Last week, for the first time in 236 years, an American President has endorsed the idea of Same Sex Marriage. Today it seems the media, the entertainment world, and much of our public school system is on his side. Sodom and Gomorrah are also on his side. On this issue our President has been said to be on the side of history. Better to be on the side of God.
Often it is said Jesus never spoke on homosexuality or Same-Sex Marriage. That is not true.
First, Jesus endorsed the entirety of the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17; 26:56; Luke 16:31; 18:31; 24:25; John 5:46; 17:17; etc.) , and the old Testament speaks clearly on the issue of homosexuality. There is no doubt it proclaims homosexual behavior as sinful (Leviticus 18:22; Genesis 19; Jude 7; 2 Peter 2:6; etc.).
I remember Dr. Roy Fish at SWBTS saying you could fill up a paper saying the Bible is infallible, inerrant, inspired, our supreme standard of faith and practice, truth without mixture of error, completely true and trustworthy - and Jesus would sign it every time.
Second, Jesus said the Holy Spirit would guide the disciples into all truth. Part of that covers the way the Holy Spirit inspired Paul and the other biblical writers in writing the New Testament. The New Testament also speaks clearly on the issue of homosexuality (Romans 1:21-32; ; 1 Timothy 1:10; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 7).
Third, Jesus spoke of marriage as being between one man and one woman for life (Mark 10:6-9). He referred back to Genesis where God made them male and female. Where God made Adam and Eve, one man for one woman in marriage. God did not make Adam and Eve and Mary and Sarah and Lisa. It was never God’s ideal to create polygamy. Neither did God create Adam and Steve. In the Garden of Eden God created them male and female, marriage is intended to be one man and one woman. According to Jesus, marriage is to be between one man and one woman.
Fourth, Jesus is God (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1, 14; 20:28; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13) and as such He inspired the entirety of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16). In a very real sense, when it comes to the Bible, Jesus said it all. He inspired it all. When the Bible speaks on morality, Jesus inspired it, Jesus said it.
In multiple ways, Jesus did speak of the immorality of the homosexual lifestyle. It should also be remembered Jesus offers grace and mercy to all sinners, whether homosexual or heterosexual. Churches should be welcoming to homosexuals; but not affirming of the lifestyle. True love and compassion will warn of a sinful, destructive, dead-end lifestyle.
To the homosexual:
Jesus Christ, God the Son loves you as much as He loves me or anyone else. Jesus gave His blood, His life, for you; and He rose again. No man is beyond God’s love and grace. No one is too big a sinner for God to save.
How does a homosexual get saved? The same way the rest of us dirty rotten sinners get saved. By admitting our sin, believing Jesus died for our sins and rose again, and trusting Him as our Lord (Boss) and Savior.
Did you know the New Testament church of 2,000 years ago included ex-homosexuals? 1 Corinthians gives a long list of sins, including homosexuality, and then says such were some of you, but you have been justified (made just as if you never sinned in the eyes of God) by Jesus Christ.
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Yes, sometimes those recovering from whatever, slip and fall. But stay close to Jesus, His Word, and His church. If you fall, ask His forgiveness and get back up.
You are not the only one. A couple of examples from Baptist Press (BP):
Study: Gays can change sexual orientation
No longer lesbian
-David R. Brumbelow, May 15, AD 2012.
Other articles:
The Roman Road of Salvation
The God of the Second Chance
Other articles in lower right margin.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Baptists and Eternal Security, or Once Saved Always Saved; Part 3 of 3
16. Nothing shall separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:25-39
17. God will keep what we have committed to Him. 2 Timothy 1:12
Notice once again that it is God who does the keeping, not us.
18. Jesus said He would send a Comforter that would abide with us forever. John 14:16
Forever means, well, forever. The Holy Spirit will not be abiding with those in Hell.
19. It is impossible for one who was saved, if he were to lose his salvation, to ever be saved again.
Why? Because Jesus would have to be crucified again. Hebrews 6:4-6
Christ was offered once for all as a sacrifice for our sins. Hebrews 9:28; Romans 6:10
20. The Bible says we can know that we have (present tense) eternal life. 1 John 5:13
How could we know that if we could lose it? If we had to keep ourselves saved, we could never know for sure if we had eternal life. We would not know until we died if we were going to Heaven or Hell.
21. Jesus said He will tell false professors, “I never knew you.” Matthew 7:21-23
He will not say, “I used to know you, but you lost your salvation.” Rather, He said I never knew you in the first place. They were never saved to begin with.
Objections to Eternal Security
1. That would mean a man could get saved and then do anything he wanted to do.
1. God changes our desires when we get saved.
I sin all I want to; in fact, I sin more than I want to.
2. Not everyone who claims to be saved, really is saved.
There are those who claim to be saved and live like the devil. Maybe they weren’t really saved in the first place. 1 John 2:19
3. God disciplines His children (Hebrews 12:5-11). God even kills some Christians, because of their disobedience (1 John 5:16; Acts 5:1-11). I believe in such a case, God takes them home to Heaven. Much like an earthy father would call a child inside the house for fussing and fighting with his friends and giving the family a bad name (see illustration in The Wit and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow).
4. There is a danger, however, of trying to judge who is and isn’t saved. Sometimes someone says, “A man may do this and be saved, but he can’t do that and be saved.” We try to determine how far a man may go who is a Christian. Salvation does not make us perfect and we still sin. We can’t always separate the wheat from the tares (Matthew 13:24-30). That is God’s job.
5. On the other hand, it is certainly valid to say of some individuals, “He sure isn’t living like a Christian.” Or, “I don’t see any evidence of that man being a believer.“ But the individual and God are the only ones who know for sure if the person is truly saved.
2. It would cause people to get saved and then do nothing for the Lord.
1. The greatest motivation for serving God is not fear of losing your salvation, but because of God’s love for us.
2. Because of the security we have, we can stop worrying about whether we are going to make it to Heaven or not and get on with the business of serving God.
3. The percentage of mediocre Christians does not seem to be greater among Baptists than among Christian groups who teach falling from grace. We all have mediocre disciples of which we are not proud!
3. What about the Scriptures that seem to teach falling from grace?
If you study them carefully and without prejudice you will find:
1. The person referred to was not saved in the first place.
2. The Scripture does not definitely say that the person was lost and went to Hell after he was saved.
3. The verse is not talking about salvation at all.
4. The verse has been taken out of context.
Belief in eternal security may not solve all the difficult passages. But I am convinced you will have a lot more problems (biblical interpretation problems, and a greater number of difficult verses) if you do not believe in eternal security.
Conclusion:
The story has been told of two men on a plane to San Antonio, Texas. Someone asks the first man, “Are you going to San Antonio?” Nervously he replies, “I sure hope so. I think I got on the right plane. Man, I’m in big trouble if I don’t make it.” He nervously fidgets throughout the flight.
The second man is asked, “Are you going to San Antonio?” Confidently he replies, “Yes.” There is no doubt in his mind. He leans back, drinks a Diet Dr. Pepper® , reads the newspaper, and enjoys the flight.
Which one made it to San Antonio? Both of them did. But the second man enjoyed the flight a whole lot more than the first man.
That is the difference made by believing in eternal security. Those who, based on God’s Word, know they are going to Heaven - can enjoy the trip much more than those who never know for sure.
Note: This message on Eternal Security was originally put together in 1992.
Note 2: The book, Fights I Didn't Start, and Some I Did (Round 2) by R. L. Sumner has a good chapter defending Eternal Security; Foreword by Bailey Smith.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, May 14, AD 2012.
Other Articles:
Baptists and Eternal Security, or Once Saved Always Saved; Part 1 of 3
The Roman Road of Salvation
Church Buildings - Dos and Don'ts #1
About the Church Covenant
What Legalism Really Means
Why We Don't Use Alcohol For The Lord's Supper
Other articles in lower right margin
17. God will keep what we have committed to Him. 2 Timothy 1:12
Notice once again that it is God who does the keeping, not us.
18. Jesus said He would send a Comforter that would abide with us forever. John 14:16
Forever means, well, forever. The Holy Spirit will not be abiding with those in Hell.
19. It is impossible for one who was saved, if he were to lose his salvation, to ever be saved again.
Why? Because Jesus would have to be crucified again. Hebrews 6:4-6
Christ was offered once for all as a sacrifice for our sins. Hebrews 9:28; Romans 6:10
20. The Bible says we can know that we have (present tense) eternal life. 1 John 5:13
How could we know that if we could lose it? If we had to keep ourselves saved, we could never know for sure if we had eternal life. We would not know until we died if we were going to Heaven or Hell.
21. Jesus said He will tell false professors, “I never knew you.” Matthew 7:21-23
He will not say, “I used to know you, but you lost your salvation.” Rather, He said I never knew you in the first place. They were never saved to begin with.
Objections to Eternal Security
1. That would mean a man could get saved and then do anything he wanted to do.
I sin all I want to; in fact, I sin more than I want to.
2. Not everyone who claims to be saved, really is saved.
There are those who claim to be saved and live like the devil. Maybe they weren’t really saved in the first place. 1 John 2:19
3. God disciplines His children (Hebrews 12:5-11). God even kills some Christians, because of their disobedience (1 John 5:16; Acts 5:1-11). I believe in such a case, God takes them home to Heaven. Much like an earthy father would call a child inside the house for fussing and fighting with his friends and giving the family a bad name (see illustration in The Wit and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow).
4. There is a danger, however, of trying to judge who is and isn’t saved. Sometimes someone says, “A man may do this and be saved, but he can’t do that and be saved.” We try to determine how far a man may go who is a Christian. Salvation does not make us perfect and we still sin. We can’t always separate the wheat from the tares (Matthew 13:24-30). That is God’s job.
5. On the other hand, it is certainly valid to say of some individuals, “He sure isn’t living like a Christian.” Or, “I don’t see any evidence of that man being a believer.“ But the individual and God are the only ones who know for sure if the person is truly saved.
2. It would cause people to get saved and then do nothing for the Lord.
2. Because of the security we have, we can stop worrying about whether we are going to make it to Heaven or not and get on with the business of serving God.
3. The percentage of mediocre Christians does not seem to be greater among Baptists than among Christian groups who teach falling from grace. We all have mediocre disciples of which we are not proud!
3. What about the Scriptures that seem to teach falling from grace?
If you study them carefully and without prejudice you will find:
1. The person referred to was not saved in the first place.
2. The Scripture does not definitely say that the person was lost and went to Hell after he was saved.
3. The verse is not talking about salvation at all.
4. The verse has been taken out of context.
Belief in eternal security may not solve all the difficult passages. But I am convinced you will have a lot more problems (biblical interpretation problems, and a greater number of difficult verses) if you do not believe in eternal security.
Conclusion:
The story has been told of two men on a plane to San Antonio, Texas. Someone asks the first man, “Are you going to San Antonio?” Nervously he replies, “I sure hope so. I think I got on the right plane. Man, I’m in big trouble if I don’t make it.” He nervously fidgets throughout the flight.
The second man is asked, “Are you going to San Antonio?” Confidently he replies, “Yes.” There is no doubt in his mind. He leans back, drinks a Diet Dr. Pepper® , reads the newspaper, and enjoys the flight.
Which one made it to San Antonio? Both of them did. But the second man enjoyed the flight a whole lot more than the first man.
That is the difference made by believing in eternal security. Those who, based on God’s Word, know they are going to Heaven - can enjoy the trip much more than those who never know for sure.
Note: This message on Eternal Security was originally put together in 1992.
Note 2: The book, Fights I Didn't Start, and Some I Did (Round 2) by R. L. Sumner has a good chapter defending Eternal Security; Foreword by Bailey Smith.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, May 14, AD 2012.
Other Articles:
Baptists and Eternal Security, or Once Saved Always Saved; Part 1 of 3
The Roman Road of Salvation
Church Buildings - Dos and Don'ts #1
About the Church Covenant
What Legalism Really Means
Why We Don't Use Alcohol For The Lord's Supper
Other articles in lower right margin
Monday, May 7, 2012
Evangelist Billy Graham on Charles G. Finney
I grew up hearing good things about Charles Finney (AD 1792-1875), an evangelist from the early 1800s. I heard sermon illustrations about him. I saw books by and about him in my dad’s library and other preachers’ libraries. My heart was stirred hearing how he was part of a great revival in America and was instrumental in leading multitudes to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Today I see Finney attacked time and again. Some Calvinists in particular seem to have a visceral distain for him. Finneyism is by them used almost as a curse word. They call him a Semi-Pelagian, another of their favorite pejorative terms. According to some Finney is the reason for virtually all problems, real and imagined, in the church today. Curiously, these same folks usually do not so criticize the great evangelist of our time, Billy Graham. Perhaps because it would not be so accepted?
It's refreshing to hear something good about Finney. Back in 1982 Evangelist Billy Graham had some very interesting comments. Hear them:
“Few men have had such a profound impact on their generation as Charles Grandison Finney. Through his Spirit-filled evangelistic ministry, uncounted thousands came to know Christ in the nineteenth century, resulting in one of the greatest periods of revival in the history of America. In addition, he became one of the most widely-read theologians of his time through his lectures and writings. His concern for education influenced whole generations of students.”
“But most of all, Charles G. Finney was a deeply-committed Christian. More than anything else he wanted to serve Christ and be used of Him.”
-Evangelist Billy Graham *
Graham goes on to call Finney a “remarkable man,” and “one of history’s greatest evangelists.”
So don’t be intimidated by the criticism. Get Finney’s books; get Drummond’s book on Finney. And next time you hear someone running down Charles Finney, you might share with them Billy Graham’s view of this great evangelist.
* From the Foreword in The Life and Ministry of Charles G. Finney by Dr. Lewis A. Drummond, Bethany House Publishers; 1983. Drummond was a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, May 7, AD 2012.
Other articles:
Random Advice to Pastors, Part 1
Scofield Bible, First 100 Years
Baptists on Tithing
Young Preachers - Finding a Place to Preach; Part 1
Saved By The Sinner's Prayer
Other articles in lower right margin
Today I see Finney attacked time and again. Some Calvinists in particular seem to have a visceral distain for him. Finneyism is by them used almost as a curse word. They call him a Semi-Pelagian, another of their favorite pejorative terms. According to some Finney is the reason for virtually all problems, real and imagined, in the church today. Curiously, these same folks usually do not so criticize the great evangelist of our time, Billy Graham. Perhaps because it would not be so accepted?
It's refreshing to hear something good about Finney. Back in 1982 Evangelist Billy Graham had some very interesting comments. Hear them:
“Few men have had such a profound impact on their generation as Charles Grandison Finney. Through his Spirit-filled evangelistic ministry, uncounted thousands came to know Christ in the nineteenth century, resulting in one of the greatest periods of revival in the history of America. In addition, he became one of the most widely-read theologians of his time through his lectures and writings. His concern for education influenced whole generations of students.”
“But most of all, Charles G. Finney was a deeply-committed Christian. More than anything else he wanted to serve Christ and be used of Him.”
-Evangelist Billy Graham *
Graham goes on to call Finney a “remarkable man,” and “one of history’s greatest evangelists.”
So don’t be intimidated by the criticism. Get Finney’s books; get Drummond’s book on Finney. And next time you hear someone running down Charles Finney, you might share with them Billy Graham’s view of this great evangelist.
* From the Foreword in The Life and Ministry of Charles G. Finney by Dr. Lewis A. Drummond, Bethany House Publishers; 1983. Drummond was a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, May 7, AD 2012.
Update: Additional endorsements of Charles G. Finney
by Christian leaders.
“[Charles
G.] Finney won multiplied thousands of souls.
Although he preached in a smaller area, and though he was handicapped by
some errors in theology, Finney probably had as powerful a manifestation of the
power of God upon his ministry as did D. L. Moody or any other preacher since
the days of Paul, and in the smaller area which he covered in his revival work
a larger proportion of the population was saved than has been true, we suppose,
in the ministry of any other great evangelist.”
-John R. Rice, “The Power of Pentecost;” 1949, 1979. Rice was founding editor of “The Sword of the
Lord.”
Robert L. Sumner refers to the
“noted and greatly used Charles G. Finney.”
Sumner was an evangelist, author, Associate Editor of “The Sword of the
Lord,” editor of “The Biblical Evangelist.”
“While
giving instruction it is wise to appeal to the understanding. True religion is
as logical as if it were not emotional. I am not an admirer of the peculiar
views of Mr. [Charles G.] Finney,
but I have no doubt that he was useful to many; and his power lay in his use of
clear arguments. Many who knew his fame were greatly disappointed at first
hearing him, because he used few beauties of speech and was as calm and dry as
a book of Euclid; but he was exactly adapted to a certain order of minds, and
they were convinced and convicted by his forcible reasoning. Should not persons
of an argumentative cast of mind be provided for? We are to be all things to
all men, and to these men we must become argumentative and push them into a
corner with plain deductions and necessary inferences. Of carnal reasoning we
would have none, but of fair, honest pondering, considering, judging, and
arguing the more the better.”
-Charles H. Spurgeon, “Lectures to My
Students.”
“One
of the tremendous affirmations of the great evangelist and preacher Charles G.
Finney is this; that it is the truth of God that convicts and that saves.”
-W. A.
Criswell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, TX, author, SBC
president.
For
a positive treatment of Finney, see: “The Life and Ministry of Charles G. Finney” by
Dr. Lewis A. Drummond, Bethany House
Publishers; 1983.
Drummond was a professor at Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary and president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Also
see, Robert W. Caldwell III, “Theologies
of the American Revivalists,” IVP Academic; 2017.
Dr. Caldwell is professor of church history,
SWBTS.
Both
Caldwell and Drummond explain some of Finney’s theological views, views
criticized by some who do not understand them.
They also explain some of the “out of context” Finney quotes that are
often used against him.
I
do not agree with all of Finney’s theology, but he was a great evangelist and
greatly used of God. He is undeserving of much of the modern criticism against
him.
-DRB;
1-7-AD 2018.
Other articles:
Random Advice to Pastors, Part 1
Scofield Bible, First 100 Years
Baptists on Tithing
Young Preachers - Finding a Place to Preach; Part 1
Saved By The Sinner's Prayer
Other articles in lower right margin
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Baptists and Eternal Security, or Once Saved Always Saved; Part 2 of 3
8. We are kept, not by our power, but by the power of God. 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24; Psalm 37:24.
If you were to say, “I will give you salvation, but then you will have to keep yourself saved,” I would have to say, “That kind of salvation will not do me much good.” I could’t keep myself saved five minutes.
God does the saving and God does the keeping!
9. If we could lose our salvation, we would never be secure.
We would always be wondering if we would slip up. Always wondering if we will end up in Hell instead of Heaven. Wondering if a former child of God would be burning in the fires of Hell. Without eternal security, there is really no security at all.
10. If we could lose our salvation, what would cause us to lose it? How would we know when we had lost it?
A little sin? A big sin? A lot of little sins? If so, how many little sins? Five, ten, 20? If 20, then could we get away with 19 little sins?
Once again, it would be impossible to know if we were really saved or lost.
11. If we could lose our salvation, then would we need to be baptized over and over again?
This especially applies to those who teach that baptism is a part of salvation. When they lose their salvation, why do they only have to believe again? Why do they not have to be baptized again? Are they not making the baptismal waters more powerful than the blood of Jesus?
Of course their problem is that they would have to continually be baptized. If I believed that way I think I would just stay in the baptistry. Maybe we should just baptize them and shoot them! Send them straight to Heaven!
12. If we could lose our salvation it would mean that God had failed.
It would mean God had tried to keep us, but could not.
It would mean that children of God would be cast into Hell.
13. “Falling from grace” is a contradiction in terms.
Falling from grace is really an oxymoron. Grace means unmerited favor. How can you no longer deserve what you never deserved in the first place?
There is a reference to falling from grace in Galatians. It refers to the point that the Galatians once believed in grace, but now believe in works. They have left the idea of grace behind, hence they have “fallen from grace.”
Galatians was written to refute those who believed you must believe in Jesus and be circumcised in order to be saved, or believe in Jesus plus do good works to be saved. Paul taught that faith in Jesus plus nothing equals salvation.
14. John 10:27-29
In this passage Jesus teaches once saved always saved in four different ways:
1. “I give them eternal life” v. 28a
2. “They shall never perish.” v. 28b
3. “Neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” v. 28c
4. “No one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” v. 29b
Jesus added, “My Father…is greater than all.” v. 29a. If we are in the Father’s hands, we are secure.
A boy had a nickel in his hand, back in the day when a nickel was worth a lot. He challenged his friend, “If you can get the nickel out of my hand you can keep it.” He closed his hand tightly around the nickel as his friend tried to open it. Finally the friend pried one finger up and started on another. The boy jumped up from the porch and ran inside to his father. He asked his dad to put his big hand around his hand with the nickel. The father did so, and try as he might, his friend could not open his dad’s hand. That is what Jesus and God the Father do for us.
15. Galatians 5:1-4
The problem with the Galatians is that they started out believing in Jesus, but then they began to teach that you must also follow the law to be saved. This is really a form of what those teach who believe you can lose your salvation. In this sense, Galatians is one of the best arguments in favor of eternal security.
-to be continued.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, May 2, AD 2012.
Other Articles:
Baptists and Eternal Security, or Once Saved Always Saved; Part 1 of 3
Baptists and Eternal Security, or Once Saved Always Saved; Part 3 of 3
How to Get a Life When Ministry Drains it Out of You
Flee Immorality
Other articles in lower right margin
If you were to say, “I will give you salvation, but then you will have to keep yourself saved,” I would have to say, “That kind of salvation will not do me much good.” I could’t keep myself saved five minutes.
God does the saving and God does the keeping!
9. If we could lose our salvation, we would never be secure.
We would always be wondering if we would slip up. Always wondering if we will end up in Hell instead of Heaven. Wondering if a former child of God would be burning in the fires of Hell. Without eternal security, there is really no security at all.
10. If we could lose our salvation, what would cause us to lose it? How would we know when we had lost it?
A little sin? A big sin? A lot of little sins? If so, how many little sins? Five, ten, 20? If 20, then could we get away with 19 little sins?
Once again, it would be impossible to know if we were really saved or lost.
11. If we could lose our salvation, then would we need to be baptized over and over again?
This especially applies to those who teach that baptism is a part of salvation. When they lose their salvation, why do they only have to believe again? Why do they not have to be baptized again? Are they not making the baptismal waters more powerful than the blood of Jesus?
Of course their problem is that they would have to continually be baptized. If I believed that way I think I would just stay in the baptistry. Maybe we should just baptize them and shoot them! Send them straight to Heaven!
12. If we could lose our salvation it would mean that God had failed.
It would mean God had tried to keep us, but could not.
It would mean that children of God would be cast into Hell.
13. “Falling from grace” is a contradiction in terms.
Falling from grace is really an oxymoron. Grace means unmerited favor. How can you no longer deserve what you never deserved in the first place?
There is a reference to falling from grace in Galatians. It refers to the point that the Galatians once believed in grace, but now believe in works. They have left the idea of grace behind, hence they have “fallen from grace.”
Galatians was written to refute those who believed you must believe in Jesus and be circumcised in order to be saved, or believe in Jesus plus do good works to be saved. Paul taught that faith in Jesus plus nothing equals salvation.
14. John 10:27-29
In this passage Jesus teaches once saved always saved in four different ways:
1. “I give them eternal life” v. 28a
2. “They shall never perish.” v. 28b
3. “Neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” v. 28c
4. “No one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” v. 29b
Jesus added, “My Father…is greater than all.” v. 29a. If we are in the Father’s hands, we are secure.
A boy had a nickel in his hand, back in the day when a nickel was worth a lot. He challenged his friend, “If you can get the nickel out of my hand you can keep it.” He closed his hand tightly around the nickel as his friend tried to open it. Finally the friend pried one finger up and started on another. The boy jumped up from the porch and ran inside to his father. He asked his dad to put his big hand around his hand with the nickel. The father did so, and try as he might, his friend could not open his dad’s hand. That is what Jesus and God the Father do for us.
15. Galatians 5:1-4
The problem with the Galatians is that they started out believing in Jesus, but then they began to teach that you must also follow the law to be saved. This is really a form of what those teach who believe you can lose your salvation. In this sense, Galatians is one of the best arguments in favor of eternal security.
-to be continued.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, May 2, AD 2012.
Other Articles:
Baptists and Eternal Security, or Once Saved Always Saved; Part 1 of 3
Baptists and Eternal Security, or Once Saved Always Saved; Part 3 of 3
How to Get a Life When Ministry Drains it Out of You
Flee Immorality
Other articles in lower right margin
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Baptists and Eternal Security, or Once Saved Always Saved; Part 1 of 3
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. -Jude 24
Baptists are known for believing in “Eternal Security,” or, “Once Saved, Always Saved.”
More humorously it has been put, “Methodists believe in falling from grace, and Baptists practice it.” Also said, “Arminians know they have it (salvation), but they’re afraid they’re going to loose it. Calvinists know they can’t loose it, but they’re afraid they don’t have it.” In my humble opinion, most Baptists have it just right. We know we are saved, and we know we can’t loose it.
There are good Christian folks who believe you can lose your salvation.
I believe, however, the Bible teaches eternal security or, once saved always saved, for the following reasons.
Note: First, a quick explanation. I am referring to someone who has really, truly placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Just because someone says they are saved, does not mean they are saved. The Bible teaches there are those who falsely profess to be believers (Matthew 7:21-23; 1 John 2:19).
1. Everlasting Life Cannot Be Lost. John 3:16
If it can be lost, then it is not everlasting.
If you have it for a year, and then lose it, it is one year life, not everlasting life.
2. Everlasting Life is something the saved person has right now. John 3:16; 5:24
Well, you say, “Everlasting life may be everlasting, but you do not receive it until you get to Heaven.” No, it is something we possess right now.
John 3:16 - “have” is present tense
John 5:24 - “has” (or “hath”) is present tense
Everlasting life is something the saved person has right now.
3. We are sealed until the day of redemption. Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30
When a king sealed a document, it was as good as already done. No one could break the seal until the proper time.
You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring no one can revoke. -Esther 8:8
4. We have been given the Holy Sprit. His is the “guarantee” (or “earnest”) of our inheritance. Ephesians 1:13-14
Guarantee - deposit, earnest money.
When you buy a house you are asked to put down “Earnest Money” to guarantee you are serious and plan to buy the house. The Holy Spirit is our Guarantee of even more things to come when we receive our full inheritance in Heaven. You don’t give a “guarantee” and then take it back.
5. If you could lose your salvation then salvation would be of works. Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:28
Someone says, “No, we are saying that salvation is of grace, and then you have to keep yourself saved.”
Then you are making salvation part of grace and part of works. But for the grace of God AND your good works of keeping yourself saved, you would not make it to Heaven.
Instead of singing “Jesus Paid It All” you would have to sing:
“Jesus paid a part,
Some to Him I owe.
Sin hath left a crimson stain,
We washed it white as snow.”
But salvation is all of grace, not of works lest anyone should boast.
6. You never cease to be a child of your parents. John 1:12
You may disobey your biological parents, but you never cease to be their child. Disobedience hurts your fellowship; but it does not affect your relationship. You are still their child.
After we become children of God, the same is true. You can’t be “un-born again.”
7. Paul said that we have been adopted into the family of God.
Romans 8:14-17, 23; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5
Adoption meant you became, in every legal sense, a part of the family. It was viewed as a permanent relationship.
(to be continued)
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, April 17, AD 2012.
Other Articles:
Basic Baptist Doctrines / Beliefs
Dr. Robert Wring on Baptists and Elder Rule
Pastors, Salaries, Parsonages
Other articles in lower right margin.
Baptists are known for believing in “Eternal Security,” or, “Once Saved, Always Saved.”
More humorously it has been put, “Methodists believe in falling from grace, and Baptists practice it.” Also said, “Arminians know they have it (salvation), but they’re afraid they’re going to loose it. Calvinists know they can’t loose it, but they’re afraid they don’t have it.” In my humble opinion, most Baptists have it just right. We know we are saved, and we know we can’t loose it.
There are good Christian folks who believe you can lose your salvation.
I believe, however, the Bible teaches eternal security or, once saved always saved, for the following reasons.
Note: First, a quick explanation. I am referring to someone who has really, truly placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Just because someone says they are saved, does not mean they are saved. The Bible teaches there are those who falsely profess to be believers (Matthew 7:21-23; 1 John 2:19).
1. Everlasting Life Cannot Be Lost. John 3:16
If it can be lost, then it is not everlasting.
If you have it for a year, and then lose it, it is one year life, not everlasting life.
2. Everlasting Life is something the saved person has right now. John 3:16; 5:24
Well, you say, “Everlasting life may be everlasting, but you do not receive it until you get to Heaven.” No, it is something we possess right now.
John 3:16 - “have” is present tense
John 5:24 - “has” (or “hath”) is present tense
Everlasting life is something the saved person has right now.
3. We are sealed until the day of redemption. Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30
When a king sealed a document, it was as good as already done. No one could break the seal until the proper time.
You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring no one can revoke. -Esther 8:8
4. We have been given the Holy Sprit. His is the “guarantee” (or “earnest”) of our inheritance. Ephesians 1:13-14
Guarantee - deposit, earnest money.
When you buy a house you are asked to put down “Earnest Money” to guarantee you are serious and plan to buy the house. The Holy Spirit is our Guarantee of even more things to come when we receive our full inheritance in Heaven. You don’t give a “guarantee” and then take it back.
5. If you could lose your salvation then salvation would be of works. Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:28
Someone says, “No, we are saying that salvation is of grace, and then you have to keep yourself saved.”
Then you are making salvation part of grace and part of works. But for the grace of God AND your good works of keeping yourself saved, you would not make it to Heaven.
Instead of singing “Jesus Paid It All” you would have to sing:
“Jesus paid a part,
Some to Him I owe.
Sin hath left a crimson stain,
We washed it white as snow.”
But salvation is all of grace, not of works lest anyone should boast.
6. You never cease to be a child of your parents. John 1:12
You may disobey your biological parents, but you never cease to be their child. Disobedience hurts your fellowship; but it does not affect your relationship. You are still their child.
After we become children of God, the same is true. You can’t be “un-born again.”
7. Paul said that we have been adopted into the family of God.
Romans 8:14-17, 23; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5
Adoption meant you became, in every legal sense, a part of the family. It was viewed as a permanent relationship.
(to be continued)
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, April 17, AD 2012.
Other Articles:
Basic Baptist Doctrines / Beliefs
Dr. Robert Wring on Baptists and Elder Rule
Pastors, Salaries, Parsonages
Other articles in lower right margin.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Basic Baptist Doctrines / Beliefs
Below is material we used in teaching Deacons. I reprint it here, with some revision, to remind us of what we believe. This is a brief list with no attempt to give the Scriptural reasons for these beliefs. That will be left for other articles. This is a summary. For a complete statement, read the Bible!
Fundamental or Basic Christian Doctrines are the foundational beliefs of Christianity. They have been believed by all, or at least the huge majority of all Christians.
Distinctive Baptist Doctrines are those beliefs that distinguish (or have distinguished) Baptists from all other, or some other, Evangelical Christian groups.
Fundamental, Basic Christian Doctrines:
1. Divine inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. The Bible is our supreme rule of faith and practice.
2. The Trinity. God is one, but reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. Jesus is God.
4. The Virgin Birth of Jesus.
5. Jesus’ sinless life
6. The blood atonement. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, shed His blood for us.
7. Jesus literally, physically rose from the dead.
8. Literal Return of Christ to the earth.
9. Resurrection and Judgment
10. Reality of Heaven and Hell
11. Man is a sinner in need of a Savior.
12. Personal faith in Jesus is the only way of salvation. Faith alone in Christ alone.
Distinctive Baptist Doctrines:
1. Believers Baptism by Immersion, is the scriptural means of baptism.
2. Two scriptural offices: pastors and deacons. In the Bible pastor, bishop, and elder are used synonymously for the same office.
3. Eternal Security of the believer. Once saved, always saved. But true faith should result in good works for the Lord.
4. Autonomy of the local church. The local church is a democratic body, with Christ as the head of the church. No one outside a local Baptist church can tell them what to do.
5. Religious liberty. Citizens of a country should be free to worship according to the dictates of their conscience. They should be free to witness to others.
6. Requirements for church membership: salvation and believer’s baptism by immersion.
7. Priesthood of the believer. Each believer is responsible before God to search the Scripture and believe and live accordingly.
8. The two ordinances of the church are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. They are not sacraments. A sacrament carries with it the idea of having “saving grace.” We are only saved by personal faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Ordinance - a special command given by Jesus for the church to observe.
9. The elements (unleavened bread & fruit of the vine) of the Lord’s Supper are symbolic, not literal. They are not His literal body, they symbolize Jesus’ body and blood given for us on the cross. The Lord’s Supper is not a sacrifice, it is a memorial service.
10. Missions and Evangelism. We are to go into all the world with the Gospel. Baptists believe in giving to missions, for example, through the Cooperative Program, and to the local Baptist Association. Baptists believe in personal involvement in evangelism.
11. Southern Baptists stand against beverage alcohol, destructive drugs, and gambling.
12. Our church is a part of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC), and the San Jacinto Baptist Association (SJBA).
Ongoing Christian Life
Baptists believe Bible reading and study, prayer, giving, faithful church attendance, ministry and witnessing should be an ongoing part of the Christian life. Jesus Christ and His Word should be central in all we do.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, April 2, AD 2012.
Other Articles:
Brief History of SBC Conservative Resurgence
Differences Between the 1963 and 2000 Baptist Faith and Message
2006 SBC Resolution on Alcohol Use in America
The Roman Road of Salvation
About the Church Covenant
Adrian Rogers on "Wit & Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow"
Why I Support the Baptist Association, Part 1
Fundamental or Basic Christian Doctrines are the foundational beliefs of Christianity. They have been believed by all, or at least the huge majority of all Christians.
Distinctive Baptist Doctrines are those beliefs that distinguish (or have distinguished) Baptists from all other, or some other, Evangelical Christian groups.
Fundamental, Basic Christian Doctrines:
1. Divine inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. The Bible is our supreme rule of faith and practice.
2. The Trinity. God is one, but reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. Jesus is God.
4. The Virgin Birth of Jesus.
5. Jesus’ sinless life
6. The blood atonement. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, shed His blood for us.
7. Jesus literally, physically rose from the dead.
8. Literal Return of Christ to the earth.
9. Resurrection and Judgment
10. Reality of Heaven and Hell
11. Man is a sinner in need of a Savior.
12. Personal faith in Jesus is the only way of salvation. Faith alone in Christ alone.
Distinctive Baptist Doctrines:
1. Believers Baptism by Immersion, is the scriptural means of baptism.
2. Two scriptural offices: pastors and deacons. In the Bible pastor, bishop, and elder are used synonymously for the same office.
3. Eternal Security of the believer. Once saved, always saved. But true faith should result in good works for the Lord.
4. Autonomy of the local church. The local church is a democratic body, with Christ as the head of the church. No one outside a local Baptist church can tell them what to do.
5. Religious liberty. Citizens of a country should be free to worship according to the dictates of their conscience. They should be free to witness to others.
6. Requirements for church membership: salvation and believer’s baptism by immersion.
7. Priesthood of the believer. Each believer is responsible before God to search the Scripture and believe and live accordingly.
8. The two ordinances of the church are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. They are not sacraments. A sacrament carries with it the idea of having “saving grace.” We are only saved by personal faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Ordinance - a special command given by Jesus for the church to observe.
9. The elements (unleavened bread & fruit of the vine) of the Lord’s Supper are symbolic, not literal. They are not His literal body, they symbolize Jesus’ body and blood given for us on the cross. The Lord’s Supper is not a sacrifice, it is a memorial service.
10. Missions and Evangelism. We are to go into all the world with the Gospel. Baptists believe in giving to missions, for example, through the Cooperative Program, and to the local Baptist Association. Baptists believe in personal involvement in evangelism.
11. Southern Baptists stand against beverage alcohol, destructive drugs, and gambling.
12. Our church is a part of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC), and the San Jacinto Baptist Association (SJBA).
Ongoing Christian Life
Baptists believe Bible reading and study, prayer, giving, faithful church attendance, ministry and witnessing should be an ongoing part of the Christian life. Jesus Christ and His Word should be central in all we do.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, April 2, AD 2012.
Other Articles:
Brief History of SBC Conservative Resurgence
Differences Between the 1963 and 2000 Baptist Faith and Message
2006 SBC Resolution on Alcohol Use in America
The Roman Road of Salvation
About the Church Covenant
Adrian Rogers on "Wit & Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow"
Why I Support the Baptist Association, Part 1
Monday, March 5, 2012
Dr. R. L. Sumner on "Ancient Wine and the Bible"
ANCIENT WINE AND THE BIBLE: The Case for Abstinence by David R. Brumbelow; Free Church Press, Carrollton, GA; 10 Chapters, 306 Pages; $21.00, Paper
The author obviously hates booze, and for good reason. He never knew his grandmother, who died when his dad was only six. She had been stricken with a severe case of appendicitis and her husband rushed her to the nearby Sugar Land (TX) hospital. The doctor could not be found and after failed attempts to locate him, his grandfather went looking for him. He eventually found him hopelessly intoxicated at an area beer joint. By the time the husband got back to the hospital, his wife was dead. If that wouldn’t make you hate booze, I don’t know what would. And that story is only one in millions that could be told.
As Brumbelow said in his Introduction: “Some claim those who are educated cannot and do not oppose alcohol.” He explodes that myth by giving quotes from many highly educated individuals, both dead and living, who fought it.
We fear the average Christian – and even some of the church leaders who speak and write on the subject – simply conclude that every reference of ‘wine’ in the Bible is alcoholic and intended by God for our pleasure (in moderation, of course). They do so at their peril and the welfare of their hearers/readers. These supports for alcohol are grossly unfair and patently untrue, as the author documents (there are well over 400 notes). Brumbelow proves the ancient words for wine in the Bible referred to “grapes still on the vine, fresh expressed grape juice, fermented wine, preserved unfermented wine, wine greatly watered down, and vinegar.” Yes, all of the above!
This book has everything you always wanted to know about wine (and grape juice) – and some you probably didn’t! There are ten hard-hitting chapters and five helpful Appendices. At least two sections deal with problem passages. He quotes a wide range of authors.
In short, Brumbelow’s research is amazing – and thorough! If someone today tells you all wine is intoxicating, or that the ancients didn’t know how to preserve fresh grape juice to keep it from becoming alcoholic, just smile and hand him this book! When referring to nonalcoholic wine the ancients often called it ‘wine that doesn’t hurt the head.’ In short, no hangover!
Ancient Wine is also the kind of book preachers and teachers need to have handy on a shelf for quick reference in time of debate or discussion – and in counseling! As Brumbelow notes, “Many pastors, youth ministers, and parents who see the danger of beverage alcohol do not have the information and resources to speak up about the issue.” This book solves that problem. It will especially convince honest people that neither Jesus nor the Bible promoted the use of anything alcoholic.
As Billy Sunday would sum it up, “Get on the water wagon!”
In addition to the hundreds of notes (documentation) there are five Appendices. A small portion of this book was previously printed in our magazine, The Biblical Evangelist. Dr. Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary wrote the Foreword.
We urge you to get Ancient Wine & the Bible, the Case for Abstinence. It is worth every penny it will cost you – and then some!
-Dr. R. L. Sumner, Editor, The Biblical Evangelist
The above article can be found at Book Reviews, Biblical Evangelist. Reprinted here by permission.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, March 5, AD 2012.
For ways to purchase "Ancient Wine and the Bible: The Case for Abstinence," click the book cover in the right margin.
Other Articles:
Ancient Wine and the Bible - the book
Preserving Unfermented Wine in Bible Times
2006 SBC Resolution on Alcohol Use in America
Book Review of "Alcohol Today" by R. L. Sumner
Other articles in lower right margin.
The author obviously hates booze, and for good reason. He never knew his grandmother, who died when his dad was only six. She had been stricken with a severe case of appendicitis and her husband rushed her to the nearby Sugar Land (TX) hospital. The doctor could not be found and after failed attempts to locate him, his grandfather went looking for him. He eventually found him hopelessly intoxicated at an area beer joint. By the time the husband got back to the hospital, his wife was dead. If that wouldn’t make you hate booze, I don’t know what would. And that story is only one in millions that could be told.
As Brumbelow said in his Introduction: “Some claim those who are educated cannot and do not oppose alcohol.” He explodes that myth by giving quotes from many highly educated individuals, both dead and living, who fought it.
We fear the average Christian – and even some of the church leaders who speak and write on the subject – simply conclude that every reference of ‘wine’ in the Bible is alcoholic and intended by God for our pleasure (in moderation, of course). They do so at their peril and the welfare of their hearers/readers. These supports for alcohol are grossly unfair and patently untrue, as the author documents (there are well over 400 notes). Brumbelow proves the ancient words for wine in the Bible referred to “grapes still on the vine, fresh expressed grape juice, fermented wine, preserved unfermented wine, wine greatly watered down, and vinegar.” Yes, all of the above!
This book has everything you always wanted to know about wine (and grape juice) – and some you probably didn’t! There are ten hard-hitting chapters and five helpful Appendices. At least two sections deal with problem passages. He quotes a wide range of authors.
In short, Brumbelow’s research is amazing – and thorough! If someone today tells you all wine is intoxicating, or that the ancients didn’t know how to preserve fresh grape juice to keep it from becoming alcoholic, just smile and hand him this book! When referring to nonalcoholic wine the ancients often called it ‘wine that doesn’t hurt the head.’ In short, no hangover!
Ancient Wine is also the kind of book preachers and teachers need to have handy on a shelf for quick reference in time of debate or discussion – and in counseling! As Brumbelow notes, “Many pastors, youth ministers, and parents who see the danger of beverage alcohol do not have the information and resources to speak up about the issue.” This book solves that problem. It will especially convince honest people that neither Jesus nor the Bible promoted the use of anything alcoholic.
As Billy Sunday would sum it up, “Get on the water wagon!”
In addition to the hundreds of notes (documentation) there are five Appendices. A small portion of this book was previously printed in our magazine, The Biblical Evangelist. Dr. Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary wrote the Foreword.
We urge you to get Ancient Wine & the Bible, the Case for Abstinence. It is worth every penny it will cost you – and then some!
-Dr. R. L. Sumner, Editor, The Biblical Evangelist
The above article can be found at Book Reviews, Biblical Evangelist. Reprinted here by permission.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, March 5, AD 2012.
For ways to purchase "Ancient Wine and the Bible: The Case for Abstinence," click the book cover in the right margin.
Other Articles:
Ancient Wine and the Bible - the book
Preserving Unfermented Wine in Bible Times
2006 SBC Resolution on Alcohol Use in America
Book Review of "Alcohol Today" by R. L. Sumner
Other articles in lower right margin.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Dr. Robert Wring on Baptists and Elder Rule
The past few years have seen an upsurge in Elder Rule and Elder Leadership in Baptist churches. Many Southern Baptist churches have been convinced by new pastors (often, but not always Calvinist or Reformed Baptist) to change from being ruled by the congregation, to being ruled by a small group of elders. Often this pastor then proceeds to select a group of his close friends as elders, thus insulating him from congregational vote and authority.
Southern Baptists have historically believed Scripture teaches the church is to be governed by the congregation. While the pastor is to be the spiritual leader, and the deacons and others have influence, the final decisions are to be made by the congregation, the members of the church.
“Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons.” -Baptist Faith & Message, 2000; SBC doctrinal statement.
Following are notable quotes on Elders and Church Governance from Dr. Robert A. Wring of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. These excerpts are quoted from the Biblical Evangelist, 2012. Footnotes have not been included.
“There are three Greek words, however, that are used interchangeably in several New Testament passages that express the idea of elder leadership which was practiced in the early stages of church development. These are presbuteros, episkopos, and poimen. The English equivalent is elder, bishop, and pastor.” -Dr. Robert A. Wring, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.
“The congregational model was widely practiced in the first century New Testament church, apparently by theological design. This was the only form of government practiced among primitive Christians until the second century when changes began to be made in church polity.
The elders and deacons could make their voices heard in any matter pertaining to the church’s welfare, but they did not have exclusive governmental prerogative. Under Christ, the whole congregation was the final court of appeal.” -Dr. Robert A. Wring
“In the Book of Acts, many important decisions were made by individual congregations. It was the entire church that chose the first deacons in Acts 6:5. In Acts 13:1-4, the whole church sent out Barnabas and Saul to do mission work, and in Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council included the messengers from at least one local congregation from Antioch (15:23), as well as the believers in the Jerusalem assembly. Paul instructed the Corinthian church to be responsible believers and take charge of their own affairs.” -Robert A. Wring
“One will search in vain in the annals of early American Baptist church history to find ruling elders operating as a board of administrator/rulers with one preaching elder and the rest laymen who do not minister the Word and preach.” -Robert A Wring
“Since their beginning in 1845, every major Southern Baptist writer, minister and other leaders have consistently argued that a Baptist church has only two biblical church officers. These are pastors and deacons.” -Robert A Wring
“The office of ruling elders is really a recent development in Southern Baptist thinking which has begun to take root and grow at an alarming rate since the early 1990s. The idea of having ruling elders in a Baptist church in modern times is confusing, especially when those favoring having elders in their churches refer to them as elder leadership, rather than elder rulers. Whatever name is given to this group of leaders in a Baptist church, the truth of the matter is, elder rule is not necessary. It does not have biblical support, nor does it have strong historical Baptist precedence.” -Robert A. Wring
“The pastor, deacons, and other leaders work together as a team in helping the congregation in seeking the will of Christ as they meet together in doing the business of the church. Elder rule usurps the priesthood of the believer role because it denies the church members their right and privilege as believers to make decisions affecting the welfare of the church.” -Robert A. Wring
See the entire article, Elder Rule and Southern Baptist Church Polity at The Biblical Evangelist, or the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry Vol. 3 No. 1 (Spring 2005): 188-212.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, March 1, AD 2012.
Other Articles:
Books on Calvinism, Predestination
Brief History of SBC Conservative Resurgence
Acts 29, Alcohol, and the Southern Baptist Convention
Top Three Seminaries
Adrian Rogers on "Wit & Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow"
Adrian Rogers on Predestination, Calvinism
Paige Patterson on Calvinism
More article in lower right margin.
Southern Baptists have historically believed Scripture teaches the church is to be governed by the congregation. While the pastor is to be the spiritual leader, and the deacons and others have influence, the final decisions are to be made by the congregation, the members of the church.
“Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons.” -Baptist Faith & Message, 2000; SBC doctrinal statement.
Following are notable quotes on Elders and Church Governance from Dr. Robert A. Wring of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. These excerpts are quoted from the Biblical Evangelist, 2012. Footnotes have not been included.
“There are three Greek words, however, that are used interchangeably in several New Testament passages that express the idea of elder leadership which was practiced in the early stages of church development. These are presbuteros, episkopos, and poimen. The English equivalent is elder, bishop, and pastor.” -Dr. Robert A. Wring, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.
“The congregational model was widely practiced in the first century New Testament church, apparently by theological design. This was the only form of government practiced among primitive Christians until the second century when changes began to be made in church polity.
The elders and deacons could make their voices heard in any matter pertaining to the church’s welfare, but they did not have exclusive governmental prerogative. Under Christ, the whole congregation was the final court of appeal.” -Dr. Robert A. Wring
“In the Book of Acts, many important decisions were made by individual congregations. It was the entire church that chose the first deacons in Acts 6:5. In Acts 13:1-4, the whole church sent out Barnabas and Saul to do mission work, and in Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council included the messengers from at least one local congregation from Antioch (15:23), as well as the believers in the Jerusalem assembly. Paul instructed the Corinthian church to be responsible believers and take charge of their own affairs.” -Robert A. Wring
“One will search in vain in the annals of early American Baptist church history to find ruling elders operating as a board of administrator/rulers with one preaching elder and the rest laymen who do not minister the Word and preach.” -Robert A Wring
“Since their beginning in 1845, every major Southern Baptist writer, minister and other leaders have consistently argued that a Baptist church has only two biblical church officers. These are pastors and deacons.” -Robert A Wring
“The office of ruling elders is really a recent development in Southern Baptist thinking which has begun to take root and grow at an alarming rate since the early 1990s. The idea of having ruling elders in a Baptist church in modern times is confusing, especially when those favoring having elders in their churches refer to them as elder leadership, rather than elder rulers. Whatever name is given to this group of leaders in a Baptist church, the truth of the matter is, elder rule is not necessary. It does not have biblical support, nor does it have strong historical Baptist precedence.” -Robert A. Wring
“The pastor, deacons, and other leaders work together as a team in helping the congregation in seeking the will of Christ as they meet together in doing the business of the church. Elder rule usurps the priesthood of the believer role because it denies the church members their right and privilege as believers to make decisions affecting the welfare of the church.” -Robert A. Wring
See the entire article, Elder Rule and Southern Baptist Church Polity at The Biblical Evangelist, or the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry Vol. 3 No. 1 (Spring 2005): 188-212.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, March 1, AD 2012.
Other Articles:
Books on Calvinism, Predestination
Brief History of SBC Conservative Resurgence
Acts 29, Alcohol, and the Southern Baptist Convention
Top Three Seminaries
Adrian Rogers on "Wit & Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow"
Adrian Rogers on Predestination, Calvinism
Paige Patterson on Calvinism
More article in lower right margin.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Preparing an Obituary and Funeral Service; Part 3 of 3
You might want to include a brief Christian message on the gravestone. A Bible verse or line from a Christian poem or saying. It can be a testimony to those who pass through the cemetery in coming years. But don’t try to imply someone was a Christian when they weren’t; a grave marker is not going to get the deceased into Heaven!
What about cremation? I don’t like cremation. While the Bible does not directly speak against it, Christian history and tradition certainly favors a respectful burial rather than cremation. Scripture speaks of burial, and says nothing of Christian cremation. Also, the grave marker can be a Christian witness in the years to come. The time of the death and of the funeral, however, is not time to debate this issue. At this time, if the family has chosen cremation, nothing negative about it should be said.
Possible Verses To Include On Gravestone:
A gravestone can be a Christian witness for years to come. Below are some possible Scriptures and messages to put on a marker. Some of these can be abbreviated. These Bible verses give what the Bible teaches about death for the Christian. Of course, these verses and saying are not exhaustive.
I am the way, the truth and the life. -Jesus Christ; John 14:6
Absent from the body, present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
“I am the resurrection and the life.” -Jesus; John 11:25
“He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” -Jesus; John 11:25
God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. -Psalm 73:26
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” -John 3:16
“He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life.” -Jesus Christ; John 5:24
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. -Psalm 23
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. -Psalm 23
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. -Psalm 23
“To live is Christ, to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. -1 Corinthians 15:26
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. -Acts 16:31
Our citizenship is in heaven. -Philippians 3:20
Other Quotes:
There’s a land that is fairer than day.
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible, tells me so.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.
What a Friend we have in Jesus.
I was a guilty sinner, but Jesus died for me.
Only a sinner saved by grace.
Admit a ransomed sinner, for Jesus died for me.
Dust thou art, to dust returnest, was not spoken of the soul. -Longfellow.
There never was night that had no morn.
What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see.
Other Bible Verses:
Matthew 11:28; John 14:1-6; 2 Timothy 1:12; Psalm 17:15; 31:19; 32:10; 37:18; 37:37; 48:14; 49:15; Romans 6:23; 8:28; 8:35-39; 10;9-10,13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:9-10; Revelation 21:4; etc.
Some just put the Scripture reference (for example: 2 Timothy 1:12). If someone wants to know what it says, they will have to get a Bible and look it up.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, February 29, AD 2012.
Other Articles:
Preparing an Obituary and Funeral Service; Part 1
Preparing an Obituary and Funeral Service; Part 2 of 3
11 Reasons to Not Drink Alcohol
More articles in lower right margin.
What about cremation? I don’t like cremation. While the Bible does not directly speak against it, Christian history and tradition certainly favors a respectful burial rather than cremation. Scripture speaks of burial, and says nothing of Christian cremation. Also, the grave marker can be a Christian witness in the years to come. The time of the death and of the funeral, however, is not time to debate this issue. At this time, if the family has chosen cremation, nothing negative about it should be said.
Possible Verses To Include On Gravestone:
A gravestone can be a Christian witness for years to come. Below are some possible Scriptures and messages to put on a marker. Some of these can be abbreviated. These Bible verses give what the Bible teaches about death for the Christian. Of course, these verses and saying are not exhaustive.
I am the way, the truth and the life. -Jesus Christ; John 14:6
Absent from the body, present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
“I am the resurrection and the life.” -Jesus; John 11:25
“He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” -Jesus; John 11:25
God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. -Psalm 73:26
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” -John 3:16
“He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life.” -Jesus Christ; John 5:24
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. -Psalm 23
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. -Psalm 23
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. -Psalm 23
“To live is Christ, to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. -1 Corinthians 15:26
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. -Acts 16:31
Our citizenship is in heaven. -Philippians 3:20
Other Quotes:
There’s a land that is fairer than day.
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible, tells me so.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.
What a Friend we have in Jesus.
I was a guilty sinner, but Jesus died for me.
Only a sinner saved by grace.
Admit a ransomed sinner, for Jesus died for me.
Dust thou art, to dust returnest, was not spoken of the soul. -Longfellow.
There never was night that had no morn.
What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see.
Other Bible Verses:
Matthew 11:28; John 14:1-6; 2 Timothy 1:12; Psalm 17:15; 31:19; 32:10; 37:18; 37:37; 48:14; 49:15; Romans 6:23; 8:28; 8:35-39; 10;9-10,13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:9-10; Revelation 21:4; etc.
Some just put the Scripture reference (for example: 2 Timothy 1:12). If someone wants to know what it says, they will have to get a Bible and look it up.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, February 29, AD 2012.
Other Articles:
Preparing an Obituary and Funeral Service; Part 1
Preparing an Obituary and Funeral Service; Part 2 of 3
More articles in lower right margin.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Preparing an Obituary and Funeral Service; Part 2 of 3
Other possible comments in an Obituary(especially for a longer obituary to be distributed to just family and close friends):
1. Hobbies / Sports / special interests
2. Family
3. Favorite Bible Verse(s)
4. Salvation & Baptism. Who baptized them? Where? Who led them to the Lord?
5. Places of service in the church
6. Cause of death.
7. Favorite Hymn(s), poem, etc.
8. A favorite story or two, humorous or serious, about the person.
9. Pall Bearers
A photo copy on good paper of a newspaper obituary will last longer than the paper (newsprint) from the newspaper. Always include newspaper name, city & state, date.
Don’t spend extravagantly. Just have a nice, respectful funeral. Always have a Christian message and music (2 or 3 hymns) at the funeral. You may want a hymn to play before the beginning of the Memorial Service or during the Recessional.
Print obituary information and order of service (bulletin) to hand out at the funeral. Include an appropriate Bible verse or two. Much of this could also be done ahead of time.
Good Funeral Songs:
Jesus Paid It All, My Savior First Of All/I Shall Know Him, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Abide With Me, He The Pearly Gates Will Open, Sweet By And By, Beyond The Sunset, What A Friend We Have In Jesus, Beulah Land/Squire Parsons, The Son Will Still Be Shining In Glory Land/Parsons, Face To Face With Christ My Savior, Victory In Jesus, How Great Thou Art, Because He Lives, Only A Sinner Saved by Grace/Gray, Sheltered In The Arms Of God, Rock Of Ages, Going Home/Gaither, Farther Along, Never Grow Old, When We All Get To Heaven, Amazing Grace, When We See Christ/It Will Be Worth It All, My Latest Sun Is Sinking Fast/O Come Angel Band; Saved By Grace/I Shall See Him Face To Face; I Will Rise.
You may have to look in old Hymnals to find some of these songs. The Funeral Home or your church may have them. You may also find them at cyberhymnal.org or itunes.
Good recorded music by Tennessee Ernie Ford, Gaither Trio, Marion Warren, George Beverly Shea, Guy Penrod, and many others.
Really, most any good Christian Hymn or Song would be appropriate at a funeral service. Most any song in the Baptist Hymnal (LifeWay, 2008) would be appropriate.
General Order of a Baptist or Christian Funeral Service:
1. Hymn
2. Obituary, Scripture & Prayer
3. Hymn
4. Funeral Message, Closing Prayer
5. Recessional
If you have more than one minister officiating, have one bring the memorial / funeral sermon, the other give the Obituary, Scripture and Prayer.
My funeral sermons are brief, about eight or ten minutes. Unless it is an unusual situation, the service should be short, a total of about 30 minutes or less.
Hymns or photos can also be played just before, and / or just after the memorial service.
What do you pay the preacher? That depends on how far he has traveled, and what you can afford. Keep in mind you have paid the funeral home, so if you can, give a worthy honorarium to the pastor. If you are not a preacher, you will never know the emotional and spiritual strain put on a preacher in a funeral service; believe me, he earns whatever you may pay him. If you can’t afford it, tell him and he will understand; I never expect to be paid for preaching a funeral service, but appreciate it when they do. Nowadays preachers are often paid $100 or more, if the family can afford it.
If you are expecting the funeral home to pay the preacher, ask the preacher later if he was paid; the preacher will not come to you about it. I’ve seen a couple of funeral homes that told the family they would give an honorarium to the preacher, yet never did.
If requested, after the funeral many churches are glad to provide a meal at the church for the family. Providing a meal after the funeral is a great ministry to the family and friends. It provides a great way for the cooks and those who serve to use their gifts. The older I get, the more impressed I am with this ministry.
I sometimes copy the obituary, include the church name and address and a couple of appropriate Bible verses, and make photo copies available to the family at this funeral meal. It may also include a detail or two the obituary left out. Many appreciate having extra copies to keep or send to family. It also leaves a Christian witness.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, February 27, AD 2012.
Part 2 of 3
Other Articles:
Preparing an Obituary and Funeral Service; Part 1
Saint Patrick of Ireland
Other articles in lower right margin.
1. Hobbies / Sports / special interests
2. Family
3. Favorite Bible Verse(s)
4. Salvation & Baptism. Who baptized them? Where? Who led them to the Lord?
5. Places of service in the church
6. Cause of death.
7. Favorite Hymn(s), poem, etc.
8. A favorite story or two, humorous or serious, about the person.
9. Pall Bearers
A photo copy on good paper of a newspaper obituary will last longer than the paper (newsprint) from the newspaper. Always include newspaper name, city & state, date.
Don’t spend extravagantly. Just have a nice, respectful funeral. Always have a Christian message and music (2 or 3 hymns) at the funeral. You may want a hymn to play before the beginning of the Memorial Service or during the Recessional.
Print obituary information and order of service (bulletin) to hand out at the funeral. Include an appropriate Bible verse or two. Much of this could also be done ahead of time.
Good Funeral Songs:
Jesus Paid It All, My Savior First Of All/I Shall Know Him, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Abide With Me, He The Pearly Gates Will Open, Sweet By And By, Beyond The Sunset, What A Friend We Have In Jesus, Beulah Land/Squire Parsons, The Son Will Still Be Shining In Glory Land/Parsons, Face To Face With Christ My Savior, Victory In Jesus, How Great Thou Art, Because He Lives, Only A Sinner Saved by Grace/Gray, Sheltered In The Arms Of God, Rock Of Ages, Going Home/Gaither, Farther Along, Never Grow Old, When We All Get To Heaven, Amazing Grace, When We See Christ/It Will Be Worth It All, My Latest Sun Is Sinking Fast/O Come Angel Band; Saved By Grace/I Shall See Him Face To Face; I Will Rise.
You may have to look in old Hymnals to find some of these songs. The Funeral Home or your church may have them. You may also find them at cyberhymnal.org or itunes.
Good recorded music by Tennessee Ernie Ford, Gaither Trio, Marion Warren, George Beverly Shea, Guy Penrod, and many others.
Really, most any good Christian Hymn or Song would be appropriate at a funeral service. Most any song in the Baptist Hymnal (LifeWay, 2008) would be appropriate.
General Order of a Baptist or Christian Funeral Service:
1. Hymn
2. Obituary, Scripture & Prayer
3. Hymn
4. Funeral Message, Closing Prayer
5. Recessional
If you have more than one minister officiating, have one bring the memorial / funeral sermon, the other give the Obituary, Scripture and Prayer.
My funeral sermons are brief, about eight or ten minutes. Unless it is an unusual situation, the service should be short, a total of about 30 minutes or less.
Hymns or photos can also be played just before, and / or just after the memorial service.
What do you pay the preacher? That depends on how far he has traveled, and what you can afford. Keep in mind you have paid the funeral home, so if you can, give a worthy honorarium to the pastor. If you are not a preacher, you will never know the emotional and spiritual strain put on a preacher in a funeral service; believe me, he earns whatever you may pay him. If you can’t afford it, tell him and he will understand; I never expect to be paid for preaching a funeral service, but appreciate it when they do. Nowadays preachers are often paid $100 or more, if the family can afford it.
If you are expecting the funeral home to pay the preacher, ask the preacher later if he was paid; the preacher will not come to you about it. I’ve seen a couple of funeral homes that told the family they would give an honorarium to the preacher, yet never did.
If requested, after the funeral many churches are glad to provide a meal at the church for the family. Providing a meal after the funeral is a great ministry to the family and friends. It provides a great way for the cooks and those who serve to use their gifts. The older I get, the more impressed I am with this ministry.
I sometimes copy the obituary, include the church name and address and a couple of appropriate Bible verses, and make photo copies available to the family at this funeral meal. It may also include a detail or two the obituary left out. Many appreciate having extra copies to keep or send to family. It also leaves a Christian witness.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, February 27, AD 2012.
Part 2 of 3
Other Articles:
Preparing an Obituary and Funeral Service; Part 1
Saint Patrick of Ireland
Other articles in lower right margin.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The Calvinists Are Here; Gerald Harris, Christian Index
Often we are told to not make waves. Frequently that is good advice. Sometimes, however, it may be wrong not to make waves. The time comes when an issue needs to be considered.
Gerald Harris is a longtime pastor, author, and now editor of the Georgia Baptist Paper, the Christian Index. He was a part of the SBC Conservative Resurgence.
And Gerald Harris has written an editorial (Christian Index; February 9, 2012) that has made waves in the Southern Baptist Convention. His article is entitled “The Calvinists Are Here.” With permission, I am reprinting the article below.
It will be interesting to see if your state’s SBC paper is willing to print Gerald Harris’ article.
Also, it may be worth your while, whether ministering in Georgia or not, to subscribe to the Christian Index. I have.
Christian Index
6405 Sugarloaf Parkway
Duluth, GA 30097
770-936-5590 / 877-424-6339
christianindex.org
Print and Online: $12 for one year or $20 for two years.
Online only: $6 for one year.
The Calvinists Are Here
by Gerald Harris, Christian Index
John Calvin (1509-1564) was an influential French pastor and theologian during the Protestant Reformation. He is best known for his “doctrine of predestination,” which became the foundation of his theology - suggesting that God predestined certain individuals to be saved.
Calvinism is known for its five basic tenets summarized by the acronym TULIP. Those five points of Calvinism are (1) Total depravity of man, (2) Unconditional election, (3) Limited atonement, (4) Irresistible grace and (5) Perseverance of the saints.
There are some Calvinists who suggest that unconditional election means that God chooses, or “elects,” His children from before the foundations of the earth - that God does not just “know” what decision people will make, but that God causes them to make the decision to seek Him.
There are also those who hold to Reformed theology who believe limited atonement means that the death and resurrection of Christ is the substitutionary payment for the sins of only those who are God’s elect children, but not the entire world.
Many who embrace Reformed theology are motivated to allow it to influence their church polity by substituting congregational church government with an elder system of church government. While that works well for some churches, James MacDonald, a self-proclaimed Calvinist and member of the advisory board for LifeWay’s new Sunday School curriculum, writes, “Congregational government is an invention and tool of the enemy of our souls to destroy the church of Jesus Christ.”
Calvinism also influences other areas of theology and ecclesiology, but newspaper real estate prohibits a further exploration of all the facets of Reformed theology.
In 2007 Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., who has served as chairman of the Trustees at Southern Seminary and is one of the most notable Calvinists in SBC life, wrote a series of blog posts titled, “Where’d All These Calvinists Come From?” In his blogs Dever listed ten reasons for the blossoming of Reformed theology’s TULIP within evangelicalism.
Frank Page, chief executive officer of the SBC Executive Committee, was quoted in SBC Today, saying,
“I think the challenges confronting the SBC today are different than they have been in decades past. I think one of the issues, which is a tremendous challenge for us, is the theological divide of Calvinism and non-Calvinism.”
“Everyone is aware of this but few want to talk about this in public. The reason is obvious. It is deeply divisive in many situations and is disconcerting in others. At some point we are going to see the challenges ensuing from this divide become even more problematic for us. I regularly receive communications from churches who are struggling over this issue.”
Former SBC President Jerry Vines was also quoted in SBC Life, proclaiming,
“Theologically, will the issue of Calvinism create further division in the SBC? I have been an SBC preacher over 50 years. I have worked quite well with my Calvinist friends, many of whom I invited to preach for me.”
“I have no desire to run all Calvinists out of the SBC; I think it would be divisive and wrong. But, current attempts to move the SBC to a Calvinistic soteriology (doctrine of salvation) are divisive and wrong. As long as groups and individuals seek to force Calvinism upon others in the Convention, there will be problems. There is a form of Calvinism that is militant, hostile and aggressive that I strongly oppose.”
“I have stated before, so it’s not new news, that should the SBC move towards five-point Calvinism it will be a move away from, not toward, the Gospel.”
So, apparently the Conservative Resurgence and the Great Commission Resurgence has been joined by a Reformed Resurgence. The Calvinists are here. Their presence is evident in many phases and places in Southern Baptist life.
Many great preachers and theologians have embraced Calvinism through the years, but today some greet the rising tide of Calvinism with delight, others with disdain.
The Economist reports,
“Since 1990 the [SBC] has been losing ground, relative to America’s population, to other evangelical churches. So cadres of Young Turks are looking back to the 16th century for fresh inspiration.”
According to LifeWay Research, the SBC’s, statistical arm, 10 percent of all SBC pastors now identify themselves as Calvinists and a third of recent graduates from SBC seminaries espouse Reformed doctrines, with Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY, a particular source.
It would be surprising if The Gospel Project, a Sunday School curriculum for all ages that LifeWay will soon be rolling out, were not marked by an unmistakable Reformed theology.
Trevin Wax, who works at LifeWay Christian Resources as managing editor of The Gospel Project, admits that he has been influenced by Reformed pastors and authors like John Piper, Mark Dever, J. I. Packer, C. J. Mahaney, Jerry Bridges, Sinclair Ferguson, Tim Keller and others.
The advisory council and writers for The Gospel Project (including D.A. Carson, Matt Chandler, James MacDonald, Eric Mason, Joe Thorn, Juan Sanchez, Collin Hansen, former North American Mission Board missionary to the Internet Afshin Ziafat and Geoff Ashley – for the most part looks like a Who’s Who of Reformed theologians.
The average Baptist who sits in a Sunday School class or a small Bible study group has depended on LifeWay to provide Bible study materials that are true to the Word of God and representative of historic Baptist theology. However, for bane or blessing LifeWay President Thom Rainer seems to have led the SBC literature-producing agency to become more and more Reformed in its theological content.
North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell has a goal to plant thousands of churches over the next ten years, but there seems to be a shortage of church planters. According to a LifeWay study in 2006 nearly 30 percent of SBC seminary graduates between 1998 and 2004 now serving as pastors describe themselves as Calvinists. Since the LifeWay study is now over five years old the number of Reformed pastors has doubtlessly increased by now. The most recent NAMB On Mission magazine highlights several church planters, two of whom could be seen as Reformed in their theology.
Won Kwak has planted Maranatha Grace Church in Fort Lee, NJ. North Shores Baptist Church in Bayside, NY, Kwak’s mother church, has developed a ministry called Doctrines of Grace Church Planters. On their website they proclaim, “Sovereign Grace Church Planters exists solely for the purpose of planting sovereign grace churches in and around the New York City area. “Reformed leaders James White and D.A. Carson endorse this church-planting ministry.
The second church mentioned in On Mission magazine is City on a Hill in Brookline, MA, in metro Boston where Bland Mason is pastor. I had the privilege of meeting Bland in December and really like him. He is also the chaplain of the Boston Red Sox, which makes him particularly special to me.
“We plant Southern Baptist churches that adhere to the Baptist Faith and Message and support the Cooperative Program.” Kevin Ezell, president North American Mission Board. Some have been critical of City on a Hill being featured in On Mission because it is also included on the Acts 29 Network website as one of its churches.
NAMB President Kevin Ezell recently explained that Mason’s church was recommended for inclusion in the magazine by the leadership of the Baptist Convention of New England, that Mason is a soul winner, and that the church is an ardent supporter of the Cooperative Program.
Some contend that churches associated with the Acts 29 Network are anathema because of their identification with the Network’s founder and lead visionary, controversial Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll. The Network is also admittedly evangelical, missional and Reformed in its approach to church planting.
Others will find it interesting that St Louis is targeted as one of the focus cities in Send North America. In St. Louis NAMB will encounter a Baptist association that has already launched 15 church plants, seven of which are listed as Acts 29 Network churches.
In an exclusive interview with Ezell in our June 2, 2011 issue titled “Filling the Blanks,” The Index reported, “Missionary participation (with the Acts 29 Network) does not concern Ezell one way or the other; he neither endorses nor criticizes such involvement. And since NAMB trustees have not set policy on the issue, he does not involve himself with the discussion.
Ezell emphasized, “We plant Southern Baptist churches that adhere to the Baptist Faith and Message and support the Cooperative Program.”
Although Acts 29 only has 288 churches in its network in the U.S., Driscoll seems to have a significant influence in the lives of some Southern Baptists. It should be noted that Mark and Grace Driscoll have written a book entitled “Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship and Life Together.” The book has shocked conservatives with its graphic sexual descriptions and alarmed liberals because of its degradation of women.
Writer and blogger Rachel Held Evans stated in the Nashville Tennessean that the Driscolls give too many intimate and specific details about sex. She added, “I don’t need my pastor to tell me whether or not I should use sex toys. I don’t feel like I needed all of those details.”
The Tennessean also reported, “In short, the Driscolls say sex is only for married couples, and that those couples should be best friends, have lots of sex and skip the birth control pill, using alternate sex acts that don’t cause pregnancy when necessary.”
Denny Burk, associate professor of Biblical Studies at Boyce College, the undergraduate arm of Southern Seminary, has reviewed the Driscolls’ book. Burk indicates that the book is sexually explicit in some ways, but the Driscolls’ offer a disclaimer by stating that anyone uncomfortable with the book’s content must be either a rube or uninterested in reaching the culture for Christ.
Call me a rube or a hick.
Burk adds, “To those with legitimate concerns, these remarks come across as dismissive at best and patronizing at worst.”
The book would hardly be worth mentioning except for the fact that Southeastern Seminary President Danny Akin and his wife Charlotte endorsed it. In recent years Driscoll has been a chapel speaker at SEBTS and his influence at the seminary cannot be ignored.
There is a growing perception that Southern Seminary has become a seedbed for a brand of Calvinism that is quite different from the Reformed theology of its founder, James Petigru Boyce, and also a training ground for Reformed church planters. Therefore, it appears that some of our institutions and agencies are giving, at the least, tacit approval to Reformed theology or are, at the most, actively on a path to honor, if not implement Reformed theology and methodology in their institutions.
While most of the Reformed pastors and churchmen I know are gracious and godly people with a profound devotion to the Word of God, Southern Baptists must decide if they are satisfied with what I would call the presumable encroachment of Calvinism in SBC life.
By the way, Southern Baptists must also soon decide if they want to fulfill their ministry under another name. There are at least four possibilities: Evangelical Baptist Convention, Continental Baptist Convention, International Baptist Convention and Great Commission Baptist Convention. At least, those four domains were purchased through GoDaddy.com in September 2011.
I personally think the Great Commission Baptist Convention is more likely to be the recommendation of the SBC name change committee. Leaders may reason that Southern Baptists could no more reject the recommendation of the Great Commission Baptist Convention than they could reject the Great Commission Resurgence recommendations. The subliminal implication is “to reject the new name is to reject The Great Commission and Southern Baptists would never do that.”
If that is the suggested name and if we dare vote for it to be our new appellation we dare not defame it with half-hearted evangelism and church plants that wither away in five years.
-Gerald Harris, Editor
The Christian Index
*******
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, February 14, AD 2012.
Related articles:
Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of Salvation
Books on Calvinism, Predestination
Adrian Rogers on Predestination, Calvinism
Paige Patterson on Calvinism
Acts 29, Alcohol, and the Southern Baptist Convention
Limited or Universal Atonement by Dr. David L. Allen
More articles in lower right margin of Gulf Coast Pastor.
Gerald Harris is a longtime pastor, author, and now editor of the Georgia Baptist Paper, the Christian Index. He was a part of the SBC Conservative Resurgence.
And Gerald Harris has written an editorial (Christian Index; February 9, 2012) that has made waves in the Southern Baptist Convention. His article is entitled “The Calvinists Are Here.” With permission, I am reprinting the article below.
It will be interesting to see if your state’s SBC paper is willing to print Gerald Harris’ article.
Also, it may be worth your while, whether ministering in Georgia or not, to subscribe to the Christian Index. I have.
Christian Index
6405 Sugarloaf Parkway
Duluth, GA 30097
770-936-5590 / 877-424-6339
christianindex.org
Print and Online: $12 for one year or $20 for two years.
Online only: $6 for one year.
The Calvinists Are Here
by Gerald Harris, Christian Index
John Calvin (1509-1564) was an influential French pastor and theologian during the Protestant Reformation. He is best known for his “doctrine of predestination,” which became the foundation of his theology - suggesting that God predestined certain individuals to be saved.
Calvinism is known for its five basic tenets summarized by the acronym TULIP. Those five points of Calvinism are (1) Total depravity of man, (2) Unconditional election, (3) Limited atonement, (4) Irresistible grace and (5) Perseverance of the saints.
There are some Calvinists who suggest that unconditional election means that God chooses, or “elects,” His children from before the foundations of the earth - that God does not just “know” what decision people will make, but that God causes them to make the decision to seek Him.
There are also those who hold to Reformed theology who believe limited atonement means that the death and resurrection of Christ is the substitutionary payment for the sins of only those who are God’s elect children, but not the entire world.
Many who embrace Reformed theology are motivated to allow it to influence their church polity by substituting congregational church government with an elder system of church government. While that works well for some churches, James MacDonald, a self-proclaimed Calvinist and member of the advisory board for LifeWay’s new Sunday School curriculum, writes, “Congregational government is an invention and tool of the enemy of our souls to destroy the church of Jesus Christ.”
Calvinism also influences other areas of theology and ecclesiology, but newspaper real estate prohibits a further exploration of all the facets of Reformed theology.
In 2007 Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., who has served as chairman of the Trustees at Southern Seminary and is one of the most notable Calvinists in SBC life, wrote a series of blog posts titled, “Where’d All These Calvinists Come From?” In his blogs Dever listed ten reasons for the blossoming of Reformed theology’s TULIP within evangelicalism.
Frank Page, chief executive officer of the SBC Executive Committee, was quoted in SBC Today, saying,
“I think the challenges confronting the SBC today are different than they have been in decades past. I think one of the issues, which is a tremendous challenge for us, is the theological divide of Calvinism and non-Calvinism.”
“Everyone is aware of this but few want to talk about this in public. The reason is obvious. It is deeply divisive in many situations and is disconcerting in others. At some point we are going to see the challenges ensuing from this divide become even more problematic for us. I regularly receive communications from churches who are struggling over this issue.”
Former SBC President Jerry Vines was also quoted in SBC Life, proclaiming,
“Theologically, will the issue of Calvinism create further division in the SBC? I have been an SBC preacher over 50 years. I have worked quite well with my Calvinist friends, many of whom I invited to preach for me.”
“I have no desire to run all Calvinists out of the SBC; I think it would be divisive and wrong. But, current attempts to move the SBC to a Calvinistic soteriology (doctrine of salvation) are divisive and wrong. As long as groups and individuals seek to force Calvinism upon others in the Convention, there will be problems. There is a form of Calvinism that is militant, hostile and aggressive that I strongly oppose.”
“I have stated before, so it’s not new news, that should the SBC move towards five-point Calvinism it will be a move away from, not toward, the Gospel.”
So, apparently the Conservative Resurgence and the Great Commission Resurgence has been joined by a Reformed Resurgence. The Calvinists are here. Their presence is evident in many phases and places in Southern Baptist life.
Many great preachers and theologians have embraced Calvinism through the years, but today some greet the rising tide of Calvinism with delight, others with disdain.
The Economist reports,
“Since 1990 the [SBC] has been losing ground, relative to America’s population, to other evangelical churches. So cadres of Young Turks are looking back to the 16th century for fresh inspiration.”
According to LifeWay Research, the SBC’s, statistical arm, 10 percent of all SBC pastors now identify themselves as Calvinists and a third of recent graduates from SBC seminaries espouse Reformed doctrines, with Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY, a particular source.
It would be surprising if The Gospel Project, a Sunday School curriculum for all ages that LifeWay will soon be rolling out, were not marked by an unmistakable Reformed theology.
Trevin Wax, who works at LifeWay Christian Resources as managing editor of The Gospel Project, admits that he has been influenced by Reformed pastors and authors like John Piper, Mark Dever, J. I. Packer, C. J. Mahaney, Jerry Bridges, Sinclair Ferguson, Tim Keller and others.
The advisory council and writers for The Gospel Project (including D.A. Carson, Matt Chandler, James MacDonald, Eric Mason, Joe Thorn, Juan Sanchez, Collin Hansen, former North American Mission Board missionary to the Internet Afshin Ziafat and Geoff Ashley – for the most part looks like a Who’s Who of Reformed theologians.
The average Baptist who sits in a Sunday School class or a small Bible study group has depended on LifeWay to provide Bible study materials that are true to the Word of God and representative of historic Baptist theology. However, for bane or blessing LifeWay President Thom Rainer seems to have led the SBC literature-producing agency to become more and more Reformed in its theological content.
North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell has a goal to plant thousands of churches over the next ten years, but there seems to be a shortage of church planters. According to a LifeWay study in 2006 nearly 30 percent of SBC seminary graduates between 1998 and 2004 now serving as pastors describe themselves as Calvinists. Since the LifeWay study is now over five years old the number of Reformed pastors has doubtlessly increased by now. The most recent NAMB On Mission magazine highlights several church planters, two of whom could be seen as Reformed in their theology.
Won Kwak has planted Maranatha Grace Church in Fort Lee, NJ. North Shores Baptist Church in Bayside, NY, Kwak’s mother church, has developed a ministry called Doctrines of Grace Church Planters. On their website they proclaim, “Sovereign Grace Church Planters exists solely for the purpose of planting sovereign grace churches in and around the New York City area. “Reformed leaders James White and D.A. Carson endorse this church-planting ministry.
The second church mentioned in On Mission magazine is City on a Hill in Brookline, MA, in metro Boston where Bland Mason is pastor. I had the privilege of meeting Bland in December and really like him. He is also the chaplain of the Boston Red Sox, which makes him particularly special to me.
“We plant Southern Baptist churches that adhere to the Baptist Faith and Message and support the Cooperative Program.” Kevin Ezell, president North American Mission Board. Some have been critical of City on a Hill being featured in On Mission because it is also included on the Acts 29 Network website as one of its churches.
NAMB President Kevin Ezell recently explained that Mason’s church was recommended for inclusion in the magazine by the leadership of the Baptist Convention of New England, that Mason is a soul winner, and that the church is an ardent supporter of the Cooperative Program.
Some contend that churches associated with the Acts 29 Network are anathema because of their identification with the Network’s founder and lead visionary, controversial Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll. The Network is also admittedly evangelical, missional and Reformed in its approach to church planting.
Others will find it interesting that St Louis is targeted as one of the focus cities in Send North America. In St. Louis NAMB will encounter a Baptist association that has already launched 15 church plants, seven of which are listed as Acts 29 Network churches.
In an exclusive interview with Ezell in our June 2, 2011 issue titled “Filling the Blanks,” The Index reported, “Missionary participation (with the Acts 29 Network) does not concern Ezell one way or the other; he neither endorses nor criticizes such involvement. And since NAMB trustees have not set policy on the issue, he does not involve himself with the discussion.
Ezell emphasized, “We plant Southern Baptist churches that adhere to the Baptist Faith and Message and support the Cooperative Program.”
Although Acts 29 only has 288 churches in its network in the U.S., Driscoll seems to have a significant influence in the lives of some Southern Baptists. It should be noted that Mark and Grace Driscoll have written a book entitled “Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship and Life Together.” The book has shocked conservatives with its graphic sexual descriptions and alarmed liberals because of its degradation of women.
Writer and blogger Rachel Held Evans stated in the Nashville Tennessean that the Driscolls give too many intimate and specific details about sex. She added, “I don’t need my pastor to tell me whether or not I should use sex toys. I don’t feel like I needed all of those details.”
The Tennessean also reported, “In short, the Driscolls say sex is only for married couples, and that those couples should be best friends, have lots of sex and skip the birth control pill, using alternate sex acts that don’t cause pregnancy when necessary.”
Denny Burk, associate professor of Biblical Studies at Boyce College, the undergraduate arm of Southern Seminary, has reviewed the Driscolls’ book. Burk indicates that the book is sexually explicit in some ways, but the Driscolls’ offer a disclaimer by stating that anyone uncomfortable with the book’s content must be either a rube or uninterested in reaching the culture for Christ.
Call me a rube or a hick.
Burk adds, “To those with legitimate concerns, these remarks come across as dismissive at best and patronizing at worst.”
The book would hardly be worth mentioning except for the fact that Southeastern Seminary President Danny Akin and his wife Charlotte endorsed it. In recent years Driscoll has been a chapel speaker at SEBTS and his influence at the seminary cannot be ignored.
There is a growing perception that Southern Seminary has become a seedbed for a brand of Calvinism that is quite different from the Reformed theology of its founder, James Petigru Boyce, and also a training ground for Reformed church planters. Therefore, it appears that some of our institutions and agencies are giving, at the least, tacit approval to Reformed theology or are, at the most, actively on a path to honor, if not implement Reformed theology and methodology in their institutions.
While most of the Reformed pastors and churchmen I know are gracious and godly people with a profound devotion to the Word of God, Southern Baptists must decide if they are satisfied with what I would call the presumable encroachment of Calvinism in SBC life.
By the way, Southern Baptists must also soon decide if they want to fulfill their ministry under another name. There are at least four possibilities: Evangelical Baptist Convention, Continental Baptist Convention, International Baptist Convention and Great Commission Baptist Convention. At least, those four domains were purchased through GoDaddy.com in September 2011.
I personally think the Great Commission Baptist Convention is more likely to be the recommendation of the SBC name change committee. Leaders may reason that Southern Baptists could no more reject the recommendation of the Great Commission Baptist Convention than they could reject the Great Commission Resurgence recommendations. The subliminal implication is “to reject the new name is to reject The Great Commission and Southern Baptists would never do that.”
If that is the suggested name and if we dare vote for it to be our new appellation we dare not defame it with half-hearted evangelism and church plants that wither away in five years.
-Gerald Harris, Editor
The Christian Index
*******
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, February 14, AD 2012.
Related articles:
Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of Salvation
Books on Calvinism, Predestination
Adrian Rogers on Predestination, Calvinism
Paige Patterson on Calvinism
Acts 29, Alcohol, and the Southern Baptist Convention
Limited or Universal Atonement by Dr. David L. Allen
More articles in lower right margin of Gulf Coast Pastor.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Preparing an Obituary and Funeral Service; Part 1
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. -Psalm 116:15
Several years ago I led our church is a study on Wednesday nights on “Preparing an Obituary.” It was very well received. It gave me the opportunity to teach a few things I’ve learned through my years of pastoring a Baptist church and preaching a number of funerals. It even gave the opportunity to laugh at ourselves and others when that couldn’t be done at the time of a funeral. It can be good to discuss a matter before you’re too emotionally involved. So this series of articles covers some of these issues.
Many have never considered writing an obituary until someone unexpectedly dies. They then have very little time to gather their information and often important information is neglected.
Much of this can be done ahead of time.
When the time comes, you will want to get this information as soon as possible to the Funeral Home, newspapers, etc.
Keep this information in an easy to find place. Make a couple of copies to give to other family members.
Do not write in all italics or all capitals; this makes it difficult to read.
After the funeral, keep copies of obituary for historical reasons. Always include or add name of newspaper, city, state, and date of newspaper obituary.
Keep the basic newspaper obituary fairly brief. Make it too long and people just stop reading.
Make things plain and easy to understand. Assume that many who read it will not know inside information with which you may be familiar. Make it so someone who never knew the deceased will understand the facts and details. Write in such a way that someone will understand if they read the obituary 100 years in the future.
You may want to make a more extensive obituary to just distribute to close family and friends. In this, include as much more information as you like to keep for a family history. You could also send this to a local historical library, etc. You may want to post it on a genealogy site on the internet.
Basics of an Obituary
Include the following if applicable:
1. Full Name:
2. Nickname, name, or initials they went by; in quotation marks or parenthesis.
3. Maiden Name:
4. Residence: (city, town, county, state)
5. Date of Birth: (month, day, full year)
6. Place of Birth: (town, state, county, country)
7. Date of Death: (month, day, full year)
8. Place of Death: (city, town, state)
9. Age:
10. Where they lived.
11. Place of Funeral Service:
12. Date of Funeral Service:
13. Time of Service:
14. Interment: (Burial site. Include town or county, state)
15. Officiating Minister / Clergyman (full name, title, church, city.)
16. Church Affiliation (complete name and mailing address of church; some may want to send a memorial donation.)
17. Occupation
18. Military
19. Affiliations / Education / Accomplishments
20. Preceded in Death: (parents, spouse, children, siblings)
21. Survived By: (name & residence: parents, spouse, children, siblings; grand children, nieces, nephews, etc. You may choose to just include the number of great grandchildren, etc.)
22. Arrangements by what Funeral Home (name, city, state)
23. Visitation: (Place, date, times; usually the evening before the funeral.)
24. Have a photo ready for newspapers, etc. Write name, address, dates on back of photo so those who did not know him will know who it is.
As soon as possible, contact those you wish to participate in the Memorial Service. Don’t expect the pastor and others to automatically know you want them; ask them. This way they can also inform you early, if they have a conflict with the time of the funeral service.
If the deceased was a preacher, missionary, church staff, make sure you send the information to your Baptist State Paper and any schools from which they graduated. Ask them to publish it in the appropriate column. In addition, you may want to have the obituary published in newspapers where they were born or formerly lived.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, February 7, AD 2012.
To be continued.
Other Articles:
Preparing an Obituary and Funeral Service; Part 2 of 3
Preparing an Obituary and Funeral Service; Part 3 of 3
More articles in lower right margin.
Several years ago I led our church is a study on Wednesday nights on “Preparing an Obituary.” It was very well received. It gave me the opportunity to teach a few things I’ve learned through my years of pastoring a Baptist church and preaching a number of funerals. It even gave the opportunity to laugh at ourselves and others when that couldn’t be done at the time of a funeral. It can be good to discuss a matter before you’re too emotionally involved. So this series of articles covers some of these issues.
Many have never considered writing an obituary until someone unexpectedly dies. They then have very little time to gather their information and often important information is neglected.
Much of this can be done ahead of time.
When the time comes, you will want to get this information as soon as possible to the Funeral Home, newspapers, etc.
Keep this information in an easy to find place. Make a couple of copies to give to other family members.
Do not write in all italics or all capitals; this makes it difficult to read.
After the funeral, keep copies of obituary for historical reasons. Always include or add name of newspaper, city, state, and date of newspaper obituary.
Keep the basic newspaper obituary fairly brief. Make it too long and people just stop reading.
Make things plain and easy to understand. Assume that many who read it will not know inside information with which you may be familiar. Make it so someone who never knew the deceased will understand the facts and details. Write in such a way that someone will understand if they read the obituary 100 years in the future.
You may want to make a more extensive obituary to just distribute to close family and friends. In this, include as much more information as you like to keep for a family history. You could also send this to a local historical library, etc. You may want to post it on a genealogy site on the internet.
Basics of an Obituary
Include the following if applicable:
1. Full Name:
2. Nickname, name, or initials they went by; in quotation marks or parenthesis.
3. Maiden Name:
4. Residence: (city, town, county, state)
5. Date of Birth: (month, day, full year)
6. Place of Birth: (town, state, county, country)
7. Date of Death: (month, day, full year)
8. Place of Death: (city, town, state)
9. Age:
10. Where they lived.
11. Place of Funeral Service:
12. Date of Funeral Service:
13. Time of Service:
14. Interment: (Burial site. Include town or county, state)
15. Officiating Minister / Clergyman (full name, title, church, city.)
16. Church Affiliation (complete name and mailing address of church; some may want to send a memorial donation.)
17. Occupation
18. Military
19. Affiliations / Education / Accomplishments
20. Preceded in Death: (parents, spouse, children, siblings)
21. Survived By: (name & residence: parents, spouse, children, siblings; grand children, nieces, nephews, etc. You may choose to just include the number of great grandchildren, etc.)
22. Arrangements by what Funeral Home (name, city, state)
23. Visitation: (Place, date, times; usually the evening before the funeral.)
24. Have a photo ready for newspapers, etc. Write name, address, dates on back of photo so those who did not know him will know who it is.
As soon as possible, contact those you wish to participate in the Memorial Service. Don’t expect the pastor and others to automatically know you want them; ask them. This way they can also inform you early, if they have a conflict with the time of the funeral service.
If the deceased was a preacher, missionary, church staff, make sure you send the information to your Baptist State Paper and any schools from which they graduated. Ask them to publish it in the appropriate column. In addition, you may want to have the obituary published in newspapers where they were born or formerly lived.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, February 7, AD 2012.
To be continued.
Other Articles:
Preparing an Obituary and Funeral Service; Part 2 of 3
Preparing an Obituary and Funeral Service; Part 3 of 3
More articles in lower right margin.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Why We Don't Use Alcohol For The Lord's Supper
Some today are leading churches to begin using alcoholic wine instead of unfermented wine or grape juice in observance of the Lord’s Supper. I’ve personally heard of several such instances in recent days.
It is often presented as more biblical to use alcoholic wine in the Lord’s Supper. A careful study of ancient wine and the Bible, however, along with medical evidence and common sense, may show Baptists have actually been more biblical than some assert.
Following are a few reasons why the big majority of Baptists do not use alcoholic wine in the ordinance (not sacrament) of the Lord’s Supper:
1. Even though the word wine referred to both fermented and unfermented wine in Bible times, the word wine is never used in Scripture referring to the Lord’s Supper. Instead, “cup,” or “fruit of the vine.” The best representative of fruit of the vine would be the juice immediately pressed; rather than that processed and made alcoholic. Scripture certainly never says to use alcohol for the Lord’s Supper.
2. Alcohol is a poison that immediately impairs judgment, kills brain cells, and makes men do what they would never do in their right minds. It is made by the process of rotting good, fresh, sweet unfermented wine. Why use that to represent the precious, pure, redeeming blood of Jesus?
3. Why use a drug to represent the blood of Jesus?
4. Why teach saved children to drink that which is a recreational drug? Why lead anyone by example to drink? Why use a church ordinance to lead someone astray? Alcohol has led multitudes astray.
5. Unfermented wine or grape juice in no way diminishes from the symbolism and biblical teaching of the Lord’s Supper. There are no harmful side effects of unfermented wine.
6. Jesus said when He would drink again with the disciples, it would be new wine (Matthew 26:29).
7. The bread of Passover and the Lord’s Supper is to be unleavened. It naturally follows that the cup should also be without leaven or ferment.
8. There are a multitude of good reasons not to drink; there are no good reasons to drink beverage alcohol.
9. The ancients had available throughout the year, and knew multiple ways to preserve, unfermented wine. Certain kinds of good keeping grapes were kept throughout the year and pressed for fresh, sweet wine (Genesis 40:11). Ancient accounts tell of churches pressing grapes directly into the cup for the Lord’s Supper. Early churches also made unfermented wine from raisins. Jews also used these processes. Unfermented wine was common, and commonly preserved in Bible times.
The oft heard dogmatic pronouncements, “Jesus and the disciples had to use fermented wine for Passover since it was six months after the grape harvest,” and, “It was impossible to prevent fermentation until the discovery of pasteurization in the 1800s,” are absolutely, demonstrably false.
10. Priests were forbidden to drink wine during worship (Leviticus 10:8-10; Ezekiel 44:21). Why should a pastor drink alcoholic wine during his pastoral duties?
11. Using new wine or grape juice will in no way cause a struggling alcoholic, or anyone else, to stumble.
12. For those who insist the Corinthians used alcoholic wine for the Lord’s Supper: (1) It never says they did. (2) “Drunk” is contrasted with not having enough to eat, and the passage is only speaking of eating, not wine. (3) The word “drunk” can obviously mean intoxicated, but it can also simply mean filled or satiated. (4) Even if the Corinthians were using alcoholic wine for the Lord’s Supper, Paul is not complimenting them but reproving them. (5) Should we use what may be the most immature church in the New Testament as our example in this regard?
Former SBC President Herschel H. Hobbs said it well,
“The elements used in this Supper were unleavened bread and ‘the fruit of the vine.’ The word ‘wine’ is not used. Some interpret ‘fruit of the vine’ as wine. However, as the bread was unleavened, free of bacteria, was the cup also not grape juice? Wine is the product of the juice plus fermentation caused by bacteria. Since both elements represented the pure body and blood of Jesus, there is reason to ponder. The writer sees ‘fruit of the vine’ as pure grape juice untainted by fermentation.”
-Brumbelow is a pastor and author of “The Wit and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow” and “Ancient Wine and the Bible.” (This article was previously published at SBC Voices.)
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, January 23, AD 2012.
Much more information on this subject in the book, Ancient Wine and the Bible: The Case for Abstinence.
Ancient Wine and the Bible - the book
Preserving Unfermented Wine in Bible Times
2006 SBC Resolution on Alcohol Use in America
Other articles in lower right margin.
It is often presented as more biblical to use alcoholic wine in the Lord’s Supper. A careful study of ancient wine and the Bible, however, along with medical evidence and common sense, may show Baptists have actually been more biblical than some assert.
Following are a few reasons why the big majority of Baptists do not use alcoholic wine in the ordinance (not sacrament) of the Lord’s Supper:
1. Even though the word wine referred to both fermented and unfermented wine in Bible times, the word wine is never used in Scripture referring to the Lord’s Supper. Instead, “cup,” or “fruit of the vine.” The best representative of fruit of the vine would be the juice immediately pressed; rather than that processed and made alcoholic. Scripture certainly never says to use alcohol for the Lord’s Supper.
2. Alcohol is a poison that immediately impairs judgment, kills brain cells, and makes men do what they would never do in their right minds. It is made by the process of rotting good, fresh, sweet unfermented wine. Why use that to represent the precious, pure, redeeming blood of Jesus?
3. Why use a drug to represent the blood of Jesus?
4. Why teach saved children to drink that which is a recreational drug? Why lead anyone by example to drink? Why use a church ordinance to lead someone astray? Alcohol has led multitudes astray.
5. Unfermented wine or grape juice in no way diminishes from the symbolism and biblical teaching of the Lord’s Supper. There are no harmful side effects of unfermented wine.
6. Jesus said when He would drink again with the disciples, it would be new wine (Matthew 26:29).
7. The bread of Passover and the Lord’s Supper is to be unleavened. It naturally follows that the cup should also be without leaven or ferment.
8. There are a multitude of good reasons not to drink; there are no good reasons to drink beverage alcohol.
9. The ancients had available throughout the year, and knew multiple ways to preserve, unfermented wine. Certain kinds of good keeping grapes were kept throughout the year and pressed for fresh, sweet wine (Genesis 40:11). Ancient accounts tell of churches pressing grapes directly into the cup for the Lord’s Supper. Early churches also made unfermented wine from raisins. Jews also used these processes. Unfermented wine was common, and commonly preserved in Bible times.
The oft heard dogmatic pronouncements, “Jesus and the disciples had to use fermented wine for Passover since it was six months after the grape harvest,” and, “It was impossible to prevent fermentation until the discovery of pasteurization in the 1800s,” are absolutely, demonstrably false.
10. Priests were forbidden to drink wine during worship (Leviticus 10:8-10; Ezekiel 44:21). Why should a pastor drink alcoholic wine during his pastoral duties?
11. Using new wine or grape juice will in no way cause a struggling alcoholic, or anyone else, to stumble.
12. For those who insist the Corinthians used alcoholic wine for the Lord’s Supper: (1) It never says they did. (2) “Drunk” is contrasted with not having enough to eat, and the passage is only speaking of eating, not wine. (3) The word “drunk” can obviously mean intoxicated, but it can also simply mean filled or satiated. (4) Even if the Corinthians were using alcoholic wine for the Lord’s Supper, Paul is not complimenting them but reproving them. (5) Should we use what may be the most immature church in the New Testament as our example in this regard?
Former SBC President Herschel H. Hobbs said it well,
“The elements used in this Supper were unleavened bread and ‘the fruit of the vine.’ The word ‘wine’ is not used. Some interpret ‘fruit of the vine’ as wine. However, as the bread was unleavened, free of bacteria, was the cup also not grape juice? Wine is the product of the juice plus fermentation caused by bacteria. Since both elements represented the pure body and blood of Jesus, there is reason to ponder. The writer sees ‘fruit of the vine’ as pure grape juice untainted by fermentation.”
-Brumbelow is a pastor and author of “The Wit and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow” and “Ancient Wine and the Bible.” (This article was previously published at SBC Voices.)
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, January 23, AD 2012.
Much more information on this subject in the book, Ancient Wine and the Bible: The Case for Abstinence.
Ancient Wine and the Bible - the book
Preserving Unfermented Wine in Bible Times
2006 SBC Resolution on Alcohol Use in America
Monday, January 9, 2012
Cooperative Program Not Intended to Send Money to International Missions
Some well meaning Baptists are criticizing the Cooperative Program (CP). They present it as though the CP is meant to get money to the foreign mission field, but the callous state conventions and other entities scoop up so much of it, only a small percentage gets to the international mission field. That appears to me a little unfair.
The purpose of giving through the CP is not to get money to the International Mission Board (IMB). The purpose of giving through the CP is to get money and resources to the Baptist ministries of the State Convention, national Southern Baptist Convention, AND to the IMB.
Why not give it all to the IMB? Do that and soon our own state and national ministries will suffer. Without a strong church base here in America, the money and resources going to the international field will decrease or even disappear.
The purpose of giving through the CP is to give to the varied ministries of the State Convention: supporting state leadership, conventions, evangelism conferences, evangelism promotion and materials, ministries to churches and pastors, church starting, State Baptist Newspapers, Christian education, and the list goes on.
The purpose of giving through the CP is to give to the varied ministries of the national Southern Baptist Convention. That includes our national SBC leadership, the annual meeting of the SBC, six SBC seminaries, the SBC Historical Library, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the North American Mission Board (NAMB).
And, of course, the purpose of giving through the CP is also to support the IMB.
Each Southern Baptist Church autonomously decides the percentage they will and can send through the CP. This is sent to their State Convention.
Each State Baptist Convention autonomously decides the percentage they will use for their state ministries and what percentage they can and will forward to the national SBC.
Some states have fewer churches than many Baptist Associations. Some struggle financially and it is more difficult for them to send large percentages on to the SBC. But the long term goal has been for all states to eventually get to a 50/50 split between the state and the national SBC.
The SBC then divides up their portion of the CP among their national and worldwide ministries. I believe it speaks well of Sothern Baptists that we send roughly 50% of this national portion of the CP to the IMB. 50% goes to international missions! Another roughly 22% of the national CP then goes to the NAMB! About 75% of the national CP goes to missions! Add to this the two annual missions offerings sent exclusively to the IMB and NAMB. Don’t tell me Southern Baptists care little for missions.
Not all churches can or do give 10% or 15% or even more of their undesignated funds to the CP. God bless those who do! But whatever percentage a church gives through the CP, that is a profound way of promoting Christ’s Kingdom throughout your state, your nation, and the world.
Note: All agencies of the national SBC subscribe to the Baptist Faith & Message 2000. That means they believe in and promote the inerrancy of the Bible, or that the Bible is totally true and trustworthy.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, January 9, AD 2012.
The purpose of giving through the CP is not to get money to the International Mission Board (IMB). The purpose of giving through the CP is to get money and resources to the Baptist ministries of the State Convention, national Southern Baptist Convention, AND to the IMB.
Why not give it all to the IMB? Do that and soon our own state and national ministries will suffer. Without a strong church base here in America, the money and resources going to the international field will decrease or even disappear.
The purpose of giving through the CP is to give to the varied ministries of the State Convention: supporting state leadership, conventions, evangelism conferences, evangelism promotion and materials, ministries to churches and pastors, church starting, State Baptist Newspapers, Christian education, and the list goes on.
The purpose of giving through the CP is to give to the varied ministries of the national Southern Baptist Convention. That includes our national SBC leadership, the annual meeting of the SBC, six SBC seminaries, the SBC Historical Library, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the North American Mission Board (NAMB).
And, of course, the purpose of giving through the CP is also to support the IMB.
Each Southern Baptist Church autonomously decides the percentage they will and can send through the CP. This is sent to their State Convention.
Each State Baptist Convention autonomously decides the percentage they will use for their state ministries and what percentage they can and will forward to the national SBC.
Some states have fewer churches than many Baptist Associations. Some struggle financially and it is more difficult for them to send large percentages on to the SBC. But the long term goal has been for all states to eventually get to a 50/50 split between the state and the national SBC.
The SBC then divides up their portion of the CP among their national and worldwide ministries. I believe it speaks well of Sothern Baptists that we send roughly 50% of this national portion of the CP to the IMB. 50% goes to international missions! Another roughly 22% of the national CP then goes to the NAMB! About 75% of the national CP goes to missions! Add to this the two annual missions offerings sent exclusively to the IMB and NAMB. Don’t tell me Southern Baptists care little for missions.
Not all churches can or do give 10% or 15% or even more of their undesignated funds to the CP. God bless those who do! But whatever percentage a church gives through the CP, that is a profound way of promoting Christ’s Kingdom throughout your state, your nation, and the world.
Note: All agencies of the national SBC subscribe to the Baptist Faith & Message 2000. That means they believe in and promote the inerrancy of the Bible, or that the Bible is totally true and trustworthy.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, January 9, AD 2012.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Afterglow of Christmas
The Afterglow
After the carols have ended
And the gifts have been placed away,
The candles burned out their brightness
And the snow has melted to gray;
After the holly has withered
And the berries have all turned brown,
The carpets sparkled with tinsel
When the needles came tumbling down,
With all the merriment ending
And the embers are burning low,
May the Christ, the Heart of Christmas,
Fill and brighten the afterglow.
-unknown
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, December 21, AD 2011.
After the carols have ended
And the gifts have been placed away,
The candles burned out their brightness
And the snow has melted to gray;
After the holly has withered
And the berries have all turned brown,
The carpets sparkled with tinsel
When the needles came tumbling down,
With all the merriment ending
And the embers are burning low,
May the Christ, the Heart of Christmas,
Fill and brighten the afterglow.
-unknown
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, December 21, AD 2011.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Was John Newton A Calvinist?
Who gave Himself a ransom for all. -1 Timothy 2:6
John Newton is the famous author of the hymn Amazing Grace. Newton lived a wicked life. He served as captain on a slave ship. But eventually he was gloriously saved, came to oppose slavery, and preach the Gospel. American Tract Society has a great tract on him, The Amazing Story of Amazing Grace.
Was John Newton a Calvinist? The answer is yes, and no.
Newton claimed to be a Calvinist. That is pretty good evidence. The point is this - there are a hundred different varieties of Calvinists. What kind of Calvinist was he?
Some Baptists claim to be non-Calvinists, meaning they are neither Arminian or 5-point Calvinist. Others, believing the same thing, call themselves Moderate Calvinists. This would stand in contrast to more Strict Calvinism or 5-point Calvinism.
Many have put it that all Southern Baptists are Calvinists because they at least agree with one of the five points of Calvinism; the one called Perseverance of the Saints. This is also referred to as Eternal Security, or Once Saved, Always Saved. In this sense, we are all at least Moderate Calvinists. Many Moderate Calvinists would also say they believe in other of the five points of Calvinism, depending on how they are defined.
On the other hand, most Southern Baptists reject one of the five points of Calvinism known as Limited Atonement. The big majority of Southern Baptists believe Jesus sacrificially died for all people on the face of the earth (John 1:29; 3:16-17; Romans 5:6.; 2 Corinthians 5:14-16, 19; 1 Timothy 2:4, 6; 4:10; Hebrews 2:9; 2 Peter 2:1; 3:9; 1 John 2:2). A Strict Calvinist, however, believes Jesus only died for the elect, those who will eventually get saved (Limited Atonement).
Some Strict Calvinists of today love to point out Christian leaders of the past as Calvinists, implying they believed in all five points of Calvinism. The reality is many of them were more of the Moderate rather than the Strict 5-point variety.
Now back to John Newton. It is interesting that he gently reproved some of the more militant Calvinists of his day.
Did John Newton believe in the modern day view of all five points of Calvinism? Apparently not. It appears that Newton was of the more Moderate Calvinist variety.
Evidently John Newton did not believe in Limited Atonement. Why? Consider a couple of his hymns, and you be the judge.
My Soul Once Had it’s Plenteous Years
O sinners, hear His gracious call!
His mercy’s door stands open wide,
He has enough to feed you all,
And none who come shall be denied.
-John Newton
Now Let Us Join With Hearts and Tongues
When angels by transgression fell,
Justice consigned them all to hell;
But mercy formed a wondrous plan,
To save and honor fallen man.
…
O glorious hour, it comes with speed
When we from sin and darkness freed,
Shall see the God Who died for man,
And praise Him more than angels can.
-John Newton
In his hymns, Newton often says Jesus died for sinners. All are sinners.
It appears John Newton was indeed a Calvinist, but one of the more Moderate variety. Evidently he did not believe the view of Limited Atonement.
Note: It also seems evident from their writings that John Calvin himself, and B. H. Carroll, founding president of SWBTS, also believed Jesus died for all mankind.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, December 19, AD 2011.
Related Articles (find many more in lower right margin).
Unlimited Atonement, Jesus Died For All
Books on Calvinism, Predestination
John Newton is the famous author of the hymn Amazing Grace. Newton lived a wicked life. He served as captain on a slave ship. But eventually he was gloriously saved, came to oppose slavery, and preach the Gospel. American Tract Society has a great tract on him, The Amazing Story of Amazing Grace.
Was John Newton a Calvinist? The answer is yes, and no.
Newton claimed to be a Calvinist. That is pretty good evidence. The point is this - there are a hundred different varieties of Calvinists. What kind of Calvinist was he?
Some Baptists claim to be non-Calvinists, meaning they are neither Arminian or 5-point Calvinist. Others, believing the same thing, call themselves Moderate Calvinists. This would stand in contrast to more Strict Calvinism or 5-point Calvinism.
Many have put it that all Southern Baptists are Calvinists because they at least agree with one of the five points of Calvinism; the one called Perseverance of the Saints. This is also referred to as Eternal Security, or Once Saved, Always Saved. In this sense, we are all at least Moderate Calvinists. Many Moderate Calvinists would also say they believe in other of the five points of Calvinism, depending on how they are defined.
On the other hand, most Southern Baptists reject one of the five points of Calvinism known as Limited Atonement. The big majority of Southern Baptists believe Jesus sacrificially died for all people on the face of the earth (John 1:29; 3:16-17; Romans 5:6.; 2 Corinthians 5:14-16, 19; 1 Timothy 2:4, 6; 4:10; Hebrews 2:9; 2 Peter 2:1; 3:9; 1 John 2:2). A Strict Calvinist, however, believes Jesus only died for the elect, those who will eventually get saved (Limited Atonement).
Some Strict Calvinists of today love to point out Christian leaders of the past as Calvinists, implying they believed in all five points of Calvinism. The reality is many of them were more of the Moderate rather than the Strict 5-point variety.
Now back to John Newton. It is interesting that he gently reproved some of the more militant Calvinists of his day.
Did John Newton believe in the modern day view of all five points of Calvinism? Apparently not. It appears that Newton was of the more Moderate Calvinist variety.
Evidently John Newton did not believe in Limited Atonement. Why? Consider a couple of his hymns, and you be the judge.
My Soul Once Had it’s Plenteous Years
O sinners, hear His gracious call!
His mercy’s door stands open wide,
He has enough to feed you all,
And none who come shall be denied.
-John Newton
Now Let Us Join With Hearts and Tongues
When angels by transgression fell,
Justice consigned them all to hell;
But mercy formed a wondrous plan,
To save and honor fallen man.
…
O glorious hour, it comes with speed
When we from sin and darkness freed,
Shall see the God Who died for man,
And praise Him more than angels can.
-John Newton
In his hymns, Newton often says Jesus died for sinners. All are sinners.
It appears John Newton was indeed a Calvinist, but one of the more Moderate variety. Evidently he did not believe the view of Limited Atonement.
Note: It also seems evident from their writings that John Calvin himself, and B. H. Carroll, founding president of SWBTS, also believed Jesus died for all mankind.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, December 19, AD 2011.
Related Articles (find many more in lower right margin).
Unlimited Atonement, Jesus Died For All
Books on Calvinism, Predestination
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
"Merry Christmas" is Preferred by Customers
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6
The Christian Post (christianpost.com; 12-5-2011) reported,
“A recent Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 70 percent of American adults prefer retailers to use ‘Merry Christmas’ signs. Twenty-four percent of those polled would rather see ‘Happy Holidays.’ According to the survey, many adults across almost all demographic groups prefer ‘Merry Christmas,’ with young adults feeling as strong as older adults.”
I hope and pray more retail stores and even Christians themselves realize it can be more offensive to refuse to use the word Christmas at Christmas.
Stores, prominently display your “Merry Christmas” signs. Tell your employees they can actually wish their customers a “Merry Christmas.”
May we all remember and emphasize the true, biblical meaning of Christmas.
So this month I wish all a Merry, Christ-honoring Christmas!
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, December 7, AD 2011.
The Christian Post (christianpost.com; 12-5-2011) reported,
“A recent Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 70 percent of American adults prefer retailers to use ‘Merry Christmas’ signs. Twenty-four percent of those polled would rather see ‘Happy Holidays.’ According to the survey, many adults across almost all demographic groups prefer ‘Merry Christmas,’ with young adults feeling as strong as older adults.”
I hope and pray more retail stores and even Christians themselves realize it can be more offensive to refuse to use the word Christmas at Christmas.
Stores, prominently display your “Merry Christmas” signs. Tell your employees they can actually wish their customers a “Merry Christmas.”
May we all remember and emphasize the true, biblical meaning of Christmas.
So this month I wish all a Merry, Christ-honoring Christmas!
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, December 7, AD 2011.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
L. R. Scarborough on Soul-Winning
Plan of Salvation
“The winner needs to be right on the plan of salvation. This is basic. Salvation is by grace through faith plus nothing. [He goes on to quote Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:24; Titus 3:5.] The conditions of this grace are repentance (Acts 3:19; 17:30; 19:4; 20:21) and faith (John 1:12; 3:16-36; 5:24).”
-L. R. Scarborough, With Christ After the Lost, Southwestern Library of Centennial Classics, revised by E. D. Head; 1942, 2008.
Soul Winning and Worldly Pleasure
“Indulgence in worldly pleasures is death to our influence in winning men to Christ, and the harboring of secret sins is spiritual paralysis to our power with God. ‘Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost’ (1 Corinthians 6:19), and God’s temple should be untainted.”
-L. R. Scarborough, With Christ After the Lost.
Associate with Soul-Winners
Association with great soul-winners, in person and through books, will stimulate your own compassion of heart. Eternity alone will tell the full story of the influence of Paul, of Spurgeon, of Moody, in creating the soul-winning hunger in others.”
-L. R. Scarborough, With Christ After the Lost.
Zechariah 4:6
“Eloquence and charm of voice in song or speech may sweep men off their feet temporarily, but it takes the power of God to win them from their sins and regenerate them.”
-L. R. Scarborough, With Christ After the Lost.
L. R. Scarborough (AD 1870-1945) was a pastor, evangelist, author, founded and taught the first seminary “Chair of Evangelism,” and was the second president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas (swbts.edu). Scarborough also served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. His book, With Christ After the Lost, was used for many years in seminaries as an evangelism textbook.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, December 1, AD 2011.
L. R. Scarborough on Tracts
Other articles listed in lower right margin.
“The winner needs to be right on the plan of salvation. This is basic. Salvation is by grace through faith plus nothing. [He goes on to quote Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:24; Titus 3:5.] The conditions of this grace are repentance (Acts 3:19; 17:30; 19:4; 20:21) and faith (John 1:12; 3:16-36; 5:24).”
-L. R. Scarborough, With Christ After the Lost, Southwestern Library of Centennial Classics, revised by E. D. Head; 1942, 2008.
Soul Winning and Worldly Pleasure
“Indulgence in worldly pleasures is death to our influence in winning men to Christ, and the harboring of secret sins is spiritual paralysis to our power with God. ‘Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost’ (1 Corinthians 6:19), and God’s temple should be untainted.”
-L. R. Scarborough, With Christ After the Lost.
Associate with Soul-Winners
Association with great soul-winners, in person and through books, will stimulate your own compassion of heart. Eternity alone will tell the full story of the influence of Paul, of Spurgeon, of Moody, in creating the soul-winning hunger in others.”
-L. R. Scarborough, With Christ After the Lost.
Zechariah 4:6
“Eloquence and charm of voice in song or speech may sweep men off their feet temporarily, but it takes the power of God to win them from their sins and regenerate them.”
-L. R. Scarborough, With Christ After the Lost.
L. R. Scarborough (AD 1870-1945) was a pastor, evangelist, author, founded and taught the first seminary “Chair of Evangelism,” and was the second president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas (swbts.edu). Scarborough also served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. His book, With Christ After the Lost, was used for many years in seminaries as an evangelism textbook.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, December 1, AD 2011.
L. R. Scarborough on Tracts
Other articles listed in lower right margin.
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