My definition of a “friend” has certainly been revised over the years after being kissed by Judas, undermined by Jacob, foraken by Demas, defected from by John Mark and disappointed by unprincipled Barnabas.
However, I have now discovered a better term for pseudo "friendships" which were never really authentic.
"Frenemy or Frienemy": the term is increasingly being used to describe someone who may have been a friend but has now become an enemy or is a person who disquised himself as a true friend but in reality was a personal enemy. These uncharactered types are very common in ministry circles and local church congregations. They can even appear within the family.
The first known use was in "77 but gained popularity in 2000 and was entered into Websters new words in 2009.
" fren·e·my Pronunciation: \ˈfre-nə-mē\ :plural fren·e·mies Etymology:
blend of friend and enemy: one who pretends to be a friend but is actually
an enemy"
What are the prominent traits of a true "frenemy"that I have experienced:
>a frenemy is utilitarian at heart-desiring to relate as long as it is beneficial to them
> gives backhanded compliments that undermine while giving others the
opportunity to mock and ridicule, but makes themelves look or feel good.
>a frenemy may put up a facade but has no concern for your honor,reputation or influence
>they may have stayed with you through difficult times but are actually antagonistic behind your back
>when offended, angry or disappointed, a frenemy will insult, attack, or defame your character to others
>he/she will speak disapprovingly of your true friends because they remain loyal, faithful, and covenantal in the face of your "common to man" flaws, frailties and imperfections
>;as empty chested cowards, they have a temperamental aversion to conflict and truth speaking, so they ignore biblical mandates to confront redemptively[ Matthew 18], choosing rather to backbite in order to solicit comfort from other uncharactered types.
>when caught in their sinful compromise, they point out technical fouls to divert attention from their own wrong doings
Who are your Frenemies?
Monday, December 27, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Are You An Enabler Or Reprover?
Here are good questions with the answer by T. M. Moore in an article written for the Chuck Colson Ministry Center. I absolutely believe Pastors often choose to be enablers of the works of darkness [don't ask-don't tell] by their parishioners because they compromisingly believe it to be more beneficial over having the character and courage to reprove them.
[rgh]
" Why do you think pastors are reluctant to “correct with great asperity of zeal” the sins of their people? Could this be related to....wanting to be loved by men more than by God?"
The Book of Pastoral Rule
Gregory the Great (ca. 540-604)
“For indeed it is the duty of a ruler to shew by the voice of preaching the glory of the supernal country, to disclose what great temptations of the old enemy are lurking in this life’s journey, and to correct with great asperity of zeal such evils among those who are under his sway as ought not to be gently borne with; lest, in being too little incensed against faults, of faults he be himself held guilty.”
There has been a drift in preaching these days away from confronting sin toward comforting and encouraging the faithful. These must go hand in hand, however; for we can give no true comfort or encouragement to those who insist on holding to their sinful ways. Unless pastors are willing to preach against sin, they will, Gregory says, bear the responsibility for all the sin that ravages the souls of their flock. Better to face sin boldly, and call for repentance, than to allow it harbor in the heart of the Church (Ps. 66:18).
http://worldviewchurch.org/index.php?option=com_acymailing&ctrl=archive&task=view&mailid=101&key=73ace81cd18f6bdd2564233fa0315e5e&sub=11774-c9045dc3ee05317dcbd3651f4e7dbd4b
[rgh]
" Why do you think pastors are reluctant to “correct with great asperity of zeal” the sins of their people? Could this be related to....wanting to be loved by men more than by God?"
The Book of Pastoral Rule
Gregory the Great (ca. 540-604)
“For indeed it is the duty of a ruler to shew by the voice of preaching the glory of the supernal country, to disclose what great temptations of the old enemy are lurking in this life’s journey, and to correct with great asperity of zeal such evils among those who are under his sway as ought not to be gently borne with; lest, in being too little incensed against faults, of faults he be himself held guilty.”
There has been a drift in preaching these days away from confronting sin toward comforting and encouraging the faithful. These must go hand in hand, however; for we can give no true comfort or encouragement to those who insist on holding to their sinful ways. Unless pastors are willing to preach against sin, they will, Gregory says, bear the responsibility for all the sin that ravages the souls of their flock. Better to face sin boldly, and call for repentance, than to allow it harbor in the heart of the Church (Ps. 66:18).
http://worldviewchurch.org/index.php?option=com_acymailing&ctrl=archive&task=view&mailid=101&key=73ace81cd18f6bdd2564233fa0315e5e&sub=11774-c9045dc3ee05317dcbd3651f4e7dbd4b
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The Alignment Factor
Tony Morgan shares that churches not growing or who are in decline are simply maintaining the status quo while hoping it generates different results. Here’s his picture of a fully-aligned church with the fundamentals that produce growth.
rgh
•The primary purpose or mission of the church is established.
•A focused ministry/discipleship strategy has been established to accomplish that vision.
•All of the church’s ministries and programming are intentionally designed to fit into that strategy.
•The church is structured with staff and volunteer leaders and teams around the strategy.
•Resources like money, facilities and space on the master calendar are distributed to maximize impact rather than to maintain fairness.
•There’s a web and communications strategy in place to keep everyone focused in the same direction.
•The teaching includes life application that identifies specific next steps to engage people in a discipleship journey that mirrors the overall strategy of the church.
•Rather than celebrating when lots of people gather, the success of any special events or initiatives are measured by how they help people engage in this journey.
•The church is capturing stories and measuring data to determine if the strategy is working as intended.
http://tonymorganlive.com/2010/12/13/big-churches-getting-bigger-the-alignment-factor/
rgh
•The primary purpose or mission of the church is established.
•A focused ministry/discipleship strategy has been established to accomplish that vision.
•All of the church’s ministries and programming are intentionally designed to fit into that strategy.
•The church is structured with staff and volunteer leaders and teams around the strategy.
•Resources like money, facilities and space on the master calendar are distributed to maximize impact rather than to maintain fairness.
•There’s a web and communications strategy in place to keep everyone focused in the same direction.
•The teaching includes life application that identifies specific next steps to engage people in a discipleship journey that mirrors the overall strategy of the church.
•Rather than celebrating when lots of people gather, the success of any special events or initiatives are measured by how they help people engage in this journey.
•The church is capturing stories and measuring data to determine if the strategy is working as intended.
http://tonymorganlive.com/2010/12/13/big-churches-getting-bigger-the-alignment-factor/
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
ETS and Wrights NPP
The Evangelical Theological Society [ETS] chose the theme of "Justification By Faith" for their 2010 gathering of scholars. Obviously, Wright's New Pauline Perspective was the centerpiece and Wright was the invited guest.
In his report about the this years ETS meeting, Dr.Craig Blomberg made the following observation concerning the much debated issue. His assessment is more than thought provoking......Selah!
rgh
"Church and parachurch groups that make sweeping prohibitions against their members imbibing anything of the new perspective at best simply don’t understand it and at worst are quenching the Spirit’s work in their midst. In fact, the more likely danger for most evangelicals, especially those who most severely criticize the new perspective, is that they will miss the necessary applications of Paul’s warnings to their own proclivities to draw theological boundaries too narrowly between insiders and outsiders, to overly elevate their cultures, nationalities, and tribalisms to a place for inappropriate boasting, and to invoke mandates as to what people must do or believe to be insiders far beyond anything demonstrably biblical, and thus unwittingly mirror precisely a majority of first-century Palestinian Jews (and so-called Jewish Christians), whose views Paul in turn anathematizes!"
[Craig L. Blomberg is distinguished professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He is the author, co-author or co-editor of fifteen books and more than eighty articles in journals or multi-author works]
http://www.koinoniablog.net/2010/11/blombergets.html?
In his report about the this years ETS meeting, Dr.Craig Blomberg made the following observation concerning the much debated issue. His assessment is more than thought provoking......Selah!
rgh
"Church and parachurch groups that make sweeping prohibitions against their members imbibing anything of the new perspective at best simply don’t understand it and at worst are quenching the Spirit’s work in their midst. In fact, the more likely danger for most evangelicals, especially those who most severely criticize the new perspective, is that they will miss the necessary applications of Paul’s warnings to their own proclivities to draw theological boundaries too narrowly between insiders and outsiders, to overly elevate their cultures, nationalities, and tribalisms to a place for inappropriate boasting, and to invoke mandates as to what people must do or believe to be insiders far beyond anything demonstrably biblical, and thus unwittingly mirror precisely a majority of first-century Palestinian Jews (and so-called Jewish Christians), whose views Paul in turn anathematizes!"
[Craig L. Blomberg is distinguished professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He is the author, co-author or co-editor of fifteen books and more than eighty articles in journals or multi-author works]
http://www.koinoniablog.net/2010/11/blombergets.html?
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Great Quote
"Truth without love is dogmatism.
Love without truth is sentimentality.
Speaking the truth in love is Christianity."
- Bob Russell
http://trevinwax.com/
Love without truth is sentimentality.
Speaking the truth in love is Christianity."
- Bob Russell
http://trevinwax.com/
Friday, November 12, 2010
Are Professional Ministers Really Thieves?
This indicting quote is from Raymond F. Culpepper, General Overseer of The Church of God, Cleveland Tennessee. He posted a brief article addressing the state of the Church back in March '09.
I underlined the specific point for special empahsis.
[rgh]
"Every year, David B. Barrett of the World Evangelization Research Center in Richmond, Virginia, and Todd M. Johnson of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary publish an update on the status of world Christianity and major religious trends....Overall there is a small but steady growth in giving.... to Christian causes.
Tragically, one finding is that more money is being stolen by 'professional ministers' than given to global missions."
http://forwardtogetherinchangingtimes.com/goblog/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=STATE-OF-WORLD-CHRISTIANITY-2009.html&blogger=Raymond&Itemid=1
http://forwardtogetherinchangingtimes.com/
I underlined the specific point for special empahsis.
[rgh]
"Every year, David B. Barrett of the World Evangelization Research Center in Richmond, Virginia, and Todd M. Johnson of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary publish an update on the status of world Christianity and major religious trends....Overall there is a small but steady growth in giving.... to Christian causes.
Tragically, one finding is that more money is being stolen by 'professional ministers' than given to global missions."
http://forwardtogetherinchangingtimes.com/goblog/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=STATE-OF-WORLD-CHRISTIANITY-2009.html&blogger=Raymond&Itemid=1
http://forwardtogetherinchangingtimes.com/
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Average Tenure for A Pastor to Serve A Local Church
"Albert Mohler, in a 2009 episode of his talk show, asked, "Why Do Pastors Leave the Ministry?" noting the troubling trend that evangelical ministers are staying in congregations for shorter windows of time, with an average of about three years in a call."
http://www.reformation21.org/articles/gratitude-for-grace-in-ministry.php
http://www.reformation21.org/articles/gratitude-for-grace-in-ministry.php
Saturday, November 6, 2010
How Would John Piper Encourage A Depressed Pastor?
John Piper recently announced an extended sabbatical due to many unhealthy dimensions of his marriage and ministry.As one of my heroes, this brother modeled a seasoned faith as well as mature manliness by confessing such human weakness. Scripture identifies this virtue as grace based humility.
For this reason, he is more than qualified to speak to the issue of ministerial depression since it often accompanies the sifting temptations associated with public confession and feelings of personal failure.
[rgh]
1) I would listen to him first.
I'd ask, "What has it been like? How did you get to this point?" That's a past question. And I would ask, "What's it like now? What are you feeling? What does 'burned-out' mean for you? Is it, 'I'm not sure I believe anymore'? Is it, 'I have no energy to get out of bed tomorrow '? Is it, 'I'm so discouraged. My people are not being changed at all'? What's the nature of it?"
So I would ask questions and listen. That would be my first approach.
2) And then, based on what I heard there, I would probably counsel him to step back and get some perspective.
Ask your church for a leave: a week, a month, three months. And if they love you and value what you do, they might give it to you.
Be honest with them. Don't try to pull the wool over their eyes. Go to your leaders and say, "Here's my situation. Give me counsel." They may then ask you to get some counsel. They may send you to a renewal place. Or they may just give you time.
Make sure you discern the physical, emotional and spiritual components of this.
3 ) Then I would encourage him that great saints go through this.
Elijah seemed to be like that. He seemed to be burned-out when he ran from Jezebel and said, "I've had it. I'm done. I'm not going to do this anymore."
And isn't it interesting that in James 5 we're encouraged to pray by looking at Elijah. James says that Elijah, who was a man of similar nature to us, prayed that it would not rain for three and a half years, and it did not rain for three and a half years. And the whole point of saying that is to say, "You remember Elijah don't you? He was discouraged. He was a man of emotions that were up and down." And James is saying to ordinary folks: "Elijah went through it. You're going to go through it. He prayed. You can pray."
So I would try to encourage him that a feeling of being burned-out happens to saints, so that he doesn't feel picked on.
4) And then I would try to take him to the preciousness of Christ and the preciousness of the ministry.
I would try to help him dream a dream again, that he can come through this and God can give him a new lease.
I have had numerous pastors testify to me that discovering Christian hedonism has been revolutionary to their ministry. Christian hedonism says that the desire to enjoy the ministry and to enjoy God is a good desire. In fact, it is an essential desire, according to Hebrews 13 where a sad pastor is bad for his church and a happy pastor is good.
Now Christian hedonism can put a weight on you and make you feel guilty if you're sad, or it can release you to say, "You mean this is OK to want to enjoy what I'm doing?" And many pastors have found hope in Christian hedonism. And so I might take him there and try to show him some of those texts.
5) And I would pray with him.
Copyright 2010 John Piper. Website: desiringGod.org
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20101104/how-would-you-encourage-a-burned-out-pastor
For this reason, he is more than qualified to speak to the issue of ministerial depression since it often accompanies the sifting temptations associated with public confession and feelings of personal failure.
[rgh]
1) I would listen to him first.
I'd ask, "What has it been like? How did you get to this point?" That's a past question. And I would ask, "What's it like now? What are you feeling? What does 'burned-out' mean for you? Is it, 'I'm not sure I believe anymore'? Is it, 'I have no energy to get out of bed tomorrow '? Is it, 'I'm so discouraged. My people are not being changed at all'? What's the nature of it?"
So I would ask questions and listen. That would be my first approach.
2) And then, based on what I heard there, I would probably counsel him to step back and get some perspective.
Ask your church for a leave: a week, a month, three months. And if they love you and value what you do, they might give it to you.
Be honest with them. Don't try to pull the wool over their eyes. Go to your leaders and say, "Here's my situation. Give me counsel." They may then ask you to get some counsel. They may send you to a renewal place. Or they may just give you time.
Make sure you discern the physical, emotional and spiritual components of this.
3 ) Then I would encourage him that great saints go through this.
Elijah seemed to be like that. He seemed to be burned-out when he ran from Jezebel and said, "I've had it. I'm done. I'm not going to do this anymore."
And isn't it interesting that in James 5 we're encouraged to pray by looking at Elijah. James says that Elijah, who was a man of similar nature to us, prayed that it would not rain for three and a half years, and it did not rain for three and a half years. And the whole point of saying that is to say, "You remember Elijah don't you? He was discouraged. He was a man of emotions that were up and down." And James is saying to ordinary folks: "Elijah went through it. You're going to go through it. He prayed. You can pray."
So I would try to encourage him that a feeling of being burned-out happens to saints, so that he doesn't feel picked on.
4) And then I would try to take him to the preciousness of Christ and the preciousness of the ministry.
I would try to help him dream a dream again, that he can come through this and God can give him a new lease.
I have had numerous pastors testify to me that discovering Christian hedonism has been revolutionary to their ministry. Christian hedonism says that the desire to enjoy the ministry and to enjoy God is a good desire. In fact, it is an essential desire, according to Hebrews 13 where a sad pastor is bad for his church and a happy pastor is good.
Now Christian hedonism can put a weight on you and make you feel guilty if you're sad, or it can release you to say, "You mean this is OK to want to enjoy what I'm doing?" And many pastors have found hope in Christian hedonism. And so I might take him there and try to show him some of those texts.
5) And I would pray with him.
Copyright 2010 John Piper. Website: desiringGod.org
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20101104/how-would-you-encourage-a-burned-out-pastor
Friday, October 29, 2010
Our Mission: Heavenize Earth!
Brothers,
I have the priviledge of conferencing each Friday with Bishop Mikler and Boyd Morris. The relational fellowship is edifying and the conversation is theologically invigorating.
As an introduction to Boyd, you guys will certainly be edified by this excerpt from a message where he advocates Christendom over the religion of Christianity.
Boyd Morris is an ordained presbyter of the BASILEIA ABBEY, a regional community of the BASILEIA ALLIANCE.The mission of the Alliance is to heavenize earth by replacing the fallen world system with the kingdom of God.
[rgh]
"Jesus did not preach Christianity. He preached the kingdom of God. The apostles did not preach Christianity either.They also preached the kingdom of God. The apostolic Church of the first three centuries did not preach Christianity, but gave rise to an alternative form of civilization called Christendom, right in the middle of the RomanEmpire, much to the consternation of most of Rome’s Emperors.
Nor did the Celtic Church of the fifth through the eighth centuries preach Christianity, but instead formed the first expression of Christian culture, that is, Christendom, outside of the Roman Empire. Examples could be multiplied, but they all in the end illustrate one point: Jesus did not give His flesh “for the life of the world” to start a religion called Christianity."
I have the priviledge of conferencing each Friday with Bishop Mikler and Boyd Morris. The relational fellowship is edifying and the conversation is theologically invigorating.
As an introduction to Boyd, you guys will certainly be edified by this excerpt from a message where he advocates Christendom over the religion of Christianity.
Boyd Morris is an ordained presbyter of the BASILEIA ABBEY, a regional community of the BASILEIA ALLIANCE.The mission of the Alliance is to heavenize earth by replacing the fallen world system with the kingdom of God.
[rgh]
"Jesus did not preach Christianity. He preached the kingdom of God. The apostles did not preach Christianity either.They also preached the kingdom of God. The apostolic Church of the first three centuries did not preach Christianity, but gave rise to an alternative form of civilization called Christendom, right in the middle of the RomanEmpire, much to the consternation of most of Rome’s Emperors.
Nor did the Celtic Church of the fifth through the eighth centuries preach Christianity, but instead formed the first expression of Christian culture, that is, Christendom, outside of the Roman Empire. Examples could be multiplied, but they all in the end illustrate one point: Jesus did not give His flesh “for the life of the world” to start a religion called Christianity."
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sex Offenders: A Test For The Church
Brothers,
Christianity Today recently published another article addressing the issue of Sex Offenders in the pews.Though the challenges associated with the task are more than monumental,we must think through the implications for the local church so as to jealously guard the weak and vulnerable among the flock of God.
[rgh]
In April 2010, Christianity Today International conducted a survey of 2,864 people, including ordained church leaders (15 percent), church staff (20 percent), lay leader and members (43 percent), and other active Christians (22 percent).
Respondents were drawn from the readers of CTI publications and websites, including Leadership.
The purpose of the "Sex Offenders in the Church" survey was to explore attitudes and beliefs on whether to allow sex offenders to participate in faith communities. The survey explored what practices churches use to keep their congregations safe when sex offenders are welcomed.
....8 in 10 respondents indicated that registered offenders should be allowed to attend church, although under continuous supervision and with appropriate limitations
Do They Belong?
In your opinion, do convicted sex offenders who have been released from prison belong in a church?
* 79% Yes, as attenders, under supervision, and subject to appropriate limitations
* 24% No, if one or more of the offender's victims attend the same church
* 21% Yes, as a member
* 5% Yes, as an attender (no limitations, no supervisions required)
* 4% Yes, as a leader
* 3% No, convicted sex offenders do not belong in church
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/communitylife/discipleship/sexoffenders.html?start=1
Christianity Today recently published another article addressing the issue of Sex Offenders in the pews.Though the challenges associated with the task are more than monumental,we must think through the implications for the local church so as to jealously guard the weak and vulnerable among the flock of God.
[rgh]
In April 2010, Christianity Today International conducted a survey of 2,864 people, including ordained church leaders (15 percent), church staff (20 percent), lay leader and members (43 percent), and other active Christians (22 percent).
Respondents were drawn from the readers of CTI publications and websites, including Leadership.
The purpose of the "Sex Offenders in the Church" survey was to explore attitudes and beliefs on whether to allow sex offenders to participate in faith communities. The survey explored what practices churches use to keep their congregations safe when sex offenders are welcomed.
....8 in 10 respondents indicated that registered offenders should be allowed to attend church, although under continuous supervision and with appropriate limitations
Do They Belong?
In your opinion, do convicted sex offenders who have been released from prison belong in a church?
* 79% Yes, as attenders, under supervision, and subject to appropriate limitations
* 24% No, if one or more of the offender's victims attend the same church
* 21% Yes, as a member
* 5% Yes, as an attender (no limitations, no supervisions required)
* 4% Yes, as a leader
* 3% No, convicted sex offenders do not belong in church
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/communitylife/discipleship/sexoffenders.html?start=1
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Reading Translates Into Leading
Brothers,
This is a follow up to the post regarding books I highly recommend.
Thought you might enjoy subscribing to the follwing resources that
come to me via email and thus are perused regularly and often.
Not only is reading a grace-based spiritual discipline, but it is a ministers
personal investment toward "staying current" regarding substantive
issues facing the church.
Remember, ignorance is not a Kingdom virtue!
Shout!
[rgh]
9 Marks E Journal http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/pastoring-women
Ed Stetzer Lifeway Research http://www.edstetzer.com/
Leadership Weekly http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/
Christian News Headlines http://www.delicious.com/christianheadlines/topheadlines?page=1
Dr. Cal Baisner http://www.cornwallalliance.org/newsletter/
CBMW Blog http://www.cbmw.org/Blog
Catalyst Leadership http://christianitytoday.imirus.com/
Barna Research http://www.barna.org/
Beggining With Moses http://beginningwithmoses.org/home
Reformation 21 http://www.reformation21.org/blog/
Best Christian Blogs http://mychristianblogs.com/
Theological Word of the Day http://wordoftheday.reclaimingthemind.org/blogs/
Christianity Today online http://www.christianitytoday.com/
Religion News http://www.religionnewsblog.com/
Sola Dei Gloria http://pjmiller.wordpress.com/
This is a follow up to the post regarding books I highly recommend.
Thought you might enjoy subscribing to the follwing resources that
come to me via email and thus are perused regularly and often.
Not only is reading a grace-based spiritual discipline, but it is a ministers
personal investment toward "staying current" regarding substantive
issues facing the church.
Remember, ignorance is not a Kingdom virtue!
Shout!
[rgh]
9 Marks E Journal http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/pastoring-women
Ed Stetzer Lifeway Research http://www.edstetzer.com/
Leadership Weekly http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/
Christian News Headlines http://www.delicious.com/christianheadlines/topheadlines?page=1
Dr. Cal Baisner http://www.cornwallalliance.org/newsletter/
CBMW Blog http://www.cbmw.org/Blog
Catalyst Leadership http://christianitytoday.imirus.com/
Barna Research http://www.barna.org/
Beggining With Moses http://beginningwithmoses.org/home
Reformation 21 http://www.reformation21.org/blog/
Best Christian Blogs http://mychristianblogs.com/
Theological Word of the Day http://wordoftheday.reclaimingthemind.org/blogs/
Christianity Today online http://www.christianitytoday.com/
Religion News http://www.religionnewsblog.com/
Sola Dei Gloria http://pjmiller.wordpress.com/
Monday, October 25, 2010
Christian Ethics Can Be Problematic
"Here I Blog" is a site that frequently poses ethical dilemmas for us to consider. Bear in mind that many of these scenarios are based on real life issues. Today's example deals with the lottery. Other topics have included church discipline and cohabitation.
rgh
What would you guys do?
While away visiting relatives in another state one of your friends from church bought a $1 lottery ticket at the influence of his cousin. He never plays the lottery and hasn’t thought much about it. He figured that it was only $1 so what could it hurt?
It turns out that your friend ended up winning $5 million!
He comes to you for advice on what to do. He’s not sure how the folks at your church may react. He’s not sure if he should tell anyone or not. One of the first things he wants to do is tithe to the church. Then he wants to pay off all of his debts and just sit on the money so that it does not take over his life in any way.
He wonders if a large lump sum donation would spur conversation in the church. And he wonders if church leadership will ask where the money came from. He also does not know if he should tell anyone else in the church besides you. (Of course, his spouse knows.)
What would you do?
>Tell him to tithe and say nothing.
>Tell him to give all the money away since it’s lottery money.
>Seek your pastor for advice?
>Help find someone to manage it for him?
>Rebuke him for playing the lottery?
>Ask for a personal love offering?
Related posts:
Ethics: Cohabitation In the Church
Ethics: Excluding A Single Parent from Church Membership
Ethics: Immodest Dress In Church
Ethics: A Yoga Class Starting at Church
Ethics: Resign Church Membership To Avoid Discipline
http://hereiblog.com/church-member-wins-lottery
rgh
What would you guys do?
While away visiting relatives in another state one of your friends from church bought a $1 lottery ticket at the influence of his cousin. He never plays the lottery and hasn’t thought much about it. He figured that it was only $1 so what could it hurt?
It turns out that your friend ended up winning $5 million!
He comes to you for advice on what to do. He’s not sure how the folks at your church may react. He’s not sure if he should tell anyone or not. One of the first things he wants to do is tithe to the church. Then he wants to pay off all of his debts and just sit on the money so that it does not take over his life in any way.
He wonders if a large lump sum donation would spur conversation in the church. And he wonders if church leadership will ask where the money came from. He also does not know if he should tell anyone else in the church besides you. (Of course, his spouse knows.)
What would you do?
>Tell him to tithe and say nothing.
>Tell him to give all the money away since it’s lottery money.
>Seek your pastor for advice?
>Help find someone to manage it for him?
>Rebuke him for playing the lottery?
>Ask for a personal love offering?
Related posts:
Ethics: Cohabitation In the Church
Ethics: Excluding A Single Parent from Church Membership
Ethics: Immodest Dress In Church
Ethics: A Yoga Class Starting at Church
Ethics: Resign Church Membership To Avoid Discipline
http://hereiblog.com/church-member-wins-lottery
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Should We Give "Altar Calls?"
Greetings Brothers,
Please consider subscribing to http://www.confluenceblog.com/confluence which is a new "Reformed-Continuationist" blog. You will be edified with very relevant discussions and substantive articles being posted.
The one I am forwarding is but one great example. Check it out!
[rgh]
Allow the Spirit to convict
Well, it is difficult to answer this in a brief compass without being misunderstood. Let me answer it like this: The history of this invitation system is one with which you people ought to be more familiar than anyone else, because it began in America. It began in the 1820s; the real originator of it was Charles G. Finney. It led to a great controversy. Asahel Nettleton, a great Calvinist and successful evangelist, never issued an “altar call” nor asked people to come to the “anxious seat.” These new methods in the 182Os and were condemned for many reasons by all who took the Reformed position.
History speaks
One reason is that there is no evidence that this was done in New Testament times, because then they trusted to the power of the Spirit. Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost under the power of the Spirit, for instance, had no need to call people forward in decision because, as you remember, the people were so moved and affected by the power of the Word and Spirit that they actually interrupted the preacher, crying out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” That has been the traditional Reformed attitude towards this particular matter. The moment you begin to introduce this other element, you are bringing a psychological element. The invitation should be in the message. We believe the Spirit applies the message, so we trust in the power of the Spirit...I have never called people forward at the end for this reason; there is a grave danger of people coming forward before they are ready to come forward. We do believe in the work of the Spirit, that He convicts and converts, and He will do His work. There is a danger in bringing people to a “birth,” as it were, before they are ready for it.
The Puritans in particular were afraid of what they would call “a temporary faith” or “a false profession.” There was a great Puritan, Thomas Shepard, who published a famous series of sermons on The Ten Virgins. The great point of that book was to deal with this problem of a false profession. The foolish virgins thought they were all right. This is a very great danger.
Trust in the power of the gospel
I can sum it up by putting it like this: I feel that this pressure which is put upon people to come forward in decision ultimately is due to a lack of faith in the work and operation of the Holy Spirit. We are to preach the Word, and if we do it properly, there will be a call to a decision that comes in the message, and then we leave it to the Spirit to act upon people And of course He does. Some may come immediately at the close of the service to see the minister. I think there should always be an indication that the minister will be glad to see anybody who wants to put questions to him or wants further help. But that is a very different thing from putting pressure upon people to come forward. I feel it is wrong to put pressure directly on the will. The order in Scripture seems to be this – the truth is presented to the mind, which moves the heart, and that in turn moves the will.”
Article: Dr. Lloyd-Jones on the Altar Call (http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/articles)
http://www.confluenceblog.com/dear-dr-are-we-to-give-alter-calls?
Please consider subscribing to http://www.confluenceblog.com/confluence which is a new "Reformed-Continuationist" blog. You will be edified with very relevant discussions and substantive articles being posted.
The one I am forwarding is but one great example. Check it out!
[rgh]
Allow the Spirit to convict
Well, it is difficult to answer this in a brief compass without being misunderstood. Let me answer it like this: The history of this invitation system is one with which you people ought to be more familiar than anyone else, because it began in America. It began in the 1820s; the real originator of it was Charles G. Finney. It led to a great controversy. Asahel Nettleton, a great Calvinist and successful evangelist, never issued an “altar call” nor asked people to come to the “anxious seat.” These new methods in the 182Os and were condemned for many reasons by all who took the Reformed position.
History speaks
One reason is that there is no evidence that this was done in New Testament times, because then they trusted to the power of the Spirit. Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost under the power of the Spirit, for instance, had no need to call people forward in decision because, as you remember, the people were so moved and affected by the power of the Word and Spirit that they actually interrupted the preacher, crying out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” That has been the traditional Reformed attitude towards this particular matter. The moment you begin to introduce this other element, you are bringing a psychological element. The invitation should be in the message. We believe the Spirit applies the message, so we trust in the power of the Spirit...I have never called people forward at the end for this reason; there is a grave danger of people coming forward before they are ready to come forward. We do believe in the work of the Spirit, that He convicts and converts, and He will do His work. There is a danger in bringing people to a “birth,” as it were, before they are ready for it.
The Puritans in particular were afraid of what they would call “a temporary faith” or “a false profession.” There was a great Puritan, Thomas Shepard, who published a famous series of sermons on The Ten Virgins. The great point of that book was to deal with this problem of a false profession. The foolish virgins thought they were all right. This is a very great danger.
Trust in the power of the gospel
I can sum it up by putting it like this: I feel that this pressure which is put upon people to come forward in decision ultimately is due to a lack of faith in the work and operation of the Holy Spirit. We are to preach the Word, and if we do it properly, there will be a call to a decision that comes in the message, and then we leave it to the Spirit to act upon people And of course He does. Some may come immediately at the close of the service to see the minister. I think there should always be an indication that the minister will be glad to see anybody who wants to put questions to him or wants further help. But that is a very different thing from putting pressure upon people to come forward. I feel it is wrong to put pressure directly on the will. The order in Scripture seems to be this – the truth is presented to the mind, which moves the heart, and that in turn moves the will.”
Article: Dr. Lloyd-Jones on the Altar Call (http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/articles)
http://www.confluenceblog.com/dear-dr-are-we-to-give-alter-calls?
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Why You Should Know Dr. Al Mohler
Dr.Al Mohler is one of the most influential evangelicals of our day. He's a conservative and a complementarian. If you receive CT Magazine, you know they just did a front cover article on him. I personally peruse his blog on a regular basis.
With all that in mind, I am posting the following information from firstthings.com so you guys can familiarize yourself with this excellent theologian and cultural apologist.
rgh
R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Why you should know him: Oft-quoted for his views on cultural and religious issues. Time.com called Dr. Mohler the “reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement in the U.S.”
Denomination: Southern Baptist
Position: President and Professor of Christian Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary—the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the largest seminaries in the world; Editor-in-Chief of The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Previous: Editor of The Christian Index; Associate Editor of Preaching; Host of “The Albert Mohler Program,” a daily radio show distributed nationwide by Salem Communications.
Education:
B.A. Samford University
M. Div. Southern Seminary
PhD Southern Seminary (in systematic and historical theology)
Postgraduate study/research at the St. Meinrad School of Theology and Oxford University (England)
Area of expertise/interest: Evangelical theology; Southern Baptist doctrine; cultural issues
Books: Published five books, including Atheism Remixed; contributed chapters to several books including Here We Stand: A Call From Confessing Evangelicals and The Coming Evangelical Crisis.
Other writings: The Washington Post’s On Faith religion column; maintains a blog at AlbertMohler.com.
Assessment: Dr. Mohler is a prime example of the type of evangelical leader who has a profound impact on our country while remaining relatively unknown outside of Christian circles. He was one of the key figures in the conservative resurgence within the Southern Baptist Convention, a monumental change that affected the largest Protestant denomination in America.
As bold as he is intelligent, Mohler often takes positions that are politically incorrect (e.g., his claim that Jews and Muslims dont worship the “same God” as Christians) or that would raise the eyebrows of his fellow Baptists (i.e., his view that couple who choose “deliberate childlessness” are in violation of God’s moral order). He is also an ridiculously prolific writer, producing a quality article on culture and society for his blog almost every weekday.
Anyone who wants to know the direction that conservative evangelicalism will take in America would do well to keep track of this influential theologian.
http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/10/know-your-evangelicals-albert-mohler/
http://www.firstthings.com/masthead
With all that in mind, I am posting the following information from firstthings.com so you guys can familiarize yourself with this excellent theologian and cultural apologist.
rgh
R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Why you should know him: Oft-quoted for his views on cultural and religious issues. Time.com called Dr. Mohler the “reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement in the U.S.”
Denomination: Southern Baptist
Position: President and Professor of Christian Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary—the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the largest seminaries in the world; Editor-in-Chief of The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Previous: Editor of The Christian Index; Associate Editor of Preaching; Host of “The Albert Mohler Program,” a daily radio show distributed nationwide by Salem Communications.
Education:
B.A. Samford University
M. Div. Southern Seminary
PhD Southern Seminary (in systematic and historical theology)
Postgraduate study/research at the St. Meinrad School of Theology and Oxford University (England)
Area of expertise/interest: Evangelical theology; Southern Baptist doctrine; cultural issues
Books: Published five books, including Atheism Remixed; contributed chapters to several books including Here We Stand: A Call From Confessing Evangelicals and The Coming Evangelical Crisis.
Other writings: The Washington Post’s On Faith religion column; maintains a blog at AlbertMohler.com.
Assessment: Dr. Mohler is a prime example of the type of evangelical leader who has a profound impact on our country while remaining relatively unknown outside of Christian circles. He was one of the key figures in the conservative resurgence within the Southern Baptist Convention, a monumental change that affected the largest Protestant denomination in America.
As bold as he is intelligent, Mohler often takes positions that are politically incorrect (e.g., his claim that Jews and Muslims dont worship the “same God” as Christians) or that would raise the eyebrows of his fellow Baptists (i.e., his view that couple who choose “deliberate childlessness” are in violation of God’s moral order). He is also an ridiculously prolific writer, producing a quality article on culture and society for his blog almost every weekday.
Anyone who wants to know the direction that conservative evangelicalism will take in America would do well to keep track of this influential theologian.
http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/10/know-your-evangelicals-albert-mohler/
http://www.firstthings.com/masthead
Monday, October 18, 2010
The Reformation Of The Supper
Brothers,
Justin Taylor did this recent post regarding The Covenant Meal. I forward this so that we all can "stay current" on such doctrinal topics which have significant implications for our ministries and churches. Click on the site below to read the essay in PDF format.
rgh
Here is a thoughtful, helpful essay from Kim Riddlebarger, entitled “The Reformation of the Supper” (PDF)....The essay looks at three issues related to how often the Lord’s Supper should be celebrated, and how one’s theology of the Supper can impact the answer to that question:
>The Biblical Evidence for the Frequent Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
>The Historical Evidence for Frequent Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
>Some Pastoral and Theological Implications of Frequent Celebration
http://www.wscal.edu/alwaysreformed/11-Riddlebarger.pdf
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/10/18/how-often-should-we-observe-the-lords-supper/
Justin Taylor did this recent post regarding The Covenant Meal. I forward this so that we all can "stay current" on such doctrinal topics which have significant implications for our ministries and churches. Click on the site below to read the essay in PDF format.
rgh
Here is a thoughtful, helpful essay from Kim Riddlebarger, entitled “The Reformation of the Supper” (PDF)....The essay looks at three issues related to how often the Lord’s Supper should be celebrated, and how one’s theology of the Supper can impact the answer to that question:
>The Biblical Evidence for the Frequent Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
>The Historical Evidence for Frequent Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
>Some Pastoral and Theological Implications of Frequent Celebration
http://www.wscal.edu/alwaysreformed/11-Riddlebarger.pdf
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/10/18/how-often-should-we-observe-the-lords-supper/
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The Gospel Of God's Righteous Wrath
"M]odern evangelism begins with, “God loves you and wants to make you happy.” Read the literature of the user-friendly movement and you’ll notice a preoccupation with conveying every message in a positive tone…
[But] there is no way to synthesize the truth about God’s wrath with a positive-only presentation of the gospel. There is no way to declare the truth about God’s wrath to an unbelieving sinner in an “optimistic” tone.
As a result, the gospel preached in these [seeker-sensitive] churches is often truncated—and the point that is most deliberately censored is the very place Paul began his gospel presentation—the reality of divine wrath!
Those who feel they must be forever optimistic are forced to ignore crucial sections of Scripture, including most of Romans 1, Luke 16, all the Hebrews warning passages, much of the core of Old Testament truth, and about half of Jesus’ teaching. And so the philosophy shapes the message."
John MacArthur
http://apprising.org/2010/10/14/without-gods-wrath-his-love-loses-its-meaning/
[But] there is no way to synthesize the truth about God’s wrath with a positive-only presentation of the gospel. There is no way to declare the truth about God’s wrath to an unbelieving sinner in an “optimistic” tone.
As a result, the gospel preached in these [seeker-sensitive] churches is often truncated—and the point that is most deliberately censored is the very place Paul began his gospel presentation—the reality of divine wrath!
Those who feel they must be forever optimistic are forced to ignore crucial sections of Scripture, including most of Romans 1, Luke 16, all the Hebrews warning passages, much of the core of Old Testament truth, and about half of Jesus’ teaching. And so the philosophy shapes the message."
John MacArthur
http://apprising.org/2010/10/14/without-gods-wrath-his-love-loses-its-meaning/
Monday, October 11, 2010
Gospel Doctrine Creates A Gospel Culture
Brothers,
It's been our joy to exegete the book of Romans over the last few months here in laGrange. Paul the Apostle was theologically brilliant as he logically presented his gospel in this majestic book.
Dr Ray Ortlund frames the significance of doctrinal exposition and the culture it is intended to create within our Gospel oriented communities. His precision is astounding.
[rgh]
"Gospel doctrine creates a gospel culture. The doctrines of grace create a culture of grace, healing, revival, because Jesus himself touches us through his truths. Without the doctrines, the culture alone is fragile. Without the culture, the doctrines alone appear pointless.
.The doctrine of regeneration creates a culture of humility (Ephesians 2:1-9).
The doctrine of justification creates a culture of inclusion (Galatians 2:11-16).
The doctrine of reconciliation creates a culture of peace (Ephesians 2:14-16).
The doctrine of sanctification creates a culture of life (Romans 6:20-23).
The doctrine of glorification creates a culture of hope (Romans 5:2).
If we want this culture to thrive, we can’t take doctrinal short cuts. If we want this doctrine to be credible, we can’t disregard the culture. But churches where the doctrine and culture converge bear living witness to the power of Jesus."
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2010/10/11/gospel-doctrine-gospel-culture-2/
It's been our joy to exegete the book of Romans over the last few months here in laGrange. Paul the Apostle was theologically brilliant as he logically presented his gospel in this majestic book.
Dr Ray Ortlund frames the significance of doctrinal exposition and the culture it is intended to create within our Gospel oriented communities. His precision is astounding.
[rgh]
"Gospel doctrine creates a gospel culture. The doctrines of grace create a culture of grace, healing, revival, because Jesus himself touches us through his truths. Without the doctrines, the culture alone is fragile. Without the culture, the doctrines alone appear pointless.
.The doctrine of regeneration creates a culture of humility (Ephesians 2:1-9).
The doctrine of justification creates a culture of inclusion (Galatians 2:11-16).
The doctrine of reconciliation creates a culture of peace (Ephesians 2:14-16).
The doctrine of sanctification creates a culture of life (Romans 6:20-23).
The doctrine of glorification creates a culture of hope (Romans 5:2).
If we want this culture to thrive, we can’t take doctrinal short cuts. If we want this doctrine to be credible, we can’t disregard the culture. But churches where the doctrine and culture converge bear living witness to the power of Jesus."
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2010/10/11/gospel-doctrine-gospel-culture-2/
Thursday, October 7, 2010
What Have You Been Reading?
John's Wesleys rebuke below of a young minister should be sufficient challenge for each of us to devote ourselves to the discipline of reading.
I was reviewing my library today and began to jot down titles of books that I have enjoyed reading in recent history and can highly recommend to you brothers.
>Humility................................................................................by C.J. Mahaney
>Paul on Trial......................................................................... by John W. Mauck
>When Shall These Things Be.............................................. by Keith Matheison
>The Faith............................................................................... by Chuck Colson
>Galatians............................................................................... by Gorden Fee
>The Shape of Sola Scriptura.................................................by Keith Matheison
>God of Promise................................................................... by Mishael Horton
>Being The Body....................................................................by Chuck Colson
"What has exceedingly hurt you in time past, nay, and I fear, to this day, is want of reading. I scarce ever knew a preacher who read so little. And perhaps, by neglecting it, you have lost the taste for it. Hence your talent in preaching does not increase. It is just the same as it was seven years ago. It is lively, but not deep; there is little variety; there is no compass of thought. Reading only can supply this, with meditation and daily prayer. You wrong yourself greatly by omitting this. You can never be a deep preacher without it, any more than a thorough Christian. Oh begin to fix it!.... Whether you like it or no, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way; else you will be a trifler all your days, and a pretty, superficial preacher."
John Wesley, writing to a young preacher, quoted in D. A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge, Letters Along The Way, page 169.
I was reviewing my library today and began to jot down titles of books that I have enjoyed reading in recent history and can highly recommend to you brothers.
>Humility................................................................................by C.J. Mahaney
>Paul on Trial......................................................................... by John W. Mauck
>When Shall These Things Be.............................................. by Keith Matheison
>The Faith............................................................................... by Chuck Colson
>Galatians............................................................................... by Gorden Fee
>The Shape of Sola Scriptura.................................................by Keith Matheison
>God of Promise................................................................... by Mishael Horton
>Being The Body....................................................................by Chuck Colson
"What has exceedingly hurt you in time past, nay, and I fear, to this day, is want of reading. I scarce ever knew a preacher who read so little. And perhaps, by neglecting it, you have lost the taste for it. Hence your talent in preaching does not increase. It is just the same as it was seven years ago. It is lively, but not deep; there is little variety; there is no compass of thought. Reading only can supply this, with meditation and daily prayer. You wrong yourself greatly by omitting this. You can never be a deep preacher without it, any more than a thorough Christian. Oh begin to fix it!.... Whether you like it or no, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way; else you will be a trifler all your days, and a pretty, superficial preacher."
John Wesley, writing to a young preacher, quoted in D. A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge, Letters Along The Way, page 169.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Just what Is "Bad Preaching?"
Brothers,
Have you ever wondered if you were guilty of "bad preaching?" Jeff Keeney shares," contrary to popular opinion, bad preaching isn’t when the preacher reads his sermon, mumbles or bores his audience.... that is merely bad delivery..."
Check out his post about the Good, Bad, and the Ugly of contemporary preaching. Jeff's thoughts on what classifies as even worse "Worse" Preaching" is more than thought provoking. May I kindly suggest you read the entire post.
[rgh]
Worse Preaching:
Today’s preachers are finding new ways NOT to preach the Gospel. There are some sermons that are worse than bad. While even a bad sermon contains the bare elements of the Gospel, these sermons have no Gospel at all.
1. The Golawspel Sermon
•This is a classic example of confusing Law and Gospel, so that neither is clearly preached. Golawspel preaching neither wounds nor heals, neither kills nor makes alive, neither accuses nor absolves.
2. The Gospel–Assumption Sermon.
•In this kind of sermon, the preacher almost preaches the Gospel. He might refer to Jesus as Savior; he might talk about God’s love, forgiveness, and mercy.
3. The God–Loves–You–Anyway Sermon.
•Pioneered by Robert Schuller and perfected by Joel Osteen, this kind of sermon presents what I have called “a gospel without sin.” In this kind of sermon, your problem is not sin, it is failing to reach your potential. But don’t worry, be happy,and keep trying, God loves you anyway.
4. The Little–Engine–That–Could Sermon.
•In this kind of sermon the preacher talks a lot about how hard your life is. Stress, not sin, is your problem. Instead of Jesus on the cross to save you, the preacher proclaims Jesus in your heart to empower and encourage you to keep trying.
5. The Sinners–Someplace–Else Sermon.
•The preacher proclaims the Law, but not to his audience. He preaches against the sins of sinners someplace else: politicians, homosexuals, abortionists, secular humanists, Hollywood, and all the other sinners “out there.” Everyone goes home secure, thanking God they aren’t like other men—but not justified.
6. The “Life–Application” Sermon.
•This is the classic example of preaching the Christian instead of the Christ. Promoted by Rick Warren and others, these sermons are by far the most common kind of worse preaching. In this case, the preacher is convinced that the ultimate goal of preaching is to teach people how to LIVE. In the “Life–Application” sermon, Jesus becomes just anotherparadigm for you to live by.
Not Christian Preaching at All:
.There are sermons being preached from Christian pulpits that cannot be called Christian in any sense of the word; they can hardly he called sermons. They have neither Law nor Gospel, neither sin nor grace. They fall into the category of what the Bible calls “smooth talk and flattery,” “empty words,” “godless chatter” and “hollow philosophy.”
http://gospelcentric.org/2010/09/20/the-good-the-bad-the-ugly-contemporary-preaching/
http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/
Have you ever wondered if you were guilty of "bad preaching?" Jeff Keeney shares," contrary to popular opinion, bad preaching isn’t when the preacher reads his sermon, mumbles or bores his audience.... that is merely bad delivery..."
Check out his post about the Good, Bad, and the Ugly of contemporary preaching. Jeff's thoughts on what classifies as even worse "Worse" Preaching" is more than thought provoking. May I kindly suggest you read the entire post.
[rgh]
Worse Preaching:
Today’s preachers are finding new ways NOT to preach the Gospel. There are some sermons that are worse than bad. While even a bad sermon contains the bare elements of the Gospel, these sermons have no Gospel at all.
1. The Golawspel Sermon
•This is a classic example of confusing Law and Gospel, so that neither is clearly preached. Golawspel preaching neither wounds nor heals, neither kills nor makes alive, neither accuses nor absolves.
2. The Gospel–Assumption Sermon.
•In this kind of sermon, the preacher almost preaches the Gospel. He might refer to Jesus as Savior; he might talk about God’s love, forgiveness, and mercy.
3. The God–Loves–You–Anyway Sermon.
•Pioneered by Robert Schuller and perfected by Joel Osteen, this kind of sermon presents what I have called “a gospel without sin.” In this kind of sermon, your problem is not sin, it is failing to reach your potential. But don’t worry, be happy,and keep trying, God loves you anyway.
4. The Little–Engine–That–Could Sermon.
•In this kind of sermon the preacher talks a lot about how hard your life is. Stress, not sin, is your problem. Instead of Jesus on the cross to save you, the preacher proclaims Jesus in your heart to empower and encourage you to keep trying.
5. The Sinners–Someplace–Else Sermon.
•The preacher proclaims the Law, but not to his audience. He preaches against the sins of sinners someplace else: politicians, homosexuals, abortionists, secular humanists, Hollywood, and all the other sinners “out there.” Everyone goes home secure, thanking God they aren’t like other men—but not justified.
6. The “Life–Application” Sermon.
•This is the classic example of preaching the Christian instead of the Christ. Promoted by Rick Warren and others, these sermons are by far the most common kind of worse preaching. In this case, the preacher is convinced that the ultimate goal of preaching is to teach people how to LIVE. In the “Life–Application” sermon, Jesus becomes just anotherparadigm for you to live by.
Not Christian Preaching at All:
.There are sermons being preached from Christian pulpits that cannot be called Christian in any sense of the word; they can hardly he called sermons. They have neither Law nor Gospel, neither sin nor grace. They fall into the category of what the Bible calls “smooth talk and flattery,” “empty words,” “godless chatter” and “hollow philosophy.”
http://gospelcentric.org/2010/09/20/the-good-the-bad-the-ugly-contemporary-preaching/
http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/
Monday, September 27, 2010
9Marks Journal: The Awful Reality of Hell
Greetings Brothers,
9Marks Journal is always an informative and doctrinally conservative read. May I kindly recommend that you read through this issue and then do yoursel a favor by registering with their site to receieve future issues.
The people you lead will be glad you did.
For the Kings Honor!
rgh
http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/hell-remembering-awful-reality
Hell: Remembering the Awful Reality
By Jonathan Leeman
There’s Something Worse than Death
By Kevin DeYoung
The doctrine of hell is ballast for our ministries, which will help us sail straight toward our most urgent task: proclaiming the gospel.
Why Hell Is Integral to the Gospel
By Greg Gilbert
Some think that by minimizing or ignoring hell, they are making God more glorious and more loving. Far from it! The horror of what we have been saved from only intensifies the glory and wonder of our salvation.
What Then Shall We Preach on Hell?
By Sinclair Ferguson
Hell is an awful and overwhelming reality. Yet where Scripture speaks, pastors must not be silent. Here’s some practical help for this demanding calling.
http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/hell-remembering-awful-reality
9Marks Journal is always an informative and doctrinally conservative read. May I kindly recommend that you read through this issue and then do yoursel a favor by registering with their site to receieve future issues.
The people you lead will be glad you did.
For the Kings Honor!
rgh
http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/hell-remembering-awful-reality
Hell: Remembering the Awful Reality
By Jonathan Leeman
There’s Something Worse than Death
By Kevin DeYoung
The doctrine of hell is ballast for our ministries, which will help us sail straight toward our most urgent task: proclaiming the gospel.
Why Hell Is Integral to the Gospel
By Greg Gilbert
Some think that by minimizing or ignoring hell, they are making God more glorious and more loving. Far from it! The horror of what we have been saved from only intensifies the glory and wonder of our salvation.
What Then Shall We Preach on Hell?
By Sinclair Ferguson
Hell is an awful and overwhelming reality. Yet where Scripture speaks, pastors must not be silent. Here’s some practical help for this demanding calling.
http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/hell-remembering-awful-reality
93 Year Old Minister
Brothers,
This story was sent to me today and ministered grace. What will we say after 50 years of ministry life in the Kingdom.
rgh
While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.
After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down, he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....
When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials.. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me...the only thing that would comfort was this verse........ .....
"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
we are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me....
The Bible tells me so."
The old pastor stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose
the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during
a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they
knew it the best."
Here for you now is a Senior version of Jesus Loves Me":
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may
He'll be there to lead the way.
When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song..
Telling me in words so clear,
Have no fear, for I am near."
When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.
I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.
This story was sent to me today and ministered grace. What will we say after 50 years of ministry life in the Kingdom.
rgh
While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.
After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down, he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....
When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials.. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me...the only thing that would comfort was this verse........ .....
"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
we are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me....
The Bible tells me so."
The old pastor stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose
the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during
a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they
knew it the best."
Here for you now is a Senior version of Jesus Loves Me":
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may
He'll be there to lead the way.
When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song..
Telling me in words so clear,
Have no fear, for I am near."
When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.
I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Largest and Fastest Growing Churches In America
"In conjunction with LifeWay Research, Outreach Magazine has published its annual issue charting the 100 largest and fastest growing churches in America.
Looking at attendance figures from February and March this year research showed that attendance was up by over 75,000 between the 8,000 churches with supplied data.
Texas has the most churches on the list of fastest growers with fourteen.. Florida and Illinois each have with California at seven plus Georgia and Tennessee both with six
.
The youngest church on the Fastest-Growing list is second-ranked Experience Life of Lubbock, Texas, which opened in 2007.
The oldest church is 78th-ranked Mountain Christian Church of Joppa, Md., founded in 1824."
Top 5 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches
1. 12Stone Church, Lawrenceville, Ga., Kevin Myers (30 percent, +2,226)
2. Experience Life Church, Lubbock, Texas, Chris Galanos (60 percent, +1,061)
3. The Rock Church and World Outreach Center, San Bernardino, Calif., Jim Cobrae (25 percent, +2,646)
4. People’s Church, Oklahoma City, Okla., Herbert Cooper (58 percent, +1,085)
5. Faith Church of St. Louis, Fenton, Mo., David Crank (36 percent, +1,200)
Top 5 Largest U.S. Churches
1. Lakewood Church, Houston, Texas, Joel Osteen, (43,500)
2. North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, Ga., Andy Stanley (24,325)
3. Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, Ed Young Sr. (24,041)
4. Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Ill., Bill Hybels (24,000)
5. Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Ky., Dave Stone (19,230)
http://www.outreachmagazine.com/magazine/recent-issues/3762-The-2010-Outreach-100.html
http://www.everydaychristian.com/news/weblink/8351
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Looking at attendance figures from February and March this year research showed that attendance was up by over 75,000 between the 8,000 churches with supplied data.
Texas has the most churches on the list of fastest growers with fourteen.. Florida and Illinois each have with California at seven plus Georgia and Tennessee both with six
.
The youngest church on the Fastest-Growing list is second-ranked Experience Life of Lubbock, Texas, which opened in 2007.
The oldest church is 78th-ranked Mountain Christian Church of Joppa, Md., founded in 1824."
Top 5 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches
1. 12Stone Church, Lawrenceville, Ga., Kevin Myers (30 percent, +2,226)
2. Experience Life Church, Lubbock, Texas, Chris Galanos (60 percent, +1,061)
3. The Rock Church and World Outreach Center, San Bernardino, Calif., Jim Cobrae (25 percent, +2,646)
4. People’s Church, Oklahoma City, Okla., Herbert Cooper (58 percent, +1,085)
5. Faith Church of St. Louis, Fenton, Mo., David Crank (36 percent, +1,200)
Top 5 Largest U.S. Churches
1. Lakewood Church, Houston, Texas, Joel Osteen, (43,500)
2. North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, Ga., Andy Stanley (24,325)
3. Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, Ed Young Sr. (24,041)
4. Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Ill., Bill Hybels (24,000)
5. Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Ky., Dave Stone (19,230)
http://www.outreachmagazine.com/magazine/recent-issues/3762-The-2010-Outreach-100.html
http://www.everydaychristian.com/news/weblink/8351
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, September 13, 2010
Ordinary Time?
"There are actually two intervals of Ordinary Time within the Christian church year. The first interval begins after Epiphany (the arrival of the wise men to the birthplace of Jesus) and continues until Lent (the forty days leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus). The second interval of Ordinary Time begins at the conclusion of Pentecost (the coming of the Holy Spirit) and continues until Advent (the coming of the Christ child). We are currently living within this second interlude of Ordinary Time, waiting for the approach of Advent. But this is hardly the Church's way of saying the day before us is ordinary.
Far from announcing days that are commonplace or mundane, Ordinary Time is a season of anticipated living. The term actually comes from the word "ordinal," which means that it is time "counted" or "numbered." Though the Church's festive banners may have come down after the celebrations of Easter and Pentecost have ended, the startling realities of life under the banners of a resurrected King and the presence of a Holy Comforter have begun. The Christian, the church reminds the world, lives expectantly between the power of the resurrection and the assurance that Christ will come again—as a babe in a manger, as Christ the King.
Though Jewish feasts and holy days were a major part of the lives of Jesus and his disciples, the same was true for them as it is for the church: the majority of their time together was the time between holy days. Yet far from being described as the lull between holidays, the disciples' "ordinary time" was spent healing and feeding crowds, proclaiming the kingdom, raising the dead, and learning at the feet of the Son of God. More often than not, they were genuinely surprised by the one in their midst, no matter how ordinary the day. In the everyday lives of Christ's followers today there is a similar expectant quality within each moment. It is time counted; time that matters."
Ravi Zacharias Ministries
A Slice of Infinity
http://www.rzim.org/resources/read/asliceofinfinity.aspx
Far from announcing days that are commonplace or mundane, Ordinary Time is a season of anticipated living. The term actually comes from the word "ordinal," which means that it is time "counted" or "numbered." Though the Church's festive banners may have come down after the celebrations of Easter and Pentecost have ended, the startling realities of life under the banners of a resurrected King and the presence of a Holy Comforter have begun. The Christian, the church reminds the world, lives expectantly between the power of the resurrection and the assurance that Christ will come again—as a babe in a manger, as Christ the King.
Though Jewish feasts and holy days were a major part of the lives of Jesus and his disciples, the same was true for them as it is for the church: the majority of their time together was the time between holy days. Yet far from being described as the lull between holidays, the disciples' "ordinary time" was spent healing and feeding crowds, proclaiming the kingdom, raising the dead, and learning at the feet of the Son of God. More often than not, they were genuinely surprised by the one in their midst, no matter how ordinary the day. In the everyday lives of Christ's followers today there is a similar expectant quality within each moment. It is time counted; time that matters."
Ravi Zacharias Ministries
A Slice of Infinity
http://www.rzim.org/resources/read/asliceofinfinity.aspx
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Excellent Quotes
“Tradition is the fruit of the Spirit’s teaching activity from the ages as God’s people have sought understanding of Scripture. It is not infallible, but neither is it negligible, and we impoverish ourselves if we disregard it.”
—J.I. Packer, “Upholding the Unity of Scripture Today,” JETS 25 (1982): 414
“The best way to guard a true interpretation of Scripture, the Reformers insisted, was neither to naively embrace the infallibility of tradition, or the infallibility of the individual, but to recognize the communal interpretation of Scripture. The best way to ensure faithfulness to the text is to read it together, not only with the churches of our own time and place, but with the wider ‘communion of saints’ down through the age.”
—Michael Horton, “What Still Keeps Us Apart?”
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/09/10/just-me-and-my-bible-is-unbiblical
—J.I. Packer, “Upholding the Unity of Scripture Today,” JETS 25 (1982): 414
“The best way to guard a true interpretation of Scripture, the Reformers insisted, was neither to naively embrace the infallibility of tradition, or the infallibility of the individual, but to recognize the communal interpretation of Scripture. The best way to ensure faithfulness to the text is to read it together, not only with the churches of our own time and place, but with the wider ‘communion of saints’ down through the age.”
—Michael Horton, “What Still Keeps Us Apart?”
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/09/10/just-me-and-my-bible-is-unbiblical
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
A Template For Personal Prayer When Being Malciously Attacked
Psalm 7:1-11 is a great template for prayer when compromised men set themselves against us. The Psalmist maintains personal integrity by inviting divine scrutiny.
O LORD my God, in You I have taken refuge;
Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
Or he will tear my soul like a lion,
Dragging me away, while there is none to deliver.
O LORD my God, if I have done this,
If there is injustice in my hands,
If I have rewarded evil to my friend,
Or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary,
Let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it;
And let him trample my life down to the ground
And lay my glory in the dust.
Selah!
Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;
Lift up Yourself against the rage of my adversaries,
And arouse Yourself for me; You have appointed judgment.
Let the assembly of the peoples encompass You,
And over them return on high.
The LORD judges the peoples;
Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.
O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;
For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.
My shield is with God,
Who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.
O LORD my God, in You I have taken refuge;
Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
Or he will tear my soul like a lion,
Dragging me away, while there is none to deliver.
O LORD my God, if I have done this,
If there is injustice in my hands,
If I have rewarded evil to my friend,
Or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary,
Let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it;
And let him trample my life down to the ground
And lay my glory in the dust.
Selah!
Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;
Lift up Yourself against the rage of my adversaries,
And arouse Yourself for me; You have appointed judgment.
Let the assembly of the peoples encompass You,
And over them return on high.
The LORD judges the peoples;
Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.
O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;
For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.
My shield is with God,
Who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Jack Hayford: Making Integrity a Reality
All of us have been saddened to watch close friends and fellow ministers sell their spiritual birthright by sacrificing integrity for a morsel of momentary gain.
Jack Hayford has a great article in Charisma on the subject. Please check it out. Here is an except from Strang publication. Awesome!
rgh
"A heart of integrity is the birthright of the newborn believer. But like Esau's, it can be traded off by choices that indulge the world's or the flesh's immediate demands rather than respecting the worth of God's promise to give us lifelong, abiding blessing. It rises from in the life of a redeemed soul that chooses to learn and live in the fear of God; a life in Christ removed from condemnation and yielded to Him."
http://www.strangmail.com/sendstudio/display.php?M=506760&C=67858c8abc3d73a4945c573f8d0ee781&S=11052&L=9&N=7616
Jack Hayford has a great article in Charisma on the subject. Please check it out. Here is an except from Strang publication. Awesome!
rgh
"A heart of integrity is the birthright of the newborn believer. But like Esau's, it can be traded off by choices that indulge the world's or the flesh's immediate demands rather than respecting the worth of God's promise to give us lifelong, abiding blessing. It rises from in the life of a redeemed soul that chooses to learn and live in the fear of God; a life in Christ removed from condemnation and yielded to Him."
http://www.strangmail.com/sendstudio/display.php?M=506760&C=67858c8abc3d73a4945c573f8d0ee781&S=11052&L=9&N=7616
Saturday, August 28, 2010
I.R.S. Defines What A Church Is
Kevin DeYoung post: "The U.S. Court of Appeals recently ruled that religious groups who primarily offer radio and internet worship services do not meet the IRS definition of church. In his ruling, Federal Circuit Court Judge William Bryson emphasized the associational test which defines a church as an organization whose members meet regularly for worship. In addition, the IRS has outlined 14 criteria for determining what is and and is not a church."
DeYoung resourced a post by Thompson & Thompson professional corporation and law firm, providing tax exemption and a wide variety of transactional services for nonprofit clients.
Here is their post.
{RGH}
"....The IRS, which apparently is unconstrained by the First Amendment, has nonetheless ventured where angels fear to tread, and has established criteria which, in its view, define a church as follows:
1. A distinct legal existence
2. A recognized creed and form of worship
3. A definite and distinct ecclesiastical government
4. A formal code of doctrine and discipline
5. A distinct religious history
6. A membership not associated with any other church or denomination
7. An organization of ordained ministers
8. Ordained ministers selected after completing prescribed studies
9. A literature of its own
10. Established places of worship
11. Regular congregations
12. Regular religious services
13. Sunday schools for religious instruction of the young
14. Schools for the preparation of its ministers.
The Tax Court, which is apparently unconstrained by the IRS administrative criteria, has adopted its own view, consisting of most of the same criteria compacted into 7 or 8 points. See, e.g., Pusch v. Commissioner, 39 T.C.M. 838 (1980) or Chapman v. Commissioner 48 T.C. 358 (1967). In any event, not all of the 14 criteria must be met by every individual church, since only a substantial denomination will meet all of the criteria, and the IRS must allow for the existence of independent churches. Thus, there is substantial "wiggle room."
http://www.t-tlaw.com/cf-14.htm
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2010/08/27/theological-acumen-from-the-irs/
DeYoung resourced a post by Thompson & Thompson professional corporation and law firm, providing tax exemption and a wide variety of transactional services for nonprofit clients.
Here is their post.
{RGH}
"....The IRS, which apparently is unconstrained by the First Amendment, has nonetheless ventured where angels fear to tread, and has established criteria which, in its view, define a church as follows:
1. A distinct legal existence
2. A recognized creed and form of worship
3. A definite and distinct ecclesiastical government
4. A formal code of doctrine and discipline
5. A distinct religious history
6. A membership not associated with any other church or denomination
7. An organization of ordained ministers
8. Ordained ministers selected after completing prescribed studies
9. A literature of its own
10. Established places of worship
11. Regular congregations
12. Regular religious services
13. Sunday schools for religious instruction of the young
14. Schools for the preparation of its ministers.
The Tax Court, which is apparently unconstrained by the IRS administrative criteria, has adopted its own view, consisting of most of the same criteria compacted into 7 or 8 points. See, e.g., Pusch v. Commissioner, 39 T.C.M. 838 (1980) or Chapman v. Commissioner 48 T.C. 358 (1967). In any event, not all of the 14 criteria must be met by every individual church, since only a substantial denomination will meet all of the criteria, and the IRS must allow for the existence of independent churches. Thus, there is substantial "wiggle room."
http://www.t-tlaw.com/cf-14.htm
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2010/08/27/theological-acumen-from-the-irs/
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Pure Life Minitries: Pastors Admit Struggling With Porn
I am absolutely speechless. These glaring stats from Pure Life Ministries demonstrate where we are in the church. It's another sad day in the Kingdom.
[rgh]
"The statistics say that 50 percent of Christian men are struggling, 20 percent of Christian women are struggling, and 47 percent of families say pornography is a problem in their home," he reports.
...what is perhaps even more surprising is the truth about pastors as "37 percent admitted a struggle with pornography."
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=1127154
http://www.purelifeministries.org/speaking-ministry
[rgh]
"The statistics say that 50 percent of Christian men are struggling, 20 percent of Christian women are struggling, and 47 percent of families say pornography is a problem in their home," he reports.
...what is perhaps even more surprising is the truth about pastors as "37 percent admitted a struggle with pornography."
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=1127154
http://www.purelifeministries.org/speaking-ministry
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Southern Baptist Resolution On Protecting Children From Abuse
Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting
Resolution No. 7
WHEREAS, The Bible stresses the protection of and care for children, as evidenced by: its condemnation of the ancient pagan practice of child sacrifice (Leviticus 20:1-7; Ezekiel 16:20-21); its special regard for orphans in the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 24, 26); and the teaching of Jesus, who welcomed and valued little children (Matthew 18:1-5; 19:14); and
WHEREAS, Faithful Christians throughout history have risen to the defense of children, as seen in the Early Church’s protest of the practice of “child exposure”—in which unwanted infants were abandoned and left to die; the work of nineteenth-century Christians such as Lord Shaftesbury and others, who campaigned against child slavery and enacted child labor laws; and the diligence of those who defend the right to life of unborn children today; and
WHEREAS, Violent physical and sexual crimes against children have reached alarming levels in our nation, thus showing child abuse to be a leading issue requiring the urgent response of God’s people; and
WHEREAS, This abuse has occurred too often in churches and homes—which ought to be places of shelter and safety—and it has happened at the hands of family, educators, ordained ministers, and ministry workers—who ought to be trusted persons of authority; and
WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention in 2002: called Southern Baptists to practice integrity and fidelity to God; urged accountability among spiritual leaders to the highest standards of Christian moral practice; urged seminaries and related educational institutions to emphasize ministerial integrity; encouraged religious bodies to rid their ranks of predatory ministers; called on civil authorities to punish to the fullest extent of the law sexual abuse among clergy and counselors; called on our churches to discipline those guilty of any sexual abuse as well as to cooperate with civil authorities in the prosecution of those cases; and urged our churches to offer support, compassion, and biblical counseling to victims and their families; and
WHEREAS, LifeWay Christian Resources and many state conventions offer extensive resources designed to assist churches in addressing this issue; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in San Antonio, Texas, June 12-13, 2007, express our deep level of moral outrage and concern at any instance of child victimization; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we implore Southern Baptist churches to utilize materials from LifeWay Christian Resources and state conventions and other relevant research that help churches prevent child abuse; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we strongly recommend that Southern Baptist churches and Convention entities respond to any suspicions or allegations of child abuse in a timely and forthright manner; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptist churches and Convention entities to exercise moral stewardship by observing responsible employment practices, including performing criminal background checks on all ministers, employees, and volunteers; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we renounce individuals who commit heinous acts against children; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we renounce individuals, churches, or other religious bodies that cover up, ignore, or otherwise contribute to or condone the abuse of children; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we pray for righteousness and justice to prevail in our land and intercede on behalf of victimized children, asking God to heal their deep emotional and physical wounds, grow them into mature and healthy adults, and stop the cycle of abuse from repeating itself in another generation.
http://ministry-to-children.com/southern-baptist-convention-2007-resolution-on-protecting-children-from-abuse/
Resolution No. 7
WHEREAS, The Bible stresses the protection of and care for children, as evidenced by: its condemnation of the ancient pagan practice of child sacrifice (Leviticus 20:1-7; Ezekiel 16:20-21); its special regard for orphans in the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 24, 26); and the teaching of Jesus, who welcomed and valued little children (Matthew 18:1-5; 19:14); and
WHEREAS, Faithful Christians throughout history have risen to the defense of children, as seen in the Early Church’s protest of the practice of “child exposure”—in which unwanted infants were abandoned and left to die; the work of nineteenth-century Christians such as Lord Shaftesbury and others, who campaigned against child slavery and enacted child labor laws; and the diligence of those who defend the right to life of unborn children today; and
WHEREAS, Violent physical and sexual crimes against children have reached alarming levels in our nation, thus showing child abuse to be a leading issue requiring the urgent response of God’s people; and
WHEREAS, This abuse has occurred too often in churches and homes—which ought to be places of shelter and safety—and it has happened at the hands of family, educators, ordained ministers, and ministry workers—who ought to be trusted persons of authority; and
WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention in 2002: called Southern Baptists to practice integrity and fidelity to God; urged accountability among spiritual leaders to the highest standards of Christian moral practice; urged seminaries and related educational institutions to emphasize ministerial integrity; encouraged religious bodies to rid their ranks of predatory ministers; called on civil authorities to punish to the fullest extent of the law sexual abuse among clergy and counselors; called on our churches to discipline those guilty of any sexual abuse as well as to cooperate with civil authorities in the prosecution of those cases; and urged our churches to offer support, compassion, and biblical counseling to victims and their families; and
WHEREAS, LifeWay Christian Resources and many state conventions offer extensive resources designed to assist churches in addressing this issue; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in San Antonio, Texas, June 12-13, 2007, express our deep level of moral outrage and concern at any instance of child victimization; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we implore Southern Baptist churches to utilize materials from LifeWay Christian Resources and state conventions and other relevant research that help churches prevent child abuse; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we strongly recommend that Southern Baptist churches and Convention entities respond to any suspicions or allegations of child abuse in a timely and forthright manner; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptist churches and Convention entities to exercise moral stewardship by observing responsible employment practices, including performing criminal background checks on all ministers, employees, and volunteers; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we renounce individuals who commit heinous acts against children; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we renounce individuals, churches, or other religious bodies that cover up, ignore, or otherwise contribute to or condone the abuse of children; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we pray for righteousness and justice to prevail in our land and intercede on behalf of victimized children, asking God to heal their deep emotional and physical wounds, grow them into mature and healthy adults, and stop the cycle of abuse from repeating itself in another generation.
http://ministry-to-children.com/southern-baptist-convention-2007-resolution-on-protecting-children-from-abuse/
Monday, August 9, 2010
Clergy Suffer From Hypertension and Depression More Than Most Americans
The New York Times gives a sobering report about the pressures associated with our ministerial vocation. Read this and you will discover the reason I now take a cruise every chance I get as well as why I have absolutely abandoned the institutional churches "ABC's competetion model". [attendance-buildings-cash]
[rgh]
"The findings have surfaced with ominous regularity over the last few years, and with little notice: Members of the clergy now suffer from obesity, hypertension and depression at rates higher than most Americans. In the last decade, their use of antidepressants has risen, while their life expectancy has fallen. Many would change jobs if they could."
"Public health experts who have led the studies caution that there is no simple explanation of why so many members of a profession once associated with rosy-cheeked longevity have become so unhealthy and unhappy."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/nyregion/02burnout.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1&hp
[rgh]
"The findings have surfaced with ominous regularity over the last few years, and with little notice: Members of the clergy now suffer from obesity, hypertension and depression at rates higher than most Americans. In the last decade, their use of antidepressants has risen, while their life expectancy has fallen. Many would change jobs if they could."
"Public health experts who have led the studies caution that there is no simple explanation of why so many members of a profession once associated with rosy-cheeked longevity have become so unhealthy and unhappy."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/nyregion/02burnout.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1&hp
Friday, August 6, 2010
The Pastor's Family and Church Involvement
SBC Voices posted this "relevant" article that addresses every leader in the local church. I've extracted two of the models [family commitment vs laissez faire]relating to family involvement in the life of the local church.
For 38 years I have personally advocated "the family commitment model" for ministry team members,elders,deacons and leaders. This mean't having to exhort,reprove and and even rebuke at times those who drifted toward the laissez-faire model.
Even worse,in recent years, I had the most unfortunate experience of serving with a "Pastor" and some of his "elders" who actually dumbed down the commitment level for their own family while publicly advocating a higher standard for all the other families in the church. Obviously, we had some serious "face time" over such flagrant hypocrisy.
[rgh]
"When the only one of a family who shows up on Sunday receives a check for it, the people in the pews wonder why they bothered to show up and get told about how much more involved they need to be each week."
>The Family Commitment Model: The pastor’s family is committed as members to the church. They attend with the same involvement that would be considered “faithful” for a regular member (aka not gone for soccer 6 months of the year), and are allowed to find their own ministry niche. The church is taught not to freak out if the kids aren’t at the 6 am senior adult prayer breakfast. The wife is free to use her gifts and talents within... the church as she deems appropriate.
Positive: Church commitment and involvement is kept serious for the family. Within that commitment, there is freedom for individual family members to find their place. Pastor’s family can set model for how other busy non-paid church members can reasonably be involved....
>The Laissez-faire Model: For those who slept during economics class, laissez-faire basically means “hands-off.” In this model the pastor adopts a “hands-off” model towards his family’s church involvement. If they want to go, he’ll give them a ride, but he’s not twisting arms or waking people up on a Sunday morning. If they come, they won’t be asked to do much more than fill a pew. Forget ministry involvement; if they want his wife to be involved, they should pay her! And of course, if Junior joins one of those traveling carnivals known as “tournament teams”, then the wife and kids can disappear for 6 months and no one will care as much. If the family is tired on Sunday night, then dad will show up and preach, but it’s Home Makeover time for everyone else.
Positive: Kids can never complain about being forced to go to church. If they are involved it is a credit to their personal interest and effort. Negative: Kids can never complain about being forced to go to church. Tell me which 5 year-old will set their alarm and get themselves ready for church each week, especially if they find out Spongebob is on tv. Some forced activity is healthy for children. And usually this “non-committal” kind of model winds up leading kids to other commitments in place of church, often still not at their own choosing. The pastor’s family may not hate him for taking them to church each week, but they might resent him for sending them to softball games all weekend in 100-degree heat. Dad and family may end up living two totally separate lives. It also sends the message to other church members that if one isn’t paid to be at church, then showing up isn’t important. When the only one of a family who shows up on Sunday receives a check for it, the people in the pews wonder why they bothered to show up and get told about how much more involved they need to be each week.
http://sbcvoices.com/the-pastors-family-and-church-involvement
For 38 years I have personally advocated "the family commitment model" for ministry team members,elders,deacons and leaders. This mean't having to exhort,reprove and and even rebuke at times those who drifted toward the laissez-faire model.
Even worse,in recent years, I had the most unfortunate experience of serving with a "Pastor" and some of his "elders" who actually dumbed down the commitment level for their own family while publicly advocating a higher standard for all the other families in the church. Obviously, we had some serious "face time" over such flagrant hypocrisy.
[rgh]
"When the only one of a family who shows up on Sunday receives a check for it, the people in the pews wonder why they bothered to show up and get told about how much more involved they need to be each week."
>The Family Commitment Model: The pastor’s family is committed as members to the church. They attend with the same involvement that would be considered “faithful” for a regular member (aka not gone for soccer 6 months of the year), and are allowed to find their own ministry niche. The church is taught not to freak out if the kids aren’t at the 6 am senior adult prayer breakfast. The wife is free to use her gifts and talents within... the church as she deems appropriate.
Positive: Church commitment and involvement is kept serious for the family. Within that commitment, there is freedom for individual family members to find their place. Pastor’s family can set model for how other busy non-paid church members can reasonably be involved....
>The Laissez-faire Model: For those who slept during economics class, laissez-faire basically means “hands-off.” In this model the pastor adopts a “hands-off” model towards his family’s church involvement. If they want to go, he’ll give them a ride, but he’s not twisting arms or waking people up on a Sunday morning. If they come, they won’t be asked to do much more than fill a pew. Forget ministry involvement; if they want his wife to be involved, they should pay her! And of course, if Junior joins one of those traveling carnivals known as “tournament teams”, then the wife and kids can disappear for 6 months and no one will care as much. If the family is tired on Sunday night, then dad will show up and preach, but it’s Home Makeover time for everyone else.
Positive: Kids can never complain about being forced to go to church. If they are involved it is a credit to their personal interest and effort. Negative: Kids can never complain about being forced to go to church. Tell me which 5 year-old will set their alarm and get themselves ready for church each week, especially if they find out Spongebob is on tv. Some forced activity is healthy for children. And usually this “non-committal” kind of model winds up leading kids to other commitments in place of church, often still not at their own choosing. The pastor’s family may not hate him for taking them to church each week, but they might resent him for sending them to softball games all weekend in 100-degree heat. Dad and family may end up living two totally separate lives. It also sends the message to other church members that if one isn’t paid to be at church, then showing up isn’t important. When the only one of a family who shows up on Sunday receives a check for it, the people in the pews wonder why they bothered to show up and get told about how much more involved they need to be each week.
http://sbcvoices.com/the-pastors-family-and-church-involvement
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Five Kinds Of Deep Preaching
How many times have we heard parishoners say they are not being spiritually "fed" by the preaching in their home church? Scott Chapman does us all a favor by addressing the issue in his article,"Five Kinds of Deep Preaching".
Lets see how each of us fare by placing Chapman's grid over the message we last preached. Read the entire article for an explanation of his points.
[RGH]
>Biblical Depth
>Intellectual Depth
>Experiential Depth
>Cultural Depth
>Application Depth
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/preachingworship/preaching/fivekindspreaching.html?start=1
Lets see how each of us fare by placing Chapman's grid over the message we last preached. Read the entire article for an explanation of his points.
[RGH]
>Biblical Depth
>Intellectual Depth
>Experiential Depth
>Cultural Depth
>Application Depth
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/preachingworship/preaching/fivekindspreaching.html?start=1
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Offending the Bible- Believing Religious
Ouuuuuuuuch! Tim Keller is a prophetic truth teller in this assessment.
[rgh[
"Jesus' teaching consistently attracted the irreligious while offending the Bible-believing, religious people of His day.
However, in the main, our churches today do not have this effect.
The kind of outsiders Jesus attracted do not bother coming to our churches, even our most avant-garde ones. We tend to draw buttoned-down, moralistic people. The licentious and liberated or the broken and marginal avoid church.
That can only mean one thing.
If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then we must not be declaring the same message that Jesus did."
- Dr. Tim Keller
http://jonathanherron.typepad.com/jonathan_herron_dot_com/2010/06/i-heart-tim-keller.html
[rgh[
"Jesus' teaching consistently attracted the irreligious while offending the Bible-believing, religious people of His day.
However, in the main, our churches today do not have this effect.
The kind of outsiders Jesus attracted do not bother coming to our churches, even our most avant-garde ones. We tend to draw buttoned-down, moralistic people. The licentious and liberated or the broken and marginal avoid church.
That can only mean one thing.
If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then we must not be declaring the same message that Jesus did."
- Dr. Tim Keller
http://jonathanherron.typepad.com/jonathan_herron_dot_com/2010/06/i-heart-tim-keller.html
Monday, July 5, 2010
Churches Grapple With Welcoming Sex Offenders
Back in May I did a post about the conflicting topic of sex offenders that is increasingly confronting the local church. While many ministers would like to be simply dismissive of the issue or just flatly deny that it is a pressing issue for congregants, our culture is unwilling to do either. For this I am truly grateful.
The Saturday headline of the Washington Post read,"Churches grapple with whether to welcome convicted sex offenders". My brothers, we Ignore this issue to the peril of the innocent and vulnerable among us. Note that I took the liberty to highlight two significant portions for emphasis.
[rgh]
"All are welcome" is a common phrase on many a church sign and Web site. But what happens when a convicted sex offender is at the door?
Church officials and legal advocates are grappling with how -- and whether -- people who have been convicted of sex crimes should be included in U.S. congregations, especially when children are present:
-- Last month, a lawyer argued in the New Hampshire Supreme Court for a convicted sex offender who wants to attend a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation with a chaperone.
"What we argued is that the right to worship is a fundamental right and the state can only burden it if it has compelling interest to do so, and then only in a way that is narrowly constructed," said Barbara Keshen, a New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union attorney for Jonathan Perfetto, who pleaded guilty in 2002 to 61 counts of possessing child pornography.
-- On Monday, the Seventh-day Adventist Church added language to its manual saying that sexual abuse perpetrators can be restored to members only if they do not have unsupervised contact with children and are not "in a position that would encourage vulnerable individuals to trust them implicitly." Garrett Caldwell, a spokesman for the denomination, said the new wording in the global guidelines tries to strike a balance between protecting congregants and supporting the religious freedom of abusers in "a manifestation of God's grace."
-- On Thursday, a law took effect in Georgia that permits convicted sex offenders to volunteer in churches if they are isolated from children. Permitted activities include singing in the choir and taking part in Bible studies and bake sales.
The Rev. Madison Shockley, pastor of Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad, Calif., which publicly grappled with whether to accept a convicted sex offender three years ago, said he hears from churches several times a month seeking advice on how to handle such situations.
"The key lesson for churches is this: The policy, however it winds up, must be a consensus of the congregation," Shockley said. "I talked to so many pastors who decided they're going to make the decision because they know what's theologically and spiritually right -- and that's absolutely the wrong thing to do."
Shockley's church will soon commission a minister to address the prevention of child sex abuse; the church also distributes a 20-page policy on protecting children and dealing with sex offenders....
Read the full article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/02/AR2010070205128.html?hpid=sec-religion
The Saturday headline of the Washington Post read,"Churches grapple with whether to welcome convicted sex offenders". My brothers, we Ignore this issue to the peril of the innocent and vulnerable among us. Note that I took the liberty to highlight two significant portions for emphasis.
[rgh]
"All are welcome" is a common phrase on many a church sign and Web site. But what happens when a convicted sex offender is at the door?
Church officials and legal advocates are grappling with how -- and whether -- people who have been convicted of sex crimes should be included in U.S. congregations, especially when children are present:
-- Last month, a lawyer argued in the New Hampshire Supreme Court for a convicted sex offender who wants to attend a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation with a chaperone.
"What we argued is that the right to worship is a fundamental right and the state can only burden it if it has compelling interest to do so, and then only in a way that is narrowly constructed," said Barbara Keshen, a New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union attorney for Jonathan Perfetto, who pleaded guilty in 2002 to 61 counts of possessing child pornography.
-- On Monday, the Seventh-day Adventist Church added language to its manual saying that sexual abuse perpetrators can be restored to members only if they do not have unsupervised contact with children and are not "in a position that would encourage vulnerable individuals to trust them implicitly." Garrett Caldwell, a spokesman for the denomination, said the new wording in the global guidelines tries to strike a balance between protecting congregants and supporting the religious freedom of abusers in "a manifestation of God's grace."
-- On Thursday, a law took effect in Georgia that permits convicted sex offenders to volunteer in churches if they are isolated from children. Permitted activities include singing in the choir and taking part in Bible studies and bake sales.
The Rev. Madison Shockley, pastor of Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad, Calif., which publicly grappled with whether to accept a convicted sex offender three years ago, said he hears from churches several times a month seeking advice on how to handle such situations.
"The key lesson for churches is this: The policy, however it winds up, must be a consensus of the congregation," Shockley said. "I talked to so many pastors who decided they're going to make the decision because they know what's theologically and spiritually right -- and that's absolutely the wrong thing to do."
Shockley's church will soon commission a minister to address the prevention of child sex abuse; the church also distributes a 20-page policy on protecting children and dealing with sex offenders....
Read the full article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/02/AR2010070205128.html?hpid=sec-religion
Equipping The Saints With Focused Gender Distinction
The new 9Marks eJournal addresses relevant topics associated with Pastoring Women.Here are some of the highlighs and click on thier site for the full journal.
[rgh]
> Why Complementarianism is Crucial to Discipleship
> How Pastors Can Equip Women for Ministry
> Older Women Discipling Younger Women
> Wise Words for Young Mothers
http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/pastoring-women
[rgh]
> Why Complementarianism is Crucial to Discipleship
> How Pastors Can Equip Women for Ministry
> Older Women Discipling Younger Women
> Wise Words for Young Mothers
http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/pastoring-women
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Why Redeemed Family of Ministers Advocates Complementarianism
TG4 leaders Mark Dever, J. Ligon Duncan III, Albert Mohler Jr. and C.J. Mahaney all are committed complementarians. The statement below was written by J. Ligon Duncan, giving T4G's rationale for embracing complementarianism. To which we say "AMEN!"
One, the denial of complementarianism undermines the church's practical embrace of the authority of Scripture (thus eventually and inevitably harming the church's witness to the Gospel). The gymnastics required to get from "I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man," in the Bible, to "I do allow a woman to teach and to exercise authority over a man" in the actual practice of the local church, are devastating to the functional authority of the Scripture in the life of the people of God.
Two, and following on the first point, the church's confidence in the clarity of Scripture is undermined, because if you can get egalitarianism from the Bible, you can get anything from the Bible. Paul may be excruciating to read aloud and hear read in a dominant feminist culture, but he's not obscure in his position! In 1 Tim 2:11-12 he says, "A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet." Elsewhere, in 1 Cor 14:34-35, we find the confirming parallel to this previous pronouncement: "The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church." These verses (and many others) are uncomfortably clear and certainly politically incorrect, and though some of us may be consoled by "exegesis" that shows that they don't really mean that women can't preach, teach, rule in the church, yet there remains this nagging feeling that such interpretive moves are the victory of present opinion over clear but unpopular biblical teaching. Cultural cooption of the church's reading of the Bible robs the church's ability to speak prophetically to the culture and to live distinctively in the culture, which in turns undermines the church's Gospel witness.
Three, because the very ideal of equality championed by egalitarianism (whether secular or Christian) is a permutation of a particular strand of Enlightenment thought, and because this particular ideal of equality is actually alien to the biblical anthropology and ethic, whenever and wherever it is read into the text of Scripture and its principles are worked out consistently, there is a competition with a biblical view of manhood and womanhood. For instance, try to find this view of equality in Genesis 1-it's just not there. Consequently, commitment to evangelical egalitarianism opens the door for two competing but incompatible ethical norms and ideals within the individual, family and church. If the egalitarian impulse wins out, the church is compromised precisely at the point where paganism is assaulting the church today. For, as Peter Jones has brilliantly demonstrated, paganism wants to get rid of Christian monotheism by getting rid of the Creator-creature distinction. And one way paganism likes to do that is through gender confusion-hence, the bi-sexual shaman, the sacred feminine, goddess worship, etc. Paganism understands that one of the best ways to prepare the way for pagan polytheistic monism over against the transcendent Creator God of the Bible is to undermine that God's image in the distinctiveness of male and female, and in the picture of Christ and the church in marital role distinctions, and in the male eldership of the church. Egalitarianism is just not equipped for that fight, and in fact simply capitulates to it.
Four, when the biblical distinctions of maleness and femaleness are denied, Christian discipleship is seriously damaged because there can be no talk of cultivating distinctively masculine Christian virtue or feminine Christian virtue. Yes, there are many Christian ethical norms that are equally directed and applicable to male and female disciples, but there are also many ethical directives in the NT enjoined distinctly upon Christian men as men and Christian women as women. Furthermore, the NT (and the Bible as a whole) recognizes that men and women are uniquely vulnerable to different kinds of temptations, and thus need gender-specific encouragement in battling against them in the course of Christian discipleship. Evangelical egalitarianism, fearful as it is that any acknowledged difference between men and women could set the stage for inequality of role or status, is utterly unprepared to help the believer with these distinctive commands or temptations.
Egalitarian discipleship of Christian men and women has, then, an inherent androgynous bias. But that is not how God made us. He made us male and female. Thus, Paul warns Christian men against the soul-peril of "effeminacy" without in any way criticizing (and, indeed, admiring and encouraging) the "femininity" of women.
We need masculine male Christians and feminine female Christians, and that kind of discipleship requires an understanding of and commitment to complementarianism. Hence, denial of complementarianism compromises Gospel discipleship.
For these reasons and more, I think we were right to "deny that any church can confuse these issues without damaging its witness to the Gospel."
http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/Why-Together-for-the-Gospel-Embraces-Complementarianism?
One, the denial of complementarianism undermines the church's practical embrace of the authority of Scripture (thus eventually and inevitably harming the church's witness to the Gospel). The gymnastics required to get from "I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man," in the Bible, to "I do allow a woman to teach and to exercise authority over a man" in the actual practice of the local church, are devastating to the functional authority of the Scripture in the life of the people of God.
Two, and following on the first point, the church's confidence in the clarity of Scripture is undermined, because if you can get egalitarianism from the Bible, you can get anything from the Bible. Paul may be excruciating to read aloud and hear read in a dominant feminist culture, but he's not obscure in his position! In 1 Tim 2:11-12 he says, "A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet." Elsewhere, in 1 Cor 14:34-35, we find the confirming parallel to this previous pronouncement: "The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church." These verses (and many others) are uncomfortably clear and certainly politically incorrect, and though some of us may be consoled by "exegesis" that shows that they don't really mean that women can't preach, teach, rule in the church, yet there remains this nagging feeling that such interpretive moves are the victory of present opinion over clear but unpopular biblical teaching. Cultural cooption of the church's reading of the Bible robs the church's ability to speak prophetically to the culture and to live distinctively in the culture, which in turns undermines the church's Gospel witness.
Three, because the very ideal of equality championed by egalitarianism (whether secular or Christian) is a permutation of a particular strand of Enlightenment thought, and because this particular ideal of equality is actually alien to the biblical anthropology and ethic, whenever and wherever it is read into the text of Scripture and its principles are worked out consistently, there is a competition with a biblical view of manhood and womanhood. For instance, try to find this view of equality in Genesis 1-it's just not there. Consequently, commitment to evangelical egalitarianism opens the door for two competing but incompatible ethical norms and ideals within the individual, family and church. If the egalitarian impulse wins out, the church is compromised precisely at the point where paganism is assaulting the church today. For, as Peter Jones has brilliantly demonstrated, paganism wants to get rid of Christian monotheism by getting rid of the Creator-creature distinction. And one way paganism likes to do that is through gender confusion-hence, the bi-sexual shaman, the sacred feminine, goddess worship, etc. Paganism understands that one of the best ways to prepare the way for pagan polytheistic monism over against the transcendent Creator God of the Bible is to undermine that God's image in the distinctiveness of male and female, and in the picture of Christ and the church in marital role distinctions, and in the male eldership of the church. Egalitarianism is just not equipped for that fight, and in fact simply capitulates to it.
Four, when the biblical distinctions of maleness and femaleness are denied, Christian discipleship is seriously damaged because there can be no talk of cultivating distinctively masculine Christian virtue or feminine Christian virtue. Yes, there are many Christian ethical norms that are equally directed and applicable to male and female disciples, but there are also many ethical directives in the NT enjoined distinctly upon Christian men as men and Christian women as women. Furthermore, the NT (and the Bible as a whole) recognizes that men and women are uniquely vulnerable to different kinds of temptations, and thus need gender-specific encouragement in battling against them in the course of Christian discipleship. Evangelical egalitarianism, fearful as it is that any acknowledged difference between men and women could set the stage for inequality of role or status, is utterly unprepared to help the believer with these distinctive commands or temptations.
Egalitarian discipleship of Christian men and women has, then, an inherent androgynous bias. But that is not how God made us. He made us male and female. Thus, Paul warns Christian men against the soul-peril of "effeminacy" without in any way criticizing (and, indeed, admiring and encouraging) the "femininity" of women.
We need masculine male Christians and feminine female Christians, and that kind of discipleship requires an understanding of and commitment to complementarianism. Hence, denial of complementarianism compromises Gospel discipleship.
For these reasons and more, I think we were right to "deny that any church can confuse these issues without damaging its witness to the Gospel."
http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/Why-Together-for-the-Gospel-Embraces-Complementarianism?
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Unhealthy Church Environments
Many authors and researchers have attempted to describe unhealthy church patterns and the leaders who create them. One of the major points for concern involves the critical issue of honest communication.
Charactered leaders advocate open, transparent and straight forward communication throughout the ministry.They promote a culture of accountability by inviting any and all questions relating to personal, ministerial and leadership integrity. These will be responded to with "straight up" answers while purposefully affirming the congregants asking the questions. Anything less than this should give every member pause about the health of the church and the trustworthiness of it's leadership.
Therefore, after reviewing several of the more prominent writings on the subject, I have extracted their substantive comments on the subject.
[rgh]
>Communications are ambiguous, events
are "spun" the way the leadership wants to present them. Pertinent information is
hidden from members. Straight answers are not given; different people may be told
different things.
Finances may be kept secret, with misleading financial statements that hide where
the money really goes.
Frankly, there is so much dishonesty in unhealthy... churches that people may not
even know they are being dishonest. The ability to "spin" things to make the system
look better or to get people to conform becomes a second language....
>People who identify problems are viewed as a threat. They are marginalized,
stigmatized and cast out of the system.
>Thought Control....simple answers to complex questions, and using "loaded language"
to shunt the thinking process.
> Their communication is not straight. Their speech becomes especially vague and
confusing when they are defending themselves.
>Information Control- information enables people to make decisions; hiding
information prevents sound decision making and leads to manipulation.
>Secretive- When you see people...being secretive-- watch out. People don't hide
what is appropriate; they hide what is inappropriate
Charactered leaders advocate open, transparent and straight forward communication throughout the ministry.They promote a culture of accountability by inviting any and all questions relating to personal, ministerial and leadership integrity. These will be responded to with "straight up" answers while purposefully affirming the congregants asking the questions. Anything less than this should give every member pause about the health of the church and the trustworthiness of it's leadership.
Therefore, after reviewing several of the more prominent writings on the subject, I have extracted their substantive comments on the subject.
[rgh]
>Communications are ambiguous, events
are "spun" the way the leadership wants to present them. Pertinent information is
hidden from members. Straight answers are not given; different people may be told
different things.
Finances may be kept secret, with misleading financial statements that hide where
the money really goes.
Frankly, there is so much dishonesty in unhealthy... churches that people may not
even know they are being dishonest. The ability to "spin" things to make the system
look better or to get people to conform becomes a second language....
>People who identify problems are viewed as a threat. They are marginalized,
stigmatized and cast out of the system.
>Thought Control....simple answers to complex questions, and using "loaded language"
to shunt the thinking process.
> Their communication is not straight. Their speech becomes especially vague and
confusing when they are defending themselves.
>Information Control- information enables people to make decisions; hiding
information prevents sound decision making and leads to manipulation.
>Secretive- When you see people...being secretive-- watch out. People don't hide
what is appropriate; they hide what is inappropriate
Ken Blue
Healing Spiritual Abuse
David Johnson, Jeff VanVonderen
The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse
Steven Hassan
Combatting Cult Mind Control
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Who Tithes These Days?
Scott McKnight shares,"You might be surprised what the numbers tell us about who and who doesn't tithe. In "What Americans Really Believe" we get a pretty full disclosure of some significant facts about tithing."
Fact #1: poor people are more likely to tithe and give a higher percent of their income that wealthy people. Thus, Americans who make 10,000 or less give 11.2% of their income, while those who make 150,000+ give 2.7% of their income. There is a basic descent of percent of income given from the poor to the wealthy.
Fact #2: denominationally, the spectrum moves from Catholics (2.2%) to Lib Prots (3.0) to Cons Prots (5.5) to Black Prots (5.7) to Mormons (7.1) in percent of income given to the church. The percent giving a tithe goes like this: RCC (2.5), Libs (5.9), Cons (14.4), Black Prots (13.5) to Mormons (34.0).
Fact #3: those who tithe or who give more correlate with such things as church attendance.
After the jump, two more interesting facts:
Fact: widows and widowers are the most likely to tithe: 20.1% widows vs. 16.7 widowers tithe.
Fact: older people are more likely to tithe. The average age of an American tither is 54.1 yrs.
Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/2010/06/who-tithes-these-days.html#ixzz0qTumS7EC
Fact #1: poor people are more likely to tithe and give a higher percent of their income that wealthy people. Thus, Americans who make 10,000 or less give 11.2% of their income, while those who make 150,000+ give 2.7% of their income. There is a basic descent of percent of income given from the poor to the wealthy.
Fact #2: denominationally, the spectrum moves from Catholics (2.2%) to Lib Prots (3.0) to Cons Prots (5.5) to Black Prots (5.7) to Mormons (7.1) in percent of income given to the church. The percent giving a tithe goes like this: RCC (2.5), Libs (5.9), Cons (14.4), Black Prots (13.5) to Mormons (34.0).
Fact #3: those who tithe or who give more correlate with such things as church attendance.
After the jump, two more interesting facts:
Fact: widows and widowers are the most likely to tithe: 20.1% widows vs. 16.7 widowers tithe.
Fact: older people are more likely to tithe. The average age of an American tither is 54.1 yrs.
Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/2010/06/who-tithes-these-days.html#ixzz0qTumS7EC
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Many Ministers- Few Churches
Wow! Ministry Today Magazine reveals that Protestant Ministers are having a difficult time with opportunities in local church service. Seems there are approximately two ministers for every congregation.
I personally think this dilemma could be greatly reduced through the formation of missional church palnting teams.
RGH
"There are more than 600,000 ministers in the United States, but only 338,000 churches, according to the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. This is causing a glut of qualified but unemployed pastors, especially as church attendance in many mainline denominations continues to slide.
Smaller congregations are being hit particularly hard because they typically have more trouble finding funds during bad economic times. Many are now unable to afford a full-time minister. With the average church attendance in the United States at 75 people, these small churches are now being forced to either pay their minister less or use part-time clergy.
"There's lots of really good pastors out there who are having a terrible time," Phil Leftwich, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee, told The Tennessean. Among Presbyterians, there are four pastors looking for work for every one job opening."
http://www.ministrytodaymag.com/index.php/ministry-news/65-news-main/18927-tough-job-market-for-protestant-pastors
I personally think this dilemma could be greatly reduced through the formation of missional church palnting teams.
RGH
"There are more than 600,000 ministers in the United States, but only 338,000 churches, according to the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. This is causing a glut of qualified but unemployed pastors, especially as church attendance in many mainline denominations continues to slide.
Smaller congregations are being hit particularly hard because they typically have more trouble finding funds during bad economic times. Many are now unable to afford a full-time minister. With the average church attendance in the United States at 75 people, these small churches are now being forced to either pay their minister less or use part-time clergy.
"There's lots of really good pastors out there who are having a terrible time," Phil Leftwich, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee, told The Tennessean. Among Presbyterians, there are four pastors looking for work for every one job opening."
http://www.ministrytodaymag.com/index.php/ministry-news/65-news-main/18927-tough-job-market-for-protestant-pastors
Monday, June 7, 2010
Beware When all Men Speak Well Of You
Paul the Apostle was more than aware that following Christ would put him in conflict with the unrighteous and unprincipled.Yet, many ministers are satisfied today to cower in the fear of man and to compromise character through people pleasing.
All of this in order to avoid conflict.
In fact,Peter Robinson, associate director at the Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law made an alarming discovery. After working with hundreds of ministers, he found that a pastor's preferred option of dealing with church conflict is “avoidance".
Seems Charles Spurgeon had a more charactered and biblical approach to the ministry. Please God and leave the consequences to the final day!
rgh
"A Christian minister must expect to lose his repute among men. He must be willing to suffer every reproach for Christ’s sake. But, then, he may rest assured that he will never lose his real honor if it be risked for the truth’s sake and placed in the Redeemer’s hand. The day shall declare the excellence of the upright, for it will reveal all that was hidden, and bring to the light that which was concealed. There will be a resurrection of characters as well as persons. Every reputation that has been obscured by clouds of reproach for Christ’s sake, shall be rendered glorious when the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Let the wicked say what they will of me, said the apostle, I commit my character to the Judge of quick and dead."
From a sermon entitled "Assured Security in Christ," delivered January 2, 1870. Image by connor395 under Creative Commons License.
http://www.thedailyspurgeon.com/
http://www.mediate.com/articles/newberger.cfm
All of this in order to avoid conflict.
In fact,Peter Robinson, associate director at the Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law made an alarming discovery. After working with hundreds of ministers, he found that a pastor's preferred option of dealing with church conflict is “avoidance".
Seems Charles Spurgeon had a more charactered and biblical approach to the ministry. Please God and leave the consequences to the final day!
rgh
"A Christian minister must expect to lose his repute among men. He must be willing to suffer every reproach for Christ’s sake. But, then, he may rest assured that he will never lose his real honor if it be risked for the truth’s sake and placed in the Redeemer’s hand. The day shall declare the excellence of the upright, for it will reveal all that was hidden, and bring to the light that which was concealed. There will be a resurrection of characters as well as persons. Every reputation that has been obscured by clouds of reproach for Christ’s sake, shall be rendered glorious when the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Let the wicked say what they will of me, said the apostle, I commit my character to the Judge of quick and dead."
From a sermon entitled "Assured Security in Christ," delivered January 2, 1870. Image by connor395 under Creative Commons License.
http://www.thedailyspurgeon.com/
http://www.mediate.com/articles/newberger.cfm
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Teach Me To Be Generous
"Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will."
- Ignatius, 1491-1556
http://trevinwax.com/2010/06/06/prayer-for-generosity
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will."
- Ignatius, 1491-1556
http://trevinwax.com/2010/06/06/prayer-for-generosity
Monday, May 31, 2010
Videotaping Under Skirts At Church
The local church has long been a target for pedaphiles. The failure of leaders to exercise "due diligence" along with their "unprincipled mercy" have allowed children to become easy prey.
However, with increased sexualization of culture and the downward spiral of permissiveness of society, we are seeing rapid increase of predator's and offender's in our midst.
Here is a quote from Christianity Today that powerfully demonstrates the seriousness of the issue confronting us today:
"One of the most vexing problems facing our society, and more particularly the church, is how to deal with sex offenders," said Pat Nolan, vice president of Prison Fellowship. "As one pastor expressed to me, 'Jesus taught us to be forgiving. However, he also has made me shepherd of my flock, and it is my responsibility to protect them from the wolves."
This news article of a sex offender openly videotaping ladies in the church is a simple illustration of Pat Nolan's sobering truth.
[rgh]
A Jackson, Tennessee man has been charged with videotaping under the skirts of 40-50 women and girls at his Lighthouse Pentecostal church. Richard Rushton, the perpetuator, was registered as a sex offender in 2003. He spent nearly six years in a Florida prison for three sexual offenses in 1995 and 1996.
Check out these related topics:
>http://blog.yourchurch.net/2010/04/dealing_with_sex_offenders_who.html
>http://www.christianitytoday.com/yc/churchlawtaxupdate/sexoffenderswhoattend.html
>http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/december/5.16.html
>http://blackchristiannews.com/news/2010/04/sex-offenders-in-the-house-of-god-how-to-deal-with-it.html
>http://www.christianitytoday.com/yc/search/?searchall=&query=sex+offenders&x=13&y=12
>http://blog.christianitytoday.com/women/2010/01/nc_court_upholds_sex_offenders.html
http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=12562577
http://delicious.com/christianheadlines/topheadlines?page=2
However, with increased sexualization of culture and the downward spiral of permissiveness of society, we are seeing rapid increase of predator's and offender's in our midst.
Here is a quote from Christianity Today that powerfully demonstrates the seriousness of the issue confronting us today:
"One of the most vexing problems facing our society, and more particularly the church, is how to deal with sex offenders," said Pat Nolan, vice president of Prison Fellowship. "As one pastor expressed to me, 'Jesus taught us to be forgiving. However, he also has made me shepherd of my flock, and it is my responsibility to protect them from the wolves."
This news article of a sex offender openly videotaping ladies in the church is a simple illustration of Pat Nolan's sobering truth.
[rgh]
A Jackson, Tennessee man has been charged with videotaping under the skirts of 40-50 women and girls at his Lighthouse Pentecostal church. Richard Rushton, the perpetuator, was registered as a sex offender in 2003. He spent nearly six years in a Florida prison for three sexual offenses in 1995 and 1996.
Check out these related topics:
>http://blog.yourchurch.net/2010/04/dealing_with_sex_offenders_who.html
>http://www.christianitytoday.com/yc/churchlawtaxupdate/sexoffenderswhoattend.html
>http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/december/5.16.html
>http://blackchristiannews.com/news/2010/04/sex-offenders-in-the-house-of-god-how-to-deal-with-it.html
>http://www.christianitytoday.com/yc/search/?searchall=&query=sex+offenders&x=13&y=12
>http://blog.christianitytoday.com/women/2010/01/nc_court_upholds_sex_offenders.html
http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=12562577
http://delicious.com/christianheadlines/topheadlines?page=2
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Be Mature In Your Thinking?
Excellent article from The Churck Colson Center For a Christian Worldview. Here are a few excepts.
[rgh]
"....We are mature in our thinking, when every aspect of our thought life is subject to Christ and His Word, focused on the good of others, determined to achieve Kingdom outcomes, and ready to suppress any manifestations of evil, then we will see real progress of Christ’s presence and rule in our lives."
"...now let’s figure out how to make it operative in our own minds.Let me suggest three parallel paths on a road to mature Christian thinking.
>First is the path of spiritual disciplines
>Second, the path of wisdom from others
>Finally, the path of serious Christian conversation
"Becoming mature in our thinking won’t just happen; we’re going to have to work at, and work at it for a lifetime, walking the paths of spiritual discipline, seeking wisdom from others, and conversing with Christian friends, until, increasingly, the mind of Christ in us becomes the mind we actually use."
http://www.colsoncenter.org/the-center/columns/viewpoint/15283-paths-to-mature-thinking?
[rgh]
"....We are mature in our thinking, when every aspect of our thought life is subject to Christ and His Word, focused on the good of others, determined to achieve Kingdom outcomes, and ready to suppress any manifestations of evil, then we will see real progress of Christ’s presence and rule in our lives."
"...now let’s figure out how to make it operative in our own minds.Let me suggest three parallel paths on a road to mature Christian thinking.
>First is the path of spiritual disciplines
>Second, the path of wisdom from others
>Finally, the path of serious Christian conversation
"Becoming mature in our thinking won’t just happen; we’re going to have to work at, and work at it for a lifetime, walking the paths of spiritual discipline, seeking wisdom from others, and conversing with Christian friends, until, increasingly, the mind of Christ in us becomes the mind we actually use."
http://www.colsoncenter.org/the-center/columns/viewpoint/15283-paths-to-mature-thinking?
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Is Lust Justification For Divorce?"
Here is a great question that was posed to Probe Ministries. Many of you brothers will remember when a lady at Redeemed Community appealed to this text for grounds to abandon and then divorce her husband. Significant to note is that some minister friends thought we were to hard when we enacted discipline for unbiblical cause.
The answer that Probe gives is the same position we took in the marital conflict and the very reason we took disciplinary action.
[RGH]
Question:
"In Matthew 5:27ff. Jesus says that if a man lusts after a woman he has already committed adultery in his heart. Then, in v. 32 Jesus indicates that sexual immorality is the only justification for divorce. Is, then, lust justification for divorce? If so, what degree of lust is justification for divorce? Or, if it is not Jesus' intention to allow divorce for lust, please substantiate this position." Thanks.
Probe Answer:
"The bottom line answer to your question is no, lust is not grounds for divorce.
If you look at the context of the Lord Jesus' remarks about lust in Matthew 5, what you see is that He is "pulling back the rug," so to speak, on outward sins to expose the underlying problem, which is sin in the heart. Murder doesn't start with murder; it starts with sinful anger in the heart (vv. 21-22)...
The main point to all of these illustrations in the Sermon on the Mount is that a sinful heart lurks behind every offensive action. By shining the light of His perfection on our dark hearts, the Lord very effectively makes us aware of how short we fall of God's standard of righteousness. That's why we need to receive Christ's righteousness, since we have none of our own.
So the point about lust is made to expose the sinful motives of the heart, showing that even before one actually enters into an adulterous relationship, there's a heart problem that's just as serious in God's eyes as acting on it."
http://www.probe.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=fdKEIMNsEoG&b=4485965&ct=5513351¬oc=1
The answer that Probe gives is the same position we took in the marital conflict and the very reason we took disciplinary action.
[RGH]
Question:
"In Matthew 5:27ff. Jesus says that if a man lusts after a woman he has already committed adultery in his heart. Then, in v. 32 Jesus indicates that sexual immorality is the only justification for divorce. Is, then, lust justification for divorce? If so, what degree of lust is justification for divorce? Or, if it is not Jesus' intention to allow divorce for lust, please substantiate this position." Thanks.
Probe Answer:
"The bottom line answer to your question is no, lust is not grounds for divorce.
If you look at the context of the Lord Jesus' remarks about lust in Matthew 5, what you see is that He is "pulling back the rug," so to speak, on outward sins to expose the underlying problem, which is sin in the heart. Murder doesn't start with murder; it starts with sinful anger in the heart (vv. 21-22)...
The main point to all of these illustrations in the Sermon on the Mount is that a sinful heart lurks behind every offensive action. By shining the light of His perfection on our dark hearts, the Lord very effectively makes us aware of how short we fall of God's standard of righteousness. That's why we need to receive Christ's righteousness, since we have none of our own.
So the point about lust is made to expose the sinful motives of the heart, showing that even before one actually enters into an adulterous relationship, there's a heart problem that's just as serious in God's eyes as acting on it."
http://www.probe.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=fdKEIMNsEoG&b=4485965&ct=5513351¬oc=1
Saturday, May 15, 2010
What Is Christian Counseling?
I have often heard this statement, "They advertise Christian counseling,but it is certainly less than biblical in it's approach."
How can this be? Well,many counselors are professing Christian's while their training and focus is completely void of a biblical worldview.
What then is the difference between a Christan counselor and Biblical counseling? Robert Kellemen,Ph.D, is a Licensed Counselor. In his article,"What Makes Biblical Bounseling Biblical", he demonstrates the contrast. Here is an extract.
[RGH]
"Truly biblical counseling addresses the complexity of life lived in a fallen world. The Bible profoundly describes existence through our creation in God’s image, our fall into sin, and our redemption in Christ. Only when taken together can we understand people, diagnose problems, and prescribe solutions—biblically.
Biblical counseling follows a holistic approach to the nature of human nature. Created in the image of God, we should reflect God in our relational (spiritual, social, and self-aware), rational (images and beliefs), volitional (motivations and actions), emotional (responses and reactions), and physical capacities. Only when united can we help the whole person to become a whole person.
Biblical counseling takes a robust approach to counselor training. It refuses all shortcuts as it recognizes the need for equipping in biblical content, Christlike character, relational competencies, and Christian community. Only when combined can we produce truly effective soul care-givers and spiritual directors."
http://www.rpmministries.org/
How can this be? Well,many counselors are professing Christian's while their training and focus is completely void of a biblical worldview.
What then is the difference between a Christan counselor and Biblical counseling? Robert Kellemen,Ph.D, is a Licensed Counselor. In his article,"What Makes Biblical Bounseling Biblical", he demonstrates the contrast. Here is an extract.
[RGH]
"Truly biblical counseling addresses the complexity of life lived in a fallen world. The Bible profoundly describes existence through our creation in God’s image, our fall into sin, and our redemption in Christ. Only when taken together can we understand people, diagnose problems, and prescribe solutions—biblically.
Biblical counseling follows a holistic approach to the nature of human nature. Created in the image of God, we should reflect God in our relational (spiritual, social, and self-aware), rational (images and beliefs), volitional (motivations and actions), emotional (responses and reactions), and physical capacities. Only when united can we help the whole person to become a whole person.
Biblical counseling takes a robust approach to counselor training. It refuses all shortcuts as it recognizes the need for equipping in biblical content, Christlike character, relational competencies, and Christian community. Only when combined can we produce truly effective soul care-givers and spiritual directors."
http://www.rpmministries.org/
Friday, May 14, 2010
He That Endureth To The End?
Check out this summary of the three main views regarding security and perseverance of the saints posted by Reformation Theology. [rgh]
1. Classic Arminianism• One must persevere in faith to be saved.
• True believers can lose their faith....
• Those dying without faith in Christ are condemned.
“The believer who loses his faith is damned.”
2. Antinomianism• One need not persevere in faith to be saved.
• True believers can lose their faith.
• Those who lose their faith are saved, since they once believed.
“The believer who loses his faith is saved.”
3. Classic Calvinism• One must persevere in faith to be saved.
• True believers cannot lose their faith, since it’s God’s gift.
• Those dying without faith in Christ are condemned.
• Those who “lose” their faith never had it to begin with.
• God will preserve true believers and they will be saved.
http://www.reformationtheology.com/
1. Classic Arminianism• One must persevere in faith to be saved.
• True believers can lose their faith....
• Those dying without faith in Christ are condemned.
“The believer who loses his faith is damned.”
2. Antinomianism• One need not persevere in faith to be saved.
• True believers can lose their faith.
• Those who lose their faith are saved, since they once believed.
“The believer who loses his faith is saved.”
3. Classic Calvinism• One must persevere in faith to be saved.
• True believers cannot lose their faith, since it’s God’s gift.
• Those dying without faith in Christ are condemned.
• Those who “lose” their faith never had it to begin with.
• God will preserve true believers and they will be saved.
http://www.reformationtheology.com/
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Guarding Against Embezzlement
Financial checks and balances are essential in todays culture. However, this article reveals ministries must now go further.This is worth posting for Redeemed Ministerium and for all of the represented ministries. Check out these extracts from Leadership.Net.
[rgh]
"Embezzlement is on the rise in churches of all sizes. One major church insurer logged 32 embezzlement-related claims in 2009, up 12.5 percent from its recent annual averages. "Regrettably, financial misconduct tends to be more predominant in economic down times," says David Middlebrook, a Texas-based attorney specializing in church law.
Fraud experts often refer to a three-legged stool for embezzlement risk: opportunity, need, and organizational ethos.
>Opportunity often is born out of non-existent or poorly managed financial controls.
>In terms of need, church leaders must pay attention to hardships in the lives of their employees. The most common scenario for church fraud involves longtime employees who face an unexpected financial stress—a job loss for a spouse or an extended illness with hefty medical bills for a family member.
Some studies suggest the average tenure of a church employee who commits fraud is seven years. "These employees don't start off thinking they're going to steal," says Frank Sommerville, another Texas attorney. "They think they're going to borrow from you and pay you back when things improve."
>An ethos that encourages transparency and requires high standards helps prevent financial misconduct. Sommerville advises, "It really is helpful if churches create this above-reproach, ethical standard, something they continually talk about and include in their code of ethics—'We're going to operate above reproach in every area of ministry from the senior pastor and board on down.'"—from Your Church magazine (Jan/Feb 2010)
What to Watch For:
Workers with stressful financial situations
Infrequent audits from outside CPAs
Little oversight of collections
Too few people count the offerings
No rotation among finance team members
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/thepastor/administration/guardagainst.html
[rgh]
"Embezzlement is on the rise in churches of all sizes. One major church insurer logged 32 embezzlement-related claims in 2009, up 12.5 percent from its recent annual averages. "Regrettably, financial misconduct tends to be more predominant in economic down times," says David Middlebrook, a Texas-based attorney specializing in church law.
Fraud experts often refer to a three-legged stool for embezzlement risk: opportunity, need, and organizational ethos.
>Opportunity often is born out of non-existent or poorly managed financial controls.
>In terms of need, church leaders must pay attention to hardships in the lives of their employees. The most common scenario for church fraud involves longtime employees who face an unexpected financial stress—a job loss for a spouse or an extended illness with hefty medical bills for a family member.
Some studies suggest the average tenure of a church employee who commits fraud is seven years. "These employees don't start off thinking they're going to steal," says Frank Sommerville, another Texas attorney. "They think they're going to borrow from you and pay you back when things improve."
>An ethos that encourages transparency and requires high standards helps prevent financial misconduct. Sommerville advises, "It really is helpful if churches create this above-reproach, ethical standard, something they continually talk about and include in their code of ethics—'We're going to operate above reproach in every area of ministry from the senior pastor and board on down.'"—from Your Church magazine (Jan/Feb 2010)
What to Watch For:
Workers with stressful financial situations
Infrequent audits from outside CPAs
Little oversight of collections
Too few people count the offerings
No rotation among finance team members
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/thepastor/administration/guardagainst.html
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Top Ten Mistakes Preachers Make
Much thanks to Erik Kowalker for posting these. He does a great service to the church and I recommend you brothers frequent his site.
[rgh]
10. Imitating others
9. Overuse of illustrations
8. Unwarranted spiritualising of the text
7. Lack of preparation
6. Lack of application
5. Decontextualisation (interpreting a text out of its biblical context)
4. Prayerlessness
3. Preaching to others without first preaching to yourself
2. Being boring
1. Not preaching Christ
http://kowalker.com/2010/05/08/top-ten-mistakes-preachers-make/
[rgh]
10. Imitating others
9. Overuse of illustrations
8. Unwarranted spiritualising of the text
7. Lack of preparation
6. Lack of application
5. Decontextualisation (interpreting a text out of its biblical context)
4. Prayerlessness
3. Preaching to others without first preaching to yourself
2. Being boring
1. Not preaching Christ
http://kowalker.com/2010/05/08/top-ten-mistakes-preachers-make/
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Fours Signs You Know You Are Working With A Leader
#1 – They come to you with problems…AND the solutions as to how to solve them. Any fool can see a problem…but it takes a leader to examine WHY the problem is there and then WHAT to do about it. One of the greatest things about the team of people I serve with is most of the time when someone presents a problem they already know how to solve it. (AND…when they do not then they admit it instead of trying to fake their way through it!)
I’ve said this on this site before…but one of the best questions a leader can ask to the people he serves with when presented a problem is, “what do you think should be done about it?”
#2 – They are more upset about a mess up than you are.
When someone on staff here at NewSpring Church drops the ball I rarely have to get upset because they OWN what they do…and so they are as bothered about the mess up than I am on most cases.
Passion for what a person does is essential if they are going to be an excellent leader. AND…you can’t PAY someone to be passionate…either they are or they’re not!
#3 – Being around them actually fires you up.
People are contagious…attitudes and all.
One of the things I love about the team I serve with is that being around them and discussing church, ministry and life in general STIRS my passion for what I do.
People WILL contribute to the fire inside of you…they either throw water or gasoline on it…and one of the most common traits about leaders is that they are always throwing gas on other people’s fire.
I know some people think they always need to be “the devil’s advocate” in a meeting…which basically presents two problems…
First…the devil doesn’t need a freakin’ advocate…he’s doing pretty well all by himself.
And second…we aren’t exactly supposed to be working for him!
Now…the truth SHOULD be told when a bad idea is brought up…which leads to the next one…
#4 – They don’t retreat inside their shell when conflict arises but rather embrace the tension in the room and will speak the truth in love until a resolution is reached.
One of the BIGGEST problems in church would today is UNRESOLVED CONFLICT among staff! A disagreement will take place…and because a person would rather just “make nice” rather than work towards a solution they will lie and say that things are fine and agree to an idea or philosophy that they do not completely buy into.
But…a leader will speak their minds…even if they know it is not going to be popular…and even if they know that in the end they will probably lose the argument…they would MUCH rather than have a clear conscience than be a coward.
When conflict arises in a room then I believe a GREAT solution is right around the corner. All people need to do is realize they are on the same team, working for the same goals and be willing to speak truthfully in respectful ways so that the best idea can be presented and be adopted.
http://www.perrynoble.com/2010/05/04/four-signs-you-know-your-working-with-a-leader-part-one/
I’ve said this on this site before…but one of the best questions a leader can ask to the people he serves with when presented a problem is, “what do you think should be done about it?”
#2 – They are more upset about a mess up than you are.
When someone on staff here at NewSpring Church drops the ball I rarely have to get upset because they OWN what they do…and so they are as bothered about the mess up than I am on most cases.
Passion for what a person does is essential if they are going to be an excellent leader. AND…you can’t PAY someone to be passionate…either they are or they’re not!
#3 – Being around them actually fires you up.
People are contagious…attitudes and all.
One of the things I love about the team I serve with is that being around them and discussing church, ministry and life in general STIRS my passion for what I do.
People WILL contribute to the fire inside of you…they either throw water or gasoline on it…and one of the most common traits about leaders is that they are always throwing gas on other people’s fire.
I know some people think they always need to be “the devil’s advocate” in a meeting…which basically presents two problems…
First…the devil doesn’t need a freakin’ advocate…he’s doing pretty well all by himself.
And second…we aren’t exactly supposed to be working for him!
Now…the truth SHOULD be told when a bad idea is brought up…which leads to the next one…
#4 – They don’t retreat inside their shell when conflict arises but rather embrace the tension in the room and will speak the truth in love until a resolution is reached.
One of the BIGGEST problems in church would today is UNRESOLVED CONFLICT among staff! A disagreement will take place…and because a person would rather just “make nice” rather than work towards a solution they will lie and say that things are fine and agree to an idea or philosophy that they do not completely buy into.
But…a leader will speak their minds…even if they know it is not going to be popular…and even if they know that in the end they will probably lose the argument…they would MUCH rather than have a clear conscience than be a coward.
When conflict arises in a room then I believe a GREAT solution is right around the corner. All people need to do is realize they are on the same team, working for the same goals and be willing to speak truthfully in respectful ways so that the best idea can be presented and be adopted.
http://www.perrynoble.com/2010/05/04/four-signs-you-know-your-working-with-a-leader-part-one/
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Seven Sure Fire Ways To Blow Up A Church
Chuck Lawless:
>Begin my ministry as a teacher and refuse to be a learner.
>Assume that the “honeymoon period”... is the time to make as many changes as possible.
>Expect to fix everything overnight.
>Teach a theological system more than the Bible.
>Study always and seldom “hang out” with people.
>Blame undiscipled members for acting like believers who have never been discipled.
>Pray reactively rather than proactively.
Read the whole thing for an explanation of each.
http://news.sbts.edu/2010/04/16/seven-sure-fire-ways-to-blow-up-a-church/
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/04/16/seven-sure-fire-ways-to-blow-up-a-church
>Begin my ministry as a teacher and refuse to be a learner.
>Assume that the “honeymoon period”... is the time to make as many changes as possible.
>Expect to fix everything overnight.
>Teach a theological system more than the Bible.
>Study always and seldom “hang out” with people.
>Blame undiscipled members for acting like believers who have never been discipled.
>Pray reactively rather than proactively.
Read the whole thing for an explanation of each.
http://news.sbts.edu/2010/04/16/seven-sure-fire-ways-to-blow-up-a-church/
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/04/16/seven-sure-fire-ways-to-blow-up-a-church
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Is It Time You Pulled a Piper?
John Piper recently made an announcement that has produced more than a little buzz. His suspension of personal ministry for an extended sabbatical is framed by Christianity Today's "Building Church Leaders Newsletter" as a question that all ministers should ask themselves.
If the answer is affirmative, then great caution is advised in how to proceed. The article addresses the reality that most congregations are simply unfamiliar with the topic.
Hence, practical wisdom should be demonstrated by addressing three levels of attitude that must be changed before making such an announcement.
I have personally seen this counsel violated and watched as confusion leavened the flock and credibility forefeited. As is always the case, Wisdom really is "justified by her children".
[RGH ]
What about you? Is it time you "pulled a Piper?" To get a sabbatical, I needed to change attitudes on three levels.
The Board
These people weren't for or against sabbaticals. They didn't have an opinion. No pastor before had ever asked for one, nor had they ever thought to offer.
Changing their attitudes was more a matter of educating than convincing. Aided by a pamphlet supplied by my district, I simply informed my board about the nature of sabbaticals.
The pamphlet outlined the unique nature of a pastor's workload (six-day workweeks, no free weekends, weeknights away from family, few free holidays, etc.) and possible effects—such as burnout and stress on the pastor's family.
The pamphlet also listed the benefits: a grateful pastor with a renewed vision, a more grateful pastor's wife, happier pastor's children, a pastor with enhanced training, and a deepened awareness of the love of the congregation for the pastor.
I didn't have to do any selling. I just let them read it and then asked if they would approve two months in the coming year. Aside from concern over details of pulpit supply, there were no objections. My request was passed unanimously.
If the answer is affirmative, then great caution is advised in how to proceed. The article addresses the reality that most congregations are simply unfamiliar with the topic.
Hence, practical wisdom should be demonstrated by addressing three levels of attitude that must be changed before making such an announcement.
I have personally seen this counsel violated and watched as confusion leavened the flock and credibility forefeited. As is always the case, Wisdom really is "justified by her children".
[RGH ]
What about you? Is it time you "pulled a Piper?" To get a sabbatical, I needed to change attitudes on three levels.
The Board
These people weren't for or against sabbaticals. They didn't have an opinion. No pastor before had ever asked for one, nor had they ever thought to offer.
Changing their attitudes was more a matter of educating than convincing. Aided by a pamphlet supplied by my district, I simply informed my board about the nature of sabbaticals.
The pamphlet outlined the unique nature of a pastor's workload (six-day workweeks, no free weekends, weeknights away from family, few free holidays, etc.) and possible effects—such as burnout and stress on the pastor's family.
The pamphlet also listed the benefits: a grateful pastor with a renewed vision, a more grateful pastor's wife, happier pastor's children, a pastor with enhanced training, and a deepened awareness of the love of the congregation for the pastor.
I didn't have to do any selling. I just let them read it and then asked if they would approve two months in the coming year. Aside from concern over details of pulpit supply, there were no objections. My request was passed unanimously.
Two lessons I learned: (1) Get reinforcement from an outside source (such as the pamphlet, or a similar document from your denomination), and (2) make sure you give enough advance notice.
The Congregation
If the elder board knew little about sabbaticals, the congregation knew even less. I learned the hard way that redundancy in communication is as important as back-up systems on an airliner.
After letting the congregation know about the dates of my sabbatical, I paid the matter little attention. That was a mistake. Several months before I was to leave, a congregation member came to an elders' meeting.
"I work two jobs to support my family," he said, "and no one gives me two months paid leave. Pastor Archetype never took a sabbatical. Why should Pastor Jay? I question his work ethic."I'd have made it easier for myself if I'd communicated better to everyone.
My suggestion: distribute the same material to the congregation that you give to your board. Write about it in your church newsletter. Use informal opportunities to get the message across. Then accept the fact that you'll never have every one's approval.You
Boards and congregations can be won over. If they love their shepherd, they'll probably come to support the concept. The most difficult person to convince may be you.When a fellow pastor heard about my sabbatical, he said, "Either you are really self-confident or just a fool to leave your congregation for two months." He saw the sabbatical as a risk that they might prefer me gone.
As a safeguard for the congregation and me, we built a provision into our sabbatical policy. I agreed not to use the time to look for another church, and they would not look for another pastor. We also agreed to a minimum of two years ministry after my return.Another fear might be that the church will falter in your absence. We had just started a second service shortly before my original sabbatical dates. In order to insure some equilibrium, I postponed my trip for two months.
When I left it was with the conviction that God would take care of the church in my absence. He not only kept them well. The attendance figures were up when I returned. He proved to me that I'm not as important as I might think.A sabbatical may seem too good to be true. As pastors, we're used to struggles and weariness. Yet, with a slight change of attitude on these three levels, you can get that needed rest. You, your family, and maybe even the church will appreciate it."
JAY BEUOY
http://www.buildingchurchleaders.com/downloads/survivalguides/takingsabbatical/sg41-d.html
http://www.buildingchurchleaders.com/downloads/survivalguides/takingsabbatical/sg41-d.html
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