Transcendent Authority & The Public Sqaure

When any community of people loses a Transcendent and Authoritative "Center" that governs all morality and institutions, it has then embarked on the road to disintegration.

When the USA launched a deliberate and intentional campaign to rid the Public Square of God and His Truth, the seeds of our destruction had been sown. No prayer in the schools. The elevation of the individual over the community. The persistent elevation of man with unlimited 'freedom' to make rather than abide by any transcendent Law doomed us to fragmentation of the loss of community.

The onslaught persists. The Freedom From Religion folks are now trying to tell the football coach at Clemson University that he may not guide his players, albeit voluntarily to engage in Christian worship and activities.

The FFR folks tried that here in Cullman. The community response, we still have community here, was 5,000+ turned out for an impromptu Prayer Meeting.
Ask yourself this question - - 'Are we better off today than we were in 1950?'

That deeper issue was the vogue of moral relativism specifically, Lippmann was concerned that there were no longer any transcendent moral standards to which to appeal in guiding either the government or the people. In the first half of the 20th century, there had been a trend to separate the law from reference to any higher moral system. Lippmann had now come to see that as a dangerous innovation. Institutions of free societies, the observed, had been founded "on the postulate that there was a universal order on which all reasonable men were agreed." In the era of the America's founding, even if the more secular thinkers and the traditional Christians may have differed on the exact source of that order and its content, "they did agree that there was a valid law which, whether it was the commandment of God or the reason of things, was transcendent." Speaking of such essential principles as "freedom of religion and of thought and of speech," Lippmann affirmed that "the middle of the seventeenth and eighteenth century who established these great salutatory rules would certainly have denied that a community could do without a general public philosophy." But the idea, so essential to establishing democratic institutions, that there was such a higher moral order had not survived modern pluralism," and "with the disappearance of the public philosophy--and a consensus on the first and last things--there was opened up a great vacuum in the public mind, yawning to be filled." (George Marsden, The Twilight Of The American Enlightenment, p. 46 quoting Walter Lippmann in Essays In The Public Philosophy, 1955).

I vote NO! What about you?

He Is RISEN!!

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is an established fact, a fact that shapes all of time and eternity. Do you know Him? Have you come face to face with the Living God and surrendered unconditionally to Him? Take the time right now to examine what the text of Scripture says about Jesus Christ and about the eternal importance of surrender to Him. You will be eternally thankful you did.

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,  2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you- unless you believed in vain.  3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,  4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,  5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.  7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.  9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.  11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.  12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.  15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.  16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.  17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.  18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  19 If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.  20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.  22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.  24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.  25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.  26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.  27 For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.  28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

1 Corinthians 15:1-28

The "Grey Tsunami" & The Church

The ‘Grey Tsunami’ is the economic, ecological and social effects that the baby boom generation is creating as it gets older.

COLUMBIA, SC — Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell warned lawmakers Wednesday that a failure to prepare for South Carolina’s oncoming “gray tsunami” will cause a budget crisis and human tragedies.

RICHMOND, VA news - Gray and Howarth are part of a booming demographic colloquially dubbed the grey tsunami. According to Statistics Canada, in 2011 Richmond's seniors population - those over the age of 65 - was 26,000, representing about 14 per cent of the population. In 10 years, that rate should be about one quarter as baby boomers reach retirement age. By 2040, roughly half the population will be over age 55.

The ‘Grey Tsunami’ is a major factor in considering the health and future of the local church. I am working with a church of 370 people. 47% of them are over the age of 70. 15% of them are over the age of 90! Only 15% are 30 or under.

The implications of this are obvious to anyone with even modest intelligence. But, churches deny this reality with impunity. Entire States, yea entire nations are alarmed and taking action to address the ramifications of this reality.

The church – not so much. The Median Age of the population of the United States is 39. The Median Age of the church in the United States is 58. The church will be swept away by the Grey Tsunami if they do not take immediate and significant steps to reach young people.

After all, isn’t that the mandate of the Great Commission in the first place?

By What Standard?

TRUTH - is Revealed, Propositional, Transcendent, Authoritative, Incarnate and Transforming.
The past decade has seen seismic changes in the culture of the United States of America. Conduct viewed as normative today was virtually and properly condemned as practically and morally reprehensible just 10 years ago.

What single issue has changed that makes such a dramatic 'student body left' transition possible?
Abandoning our fidelity to Truth!

Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world - to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." (John 18:37).

Jesus' response to Pilate posited for all time and eternity that TRUTH is the standard by which all men and nations are measured. He is righteous and God's Word and God's Son reveal Truth to Power.
The lead banner on this article posits terms that characterize Truth. They are:

Revealed - No one would know God apart from His self-revelation. He has made Himself known to us and that knowledge is rooted in history and recorded in Scripture. The Greeks saw God from a perspective we label Deism. God created all things but has no participation in the unfolding of events. John tells us that when we want to know God we need only look at Jesus. In His coming He has exegeted, put on public display, led out into the open for all to see this Sovereign, Holy and Loving God.

Propositional - The Ten Commandments are not suggestions. Moral Law applies to all people of all time in every place. Have no other God's before Him. That applies today. Who is your God?

Transcendent - The Scripture declares that TRUTH is forever settled in heaven; Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. (Psalm 119:89). The only objective source for a discussion of heaven or hell is the Word of God. All else is hypothetical speculation.

Authoritative - Philosophical systems endeavoring to describe and explain reality are multitudinous. All except Christian Theism lay on the ash heaps of history. Truth endures in the Special Revelation of God and the Person of Jesus Christ.

Incarnate - Truth is not merely a philosophical football. Truth is embodied in the Person of Christ. In His 33 years he lived a sinless life. Through the redemption purchased in his death mankind is enabled to live in freedom from the penalty of sin.

Transforming - History is replete with those who came to the Bible to prove that is was merely a collection of myths and legends. As they studied it's pages to refute the truth-claims expressed, they were transformed. For any who would challenge the propositions I present in this article, get a copy of the Bible (English Standard Version) and read it. Warning - you will either yield to Jesus as LORD or put it down, deny Truth and by doing so seal your eternal destiny.

For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)

God In The Whirlwind - A Review

This is the sixth (6th) title by Dr. David Wells in this series. This title summarizes the issues posited in the first five (5) titles and provides 'a way forward' for the evangelical church that is effective yet avoids capitulation to the ever declining cultural norms.

Highly recommended for any Christian seeking an approach to evangelism that is both compassionate and true to the message of the Gospel.

Building on years of research, writing, and cross-cultural ministry, renowned author and theologian David Wells calls our attention to that which defines God’s greatness and gives shape to the Christian life: the holy-love of God.

In God in the Whirlwind, Wells explores the depths of the paradox that God is both holy and loving, showing how his holy-love provides the foundation for our understanding of the cross, sanctification, the nature of worship, and our life of service in the world. What’s more, a renewed vision of God's character is the cure for evangelicalism’s shallow theology, with its weightless God and sentimental gospel.

Written by one of evangelicalism’s most insightful minds, this book will help you stand firm in your faith despite the changing winds and raging storms of the modern world.

Endorsements

“Rich, deep, and faithful—God in the Whirlwind invites us to come before the very heart of God. No theologian understands the modern world better than David Wells, yet no theologian uses the modern world more powerfully to wrench us back to truths that are foundational and never to be superseded by the latest anything. To be read slowly and with prayer.”

—Os Guinness, co-founder, The Trinity Forum; author, The Call
“In this important book, David Wells begins the process of bringing his influential critique of late modern culture and the church down into practice. Here we have a ‘practical theology’ for conducting the church’s life based on the reality of a God of ‘Holy-love.’ This particular way of understanding and preaching the doctrine of God, Wells believes, protects the church from either being co-opted by the culture or becoming a ghettoized subculture. Decades of teaching theology is boiled down here into accessible, practical chapters. I’m glad to recommend this volume.”
—Timothy J. Keller, Pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City; author, The Reason for God

God In The Whirlwind

This post is an enthusiastic endorsement of this the sixth title in a valuable series by David Wells. The time invested in embracing the concept he proposes will make your ministry both Christ-honoring and effective.

David F. Wells (PhD, University of Manchester) is the Distinguished Senior Research Professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.  In addition to serving as academic dean of its Charlotte campus, Wells has also been a member of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization and is involved in ministry in Africa.  He is the author of numerous articles and books, including a series that was initiated by a Pew grant exploring the nature of Christian faith in the contemporary, modernized world.

Building on years of research, writing, and cross-cultural ministry, renowned author and theologian David Wells calls our attention to that which defines God’s greatness and gives shape to the Christian life: the holy-love of God.

In God in the Whirlwind, Wells explores the depths of the paradox that God is both holy and loving, showing how his holy-love provides the foundation for our understanding of the cross, sanctification, the nature of worship, and our life of service in the world. What’s more, a renewed vision of God's character is the cure for evangelicalism’s shallow theology, with its weightless God and sentimental gospel.

Written by one of evangelicalism’s most insightful minds, this book will help you stand firm in your faith despite the changing winds and raging storms of the modern world.

Words and Their Importance

I am reading through the Pastoral Epistles this year, a chapter each day. I pay particular attention to key words and the importance the meaning each brings to the overall message. Words and their relationship give meaning to language.

The languages of the Scripture, Masoretic Hebrew, Aramaic and Koine' Greek are 'dead languages'. This means that the meaning does not change as is true in a 'living' language such as English. When a credible lexical source is consulted we discover with a high degree of accuracy authorial intent. We know with a high degree of precision what the author intended to communicate with their use of those words.

 The first word for our consideration is found in 1 Tim. 1:3 and 1 Tim. 6:3 - - different doctrine. The transliteration of this word is heterodidaskaleiv. 1 Tim. 6:3 makes clear that sound doctrine is healthy. The converse is true of a different doctrine. It is unhealthy. It produces division and strife in the body of Christ (1Tim. 6:1-10).

The proliferation of different doctrine today is nothing short of astonishing. When studying the Scripture people used to ask - - "What does that passage mean?" Now the questions is "What does that passage mean to me?" That is a very different question. It implies that the meaning of the text is assigned eisogetically, read into the text rather than exegetically, drawn out from the text.

God's word is forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89). The meaning never changes. 

Are you teaching a different doctrine?