Random Arrows & Leadership Selection

Like an archer who wounds everyone,

is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard (Prov. 26:10).

Sin in haste and repent at leisure. That simple statement applies to scores of churches. They call Pastors and Staff with little or no wisdom applied in the screening and selection process. Then, in short order, there is much weeping and wailing because the recently transacted "marriage" was not made in heaven.

In selecting Leaders, whether they function as a Teaching/Preaching Pastor or in the various responsibilities of an Elder, the Scripture provides specific and essential guidelines.

The first and primary consideration is Character. The most frequently applied criteria in selecting a Pastor is verbal skill. While this is certainly important, because a man is a credible speaker is no assurance that he also possesses a godly character.

This is the final post in this BLOG for 2011. I appeal to those who shoulder the responsibility of selecting Leaders to be "wise archers". Avoid random and careless 'shooting'. Do the research. Check multiple reference levels. Speak to a 360 circle of people who know the man. The most accurate indicator of what a man will do in the future is what he has done in the past. Know his history. Honor the facts. Pray much.

Then, celebrate the archery lessons that God has given as you serve with a man that is well suited to lead in the position you have placed him.

God's best in 2012.

Evangelism - Discipleship

This is a challenge to my readers. Find the word evangelism in the Bible. When you locate the number of times and places in which it is used, please send me an e-mail noting the references in which that word was found.

The church for the past two centuries has invested immense human and financial resources pursuing what is known as evangelism. The text of Scripture speaks of making disciples.

I challenge my readers to do a similar search on the concept of disciple making. When both word studies have been completed, compare the references to evangelism and disciple making. Why have I offered this challenge?

My observation as to the reasons for this are as follows:

1. It is much easier to make converts than it is to make disciples.

2. The metric required for evangelism is simply “numbers”.

3. The metric required for disciple making is genuine transformation into the image of Christ.

4. The cost of disciple making. Compared to evangelism is dramatically different. Disciple making requires a costly investment of building relationships with the one being discipled.

5. The culture in the Western world has affirmed evangelism rather than disciple making.

The theological foundation of this in the Western world goes back to Charles Grandeson Finney. This phenomenon was perpetuated the in 20th century by the emergence and operation of the Billy Graham evangelistic Association. This philosophy of “church” has accelerated with the emergence of the mega-church and the emergent church per se.

Each of these entities proclaims a gospel that is man centered and synergistic rather than God centered and monergistic. The metric in this system is numbers pure and simple rather than transformation. More is always better. Larger is superior to smaller. Methods matter more than sound theological postulates.

Please notice that the emergence and operation of this phenomenon covered several centuries. Correcting this anomaly will not be quick, easy or painless.

I offer this challenge in closing. Will the current and future pastors in the United States of America embrace sound theology and disciple making with a gracious but unrelenting pursuit of integrity in the church in America?

You can be one of these shepherd leaders. The question-will you?

Wounded Chaldeans & a Loaf of Bread

I read a chapter in the Book of Jeremiah each morning when I come to my Study. This morning, Chapter 37. This is the account of Jeremiah telling King Zedekiah that the Chaldeans would “burn this city with fire”, Jerusalem.

The King is less than pleased with this report as is always the case when those rebelling against Truth hear it proclaimed with penetrating unflinching audacity and clarity. In the vernacular this is an “in your face” delivery from an incredibly faithfulProphet.

Egypt believed the Prophet – they retreated back south to their own territory. My point – there was not only the word of the Prophet to validate the veracity of his message but the retreat of a dominant power in that region. Rather convincing to anyone except a rebellious presumptuous King.

Jeremiah tells the King that even if the entire army of the Chaldeans were defeated and only wounded men remained, they would “rise up and burn the city (Jerusalem) with fire.” (Jer.37:10) His reward is incarceration and a loaf of bread daily (until “the bread of the city was gone.”) Jer. 37:21).

The Evangelical Church in America is in need of an army of Jeremiahs willing to tell the TRUTH and be content with a loaf of bread and prison as their reward. Want to join this “School of The Prophets”?

Give me a call. We are seeking godly courageous capable and humble Pastors to engage the church in just such a challenge. I personally like Asiago Cheese!!

The Pathology of Theology

Pathology - The science of the causes and effects of diseases, especially the branch of medicine that deals with the laboratory examination of samples of body tissue for diagnostic or forensic purposes.

This is the definition I received when I ‘Googled’ Pathology. For our purposes in this brief article I use this term as the systematic examination of a Theological Premise that exhibits abnormality or departure from historic evangelical orthodoxy and will inevitably lead to heresy or worse. What people believe, especially in the realm of Theology, is subject to a pathological examination. This applies to all. We must be precise and accountable or we will find ourselves on the short side of Truth.

I am currently privileged to have two Pastoral Interns, both Seminarians. One of them recently said to me, ‘Pastor, you are so precise in your theological statements.’ I take that as a compliment and an accurate assessment of my penchant for precision. Our culture is post-modern and deconstructionist. Vigilance is a small price to pay for precision and accuracy as we give expression to the Word of God. We must say what God has said, nothing more, but most certainly nothing less.

Ten years ago I was working with a pastor who was enamored with the ministry of Rob Bell. I cautioned that Pastor to listen carefully and thoughtfully to what Bell was saying. I was not able to identify with precision the abnormalities in Bell’s theology at that time, but his recent publication of Love Wins validated my appeal for caution.

The following quote serves as an example of this issue. T.D. Jakes has at best a questionable position on the Trinity. James McDonald’s statement that “God has existed eternally in three manifestations” is a classic example of failing to address the issue. Jakes has been characterized on this issue as a ‘modalist’ and I believe that characterization is accurate. This position is ipso facto a denial of the Trinity and simply sees God as manifesting Himself sometimes as Father, sometimes as Son etc. This is not in harmony with either the text of Scripture or historic evangelical orthodoxy. Equivocation is not precision.

Posted: 27 Sep 2011 05:25 PM PDT Reformation21 BLOG by Carl Trueman

There is an interesting statement about the Trinity by Gospel Coalition council member and regular contributor, James Macdonald, with reference to his invitation to T D Jakes to speak at a conference. I quote the relevant section:

I affirm the doctrine of the Trinity as I find it in Scripture. I believe it is clearly presented but not detailed or nuanced. I believe God is very happy with His Word as given to us and does not wish to update or clarify anything that He has purposefully left opaque. Some things are stark and immensely clear, such as the deity of Jesus Christ; others are taught but shrouded in mystery, such as the Trinity. I do not trace my beliefs to creedal statements that seek clarity on things the Bible clouds with mystery. I do not require T.D. Jakes or anyone else to define the details of Trinitarianism the way that I might. His [Jakes'] website states clearly that he believes God has existed eternally in three manifestations.

When people such as myself question such ambiguity, we are labeled ‘heresy hunters’ (by Paul Crouch) or ‘haters’ (by Stephen Furtick). My appeal is and always has been exegesis. The defense of heresy is almost always Polemic not Exegetical. I have an article I wrote on this subject titled Speaking Truth in Love. I will be happy to send this to any of my readers who make that request (info@igniteus.net).

Paul in Athens (Acts 17:21) spoke to those ‘telling or hearing something new’. The culture in which we serve is very similar. I appeal to my readers to be “Exegetical Pathologist”. Focus on issues and exegesis. We must identify personalities when they articulate ‘strange fire’ (Titus 1:9 – rebuke those who contradict sound doctrine) but we need not malign or denigrate people. Doing so diminishes our authority in speaking the Truth. Polemics are important. Accurate and compassionate Exegesis is essential and will always be the final arbiter of Truth. When my declarations harmonize accurately with Special Revelation it matters little or not at all what some proponent of a ‘new thing’ may call me. On my tomb stone will be the words "What Does The Text Say?" Sufficient!

Rise Up O Men of God!!

Every Evangelical Pastor needs to read this post on their knees. Wake up and understand the depths to which we have fallen. May God grant a mighty awakening in the church in America.

In once very Christian Holland, a “new” kind of Christianity has appeared, called “Something-ism.” A theologian in Amsterdam, says: “There must be ‘something’ between heaven and earth, but to call it ‘God’, for the majority of Dutch is a bridge too far.” A pastor of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, states that “God does not exist at all as a supernatural thing. God is…a word for human experience.” A better expression of pagan One-ism you could not find!

This pastor goes on to explain that Jesus is a man, “living out of the spirit of God he found inside himself.” This “new” Christianity “takes God out of the box” of doctrine and redefines the Faith as inner feelings and outer social action.

Though theological liberals present their latest view as “new,” it is the same old option of the worship of creation rather than the Creator. The priceless Gospel of Two-ism is under attack, just as it always has been.

Harvey Cox, a Harvard liberal theologian, in his book The Future of Faith (2009), contains a scandalously false reconstruction of “Christian” theology, to demonstrate “new” theological development. He divides church history into three parts: the Age of Faith (Jesus and his immediate disciples, with no doctrine or creeds); the Age of Belief (4th century till now, with creeds about Jesus); and the Age of the Spirit (the present). Conveniently, this third age is very similar to the first! He affirms: “Just as creeds did not exist in the first Age of Faith, so they are [fortunately] fading in importance now.” According to Cox, it is “important to eliminate the spurious use of ‘belief’ to define Christianity,” because “the spirit is moving in other religions too,” and we must learn to “appreciate the dazzling array of myths, rituals and stories in other religions.” He anticipates a future where “a religion based on subscribing to mandatory beliefs is no longer viable, [which is] a perversion you do not see in Buddhism or Hinduism, where there is no equivalent of the Nicene creed.”

The superficial character of this analysis is mind-boggling. Clearly there are creeds in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 15:3-11; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:13-20; 1 Timothy 1:15; 2:5-6; 3:16). The Gospel is a “credo” because it is the account of God’s saving action “for us.” Of course there is no Nicene Creed in Buddhism and Hinduism because there is no transcendent God and no unique act of God, from the outside, to save us.

Buddhists and Hindus—and Cox—find “god” within, in a purely One-ist occultic experience. Here is the proof: In describing the present age as “an inexorable movement of the human spirit whose hour has come,” Cox plays his hand. The spirit of which he speaks is faith in “the human spirit.” “God” is merely the event of faith in human action.

Cox is fooling many. Of this book Richard Mouw, President of Fuller Theological Seminary, says: “Insightful, provocative, and inspiring—I even found myself uttering a hearty evangelical ‘Amen!’” Little wonder other, less sophisticated evangelicals are saying amen, preferring “deeds to creeds.” Many Millennial Christians, taught to embrace multicultural diversity, believe that being a follower of Jesus Christ is “not about defending some statement from a church creed or theology; it is about testifying to our relationship with Christ through a life of sacrificial love for all people.” Faith in experience and social action becomes the “new” Christianity.

Lest we think that Cox is one lone voice, here are others in the multitude, teaching this One-ist theology:

• Rachel Held Evans, a successful evangelical author, declares that to reduce God’s revelation to some creed or systematic theology to which everyone is required to give assent in order to be a Christian, is to “underestimate the scope and power of God’s activity in the world.”
• Sally Morganthaler, an Emergent cohort who has lectured on leadership at many evangelical schools such as Fuller, explores “the convergence of a developmental (evolutionary) view of life and spirituality…towards holism (the both/and).” No room for creeds here, as she searches for One-ist, mystical spirituality.
• Pastor Danielle Shroyer at Journey Church (Dallas, TX), states: “I cannot say exactly what we believe except that experience is a higher authority than Scripture. I do not believe the Bible is the Word of God…”

This “spiritual” refusal of creeds and Scripture—our own form of Dutch “Something-ism”—is yet another attempt by the enemy to smash the church like a Japanese tsunami. While these One-ist lies will prove catastrophic to some forms of Millennial Evangelicalism, they can never snuff out the power of the Gospel. We rejoice because the power of God the Creator that raised Jesus from the dead has redeemed us from sin in order that we might live to His praise and glory. “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Is. 59:11

Christians in the Marketplace

This post exhibits the unrelenting and ignorant posture the main stream media takes regarding anyone who dares to embrace Christian Theism. Their ignorance is both malicious and intentional.

Michele Bachmann and Dominionism Paranoia

Once again the popular media demonstrate how woefully poor is their understanding of American evangelicals.
By Douglas Groothuis, August 25, 2011

Attacks on presidential hopefuls will increase in volume, frequency, and audacity as the primary season draws near. Time is short, the stakes are high, and the pundits will pounce on their prey. One recent barrage against Congresswoman Michele Bachmann not only impugns her integrity as a political leader, but also questions something fundamentally and luminously American: the right of religious individuals to participate according to their deepest principles at every level of political life.

There is a buzz in the political beehive about the dark dangers of Bachmann's association with "dominionism"—a fundamentalist movement heaven-bent on imposing a hellish theocracy on America. In the August 15 issue of The New Yorker, Ryan Lizza asserts that Bachmann has been ideologically shaped by "exotic" thinkers of the dominionist stripe who pose a threat to our secular political institutions. The piece—and much of the subsequent media reaction—is a calamity of confusion, conflation, and obfuscation.

Lizza notes that Bachmann was influenced by the writings of Francis A. Schaeffer (1912-84), an evangelical minister, theologian, and philosopher. Schaeffer, along with the contemporary writer Nancy Pearcey and others, are "dominionists." That is, they believe that "Christians alone are Biblically mandated to occupy secular institutions until Christ returns." Worse yet, Schaeffer, in A Christian Manifesto (1981), supposedly "argued for the violent overthrow of the government if Roe vs. Wade isn't reversed." Lizza also writes of the influence of the prolific author Rousas John Rushdoony (1916-2001), who advocated "a pure Christian theocracy in which Old Testament law...would be instituted." Bachman is allegedly thick as thieves with all these "exotic" subversives—and should be exposed as such.

Having read reams of books from all these authors (and every book by Schaeffer) over the last thirty-five years, as well as having taught many of these books at the graduate level, I assign Mr. Lizza the grade of "F." Consider four reasons.

First, Rushdoony argued for a position he called reconstructionism (not theocracy), which would have made biblical law the civil law of the land. However, neither Rushdoony nor his followers desired to impose this system through violence or illegal activity, but rather see it come to fruition through a long-term change of minds and institutions.

Second, Rushdoony's devotees make up but an infinitesimal fraction of Christian conservatives. The vast majority of those who have been influenced by certain aspects of Rushdoony's writings emphatically reject his understanding of biblical law, as do I.

Third, the key Christian influences on Bachman are not Rushdoony and his followers, but Francis Schaeffer and Nancy Pearcey. Schaeffer referred to Rushdoony's views on mandating biblical law as "insanity," and never sanctioned any form of theocracy. (The name "Rushdoony" does not even appear in the index of Schaeffer's five-volume collected works.) Schaeffer explicitly condemned theocracy in A Christian Manifesto (p. 120-1). Nor did he call for the violent overthrow of the government if Roe V. Wade were not overturned. Schaeffer rather explained various ways of resisting tyranny according to a Christian worldview and in light of church history. He saw "civil disobedience" (his phrase) as a last resort and did not stipulate any specific conditions under which it would be advisable in America. In fact, Schaeffer worried (on p. 126) that speaking of civil disobedience is "frightening because there are so many kooky people around." Further, "anarchy is never appropriate."

Fourth, Nancy Pearcey has extended and further applied Schaeffer's thought. Like him, she does not endorse theocracy, but rather the participation by Christians as good citizens in all areas of life.

Those who tar and feather "dominionists" are confusing their readers by conflating Rushdoony's reconstructionism with the thinking of Schaeffer and Pearcey. Worse yet, Lizza and company may believe that any Christian influence in politics is dangerous and un-American. If so, they should reread and ponder the First Amendment's guarantee of religious freedom and the freedom of speech. Christians are free to be active members in the public square—along with those of other religions or none. Erecting "dominionist" straw men does nothing to advance this noble cause of freedom.

Douglas Groothuis is Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary and the author of Christian Apologetics.

**PLEASE NOTE** I circulate this to educate people about the wretched (and I might add intentional) ignorance and unrelenting bias of the main stream media against Christians. This is not an endorsement of any political candidate. This is an excellent treatment of a very fundamental and important issue for all Christian to understand. John Neuhaus wrote The Naked Public Square 20 years+ ago to alert Christians that there is a deliberate and concerted effort to deny access to Christians in the political processes of America. tcf

Scripture Interprets Scripture

Acts 16:4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.

We are preaching through the Book of Acts this year at SEC. Acts 15 is the Jerusalem Council. The verse quoted above is commentary on what took place at this assembly.

Scripture interprets Scripture. There are many who vigorously oppose the role of Elders in the NT Church. This passage is clear testimony about what took place at that gathering. The people were most certainly involved, informed and granted the dignity that each Image Bearer deserves. However, the decision was made by the Apostles and Elders. Unless you deny the Inspiration and Authority of the text this is the inescapable conclusion.

Therefore, since this polity applied then, there is nothing to say that this polity does not apply today in the NT church. I rest my case.

Deep Roots = Much Fruit

Our Child Development Center had an end-of-summer program this past Thursday. I went over to the auditorium to watch the children sing in Spanish, recite Scripture that they had learned over the summer, etc.

I noticed a dime sized hole in the side walk. Out of that hole there was a small plant growing. I reached down to pull it out. What a lesson in spiritual vitality!

The above ground portion measured 3 inches. The root was 13 inches long!!! There is a very clear lesson in this. We are commanded to bear much fruit. Deep roots, vital connection to the vine makes that possible.

John 15:1-6 John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

How deep are your roots? What is your connection to the Vine? Are you bearing fruit?

Church As "Life in Community"

There are many definitions of 'church'. Many of them are absolutely valid. It has long been one of my contentions that a primary issue in defining church and determining the health of any given assembly is "Life in Community", the body's obedience to the One Another Commands of the NT.

In the past week God provided two real life expressions of this reality in the church I pastor, SEC in Columbia SC. I share them in brief here and I pray that every Pastor enjoys a similar expression of the goodness of God in their Pastoral Pilgrimage.

Example #1 - Jack Jones, AP Writer, husband father. Member of SEC since 1992. His father ended up in the hospital with intestinal distress. In fact, he had a major blockage. This turned out to be Pancreatic Cancer. In less than three (3) weeks Jack's Dad was dead. He and his family attended all the usual events associated with such a crisis. At the same time it was confirmed that his Mother has either severe Dementia or Alzheimers.

Last Thursday we were together in an Intercessory Prayer group, ladies in one room. men in another. The song writer intones "Big boys don't cry!" Not true! In the presence of a room full of men, one of whom is one of Jack's adult sons and a Seminary student, Jack wept openly as he shared how comforting and overwhelmingly affirming it was to just walk into a room filled with people that love him and care about the events that shape his earthly pilgrimage.

THANKS Jack for your unvarnished display of "Life in Community"!

Example #2 - Shirley Smith is a five year breast cancer survivor. They recently discovered a small nodule in one of her breast. She went to the doctor and they did a biopsy. When she returned to her car she burst into to tears and uncontrollable sobbing. For a brief moment she was gripped by fear.

Then the Holy Spirit reminded her of her Christian Family. She had all those ladies numbers in her cell phone. One by one she began to call them and simply share the situation. Each of them prayed with her. Her countenance immediately changed. She shared this morning that 6-8 years ago she would not have had this level of understanding and maturity. Both she and the body have been immersed in the grace of God, growing in grace. Both her doing this and even more sharing it openly and publicly this morning were a blessing to all and most of all Glory to our God who one day will gather us all in His presence. The biopsy was negative - no cancer.

So, I close with this question - "Do you know what real "Life in Community" is and have you ever enjoyed such incredible JOY?

Psuedo-Evangelical Luminaries (sic)

I posted an entry on face book challenging the use of air-brushed photos. Men seeking to look 30-40 years younger than they actually are. The following is an accurate and substantive response I received. Think on these things!

Eight by ten glossies? This refers to a picture (eight by ten inches) used for promotion. The type budding celebrities produce, sign and give away. Be sure of this: the pose, the lighting - everything is perfect. All blemishes are air brushed away. Nice!

Such picture-perfect pictures makes sense for that type of promotion - first impressions, lasting images and all that. Yet, they remind me of our obsessive and wearisome efforts to make and maintain the right image as good Christians.

Oh the tiresome burden of “being a testimony” by putting on a false front of perfection, people with no struggles and certainly no doubts. Thus my effort at poetry & no pretense of being a poet.

Please know: I am not saying live however you would like – sloppy and sinful. I am pleading for more honesty, integrity and refreshing transparency.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay
to show that this all-surpassing power is from God
and not from us. "
2 Corinthians 4:7 - NIV

Eight by Ten glossies, slick press reviews
Displaying our glory, and all we can do

Slick beyond words, dressed to the nines
We're competent, versatile, quite a rare find

We hardly look weak, or in need of much aid
We have it all handled, we're clam, cool and stayed

“Just look at who we are, just see what He's done.”
Most certainly we will draw them to God’s only Son

Of course God can use us, of course we're His tool
Just look at our lives, they sparkle like jewels

They'll wish they we're so blessed, and hope they can be
Such bastions of strength, real “witnesses” we

Yet, it's weak ones He uses, the broken ones too
Our cracks and defects, give Him room to shine through

When He uses the least, the ones who are weak
His grace becomes something, hurt others will seek

Perfection - it threatens, creates quite a threat
"I'll never be like you, that's a sure bet"

The damaged but useful, they attract other ones
Who feel they're unworthy, of love from the Son

Resist the temptation, to glaze over cracks
To hide them from view, behind other's backs

Why not share your weaknesses, declare you have needs
Yours is a garden, that still has it weeds

Yet He is at work, He loves and He uses
They very same ones, who usually loses

Is not what we do, or the skills that are ours
That makes us a tool, by HIS mighty power

Shredding 8 X 10 Glossies, refusing image control
Concerned for His glory, solely His virtues extol

We chipped jars of clay, don't hold treasures too well
We're vulnerable vessels, from which treasures can spill

Yet, when treasures are seen, in mere jars of clay
Vulnerable vessels, that serve "everyday"

When gold is deposited, in such basic vases
It shows that God's pleased, with us common-type places

The sweet Rose of Sharon, the raised Son of God
Loves to be shown off, in means that are odd

So bring Him your brokenness, lay bare your scars
Let Him shine forth from us, mere vessels, clay jars

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corin. 12:7-10 (NIV)

What Is Church?

The brief post that follows has been on my mind for several years. What is church? We have substituted cultural affinities for racial prejudice . We have "Biker Church", "Equestrian Church", "Millenial Church", ad infinitum. We do not display the oneness that our God designed. We have one shepherd seeking to serve multiple thousands that he does not know and never sees. Does this model meet the parameters of the NT norms for church?

Are these assemblies about Jesus Christ, Sin, Salvation and eternal life, or, are they simply another form of self-centered market driven hype?

I for one think these are questions we ought to be asking and investing serious prayer and exegesis to find the answer. Appreciate your thoughts.

Posted: 08 Jul 2011 01:55 PM PDT

There is a fascinating article on multi-campus ministry in the latest Christianity Today. I will not bore readers with too much of my usual shtick about the celebrity/megachurch culture which seems to have engulfed even the Reformed wing of evangelicalism in the last five years. You should read the article for yourselves. I was particularly struck, however, by the comparison of megachurches to Walmart, and the language of branding and entrepreneurialism. All of this seemed most apposite and insightful.

I wonder if we are truly on the verge of an era where smaller churches - where people know each other by name, are known by name by at least one of their elders and have to give sacrificially of their time and money to keep the ship afloat -- is coming to an end? Are we at a time when the form of Willow Creek has triumphed even in the midst of, on paper at least, a more orthodox theology?

These are sad days, when the biblical models of church and pastoring are being swept away by the avalanche of numerical success allied to personality cults and corporate values. The Apostle Peter clearly likens pastoring the church to shepherding, connects this shepherding to Christ as the great shepherd and, by implication, to the kind of quality of relationship Christ has with his sheep (1 Pet. 5: 1-5; cf. Jn. 10:14). Can multi-site, out-of state ministries even approximate in the vaguest and most attenuated way to this? Is there even a debate to be had here? Is there a single one of these megachurch outfits that isn't basically identified with one or maybe two big personalities? Is that not a warning light that something may be amiss? And isn't it about time that somebody who carries real weight in the young, restless and reformed world spoke out about this kind of ecclesiastical madness? Or are we so steeped in the celebrity/corporate/megachuch culture and so mesmerisied by numbers that nobody sees the problems any more?

(From Reformation 21 BLOG, July 8, 2011)

Contending for The Faith

Paul’s letter to Titus makes it crystal clear that Elders must embrace sound doctrine and also rebuke those who contradict it. One of the observations I have made over the 42 years invested in acquiring some proficiency in interpreting the text of Scripture is this:

The church is usually 20-25 years behind the cultural changes that relentlessly take place. Change is constant but the church seeks to live in a cocoon and implements change only when it is literally forced upon her.

The result of this is engaging issues with outdated and ineffective responses. The church is anachronistic in much of what she attempts to do and is maligned and mocked accordingly. This is true in the realm of rebuke issued for doctrinal error. What would the Apostle Paul have thought of Boyd’s “Open Theism”? What would Luther have said about Dave Hunt's soteriology? To be effective we must be current. Wickedness escalates as we approach 'the end' and our knowledge of error and response to same must be mature, sharp and current.

I was recently the recipient of some 'left-handed sarcasm' because I even mentioned the priority of doctrine over methodology (read David Wells 5 Volumes written between 1993 - 2008). The Pslamist wrote that the word of God is forever settled in heaven (Ps. 119:89). Long after methods have changed repeatedly, the Scripture and Doctrine stands.

The link provided below is an article posted by Phil Johnson. He seeks to define what is and what is not a “primary doctrine”. All doctrine is essential. How we rebuke those who error must be defined by the consequences of any given error. Join me in grappling with this issue and above all may we as pastor/scholars be engaged with the armor and issues that are current and not anachronistic.

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:9, ESV)

ἐλέγχω fut. ἐλέγξω; 1aor. ἤλεγξα; 1aor. pass. ἠλέγχθην; (1) in the NT, generally as showing someone that he has done something wrong and summoning him to repent bring to light, expose (JN 3.20); convince, convict (JA 2.9); (2) in the sense of setting right reprove, correct (1T 5.20); in an intensified sense rebuke, discipline, punish (HE 12.5)

http://phillipjohnson.blogspot.com/2005/09/sometimes-fellowship-is-better-than.html

Response to Satanic Attacks on Congregationalism

This exchange has provided a most beneficial snap shot of this issue. I have encountered multiple 'battles' in churches over this issue. McDonald has done a great service to pastors by capturing this issue in such a brief format. His exegesis and logic are virtually irrefutable. (tcf)

Responding to Satanic Attacks on My Post about Satanic Congregationalism
June 13, 2011

I got a lot of comments disagreeing with my post last week on congregational government. Most were gracious and kind, attacking my position and not me. Some comments had to be deleted, being so eerily harsh they seemed to come from the back pew of a congregational stronghold or an outtake from the original Thriller video.

For more than 15 years I have joked with our Elders that “I am going to write a book called, ‘Congregational Government is From Satan,’ but no one will read it because the lines are so clearly drawn—people will end up either burning the book or making the cover into a poster to hang in the board room.” My blog on Thursday with that long-contemplated title confirmed my suspicions. Many commented demanding I refute the biblical passages used to defend congregational government, as though I had failed to do so because I was not able. Oh please, it was a rant, not an air-tight argument (as many rightly observed). Ranting is okay on a blog, isn’t it? (Crazy how even some blogs that pride themselves on their hyperbole and sarcasm can’t see it in others.)

Refuting the biblical evidence for congregational government kind of feels like refuting the Scriptures in favor of infant baptism (there’s a great blog idea, “Infant Baptism is from . . . ). Let’s admit our traditions rather than trying to prove them biblical. I believe Elder rule is biblical, but boards, and budget approvals, and bands to play music are all things we made up on our own. Communion in rows with silver trays, committees, and Christmas pageantry are also inventions of man. I believe congregational government is worse than a tradition of man. Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), the devourer of Christians (1 Peter 5:8), and the one seeking a ‘foothold’ through relational conflict (Ephesians 4:26-27). I see only a satanic strategy in a system that promotes democracy above God-ordained authority structure and grants to the church membership (another tradition) the capacity to control the church’s future. Yes, all systems are flawed when sinful people manipulate them, but the absence of a full model of church government in Scripture is not permission to invent our own. Let us begin at the place Scripture does, with a plurality of Elders (not one pastor) making consensus decisions and lovingly shepherding the flock of God with gentleness (1 Peter 5:1-5). Here are the three main Scriptures given in defense of congregational government, and then (rant aside) I want to add some needed qualifiers to what I have asserted.

Does Acts 6:1-7 teach congregation government?
In Acts 6 we have Elders delegating deacon nomination to people within the church. Still, the decision to have deacons, what their qualifications would be and the final appointing (v.3) of those nominated by the congregation all rested with the Elders, NOT the congregation. Further there was no voting, no motions, no individuals standing to voice their objections to the Elders plan. We are told that their decision “pleased the whole gathering” (v.5), but isn’t that confirmation that the Holy Spirit was leading the elders, rather than evidence of ratification by a congregation? We understand that Acts 6 describes the action of apostles who were foundational for the church and not normative (Ephesians 2:20). However, surely the establishment of the office of deacon by the apostles, who were more than mere elders, provides insight on how elders should function in the church today and reveals the congregational role as participating, not ruling.

Does Matthew 18 teach congregational government?
Matthew 18 details the process of confronting a professing believer who sins against you. It describes an escalating influence upon refusal which adds first one or two participants, then the final stage of ‘telling it to the church.’ Though we are not told, it makes sense that the ‘one or two’ added as a first step would be Elders or every private offense would create discord as it is distributed to innocent third parties (more like gossip) and then to everyone. If the one who offended ‘refuses’ then the offense is told “to the church.” Who is telling? Maybe the offended brother, maybe the Elders brought in, but clearly not the congregation who are in the role of listening. The goal of this is to increase the pressure on the offender to ‘hear you.’ Clearly the congregation has a role in church life. Those who believe in Elder rule should recognize this participation by the congregation and the need to bring them into important church actions. However, a role of participation is a long way from final authority, voting, and Robert’s Rules of Order. Congregational participation under Eldership is not congregational government and the conversation would be advanced if proponents would stop using this passage to defend the most common configurations of congregationalism today.

Does 2 Corinthians 2:6 teach congregational government?
Paul was wounded by the actions of some in the Corinthian church. He wrote to correct these issues so that he might not be injured again by those who “should have made me rejoice” (1 Corinthians 2:3). The key phrase for those who defend congregational government is in verse 6, “for such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough.” Paul is saying that the pain caused by a member’s criticism was actually worse for ‘all of you’ (congregation) than it was for him, because it resulted in Paul delaying his visit. Paul’s “anyone” of verse 1 was actually injuring the congregation through his action—a frequent result of congregational rule, where a fleshly person ends up negating the blessing that could have come to the whole. The verse is not teaching congregational government, it is describing the “punishment” a congregation might inflict on one who put himself before the whole.

“No!” to Congregational Government “YES!” to Congregational Confirmation

A few other passages which observe congregational participation in the life of the church are used to defend congregational authority—but in what ways should these passages inform our governance? At Harvest we frequently speak of congregational confirmation. We invite the church to submit names of those they believe are biblically-qualified and would serve well as Elders. As Elders we frequently seek, through an insert in the bulletin, the concerns and counsel of the church membership. Every member of the congregation is given opportunity to express their thoughts on any matter of the church’s direction, and receives a prayerful contact from one of the Elders to answer their questions and resolve any issues of disagreement or misunderstanding. We believe that no Elder has a corner on God’s direction for the church and that the Elders together are wise, in significant issues, to seek the confirmation of God’s Spirit through the church membership. However, we would not seek congregational wisdom in a public meeting for obvious reasons, and nothing is ever put to a vote which only polarizes people called to unity.

SUMMARY:
Solicit wisdom from the congregation? Yes, Elders should do that.
Prayerfully consider the counsel of the congregation? Yes, Elders should do that!
Subject the congregation to a public forum where any member can speak and decisions are made by voting and Elders must follow a mandated percentage of voters? No, Elders should not do that!

I appreciated one of the comments to the previous post which said, “there are only two instances of a purely congregational vote in the entire Bible. The first was when the Israelites decided to go against Joshua and Caleb’s spy report, and the second was when the crowd chose to have Barabbas released instead of Jesus. So the first congregational vote caused the people of God to wander in the wilderness for 40 additional years, and the second one led to the crucifixion of the Son of God—we shouldn’t have a third.”

While I disagree with the 9Marks post’s rationale for congregational government, even in the moderated form they describe, I do deeply appreciate the exhortations for updated church membership roles, active church discipline by elders, and men who fear God more than man. Further, I think their “congregational government” under elders is not very far from our “congregational confirmation” at Harvest. What I am repudiating is not that, but as stated above, the Robert’s Rules of Order, “every man does that which is right in his own eyes” form of congregationalism that destroys pastors and divides churches.

Internationally we have many wonderful Harvest church plants that are seeking to lead people away from the unbiblical excesses of congregationalism without going to an alternately unbiblical form where Elders lord their authority over the people with no pattern of shepherding or even listening to the burdens and concerns of the church. Elders acting unilaterally and not hearing the hearts of the people they lead is not only unbiblical, it is unloving and not servant leadership as modeled by Jesus Christ. I deeply respect our brothers and sisters, e.g. in Romania, who are taking a fresh look at what the Bible describes as biblical governance and seeking a model which respects biblical Eldership and the voice of God’s Spirit to members of the church.

Congregational government was developed to protect a church from bad Elders, but in reality there is no protection from that. As with Eli (1 Samuel 2-4), if the leaders are bad the church is headed toward Ichabod. Creating an unbiblical system to guard against that danger may comfort the fears of the laity, but it departs from the Word of God.

Scripture provides no antidote for the blessing of God upon prideful selfish shepherds. If the leaders are bad the church is going down, but if the congregation has control, often even good leaders are crushed and quit. I agree that any model of church government is exposed to the carnality of its participants and the attacks of the enemy. But surely we can expect the Lord’s protection and provision most plentifully when we move away from traditions and practices which are rooted in democracy and tradition, not the Word of God.

Source of this data - June 13, 2011 James McDonald Harvest Church Chicago IL Vertical Church BLOG Post.

My Earthly Father & Perseverance

This Sunday (June 19) is "Father's Day". I refer to such days as 'Hallmark Days'. However, this particular day has merit from a Biblical perspective. Fathers are vital. They provide us with our first image of our Heavenly Father. By design they make us who we are, for good and for ill.

This photo is my Mom (Leora) and my Dad (Howard). I focus on Dad in this piece for obvious reason.

First the 'ill'. My Dad gave me the wonderful gift of 'grousing'. When he got started no mere earthly power could shut him down. One of my favorite memories of this glorious skill focused on the rabbits in his garden. When he retired he purchased a lot and a half, a new house on an acre. The half lot became a weed free testimony to his agricultural skill. The succulent spears attracted rabbits - by the dozen. At the break of dawn you could find "Hats" in his jockey shorts stalking these furry little vermin with a pellet gun - POW! This was just the beginning. For the rest of the day he recounted ad nauseum the details of his 'safari'. While I did not affirm this skill - I got it in spades - - the grousing, not the rabbit hunting. Thanks Dad.

The good - Perseverance. When I was 12 my Dad purchased an additional 60 acre farm. It had been neglected for many years. It was covered with dead fruit trees, weeds and rocks, tons and tons of rocks. Systematically we removed the trees, stumps and brush. As the ground was tilled for planting, the rocks emerged. We had a two wheeled utility trailer. Hundreds of loads, tons and tons of rocks. It took years and unrelenting diligence. The end product was an emerald green island of productivity that evoked great satisfaction.

The application. For the past 27 years I have worked with Pastors and local churches. The goal is to see them become Healthy & Effective, making disciples fully formed in the image of Christ. Those tons of rocks barely register compared to the challenges in this endeavor. Pride, strife, biblical illiteracy, abject cowardice and more. Giving up is not an option. That green utility trailer, rocks, sweat, blisters and my Dad's example of PERSEVERANCE makes completing the task however difficult what I must do.

That field now belongs to a man that I grew up with. I get no reward other than the satisfaction of knowing that I had a role in transforming it from a patch of scrub brush to a highly productive farm. The work I do with churches lasts forever. Changed lives formed in the image of Christ.

Thanks Dad. I love you miss you and look forward to heaven and eternity.

Congregational Government is From Satan

Congregational Government is From Satan
June 09, 2011

NOTE: the tone of this post is intentionally aimed at engaging those who are engulfed in this system of church government that neither honors the Scriptures nor advances the gospel.

That’s right! It’s actually the title to a book I have had percolating in my mind for a long time. After almost 30 years in ministry I have come irreversibly to this conclusion: congregational government is an invention and tool of the enemy of our souls to destroy the church of Jesus Christ. So there, I have said the strongest part of the message first; now some commentary.

1) Congregational Meetings Are Forums for Division:

When church life is going well, the leaders of a church struggle to get a quorum for decision making. When things are going wrong, every carnal member lines up at a microphone to spew their venom and destroy the work of Christ in the church. I saw it growing up, and I have seen it since in churches that are fighting to survive and do something courageous for their future. Good people being held hostage by bad people, minorities hijacking the majority because a set of ‘by-laws’ get higher regard than the Scriptures. Satan does want to rip church unity to shreds like a devouring lion (1 Peter 5:8). He is accomplishing that again and again through a system of church government which elevates the fleshly and the worldly—often even those who no longer attend—to a status of influence equal to the most spiritually and biblically-minded in any congregation.

2) Voting Is Not Biblical

The right to vote may be an American right given by the Constitution, but it is not a kingdom right given in the Word of God. It may be a tradition of some wonderful streams of church history, e.g. Baptist, but it is not biblical. There is not a shred of biblical evidence for a congregation voting on what its direction should be, but many church members believe it is their ‘God-given right’ to stand in judgment over the Pastors and Elders that are seeking to lead them. Even Mark Dever, a personal friend, champion for congregationalism, and credible scholar admits, “But the functioning of a purely congregational system is both unwieldy and lacking biblical support. Instead the establishment of a body of elders to serve in the day-to-day leadership in spiritual matters, serving at the pleasure of the congregation, enables us to maintain both the traditional distinctive of congregational life and the clearly biblical structure of elders.”

3) Eldership Is Sometimes Unpopular

Elders are responsible to “shepherd the flock” (1 Peter 5:2), which is often a very dirty job. Calling out sin, dealing with those who have fallen and seeking their restoration (Galatians 6:1-4), these responsibilities put Elders in positions where doing the right often means doing the unpopular. To then force the Elders to submit to a referendum on their actions is crushing to good men and destroys the work of God in a church. Rather, coming under a group of godly men will always be the best opportunity for a church to live in submission to God’s Word and Spirit. In recent years we have seen many churches taken captive by a few vocal people who, like Alexander the coppersmith exposed by Paul in 2 Timothy 4:14, do “much harm.” The Elders spend the majority of time trying to keep these blasphemous enemies of the gospel in line and often finish their term of leadership crushed by the weight of unrelenting criticism.

4) Congregationalism Crushes Pastors

Statistics tell us that Pastors move every 2-3 years and that a pastor typically leaves a church because of 8 people. If you wonder how just eight people can so resist and refuse and ruin the calling of a gifted and trained messenger of the gospel then you have not spent much time in congregational settings. Just one elder’s wife, or one women’s ministry director, or one chairman of the building committee can consume a pastor and erode the support he needs to serve the church well. A lot of the men writing today in favor of congregational government defend it as a tradition, and are so effective as leaders that they are able to suppress the inevitable uprising of carnality—but that is not so in the vast majority of small congregationally-stifled churches. I could retire now if I had banked a hundred dollars for every time a Pastor wept to me on the phone or in person about the crushing weight of a local ‘church boss’ who would not listen to Scripture or reason or God’s Holy Spirit. Many of the Pastors who have come into Harvest Bible Fellowship these past years have come seeking a new model of church government that frees them from the tyranny of the untrained and untrainable.

5) Priesthood Not Eldership of All Believers

A significant plank in the platform of biblical protestantism has been the priesthood of all believers. This is the idea that all of us as followers of Christ have equal standing before God and do not need a clerical intermediary in our relationship with the Lord. Sadly, though, this has led in many congregations to the Eldership of all believers—where each person, regardless of training, giftedness, fruitfulness, experience, etc., considers their thoughts about the future of a given congregation to be of equivalent value. Satan uses this expectation to create in people a demand to be heard, an insistence that their thoughts on the future of a church—no matter how quickly formed, or singularly held—receive validation equal that of a Pastor/Elder. When the vote takes place people are polarized, and factions sit back and wait for the plans they did not support with their vote to fail. (Sadly similar to the way most people view a president for whom they did not vote). It’s impossible to reconcile that process with:

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give an account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

Down with congregational government. Not the people who believe in it or appreciate its history, not the good or bad people who try to function well in a bad system—down with the system itself. It’s unbiblical, unhealthy and too often a tool of Satan for the discouragement of good Pastors, godly Elders, and local churches everywhere.

You are welcome to engage in this discussion. Let’s stick to biblical defenses of congregationalism (which should be a short section) and anecdotal evidence of its effectiveness. I expect also to hear from Pastors who have suffered under its tyranny.

http://jamesmacdonald.com/blog/?p=7552 James McDonald Vertical Church

Dr. Death Dies

This week Jack Kevorkian died. In one sense he never truly lived.

It is always a cause for grief when an Image Barer dies. Death is not normative in the Creative Order. Adam brought death to all men when he sinned. So this death is one in millions that pays the price through the imputation of Adam’s flagrant disobedience. This is not cause for celebration. It is however cause for reflection and analysis.

Dr. Kevorkian championed a posture on death that is clearly and absolutely contrary to Christian Theism. He merely reflected a growing perspective in the culture of the West. Life & death are the purview of God alone. He spent time in prison for his crimes against humanity. On Friday I visited an aunt & uncle in a care facility. It is indeed sad to witness the scores of emaciated and dysfunctional people simply waiting to die. That said, wait we must.

As a nation we are reaping the judgment of God for embracing a perspective on life that is contrary to Truth. We have aborted over 50 million Image Bearers since 1973. Those little people, and YES they are people, are no less deserving of life than those that Kevorkian went to prison for killing. Schizophrenic to the max.

Dr. Kevorkian, as all men, will face the Creator of life. My understanding of Scripture indicates he already has. I am not called to pass judgment on his eternal state. I am called to do so on his conduct while living. He was a killer. He blasphemed the Author of life in his theological and philosophical postures. He deserved to die. Scripture views muder as a capital offense.

Life is the purview of the Giver of Life, Jehovah God. Do not be deceived. What a man sows he also reaps. Tragic is the best description of this man’s journey. He died never having lived. I encourage my readers to live. He that has the Son has life. Do you?

Theological Metrics for Minnistry

Yesterday (05/27/11) we produced a Video containing instruction for the application of the 14 Effectiveness Criteria developed by IgniteUS. This is even more joy-filled because it is being done collaboratively with the Columbia Metro Association. Our prayer is that this will guide pastors and leaders to take the first step in 'Measuring ministry by Transformation and not mere activity'.

I saw a great quote posted on the 9 Marks web site that speaks to this issue. As you read these few words Pastor, ask yourself with level 1 honesty - - "How am I doing in ministry when measured by this standard? God's best as you press toward this excellence.

by Jonathan Leeman

Great post from Michael Oh over at Desiring God on the Danger of "Fruitfulness" in the minister's life without his own purity. Here's an excerpt:

The second “cardinal sin” of leadership is mistaking “fruitfulness” for holiness. We can often become easily enamored with the shininess and abundance of “fruit.” “Successful” ministry is not measured by numeric indicators. When Christ addresses the seven churches in Revelation, does he commend the larger churches and rebuke the smaller? Does he compare growth rates and highlight numbers? No. Instead, he hits at the heart of character, faith, endurance, compromise, idolatry, and immorality.

Refreshing Humility

This past week I enjoyed an exchange with a friend and Seminary Professor. Our perspectives were quite different on an issue. There were 3 or 4 back & forth exchanges. The paragraph below was his final post. How absolutely refreshing to find a truly learned man display such grace and humility.

I agree completely with the spirit of your penultimate paragraph, though I cannot help but think we are closer to each other than it seems on this issue. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m guessing that one of us (probably me) isn’t communicating as clearly as preferred. But maybe we are in disagreement, and if so, I await the day that all will be clear. Since we weren’t raptured today, I’m guessing that day will be in the future.

Blatant Insult to God

Blatant insult to God
Letters to the Editor
By Tom Fillinger, Columbia
Published May 12, 2011


Pastor BRYANT Wright is quoted as saying, “Jesus Christ loves all mankind. He loves homosexuals who are engaging in homosexual activity ...” (“At USC, gay students protest SBC president’s honorary degree,” April 28).

Psalm 5:5 and Psalm 11:5 are without ambiguity or confusion. Literally, Psalm 5:5 says, “God hates all the ones working (present tense) iniquity” (Barnes on the OT, Psalms Vol. 1, p.42).

The Scripture makes clear that homosexual activity is iniquity/sin, and those practicing such conduct are excluded from heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

In the interest of the authority of Scripture, which we in the Southern Baptist Convention claim to embrace, and the honor due the God we serve, I appeal for a correction to be posted on this assertion. It is false, incorrect and a blatant insult to God and his Word.

Editor’s note: In the interest of clarity, here are Southern Baptist Convention president Bryant Wright’s full remarks as presented in the April 28 Courier article:

“It’s really a false charge that when you simply teach what the Bible says about sin, that you’re a hateful person. Jesus Christ loves all mankind. He loves homosexuals who are engaging in homosexual activity. He loves heterosexuals who are engaging in immoral heterosexual activity.

“But he does call on us — because he has paid the penalty for our sins on the cross — to be willing to repent of sinful behavior. We’re just teaching what God’s standard is for sexual purity. The gospel is a wonderful message of good news, but it is a message of truth, and sometimes people are not always open or perceptive to God’s truth.”

World Population Growth & Missions Startegy

May 9, 2011

One of the significant improvements in the ministry of the Local Church in the past two decades has been the issues of Strategy & Focus. We have been more intentional. That is good.

The link that follows provides graphic evidence for the growth of populations around the Globe. We should be shaping our endeavors to take the gospel to the areas that project the greatest growth. We should invest the greatest resources in areas that provide the greatest challenge and potential kingdom results.

What say you?

http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/05/world_population_forecasts?fsrc=rss

Genuine Humility

Monday - May 2, 2011

I was once asked by an Elder, "Tom, do you have a problem with pride?" I think my response SHOCKED him. I simply said, "Don't we all?"

In light of the focus of the May 1 News Letter on Shepherding & Scholarship, I thought it appropriate to remind myself and others about the importance of humility. Should God grant us the high privilege of achieving some measure of excellence in these two critical areas, we should be profoundly humble.

The following material appeared in Kevin De Young's BLOG on April 27, 2011 and is acknowledged here with much gratitude. Kevin's posts supply me and others with rich material for personal and corporate ministry on a daily basis. THANKS Kevin!

Jonathan Edwards:
An eminent saint is not apt to think himself eminent in any thing; all his graces and experiences are ready to appear to him to be comparatively small; but especially his humility. There is nothing that appertains to Christian experience, and true piety, that is so much out of his sight as his humility. He is a thousand times more quick-sighted to discern his pride, than his humility: that he easily discerns, and is apt to take much notice of, but hardly discerns his humility. (Religious Affections, 334-35)

Are you often aware of your own humility? Then you’re probably not humble.

Have you noticed your pride? Then you may be more humble than you realize.

Here are two signs of Christian maturity: a keen eye to discern your sins and blessed self-forgetfulness.

Father, make me humble. Make me love the Lord with all my heart and love my neighbor as myself. Give me that glorious paradox: the ability to see my sin and at the same time look away from myself. And when I am tempted to posture and position as the world does, remind me that the meek will inherit the earth.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you. (1 Peter 5:6). ESV

Introducing Jesus Christ

March 7,2011 #10

Steve Harvey shares how he would introduce Jesus Christ were he to be given that distinguished opportunity.

How would you engage that glorious honor?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvCd_ANIKys&feature=related

King of Kings - LORD of LORDS

Coming King!

Methodology or Theology?

February 28, 2011 #9

This past week I listened to a 30 minute Conference Call. The topic focused on bringing change in church when change is needed but not wanted. By the way, this is almost ALWAYS true.

There were many salient and accurate observations related to the issue of changes and how to implement same without doing more damage than good. There could be no doubt that those participating in that call were faced with the challenges that process brings. They genuinely wanted to benefit the people they serve. They appeared to desire good and not harm for the church.

BUT - - in that entire span of time I cannot recall one single reference to the text of Scripture, not ONE. The church is a theological entity. All TRUTH is God’s Truth. That being true, and it is, the observations proffered had merit. However, it only takes on generation of departure from sound doctrine to completely lose centuries of orthodoxy. Compare the recent declaration by a certain pseudo-leader abandoning marriage being constituted as the union of one man to one woman.

Unless there is a clear and irrefutable theological foundation for the policies and actions of the church, she becomes just another social agency. That by the way is already a visible phenomenon. TRUTH is absolute and transcendent. The Authority for Church is outside of and beyond the postulates of 'theologians' who aren't. if you do not apply the text you aren't. There are those who promote the raking of leaves on Sunday morning as a substitute for Worship. WHAT? Yep, that is what some of the ‘Missional” folks are declaring. Should we help the elderly? You bet. Is it a good thing when faith is expressed outside the four walls of a building called a church? You bet. But, not when the fundamental constructs of historic Christian Theism are abandoned on a nearly wholesale basis. We are already there in case you have not noticed.

I am not speaking of some mindless “proof texting” exercise. I am speaking of sound, accurate and compassionate exegesis in which the text in context is always our foundation for faith and practice. I invite your thoughts and observations on these few thoughts concerning “Church”. THANKS!

Saving Them From Ignorance

February 21, 2011 #8

Dr. Al Mohler recently spoke to a Pastor's Conference in Jacksonville FL. The following is an excerpt from that message as reported by the Associated Baptist Press on February 15, 2011. These are words well worth pondering and heeding.

Preaching through several chapters from the New Testament book of Romans, Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, posed "a serious question" to 1,300 pastors attending a recent five-day annual Bible conference at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla.

"How many of your people know much of anything about what we have been talking about in the first 11 chapters of Romans?" he asked. "How many people are there who have been sitting in pews for decades who know next to nothing about this, because they've never been taught?"

In a message webcast on the First Baptist Church website, Mohler reminded the audience that the Apostle Paul "was not writing these things to a Ph.D. seminar in some theological seminary" but rather was imparting basic knowledge to "baby Christians" in the first-century church at Rome.

Mohler said "one of the central problems in the church" today is that many people "simply don't know enough to be faithful Christians."

"The nominalism that marks their lives can be traced to a nominalism in terms of their knowledge," he said.

Whose fault is that?

"If we were to absolutely be honest with ourselves, how much time do we actually spend -- even in the lives and programming of many of our churches -- in teaching anyone … anything substantial about and from the Word of God?" Mohler queried.

"The main means by which God saves his people from ignorance is the preaching and teaching of the Word of God," Mohler said. "That's why a conference like this is so important. It's not because we think of the pastorate as a profession set alongside other professions, so we can gather together for a little professional encouragement to go out and be a little better at what we do. No, we believe that those to teach and preach the Word of God are the God-appointed agents to save God's people from ignorance."

The stakes, Mohler said, are high.

"Life and death, heaven and hell, hang in the balance," he proclaimed. "If you do not teach and preach the Word of God, if you do not faithfully teach the Word of God so that your people hear it and understand it and grow upon it, then they are consigned to unfaithfulness, and many will be consigned to hell."

Follow this link and reflect on the combination of these two messages; Mohler & MacArthur.


"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx3ColYGNMM"

Intercession as Obedience

Monday, February 14, 2011 # 7

The message began with the words "I don't know if you remember who I am".

The sender was a member of the Christian School Faculty where I pastored 27 years ago. She had found me on Face Book. She was writing to inform me of two specific issues.

1. She was blessed by a sermon series I had done on the book of Hosea. She had read Francine Rivers title Redeeming Love and found both to be riveting in helping here see the Truth of God's redeeming love. It is a special joy as a pastor to hear a member say that the proclamation of the Truth is still fresh in the life of a beleiver 27 years after they heard it.

2. She informed me that she was awaken in the middle of the night to, in her words, "do some interceeding and heavy praying for me". At that very time, and unkown to her, I was making a major decision on a ministry opportunity that would shape the rest of my pastoral and ministry life.

Intercessory prayer is one of God's primary means to accomplish His purpose in our lives.

I count myself thankful and immensely blessed as I write to have been informed of this most significant fact concerning how God is intensely and personally involved in our walk with Him.

So, whenever you are prompted to pray, even in the middle of the night - PRAY! You never know how God may be using you as His chosen means to shape life and ministry for others. (Luke 18:1-8)

Till The Sky Falls

Monday February 7, 2011 #6

The title of this post is the often quoted wisdom of a Leader from another generation and time. He is now deceased. My friend Bill Hull refers to such people as "Evangelical Luminaries."

The entire quote is "Do right until the sky falls!"

That sounds simple. But, for stubborn self-centered sinners it is always a major challenge. I can rationalize and find 1,000 reasons why it was not my fault. 'Those people' (the ones that differ with me - oh the audacity) are just plain wrong. After all, I have a wall full of degrees. I have served the LORD for 40+ years in a Leadership role. I have been to 27 countries around the world training National Leaders. Don't these peons know who they are dealing with?

Bottom line. When you need to do right - DO IT! Do it until the sky falls. God is always honored and we are always blessed (perhaps not in this lifetime) when we do right.

So, the next time you find yourself up against an opportunity which offers a fork in the road, a choice; be an arrogant bone-head doofus, or, do right, humble yourself and do right. Do it until the sky falls. Do it today, tomorrow and the next day and the next and the next . . .

Your reward awaits you and you will have crowns to cast at His feet. Now that is right!

Dithering and Other Inane Moments

Monday January 31, 2011 #5

I recently listened to an NPR spot about the incredible angst being generated by a decision over which combination of drugs to use in Executing convicted criminals in the state of OH. I am an OH native. Oh the angst and hand wringing the broadcasters engaged. Such emotional trauma. PLEASE!!

As a nation we have slaughtered 51 million plus INNOCENTS! Little Image Bearers guilty of absolutely nothing except they exist. Of course that existence may inconvenience the female that bears their little fragile life. So, they choose the path of expedience not TRUTH and - - - they abort. Kill! Murder! Where is the outcry of the Civil Liberty types defending these little people?

The criminal committed a crime. He was arrested, tried and found GUILTY by a jury of his peers of violating social policy, laws that prohibit his behavior. We have codified a system of punishment for such conduct. Of course we must not violate his rights or cause him any pain. What?

Those little people butchered by that thug in Philadelphia get no such mercy. SHAME on us. Shame on the pastors who fail to speak for the most helpless of the "least of these".

Think about this before you stand before the One who Judges all things!

The Sanctity of Life

Monday January 24, 2011 # 4

As I write, tomorrow is Sanctity of Life Sunday in our nation. Life is sacred because every living person is created in the Image of God. Our Founding Fathers acknowledged this - - endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. We are enjoying a weekend visit with three of our grandchildren - image bearers. They bring great joy. It is mind boggling to think that men and women live with the horrific knowledge that they destroyed their own progeny. Oh weep for that loss. Weep for that burden of death - killing your own. Safe, Legal and Rare? Damn Liars!

It does not require a Medical School education to certify this fact. Simple logic, something does not come from nothing. The capitulation to Margaret Sanger and her murderous ilk gave us this tragedy and the voice of the church was impotent to stop the tsunami of death that has swept our nation. 51 Million plus since 1973. Safe, Legal and Rare was the screed. Liars. Damn Liars!

In NY City in 2010 87,000 image bearers were slaughtered for the sake of convenience or worse. 60% of black babies conceived in that calendar year were murdered. Most cities in America do not have a population of 87,000.

The following quote makes my case. Read it with weeping, repentance and prayer.

It doesn't require a leap in logic to acknowledge that a society which kills it's own children is eliminating it's next generation. That society is also wiping out it's next doctors, lawyers, professional athletes, actors and actresses, dog catchers, fishermen, pizza makers, and in fact, is just killing itself. Along the way a horrible side-effect of this killing is to teach our young people that their lives are not valuable. In fact, we'll fight for the right to kill them. Yet this behavior is trumpeted as "progress". Little wonder our streets run red with blood. (Marc Laroi’s BLOG post January 21, 2011, A Christian Living)

God forgive us. I plead for mercy. I plead for the Pastors of this land to speak Truth to Power. May the gospel run free across this land and transform hearts of stone to hearts of faith.

Read Psalm 139 and Pray for America!

A Wrecking Bar and A Key - Power & Authority

Monday January 17, 2011 #3

You stand outside a door. You need to gain entrance. You have two options.

Option One is a Wrecking Bar. You can ‘break into’ the facility using the Wrecking Bar to destroy the integrity of the door assembly. You will ultimately gain entry. However, the security of the facility that the door previously provided is now gone. Robbers and thieves may now enter any time they choose.

Option Two is a Key. Not just any key, but, the key that unlocks that specific door. You enter, accomplish your task and depart. You lock the door. Subsequent attempts to enter are now preserved and the integrity of the facility as well.

What is the difference? The “Wrecking Bar” approach is Power. Pure raw power. It secured entrance but is profoundly destructive. The “Key” approach is Authority. It gains entrance and preserves the integrity of the system.

The Leadership Lesson is this. Some men cannot seem to distinguish between the two. Leadership must be both effective (getting the task completed) as well as compassionate (1 Peter 5:1-5). In ministry both tasks and people are priorities.

So, the question is this – “Which of the two is your “tool of choice”? It really does matter!

Desperate <> Urgent

Monday January 10, 2011#2

God is never desperate. We as His people should not be either. Urgency is another matter.

Webster’s Dictionary definition of “Desperate”

1. loss of hope and surrender to despair

2. a state of hopelessness leading to rashness

Webster’s Dictionary definition of “Urgent”

1. a. calling for immediate attention : PRESSING
b. conveying a sense of urgency

2. urging insistently : IMPORTUNATE

The text of Scripture speaks in language that expresses urgency (Eph. 5:11-16; 2 Tim. 2:14-15). When I launched what is now IgniteUS it was Nero’s Broken Fiddle. Why?

Nero fiddled while Rome burned, or so the story goes. The church has been ‘fiddling’ while the world perishes. We have been engaged in the Great Commission for 2,000 years and there are still 3 Billion people who have not heard the name of Jesus or the Gospel in its fullness. Years later, I read one of David Well’s five titles in the series he wrote from 1993 – 2009. The final title in that series is The Courage To Be Protestant. He used that exact terminology to describe the conduct of the church in this time - - fiddling!

Not many so called leaders can honestly claim that honorable distinction (Couragesous). There is a clear and compelling case for Urgency in the church in America, yet, we find very little. When I speak to 100 pastors perhaps 15-20 are even interested in CONSIDERING the Reformation & Renewal process. It is easier to maintain status quo, manage activity, but, not make Disciples. That is much too arduous.

So, where are you on this continuum? The truth is this. If we do not labor and serve with a sense of urgency we will ultimately be found in a state of desperation.

Think about this, pray and join the remnant who have engaged the opportunity to honor Christ, make disciples and fulfill the Great Commission. You will be so very glad you did. God’s best as you serve and lead with COURAGE!