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In Defense of Bill

philip — Fri, 03 May 2013 00:58:55 +0000

Bill O'Reilly is one of those guys who is fun to watch and it really doesn't matter if you love him or hate him; he keeps your attention regardless of which side of the O'Reilly coin you might fall (I suppose that is why he has dominated the cable news ratings for years). As with most political figures, when O'Reilly opens his mouth and begins speaking about religious-based issues it can sometimes be difficult to watch.

Just today the Gospel Coalition folks (who I am very thankful for) have linked to a video showing Martin Bashir "explaining the gospel" to Bill O'Reilly. Take a look at the video below:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

It would appear that Bashir put the smackdown on O'Reilly and handed him a big ol' piece of the gospel, leaving Bill looking rather silly for his conclusion that Jesus was killed because of taxes. But wait a minute....

I haven't read the book (it isn't out yet I don't think) and I only know about his tax motive theory from this little clip of O'Reilly (which I don't think I would agree with, but I want to hear his full argument). What I am nearly certain of is this - O'Reilly, in referencing the reason Jesus was killed, was not talking about God's perspective in which He "was pleased to crush" Jesus (Isaiah 53:10). O'Reilly is talking about why the Romans wanted Jesus dead. I think we can all agree that Pilate, the soldiers, and all the rest did not say, "hey, let's crucify Jesus so he can be the substitute for a dying, cursed world and be the means by which the eternal purposes of the one true God and His gospel are fulfilled." The Romans acted out of their own purposes which God had ordained for gospel purposes. O'Reilly, I'm pretty sure, is talking about the former.

So while I am thrilled to see this clear explanation of the gospel portrayed on MSNBC by Bashir, it is not quite fair to say it is an appropriate smackdown on Bill. After all, even the High Priest said "it would be expedient for one man to die for the people", but he was certainly not talking about gospel salvation. He was talking about saving his own skin.

Ok, enough of that.

*by the way, if O'Reilly's book comes out and he thinks the only purpose of the crucifixion was to kill someone opposed to taxes, then I am completely wrong. But I just can't believe even Bill thinks that.

Holy Week Infographic

philip — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:38:57 +0000

Wondering what Jesus was doing today during Holy Week? Here is a great graphic to help you out. You can visit the original page here.

Click here to download the graphic

Being Radical

philip — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:38:05 +0000

I like David Platt. I have found his Radical books and his new offering Follow Me to be honest, alarming, soul-searching, and most of all, biblical. In my church we have a men's group currently working through the Follow Me material. Good conversations are taking place.

But ever since I read the first chapter of Radical I couldn't help but think something was just a bit off. It may have been off to such a small degree that I had trouble articulating what bothered me. In my copy of Radical I wrote a simple sentence at the end of the first chapter. It says:

"Good. But something bothers me."

I wasn't sure what bothered me. But something did. About 4 times I have started writing an article on the many positives and the one "off" aspect of Platt's book (and those like it, which are several) and every time I stopped and deleted the entry. I just couldn't put in words what I was feeling.

Then, today, I read an article in Christianity Today by Matt Lee Anderson entitled "Here Come The Radicals!" that beautifully captured what I have been mulling over for 2 years. It is very much worth your time to read the article carefully - Anderson is complimentary of Platt, Chan, and others who are driving the "radical" movement, but he also provides a helpful context in which these books and their message should be placed. Here is the last sentence from the article:

We begin to fulfill the command not when we do something radical, extreme, over the top, not when we're really spiritual or really committed or really faithful, but when in the daily ebb and flow of life, in our corporate jobs, in our middle-class neighborhoods, on our trips to Yellowstone and Disney World—and yes, even short-term mission trips—we stop to help those whom we meet in everyday life, reaching out in quiet, practical, and loving ways.

Read the entire article here.

Biblical Theology and Your Small Group

philip — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:16:14 +0000

For thousands of Southern Baptist Christians around the world, the recently released small group curriculum The Gospel Project has introduced new concepts and ideas, such as the disciplines of biblical theology and systematic theology. As a matter of fact, both the introduction and the scope & sequence of The Gospel Project lists biblical and systematic theology as two of the four components on which the material is based. But what exactly is biblical theology? How does it relate to systematic theology?

Like so many terms within the sphere of evangelicalism, biblical theology can mean different things to different people and finding an absolute definition can be a bit tricky. In many contexts, including to a large degree the average Sunday School class, biblical theology simply means studying the bible in a way that is faithful to the text. While there is certainly nothing wrong with this kind of explanation, the foundation for The Gospel Project uses the phrase in a slightly more nuanced way.

With that in mind, I would suggest thinking of biblical theology as God's unfolding and progressively revealed work in history culminating in the person of Jesus Christ. Biblical Theology, then, is a discipline that deals with time and history; we are able to look at the whole canon of Scripture and follow God's redemptive plan. Sometimes we refer to this as "the big picture." In addition, biblical theology helps identify themes that might be highlighted in a particular book in the Bible, or themes that might show up with a particular author. For example, a few weeks ago I preached in John 15 and we spent time discussing the significance of Jesus referring to himself as the "true vine." This was then placed in the redemptive context of the "the big picture" where we were able to see how Israel was the unfaithful vine throughout the Old Testament. We were doing biblical theology.

One of the great practical helps for thinking of biblical theology in this way, and a much needed help for small group classes around the world, is the manner in which this will gradually guide us away from "proof texting" - that is to say, forming final conclusions on a topic based on one or two verses. When faithful to biblical theology, those verses are to be appropriately placed within the greater context of the author's words, then in the greater context of the Old or New Testament, and finally in the greater context of the Bible as a whole.

So how does this relate to systematic theology? Where biblical theology deals more with the time and history of God's working, systematic theology tries to bring together what the Scriptures say about a given topic, which we typically call doctrines. What does the Bible specifically say about God? What does it say about the Holy Spirit? What does it say about sin? When we synthesize the various teachings throughout the entirety of Scripture to reach conclusions about a particular topic, we are doing systematic theology.

You can pick up a systematic theology textbook, such as Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, and you will find chapters divided by these topics. However, pick up a biblical theology book (of which more are being written) and you will notice chapters typically dealing more with covenants, continuity, typology, prophecy, and so forth. The former is topical based where the latter is time based (I am simplifying for the purpose of clarity).

Your small group can be strengthened by thinking through these concepts. The Gospel Project is attempting to do this very thing, which is why many folks have been overwhelmed by the depth of the material, but after giving it some time, are seeing the benefit of being pushed a little further in their thinking about the text. Here are just a couple of ways your small group can be strengthened by biblical theology:

1. The bible story for the day will be placed in its appropriate context within the narrative of the Scriptures. Instead of just "standing alone" with no framework, biblical theology will help make the story relevant beyond just a moral lesson.

2. Learners will be led to avoid proof texting. Opinions on topics will be formed and evaluated based on the whole counsel of Scripture, not just one or two verses.

3. Bible study will inevitably become more gospel-centered and Christocentric. God's agenda is all about Jesus; transferring us out of the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of his son.

4. The Scriptures will become more exciting to learners, deepening an appreciation for how the Bible is "alive" (Hebrews 4:12).

5. God's bigness and providence will be more clearly seen and learners will develop more and more confidence in God's plan for their own lives.

Daily Bible Reading Aids

philip — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:14:22 +0000

Are you engaged with a Bible reading plan this year? If so, you may find yourself wondering what some of the chapters are all about, especially those that deal with the Mosaic Law, etc. If you are like me, you would appreciate a basic chapter breakdown while reading, but are not looking for a verse-by-verse commentary that can get too in-depth and complicated.

Here are two resources I recommend. The Bible Panorama is a wonderful book that takes each chapter in the Bible and summarizes its content in about 3 paragraphs. It isn't a commentary as much as it is a breakdown of the chapter to help aid in understanding the narrative. Second, With the Word is a similar resource that also provides basic themes to be looking for within the chapters. Both are a great tool to have next to your Bible during your daily reading. The Bible Panorama is only available in hardback form, while With the Word is available in digital. Click the links below to purchase.

The Bible Panorama: Enjoying the whole Bible with a chapter-by-chapter guide

With The Word Bible Commentary (Bible Handbook)

God-n-Guns: The Story of a KY Pastor

philip — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 18:00:14 +0000

**originally published on October 12, 2009
This article is over 3 years old, but in the last month has risen to the top of my most viewed posts. I resubmit it for your consideration.

Pastor Ken Pagano of Louisville, KY has announced his resignation from the pastorate after 30 years of service. He stepped down as pastor of New Bethel Church so he can focus on church security and Second Amendment Rights. Pagano created a bit of controversy when he hosted a church-sponsored event celebrating the Second Amendment and instructing parishioners on gun safety as well commemorating the roles of religion and gun-ownership in American history. Apparently his heart is now set on "making the vulnerable less vulnerable" primarily by placing armed guards and security in houses of worship. Pagano warns that church goers are "living in denial" and are not ready to face the real threat of terrorism in our churches.

I wonder, are we living in denial or living for Christ?

I do understand Pagano's concerns and they are legitimate. We have seen several fatal church shootings within the last few years. There is no doubt we want people to be safe while worshiping and if this KY pastor has a call to help in those ways, he should certainly move forward with that.

My concerns are fairly simple. First, and least important, I'm not completely sure how gun-ownership and religion are intrinsically linked. Sure, there have historically been plenty of Christians who owned guns and perhaps that is all Pagano is getting at. But anything beyond that would be a stretch, especially if he is suggesting that the progression and development of American Christianity is somehow related to how adamant we have been about guns. Certainly guns have been a part of protecting our country. Certainly that protection has enabled us to have the freedom to worship and serve our God. Yet, the message and truth of Christianity, that which brings salvation and joy to our lives, never has been and never will be linked with a firearm.

Second, perhaps it is a blessing if we as American Christians are less safe. Of course no one wants our children to be in danger at church (I currently have 3 children who are 4 years old and under...this is important to me to say the least). But the message of Christ and the lifestyle of the one who follows Him does not prioritize as a first concern the need to be safe. To claim Christ, to know Christ, and to follow Christ is to make ourselves vulnerable. In fact, throughout history God has grown his Church in ways that might confound the American Christian mindset. He has grown his church through trial, persecution, struggle, and death. Even today the pattern is true as we find the largest Christian growth happening in the places where it is less safe to practice Christianity.

Third, on a practical level, I would find it difficult to worship with my church family while concealing a firearm. Surely there is something obviously strange about that. If this coming Sunday I know 25 of my flock are carrying a firearm, I am certain I would not feel safer, and more important, that my worship of Jesus Christ, whom I am able to worship because he turned the other cheek, would be more passionate.

I hope Pagano can do some good things in his new direction. There is a bit of irony in that he has resigned from a full time position of keeping people eternally "safe" to a take on a full time position of keeping people temporarily safe. Nevertheless, I think this coming Sunday my family and I will be firearm free while we worship. I suggest you might try the same.

Why Don't Baptists Observe Lent?

philip — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 04:54:54 +0000

A few days ago I reminded my Facebook friends that Christmas actually begins on December 25th and lasts through the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6). That prompted one of my friends to ask why Baptists do not observe Ash Wednesday and Lent. Here are a few reasons that come to mind, feel free to add more if you think of others.

First, it should be noted that many Baptist churches do, in fact, keep in tune with the Christian calendar and encourage their congregation to recognize the importance of the Lenten season. It seems I have noticed more Baptist churches engaged in the observance of Advent but then ignore much if not all of the calendar until the following Advent season. My hunch is that most Baptists in this camp do not recognize the Advent season separate from Christmas and subsequently do not think of it in terms of the other seasons, such as Epiphany or Lent. Nevertheless, celebrating Advent is a great starting place.

Second, Baptists still have a concern, perhaps even a subconscious concern, of being too Catholic. I have written about this before as it relates to Jesus' statement of the "rock" of the Church and the apostle Peter. The famous "Affair of the Sausages" was an event during the Swiss Reformation in the 16th century where reformers, especially Ulrich Zwingli, gave permission and even urged Christians to eat sausage during Lent because "Christians are free to fast or free not to fast..." This was, in part, against the Roman Catholic church and in support of one of the 5 Solas of the Reformation - Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone). Baptists are really, really, really concerned about things becoming repetitive and subsequently meaningless. Bring up the possibility of observing the Lord's Supper every Sunday in a Baptist church and the first or second argument against the concept will be, "it will lose its meaning if we do that." They may be right. However, it is ironic to discover much in Baptist churches that is as repetitive and consistent, such as the order of worship.

Second, Baptists generally rally behind the notion of "no creed but the Bible," building off another Reformation concept, the Regulative Principle. Since the command to prepare, fast, and observe the 40 days before Easter is not explicitly commanded in the Bible, Baptists typically believe we should avoid doing it. This takes things a bit too far. If we followed this argument consistently, then we would also stop observing Christmas, since any kind of ecclesiastical worship and observation of the birth of Jesus is never explicitly commanded in Scripture. Ready to do that one? I think not.

Third, some Baptists believe the observance of Lent is not only absent from the Bible's commands, but it is actually outright condemned. Consider Matthew 6:16-18:

"but when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

With the advent (pardon the pun) of social media, it does seem the world-wide announcing of the great pain and sacrifice of "here is what I gave up for Lent" might be a bit much. But again, I'm not sure the intent of Jesus' words would necessarily conflict with a Lenten fast. Jesus also says to pray in a closet, but most of us are very content with praying in a public worship service. Therefore, a fast that coincides with Lent, even if others know you are participating, does not contradict Scripture.

I am blessed to have a fellow laborer at Graefenburg Baptist Church, Dr. Jay Padgett, who understands and appreciates the various Christian seasons. He has been thinking about Lent and Easter since August. We will be providing several resources and opportunities for our folks to take steps toward the cross during the 40 days of Lent. And I can promise you Dr. Padgett will not sing the Alleluia until Resurrection Sunday!

I may be wrong, but I think Baptists are coming around on the Christian calendar, even in small steps. That is a good thing.

Send St. Louis - Days 3-4

philip — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 13:29:33 +0000

So things have been pretty busy in St. Louis and I am getting another update online just as we are returning from our trip. All of us are tired and glad to be back home, but we had a wonderful time.

Wednesday brought another day of construction work at August Gate - lots of dry-walling and sanding was taking place while Adam Lipps was running around doing as much electrical as possible. The entire team went and saw the church Wednesday morning so that we could all visualize the work that was happening. Another team spent some time canvasing in an area in Belleville in anticipation of VBS later that evening. The hours spent in the evening at Citizens Park in Belleville were so encouraging. Our people were teaching their hearts out! I'm so proud of our folks for their determination to share the gospel with these precious children who might never hear it anywhere else.

On Thursday night of VBS, I was able to spend about an hour with a gentleman named Bob. Bob was a believer but was desperately seeking someone to share some difficult experiences in his life with, so we sat at a picnic table and just shared with each other. It was a neat atmosphere to listen and love on someone, right in the middle of all these kids learning about Jesus.

I did manage to lock the keys in the van once at the park, but thankfully we had another set of keys so we didn't have to break out the coat hangers. Garden Heights Baptist Church was so gracious to host us for the week and it provided a perfect central location for our teams to eat dinner and be together.

We have pictures and video that will be online shortly. In the meantime, we are thankful that God provided a great opportunity for us and are looking forward to continuing a relationship with these great churches.

Send St. Louis - Day 2

philip — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:25:10 +0000

Our construction crew was on the road toward August Gate Church at 7:00am to begin their work for the day. They essentially worked non-stop until 5:00pm, getting projects completed and heading back out to Home Depot to purchase more material for additional projects. Doug Smith, Adam Lipps, and Rick Woodside are rocking big time!

The relational crew headed out for another round of door-to-door canvasing around 11am. According to Pastor Jay's Weather Channel app, it was 104 degrees. After we all bundled up in our coats and gloves, we hit the streets for about an hour of work. We had all the babies with us and they just did incredible. Callie Grace would knock on the door and then say, "want to go to VBS with me?" even before any answered. Our morning canvasing was not quite as successful as yesterday's probably because of the time of day. Nevertheless, we did make some contacts and had a couple of conversations.

The meal team was right on schedule as usual, making sure we are well fed and happy. It is a wonderful thing to behold! I'll just be honest with you - everyone is jealous of our meal team (Carrie Bemiss, Joyce Jennings, and Bill Jennings. Bill has been to Wal-Mart and back about 87 times now).

Finally our first night of VBS arrived and after I picked up about a dozen kids from a subdivision a few miles away from the park, we set up at the park and got things underway. Jacob Roberts and Pastor Jay did a quick worship set for the kids and then we broke into groups. Susan Bryant, with only a couple of hours notice, managed to pull together a great lesson, complete with an Ark of the Covenant! Drew Head led a large group of middle school students and kept their attention for over an hour. Tabitha Lipps had a great little group of 5th graders and taught about the way God has created nature and is Lord over it. Our other members plugged right in as well wherever needed, such as Di Woodside (the Queen of Door-to-Door Canvasing).

Everyone is safe, healthy, and (I hope) joyful for the opportunity to serve the Lord. Keep praying for us - we can't wait to report back to our church family in Graefenburg what is happening here.

Blessings!

Send St. Louis - Day 1

philip — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 01:57:49 +0000

Twenty-one people met at 7am this morning to begin loading vans and preparing for our 5 day trip to St. Louis. We are coming alongside two incredible church plants in the St. Louis area and will be participating in construction work and relational work. At about 7:35 we left the Graefenburg Baptist Church parking lot in two vans and two vehicles - ready to attack the road for St. Louis!!

Two minutes later we made our first stop at the Love Station to get some McDonald's! I was driving a van loaded with an 8 month old, 2 year old, two 3 year old's, a 6 year old, and 5 adults. Pastor Drew decided to ride in the van with the babies, which I found to be pretty amazing. Although it may sound like a nightmare ready to happen, the babies were simply incredible and the trip went by quickly without any problems at all. That was already something to be so thankful to God for!

We all arrived at our motel, the Super 8, at about the same time in Belleville, IL. Our first job was to unpack and then make our way over to Garden Heights Baptist Church where the Meal Team would be staying for the week. That church graciously offered their kitchen to us. We met one of their trustees, whose name was Mike, and he is an incredible servant leader. When we realized the refrigerator was not working, he just calmly said, "I will go get another one for you and have here this evening." Sure enough, a few hours later a new refrigerator was in the kitchen and ready for use. Incredible.

Our construction crew headed out to August Gate to access the need and to begin gathering supplies. Meanwhile, the relational team met up with Jacob Ketchens, pastor of Sojourn Church, and began the process of canvasing the community. CJ Lipps went with me and Di Woodside and did an amazing job! We were able to knock on many doors and managed to get about 3 confirmations for VBS. We did not have a single home get angry or slam a door in our face. Jay Padgett, Susan Bryant, and Jacob Roberts were working in a nearby apartment community. They also had good results.

When we arrived back at Garden Heights it was clear that Carrie Bemiss and Joyce Jennings were in the kitchen - the place smelled incredible and we had a delicious meal ready for us.

The first day was a safe and successful day. I am looking forward to really getting rolling tomorrow. Now, if I can somehow figure out how to get Justus and Callie Grace to sleep in a motel bed......

See you tomorrow.