Pastoral Musings

In the same vein as Averyfineline’s contest ,I offer the following:

There are enough carelessly worded songs as it is……….

Just musing …….

Another thing about many fundamentalists is the fact that they are liberal at heart.

What!?!?!!? You say. Yes, liberal at heart.

The same issue that is at the heart of liberalism is at the heart of mis-guided fundamentalism.

What is that issue? A lack of respect for the authority of God’s word.

The liberal says the Bible is out dated, errant, insufficient for our needs, or something else similar.

The mis-guided fundamentalist acts out the same philosophy by making man’s rules into doctrine, thus declaring by their deeds that they do not think that Scripture alone is sufficient to guide us. In other places they distort Scripture in such extreme ways that it is obvious that they have a sort of feeling that there is an error in the text. By thus doing, they say they explain the text truly, yet are actually attempting to correct God’s word. All the while they profess to be preaching the Word and contending for the faith.

There’s not a dime’s worth of difference between the liberal and the mis-guided fundamentalist when it comes to respecting God’s Word.

Just musing……

A few days ago (click here) I referenced a story that stated that the US government would attempt to use clergymen to calm an upset populace in the event that martial law was declared.

It now seems that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) doesn’t like being exposed. Story here.

What next from our “trusted” Department of Homeland Insecurity?

Just musing………

The Baptism Debate is provoking much discussion. I see that it is finally getting down to the essence of the issue. That essence is the necessity (or lack thereof) of local church membership. After all, this is the thing that is central to the issue at hand.

We must ask ourselves the question, “Is baptism requisite to church membership?” If so, we must determine what baptism is. We then must recognize the fact that admission to the table follows baptism. The New Testament knows of no unbaptized communicants. In fact, we find that the church at Jerusalem baptized the believers, then the believers continued with the church in the apostles doctrine and fellowship as well as in the breaking of bread and in prayer. (See Acts 2:41,42) When the Lord Himself instituted the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper we find that He included only baptized believers. No unbaptized person was a participant.

One may ask, “What is the big deal?” Simply put, the big deal is this: a local church is a community of believers. It is a body of baptized believers. This body has a code of discipline that must be exercised. This discipline takes the form of denying the erring member access to the Lord’s table. (Read 1Cor 5:1-13)

That being said, we must conclude that membership in a local church is necessary. We also conclude that there is more to the Lord’s table than simply saying that we believe the same gospel. It is also becoming accountable to our brothers and sisters in the Lord to live a life that is in harmony with the gospel that we mutually embrace. What about the mode of baptism? Simply put, that is requisite to becoming part of that body, fellowship, community, to which each member is accountable. Thus, the method matters because no one should expect any body to receive someone whom the believe is not baptized into their communion.

Just musing………

KSLA of Shreveport, LS reports that, in the event martial law is declared, clergy will be asked to help calm the citizen’s unrest.

Can you imagine someone with the government coming to you and asking that you convince your parishioners to surrender their arms in violation of their Second Amendment rights?  Can you imagine being asked to help calm an uprising against an out of control government that has decided to rule with an iron fist thus usurping the democratic rights that we have as citizens of a “democracy in a republic?”

Can you imagine being pressed upon to serve the government as they further curtail the liberties of Bible believing Christians?  Can you fathom being an agent whose job is to help the church accept the fact that they can worship privately (possibly for a while), but can neither publicly share their faith, nor seek to influence the legislative process, nor contribute to the moral well-being of their communities?

Pastor, what would you do?

Just musing……….

Christian fundamentals are what give Christianity its character.  Without these fundamentals there is no Christianity.

It should go without saying that basic theism is fundamental to Christianity.  Without this truth there will be no Christianity.

There are some essential truths about God that are fundamentals of Christianity as well.  Among these are the attributes of judgment, holiness, righteousness, love, mercy, and grace.  Without these there would be no condemnation for sin, nor would there be a savior who was sent to set us free from our sins.

It is my belief that those of us who profess to hold to the fundamentals have neglected these truths due to thinking that everyone is familiar with them.  Having felt that these truths were well known, ministers have preached about lifestyle issues that are often matters of opinion and exalted them as the things that make them the “true fundamentalists.”  This attitude has led to a dearth of Biblical teaching and preaching.  In fact, in many places the pulpits are filled with emotionally charged yelling, pep talks to get people to do “what is right”, and an almost cultic attitude toward the man in the pew.  This cultic attitude ostracizes, criticizes, and anathematizes all who disagree with the one preaching.  It has also led to a generation of ministers who disparage education and study and carelessly utter things about God and His character that are not true.

Those who truly adhere to the fundamentals would do well to remember that the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ is the central truth of Christianity.  One can hardly preach and teach too much upon the existence, attributes, and glory of God.

“We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  (2 Cor 3:1 KJV

Just musing………..

It seems that there is much talk about fundamentals these days. Whether it be regarding “fundamentalist Muslims”, fundamentalist Christians, or Christians discussing the fundamentals, they get much attention.

Obviously, much of the attention is negative. Why? Two reasons, I think: one, a misunderstanding of what a fundamentalist is; two, a misunderstanding of what the fundamentals are.

Fundamentals are the basic, foundational principles that give something its identity. In other words, Christian fundamentals are those principles and characteristics that make Christianity what it is. Together those things make Christianity distinct from all other religions.

That being said, though we may disagree about music, and to some degree clothing, true Christians will agree that there are some things that make Christianity what it is; without them there would be no Christianity. What are they?

My family will be away on vacation for the next week, so I thought I’d leave something for anyone interested to chew on.

Just musing………

The Duggar Family welcomes their 17th child.

What a family, and what a testimony to God’s sufficiency to provide for His own.

Read more here, here, and here.

Simply musing……..