Pious Pseudo Priority

First, the Good News! Yesterday I completed the last flight for 2012. Home for the Holidays with family and to celebrate the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, Light of the World. STARBUCKS and a warm fire, contemplating time and eternity.

Now for the matter of "Pseudo Priority". When boarding a DELTA flight, there are according to DELTA, different' classes of people. Let me explain. They board people needing assistance and those with small children first. That is most appropriate. They recognize those serving in the military - also most appropriate. Next they board First Class passengers. These are folks that paid 10 times more for their ticket than the majority of people on this flight. Their choice but my observation after 42 years of travel is they arrive at precisely the same time as those sitting in coach seats.

Now it gets interesting. They then board those with "Priority Status". There are carpets on the floor with a pylon separating the two colors, red for the really important people and blue for all the rest. Really? There is a sign that says "Priority" to the left on the red carpet and one that says "General Boarding" to the right using the blue carpet. They then board by zones, 1-3 or 4 etc.

Now we come to the "Pseudo Pious" aspect of this article. Those who boarded first, using the red carpet for the really important people, are already seated as those in the 'general boarding' category enter the plane. Those already seated look with a jaundiced sneer at these poor underlings that must sit in coach. They even tilt their noses in the air a bit so that all are aware of their "priority status".

How sad. We would all be well served if we simply regarded one another as Image Bearers made in the image of God and worthy of honor, dignity and respect. If we cared enough to notice when a fellow passenger may be struggling. Speak with them. Ask how we might help. Give them a Business Card. Tell them to call or send an email.

There is nothing wrong with priority status or seating. There is however something very very wrong when one thinks they are better than the others on this flight. Thus the "Pseudo Priority" label. Next time you board a flight be sure you understand that we are all pilgrims on a journey to our eternal destiny. Humility is a rare commodity. and it brings such a refreshing reality to life!

Pastoral Implications of The Incarnation

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matt. 1:23)

This is the moment for the ages - God is with us. God took upon Himself our humanity. In doing so he is perfectly qualified to be the Savior of all who call upon his name.

The Greeks held that God was far off and not at all involved in the affairs of men. Christian Theism turns that myth on it's ear. God is not only involved, He became a man, walked this earth, was in all points tested as we are and did not sin. Theologians refer to this as the Impeccability of Christ. Indeed! What a Savior.

What are the implications of this for Pastors? If God had intended that the Gospel be mere information He could have used any variety of means. The Incarnation makes the Gospel intensely personal. When Jesus taught He modeled Truth. It was not mere didactic instruction. It was a living vital way of life. The disciples saw first hand on a daily basis who and what God was.

Aubrey Malphurs, Dallas Seminary recently cited the lack of Modeling as one of the primary reasons the church does not make disciples. Followers need to hear the Truth. Followers need to see that Truth lived out in real time by the one teaching that Truth.

When Pastors Model Truth those who follow are captured by the beauty and consistency of that Truth. They are compelled by the authenticity of what they see to imitate that way of life. It is my contention that when Pastors and leaders do this there will be a ground swell of renewal in the church.

John said it this way. No man has ever seen God. But, the miracle of the Incarnation led Him out into the open and put this God of The Ages on full display. We will do well to obey all that Jesus commanded and in doing so we honor Christ and begin to fulfill His purpose in the Incarnation. Emmanuel!

I Wish I Had . . .

When you come to the end of your days which of these three (3) statements will best characterize your desire:

 1.  I wish I had invested more time in Planning.

 2.  I wish I had invested more time in Preparing Sermons. 

 3.  I wish I had invested more time in Prayer.

Option #3 is almost always the response I receive from Pastors when asked to respond to this issue.

Answering the question is the easy part. Now let’s dig deeper. Why is that so?

Unrelenting self-reliance. Sin deceives us. It tells us with persistent wooing that we are in control, that we can do ‘whatever we set our mind to do’. Really!

We can Plan. We will invest hours, days planning, plotting and pondering all that ‘we will do’. James provides copious wisdom in a few words - Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil (James 4:13-16).  

We can Preach. We will invest hours, days, months preparing sermons. Indeed, that we should. Time invested in careful exegesis and the development of the logic and content of the text is time well invested. Delivering this carefully crafted material to God’s people is honoring His call upon our life. Close, but no cigar!

We can Pray. The problem is, we don’t. Why? Because in our heart of hearts we still do not fully comprehend what Jesus meant when He said - - “without me you can do nothing.” One significant dimension of sin is self-reliance. Pastors are generally “Type A” personalities. We will conquer the world. Just get out of our way and be amazed at what we can do. Oh how foolish. Oh how arrogant. Oh how tragic.

Planning and Preaching are vital. Our God is honored when we express diligence in both of these activities. He is not honored by mediocrity. We should always deliver excellence. He delights even more when we come in humble adoring joy, seeking His grace and provision through quiet pensive prayer. Listening more than speaking. Praying through the Scripture. Learning in Prayer what God taught those who have gone before us and recorded their journey for our benefit (1Cor. 10; Hebrews 11).

So imagine yourself on the threshold of eternity, ready to step from this life to the next. What will you wish you had done more of? I thought so.

The link takes the reader to a very helpful article on the importance of prayer if we are to find optimal effectiveness in ministry.

http://pastors.com/changing-the-world-begins-with-prayer/

Mere Opinion

The churches that I work with all claim to embrace the Authority of Scripture. They are quick to declare that perspective as a foundational principle for ministry. Until that is, it comes to the actual application of same. Then, things often get dicey and conflict is just around the corner.

When asked or required to state a biblical precept or principle to support a proposed action or inaction, they will mumble something like - - “We have prayed about it” as though that trumps Special Revelation. What is worse, they often have nothing to support the perspective they have ‘prayed about’ but will insist that God has assured them that this is the proper course of action. That, my dear readers, is mysticism pure and simple. It is no different in the final analysis than contacting the Witch of Endor.

The appeal I make in this brief post is for a robust and consistent return to the Authority of Scripture. When we encounter practices that have no support whatsoever in the text of Special Revelation we graciously examine and then deny such action. Until we do, the church will remain impotent, powerless and lacking in the blessing of the Sovereign of the Ages. 

Crisis in Biblical Literacy

Remember the frog that landed in a pan of water and stayed until it boiled? Had the pan been hot, the frog would have noticed and hopped out. But the water felt cool at first, and the frog sensed no danger. It simply relaxed and conformed to the gradual change. Subdued by the rising heat, it grew too sluggish to act. By the time the water boiled, the frog was dead.

I want to share the burden of my heart with you concerning the alarming trend of Biblical illiteracy and state of discipleship in today’s church. I want to encourage you by saying that with every problem there is an opportunity and to envision the church as the Lord sees it. The following statistics reveal a crisis in the church.

Regarding Biblical illiteracy and discipleship, Christian researcher and author George Barna reports:

* Fewer than half of all adults can name the four gospels.

* Many professing Christians cannot identify more than two or three of the disciples.

* 60 percent of Americans cannot name even five of the Ten Commandments.

* 82 percent of Americans believe “God helps those who help themselves” is a Bible verse.

* 12 percent of adults believe that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife.

* A survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that over 50 percent thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife.

* A considerable number of respondents to one poll indicated that Billy Graham preached the Sermon on the Mount.

* Six out of ten Americans reject the existence of Satan.

* Four out of ten Americans believe that when Jesus Christ was on earth He committed sins.

* Five out of ten believe that anyone who is generally good or does enough good things for others during their life will earn a place in Heaven.

* Four out of ten believe that the Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon are all different expressions of the same spiritual truths.

* Seven out of ten born again Christians said they do not believe in moral absolutes.

* Only one out of ten Christians base their moral decision-making on the principles taught in the Bible.

* 54 percent believe truth can be discovered only through logic, human reasoning and personal experience.

These statistics indicate a gradual change of temperature over time. In general, Biblical illiteracy is a growing trend and church discipleship is ineffective.

John Stott wrote, “The Christian landscape is strewn with the wreckage of derelict half-built towers. The ruins of those who began to build and were unable to finish. For thousands of people still ignore Christ’s warning and undertake to follow Him without first pausing to reflect on the cost of doing so. The result is the great scandal of Christendom today, so called nominal Christianity. In countries to which Christian civilization has spread, large numbers of people have covered themselves with a decent but thin veneer of Christianity. They have allowed themselves to become somewhat involved, enough to be respectable but not enough to be uncomfortable. Their religion is a great soft cushion. It protects them from the hard unpleasantness of life while changing its place and shape to suit their convenience. No wonder the cynics speak of hypocrites in the church and dismiss religion as escapism.”

I would suggest that many Christian churches have abandoned serious Bible exposition and theological teaching. Historical exegesis is becoming a lost art in the pulpit. The church should be intentional about teaching the background of the being and attributes of God, His sovereignty, His majesty and holiness. Preachers should stress the fact that the righteousness of God has been outraged by human sin and that apart from Divine, unmerited grace, man’s deadly guilt (Romans 3:19) will bring upon him the wrath of God (Romans 1:18), the deserved judgment of the Lord (Romans 2:2), and ensuing death (Romans 6:23).
However, as Gary Burge writes, “Rather than explaining the historical setting of a passage, texts become springboards for devotional reflection,” he notes. “Biblical passages are taken out of context as the preacher searches for those stories that evoke the responses or attitudes desired.” As a result, “The heart of a ‘good’ sermon is fast becoming the ‘emotional work’ that can be done in 20 minutes preaching time.”

Perhaps we are where we are because there is an overemphasis on personal experience to the exclusion of serious Christian education or that spirituality is being built on private emotional attachments or because of the tremendous influence unbiblical philosophies and worldviews are having on churchgoers. Albert Mohler writes, “Christians who lack biblical knowledge are the products of churches that marginalize biblical knowledge. Bible teaching now often accounts for only a diminishing fraction of the local congregation’s time and attention. The move to small group ministry has certainly increased opportunities for fellowship, but many of these groups never get beyond superficial Bible study. Youth ministries are asked to fix problems, provide entertainment, and keep kids busy. How many local-church youth programs actually produce substantial Bible knowledge in young people? Even the pulpit has been sidelined in many congregations. Preaching has taken a back seat to other concerns in corporate worship. The centrality of biblical preaching to the formation of disciples is lost, and Christian ignorance leads to Christian indolence and worse.”

(**This material is from an article published by Doug Morrell on November 13, 2007 and is acknowledged here with appreciation**).

More to come on this vital topic of BIBLICAL LITERACY!

Exegesis Not Polemics

I recently watched a Video of a very beneficial message concerning harmony among brothers in Christ  on doctrinal issues. The speaker said – “quote the author”. This requires accurate, compassionate, irenic and precise exegesis. 

Unity is not something we create, rather, it is something we embrace as God’s provision. When we have correctly and compassionately interpreted Special Revelation and submit to what it says with precision and accuracy, we have unity. Paul tells us to “guard or keep” the unity of the faith not create it (Eph. 4:3). Unity is the result of correctly interpreting and applying Special Revelation in our daily experience and pilgrim journey.

In the Forums that I have participated in the issue of exegesis line by line and precept upon precept is never accomplished. I certainly support and appreciated the speaker's six (6) characteristics for laboring together. However, they are more circumstantial than essential.

We need to humbly, honestly, accurately and with precision work through the passages that pose or represent our differences. The Law of Non-Contradiction applies. You may be correct and I incorrect in my interpretation. I may be correct and you incorrect in the interpretation of a given text. We may both be incorrect. What we cannot be is both correct if we have differing interpretations. The Holy Spirit had/has one and only one correct meaning for each and every portion of God’s Word. We claim to embrace the Authority of Scripture. Unless we have the courage and true Christian humility to seek this single meaning we are missing the challenge/opportunity before us.

The issue is not any “ism”. The issue is not any denomination or tradition. The issue is that we tremble at the Word of The LORD and labor together with humility and accurate sound exegetical scholarship to discover what that Word says and what it means.

I have proposed and will continue to pursue a forum in which we post the key passages diagrammed in the original languages of the OT & NT and systematically work through them with grace, integrity and humility until we find what each portion of God’s Word says & means. I pray that we do this soon.

Until we do the issues will continue to exist. Exhibiting an irenic and gracious spirit in our deliberations (which we absolutely must) is not a substitute for ‘orthotomouvta ton logon teis aleitheias’ – 2 Timothy 2:15.

“What does the text say?”

Silencing the "Nay-Sayers"!

The church selects Leaders on the basis of character, competence, and a Biblical profile for leadership.

Each church must break the cycle of appointing men as leaders based merely on their willingness to serve and availability.  Since the Scriptures specify that leaders have certain specific character traits, it is important to select leaders that meet the biblical criteria.  With a leadership development process in place, a collection of trained, qualified, equipped, and willing leaders will be available for selection.

This paragraph is from the 14 Effectiveness Criteria applied in the IgniteUS Leadership Development Process. Research has shown that the second leading cause of decline in the evangelical church is “Control Issues”.

This is defined as a group of people, with or without portfolio, that exercise veto power of any and all ministry initiatives. Any attempt to prevent the exercise of their collective will results in some sort of ‘punishment’. That action ranges from firing a pastor to withholding financial support.

The existence of this kind of ‘power block’ in a local church is the responsibility of the Pastor. He may or may not be the causal factor for their existence.  However, he is responsible to effectively transform this scenario so that the Word of God under the direction of the Holy Spirit is the controlling factor in ministry.

Accomplishing the removal of such factors requires much prayer, wisdom and what I call Emotional Intelligence. Here is a helpful profile that I often share with Pastors. Assume 100 people. 20 support everything no matter what. 20 oppose everything no matter what. The 60 in the middle are watching which way the wind is blowing.

Of the 20 who oppose there are usually only 5-6 that are vocal, the others hide behind those who speak but they will never stand alone for anything. Of the 5-6 only 2 or 3 are willing to stand and declare their position. Almost always they lack solid exegetical biblical rationale for what they propose. They are not “for” ministry, they are simply opposed.

Here is a time tested and extremely effective means of exposing their screed. When they speak, graciously thank them for expressing the perspective they have. Then, ask them to provide sound biblical support for what they are proposing. Require them to shoe from Scripture why and how what they propose is supported by the Word of God. Give them a week or two, whatever is reasonable to prepare their case (they rarely have one). When there is no biblical basis for their resistance they have effectively shown themselves to be merely ‘Nay-Sayers’. That group of 20 that are for everything and the majority of the 60 will now support a sound biblical direction for a ministry initiative. Some of the 20 who formerly opposed will also join this group. The 2 or 3 ‘spokespersons’ will be neutralized and silenced, or, they will depart. Either way, you have provided gracious biblical leadership and ministry is the better for your leadership.

Call me if you would like to discuss this process further. God’s best as you LEAD! (803 776 5282)

Seriously Flawed Logic

On his BLOG - The Reason For Hope, Wes Kenny posted a Book Review of David Dockery's title Southern Baptist Identity (http://weskenney.net/book-review-southern-baptist-identity#more-907). In that review he cites a comment made by Paige Patterson; copied below.

In an article first written at my request for another blog, and recently republished in Baptist Press, Paige Patterson addressed the relationship between Calvinists and non-Calvinists in the Southern Baptist Convention by pointing to the split that occurred between the General and Particular Baptists in eighteenth century England, and the disastrous results for both camps. The General Baptists lost their doctrinal emphasis and headed into universalism, while the Particular Baptists became anti-missionary hyper-Calvinists. The emphasis of each group balanced the other, and without each other, both became irrelevant in fairly short order.

If a Ph.D. student applied the logic in course work at SWBTS that Mr. Patterson applies in this quote, I am quite certain that they will be soundly criticized and rightly so. It is ludicrous to suggest that godly scholars remained true to their convictions (Particular Baptist) about the doctrine of Soteriology because they were 'balanced by another doctrinal perspective' (General Baptist). These leaders remained true to their convictions because that is what Scripture teaches. To claim that they became 'hyper-Calvinist' because they had separated from those who were General Baptist is the epitome of flawed logic. To assign causality in this manner is beyond academic credibility.

The two groups cited by Mr. Patterson became irrelevant because they abandoned the clear teaching of the Holy Spirit as recorded in the text and drawn out by precise, irenic and compassionate exegesis with accountability through life in community. William Carey did not go to India because he was balanced by the General Baptist. He went to India in obedience to the Great Commission. May his tribe increase!

The issue of Soteriology is an Essential, not a Distinctive in theological considerations. The Law of Non-Contradiction applies. God is not schizophrenic. His Word does not say one thing here and contradict that in another portion of Scripture. There is a definite substantive difference between understanding salvation as a monergistic rather than a synergistic work.

It is true that the portrait of history displays different perspectives on this question. Both cannot be true. As I stated in my response to the BLOG post cited above, the SBC claims to embrace Regenerate Church Membership but our precipitous decline tells the TRUTH. We have churches whose rolls are filled with unregenerate people. The nature of redeemed people is to gather together to praise and worship our great God. We claim to have 16 million members. 60% of this number never appear on the Lord's Day.

We need a good dose of valid logic. That logic says we have serious issues in River City and pretending this is not so will only serve to exacerbate the problem. Mr. Patterson gets an F- in logic. The jury is out on what the SBC will do on this issue but the prospects are dim if we continue to sing Kum-by-ya with our head in the sand thinking that the presence of one group is what preserves doctrinal fidelity in the other. It is not balance per se that we need. We need humble submission to Special Revelation with grace upon grace (Isa. 66:1-2).

Let The Discussion Continue - Comments Closed

Recently on his BLOG (http://www.jerryvines.com/blog/) Dr. Jerry Vines invited readers of his BLOG to engage or participate in a 'conversation'. He refers to what he labeled "The Elephant in The Room". He is of course referring to "New Calvinism" (his label not mine) in the SBC.

I write this post because of the absolute duplicity and disingenuous nature of this invitation. Taking Dr. Vines at his word, I wrote a substantive, irenic and issue-focused response to the post in his BLOG. When I attempted to post my entry I received the message "COMMENTS CLOSED"!


God granted my wife and I the utter joy of rearing three (3) God-fearing and Christ-following children. In that parenting journey we quickly learned the importance of MODELING, living what we say we believe. Practicing what we preach. Walk the talk. You get the picture. One of the quickest ways to rear rebellious and disobedient children is to ignore this principle. It is the epitome of hypocrisy to expect your children to do what you say but not what you do.

I want to be very CLEAR at this juncture. I am addressing Dr. Vines action in inviting a conversation and then closing that post to comments. That is pure and simple hypocrisy. I have never met Dr. Vines. I know only what I have heard and read about him, most of that very admirable and positive. However, this instance is egregious and unacceptable conduct for a man who claims to represent Christ. It is, as I have stated, Hypocrisy. Further, it is in direct violation of numerous principles found in Scripture about a biblical protocol of communication. Finally, it serves only to exacerbate rather than ameliorate the destructive tensions that surround this issue. It divides rather than heals.

If you wish to join the conversation do so with a gracious, irenic and well-informed posture. Make a contribution that is value-add. Build up others with your words. Bring substance that challenges and equips. Move the issue to resolution. DO NOT lob a post that invites participation and then turn tail and run. Just sayin!

"Isms", Fighting & Exegesis

My focus in this post is to encourage accurate, irenic and precise exegesis. I have been motivated to address this topic by the frequency with which I have seen this endeavor characterized as 'fighting'. To do so is both inaccurate and demeaning of a noble and biblical endeavor. Discovering the correct meaning of any given portion of God's word is commanded by the Apostle Paul in the Pastoral Epistles.

1 Timothy 1:3  As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,

1 Timothy 4:6  If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.

1 Timothy 6:3-5  If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,  4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,  5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, . . . .

Titus 1:9  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 2:1  But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 

First, the "Isms" that I referred to. This would be Arminian-ism, Calvin-ism, and Traditional-ism. Those that use the term 'fighting' when blogging about any of the three begin with a very flawed premise. While church history is replete with expressions from all three, none of the three enjoy the highest level of authority in theological discourse. This is reserved for the text of Scripture accurately opened up by irenic, compassionate and precise exegesis. It matters most whether my posture or yours on any given issue agrees with what the text says, not what any other exegete or system may claim the text says or whether we agree with one another. We are not the final arbiters, Scripture is. Most who read in this blogosphere claim to embrace the inspiration and authority of Scripture. Yet, one encounters some very sloppy and inaccurate pronouncements issuing from a failure in this very realm. These inaccuracies are almost always the result of bad hermeneutical and exegetical practices which are in and of themselves a denial of the Authority of Scripture. Often the exegete does not even require proficiency in the original languages. They simply need to apply some basic rules of interpretation and grammar; context, pronouns require an antecedent noun, etc.

Second, the 'Fighting' as it is often labeled. My observation is that this terminology is applied when there is a disagreement on the meaning of a given text of Scripture. This is unfortunately an accurate designation for what often flows from those disagreements. However, there is a logical reason for this. The resolutions sought, the methodology applied in seeking resolution is Polemics, not exegesis. This reduces the meaning of a given portion of God's Word to the mere opinion of the exegete, not of what the text actually says. The loudest verbosity wins the day. SAD!

Let me offer what is most assuredly one of the most frequent and egregious examples - John 3:16. 

There is no such word in the text of John 3:16 as 'whosoever'. This interpretation comes from the language of the KJV but it does not appear in the most reliable manuscripts. This passage does not declare 'how much' God loved the world. The first word in the text is 'outos, an adverb of manner. God loved the world in this manner. What manner? This adverb points the reader back to John 3:14-15. As Moses lifted up the serpent  . . . In this manner God loved the world, He lifted up His Son.

There is a principle in both the natural and spiritual realms called the Law of Non-Contradiction; A cannot be non-A etc. God is not schizophrenic. Scripture does not posit contradictory postulates; say one thing in one verse and then contradict that in another. Assuredly there are apparent contradictions but no real ones. This means that the each portion of God's Word has one correct interpretation. This is the challenge we all face in doing accurate exegesis - - discovering the correct meaning.

Third, Exegesis. I have long appealed for a format in which those with differing interpretations of Scripture post the passage on the screen in two columns in the original languages. Each interpreter takes 15 minutes and offers his interpretation applying grammar, context, history, culture, etc. etc. Only one can be correct. Both may be incorrect. One correct and the other incorrect. But they cannot claim the Scripture means two distinctly different things and both be correct. This is vastly different than Polemics. The text we all claim to honor and abide by will in fact resolve our difference when we submit ourselves to the rigors requisite in doing irenic, compassionate and accurate exegesis. 

There are Essentials (The Deity of Christ, The Inspiration of Scripture) and there are Distinctives (A-Mill, Pre-Mill, etc.). I believe the Doctrine of Soteriology, Salvation is an Essential. God and man cannot be co-sovereigns. In the "Statement" floated just before the Convention this issue was brought front and center. Some who signed the statement claimed it was/is not semi-pelagian. By all historical theology and exegesis it most assuredly is. Calling a dog a cat will never make him meow! Claiming that statement is not semi-pelagian does not make that a "True Truth" as our friend Francis Schaeffer would say. It is what it is.

At the recent SBC Convention in New Orleans Pastor David Platt quoted 2 Peter 3:9, God is not willing that any should perish. He did so in the manner in which it is most frequently cited. I offer this link which provides a counter-understanding of what David said and what is grammatically and exegetically correct. If this is not so, please provide an irenic, accurate and sound exegetical  refutation of this meaning.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIPabz-01lY

Because we are all (myself included, perhaps first on this list) sinners we labor in our endeavor to know what God's Word says with this limiting factor. I will always want to believe that the interpretation I have reached is the correct one. I have dedicated my life to this effort. My wife and children sacrificed so that I could acquire the skills to do so. This is precisely why God gives us the one-another commands. We are to be accountable in life and in exegesis. We need one another as brothers whose chief end is to glorify God. This protects me from the ugly tincture of pride and arrogance. With all this being true, there is still the very real factor that we must face head on. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of Kings to search it out (Prov. 25:2).

The majority of issues CAN BE RESOLVED by humble submission to what the text says. I pray that we abandon the hostile polemics and engage some systematic and persistent exegesis that leads out into the open (cf. John 1:18) what God's word says. We must address the text. We must not engage in character assassination and ugly name-calling. Take the high road. Be true and honorable pastor/scholars. We simply must not ever reduce ourselves to the groveling "can't we all just get along", "go along to get along" theology that some claim is where we should be headed. LORD make us all men of honor, dignity and precision in the way we handle Your word. There may be 'two streams' in SBC life but there is only one correct meaning for each portion of God's Word. LORD give us grace to discover this together with humility and an accuracy that honors Your Holy Name! 

This link is an interview by R.C. Sproul of D.A. Carson on Principles of Sound Exegesis. Excellent!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlZV40mBNDs

Accurate & Precise Exegesis

It is an indisputable fact that Biblical Literacy has declined rapidly in the past two decades. It is also true that the requirements of Seminaries have been watered down, especially in the realm of Biblical Language Study. 

When a Pastor/Teacher does not have competency in the Biblical Languages he labors with a significant deficiency in his ability to accomplish precise accurate exegesis of the text of Scripture. I offer the recent post by David Platt, author of Radical. I have great respect and appreciation for Pastor Platt. We used Radical in our Small Group studies in the past year. However, in the following post David misses the mark in his understanding of 2 Peter 3:9 as do most who quote this portion of Scripture. Follow this link to his comments. http://t.co/lopwvnly

I am not aware of the language training that David does or does not have. I want to graciously state that he has misinterpreted 2 Peter 3:9. This is not merely a matter of preference. The Holy Spirit who is the author of Scripture had recorded with precision what He intended to convey. He expects us to "lead out into the open", the praxis of exegesis, to do the same in our interpretation. To fail at this task is to engage in 'eisegesis', reading into the text what we have decided it should say rather than humbly submitting to what it does say.

I invite my readers to come to this portion of God's word with an open mind and heart. Follow the link provided. I rarely hear a Pastor correctly interpret this portion of God's word. I offer this challenge to any reader. Watch this video. Then provide a sound exegetical refutation of this interpretation if in fact you are able.         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIPabz-01lY

My motivation in this post IS NOT to in any way defame or demean David Platt. It is to appeal for accurate and precise exegesis of God's word. Thanks to all who read and engage this post. Christ is honored when we accord the highest level of precision in interpreting the Scripture and grace upon grace when we apply that interpretation in the body of Christ.

The Authority of Scripture in The Marketplace

This is a brief but potent clip of Dr. Al Mohler standing down an Episcopal Bishop and a Lesbian Episcopal Priest on the Larry King show. Please note that Dr. Mohler speaks with grace and dignity but also un-compromised authority rooted and grounded in the text of Scripture.

We must do likewise. We suffer many of the social ills we do because the church was silent as the Authority of Scripture was eroded by our silence. My call is to all believers to be equipped, pray earnestly and deliver the unchanging Truth of God's Word to every person you come in contact with. We do not wait for opportunity, we create it. Be a blessing and accurately image Jesus Christ the LORD of Glory to the watching world that is sinking under the weight of the lie of the evil one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PA_f3josxM

Baseball & Transformation

I am a baseball fan. It is still “America’s Game”. Scoring runs is crucial to winning games. One asset in scoring runs is stealing bases. Consider how this skill has parallels in the transformation of a local
church?

Research – The base runner studies the strengths and weakness, the motion of the pitcher. The base
runner learns everything he can about the pitcher. This equips him to gain an edge in his quest to score runs. A pastor must study the church; history, leadership, previous effective endeavors. Previous failures. The information gathered in this process equips the pastor to maximize the effectiveness of the process of transformation.

Planning – The base runner must develop and rehearse his strategy. He must practice not just until he can do it right, but, until he cannot do it wrong! Even this does not guarantee success but it greatly improves the probability. The same is true in leading the transformation process. Acquiring and applying all that may be known is a distinct advantage.

Timing – “Timing is everything in kissing and baseball”! When I was 16 I wanted to play second base for the Cleveland Indians. Many men thought they were big league talent. That is, until they faced a pitcher with a major league curve ball. Timing is the key to hitting a curve ball. The same is true in implementing significant change. Doing the right thing at the wrong time still results in disaster. Know what time it is!

Vigilance – Even after the base runner has stolen the base he might get “picked off”. The pitcher is not pleased that the runner has advanced and may score. There are those in any given assembly whose primary goal is to maintain ‘status quo’. They want all things to continue as they have always been. The pastor must confront this mind-set with godly wisdom and perpetual vigilance. Continual awareness of all issues is both essential and beneficial.

Coaching – The base runner has a coach whose objective is the same - - scoring runs. This coach
provides every conceivable advantage to the runner. He provides time tested advice at the moment it is needed. He provides information, encouragement and equipping to see that the base runner succeeds. This is also true of a well qualified Consultant. Study the coaching ranks in major league baseball. Virtually every man serving as a coach has many years of experience as a player. He did not go to school and take classes on base stealing. He played the game. Good Consultants have “played the game”; they have served many years in the local church, confronted a wide variety of circumstances and stand ready to equip the pastor with what that real time experience has taught them. A Pastor does not need to make disastrous mistakes - - he can learn from those who have been there. A good Coach and a good Consultant have many parallels.

Contact IgniteUS Pastor. We will provide time tested and proven resources, wise counsel and prayerful support in leading the transformation process in the local church. You can be equipped and God will honor your efforts to see the church you serve become Healthy & Effective, making disciples fully formed in the image of Christ. PLAY BALL!

Contact IgniteUS info@igniteus.net 803 776 5282 or 803 413 3509.

"I Will Be King"

"I will be King!" These were the words of Adonijah in the latter years of King David's life. They have been echoing down through time ever since. Men who lust for power and prestige rather than sacrifice and service.

David, as all leaders, displayed some traits as a leader that were admirable and some very tragic. He was not even aware of this insurrection and treason. Nathan and Bathsheba inform him of the activity of Adonijah (1Kings 1). If there is any aspect of leadership that is paramount it is an awareness of what is taking place among those you lead.

This is also a solid case for the transfer of the mantle of leadership before the ravages of time and age create a scenario such as this.

Far better for the leader and the organization when God appoints and installs new leadership. David showed mercy and grace. Adonijah goes to his house and that house was not the palace and he did not occupy the throne. Some valuable leadership lessons here for the observant servant leader.

What did you learn about leadership by reading 1Kings 1?

Genuine Christian Courage

Christian courage is the willingness to say and do the right thing regardless of the earthly cost, because God promises to help you and save you on account of Christ. An act takes courage if it will likely be painful. The pain may be physical, as in war and rescue operations. Or the pain may be mental as in confrontation and controversy.

Courage is indispensable for both spreading and preserving the truth of Christ. Jesus promised that spreading the gospel would meet resistance: "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name" (Matthew 24:9). And Paul warned that, even in the church, faithfulness to the truth would be embattled: "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them" (Acts 20:29-30; see also 2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Therefore, true evangelism and true teaching will take courage. Running from resistance in evangelism or teaching dishonors Christ. There is a kind of cowardice that tells only the truths that are safe to tell. Martin Luther put it like this:

If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point. (Quoted in Parker T. Williamson, Standing Firm: Reclaiming Christian Faith in Times of Controversy [Springfield, PA: PLC Publications, 1996], p. 5)

Where then shall we get this courage? Consider these pointers.

FROM BEING FORGIVEN AND BEING RIGHTEOUS - "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion" (Proverbs 28:1). "Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, 'Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven'" (Matthew 9:2).

FROM TRUSTING GOD AND HOPING IN HIM - "Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the LORD" (Psalm 31:24; see also 2 Corinthians 3:12).

FROM BEING FILLED WITH SPIRIT - "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31).

FROM GOD'S PROMISE TO BE WITH YOU - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).

FROM KNOWING THAT THE ONE WITH YOU IS GREATER THAN THE ADVERSARY: -"Be strong and courageous . . . for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles" (2 Chronicles 32:7).

FROM BEING SURE THAT GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER THE BATTLES - "Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight" (2 Samuel 10:12).

THROUGH PRAYER - "On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul" (Psalm 138:3; see also Ephesians 6:19-20).

FROM THE EXAMPLE OF OTHERS - "Most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear" (Philippians 1:14).

Longing to stand firm with you,

Pastor John

(This article was written by John Piper and is acknowledged here with much appreciation - Thank You John)

Intentional Duplicity in Place of Integrity

Recently one component of the CBF (Cooperative Baptist Fellowship) hosted a Conference at First Baptist Church in Decatur GA. One of the speakers was Prof. David Foshee who teaches at Mercer University in Atlanta GA. The focus of the conference was "A Conversation on Human Sexuality. People ALWAYS perk up when the subject/topic is SEX!

What did he say and why is it important?

What he said was that the best configuration for a relationship between two persons that has historically been described as "MARRIAGE" should be labeled a 'Covenant Relationship'. Sounds great. Agree with that. In fact, marriage is recognized as a Covenant Relationship. Nothing new here.

However, that has been the case for centuries. What he did not say, and this is where the lack of Integrity is displayed, he did not identify those eligible according to the Scripture, to participate in such a Covenant. Therefore, applying his profile, two males, two females, a man and his dog, etc. may be eligible for joining together in this covenant. I am sure that this crowd would disagree with this interpretation but if language has meaning (and it does) then they have not a leg stand on.

The CBF was birthed with a fatal pathology at the heart of their assembly. They deny the ABSOLUTE authority of the Scriptures (cf. former President Jimmy Carter who simply says he must disregard the writings of the Apostle Paul on human sexuality - read the interview Dr. Al Mohler did with Mr. Carter.). What? Paul wrote a majority of the New Testament.

Mark it down folks, this issue will fragment CBF into numerous camps, BUT, those who embrace this aberrant and heretical approach to Scripture will cling to their desires - - anybody can do whatever strikes their fancy and they will call it love and compassion. SO SAD!

SOLA SCRIPTURA!!

Gratitude as Heritage

Everyone has a heritage. Those things that shape and mold us as people. Our character, virtues, world view and much more we acquire by virtue of observing those persons of significance in our lives.

One such person in my life was my Mom. She gave me life itself and also some very wise and sagacious direction on how to live that life with purpose and joy. I had a Biology teacher who once told me I would never amount to anything. (He observations may have had some merit at that point in my pilgrimage :).

When I shared her words with my Mom she told me I had three (3) choices.

1. Become angry and bitter over this accusation.

2. Do nothing and prove this teacher correct.

3. Live a life of profound effectiveness and contribution to the God we worship and the people whose lives we are privileged to touch. I chose this option.

My Mom died in 2003. She loved the LORD and prayed with persistence and passion. She wqas also very thankful for each and every day. Recently my youngest sister sent me this journal entry written by my Mom. It is well worth our collective reflection and emulation in life.

Dear LORD, we thank you for your kindness and love in providing us day by day with all that we need. Help us to see your love for us in every new sun rise, every breath of air, every drop of rain. Make us truly thankful and let your love inspire us to live every day for you. In Jesus Name, Amen!

A great Heritage indeed!

Going Postal (Humor - or Tragedy?)

I recently received the following message from a Pastor friend. Very revealing.

You might enjoy this. I had to mail out some accreditation material to a seminary in Indiana and I had to mail it with a self-addressed stamped envelope. So, I took it to the local post office and asked if they could weigh the material and put the appropriate stamps on the return envelope before I put it into another envelope to mail, and as I'm explaining this, I laid the return envelope and the material on the scales. The woman behind the counter told me that she couldn't weigh the envelope and the material unless I put the material "inside" the envelope. It wouldn't work just laying the material "on" the envelope.

So, I took the material and as I placing it inside the envelope I innocently asked, "What difference would it make?" meaning, if the material and the envelope were laying on top of each other or whether one was inside the other, to which she replied, "It weighs differently if they are together or whether one is inside of the other."

You would have been proud of me--I held it together until I got outside the building and then I couldn't stand it any longer, I laughed until my sides hurt. Doesn't this explain why the Postal Service is in the state it is? To think these people actually walk among us.

Puts a whole new meaning to the term "going postal." Where do they find these people!?

Humility is Compatible with Certainty

Michael Kruger:

Christians believe that God has revealed himself clearly in his Word. Thus, when it comes to key historical questions (Who was Jesus? What did he say? What did he do?) or key theological questions (Who is God? What is Heaven? How does one get there?), Christians believe they have a basis on which they can claim certainty: God’s revelation. Indeed, to claim we don’t know the truth about such matters would be to deny God, and to deny his Word. (This doesn’t mean, of course, that Christians are certain about everything; but there can be certainty about these basic Christian truths).

Thus, for Christians, humility and uncertainty are not synonymous. One can be certain and humble at the same time. How? For this simple reason: Christians believe that they understand truth only because God has revealed it to them (1 Cor 1:26-30). In other words, Christians are humble because their understanding of truth is not based on their own intelligence, their own research, their own acumen. Rather, it is 100% dependent on the grace of God. Christian knowledge is a dependentknowledge. And that leads to humility (1 Cor 1:31). This obviously doesn’t mean all Christians are personally humble. But, it does mean they should be, and have adequate grounds to be.

John Frame:

Scripture says some negative things about doubt (Matt. 14:31, 21:21,28:17, Acts 10:20, 11:12, Rom. 14:23, Jas. 1:6). In Matt. 14:31 and Rom. 14:23, it is the opposite of faith and therefore a sin. Further, knowing God in Scripture often seems to have a sureness about it. . . . Note especially the “certainty” of Luke 1:4, the “proofs” of Acts 1:3, and the centurion’s words of Luke 23:47. . . . If the revelation of God to which we submit isinfallible, then it must serve as the criterion of all other knowledge. As such it is the standard of certitude and must be regarded as itself in some sense maximally certain.

G. K. Chesteron:

What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place. Modesty has moved from the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction; where it was never meant to be. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth; this has been exactly reversed.

Nowadays the part of a man that a man does assert is exactly the part he ought not to assert—himself. The part he doubts is exactly the part he ought not to doubt—the Divine Reason. . . . The new skeptic is so humble that he doubts if he can even learn. . . . There is a real humility typical of our time; but it so happens that it’s practically a more poisonous humility than the wildest prostrations of the ascetic. . . .

The old humility made a man doubtful about his efforts, which might make him work harder. But the new humility makes a man doubtful about his aims, which makes him stop working altogether. . . . We are on the road to producing a race of man too mentally modest to believe in the multiplication table. (Orthodoxy [reprint, San Francisco: Ignatius, 1995], 36-37.)

Now that is some Humble Certainty! (tcf)

High Places & Leadership

The high places however, were not removed.

I have been reading 2 Kings for focus and reflection. Most of the kings did evil in the sight of the Lord. There were some who honored the Lord in their reign with this exception - - they did not remove the 'high places'.

High places were syncretistic accommodation to evil. It is as though the king though God did not notice(?)! Today those high places would be assimilation of the cultural norms, always in conflict with God's word.

Incomplete obedience is disobedience. As I near the end of my days I do not want this epitaph to mark my leadership journey.

I recently had our Small Groups watch the DVD of Francis Schaeffer speaking at Coral Ridge Presbyterian in 1982. His focus and the title of his message is Christian Manifesto. That message could well be delivered today and be spot on. He speaks of tyranny. That is precisely what we have in our dear land - Judicial Tyranny.

He then ask the poignant question - where are the pastors? I ask that same question. I have traveled for the past 20 years speaking to pastors and churches about their Health & Effectiveness. The most common response to this is a 'we are sorta ok and after all we are not as bad as the guy down the street. What?

Soon enough we will all come to that juncture in our days when it will be written of us as it is of all those kings - - "and he rested with his fathers".

Have you removed the high places or is your leadership 'sorta ok'?

The Power of Purpose

What is Purpose?

1. The object toward which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or a goal:

"And ever those, who would enjoyment gain, Must find it in the purpose they pursue" (Sarah Josepha Hale).

2. A result or effect that is intended or desired; an intention.

3. Determination; resolution: He was a man of purpose.

4. The matter at hand; the point at issue. To intend or resolve to perform or accomplish.

Idioms: on purpose - Intentionally; deliberately.

Intentional well define purpose = good results.

Little or no purpose and definition = few or no results.

What role does Purpose play in the Health & Effectiveness of a local church ministry?

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17, ESV)

Pastor/Elder and people will be held accountable for transformation. The Pastor/Elder(s) is/are accountable for providing the process and resources necessary for transformation to take place. The congregation/people are accountable for being persuaded by the ones leading them and obeying, embracing and applying the resources provided.

**Principle: You cannot measure what you do not first define!

NT Purpose - Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:16-20, ESV)

When a local church embraces this purpose they ipso facto are submitting to the Lordship of Christ. The Scriptures by which Christ is made known to his people become the magna charta for ministry, not tradition, culture or previous practices typically expressed in the often repeated line - - “we have always done it this way”.

Leadership Selection – All persons serving in positions of leadership must meet the biblical profile (Acts 6; 1 Tim. 3 & Titus 1 for Deacons) and (1 Tim. 3 & Titus 1 for Elders). Do those holding such positions where you serve meet this standard?

Levels of Excellence – Our service in the church must meet the expectation expressed in the Shema in the OT (Deut. 6:4-9) and repeated in the NT (Matt. 22:37-40; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10:27). This is a clear and unambiguous unfolding of both purpose and excellence. This must be the standard for all who name the name of Christ and claim to follow and call him Lord.

Our people know vast portions of God’s word. They can quote it. They can debate other people about what the text says. But they have no idea how it all fits together. (Dr. Al Mohler, He is Not Silent, p. )

The following quote is from a man that is part of the New Covenant page on Facebook that I participate in.

My dad had read the Scriptures all of his adult life. He would quote to me entire chapters of the Bible. In all of my years in Christ I have yet to meet the person who could quote more scripture than my dad. Because he knew the Bible dad understood what was right and what was wrong to please or displease God. He lived a good moral life. He was a good father, husband and provider. He went to church and he brought his wife and seven kids to church. Everyone who knew him considered him to be a good man. I never heard him speak vulgar or use God’s name in vain. As I said, my dad read the Scriptures all of his adult life. He honestly believed he would be accepted by God because he lived a good life. But God didn’t reveal himself to my Dad until he was on his death bed and only then did all of his Bible reading open to him. At last he had learned of Christ. He was washed and cleansed and his guilt removed by the power of God. His sins were forgiven. The Spirit of God filled him with love for our heavenly Father and his Son. Dad is now in the arms of Jesus.

It is one thing to read of God’s love and his requirements and it is quite another thing to know God's love in the inner man and to obey Him with loving obedience born out of the new heart.

1 John 2:20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Summary:

Scripture is designed to bring information, encouragement, equipping and transformation to God’s people. Transformation in Rom. 12:2 is a present passive imperative.

The following verses that make up this pericope (Rom. 12:1-8) make it clear that transformation is a reality that is accomplished primarily if not exclusively through our submission to and participation in ‘body life’ (cf. Bonhoeffer, Life Together).

When people do not know or have not embraced the purpose inherent and at the heart of the Great Commission they produce little or nothing of God’s intent for the church and they produce misery and discouragement for their shepherd.

Tragically it is my studied and well informed perspective based on 20+ years of wide exposure to hundreds/thousands of churches in America that these people are tragically and probably unregenerate.

They have not embraced the purpose.

They do not have a functional, measurable objective definition of a disciple. That being the case they have no metric to measure their transformation or lack of same because having one would shine the light of Truth on their real spiritual condition. No TRANSFORMATION means no REGENERATION. When a Pastor/Elder seeks to incorporate these essentials in ministry he is most often ‘thrown under the bus’ - - FIRED!

If he is a Faithful Shepherd, he must nevertheless honor God’s Word and do what God, not the people call him to do. (cf. John 6 – Jesus reduced the crowd from 5,000 to 12!)