culture not the text of Scripture. Jesus said Make Disciples. When will we focus on obeying all that He has commanded?
What think ye dear readers? www.info@igniteus.net
Monday, April 12, 2010
Hindrance #4 Unregenerate Membership
#10 April 12, 2010
**Just to refresh my readers - - we are considering hindrances to Transformation in this series.
Part 1
Begin Today!
**Just to refresh my readers - - we are considering hindrances to Transformation in this series.
Part 1
The clear and unambiguous declaration of the text, specifically the teaching of Jesus, states that the metric by which we are to validate faith is conduct. It is not just what a person says, but more significantly the testimony, the fruit of their life. What is the character of their conduct?
A Denominational State Newspaper recently carried an article describing the utter and absolute turmoil in the churches of that state. Conflict, power struggles, strife and division. This is certainly not evidence of people who are directed by the Word of God and enabled by the Spirit of God. Unity is inherent in the Body of Christ. If unity is absent, it is evidence that the people making up that body are very possibly, even probably unregenerate. Denominations have entire departments dedicated to "Conflict Resolution". This hindrance to Transformation is indisputable.
Part 2
This circumstance is directly attributable to deficient theological foundations. People have been swept into the church for decades as members for simply walking down an aisle, signing a response card, or being baptized. The text of Scripture makes profoundly clear that the test of regeneration is a transformed life. Regenerate people have and apply the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. He gives us every essential necessary to resolve our differences ( and we should expect to have them - - we are ALL SINNERS). But, we should also demonstrate His indwelling presence and power by minimizing the scope and effects of those differences.
Until the metric of Transformation becomes pervasive we will continue to witness chaos in the assemblies in which this defective theological profile exists. Courageous Leaders who bring correction with compassion is the need of the hour.
A Denominational State Newspaper recently carried an article describing the utter and absolute turmoil in the churches of that state. Conflict, power struggles, strife and division. This is certainly not evidence of people who are directed by the Word of God and enabled by the Spirit of God. Unity is inherent in the Body of Christ. If unity is absent, it is evidence that the people making up that body are very possibly, even probably unregenerate. Denominations have entire departments dedicated to "Conflict Resolution". This hindrance to Transformation is indisputable.
Part 2
This circumstance is directly attributable to deficient theological foundations. People have been swept into the church for decades as members for simply walking down an aisle, signing a response card, or being baptized. The text of Scripture makes profoundly clear that the test of regeneration is a transformed life. Regenerate people have and apply the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. He gives us every essential necessary to resolve our differences ( and we should expect to have them - - we are ALL SINNERS). But, we should also demonstrate His indwelling presence and power by minimizing the scope and effects of those differences.
Until the metric of Transformation becomes pervasive we will continue to witness chaos in the assemblies in which this defective theological profile exists. Courageous Leaders who bring correction with compassion is the need of the hour.
Begin Today!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Hinderance #3 Biblical Literacy
#9 April 5, 2010
Part 1
In a survey taken among 100 people attending a Conference on Music & Worship (hosted by a major Christian Organization) so it is reasonable to assume that the vast majority of the participants would be professed believers - - 39% indicated that "they had never heard of justification". This is a tragically representative sample of the evangelical church in America. The level of Biblical Literacy is low and declining all the time. It is virtually IMPOSSIBLE to obey all that Jesus commands when we do not even know what he has said.
Part 2
As is true of other aspects of the Health & Effectiveness of the church in America, there is no quick fix for this malaise. The burden for this rests on the Leadership in each local church. We must return to some process similar to Catechism. As a young man (12-13) I attended two years of instruction on Saturday mornings. I memorized the Apostle's Creed, The Ten Commandments and other foundational Christian essentials.
Pastors must abandon the focus on mere activity and entertainment and equip Fathers to fulfill their God-given role in the lives of their children. Eliminate the traditional 'Youth Pastor'. Replace them with Staff members whose function is Pastor of Family Ministry. They equip Fathers and Mothers with the skills and resources to disciple their children. They hold these people accountable for this glorious privilege.
God's profile for Biblical Literacy is infallibly effective. That is true only when we follow his mandate and process. Unless this egregious deficiency is corrected the church will continue to decline and the power of the collective witness of the Body of Christ will be seriously compromised.
Part 1
In a survey taken among 100 people attending a Conference on Music & Worship (hosted by a major Christian Organization) so it is reasonable to assume that the vast majority of the participants would be professed believers - - 39% indicated that "they had never heard of justification". This is a tragically representative sample of the evangelical church in America. The level of Biblical Literacy is low and declining all the time. It is virtually IMPOSSIBLE to obey all that Jesus commands when we do not even know what he has said.
Part 2
As is true of other aspects of the Health & Effectiveness of the church in America, there is no quick fix for this malaise. The burden for this rests on the Leadership in each local church. We must return to some process similar to Catechism. As a young man (12-13) I attended two years of instruction on Saturday mornings. I memorized the Apostle's Creed, The Ten Commandments and other foundational Christian essentials.
Pastors must abandon the focus on mere activity and entertainment and equip Fathers to fulfill their God-given role in the lives of their children. Eliminate the traditional 'Youth Pastor'. Replace them with Staff members whose function is Pastor of Family Ministry. They equip Fathers and Mothers with the skills and resources to disciple their children. They hold these people accountable for this glorious privilege.
God's profile for Biblical Literacy is infallibly effective. That is true only when we follow his mandate and process. Unless this egregious deficiency is corrected the church will continue to decline and the power of the collective witness of the Body of Christ will be seriously compromised.
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