Some Thoughts on Hiring Larry Doyle

Look what fell out of my file cabinet!  I would have shared with my church back in the day.

Dated July 15, 2003 (Edited only for typographical errors)

Some Thoughts on Hiring Larry Doyle

On Monday night, I sat and watched Dr. Larry Doyle pour out his heart for what Cooperative/partnership Missions looks like. This is his way of speaking about Associational Missions work, which is what he as a Director of Missions will promote.

His text for the sermon part of his talk was Mark 2, the healing of the Paralytic: (Read Mark 2:1-12).

These four men were on their way somewhere perhaps. Maybe they were going to the meeting to see Jesus speak. They valued the ministry of Jesus, they knew that he healed people and was a person of great power and strength. So first, Dr. Doyle said that they had shared values. Next, these four men, on their way somewhere, saw a person in need. They realize that Jesus could make the man in need walk again. They valued the ministry of Jesus, and this gave rise to their vision that Jesus could make the man walk again. So they had a shared vision.

Next, these four men cooperated. They each cooperated in carrying their share of the burden. What would have happened if one man had decided not to carry his part of the stretcher? So these four men had shared values that led to a shared vision, that caused them to cooperate and share the work.

Next, these men had a problem. What happened? Did they just get to bring the paralytic right in and set him down? No! They could not get to the house. So they moved on to plan B, they overcame an obstacle together. So, they had shared values, that led to a shared vision, that caused them to cooperate and overcome obstacles.

They believed in their vision sufficiently to cooperate and overcome obstacles. But this common vision wasn't imposed on them. It arose naturally because of their shared values. They valued the ministry of Jesus.

One of the most difficult things to do in life is to get different people working together. Consider the following old sayings:

Too many cooks in the kitchen.

Too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

Too many generals and not enough foot soldiers.

It seems that plenty of people want to cooperate, as long as they are the one that is being cooperated with.

It seems to me that Dr. Doyle, if indeed we are allowed to vote tomorrow night and if he is elected as our DOM, will have significant challenges. Why is that? Because it is rare to find a majority of churches and pastors that share their values enough to have a common vision, a common sharing of burdens, a common effort to overcome obstacles.

Why is this? Because everyone says they are concerned about lost people, and believe that the gospel should be taken to the lost through acts of service, love, and the spoken word.

But wait, that sounds like a shared value to me! But too often it is only the surface value. Consider these other values and see if they sound like those ACTUALLY held by pastors and church leaders:

We value our independence; so we don't want to be told what to do by others.

We value our finances; so we don't want to give money unless we get something out of the deal.

We value our reputations; so we don't want to associate too closely with anything unless it is guaranteed to make us look good.

We value our status; so we don't want to be equal partners with those pastors of small churches or Bi vocational pastors. They should be learning from us, we shouldn't be partnering with them.

We value our correctness; so we won't cooperate unless it is proven that other churches or pastors agree with us on virtually everything that we consider to be important.

As you can see, there are some shared values that don't work very well for a shared vision.

So what is the answer? I believe there are two.

First, we can abandon Baptist ideals and go for authoritarianism. We can have a top-down model of cooperation, where Hitler tells us all what to do and we just do it. He says jump, and we say how high.

Second, we can renew our commitment to the real value we profess. Do we really value the ministry of Christ like these four men did?

Do we really appreciate His help in our own lives? Do we realize that He is the first and best of all beings? Do we want to please Him as we should by delighting ourselves in Him above all other things in life?

Do we love Jesus more than we love our independence, our reputation, our finances, our status, our correctness?

When we do, we will have a real foundation for shared vision, cooperation, and kingdom growth.

So join me in praying that we will glorify God by enjoying Him forever.

Dr. Larry Doyle is leaving us as Director of Missions of the Piedmont Baptist Association at the end of this year. He has been an encouragement to many pastors and churches, and has led the PBA through many initiatives and transformations. His ministry work continues with Unleashed by Design at facebook.com/unleashedbydesign 

Devotion

GOD OF MY END,

It is my greatest, noblest pleasure
to be acquainted with thee
and with my rational, immortal soul;

It is sweet and entertaining
to look into my being
when all my powers and passions
are united and engaged in pursuit of thee,
when my soul longs and passionately breathes
after conformity to thee
and the full enjoyment of thee;

No hours pass away with so much pleasure
as those spent in communion with thee
and with my heart.

O how desirable, how profitable to the Christian life
is a spirit of holy watchfulness
and godly jealousy over myself,
when my soul is afraid of nothing
except grieving and offending thee,
the blessed God, my Father and friend,
whom I then love and long to please,
rather than be happy in myself!

Knowing, as I do, that this is the pious temper,
worthy of the highest ambition, and closest
pursuit of intelligent creatures
and holy Christians,
may my joy derive from glorifying and
delighting thee.

I long to fill all my time for thee,
whether at home or in the way;
to place all my concerns in thy hands;
to be entirely at thy disposal,
having no will or interest of my own.

Help me to live to thee for ever,
to make thee my last and only end,
so that I may never more in one instance
love my sinful self.


The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions Aurthur Bennett, ed. (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1975), p. 236-7.

With thanks to Bob Roach, in memory of Jean Roach.

Jesus is the Best Wine

It is no secret, and certainly no scandal, that North Carolina is swimming in craft beer, regional wines, and now even Mayberry Moonshine !  What would Otis think?  These wonders go along with our ever increasing desire for recreation and escape from today's troubles.
The most famous regional wine came from Cana, and was made by Jesus from bathwater.  It was so good that the headwaiter at a potentially disastrous wedding thought it was the best (the best he'd ever tasted?)  This headwaiter fortunately didn't know that it was made from bathwater and served out of one of the nasty stone pots.  He complimented the host for "keeping the best wine until now" when most people with common sense serve the best wine first, so people who are inebriated won't notice the quality of the wine dropping as the feast progresses.
This first sign of Jesus is filled with intent and symbolism, and still speaks to us today if we have ears to hear.
The sign shows us that Jesus' ministry was intentional, not haphazard or some "plan B" situation.  Jesus is giving a semi-private sign that is designed to build faith in the disciples prior to beginning his public ministry.  Jesus' divinity, confirmed by the miraculous wine-making, is the fact that created faith among the disciples, enabling them to later be called Apostles.
The miracle at Cana shows us that Jesus' ministry had a point besides the miracles and miraculous, which was the climactic crucifixion in Jerusalem (the ultimate eschatological event).
Jesus is teaching everyone that He has the power to take their lack, their nothing, their bathwater, and turn it into the greatest things, the most needed things, those things which bring glory to God.  Jesus redeems even impossible situations.  Where something looks hopeless, through our prayers (like the Mother of Jesus asking for his help) He will give us hope and provision.
So how is your bathwater?  Are you drinking the "lesser wines" of this life?  Do you fall for the trendy promotions of merchants offering distraction from the real issue (that the wine has literally run out)?
In the words of Dr. Herman Ridderbos, "Jesus is the good wine, reserved until now."  Drink freely.

Life is More than Politics

"Thanks for everything, Bernie!"

Politicians have words to thank for their positions. They are often long on promises and (somewhat short on delivery). This persistent human phenomenon leads people to think that somehow the solution to our problems is political. I mean, if the politicians would “get out of the way” then “we could really get things solved.” This is what creates the cheap theater that is politics (see photo).

I firmly believe that the root of human problems is sin. By sin I mean a broken relationship with God that one inherits because one is human. This sinful nature is a spiritual problem, meaning that one only addresses it in spiritual terms, in terms of intangible indescribable interaction with the Divine. And is there not One who is Divine?

Our counselors must point us to God, our money won't save us, our entertainment escape will fade quickly. Our relationships all ultimately drive us to the one relationship that matters, our relationship with the One who created us, and who calls us by name to return to Him.

The root of humanity's problem is sin. The solution to sin has been provided by God, who sent His only Son Jesus Christ to be the resolution for our sins. Jesus perfectly revealed the Father in heaven, the Lord of all of us. How can we hope to know our God if we won't know His Son who perfectly showed us what he is like?

One thing that Jesus showed us clearly is that He died for our sins, not for His own. Jesus was the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He taught that whoever believed in Him would not perish, but would have everlasting life.  Why would we not embrace this gift that God gives to us by His grace?

It is part of our duty as citizens to be engaged in the political process. But we are foolish if we imagine this will solve ultimate problems. People are good in many ways, but we are all dead in our sins with respect to God.  We ultimately cannot even help one another until we truly repent and believe Jesus. We then enter the life of God, as our sins are taken away, and we receive a new heart, a transformed moral disposition, that inclines us ever more towards the God who made us.

It is then that life truly is more than politics, more than success,  more than scientific materialism, more than...

Always Have Confidence in God

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
Before the Lord, for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
And the peoples in His faithfulness.

Psalm 96:11-13

 

Pope Glenn Beck

Does anyone remember asking for radio talk show host Glenn Beck's opinion on what the Evangelical churches should be preaching, teaching, doing or thinking? I thought not.  How would a radio talk show host know what is going on within any church except his own? Do we really set the agenda of the Kingdom of God by polls and felt needs? While some of his (rather obvious and predictable) subjects have partial merit, his delivery and automatic assumption of authority are painful to hear. That's one more reason to turn to a more Godly sound.  One Pope is more than enough.

Welcome, Pope Jorge!

High Fives all Around!

Staying Blessed in Contentious Times

How is it possible to stay blessed in contentious times?  As we see people mocking and scoffing, and raging against God's Word, how do we respond?  It isn't by getting in the sewer with them!  The Bible has a better answer in Psalm 1.

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.   He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.   The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.  For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.

Take this to heart, and may God show us the way to be more loving and helpful...

Happy because of Jesus,
Pastor James

Review of "Paul's Message and Ministry in Covenant Perspective" by Scott J. Hafemann

This is a small collection of previously published essays which, although varying in length, are consistently rich in content and challenging in their clarity. The stated hope of the distinguished author is to make the three fold covenant structure (which in his view is the overall covenant and salvation historical backdrop that is consistently elaborated by Paul) more apparent. He does so indirectly (even stealthily) by means of the ever-important 2 Corinthians 3, its Biblical-historical backdrop, and its textual companions. Readers will recognize the confluence of themes and hermeneutical issues in this locus. The uniqueness of this collection is the remarkable application of Hafemann's basic approach (which is significant in its implications for Biblical interpretation, Biblical Theology, and Pauline Studies) to divergent Pauline issues, key Biblical texts and ecclesiastical contexts, in one attractive small volume.

For clarity the volume is divided in two roughly equal parts, Paul's Message, and Paul's Ministry. Because the articles are arranged this way, rather than chronologically, the reader can see the conceptual unity of Paul's revelatory thought, as the reader (perhaps surprisingly!) sees the presumption of the three fold covenant structure tested across the various examples of related but diverse scholarship. For a thoroughgoing and practical outworking of this motif, see Hafemann's Biblical-theological primer, The God of Promise and the Life of Faith: Understanding the Heart of the Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2001). Although a detailed examination of each article is surely deserved, here we will highlight only a few of interest, bearing in mind the volume is designed for total effect rather than individual reference per se.

Chapter 2 is the recently published “Reading Paul's _DIKAIO-Language: A Response to Douglas Campbell's 'Rereading Paul's _DIKAIO-Language.'” This is a most valuable chapter due to the unique interaction between scholars of widely divergent approach. Hafemann begins by arguing that a thoroughly eschatological response that says both “I am” and “I do” is needed because of God's action of invading (and continuing to invade) the lives of his people. Hafemann demonstrates that Romans 2:13 and 6:7 are consistent and therefore Paul's goal of creating covenant keepers and the determining apocalyptic role of the Spirt are unified interpretive keys to Paul's overall argument. The author shows how Paul's eschatological view actually not only rejects the transactional component that Campbell argues against, but also that this is literally consistent with the argument of Romans itself! Hafemann shows via the Psalms that in Romans 2, 4 and 6 (and 2 Corinthians 3 as the hinge between Galatians and Romans) there is a conceptual-theological link between keeping the law, faith, and obedience that is readily apparent (once one cleans the lenses of the prevailing paradigm). However, Hafemann warns that in order to avoid synergistic conceptions of justification one must keep the creative, electing and liberating role of the Spirit in view.

“The covenant relationship between God and his people is not legalistic at its inception, nor is it a synergistic contract in its continuation. Every aspect of the covenant is apocalyptic, since the covenant relationship is wholly dependent on God invading and continuing to invade the believer's lives to deliver them.” (p. 38)

Here Hafemann once again lays the groundwork for a new paradigm for Paul because “what matters in the new age of the new covenant is the new creation brought about by Christ” and also “what matters is actually keeping the law by the power of the spirit” (p. 41). This biblical-theological analysis goes beyond the traditional view (with it's emphasis on an implied legalism solved by imputation) and strives “to recover the biblical category of an apocalyptically understood, thoroughly monergistic, yet conditional covenant relationship between God and his people.” (p.43). This essay is concluded with Douglas Campbell's response, in which the differences in approach are seen to remain.

One of Hafemann's programmatic essays is “Paul's 'History-of-Redemption' Use of the Old Testament in 2 Corinthians” which contends that in 2 Corinthians Paul's careful and contextual use of the scriptures reveal that he was convinced that Jesus was already inaugurating a Second Exodus by which God was now dwelling among his new creation/new covenant community. The author clearly sees in Paul's straightforward (!) exegesis of the Old Testament the authentic foundation for the apostle's life and ministry which is expressed and confirmed in his appeals to the church. “Thus to encounter Paul is to encounter one whose life and labors were an extension of the scriptural worldview from which he understood his universe.”p. 61 The exegesis and Biblical-theological evaluation here demonstrate that the framework for Paul's thought, the basis of Paul's confidence in ministry, and Paul's self understanding of his suffering are all thoroughly Biblical (and not merely circumstantial) in their origin.

The two following works trace the argument of 2 Corinthians 1-3, with the latter devoted to 2 Corinthians 3:7-14 as an example of Paul's “contextual Exegesis of the Old Testament.” These are informed by Hafemann's earlier works Suffering and Ministry in the Spirit (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990) and Paul, Moses, and the History of Israel (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996). Thus they demonstrate forcefully that the backdrop for 2 Corinthians 3:7-14 is Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Exodus 34:29-35 as taken seriously and carefully interpreted by Paul. This of course runs counter to the various presuppositions of Paul's modern interpreters, most of which reinforce the idea of a diverse evolutionary trajectory for scripture (not only Paul's thought) and thus rendering salvation historical concerns artificial at best. Contrary to this, Hafemann demonstrates in clear systematic fashion how intra-Biblical exegetical methods, respecting a multitude of disciplines, can reveal a more plausible interpretation free from esoteric conjecture. Given the critical importance of 2 Corinthians 3:7-14 in Biblical Theological perspective, it is as if the author is in some way giving the Bible back to the Christians as much as he offers persuasive corrective direction to Pauline theologians in academia!

“Paul's 'Jeremiah' Ministry in Reverse and the Reality of the New Covenant” posits that Paul's ministry is one of apocalyptic covenantal declaration and mediation, as is shown by the context and content of 2 Corinthians 10:7-8. For a variety of reasons scholarship in the late 20^th Century saw a contrast between “the apocalyptic Paul” and “the covenantal Paul,” including the postulated structural and functional disunity of 2 Corinthians. The author convincingly demonstrates by examination of 2 Corinthians 10:7-8 that the purpose of the ministry of the gospel for Paul is to call people to repentance in light of the fulfillment of Jeremiah's ministry in Paul's mission. Christian ministry today experiences this eschatological reality by “establishing new communities of new covenant believers.” Modern evangelical ministry (always groping for a foothold in the surf of opinion) would benefit greatly if it were informed by this more Biblical-theological understanding of ministry, especially if it is clearly demonstrated by Paul himself. The brevity of this article may conceal its significance.

“'Because of Weakness' (Gal 4:13): The Role of Suffering in the Mission of Paul'” argues exegetically that Paul's ministry is legitimated not by only strict theological reasoning but also by the experience of his own suffering. Since this is actual evidence (within the flow of his argument) for his appeals to Christians, Paul “presupposes a theological perspective and follows an apologetic pattern that is pervasive throughout Paul's letters.” (p.117) This article contains a detailed discussion of the key underrated section of Galatians 4:12-20, arguing that Paul's mission and thought were inextricably linked, and that Paul was a “theologically driven missionary and a missiologically driven theologian.” (p. 132) This essay explores many key interpretive issues, and thereby concludes that Paul's words and actions brought about the Glory of God in Christ in direct contrast to the cultural norms of his day.

“The 'Temple of the Spirit' as the Inaugural Fulfillment of the New Covenant” concludes that “The Jerusalem temple provides a template for understanding the covenant blessings and curses that now pertain to the church as God's temple, since the spirit of the living God now dwells within/among her.” (p. 151) Hafemann shows again from another angle a prevailing “unity of theological rationale” within Paul's thought. (p. 152) The focus once again is the author's presentation of Jeremiah 31:31-34 as the interpretive key for understanding the New Covenant context of 1 and 2 Corinthians. Of special interest is the assertion that this passage “looks forward to what we now call a 'believer's church.'” (p. 156) Hafemann shows how the unconditional indicative acts of provision work together with the imperative stipulations to empower covenant keeping for the believers in Corinth. As Paul's argument is carefully examined one can see how the convenantal structure advocated here has profound application even with regard to the themes of ethics and judgment and the presence of the Spirit!

The main two parts of the volume have two corresponding summaries, freshly penned by the author as he reflects on the totality of Paul's message. These are well worth the price of the volume itself. Hafemann sees sum of Paul's message as perseverance, and praise is its goal. A deduction is that believers are to examine themselves in light of their present perseverance, not in light of their past efforts to be united to God. Therefore, the path to true perseverance is a reliance on the practice of prayer and a commitment to a reliance on the presence of the Spirit in one's life. As for the second major division, the goal of Paul's ministry is the proclamation of the clear necessity of Christ for all people. Believers are called by Paul's letters to affirm God's faithfulness to his promises in spite of all circumstance and opposition. These two summaries work together with the overall arrangement of the articles to present a deeply exegetical and Biblical-Theological presentation of the unity of Paul's message and ministry which is very accessible and encouraging to busy pastors and other Christian workers. 

Available on Amazon 

Dr. Scott Hafemann profile page 

The Surprising Children of Spong

     This past week I heard another torturous talk from the venerable Bishop John Shelby Spong. This talk was very much unpleasant, as he is an arrogant grumpy old man full of vitriol for traditional Christian belief, who shores up his views with outdated narrow scholarship combined with tabloid science. And at the end of the talk he defiantly “claims the title” of Christian. Typical of the venerable Bishop John Shelby Spong, you say, so why be annoyed?

     I thought most everyone was tired of hearing his routine.  But then I realized his "gravitas" is giving some credibility to a view that is popular, as he was invited to speak at a recent “Progressive Christianity Conference." His talk is titled “Why Atonement Theology will Kill the Church.” It's not surprising that the venerable Bishop John Shelby Spong denies Christianity the atonement (on a quite spurious basis), but it is increasingly surprising to me that there is no difference, in any substantive way, between many of the venerable Bishop John Shelby Spong's views and the sentiments of say, Reverend Brian McLaren, Reverend Rob Bell, or even, practically, Pastor Joel Osteen.

     In other words, a more sugar-coated delivery of the same ideas makes one popular. These are all crystal clear examples of Christianity without Christ. Or, Christianity with a Jesus more palatable to modern sensitivities and political correctness. The venerable Bishop John Shelby Spong and his more popular co-conspirators in the end want people to be free from the idea that humanity has a sin problem that needs Saviour solution.

     So what does the venerable Bishop John Shelby Spong propose is the real problem? It is a doctrine of “incompleteness” or “imperfection,” of “humanity in need of its potential.” Sin is “not so,” but incompleteness is. Nevermind the semantic games, this is no different than Emergent leaders, no different than Osteen, or the Health & Wealth peddlers. This tired old message is gaining new ground with audiences who have no Biblical context, because it comes with a built-in excuse for ignoring the Bible's basic overall message about salvation through Christ. And yet, somehow, it still wants to be Christian.

     This is no different than the message delivered to Eve, that she really needed to eat of the fruit of the tree to be Godly; that God was, indeed, holding her back from her full potential. 

     I think we all need to be very careful when we listen or read from many of today's popular and progressive teachers.  There is a lot to say for being fresh and creative in applying the Bible to our everyday lives, but God may have a lot to say about being downright eager to re-write the clear overarching message of Scripture.  It is apparent to me that many of these smart people don't want new applications of scripture, but they want different scriptures altogether! 

     The Bible says, “Test the spirits, to see if they are from God.” Be sure you aren't one of those who will throw out both your common sense and the Bible.  And always remember, we need to repent and believe the Gospel, because we must be born again.

"A mist in the pulpit (still) becomes a fog in the pew."

You have to love Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages (Baker, 1980) by my former professor Haddon Robinson.  How could we then imagine the thousands of sermons that would flow from our introductory preaching classes with Haddon and Dr. Scott Gibson?  Those were the days...or rather, these are still the days!  Preaching, with Biblical Theology, is a never-ending life-consuming pursuit.  Today I'm reminded of why the basics are called the basics:

"Explanation proves difficult if the expositor does not know his audience.  The more familiar he is with a subject, the less aware he may be of a congregation's ignorance of it.  The people in the pew live in a different intellectual world from their pastor.  Indeed they support him financially so that he can study what they cannot.  He must not assume that his listeners immediately understand what he is talking about.  He owes them a clear explanation of exactly what he means.  As a guiding rule, a speaker should define every important term in language the audience understands.  Certainly it is better to define too many terms than too few.  Explaining the relationships and implications of ideas, we should know the explanation ourselves so clearly that no vagueness exists in our own minds.  Then we should work through the steps in the explanation so that they come in a logical or psychological order.  A mist in the pulpit becomes a fog in the pew." (p. 141)

There should be no pride in preaching, but a sober and humble effort to both speak from the heart of God and speak to the hearts of people.  Here's to continually clearing out the mist!

Are You on the Sidelines?

“Christians are sitting on the sidelines while the culture rots.”  Baloney.

The culture is rotted, that's true.  But make no mistake: studying God's word, preaching God's word, publishing God's word as much as possible, proclaiming God's word publicly and living it out in our lives as we attempt to be faithful followers of Jesus... is exactly and only what the culture needs. 

In other (Biblical) words, “Repent and believe the Gospel!”

But people think,  "It isn't having an effect, things are just getting so much worse by the second!”

What, however, are we to expect by way of results if we are on mission with Jesus?  Adoring crowds and back-slapping congratulations? No! There is such a thing as the “ministry of death.” Christian ministry produces an “aroma of death” to “those who are perishing” (2 Cor 2:14-7, see also carefully 2 Cor 3-4)!

It should be no surprise that the culture has been rotting since the garden of Eden closed. The world's culture doesn't want to hear God's word of grace, mercy, and salvation. Self-serving cultural moral relativism (and its fascist political correctness) is the quite predictable result of scientific materialism an all its incarnations.This includes, by the way, those “ministries” that actively campaign against traditional Biblical Christianity in the name of “embracing” the culture (thereby becoming part of the culture and leaving the rule and reign of God). Christians who attempt to embrace the flatulent winds and grasp the festering waters of our culture in the vain effort to be accepted are finding this only hardens people's hearts against the gospel, which is (all by itself!) “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

The salt of the earth is also the light of the world. People are welcome to congratulate themselves all they want, but the salt may become tasteless and the light may be extinguished one day when the time of God's patience is exhausted (2 Thess 2:6-12)! Take heart, don't panic, the party is already over.  Most of what we hear about is being exaggerated by a tiny minority of Minitrue wannabes anyway.

In the meantime, the Great Commission is still as true as ever, and we are called, imperfect though we be, to proclaim the truth about the forgiveness that God offers.  God is merciful, full of grace, and willing to forgive and transform whoever is willing to come to Him by faith. That is the truth.

So though the world may seem to be nuts, remember that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm" (Ephesians 6:12-13).

Christians aren't on the sidelines, the world is playing the wrong game.

For another similar perspective that I just found after writing this:

http://thefederalist.com/2015/06/15/christians-need-to-stop-playing-the-self-flagellation-game/

It's Simply Apocalyptic: False Teaching is Very Popular

All these years later and things are still the same.  The only difference is the labels on the "camps" have changed.  I confidently maintain that the local church is the outpost of the Kingdom of God, and likely the mini-kingdoms of man-centered, world-loving religion are not.  They are popular, but free beer also draws a crowd. Why do we buy their books, tapes, and seminars and rallies?

Who, exactly, are YOU listening to?  What message do they bring to you?

2 Peter 2:1-3  But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.  Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Copyright © 2015 HarperCollins Christian Publishing

It's Going To Be An Issue

I don't often just re-post items, but this is a good analysis, done quickly after the oral arguments last week. I hope the trend is reversed in days to come. What does the Bible say that we can expect? Don't play along...

Article: "It is Going To Be and Issue" by Albert Mohler

Will Gay Marriage "shut down" the churches in years to come? 

Jesus Pays His Taxes?

"Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said.  And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.  Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away."

What were those 7 Words?

Traditionally, what I refer to as the seven words of Christ are considered the seven "last" words of Christ.  This is of course a ridiculous title since Christ said plenty of other things after this, and is still speaking today.  Do people who are alive as Jesus is not speak if they are able?

So here are the seven words of Christ spoken from the cross, as it were:

"Father, forgive them, because they don't know what they are doing." Luke 23:34
"Truly I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise."Luke 23:43
 "Woman behold your son...behold your mother." John 19:26
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?" Mark 15:34 (Psalm 22:1)
"I am thirsty." John 19:28
"It is finished." John 19:30
"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Luke 23:46

I want to emphasize these are NOT the last words of Christ.  They are the last words of Christ prior to His death on the cross.  They are a tool that helps us to appreciate the sufferings of Jesus on that day many years ago.  And we appreciate them even more when we realize that our sins were the reason for them, and not His own sins.

The last words of Jesus before His miraculous ascension are those I used in the benediction Easter Sunday, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the naitons, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Life of Jesus, as if we were college students

How about some talking points?  This list of facts follows the introductory section of a very well-used introductory religion textbook.  My observation here is that it is reported that very many "professing Christians" don't even accept these points as working presuppositions. So here you go- wrestle with this. 

The Life of Jesus

• Born between 4 and 1 BCE in the Judean city of Bethlehem.
• Spent his youth in the Galilean village of Nazareth.
• When he was 30 he went south to the Judean wilderness, where he was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan river.
• John the Baptist appears like an OT prophet in the NT.
• John the Baptist was apocalyptic, warning people of God's imminent judgment.
• John the Baptist called on sinners to repent
• John the Baptist called on them to be Baptized in water as a sign of spiritual cleansing.
• Jesus' preaching agreed with the preaching of John the Baptist, as did much preaching of the early church.
• During his 3 year ministry that followed, Jesus was more or less an itinerant preacher who travelled around with a group of disciples, or students.
• Jesus spoke with authority on the OT scriptures.
• He said the KOG was coming so people should repent, or be sorrowful and willing to change from their sins.
• He said there would be a new era of peace and holiness.
• Jesus companions and followers grew as he travelled.
• These included women, who are prominent in the gospel.
• Jesus was friends with women
• Jesus ate with women in public and in private
• Jesus' women followers stayed with him even in his final days when others abandoned him
• Jesus was on the “cutting edge” rejecting social norms of the day
• Jesus became very popular.
• This caused opposition and resentment from the clergy guild and the religious establishment of his day.
• Jesus seems to have know about this, and that dark days were coming for him and his followers.
• He warned his disciples that rejection, suffering, and death awaited him there.
• Jesus travelled to Jerusalem and arrived just before Passover.
• The gospels described a triumphal entry in where Jesus was greeted.
• Jesus entered Herod's Temple, and “cleansed” the temple by driving out those who had businesses there. This caused a problem.
• Jesus taught in the temple for several days, and then the authorities planned against him.
• Within hours after celebrating a “Last Supper” with his disciples, Jesus was brought before a council of Jewish leaders.
• He was accused of blasphemy
• He was handed over to the Romans
• Pilate thought Jesus was a public threat,
• He ordered Jesus execution.
• Jesus was crucified (hung on a cross) on a Friday, just hours before Passover began and less than a week after he had entered Jerusalem.
• So there is a rough historical outline.
• Matthew and Luke assert that Mary was a virgin.
• All 4 gospels say the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at his Baptism.
  • In Mat, Mark, Luke a theophonic voice is heard, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” So the gospels link Jesus to King David who was described as God's anointed and son.
  • Jesus is also ID'd as the servant of God who would suffer for the sake of humanity.
    So Jesus was understood by Christians, through an interpretation of certain OT scriptures, to be the Son of God who filled with Spirit of God would suffer for the sins of others.
    All Four gospels say that some of the women who followed Jesus found his tomb empty at dawn on the Sunday following his crucifixion.
  • Some post-resurrection appearances are recorded in some Gospels.
  • When Jesus appeared, his followers remembered how he had predicted the whole thing.
  • In Acts, Jesus stayed 40 days after his resurrection.
  • Jesus sent his disciples out as apostles “one who is sent out”
  • They were to preach to the Ancient Palestinian Jews and the Jews in the diaspora.
  • Jesus then ascended into heaven, bodily, in plain site. A miracle story-
  • As the disciples celebrated the Jewish holiday Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended on them just as had happened to Jesus at his Baptism.
  • Jesus' followers had power, and so the message about him spread.
• The early Christians were mostly practicing Jews. Christianity was originally a Jewish sect, preaching to Jews.

After his crucifixion by the Roman rulers of Judea (in modern Israel), Jesus’ followers proclaimed his resurrection and identity as God’s messiah.

• As the Book of Acts goes on, we see early Christianity open up to Gentiles or non-Jews.
• Some NT books seem to be written for a Gentile audience, and not primarily Jews.
  
  
  
  

Pastor Russ Moyer

News-Record Obituary for Pastor Russ Moyer

See the audio player on the right for "Meditations for Pastor Russ Moyer" from Rolling Roads Baptist Church on Sunday March 15, 2015.

Encouragement for Praying Christians

From Rolling Roads Baptist Church Reminder,  March 2015

“Encouragement for a Praying Church”

Our church is a busy place, full of busy Christians. We involve ourselves in many aspects of ministry and Kingdom of God work. In all our activity, we can't forget that one of the top priorities we have from God is praying. It is an honor for Christians to share one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2, 9-10). However, the “labor of prayer” is not for the faint of heart! If we take this work seriously, we will find how difficult it can be. Often prayers are not answered in the way we expect, and so we may become confused or discouraged. Sometimes we don't ever hear of an answer; we've just prayed in faith and left the answer to God. We are in danger sometimes of getting so engrossed in the details of situations people share, so that we almost forget to pray!

I believe strongly that the foundation for prayer is the promise of God. God is not unpredictable or capricious, as some would tell us. Rather, God's people are in a secure, unchangeable covenant relationship with Him through Christ. God has made manifold promises to His people. Among these are that He will not leave us hopeless in any circumstance. In Luke 11:13 Jesus says, “...how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” In Romans 15:13 Paul prays, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” So our labor of prayer is always an expression of hope-filled dependence on the God of promise, who loves us and gives His life to us. So no matter the challenges of prayer, may we always fulfill the commands of I Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Happy because of Jesus,

Pastor James

"Finding Jesus" on CNN... whatever.

CNN Finding Jesus

You won't want to miss the latest "Jesus" documentary, promising to reveal the truth about Jesus.  Each year we are subjected to these sure bet programs, usually during Lent.  There is no use in complaining, after all "all truth is God's truth" as long as you have the right set of facts, right?  I would recommend that if people really want to discover the truth about Jesus, they may want to pick up a Bible and learn to read it carefully for themselves, and then consider attending a Christian worship service where Jesus is worshiped, experienced, and followed in person.  (This to me would sure beat a TV program designed to sell advertising.) Join with me in praying that all who view the program will "repent and believe the Gospel" in obedience to Jesus' command in Mark 1:15. That would be "finding Jesus" for real!

Frequent Church Attendance Again

Here we go!

http://www.gallup.com/poll/181601/frequent-church-attendance-highest-utah-lowest-vermont.aspx?utm_source=Social%20Issues&utm_medium=newsfeed&utm_campaign=tiles

The Black and Blue in the "Grey"

Concern over the real problems regarding 50 Shades of Grey

Prudish Christian Sexual Hang-ups and the Real Problem with “50 Shades of Grey”

Why I Went On Mission To Jamaica

"...if we would not be infinitely parochial, and thus fail in true virtue, then our private life, our public life, and our global life must be driven not by a narrow, constricted, merely natural self-love, but by passion for the supremacy of God in all things--a passion created through supernatural new birth by the Holy Spirit, giving us a new spiritual taste for the glory of God--a passion sustained by the ongoing, sanctifying influences of the Word of God--and a passion bent on spreading itself through all of culture and all the nations until Christ comes."

John Piper, God's Passion for His Glory: Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards, p.113, 1998

In Him was life, and that life was the light of men

John 1:4 is saying that creative life-giving power comes from Jesus.  That life itself resides in Jesus.  A little later on in John's Gospel we will hear Jesus say, "I am the resurrection and the life."  It is hard for us to see the one on one correlation between life itself and Jesus himself.  What does it mean that Jesus gives life?  I think that God has necessarily brought about the existence of Jesus because of the very nature of life itself, but what does it mean?  John adds the application at the end of verse 4, "and that life was the light of men."  Jesus' life is the thing that provides spiritual illumination, understanding, comprehension, or in our modern language: good information about God. This is profound, it means that the life of Jesus is the source of spiritual information for everyone.  This isn't such a far fetched exclusivist idea as you would think, because people from many religions have a place for Jesus somewhere, as a great prophet, a holy man, or other things.  Even so, to have true spiritual understanding one cannot ignore, but rather must accept, Jesus' own self-disclosure that was so clearly preserved in the Gospels. Spiritual darkness doesn't necessarily mean that a person has no knowledge about God, or has not heard some really good information about God.  Spiritual darkness can be like a dark cloud of circumstance that envelops our life, that hangs over our head like a blanket, so that we neither see, nor even breathe!  An understanding and acceptance of Jesus will dispel this.  A realization and communion with the Lord will pull the blanket from our head.  Coming to Christ is like coming out of the spiritual fog, out of the darkness.  But, with John's Gospel, we sometimes see that "the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."