Here is the new marketing strategy for those looking to join and participate in a Bible driven church. This is from the Covenant Theology blog site.
"Come to Our Church, where our desire to worship God is more important than your entertainment. It's not "dynamic worship" like most churches today, since we know you can get more dynamic music at the local bar on Saturday Night, and we can't compete with that. We preach the Word of God without any concern for whether or not it is "positive and uplifting". It may well be convicting, or even invoke fear or anger. But it will accomplish God's purpose. In our church, you can learn how to deny yourself, abase yourself, and put your love of self to death, since one who does not do so cannot be Christ's disciple. You'll be given a cross to carry, and must forsake all others, even to the point of hating even your own flesh for Christ sake, for those who will not do this are not worthy of Him. You will have trials, tribulation, and persecution for Christ's sake, and the world will hate you because it hates Christ. Come and be a part of us."
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Confronting people with Biblical truth
There are times when we have to confront others with the truth of Scripture. This is a note where the names have been changed to protect the innocent. However I am approaching another "professing" Christian who insists that a close friend (unsaved) is basically a good person with a good heart. The problem is the behavior has been consistently bad for many years. Problems occur when the counsel we give others is inconsistent with the clear truth of God's word. Here is my letter to this particular person.
I have been concerned and confused as to your take on the Bible as the authoritative word of God. This morning I called the church you attend and asked them about their doctrinal statement and statement of faith. It was rather difficult to find on the website and therefore I called and routed to the pastor's secretary. Basically I copied from documentation given to me for you to reference below. Since you have been an active member there for 50 plus years then I am concluding you concur with the doctrine and practices of this church. I point blank asked the pastor's secretary if this church in Charlotte believe the following 4 things about the Bible:
1. Inspired
2. Revealed
3. Inerrant
4. Infallible
She answered yes to my question.
I recall having a conversation with you some time back where you expressed a problem with some of these things. Maybe I am misquoting you on this and if so I apologize. As you know Nancy and I are giving our lives to the word of God being learned and lived as the authority for our lives. Joe, it was the cry of the Reformation that said "we will only believe and do what the Bible says."
Let me emphasize that in regard to this issue of Ingrid, I am not interested in what you think, or what I think, but rather what God thinks and has to say about these things. I believe your pastor would agree with me on this point. We have a major point of disagreement in regard to Ingrid. You think Ingrid is a "good" person but unfortunately this is not how the Bible speaks. The Lord Jesus addresses the heart of man in Mark 7:21-23 - For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."
The greatest doctrine we have on salvation was written by the apostle Paul in Romans.
He talks about the universal condition of man in Romans 1:18-3:20. Read carefully Romans 3:10-12:
Rom. 3:10 as it is written,
"THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
Rom. 3:11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
Rom. 3:12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
Again from the words of the Lord Jesus in his famous "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew 7:18-19- So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
"A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Joe, I have studied these verses in depth. There is no way you can look at Ingrid's behavior over the past 25 years in her marriage and see the consistent production of good fruit, as a matter of fact one sees just the opposite. And there is a simple answer to that question given by the Lord Jesus Himself. The reason is because the tree is bad!
Therefore Nancy and I are and remain convinced not on what we think but on the authority of God's word that Ingrid at this time is not a "good" person. Joe I have shared these types of things with Ingrid in the past. Again I have taken a Galatians 6:1 approach to Ingrid, which says "Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness..." However I agree with Pastor Jones that much bolder actions now need to be taken with her. I am in favor of a Jude 23 approach which says "save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh." Or even a 1 Corinthians 5:5 approach in which the apostle Paul writes of a wayward brother "I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." As a matter of fact this is how Pastor Jones has been praying in regard to Ingrid and her ongoing behavior.
If you want to know the Biblical solution for Ingrid it has been clearly expressed through Old and New Testament. The solution for Ingrid is to Repent and Believe! It was the first sermon that the Lord Jesus preached in Mark 1:15. In my opinion and others who have talked to Ingrid and know her, there has been no genuine repentence. He has a worldly type of sorrow in what he did, and in the fact that he got caught. But it was in fact her lack of repentence, that caused Pastor Jones to ask Ingrid to leave the church. Joe, that is called church discipline and she still remains under the discipline of this church.
Joe, I have been and continue to pray that God would do whatever He needs to do, in order to bring Ingrid supernaturally to Himself.
gripped by His grace,
P.S. - This is a copy of the churches doctrinal beliefs and practices concerning the Bible. I think as we continue to talk about these things it should be our plumb line or ultimate compass to guide our counsel and discussion.
The church confesses the Scriptures to be the Word of God written, witnessing to God's self-revelation. Where that Word is read and proclaimed, Jesus Christ the Living Word is present by the inward witness of the Holy Spirit. For this reason the reading, hearing, preaching, and confessing of the Word are central to Christian worship. The session shall ensure that in public worship the Scripture is read and proclaimed regularly in the common language(s) of the particular church. (Book of Order W-2.2001)
Leaders in the church can be expected to affirm that "... the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments...[are]...., by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God's Word to [them]." (Book of Order G-14.0405b.2)
The church professes adherence to the traditional statements of Presbyterianism -- the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and the Westminster Larger Catechism -- though it views them as subordinate to the Bible, which alone is viewed as the inspired Word of God, a viewpoint which encompasses the doctrine of inerrancy in matters of fact, history, and teaching.
I have been concerned and confused as to your take on the Bible as the authoritative word of God. This morning I called the church you attend and asked them about their doctrinal statement and statement of faith. It was rather difficult to find on the website and therefore I called and routed to the pastor's secretary. Basically I copied from documentation given to me for you to reference below. Since you have been an active member there for 50 plus years then I am concluding you concur with the doctrine and practices of this church. I point blank asked the pastor's secretary if this church in Charlotte believe the following 4 things about the Bible:
1. Inspired
2. Revealed
3. Inerrant
4. Infallible
She answered yes to my question.
I recall having a conversation with you some time back where you expressed a problem with some of these things. Maybe I am misquoting you on this and if so I apologize. As you know Nancy and I are giving our lives to the word of God being learned and lived as the authority for our lives. Joe, it was the cry of the Reformation that said "we will only believe and do what the Bible says."
Let me emphasize that in regard to this issue of Ingrid, I am not interested in what you think, or what I think, but rather what God thinks and has to say about these things. I believe your pastor would agree with me on this point. We have a major point of disagreement in regard to Ingrid. You think Ingrid is a "good" person but unfortunately this is not how the Bible speaks. The Lord Jesus addresses the heart of man in Mark 7:21-23 - For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."
The greatest doctrine we have on salvation was written by the apostle Paul in Romans.
He talks about the universal condition of man in Romans 1:18-3:20. Read carefully Romans 3:10-12:
Rom. 3:10 as it is written,
"THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
Rom. 3:11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
Rom. 3:12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
Again from the words of the Lord Jesus in his famous "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew 7:18-19- So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
"A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Joe, I have studied these verses in depth. There is no way you can look at Ingrid's behavior over the past 25 years in her marriage and see the consistent production of good fruit, as a matter of fact one sees just the opposite. And there is a simple answer to that question given by the Lord Jesus Himself. The reason is because the tree is bad!
Therefore Nancy and I are and remain convinced not on what we think but on the authority of God's word that Ingrid at this time is not a "good" person. Joe I have shared these types of things with Ingrid in the past. Again I have taken a Galatians 6:1 approach to Ingrid, which says "Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness..." However I agree with Pastor Jones that much bolder actions now need to be taken with her. I am in favor of a Jude 23 approach which says "save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh." Or even a 1 Corinthians 5:5 approach in which the apostle Paul writes of a wayward brother "I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." As a matter of fact this is how Pastor Jones has been praying in regard to Ingrid and her ongoing behavior.
If you want to know the Biblical solution for Ingrid it has been clearly expressed through Old and New Testament. The solution for Ingrid is to Repent and Believe! It was the first sermon that the Lord Jesus preached in Mark 1:15. In my opinion and others who have talked to Ingrid and know her, there has been no genuine repentence. He has a worldly type of sorrow in what he did, and in the fact that he got caught. But it was in fact her lack of repentence, that caused Pastor Jones to ask Ingrid to leave the church. Joe, that is called church discipline and she still remains under the discipline of this church.
Joe, I have been and continue to pray that God would do whatever He needs to do, in order to bring Ingrid supernaturally to Himself.
gripped by His grace,
P.S. - This is a copy of the churches doctrinal beliefs and practices concerning the Bible. I think as we continue to talk about these things it should be our plumb line or ultimate compass to guide our counsel and discussion.
The church confesses the Scriptures to be the Word of God written, witnessing to God's self-revelation. Where that Word is read and proclaimed, Jesus Christ the Living Word is present by the inward witness of the Holy Spirit. For this reason the reading, hearing, preaching, and confessing of the Word are central to Christian worship. The session shall ensure that in public worship the Scripture is read and proclaimed regularly in the common language(s) of the particular church. (Book of Order W-2.2001)
Leaders in the church can be expected to affirm that "... the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments...[are]...., by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God's Word to [them]." (Book of Order G-14.0405b.2)
The church professes adherence to the traditional statements of Presbyterianism -- the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and the Westminster Larger Catechism -- though it views them as subordinate to the Bible, which alone is viewed as the inspired Word of God, a viewpoint which encompasses the doctrine of inerrancy in matters of fact, history, and teaching.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Do you think Biblically?
If you made a list of the top 10 reasons to praise God, what things might be on that list? The apostle Paul had a list and do you know what were number 1 and 2 on his list? Did either one on his list make your top 10? OK, go to Ephesians 1:3-14. By the way in Ephesians 1:11 you have one of the most sweeping statements in the Bible on God's sovereign control over all things. Paul starts out by extolling God for the many blessings that have been brought to us by the Father through the Son. The things that begin this list of blessings are dual truths, that God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, (Eph. 1:4) and that He has predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, out of His love, according to His will, to the praise of His glorious grace! The apostle Paul puts these two items at the top of his list when praising God: (Eph. 1:3-11)
1. Election
2. Predestination
Did either of these doctrines make your list? As most of you know these two terms have been highly debated and controversial throughout church history. Many times I have heard Christians utter a very dangerous phrase, they say things like "doctrine divides." Brothers and sisters in Christ that is not true, and I can prove that by you going to any of Paul's 13 epistles. He wrote in a style in which normally he always begins with doctrine, and then moves to application. Therefore Paul knew, because he was writing under the inspiration of the Spirit, that doctrine was the very thing that brought the church together to be unified in Christ. Again I am speaking to a larger point in our living the Christ centered life and which is grounded in our understand the Bible.
1. Election
2. Predestination
Did either of these doctrines make your list? As most of you know these two terms have been highly debated and controversial throughout church history. Many times I have heard Christians utter a very dangerous phrase, they say things like "doctrine divides." Brothers and sisters in Christ that is not true, and I can prove that by you going to any of Paul's 13 epistles. He wrote in a style in which normally he always begins with doctrine, and then moves to application. Therefore Paul knew, because he was writing under the inspiration of the Spirit, that doctrine was the very thing that brought the church together to be unified in Christ. Again I am speaking to a larger point in our living the Christ centered life and which is grounded in our understand the Bible.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Back from fishing and yes, it was great!
Things have been slow on the blog due to some vacation time. I posted a gone fishing sign and now here are the results. Folks, this is what the fishing is like on the intra-coastal waterway in Charleston, SC. Over the years I have been privileged to fish with many great anglers including Mike Koontz, Randall Groves and the legendary Kelly Bartlett. And today we add another into the Red Fish Hall of Fame may I present for your watching pleasure Mr. Pat Jones.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Quote for the day
"One of the greatest needs other than preaching the gospel and true conversion is to teach on the attributes of God, because people basically don't know Him.
If I were to go into most churches and preach on the attributes of God, what would happen about midway through that week is you would have faithful church members who have been there for forty years who would stand up and say,
'That's not my god, I could never love a god like that,'
... even though I'm just preaching the historical Christian view of God."
-Paul Washer from the sermon I am Under Obligation
If I were to go into most churches and preach on the attributes of God, what would happen about midway through that week is you would have faithful church members who have been there for forty years who would stand up and say,
'That's not my god, I could never love a god like that,'
... even though I'm just preaching the historical Christian view of God."
-Paul Washer from the sermon I am Under Obligation
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The analogy of Lazarus in John 11
The resurrection of Lazarus in John 11 is not unlike our spiritual resurrection from the dead. Did you notice "how" Lazarus responded? He responded based on the specific call of the Lord Jesus (John 11:43-44) when he heard these words "Lazarus, come forth." This was a specific call to bring Lazarus from death unto life. A Christian is one who has received a specific call from the Lord Jesus that brings them from death to life. Then notice that Lazarus in John 11 came forth still wrapped in his grave clothes. In this video Dr. John MacArthur compares this to our living the Christian life.
For the entire message simply click on this LINK.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
10 marks of pleasing the flesh
From the Puritan Fellowship blog site:
The signs of a flesh-pleaser or sensualist are these:
1. When a man in his desire to please his appetite, does not do it with a view to a higher end, that is to say to the preparing himself for the service of God; but does it only for the delight itself. (Of course no one does every action conciously with a view to the service of God. Nevertheless, the general manner or habit of a life spent in the service of God is absent for the flesh-pleaser.)
2. When he looks more eagerly and industriously after the prosperity of his body than of his soul.
3. When he will not refrain from his pleasures, when God forbids them, or when they hurt his soul, or when the necessities of his soul call him away from them. But he must have his delight whatever it costs him, and is so set upon it, that he cannot deny it to himself.
4. When the pleasures of his flesh exceed his delights in God, and his holy word and ways, and the expectations of endless pleasure. And this not only in the passion, but in the estimation, choice, and action. When he had rather be at a play, or feast, or other entertainment, or getting good bargains or profits in the world, than to live in the life of faith and love, which would be a holy and heavenly way of living.
5. When men set their minds to scheme and study to make provision for the pleasures of the flesh; and this is first and sweetest in their thoughts.
6. When they had rather talk, or hear, or read of fleshly pleasures, than of spiritual and heavenly delights.
7. When they love the company of merry sensualists, better than the communion of saints, in which they may be exercised in the praises of their Maker.
8. When they consider that the best place to live and work is where they have the pleasure of the flesh. They would rather be where they have things easy, and lack nothing for the body, rather than where they have far better help and provision for the soul, though the flesh be pinched for it.
9. When he will be more eager to spend money to please his flesh than to please God.
10. When he will believe or like no doctrine but "easy-believism," and hate mortification as too strict "legalism." By these, and similar signs, sensuality may easily be known; indeed, by the main bent of the life.
The signs of a flesh-pleaser or sensualist are these:
1. When a man in his desire to please his appetite, does not do it with a view to a higher end, that is to say to the preparing himself for the service of God; but does it only for the delight itself. (Of course no one does every action conciously with a view to the service of God. Nevertheless, the general manner or habit of a life spent in the service of God is absent for the flesh-pleaser.)
2. When he looks more eagerly and industriously after the prosperity of his body than of his soul.
3. When he will not refrain from his pleasures, when God forbids them, or when they hurt his soul, or when the necessities of his soul call him away from them. But he must have his delight whatever it costs him, and is so set upon it, that he cannot deny it to himself.
4. When the pleasures of his flesh exceed his delights in God, and his holy word and ways, and the expectations of endless pleasure. And this not only in the passion, but in the estimation, choice, and action. When he had rather be at a play, or feast, or other entertainment, or getting good bargains or profits in the world, than to live in the life of faith and love, which would be a holy and heavenly way of living.
5. When men set their minds to scheme and study to make provision for the pleasures of the flesh; and this is first and sweetest in their thoughts.
6. When they had rather talk, or hear, or read of fleshly pleasures, than of spiritual and heavenly delights.
7. When they love the company of merry sensualists, better than the communion of saints, in which they may be exercised in the praises of their Maker.
8. When they consider that the best place to live and work is where they have the pleasure of the flesh. They would rather be where they have things easy, and lack nothing for the body, rather than where they have far better help and provision for the soul, though the flesh be pinched for it.
9. When he will be more eager to spend money to please his flesh than to please God.
10. When he will believe or like no doctrine but "easy-believism," and hate mortification as too strict "legalism." By these, and similar signs, sensuality may easily be known; indeed, by the main bent of the life.
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