Pastor needed. Parsonage provided.
Parsonage (pastor’s housing):
“A small cottage or, more properly, a hut for the minister and his wife. It contained several pieces of ageing and broken furniture: a table, two chairs and a bed that had to be supported by stone slabs. Some of the floorboards had rotted away and in their place lay a pile of bare stones. The door through which the couple entered the cottage was old and decayed, and afforded little shelter from the wind and rain, and the frugal congregation saved the expense of a new door by nailing a tin plate across the bottom of it for added protection against the elements. The roof was so low that the master of the house, who was of commanding stature, could barely stand upright and he often knocked his head.”
Demographics:
Pastoral field “made up of only a few scattered houses, each consisting of just one room, where the members of the family lived and died. In this one room ‘all the washing, cooking, baking, weaving, spinning, and dyeing were done. Hidden away in corners were the few belongings necessary to live, while under the rafters hung dried fish, salted meat and bacon, and the herbs so necessary to flavour the meals.”
Salary:
17 £ per year. Roughly $75 per year, or $6.25 per month.
Pastor’s Transportation:
A horse with a broken down stable next to the parsonage. Therefore, pastor often exposed to bad weather. Horse not always available. On one occasion, this minister was scheduled to preach at an Associational meeting some 200 miles away. “He set out on foot, preaching at various places along the way, and duly arrived on time.”
At this meeting, as he preached on the Prodigal Son, “a strong wave of emotion passed over the congregation; and there were tears and great joy, and loud praise; and these expressions of feeling continued for a long time after the preacher had finished his sermon.”
The above applies to one of the greatest Baptist preachers of all time, Christmas Evans of Wales. A preacher highly praised by B. H. Carroll, founder of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Evans (AD 1766-1838) was compared to John Knox and Charles H. Spurgeon.
The above financial situation was true of Evans in the prime of his life. God used him mightily; he preached with uncommon power. But his income was very low. This all probably speaks even more highly of Evan’s wife, Catherine.
Something to consider the next time you feel you are not making nearly as much as you are worth. I’m all for pastors making a good salary and living in a comfortable home. Some churches should be ashamed of the low wage they give their pastors (1 Corinthians 9:7-14; Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17-18). But on the other hand, too many seminary students seem to be called to pastor only affluent congregations. The affluent need good preaching, the underprivileged do as well.
Like the great one-eyed preacher Christmas Evans, God may have called you to preach salvation to the poor. That is no small calling. Your salary is not a measure of the value God places on your ministry.
The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. -Luke 4:18; Isaiah 61:1-3.
(Above quotes from Christmas Evans - No Ordinary Preacher by Tim Shenton, Day One Publications, 2008.)
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, November 3, AD 2009.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Unlimited Atonement, Jesus Died For All
One of the five points or beliefs of Calvinism (aka Reformed Doctrines, Doctrines of Grace) is limited atonement. Limited atonement says that Jesus did not die for everyone. He shed His blood only for the elect, or those who would get saved. This is also called particular atonement.
While I agree with some aspects of Calvinism, I believe that the Bible clearly teaches unlimited or general atonement. In other words, the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ died for the sins of all mankind, all humanity.
Unlimited atonement does not endorse universalism. Jesus died for all, but only those who receive Him as Savior will have their sins forgiven and be saved (John 1:12; 14:6; 1 Timothy 4:10; etc.).
The normal, natural meaning of a number of verses make it clear that God loves all, wants all to be saved, and that Jesus died for all.
Scripture that teaches unlimited atonement:
1. Who takes away the sin of the world! -John 1:29
2. For God so loved the world… For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. -John 3:16-17.
Notice how the word “world” is used.
3. I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. -John 12:47.
4. Christ died for the ungodly. -Romans 5:6.
Who are the ungodly? Both the elect and those who are not elect.
5. If One died for all, then all died; and He died for all…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. -2 Corinthians 5:14-16, 19.
6. Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. -1 Timothy 2:4.
7. Who gave Himself a ransom for all. -1 Timothy 2:6
Compare with the meaning of “all” in these verses and in Romans 3:23 and Ephesians 1:11.
8. Who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. -1 Timothy 4:10.
9. [That Jesus] might taste death for everyone. -Hebrews 2:9.
10. Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. -2 Peter 3:9.
11. He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. -1 John 2:2.
12. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! -Matthew 23:37.
Jesus would have saved them all, but they “were not willing.”
13. But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. -2 Peter 2:1
Even the false prophets were bought by Jesus. Christ is the Savior of all men, even false prophets. He has purchased their salvation. But only those who believe will be saved.
Some who believe in limited atonement point to verses that speak of Christ’s death for, and His love for, those who are saved. This in no way negates the other Scripture that says Jesus died for all, and loves all. Someone may say, “Bill loves Mary and Jeff.” That in no way means that Bill does not love anyone else. To say Jesus loves Daniel and Brittany, does not mean He loves no one else.
The above Scripture is the reason that most Baptists believe that Jesus shed His blood for everyone on the face of this earth. You can speak to any human on this earth and say with confidence, “Jesus loves you. He died for your sins and rose again so that you can be forgiven and made right with God. Jesus offers His salvation to you.”
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, October 27, AD 2009.
While I agree with some aspects of Calvinism, I believe that the Bible clearly teaches unlimited or general atonement. In other words, the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ died for the sins of all mankind, all humanity.
Unlimited atonement does not endorse universalism. Jesus died for all, but only those who receive Him as Savior will have their sins forgiven and be saved (John 1:12; 14:6; 1 Timothy 4:10; etc.).
The normal, natural meaning of a number of verses make it clear that God loves all, wants all to be saved, and that Jesus died for all.
Scripture that teaches unlimited atonement:
1. Who takes away the sin of the world! -John 1:29
2. For God so loved the world… For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. -John 3:16-17.
Notice how the word “world” is used.
3. I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. -John 12:47.
4. Christ died for the ungodly. -Romans 5:6.
Who are the ungodly? Both the elect and those who are not elect.
5. If One died for all, then all died; and He died for all…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. -2 Corinthians 5:14-16, 19.
6. Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. -1 Timothy 2:4.
7. Who gave Himself a ransom for all. -1 Timothy 2:6
Compare with the meaning of “all” in these verses and in Romans 3:23 and Ephesians 1:11.
8. Who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. -1 Timothy 4:10.
9. [That Jesus] might taste death for everyone. -Hebrews 2:9.
10. Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. -2 Peter 3:9.
11. He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. -1 John 2:2.
12. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! -Matthew 23:37.
Jesus would have saved them all, but they “were not willing.”
13. But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. -2 Peter 2:1
Even the false prophets were bought by Jesus. Christ is the Savior of all men, even false prophets. He has purchased their salvation. But only those who believe will be saved.
Some who believe in limited atonement point to verses that speak of Christ’s death for, and His love for, those who are saved. This in no way negates the other Scripture that says Jesus died for all, and loves all. Someone may say, “Bill loves Mary and Jeff.” That in no way means that Bill does not love anyone else. To say Jesus loves Daniel and Brittany, does not mean He loves no one else.
The above Scripture is the reason that most Baptists believe that Jesus shed His blood for everyone on the face of this earth. You can speak to any human on this earth and say with confidence, “Jesus loves you. He died for your sins and rose again so that you can be forgiven and made right with God. Jesus offers His salvation to you.”
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, October 27, AD 2009.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
He Maketh No Mistake
Lately I’ve been especially busy. Man, the things I could write about pastoral ministry out of these recent weeks. But not now. So I haven’t had a lot of time to write for Gulf Coast Pastor. But I will leave you with a poem.
This week I preached the funeral service for a wonderful Christian man who turned 90 just a little over a month ago. I closed the message with a poem I sometimes use at Memorial Services. It is in Criswell’s Guidebook for Pastors, W. A. Criswell, Broadman; 1980. It has brought a measure of comfort to many.
He Maketh No Mistake
My Father’s way may twist and turn,
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul I’m glad I know,
He maketh no mistake.
My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead
For He doth know the way.
Tho’ night be dark and it may seem
That day will never break;
I’ll pin my faith, my all in Him,
He maketh no mistake.
There’s so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight’s far too dim;
But come what may, I’ll simply trust
And leave it all to Him.
For by and by the mist will lift
And plain it all He’ll make
Through all the way, tho’ dark to me,
He made not one mistake.
-A. M. Overton
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, October 24, AD 2009.
This week I preached the funeral service for a wonderful Christian man who turned 90 just a little over a month ago. I closed the message with a poem I sometimes use at Memorial Services. It is in Criswell’s Guidebook for Pastors, W. A. Criswell, Broadman; 1980. It has brought a measure of comfort to many.
He Maketh No Mistake
My Father’s way may twist and turn,
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul I’m glad I know,
He maketh no mistake.
My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead
For He doth know the way.
Tho’ night be dark and it may seem
That day will never break;
I’ll pin my faith, my all in Him,
He maketh no mistake.
There’s so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight’s far too dim;
But come what may, I’ll simply trust
And leave it all to Him.
For by and by the mist will lift
And plain it all He’ll make
Through all the way, tho’ dark to me,
He made not one mistake.
-A. M. Overton
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, October 24, AD 2009.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Random Advice to Pastors, Part 2
22. Whatever your salary, and it won’t be much, discipline yourself to live on less than you make. Tithe to your church and put at least 5% into your Guidestone (800/262-0511; guidestone.org) retirement.
23. Put as much as possible away for retirement. Have it taken out of your salary before you get your check, that way you won’t miss it. If you have taken it out of your own salary, when your church gives you a cost of living adjustment, gently remind them that the amount of your salary going into retirement also needs to be adjusted.
24. Love your people and they will overlook some of your faults and shortcomings.
25. There are times you need to defend yourself and times you don’t. Occasionally it can be good for you to be falsely maligned, and do nothing in your defense.
26. There are times you must face someone head on and go to war with them. But those times are not often.
27. Get at least moderate, regular exercise. Mow your yard. Park far out in the parking lot and do some extra walking. When making hospital visits, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Get plenty of rest. Eat and drink your fruits and vegetables.
28. Pray for your enemies. It will do you good. It may also do them good.
29. Become an expert in at least one area that has nothing to do with the ministry.
30. Spend time doing something that relaxes you and that you enjoy. Hunting, fishing, sports, gardening. A healthy diversion can save and prolong your ministry.
31. As you have opportunity, help someone who will never have the ability to in any way repay you.
32. About once a year read a good biography of an outstanding preacher or Christian. Suggestions: D. L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, Billy Sunday, Vance Havner, R. G. Lee, R. A. Torrey, W. A. Criswell, Bill Wallace, Bertha Smith, Lottie Moon, B. H. Carroll, Peter Cartwright, Christmas Evans…
33. Use illustrations and occasional jokes and poems in your sermons. They build interest and help people remember what you had to say. Get sermon illustration books and use commentaries with good illustrations.
34. One day you will stand unprepared and preach a great sermon. This may ruin your ministry. A great, unprepared sermon is the exception and not the rule.
35. Be gracious to fellow pastors. You don’t understand their situation or know what they’re going through. They are often falsely and unfairly accused, sometimes by their peers.
36. Read or listen to someone else’s sermon on a regular basis.
37. Encourage any young preachers in your church. Give them the opportunity to preach. Spend time with them.
38. Consult the following on a regular basis: Adrian Rogers, Warren Wiersbe, W. A. Criswell, Jerry Vines, J. Vernon McGee, H. A. Ironside, David Jeremiah, These are guys who know how to get through to the common man. In my humble opinion, these guys are also doctrinally sound.
39. Occasionally preach a really simple sermon. You may be surprised at how it blesses your congregation. Don’t do this all the time.
40. Don’t neglect the old saints in your congregation. Spend time with them and you may be surprised at how they love you back.
41. You can always be right, or you can have friends. Choose to have friends.
42. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, October 14, AD 2009.
23. Put as much as possible away for retirement. Have it taken out of your salary before you get your check, that way you won’t miss it. If you have taken it out of your own salary, when your church gives you a cost of living adjustment, gently remind them that the amount of your salary going into retirement also needs to be adjusted.
24. Love your people and they will overlook some of your faults and shortcomings.
25. There are times you need to defend yourself and times you don’t. Occasionally it can be good for you to be falsely maligned, and do nothing in your defense.
26. There are times you must face someone head on and go to war with them. But those times are not often.
27. Get at least moderate, regular exercise. Mow your yard. Park far out in the parking lot and do some extra walking. When making hospital visits, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Get plenty of rest. Eat and drink your fruits and vegetables.
28. Pray for your enemies. It will do you good. It may also do them good.
29. Become an expert in at least one area that has nothing to do with the ministry.
30. Spend time doing something that relaxes you and that you enjoy. Hunting, fishing, sports, gardening. A healthy diversion can save and prolong your ministry.
31. As you have opportunity, help someone who will never have the ability to in any way repay you.
32. About once a year read a good biography of an outstanding preacher or Christian. Suggestions: D. L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, Billy Sunday, Vance Havner, R. G. Lee, R. A. Torrey, W. A. Criswell, Bill Wallace, Bertha Smith, Lottie Moon, B. H. Carroll, Peter Cartwright, Christmas Evans…
33. Use illustrations and occasional jokes and poems in your sermons. They build interest and help people remember what you had to say. Get sermon illustration books and use commentaries with good illustrations.
34. One day you will stand unprepared and preach a great sermon. This may ruin your ministry. A great, unprepared sermon is the exception and not the rule.
35. Be gracious to fellow pastors. You don’t understand their situation or know what they’re going through. They are often falsely and unfairly accused, sometimes by their peers.
36. Read or listen to someone else’s sermon on a regular basis.
37. Encourage any young preachers in your church. Give them the opportunity to preach. Spend time with them.
38. Consult the following on a regular basis: Adrian Rogers, Warren Wiersbe, W. A. Criswell, Jerry Vines, J. Vernon McGee, H. A. Ironside, David Jeremiah, These are guys who know how to get through to the common man. In my humble opinion, these guys are also doctrinally sound.
39. Occasionally preach a really simple sermon. You may be surprised at how it blesses your congregation. Don’t do this all the time.
40. Don’t neglect the old saints in your congregation. Spend time with them and you may be surprised at how they love you back.
41. You can always be right, or you can have friends. Choose to have friends.
42. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, October 14, AD 2009.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Random Advice to Pastors, Part 1
1. Love your people and realize they probably deserve a better pastor.
2. Get to know at least one older pastor that you can respect. Go to him often for advice.
3. Get involved in the Association, State and National Conventions. You need the fellowship and encouragement. They need your support. They need you to keep them on track. You sometimes need them to keep you on track.
4. Preach the Word of God. Make it interesting and easy to understand. You are not preaching to impress your professors or seminary friends. You are preaching to the common folks in the pews. You are preaching to please your Heavenly Father.
5. More talented and godly preachers than you had their ministries destroyed by immorality. Avoid even the hint of scandal.
6. Your wife sees and understands things that you do not. Unless you are an idiot, you will listen carefully to what she has to say.
7. Have younger friends in the ministry. One day your peers will be dead.
8. When you retire, be your pastor’s best friend. Be the kind of church member you wished you had when you were a pastor.
9. Periodically renew your first love and passion for Jesus and His Word.
10. Preach all the Bible, but understand that there is a reason for some of the best loved Bible passages. Preach from them often.
11. It is not a sin to preach a sermon again. Sometimes you can improve on it. Soloists do it all the time. But don’t do it as often as they do.
12. Remember that you never get spiritually deeper than when you lead a little boy or girl, man or woman, to Jesus.
13. Don’t get hung up on a particular doctrine in the Bible. There are a lot of doctrines in the Bible. They are all good.
14. Preach and teach the fundamental, basic doctrines of the Christian faith. Teach them well. Explain them. Make them interesting. Tell why they are important.
15. Teach what Baptists believe and why they believe it. There are good biblical reasons for these beliefs.
16. Occasionally get out good literature to your people. Don’t just assume they know what you know. They don’t. Don’t assume they will look it up on the internet. They won’t. Good books, tracts, pamphlets, DVDs. Don’t flood them with literature. Just push something good every now and then. Have a good denominational state paper sent to every family, or at least to your church leaders. The printed word will not reach everyone, but some will read it and be reinforced by it.
17. Your church is important, your wife and family are more important. Spend time with them. Laugh with them. Joke with them. You’ll never be perfect, but live what you preach in front of them.
18. Work on your humility. This can be most difficult. Humility is something that when you think you have it, you’ve lost it. But humility is not so much thinking low thoughts of yourself; it is just not thinking of yourself. Put God first, family second, your church third, yourself last.
19. Don’t have something going on at the church every day of the week, unless it is a special week, like a revival. Families need time together.
20. Take at least a full day off every week. Two days a week is better.
21. Learn how to relax with your family and friends and not care what happens at church. There are times you need to care what happens at church, and times you don’t need to care or worry. Tell God you are going to let Him worry about your church on your day off.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, October 7, AD 2009.
2. Get to know at least one older pastor that you can respect. Go to him often for advice.
3. Get involved in the Association, State and National Conventions. You need the fellowship and encouragement. They need your support. They need you to keep them on track. You sometimes need them to keep you on track.
4. Preach the Word of God. Make it interesting and easy to understand. You are not preaching to impress your professors or seminary friends. You are preaching to the common folks in the pews. You are preaching to please your Heavenly Father.
5. More talented and godly preachers than you had their ministries destroyed by immorality. Avoid even the hint of scandal.
6. Your wife sees and understands things that you do not. Unless you are an idiot, you will listen carefully to what she has to say.
7. Have younger friends in the ministry. One day your peers will be dead.
8. When you retire, be your pastor’s best friend. Be the kind of church member you wished you had when you were a pastor.
9. Periodically renew your first love and passion for Jesus and His Word.
10. Preach all the Bible, but understand that there is a reason for some of the best loved Bible passages. Preach from them often.
11. It is not a sin to preach a sermon again. Sometimes you can improve on it. Soloists do it all the time. But don’t do it as often as they do.
12. Remember that you never get spiritually deeper than when you lead a little boy or girl, man or woman, to Jesus.
13. Don’t get hung up on a particular doctrine in the Bible. There are a lot of doctrines in the Bible. They are all good.
14. Preach and teach the fundamental, basic doctrines of the Christian faith. Teach them well. Explain them. Make them interesting. Tell why they are important.
15. Teach what Baptists believe and why they believe it. There are good biblical reasons for these beliefs.
16. Occasionally get out good literature to your people. Don’t just assume they know what you know. They don’t. Don’t assume they will look it up on the internet. They won’t. Good books, tracts, pamphlets, DVDs. Don’t flood them with literature. Just push something good every now and then. Have a good denominational state paper sent to every family, or at least to your church leaders. The printed word will not reach everyone, but some will read it and be reinforced by it.
17. Your church is important, your wife and family are more important. Spend time with them. Laugh with them. Joke with them. You’ll never be perfect, but live what you preach in front of them.
18. Work on your humility. This can be most difficult. Humility is something that when you think you have it, you’ve lost it. But humility is not so much thinking low thoughts of yourself; it is just not thinking of yourself. Put God first, family second, your church third, yourself last.
19. Don’t have something going on at the church every day of the week, unless it is a special week, like a revival. Families need time together.
20. Take at least a full day off every week. Two days a week is better.
21. Learn how to relax with your family and friends and not care what happens at church. There are times you need to care what happens at church, and times you don’t need to care or worry. Tell God you are going to let Him worry about your church on your day off.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, October 7, AD 2009.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Saved By The Sinner's Prayer
God, be merciful to me a sinner! -Luke 18:13
This month I heard a young preacher say to a student group, “You’re not saved by a prayer. A prayer won’t save you.” This seems to be a popular view among some on the internet. Somewhat related, Anglican Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori called an individual salvation formula “heresy.” I disagree.
Are we saved by a prayer? According to the Bible, yes. Prayer is simply talking to God; calling to God. Must we do something to be saved? Again, according to the Bible, yes.
“If you confess with your mouth,” “believe in your heart,” you will be saved (Romans 10:9-10). “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Romans 10:13; see Joel 2:32). The “Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him” (Romans 10:12).
The tax collector prayed what has come to be known as the Sinner‘s Prayer, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Did that prayer save him? Well, Jesus Himself said, “This man went down to his house justified” (Luke 18:13-14).
The thief on the cross prayed, “Lord, remember me.” Did this prayer save him? Yes, we have Jesus’ word on it, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:42-43). Jesus saved him, but a prayer saved the thief in the sense that he had to pray, believe, ask.
The Gospel (Good News) is that Jesus, God the Son, died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day rose again (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Jesus has done the work of our salvation. He made the once for all, perfect sacrifice by shedding His blood for us (1 Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 7:27; 9:12). But we are not automatically saved; we must repent, receive, believe, ask God to save us.
We are to “receive / accept” Jesus. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
We are to “believe” in Jesus for salvation (John 1:12b; 3:16, 36; 5:24; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 4:3; 1 Timothy 4:10). “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).
We are to “ask.” Jesus said, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (John 4:10).
We are to “repent,” turn from our sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:37-38; 3:19; 26:20; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 2 Peter 3:9).
How are we saved, regenerated? “For by grace you have been saved through faith..” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are saved by the grace of God. But wait, it also says we are saved through faith (also Luke 7:50; Romans 3:28; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 3:17). James 1:21 says we are saved by the implanted word. The point is that a whole lot of things happen simultaneously at regeneration. We are saved by grace; but on the other hand we are saved though faith, by the word, by calling on the name of the Lord. You do not enhance the grace of God by denying the necessity of believing and calling on the name of God. You do not detract from Jesus’ blood atonement by pointing out the role of repentance and faith.
“Dear Lord, I know that I’m a sinner, that I’ve done things that are wrong in Your eyes. I believe You love me and died on the cross for my sins. I believe You rose again and are living today. I ask You right now to forgive me of all my sins and to come into my heart and save me. Help me to make You the Lord, the Boss, of my life. Help me to live for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Will someone be saved if they pray this or a similar prayer? If they pray it and mean it, of course they will be saved. You have God’s Word on it.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, September 28, AD 2009.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Differences Between the 1963 and 2000 Baptist Faith and Message
The Baptist Faith & Message (BF&M) is the doctrinal statement of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Several years ago an evangelist asked me the difference between the 1963 and 2000 versions of the BF&M. The following are my thoughts.
The BF&M 1963 was a good, conservative statement of faith. But its statement on Scripture knowingly or unknowingly left a couple of loopholes for those who may be theologically liberal. Also, in 2000 Baptists felt we should deal with some more modern day challenges to our faith, challenges seldom heard in 1963.
1. There were a couple of changes in the article on Scripture. The 1963 BF&M stated the Bible “has... truth without any mixture of error.” Some said, therefore, the Bible has truth and the truth it has is without mixture of error. But it does not say the Bible is truth. So, according to this liberal view, the Bible has truth, in addition it may also have error. Therefore a liberal could state agreement with the 1963 BF&M, all the while believing there are errors in the Bible. Conservatives would be deceived into believing the liberal was really theologically a conservative. This is a case where there is a significant difference between has and is.
The 1963 BF&M also said, “The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Christ.” While a little confusing to some, the sentence sounded good. After all, we believe in the preeminence of Jesus.
Some, however, interpreted that statement to mean, “If Jesus speaks directly to an issue it is true. If not, then we can make our own decision.” For example, while the Bible says homosexuality is sinful, Jesus did not directly say that, so we have the option of agreeing or disagreeing with those passages in the Bible. (Actually, Jesus did speak to the issue. He spoke of marriage as being between one man and one woman. Jesus also affirmed the truth of the Old Testament, and it directly speaks to this issue.) Some have said that Jesus and Paul disagreed on some issues, such as the role of women. Therefore we disregard what Paul wrote in the Bible in favor of what Jesus said. The conservative believes all Scripture is true and inspired by God, and that Jesus and Paul do not contradict each other.
The 2000 Baptist Faith & Message does away with these misunderstandings by stating that “all Scripture is true and trustworthy” and by removing the “criterion” statement.
While some liberals who believe there are errors in the Bible could use the above “loopholes” and sign the 1963 statement, they cannot do so with the 2000 statement. At least they could not sign the 2000 statement without being openly dishonest.
2. The 1963 BF&M does not speak to the issue of the Family, the 2000 statement does.
3. The 2000 BF&M says the pastor of a local church should be a male. The 1963 BF&M does not refer to this issue. The BF&M 2000 does, however, make it plain that both men and women are of equal worth before God and gifted for ministry.
4. The BF&M 2000 speaks against euthanasia, pornography, abortion, and homosexuality. The 1963 statement does not deal with these issues.
The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 is now the official statement of faith of the SBC. All our SBC seminary professors and missionaries are expected to sign it and not teach contrary to it. Other views are presented in class, but the professor is expected to believe what the majority of Baptists believe on these issues.
Some protest that we should not require professors and missionaries to sign this statement; they should be free to follow their own beliefs. They do have freedom to follow their own beliefs. We also have freedom to not provide them a living with our mission gifts.
It makes little sense for churches and pastors to support people with their mission money to teach what we do not believe. J. B. Gambrell, an old time Baptist leader and SBC president, maintained, “Baptists never ride a horse without a bridle.” We will always disagree on some issues, but the BF&M 2000 is a summary of some of our most basic beliefs.
*******
Read the entire BF&M 2000 at sbc.net. It can be purchased in pamphlet form at LifeWay Stores or ordered from LifeWay (800/458-2772). It’s a good idea for a church to have some copies available for their members and teachers.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, September 21, AD 2009.
The BF&M 1963 was a good, conservative statement of faith. But its statement on Scripture knowingly or unknowingly left a couple of loopholes for those who may be theologically liberal. Also, in 2000 Baptists felt we should deal with some more modern day challenges to our faith, challenges seldom heard in 1963.
1. There were a couple of changes in the article on Scripture. The 1963 BF&M stated the Bible “has... truth without any mixture of error.” Some said, therefore, the Bible has truth and the truth it has is without mixture of error. But it does not say the Bible is truth. So, according to this liberal view, the Bible has truth, in addition it may also have error. Therefore a liberal could state agreement with the 1963 BF&M, all the while believing there are errors in the Bible. Conservatives would be deceived into believing the liberal was really theologically a conservative. This is a case where there is a significant difference between has and is.
The 1963 BF&M also said, “The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Christ.” While a little confusing to some, the sentence sounded good. After all, we believe in the preeminence of Jesus.
Some, however, interpreted that statement to mean, “If Jesus speaks directly to an issue it is true. If not, then we can make our own decision.” For example, while the Bible says homosexuality is sinful, Jesus did not directly say that, so we have the option of agreeing or disagreeing with those passages in the Bible. (Actually, Jesus did speak to the issue. He spoke of marriage as being between one man and one woman. Jesus also affirmed the truth of the Old Testament, and it directly speaks to this issue.) Some have said that Jesus and Paul disagreed on some issues, such as the role of women. Therefore we disregard what Paul wrote in the Bible in favor of what Jesus said. The conservative believes all Scripture is true and inspired by God, and that Jesus and Paul do not contradict each other.
The 2000 Baptist Faith & Message does away with these misunderstandings by stating that “all Scripture is true and trustworthy” and by removing the “criterion” statement.
While some liberals who believe there are errors in the Bible could use the above “loopholes” and sign the 1963 statement, they cannot do so with the 2000 statement. At least they could not sign the 2000 statement without being openly dishonest.
2. The 1963 BF&M does not speak to the issue of the Family, the 2000 statement does.
3. The 2000 BF&M says the pastor of a local church should be a male. The 1963 BF&M does not refer to this issue. The BF&M 2000 does, however, make it plain that both men and women are of equal worth before God and gifted for ministry.
4. The BF&M 2000 speaks against euthanasia, pornography, abortion, and homosexuality. The 1963 statement does not deal with these issues.
The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 is now the official statement of faith of the SBC. All our SBC seminary professors and missionaries are expected to sign it and not teach contrary to it. Other views are presented in class, but the professor is expected to believe what the majority of Baptists believe on these issues.
Some protest that we should not require professors and missionaries to sign this statement; they should be free to follow their own beliefs. They do have freedom to follow their own beliefs. We also have freedom to not provide them a living with our mission gifts.
It makes little sense for churches and pastors to support people with their mission money to teach what we do not believe. J. B. Gambrell, an old time Baptist leader and SBC president, maintained, “Baptists never ride a horse without a bridle.” We will always disagree on some issues, but the BF&M 2000 is a summary of some of our most basic beliefs.
*******
Read the entire BF&M 2000 at sbc.net. It can be purchased in pamphlet form at LifeWay Stores or ordered from LifeWay (800/458-2772). It’s a good idea for a church to have some copies available for their members and teachers.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, September 21, AD 2009.
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