Waves of Truth

I'm Baaaack...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:55:00 +0000

Have you ever gone through an old drawer and found something that you forgot you had?

Well that was me this week when I stumbled on this. I stopped posting here because the stuggle and time demands of seminary life didn't allow it. But now that I have finished seminary, I have a little more free time on my hands...ok, alot of time.

So far God hasn't opened the door of opportunity for me to pastor a church yet, but that is in His timing. Right now I have to become spiritually ready even moreso, and pray that the church He will send me too is doing the same.

In the days and weeks ahead, I'll post

Geico Preachers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:03:00 +0000

Ok .....I cried when I saw this.

Aaron

Rappers sharing the "gospel"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:08:00 +0000

Read this this evening, and ...have to say my first reaction was that this could be good.
But reading on, I have to ask, is believing in God enough to be called saved?

Here is the article.

One quote of interest.

"I think it's very narrow-minded for someone to categorize an other one's relationship with their spirituality," says Jones. "Who are we to say what's right or wrong about what somebody develops? It doesn't matter if five minutes ago someone sang about the love of their life in a very intimate position, then the next five their talking about their love of Jesus Christ."

God help us....

Trip to Israel

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:24:00 +0000

While sitting here studying Hebrew this morning, I realized that I haven't posted in a while. Mainly because between Greek and Hebrew, and working on my buddy's (Mark Z.) Cessna 210 (doing a complete overhaul) I've been keeping busy. Very busy.

I know that in the past I have posted mainly on theological and ecclesial topics, but I would like to take a bit of a turn and share some of my experience that I had last summer when I took a trip to Israel through SWBTS. While this could take days just trying to sort through what we did, where we went, who we met, and the adventure of getting there (and I do mean adventure), for now I just want to hit some highlights and later get more detailed.

One of the most eye opening experiences while there was getting to go to Bethlehem. Now Bethlehem is behind the wall that the Israeli government built. Because of this wall the economy in Bethlehem and the surrounding West Bank has be dealt a devastating blow. They were heavily dependant on tourism and when the wall went up tourism went down 80%.

When our bus arrived at the entrance, we were told by our tour guide (Micky, a Russian Messianic Christian Jew) that we would have to switch buses and tour guides. The reason being that an Israeli could not go in, only a Palestinian tour guide and bus could give the tour through Bethlehem. This kind of surprised us. So we got off the bus and onto the one parked next to us.

As the bus pulled through the gate the scenery changed, as it did when we went to other predominantly Arab towns, only worse. In American terms, it made the "hood" look inviting. We made our way through the city to the outskirts where Herodias was.

Herodias was the hill that Herod (of the time of Jesus' birth) had built a house on top of and inside.

On the back side is where they recently discovered what they think to be Herod's tomb.

Enough about that. The reason for explaining all of this is to introduce the tour guide. He is Palestinian. He is Christian.

That's right. Christian. (plaid shirt)

I had the opportunity to visit with him while walking on the outside of the hill and ask him what it was like being a Christian Palestinian. I was amazed. He grew up Catholic, but when he went to Bible college to learn to be a tour guide, he realized his need for Christ. He is part of a non-denominational church that meets in a small store front of about 50 to 80 people. All Palestinian.

Whenever fighting breaks out in Bethlehem, as it did years ago, it's on Palestinian Christian streets. It is Palestinian Christian children in the cross fire. They cannot leave because they are not citizens of a country and they therefore cannot get a passport or visa. The economy is so bad that children beg, and adults greet you when you get off the bus trying to sell trinkets.

They are not liked by their Muslim neighbors and not trusted by the Israeli government.

The reason I say all this is for this reason. Don't think that the current state of Israel is "godly"-it isn't. Most Israeli Jews are secular Jews. They are Jewish by birth-atheist by faith.

We have brothers and sisters in Christ in Israel who are suffering. But don't make the mistake that so many do, that just because there is a state of Israel that God only on the state of Israel's side.

I'll make this statement.

Not all Israel is Israel.

The STATE of Israel is not COVENANT Israel.

Worship Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:55:00 +0000

From the smallest of flower...

To the largest star...

All is for His Glory!!!

Soli Deo Gloria

Aaron

What is Church

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:37:00 +0000

To continue on the thought of yesterday's thoughts, I found this guy probably has a better grip on what a church should be than me. Here is John MacArthur.

http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/01/16/inward-upward-or-outward/#more-1144

Hit the nail on the head.

Calvinism

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:39:00 +0000

“Give Us A Shot”

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:54:00 +0000

This church is going to have to change it's slogan from a "place for the screwed and the screwed up" to "a place for the slobber-nockered."

How do we define church? I mean Biblically? Is the Biblical model of church supposed to be the evangelistic instrument that God uses?

The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 defines it quite well. Here is the line that is pertinent to this discussion.

"The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation."

First of all, the church is not (supposed to be) made up of un-regenerate members but regenerate. If they are, and this is really a question for the "seeker"-sensitive church, how do you practice Matthew 18:15-20? Two words sum it up, that unfortunately most churches have forgotten, church discipline. You can't be a true Jesus following church if you are not practicing discipline. That includes those who are NOT "seeker"-sensitive churches.

The fact is that they cannot practice church discipline, as opposed to those that choose not to. So on the litmus of whether or not they are a true Biblical church that has the ability to practice church discipline, do they pass or fail?

Fail.

Next is evangelism.

So why are so many churches taking this approach to outreach? Is it Christ-like to create or advertise the Body of Christ on a shot glass? No.

In a world screaming for something different, the church is trying to show itself as the same…

We should be different. I used to hang out in bars. Reading the shot glass was the last thing I was looking at. When we teach our people that this is what evangelism looks like, we teach conformity not transformation. You don't have to change, you can be a Christian and be cool like the world. Even though the Bible tells a different story.

John 15:18-20 "If the world hates you, ¹you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but ^aI chose you out of the world, ^btherefore the world hates you. ²⁰ "Remember the word that I said to you, ^a'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, ^bthey will also persecute you; if they ^ckept My word, they will keep yours also." (NAS-emphasis mine)

So if the bartenders see you as just like them and think your cool…

Don't get me wrong, we should be in the bars sharing the Gospel, loving people, meeting needs. But passing out shot glasses doesn't shout there is a Savior, who can change your situation and/or change you.

Evangelism…fail.

They wanted to impress non believers. How about impressing and glorifying Him? Its one thing to stand outside a bar and hand out tracts and witness, but another to include a free shot glass. All you do is grant affirmation of the life they have. Not the one that they can have.

Soli Deo Gloria

Emergent Fear

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:27:00 +0000

Ok, I'll admit that I always wondered what it would be like to visit an Emergent Church service. A service that anybody could believe what they wanted-no rules, no doctrine, no conviction.

Al Mohler for SBC President!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:46:00 +0000

I'd vote for him. Read about who will nominate him here.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 15:06:00 +0000

Holy Highway (?)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:37:00 +0000

Watch this report from CNN. Perhaps you will have some questions like I do.

Can I pull a verse or passage from the Bible and turn it into a prophetic word? What is "revelation" and does it still occur today? How do we pray, and at what volume? Do cabaret strip clubs really give more to the community than churches?

Isaiah 35:8
And ^aa highway will be there, ^ba roadway, And it will be called the Highway of ^cHoliness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And ^dfools will not wander on it. (NAS)

First off, in the context of the passage, this is NOT about I-35. It is not about a physical highway at all. It is the promise of a way of salvation. A king's highway, the King of king's highway specifically, that is promised to those of His elect. Those who walk on it will be clean, washed from sin. Isaiah is telling us that there will be a way of salvation that God will provide, and make, that leads to heaven.

Here is a prime example of pulling out of context a verse and calling it "new revelation". Do we really need new revelation? NO. God's Word is the only complete, final revelation that we need. People need to hear the Good News that it contains. To many of us focus on the sin and try telling sinners to quit sinning, but guess what, they can't. They need to be told who God is, a holy, righteous, wrathful, judge, who demands that we obey Him; saw that we in and of ourselves could not do anything to remove our sin so He sent His Son on our behalf. And that it pleased this loving God to crush Him (Isa.53:10), His own Son. That should be the focus.

Second, do we need to pray like this? For some reason this passage comes to mind.

Matthew 6:5-6 "And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to ^astand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, ^1bin order to be seen by men. ^cTruly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ⁶ "But you, when you pray, ^ago into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and ^byour Father who sees in secret will repay you."

Hmmmm.

One thing I have to ask. Does the volume of a person's voice mean God is more likely to hear? Is God hard of hearing? Just wondering.

I think at the end the reporter asked a valid question (showing he probably understood how to interpret Scripture better) by asking when a highway in the desert would be prayed for because of Isaiah 40:3, which, ironically, was the same misinterpretation that the Essenes made in the century prior to Jesus' birth that caused them to go into the desert to prepare the way of the Lord.

Makes me more mindful of how I pray in public. No wonder my family looked nervous when they asked me to pray over Thanksgiving dinner, if that is what they expect, I'd be nervous, too.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Aaron

Goodbye BGCT

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:11:00 +0000

Well, last night Mambrino Baptist voted on whether or not to stay in the BGCT or to move itself to be uniquely alligned with the SBTC. The vote was 35 in favor of moving and 9 for staying in the BGCT.

So we will be leaving the BGCT. It is the right move for us. I appreciate our pastor's leadership in taking on a difficult and sometimes not so popular move. I wish I would have had the same kind of conviction that the Bible is not only infallible, authoritative, and inerrant Word of God, but that it is also all sufficient, when I was his age. Now, years later, I do.

We pray that those who voted against would come alongside us and see that this will not in any way affect how we do things on a week to week, day to day basis. That it was nothing personal. Though we leave the BGCT with a heavy heart, it is only because we would rather live in peace with the brethren, than to have to constantly say "no" all the time and correct what they are teaching and doing.

We are Southern Baptists. Texas Southern Baptists.

Once finals are over, I plan to address some issues that have been weighing on me. Hope you will stay tuned.

PSA--Emergent Church Bank

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 03:53:00 +0000

Emergent really makes sense.... here is an interesting thought.

You can find the link
here

Finals Week

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 05:57:00 +0000

Tis' the season.

No, I don't mean Christmas.

Finals. Kinda knocks holiday cheer to the side.

Will post again in depth soon.

Looking at Baptism, priesthood of the believers, Emergent church, and who knows what.

Soli Deo Gloria
Aaron

Is Interfaith Worship, Worship?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:21:00 +0000

This morning I read a blog article with a link to the Austin American-Statesman newspaper about an interfaith "worship" service that has been going on for 23 years. This year it had planned to be, and reserved the facilities at Hyde Park Baptist Church. You can read the article here.

So here is my question, is interfaith/interreligious worship actually worship?

Quite simply put, no. No. NO. In Christian worship we are coming before a Holy God and ascribing, telling, proclaiming His worth-ship to us. In the practice of doing this to also change "hats" to worship Buddha, Allah, or whatever counters everything that the Bible tells us to do. Here are some examples.

Exodus 34:13-16 You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim ¹⁴ (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), ¹⁵ lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, ¹⁶ and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods.

(funny…the leaders of the synagogue in Austin must have forgot )

Deuteronomy 4:35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him.

Acts 4:11-12 This Jesus¹is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.²
¹² And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

This is by no means an exhaustive list of Scripture. Just a taste.

"(Simone Talma) Flowers said she was disheartened by the church's decision. "As a Christian, my first response is, what would Jesus do in this situation?" she said."

Probably He is rejoicing over this church keeping His bride pure. Should we mingle worship so as to provide peace between faiths? Does it mean that we cannot associate with those of different beliefs?

We absolutely should work to develop relationships with those of different faiths and be a witness to them, in loving, gracious, Christ-like love; not bending on the facts of Scripture that there is only one God, one Savior, Jesus Christ.

However, to welcome them into, and worshipping with, different faiths, dilutes and condones the cultural idea that there are multiple ways to heaven. Our children see, by our example, that other "ideas" or cultural "truths" all mean the same thing. This is the most dangerous threat to our churches today. A coalescing and watering down the truth of Scripture, intermarrying of children of different faiths (the only intermarrying banned in the Bible is different faiths-not race).

Those outside the Christian faith call this "Interreligious Ministries", in the Christian church we call it "Emergent".

Urgent Prayer Request

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:12:00 +0000

When I was in Israel this past summer, we met an IMB missionary that was studying in Haifa. He told our group of something that had happened in his church that he was working with. He sent the story in an email. Here is the excerpt from the email.

Friends,

I'm writing this email to quickly update all of you on two new IAM
members of God's family! Yes! After we returned from Amman an elder
from the Arabic church we attend here in Haifa shared with me that
several members of the church had been in contact with three Muslims
who had show an interest in the gospel. The following day he called
and said that two of them had accepted Christ and were interested in
following that commitment by being baptized. Wednesday night I had
the amazing opportunity of attending the prayer service and hearing
one of these new believers pour out his heart in conviction over his
personal sin, thankfulness that Jesus had come to rescue him from the
pit he was living in, and that those around him, his family and
friends, would also come to know the truth that had set him free. It
was the most beautiful prayer I have ever heard; the prayer of a new
believer from a Muslim background pouring out his heart in gratitude
to a wonderful Savior. I know you all are rejoicing as well.

One of these new believers was imprisoned for nearly 15 years for
being a member of Hamas and carrying out a terrorist attack. His
wife and two children are not (yet) believers, to our knowledge, so
remember them. Both men are already beginning to receive threats,
however, both are being extremely bold. The former Hamas member
said, "This is the path I've been looking for my whole life." Pray
they would continue to have boldness and share their faith. Many
times new believers feel isolated and alone. These believers have
found a new community in this church. Pray we would BE the community
they need so they can flourish and we can see more believers brought
into the fold.

That was the first of June, end of May. The reason I share that with you is because of the email I received yesterday from Scott. Here is one of the prayer requests he listed.

The believer here in Haifa we informed you about a few months ago
was recently put in jail, seemingly at the instigation of his
unbelieving wife. He has since been moved to a psychiatric
facility. Pray for Mahmoud to grow in his faith and be a strong
witness wherever he is. Pray for his wife to have a broken heart and
for the Lord to reveal himself to her in a very personal way. Pray
for healing for the whole family.

I could not imagine a wife putting a husband away for believing in Christ.

Matthew 10:35-39 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ³⁶ And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. ³⁷ Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Be praying for Mahmoud, and for Scott and his family (they also just had a 3^rd child), and the IAM (Israeli Arab Muslim) ministry there.

Soul Competency (?)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 02:58:00 +0000

The one thing you won't hear much, at least not in the affirmative, about inerrancy. But one thing you will hear continuously is "soul competency". The SBC has inerrancy as its litmus test, and the BGCT has soul competency.

So what is soul competency? Is it biblical?

Here is a definition from Wikipedia. (if you know of a better one, let me know I'll change it out)

Soul competency is a Christian theological perspective on the accountability of each person before God. According to this view, neither one's family relationships, church membership, or ecclesiastical or religious authorities can affect salvation of one's soul from damnation. Instead, under this view, each person is responsible to God for his or her own personal faith in Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection.

What has seemed to have taken place in the BGCT is that soul competency has morphed into this definition and then some. Not only can no one else affect the salvation of one's soul, but they can't tell you what is proper to believe. Because we each have the Holy Spirit, we can look to scripture and come to our own interpretation in light of Jesus.

But this is not what historical Baptist belief has held. Even if, IF, it were, is it biblical?

No.

Is the definition that I posted from Wikipedia right? Yes. Just not the mutation that no one can tell us how to interpret the scripture. What does the Bible say?

2 Timothy 4:1-4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: ² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. ³ For the time is coming when people will not endure sound¹teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, ⁴ and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.(emphasis mine, ESV)

Now here is the thought. If one is completely free to believe and interpret the scripture as they see it, without anyone being able to tell them that they are wrong, then why does scripture tell us that we (especially pastors) are to reprove, rebuke, and exhort?

It just seems to me that this view of soul competency, is dangerous on several levels.

Preaching- Looking at the first phrase of verse 2, Paul tells Timothy to preach the word. But with this view of soul competency, preaching becomes relative to what the person sitting in the pew. The power doesn't lie with the Spirit filled preacher, prepared, prayed up, rather it is up to the person in the pew to interpret what the preacher says. Preaching is what God has chosen to be the instrument to call men to salvation, be it on the street, home, or pew. The preacher no longer becomes the mouthpiece of God, because the individual in the pew is the final authority. Not Scripture.
Discipleship- How many Baptist churches can you name where the majority of members have at some point in time in the last year has shared their faith? The general ability of the typical Southern Baptist church member in Texas, and elsewhere to be sure, to be able to defend their faith and be "ready in season and out of season." If soul competency, as is understood among BGCT-ers, is that the individual is the final interpretive authority, then discipleship is unnecessary other than to create those who hold your views, till they read for themselves and come up with their own.
Church discipline- Excuse me? In soul competency morphology, forget it. Might as well disregard it. One can't get into one another's lives and tell when there is a sin, known, or unknown, that needs to be dealt with in a loving, patient, instructive call to repentance. Then exhorting them to continue in the faith toward holiness. If we are unable to exercise Matthew 18, due to one shouting, "Soul competency! Soul competency!" we devalue, not just the scripture, but we devalue each other and our relationships. Why? Because discipline among the body is the most loving thing that can be done. It involves someone going to another and telling them that they are wrong (be it sin, or doctrine, in this context), tell them to stop or change, then exhort them. How is this done? With patience, teaching them WHY it is sin, or WHY it is wrong to believe that way, or WHY it is not right to interpret scripture that way. To not do this is dangerous.
Tickled ears- The next dangerous result of this morphed view of soul competency is that people will look for a church that makes them feel comfortable with what they believe, rather than reproved; how they are living, rather than rebuked; feeling curious for the newest fad, rather than exhorted with the power of the Word preached. Is it any wonder that part of the reason so many move from one church to another when they look for what makes them feel good, because ultimately that is what drives morphed soul competency. The theme song is Barbara Streisand Feeling. The very notion for many that the preacher would stand in the pulpit and say, "Thus says the Lord…" is pretentious on the preacher's part, in the morphed eyes of soul competency.

Soul competency is a cherished Protestant, as well as Baptist, doctrine. However, when allowed to morph into individualism, and their feelings, over and above authority of the community of faith to disciple and discipline the individual members, we lose.

Soli Deo Gloria

BGCT Doesn’t Know Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:56:00 +0000

Just when you think that things are bad at home in the BGCT, you read this. Did the North Carolina State Convention rightly, and by rightly I mean biblically, remove a church that was trying to get publicity and/or be ground-breaking (language which also is used about the BGCT's election of it's first female president) by allowing those who are practicing homosexuals not only to be members, but lesbian deacons?

Here is the over arching question: Does the teaching, in Matthew 18:15-20, concerning church discipline, apply to a church's relationship with an association, convention? Or a national convention with a state convention? An association with a local church? What about church, convention autonomy?

True Gospel Preaching

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:11:00 +0000

Oh that we would return to this kind of preaching...

Take an hour to listen.

Response to Marv Knox: Baptist Standard Editorial

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:10:00 +0000

Earlier this month an editorial was published in the Baptist Standard by Marv Knox. It made some interesting points that I would like to interact with. You can find the article here.

The assumption that the election was an overwhelming victory for those of the Texas Baptists Committed is amazing to me. Their candidate won the election by a mere 60 votes. 60. It is not a landslide at all, in fact it is statement the other direction. That almost half of the messengers felt that a candidate who was only announced as a candidate approximately a week earlier, is a statement of lack of support in the establishment rather than a vote for it.

However, I really want to address the three points that Knox gives as reasons that he doesn't think the loss will be great.

Here are my reasons why I think it will.

Baptists are uninformed. The general member sitting in the pew of a typical BGCT church is uninformed of the typical events within the political, educational, or doctrinal world of the BGCT and its affiliated universities and seminaries. Most Texas Baptists sitting in the pew, hold to the inerrancy and authority of the Scripture. When brought to light that the inerrancy question is the dividing point with the SBC for most of the leadership in the BGCT, it comes as a surprise because most of them do. It is also evident that most of the churches within the BGCT were absent from the convention and didn't even send a single messenger. So not only are the individuals in the pew uninformed of the issues, so is leadership in a large number of local churches. This is most likely due to pastors being too consumed with the life of the church (which is not a bad thing). But had they been there, would things have been different? Perhaps.
The election of a woman as president WAS unbibical. Regardless of resume, yes, Mrs. Fenner's is impressive, the biblical fact that women are not permitted to lead is quite evident. From 1 Timothy 2.9-14 to 3.1-15, the biblical model is that the role of pastor is reserved for men. Women have roles to play as well, though not in a leadership or authority position. Last I checked, president of an ecclesial body is just that. The introduction by Charles Wade of Mrs. Fenner as the next president to "lead our churches" sends the message that she is the leader of the churches of the BGCT, and its spokesperson. Also, when we have young people who are looking to the ministry, and they see one in leadership who is a woman, it conveys to ministerial students that it IS biblical and is a natural progression. Most Texas Baptists see this, as a liberal step that other denominations have gone down, and are now in a quandary over. Why doesn't anyone else see that the next step is the open door policy allowing homosexuals to take leadership in the pulpits?
The church, founded on biblical principles, won't stand for it. Whether or not women will stand for it is irrelevant. The church must seek the truth of Scripture, and apply it to the lives of individuals. One of these truths is church discipline. There is no accountability at the individual level, which affects the church, association, and yes, the state level. Holding individuals to a high level of doctrinal integrity amongst the individual, church, associational, and state levels is a necessary practice that should be reinstated.
The men, in our churches have for too long taken the back seat to our ladies in the area of lay ministry by not taking the initiative to become proactive in teaching/training men to spiritually lead their families and churches in evangelism and service ministries. We are now paying the price for our lack of commitment in completing the Great Commission, just baptizing them and not discipling them.
Once the church educates its membership to the issues involved, and the men become involved in the ministry, mission and leadership of the church, then there will be a change.

Worship

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 05:11:00 +0000

Ponder for a while His creation. Its wonder, beauty, and awe. If this is how His creation worships Him, then how should we?

Consider the great scale it worships Him...

To even the most incredible creation...

Even while in the womb, John recognized who the Creator was and leaped for joy.

Luke 1:39-41 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.

As you enter into worship, keep in mind whose presence you are coming into.

And that He has adopted us, so we can say "Abba, Father." (Romans 8.15)

The History of Baptist's View of Scripture and Inerrancy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:33:00 +0000

For many the idea of the inerrancy of Scripture is either unimportant, or is language that is man-made and outside of Biblical warrant. The contention is that because the Bible never says explicitly that it is without error is to place on it a man made burden that was not intended.

Those who are Baptist often say that we have traditionally held to the belief that Scripture is "sacred and authoritative", but not inerrant. Anymore than that is to try to force our own ideology and perform an isogetical set of hoops to use to judge others by.

But let's see if this is something that is a recent belief, or is it a historical baptist view of Scripture?

Here is part of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 as it pertains to Scripture. And ask if this is a high view of it or not.

Paragraph 4. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.7 7 2 Pet. 1:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 John 5:9

Paragraph 5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to a high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it does abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.8 8 John 16:13,14; 1 Cor. 2:10-12; 1 John 2:20,27
(emphasis mine)http://www.1689.com/Confession/confession.html

Here is our question. Did the authors of the LBCF 1689, believe that the Scripture was "inerrant"? I would say, Yes. Why? It is obivious in reading in the entirety that they knew that the author of the Scripture to be God. It is His revelation, specifically, to man that He chose to write down. If it belongs to God, written by God, preserved by God, then to say that it contained an error would be tantamount to saying God was either unable to communicate through His instrument, or that He was unaware of the mistake and thereby not all knowing...and could not be God.

Let's look at the Baptist Faith and Message of 1925.

1. THE SCRIPTURES We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and religious opinion should be tried. (emphasis mine)
http://www.reformedreader.org/ccc/1925bfam.htm

For brevity, let's look also at the Baptist Faith and Message 1963.

The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the record of God�s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. It reveals the principles by which God judges us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ. (emphasis mine) http://www.baptiststart.com/print/1963_baptist_faith_message.html

Now the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.

I. The Scriptures
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
(emphasis mine) http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp

Opponents of inerrancy will say that the terminology of inerrancy is not biblical nor is it used in baptist life prior to the 1980s. However, while the terminology, or word inerrant, may not have been linguistically in our vocabulary, the idea has been. The phrase "without any mixture of error" canotes the same meaning, just said a different way.

Why is this so important? Because if we lose the surity of the Scripture, that God is it's author, and it is the special revelation of Himself, as truth, we lose the assurance that God Himself is who He says He is and that His Son is who He is. In other words, the great "I am" becomes just "another", that is not truth.

If we as Baptist are not careful, we will find ourselves sliding down a slope by disregarding our history. Just look at other denominations for confirmation of that.

Dr. Mohler has an exellent article on one who is dealing with what Texas Baptist could be addressing in it's future if care is not taken.
http://www.albertmohler.com/blog.php

Soli Deo Gloria

The Rest of the BGCT Article

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 02:31:00 +0000

Here is a link to the rest of the presentation that we made last Sunday night.

http://pastorpaul.wordpress.com/2007/11/03/the-current-state-of-the-baptist-general-convention-of-texas/

BGCT Recommendation Presentation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:28:00 +0000

Here is the paper that Paul and I presented. It isn't in the same format, although the information is the same. Some of the articles are linked in the text, though you may have to cut and paste them.

It is only Section I of 7, so more will come tomorrow.

Information and Recommendation Concerning Mambrino Baptist Church's Affiliation With the Baptist General Convention of Texas

The purpose of this document is to inform the membership of MBC of trends, teachings, and practices currently guiding the BGCT. Many of you will ask if this even matters. Here is a brief list of why you should be concerned with the happenings in our State Convention:
· 10% of your tithe goes to the Cooperative Program which pays for BGCT and Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) institutions and individuals to operate. Simply by giving financially you are declaring your support. If you tithe to MBC and do not stipulate otherwise how those funds are allocated you are affirming the efforts of the BGCT and SBC.
o Currently 10% of all undesignated offerings at MBC are allocated to the Cooperative Program. 72% of those funds remain in Texas with the BGCT and 28% is sent on to the national convention, the Southern Baptist Convention.
· Your tithe goes to support the colleges and seminaries of the BGCT. Your tithe is a vote of confidence in the administration and teachers of these schools.
o These colleges and seminaries train the pastors, missionaries, ministers, and lay-leaders of tomorrow. Their theological positions are critical for shaping the theology of future ministers, missionaries, and churches.
· Your tithe goes to fund particular mission efforts and strategies through the BGCT to reach those outside the state of Texas.
o This historically and practically has not been the role of the State Convention but the role of the National Convention.
o You may ask, Aren’t more missions better than less missions? Yes, but when mission monies are allocated for the duplication of administrative personal this does not help missions but takes necessary funds out of the mission field and puts it in the BGCT Baptist Building for state-side non-missionary staff.
· Church Planting
o This historically and practically has been one of the functions of the State Convention; helping churches in Texas plant churches in Texas.
o The BGCT has recently announced affiliation with the Emerging Church Network and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) in regards to church planting.
· Specific Theological issues of concern
o The BGCT’s unwillingness to affirm and defend the inerrancy of Scripture
o The BGCT’s open support for, special training of, and call to the churches to hire women as senior pastors.
o The BGCT’s unwillingness to defend the biblical teaching that God knows the future while supporting those who teach Open Theism which denies God’s knowledge of the future.
o The BGCT’s obvious support for the Emerging Church Movement. This movement often denies the existence of truth as defined by Scripture or the person of God.

I. Specific concerns regarding the direction and theology of the BGCT

A. Intentional movement away from the biblical and historic Baptist position affirming the inerrancy and innate authority of Scripture.

1. In a workshop at the 2007 BGCT Annual Convention discussing the development of the canon of Scripture (what books make up the Bible) Dan Stiver, theology professor at Hardin-Simmons, drew the conclusion that the canon should still be open allowing us to add books to the Bible when we feel it is appropriate.

2. Take note that when a person/entity is only willing to affirm the authority of Scripture it is generally because they are not able to affirm the inerrancy of Scripture. Among BGCT leadership this is the current position.

3. The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message made inerrancy a primary issue. The BGCT refuses to affirm the 2000 BF&M holding instead to the 1963 BF&M. Affirming the inerrancy of Scripture among convention leadership became the major issue in the Conservative Resurgence leading to the theological turnaround in the SBC.
4. If you would like to see a comparison of the 2000 and 1963 BF&M you can find one at http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfmcomparison.asp