W. A. Criswell on Calvinism, Predestination

Recently it has been claimed, numerous times, that W. A. Criswell was a five-point Calvinist. This is not true. 

W. A. Criswell (AD 1909-2002) was a leading preacher and pastor for many years.  He was a great preacher of the Gospel, and a conservative leader. A graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he was influential in the Conservative Resurgence of the Southern Baptist Convention. He pastored First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas. He was published in the Baptist Standard, Southern Baptist Texan, and the Sword of the Lord. He authored numerous books and served as president of the SBC. His many sermons can be found at wacriswell.com. 

Was W. A. Criswell a Calvinist? Yes, and no. Criswell claimed to be a Calvinist. But he was not the strict, five-point Calvinist some claim him to have been. As one who knew him well said, “He said he was a Calvinist, but he sure didn’t act like one.” Another consideration is that the term Calvinist meant something a little different back in Criswell’s day, than it means to many today. Some old time Calvinists are seeking to separate themselves from some of the New Calvinists.

Dr. Criswell proudly proclaimed himself a Calvinist. But he did not buy into Limited Atonement. He also believed in what some would consider a non-Calvinist view of Free Will. He praised Charles G. Finney, a pariah to the New Calvinists.

Note some of Criswell’s comments below.

God is Sovereign, Man is Free
“Now that, I think, is an ultimate answer for our hearts and our lives about the sovereign, foreordaining, predestinating decrees of Almighty God. He does it, and He runs it, and He chooses, and He elects, and He guides, and He says certain things, and they inevitably come to pass just like it’s written here in the Book. And yet, and yet, with us down here in this world, there's no violation of our moral integrity, or our free choice, or the sovereignty of our own lives. The two go together. The great decree of Almighty God leaves me absolutely and perfectly free. I am not bound; I am at liberty. The decree of God has in it my own free choice, and the two are not antagonistic. They go together in the will of God.”
-W. A. Criswell, Predestination, Acts 27:22-31; 5-23-1954

“God made us morally free. I can curse God to His face. Now isn't that an unusual thing? And a lot of men do it! I can rebel against every edict, every decree, every commandment, every law of God. I can do it! And a lot of men do…
When a man turns down the proper grace of Jesus, I don't understand it. I don't see it. But he has the liberty to do it, the freedom to choose…”
-W. A. Criswell, The Knowledge of the Truth, 1 Timothy 2:1-7; 6-29-1958

God’s Will is that all Come to the Knowledge of the Truth
“As Ezekiel 33:11 describes, "As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked would turn from his evil way and live: oh, turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" That is God; the longsuffering, merciful kindness of our heavenly Father, rejoicing not in condemnation and damnation and the agony of those who are lost, but praying, pleading, waiting, hoping that the lost man will turn and be saved. Oh the longsuffering of God!”
-W. A. Criswell, Lest Any Perish, 2 Peter 3:9; 7-14-1974. 

Used “Into My Heart” and Revelation 3:20 in Evangelism
“I want the Lord Jesus to come into my heart. I want to take Him as my Savior.”
-W. A. Criswell in appealing to the lost during the invitation, John 1:29-37; 4-5-1970, wacriswell.com

“And it’s for you for the having and for the taking. All God asks is that we come and receive it. He can’t give it to us with our hands closed. And He can’t come into our hearts when they’re barred against Him. All that He asks is just the invitation. ‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if anyone open the door, I will come in’ [Revelation 3:20]. And He will, and brings with Him all of the rich gifts that only heaven could afford, and they’re for you. They’re for you. They’re for you.”
-W. A. Criswell, If a Man Sin, 1 John 2; 11-13-1960. 

The Great Evangelist Charles G. Finney
“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, The Knowledge of the Truth, 1 Timothy 2:1-7; 6-29-1958

Rejected Limited Atonement
“I’ve never been able to understand how the Calvinists, some of them, believe in a "limited atonement." That is, the sacrifice of Christ applied only to those who are the elect, but there is no sacrifice of Christ for the whole world—when John expressly says He is the sacrifice, the atoning, dedicated gift of God in our lives for the whole world [1 John 2:2]. And it is just according to whether we accept it or not as to whether the life of our Lord is efficacious for us in His atoning death.”
-W. A. Criswell, If Anyone Sin, 1 John 2:1-2; 4-8-1973

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, June 20, AD 2014.

More Articles:
Brief History of SBC Conservative Resurgence
Unlimited Atonement, Jesus Died For All
Adrian Rogers on "Wit & Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow"
Adrian Rogers on Predestination, Calvinism
Paige Patterson on Calvinism
Books on Calvinism, Predestination
Judges 9:13 and Alcohol
More articles in lower right margin. 

Adrian Rogers Elected 35 Years Ago

Adrian Rogers; 1988

I was present at the 1979 Southern Baptist Convention in Houston, Texas. Adrian Rogers was elected president, beginning the Conservative Resurgence and Southern Baptists taking an uncompromising stand for the inerrancy of the Bible. I consider it one of the greatest days in the history of the SBC and one of the greatest days of my life. Thank God for Paul Pressler, Paige Patterson, Adrian Rogers, and the other leaders in the Conservative Resurgence. This is important! -DRB
Read more about it:

Adrian Rogers Elected SBC President 35 Years Ago

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Thousands of messengers had arrived in Houston to vote for Adrian Rogers in the presidential election at the 1979 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. Some with limited resources had traveled hundreds of miles and were sleeping in tents in hopes of restoring their denomination to theological orthodoxy.

There was just one problem: It was the night before the election and Rogers wasn't sure that God wanted him to be nominated. When he encountered fellow conservative leaders Paige Patterson and Jerry Vines in a hotel lobby, the three of them, along with Rogers' wife Joyce, went to pray about the matter in Rogers' room.

After hours of seeking God's will, Joyce Rogers, feeling God's leading, signaled to her husband, and he said, "I will do it."

The following afternoon, Rogers, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn., was elected over five other candidates on the first ballot with 51 percent of the vote. The Conservative Resurgence had begun.

Thirty-five years later, observers say Rogers, who died in 2005, was the pivotal leader in the SBC's struggle to make belief in the Bible's inerrancy a bedrock commitment of all convention entities -- a commitment that undergirds Southern Baptists' evangelistic outreach at home and abroad.

Inerrancy is the doctrine that the Bible is completely free from error regarding theology, history, science and every other matter to which it speaks. The group who advocated inerrancy and elected Rogers labeled themselves "conservatives," a reference to theology more than political ideology. Opponents of the conservatives -- many of whom held orthodox beliefs but thought theological diversity should be tolerated in the SBC -- were called "moderates."

Frank S. Page, president of the SBC Executive Committee, said he is excited to see a young generation of pastors who believe the Word of God and hold to a high degree of understanding of its authenticity. "I believe that this new reality is directly attributable to great men who stood strong for the Gospel and especially Dr. Adrian Rogers," he said. "His election 35 years ago signaled a grassroots movement that has changed our entire denominational mindset. Thank God for Dr. Adrian Rogers."

'Manning the pumps'

Despite the last-minute decision to run, Rogers was motivated to serve the convention by events stretching back to his days as a student at Stetson University in Florida when he learned that some professors funded by the Cooperative Program questioned doctrines that most Southern Baptists regarded as foundational to the Christian faith.

In one class taught by an ordained Baptist minister, Rogers "heard the great historic truths of the faith demeaned over and over," Joyce Rogers wrote in "Love Worth Finding," a biography of her husband. After class one day, Rogers gathered the courage to confront his professor and asked, "Sir, are you really saved?"

In response the professor defined salvation as "that experience when a man escapes the consequences of a maladjustment to his fellow man" and said, "I don't know if there is a heaven or hell."

Soon Rogers learned that the problem in Baptist life was not isolated to his university.

By the mid-20th century, "the view that the Bible was not the Word of God had become common among professors at Southern Baptist seminaries," Baptist historian Gregory Wills wrote in "Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1859-2009."

Wills explained that for much of the 20th century, seminary administrators tried to persuade the denomination that their professors were orthodox while at the same time trying to persuade professors to conceal their more objectionable views, revealing them only at strategic moments to sympathetic audiences. Southern Seminary professor Bill Hull, for example, was known to hide progressive views in book reviews on modern French or Belgian New Testament scholarship. "I often like to 'bury' such comments in material that will be read only by those who need to see it," Hull wrote in a 1966 letter to Southern Seminary President Duke McCall.

Occasionally, however, Southern Baptists caught a glimpse of what seminaries were teaching.

In 1961, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Ralph Elliott's "The Message of Genesis," published by the Baptist Sunday School Board, argued that some of the stories in Genesis were historically inaccurate, including the flood and the sacrifice of Isaac. Sixteen of the SBC's 28 state paper editors criticized the book, and the 1962 annual meeting in San Francisco adopted a motion expressing "abiding and unchanging objection to the dissemination of theological views in any of our seminaries which would undermine ... faith in the historical accuracy and doctrinal integrity of the Bible."

Eventually Elliott was fired. But C.R. Daley, editor of Kentucky Baptists' Western Recorder journal, said there were many other seminary professors like him.

If Elliot is "a heretic, then he is one of many," Daley said according to a 1983 Christianity Today article. "... Professors in all our seminaries know that Elliott is in the stream of thinking with most of them, and is more in the center than some."

Rogers believed that some seminary administrators were being dishonest about what faculty members believed and that some faculty held views that were unacceptable to the Southern Baptists who funded them.

The problem wasn't isolated to the seminaries. In 1969, the Sunday School Board published a commentary on Genesis by British scholar G. Henton Davies that claimed Genesis 1-11 was not historical and that Abraham was mistaken in his belief that God commanded him to sacrifice Isaac. The 1970 SBC passed a motion calling for the book to be withdrawn and rewritten.

Rogers believed that he faced a choice: leave the convention or lead a change.

"Adrian considered leaving the denomination," Joyce Rogers wrote. "This would be a major step should he do so. It would require his leading his church to come out of the denomination or else resigning. But in his heart he believed something could and should be done. He used this analogy. The Southern Baptist Convention is a good old ship that has taken on much water and is slowly sinking. The choices seemed to be to abandon the ship or to man the pumps. He chose the latter and was ultimately blessed in 'manning the pumps' along with others."

'Rising star' of Memphis

As Rogers was realizing the extent of the problem, other conservatives were realizing what to do about it.

Paul Pressler, a judge in Houston, and William Powell, editor of the Southern Baptist Journal, deduced that the key to changing the convention was winning the presidency. The president appointed the Committee on Committees, which in turn nominated the Committee on Boards (now the Committee on Nominations). The Committee on Boards then nominated trustees of the SBC entities. Conservative trustees could change the entities.

A president who appointed conservatives to the Committee on Committees would lead to conservative trustees in two years. A 10-year string of conservative presidents would lead to all the convention's trustee boards being controlled by proponents of inerrancy -- since only a percentage of trustee seats became vacant each year.

Pressler banded with Patterson and others to translate the plan into action. Traveling the nation, they organized conservatives to elect a conservative president in 1979. Rogers, who had been nominated in 1976 against his will, was an obvious candidate for the job. But part of Pressler and Patterson's strategy was to keep Rogers away from their informal organization so he wouldn't be labelled a denominational troublemaker, hurting his chances at election.

Potential presidential candidates like Rogers, Vines and Charles Stanley "were deliberately kept out of what was happening during the first five years of the controversy," Patterson said in a 1994 interview. "They were aware of it and knew of it but had nothing to do with it whatsoever. That was done on purpose because anybody who was a conceivable candidate for president we deliberately kept at arm's length."

With the 1979 convention approaching, conservatives focused on Rogers. Opponents focused on him too, knowing the coming battle in the SBC would be contentious.

Daley, a moderate, said in a lecture at Southern Seminary five years later, "Some of us saw the rising star out of Memphis named Adrian Rogers -- in my mind the most brilliant of his group, the one who poses the gravest threat to the Southern Baptist Convention. It was obvious that he was to be the king. It was obvious to some of us that he wasn't the kind of king we wanted."

The man to lead

Rogers arrived in Houston believing he shouldn't run. Before a Pastors' Conference session in which Rogers and W.A. Criswell, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, were to preach, Criswell told him, "Lad, you need to let us nominate you." Rogers replied, "Dr. Criswell, I don't believe that's what God wants me to do." Nonetheless, Criswell announced in his sermon, "We will have a great time here if for no other reason than to elect Adrian Rogers as our president" -- a remark that drew loud cheers.

Despite Rogers' reluctance, messengers were already en route to Houston, planning to vote for him, some at great personal sacrifice. Among them was Sheldon Hale, then the 32-year-old pastor of Andrew Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Ky. With a small convention budget from his church, Hale along with his wife and three young children drove cross country to Houston and slept in a tent outside the city.

Hale told Baptist Press that he knew other Southern Baptists who, like him, were concerned about the direction of the convention but didn't have money to stay in expensive hotels near the convention center. They either camped or stayed in cheap hotels far from the annual meeting so that they could cast a vote for Rogers.

"I would do it again," Hale, now pastor of First Baptist Church in Silver Grove, Ky., near Cincinnati, said in an interview. "It was hard to travel with three little ones and be camped out. But not only did we enjoy the time with them and they got to experience the time at the convention, we felt like we were part of history."

With history in the making, God began to change Rogers' mind. First, Bertha Smith, a longtime Southern Baptist missionary to China called him to say, "Brother Adrian, God wants you to do this." Then another missionary to China, Charles Culpepper, sent a message: "Tell Adrian that I have been with God, and he should allow his nomination."

Adrian and Joyce Rogers had devised a system where she would say a number between one and 10 to indicate how confident she was that Adrian's nomination was God's will. The number never rose above five. Yet as Rogers, Vines and Patterson prayed on the eve of the election, Joyce Rogers held up 10 fingers -- and Adrian agreed.

When Rogers was elected the next day, surprise was audible in the hall. Some messengers gasped. Others whooped and embraced. But Rogers, himself a bit surprised, had a sense of God's guidance and purpose.

Following Rogers, an unbroken line of conservative presidencies -- including two more terms for Rogers between 1986 and 1988 -- helped the convention return to biblical orthodoxy in its entities. All agree that the turnaround was not the work of any one man. Still, even his opponents say there was something special about Rogers' election 35 years ago.

Moderate church historian Walter Shurden, who was dean of Southern Seminary's school of theology in the early 1980s, viewed Rogers as the crucial figure in the SBC's conservative movement, which he called "fundamentalism."

"I sincerely doubt ... that fundamentalism could have known its measure of success apart from Adrian Rogers," Shurden wrote. "... No other fundamentalist could rival him as preacher, debater, or intransigent believer. When the leadership of the fundamentalists met for their strategy sessions, the press releases often read, 'Adrian Rogers presided.' He was by far fundamentalists' most capable leader and moderates' most formidable opponent."

SBC President Fred Luter called Rogers a "giant of the faith" and said he helped save the convention.

"Thirty five years ago I was a brand-new Christian sharing the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ on the street corners of New Orleans, trying to transform the neighborhood I grew up in," Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, said. "At the same time Dr. Adrian Rogers was being elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, trying to transform an entire convention back to believing in the Bible as the true Word of God.

"I shudder to think what our beloved convention would be if not for the courageous stand of Dr. Rogers, Dr. Patterson, Judge Pressler and so many others who stood up for God's Word at a very critical time. May we never forget what this giant of the faith did for the future of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Rogers was truly not only a gift to the SBC but also to the body of Christ."
-by David Roach. bpnews.net

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, June 6, AD 2014. 

Other Articles:
Connect 316 Breakfast at SBC, Baltimore
Brief History of SBC Conservative Resurgence
Q & A on SBC Conservative Resurgence, part 1
Differences Between the 1963 and 2000 Baptist Faith and Message
Adrian Rogers on "Wit & Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow"
Adrian Rogers on Predestination, Calvinism
Judges 9:13 and Alcohol

More articles in lower right margin. 

Better Off Without Alcohol

ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) -- "More needs to be done to protect populations from the negative health consequences of alcohol consumption," a little known individual recently said according to news reports. Who is the person? A) a backwoods Baptist preacher; B) a recovering alcoholic; C) an expert on chronic disease and mental health?

If you chose A or B, you are wrong. The answer is C. The person who spoke out on the negative health consequences of alcohol is none other than Oleg Chestnov, who works with the World Health Organization.

Chestnov said a recent report "clearly shows there is no room for complacency when it comes to reducing the harmful use of alcohol." Chestnov warned that alcohol raises people's risk of developing more than 200 diseases and killed 3.3 million people in 2012.

The 3.3 million who died from alcohol-related causes "translates into one death every 10 seconds," Shekhar Saxena, head of WHO's mental health and substance abuse department, said according to reports.

Chestnov and Saxena were two WHO representatives that answered questions when the health agency issued its "Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2014" on May 12 in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to the WHO report, some countries have strengthened measures to protect people from alcohol, including increasing taxes on alcohol, raising the legal drinking age and regulating the marketing of alcoholic beverages.

Among other measures WHO encourages countries to adopt is discouraging the consumption of alcohol.

Couple the WHO report on alcohol consumption with the organization's "2014 World Cancer Report" and the truth about alcohol becomes even worse. The WHO cancer report concluded, "No amount of alcohol is safe when it comes to cancer risk."

The more alcohol one drinks, the more at risk the person is to develop cancer, according to the WHO cancer report. Alcohol's few positive effects are far outweighed by its negatives and there is no such thing as safe drinking.

A 2010 study by Britain's Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs reported alcohol was the most harmful drug on the planet, even worse than crack or heroin.

"Professor David Nutt, chairman of the ISCD, whose work was published in the Lancet medical journal, said the findings showed that 'aggressively targeting alcohol harms is a valid and necessary public health strategy,'" Reuters reported.

Given the WHO reports, as well as the ISCD study, you have to wonder about those who are proponents of alcohol consumption. How can they advocate a product, a drug really, that wreaks so much havoc?

If the cold hard truth about alcohol were widely reported, it would likely not enjoy its favored status in many countries. "If alcohol were introduced today as a new product, its legal sales would be fought vigorously," Jeff Herten wrote in the book "The Sobering Truth: What you don't know can kill you." A medical doctor, Herten detailed in his book the dangers of alcohol, even when consumed in so-called moderation.

What I find most interesting is that, in light of recent scientific declarations on the ills of alcohol, some Baptist preachers have in recent days softened their stance toward alcohol consumption.

While it seems the advocacy of imbibing alcohol is most prevalent among young theologians, there have been some more seasoned pastors who have declared alcohol in moderation, or social drinking, to be OK.

Their argument has been that the Bible does not condemn alcohol consumption, it only denounces drunkenness. Those who believe abstinence is the best policy have been dismissed at times as stogy legalists who are ill equipped to minister in an enlightened society.

No, the Bible does not condemn drinking alcohol. However, I believe the principle found in Scripture is that you are better off without alcohol.

Consider the following passage found in Proverbs 23:

"Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has conflicts? Who has complaints? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes? Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine. Don't gaze at wine because it is red, when it gleams in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and you will say absurd things. You'll be like someone sleeping out at sea or lying down on the top of a ship's mast. 'They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I didn't know it! When will I wake up? I'll look for another drink.'"

There are other biblical passages that echo the sentiment found in Proverbs 23 -- your life will be better if you avoid alcohol. Or as I have long proclaimed to my children, "Nothing good comes from alcohol."

Societies of the world and advocates of alcohol consumption should take note. It is not just Bible-thumpers that denounce the drinking of alcohol; now it is scientists and medical doctors too.

The recent WHO reports and the 2010 ISCD study only confirm what the Bible has long taught: "Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler, and whoever staggers because of them is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1).

-by Kelly Boggs, a weekly columnist for Baptist Press, director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention's office of public affairs, and editor of the Baptist Message (www.baptistmessage.com), newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.
http://www.bpnews.net/firstperson/42595/firstperson-better-off-without-alcohol

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, May 25, AD 2014. 


Dr. R. L. Sumner on "Ancient Wine and the Bible"
 

Connect 316 Breakfast at SBC, Baltimore

June 10, 2014 6:30am
at Hilton Baltimore Peale Room
Breakfast Buffet

Speakers/Discussion Panel:
Adam Harwood
Richard Land
Malcolm Yarnell
Brad Whitt

Cost: $25

First 100 will receive a gift bag with a number of books including: 
Anabaptists and Contemporary Baptists by Malcolm Yarnell

Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Thom Rainer

Born Guilty? by Adam Harwood

Explore the Bible Sunday School Sample by Lifeway

John 3:16 by Jerry Vines

Forty Days of Refreshment by Brad Whitt

Journey to Faithfulness by Tim and Heidi Guthrie

Salvation and Sovereignty by Kenneth Keathley

Scripture Isn't Silent, Why Are We? by Bob Eklund

Trouble with the Tulip by Frank Page

What is Calvinism? by Peter Lumpkins

Whosoever Will by David Allen and Steve Lemke

1-3 John Commentary by David Allen


For More Information:
http://connect316.net/Breakfast

http://connect316.net/ViewBreakfastFlyer


Whosoever Will Conference
http://connect316.net/events

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, May 14, AD 2014

Books on Calvinism, Predestination
Paige Patterson on Calvinism
Francis Wayland on Calvinism in 1856
Brief History of SBC Conservative Resurgence


  

The Christian Work Ethic

I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man. -Proverbs 24:30-34

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. -Exodus 20:8-9

A man had trouble sleeping. He told his doctor, “I sleep fine at night, and I sleep pretty well in the morning. But in the afternoon I just toss and turn.”

Perhaps we should all go back and read the Little Golden Book about The Little Red Hen.

Some responsibilities are yours alone. Some struggles you are going to have to deal with. Work hard; provide for your family; serve the Lord; give to church and to others. Also get some rest and fun along the way. Make this world a little better, because you were here.

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. -2 Thessalonians 3:10-11

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. -1 Timothy 5:8

See also: Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:14-15; Proverbs 10:4; 12:24, 27; 13:4; 21:5; 23:21; 27:23; John 9:4; 1 Corinthians 9:7; 10:31; 1 Timothy 5:18.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, April 28, AD 2014.

Other articles in lower right margin.

Robert L. Sumner at Grace Baptist, Brazoria, TX

Robert L. Sumner; The Biblical Evangelist

Dr. Robert L. Sumner will be preaching at:

Grace Baptist Church of Wild Peach
5050 CR 353, Brazoria, TX 77422

Host Pastor - Mark Brumbelow
979/798-0305

Wednesday, April 23, 2014
at 7pm

R. L. Sumner is an evangelist, author of over 30 books, and editor of The Biblical Evangelist. He was formerly associate editor of the Sword of the Lord with Dr. John R. Rice. At the time, the Sword of the Lord had a circulation of over 400,000. Copies of the Biblical Evangelist, and books by Dr. Sumner will be available.

A copy of The Biblical Evangelist will be given to each family. It is filled with sermons, Bible studies, and sermon illustrations. You can subscribe to it for free. It was one of Adrian Rogers favorite publications and Adrian ordered hundreds of Sumner‘s pamphlets for his church. Dr. Sumner is independent Baptist, but he is not anti-Southern Baptist. A number of Southern Baptist Leaders subscribe to his paper.

He is 90 years old and still going strong! Dr. Sumner has been preaching in California, and is stopping in Texas on his way back home to Lynchburg, Virginia.

For those in the Houston, Brazoria, TX area, this is a great opportunity to hear and meet one of the most influential conservative Christian leaders of the 20^th and 21^st centuries. I will be there. I hope you will too.

*******

Books by Robert L. Sumner:

Bible Translations

Biblical Evangelism in Action

Fights I Didn’t Start, And Some I Did: Round 1 (Foreword by Ergun Caner)

Fights I Didn’t Start, And Some I Did: Round 2 (Foreword by Bailey Smith)

Fundamentalist Foibles!

Hell Is No Joke

Commentary on Hebrews (recommended by Adrian Rogers, Warren Wiersbe, Charles U. Wagner, Elmer Towns)

Commentary on Ephesians (recommended by Hyman Appelman, Baptist Bible Tribune)

Commentary on James (Foreword by Paige Patterson)

An Examination of TULIP: The Five Points of Calvinism

Jesus Christ is God

Biblical Essays by a Historic Evangelical Fundamentalist (Foreword by Jerry Vines)

And many more.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, April 14, AD 2014.

Other Articles (Labels) in lower right margin.

How To Keep Your Pastor

One of the heartbreaking things church members go through is losing a pastor they love. The church may not even notice the Pulpit Committee (Pastor Search Committee) that quietly shows up one Sunday. They may not notice the pastor missed a Sunday or two to preach “in view of a call” at another church. They may not know the pastor wanted to move; they thought everything was fine. And the pastor has good reason to keep things quiet until another church has called him as pastor. So often the first information the church has that their pastor is leaving is when he stands in the pulpit and formally announces his resignation. 

How do you keep a pastor? 
To the deacons and laymen out there who want to keep their pastor, these are a few things that might help. And these are things your pastor will probably never mention.

1. A cost of living adjustment for your pastor each year. Not really a raise in salary, just keeping up his salary with inflation. Over several years, a set salary seriously declines. And like you, the pastor has to support his family and pay his bills. Give him some pride and ability to do so.

2. Consider a real, live, honest to goodness raise in his salary. After all he’s doing a good job, is experienced, and you want to keep him.

3. Take him aside and tell him what a good job he’s doing. Better yet, tell it in front of the church.

4. Get the church to add to his monthly retirement contributions to GuideStone. If you don’t know about Guidestone Financial Services of the SBC, check with a fellow pastor or your Baptist Association’s Director of Missions. If he is not contributing to his GuideStone Retirement, have the church begin doing so for him.

5. Check with the pastor and his wife about things needing improved in the parsonage. Provide the money, but if they prefer, let them take care of it. After all, as long as they are there, it’s their house. Give them some privacy. You wouldn’t want someone else running things in in your house.

6. Make sure the pastor and his family are free to take a couple of days off each week. Make sure the church knows and supports this.

7. Seriously pray for your pastor. He has burdens and stress you will never know.

8. Bring others with you to church.

9. Be present, with a good attitude, at every church service; Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, or whatever schedule your church has. A good crowd is encouraging and helps him preach better.

10. Allow the pastor the funds to buy at least one new book each month.

11. Support his plans to reach more people for Christ.

12. Faithfully give your tithes and offerings to your church.

Make things so good for your pastor he’d be crazy to go anywhere else.

But know that sometimes under the best of circumstances, God will lead your pastor elsewhere. If so, use the above to encourage your next pastor.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, April 1, AD 2014.

Articles:
How to Get a Life When Ministry Drains it Out of You
Church Buildings - Dos and Don'ts #1
Earth Day
The Girl Who Saved His Ministry
Wit And Wisdom Of My Dad
More Articles in lower right margin. 
  

What the Bible Teaches About Baptism

“Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” -Matthew 28:19

“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. -Romans 6:3-5; also Colossians 2:12; Matthew 3:13-17; John 3:23; Acts 8:38.

What is the first commandment for a new believer?
To be baptized.

Why do Baptists practice Believer’s Baptism by Immersion?
First, why believers?
Only believers were baptized in the New Testament. You have to be old enough to understand and voluntarily trust in Jesus, therefore infants are not baptized. Faith comes first, then baptism.
Second, why immersion?
The NT Greek word for baptize (baptizo) means to immerse, dip, or plunge. In NT times they practiced immersion.
Immersion presents the true picture of baptism. It is a symbol of a death, burial, and resurrection. When you bury someone, you don’t sprinkle a little dirt on their head, you cover them up.

What are the three things baptism represents?
1. Jesus died for my sins, was buried, and rose again.
2. Death to your old life of sin and a new life in Christ.
3. Baptism is also a picture of the final resurrection. When a Christian dies, his body is buried and his soul, spirit goes to Heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8). But when Jesus comes again, the departed saints will come with Him and their physical bodies will be resurrected (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15).

Is baptism a part of salvation?
No, faith alone in Christ alone is what saves us. Baptism is a good work, but we are not saved by good works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

If a person trusts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but dies before they are baptized, will they go to Heaven?
Yes. The thief on the cross believed in Jesus but died before having a chance to be baptized (Luke 23:39-43). Jesus assured, “this day you will be with Me in paradise.“ But if it is possible, we are to obey the biblical command and be baptized.

Is baptism really important?
Yes. The Bible commands it and Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist to set an example for us. Jesus walked about 60 miles from Galilee to the southern part of the Jordan River to be baptized. Would you be willing to walk 60 miles to be baptized?

Why is baptism practiced in a public place in front of others?
Baptism is a personal testimony that you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and you want the church and the world to know. Your baptism says you believe Jesus died for you and rose again; that you have died to your old life of sin and have a new life in Christ; and that you believe in the resurrection at the Return of Christ. It is a way of taking a public stand for Christ.

Will a person baptized in another way go to Heaven?
What determines if we go to Heaven is whether we have personally received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, not our mode or kind of baptism. But we should seek to be true to the Scripture and the commands of our Lord.

Who can baptize?
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances (special commands given by the Lord for the church to follow) of the church, so the local church has the authority to baptize.

“Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead.” -Baptist Faith & Message, 2000; doctrinal statement of the Southern Baptist Convention.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, March 23, AD 2014.

Other Articles:
The Roman Road of Salvation
　
Dr. Robert Wring on Baptists and Elder Rule Why I Support the Baptist Association, Part 1
Basic Baptist Doctrines / Beliefs
Baptists and Eternal Security, or Once Saved Always Saved; Part 1 of 3
Cooperative Program Not Intended to Send Money to International Missions
Random Advice to Pastors, Part 1
Other articles in lower right margin. 

Observe Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Sunday

Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Sunday (aka Alcohol & Substance Abuse Prevention Sunday) is the third week of each March. This year March 16, 2014. Of course you can observe this day on another Sunday if it better fits your schedule. 

Thoughts on observing this special day:

1. Preach a sermon on Christians and Alcohol. Many church members have never heard a sermon against drug abuse. They need to.

2. Emphasize this day in Sunday School (SS). This can be done in the SS department or class or both. A brief testimony can be presented, or facts and figures can be presented.

3. Pass out a leaflet on this subject in Sunday School or church.

4. Have a note in the church bulletin or a bulletin insert.

5. If not a sermon, have preventing drug abuse as a point in the sermon.

6. This special day gives you a great excuse to speak to this issue.

7. When a concern is not dealt with in church, often people will conclude the issue must not be important and they can do as they please. If a family member or friend gets addicted, they may wonder why the church never warned about addiction and abuse.

8. Have someone give a testimony concerning drug abuse prevention.

9. Have a speaker on this issue from ACAP, etc.

10. Present a ministry that deals with drug abuse such as ACAP. On this day some churches receive an offering for such ministries.

11. Place good books on the dangers of drug abuse in your church library and community libraries. Books like: Ancient Wine and the Bible by Brumbelow; Alcohol Today by Lumpkins; Wine, the Biblical Imperative: Total Abstinence by Teachout; Oinos: A Discussion of the Bible Wine Question by Fields; The Bible and Its Wines by Ewing…


Sources of information for Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Sunday:

1. Print the 2006 SBC Resolution On Alcohol Use In America on a half sheet of paper and use it as a Sunday bulletin insert or handout.

2. Get resources from the American Council on Addiction & Alcohol Abuse (ACAAP). 

3. The book, Ancient Wine and the Bible: The Case for Abstinence is filled with resource material and illustrations that can be used for bulletins, flyers, sermons, or Bible Studies.

4. There are a number of resources at this site. You are welcome to reprint the articles: Ancient Wine Production and the Bible; Biblical Principles Condemn Alcohol; etc, and use them as a handout. Check the lower right hand column under Labels/Articles. There is no charge, just give credit to gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com.

5. Handout index card copies of the Church Covenant, available from LifeWay. It contains a statement against alcohol and drug use.

The bottom line is, please observe this day. Don’t leave your church thinking that drug abuse doesn’t really matter to the pastor.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, March 4, AD 2014. 


Deuteronomy 14:26 - Does it Commend Alcohol?

Why Marijuana Should Remain Illegal

Judges 9:13 and Alcohol

But the vine said to them, ‘Should I cease my new wine, which cheers both God and men, and go to sway over trees?’ -Judges 9:13

Judges 9:13 is often brought up with the contention that it shows God is pleased with alcohol, that alcohol is intended by God to cheer the heart of God and man.

A closer look reveals a number of problems with this view.

1. In the Bible, as much as some wish and assume, wine is not synonymous with alcohol. Sometimes wine refers to an alcoholic drink, sometimes it does not. In Bible times they had no word for “alcohol,” so they described it by its effects. For example, Proverbs 23:29-35 (Significantly, after describing this kind of alcoholic wine, it then says not to even look at it!).

Judges 9:13 is talking about wine, it is not necessarily talking about alcohol.

2. The word for wine used in this verse is the Hebrew word tirosh. Tirosh usually means new wine, just pressed wine, unfermented wine, nonalcoholic wine.

Some even contend tirosh always meant unfermented wine. Two Jewish Encyclopedias take this position. For example, The Jewish Encyclopedia states,

“‘Tirosh’ includes all kinds of sweet juices and must, and does not include fermented wine (Tosef., Ned. iv. 3).”

By the way, this also shows the ancient Jews knew much more than they are often given credit about making and preserving all kinds of nonalcoholic drinks.

3. Notice in this verse the vine says, “My wine.”

What kind of wine does a vine possess? Wine in the grapes, the pure blood of the grape, unfermented wine, nonalcoholic wine, or grape juice.

This is reminiscent of Isaiah 65:8, another clear biblical reference to nonalcoholic wine.

As the new wine is found in the cluster. -Isaiah 65:8 (Notice the English translations that use the word “wine” for this obviously nonalcoholic grape cluster.)

4. “which cheers both God and men.” A number of Christian social drinkers have claimed this has to be alcohol, since it “cheers” both God and man. Some have actually claimed this shows even God enjoys getting a little tipsy.

There are several problems with this view.

1. God condemns drunkenness and it is unlikely He is saying it’s alright to get a little drunk. As Jerry Vines has said, “Moderate drinking is moderate intoxication.” God would not violate His own commandments.

There are now government TV commercials warning, “Buzzed driving is drunk driving.”

2. Isn’t it possible to have a drug-free cheerfulness? My heart has often been glad (cheered), without drugs being involved.

3. The harvest, and the huge amount of work that went into saving the harvest, when completed gave great cause to be cheerful, to rejoice.

4. They craved sweet things, and a good glass of sweet wine would bring joy. They had no cane sugar; their only sources of sweetness were from fruit and honey. I’ve had Pinot Noir unfermented wine; it cheers my heart every time.

5. It is sacrilegious to present God as getting even a little drunk.

6. If God ever did get a little drunk, can you imagine the trouble we would be in?

Rather than commending alcohol, Judges 9:13 does just the opposite. It shows a great example of one of the many Bible verses that speak of nonalcoholic wine.

(More on this issue in Ancient Wine and the Bible.)

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, February 18, AD 2014.

Ancient Wine Production and the Bible
Deuteronomy 14:26 - Does it Commend Alcohol?
More Articles in lower right margin. 

 

Valentines Day - The Bible on Love

But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. -1 John 3:17-18 NKJV

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. -1 John 4:9

1. Different kinds of love in the Greek language
Eros - erotic / sensual kind of love

Phileo - friendship kind of love

Agape - highest form of love

2. Another way of distinguishing love
1. I love you if…

2. I love you because…

3. I love you period.

3. Love is spelled COMMITMENT.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. -John 15:13

4. True love between a married couple allows no one or no thing to come between them.
Your spouse is the most important person in the world to you. 

More important than parents, relatives, friends. More important than your children. Doesn’t mean neglect children, but love your spouse. Most important thing a man can do for his kids is to love their mother. See what Jesus said about marriage - Mark 10:6-9.

5. We are to love God will all our hearts, and our neighbor as ourselves. Matthew 22:37-39; John 13:34; Philippians 1:9

More info at: FocusOnTheFamily.com

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, February 12, AD 2014.

More Articles in lower right margin. 

Obituary - Pastor Frank Biles

Dr. Franklin McCoy Biles was born August 24, 1940 in Fort Pierce, Florida, to John Lindsey and Mattie Lou Jordan Biles. He passed away January 29, 2014. 

He served in the US Army National Guard, US Navy, and USAF Reserve Chaplain, LT. COL. for a total of 36 years. Dr. Biles received his Bachelor of Science from University of Houston in 1968, Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1971 and Doctorate in Ministry from Biola Talbot Seminary in 1988. He was a pastor for 49 years, serving 9 churches in Texas and retired after serving 20 years at Eastside Baptist Church in Baytown.

Dr. Biles is survived by his wife of 49 years, Sandra Kay Schmidt Biles (Sandy); his sons and daughters-in-law: Daniel Franklin and Mandy Morrison Biles of Corpus Christi, TX, Andrew (Andy) Coy and Kathryn McLean Biles of Channelview, TX, and Stephen Paul and Jamie Chitwood Biles of Victoria, TX; eight grandchildren, Christopher Biles, Britny Biles, Tyler Biles, Bethany Biles, Jonathan (JD) Biles, Jacob Biles, Benjamin Biles and Grant Biles; three brothers, John L Biles, James E Biles and R Tommy Biles and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Betsy Hamilton.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Samaritan's Purse in Frank's name at PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or www.samaritanspurse.org and go to tab “Support.”

Frank Biles’ funeral service was at Navarre Funeral Home, Baytown, TX on February 4, 2014 led by Pastor Bill Yowell. Burial at Houston National V. A. Cemetery, 10410 Veteran’s Memorial Dr., Houston TX. Among the songs sung at the funeral were God Hath Not Promised, At The Cross, and Victory In Jesus. A number of preachers attended the service.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, February 10, AD 2014.

Other Articles in lower right margin. 

It's So Cold...

It’s so cold -
The politicians have their hands in their own pockets.

The Global Warming Research Scientists’ ship got stuck in ice in Antarctica, in the Summer.

People are wishing Global Warming really was true.

It’s freezing the horns off the billygoats.

Lobsters, on their own, are jumping into boiling pots.

Two beagles with jumper cables were trying to get a rabbit started.

Hitchhikers are holding up pictures of thumbs.

Richard Simmons is wearing pants.

Frosty the Snowman got frostbite.

My shadow froze to the ground.

An prison escapee turned himself back in, just to get warm.

Sheep are demanding their wool back.

A house caught fire and firemen couldn’t convince the occupants to get out.

Polar Bears are showing up in Hawaii.

Milk cows are giving ice cream.

Teenagers are pulling their pants up.

A 32^nd degree Mason was down to 15 degrees.

A cop yelled, “Freeze,” and the criminal did.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, January 29, AD 2014.

Christians and Alcohol: An Abstinent View, Mark Creech

The Christian Post has just published an article, Christians and Alcohol: An Abstinent View, by Mark H. Creech. It is well worth your time. Please read it, and share it with others. 

http://www.christianpost.com/news/christians-and-alcohol-an-abstinent-view-113253/

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, January 27, AD 2014.

Peter Lumpkins New Communications VP at Brewton-Parker College

Ergun Caner taps Peter Lumpkins as Communications VP
Baptist Press, January 22, 2014 | by Staff

MOUNT VERNON, Ga. (Brewton-Parker College) -- Ergun Caner, who assumed Brewton-Parker College’s presidency Jan. 1, has named Peter Lumpkins as vice president of communications.

Caner, in a Jan. 22 news release from the Baptist-affiliated college, described Lumpkins of the SBC Tomorrow blog site as “one of the most well-known and respected writers in the Southern Baptist Convention.”

“One of the most important roles of a college,” Caner said in the news release, “is consistently ‘tell its story’ to alumni, churches and constituents. Peter Lumpkins is singularly qualified for such a monumental task. A graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Peter has written three books, runs a successful publishing company and is one of the most popular voices in the new social media. … Peter has served in Georgia churches for the past seventeen years. We welcome Peter and his wife Kathy Lynn to the BPC family.”

Caner said Lumpkins is “a perfect fit for us, as he provides a much-needed voice for traditional and grassroots Southern Baptists. He is a bold preacher, a personal soul winner, a local churchman and a fearless writer. I consider his book ‘Alcohol Today: Abstinence in an Age of Indulgence’ to be one of the best books on the subject. His blog, SBC Tomorrow, is one of the most-read religious blogs in the SBC, averaging over 64,000 hits a month since its launch in 2006.”

Lumpkins will begin his duties Feb. 1 at the Mount Vernon, Ga., campus and will serve as a member of the president’s cabinet. The news release said Lumpkins will “oversee every venue of writing and marketing on the campus, including alumni newsletters, web content, social media and academic publishing.”

Caner was unanimously elected as Brewton-Parker president Dec. 2 by the 30-member board of trustees of the four-year 600-student college affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention, succeeding Mike Simoneaux. Caner had served at Arlington Baptist College in Arlington, Texas, as provost and academic dean since 2011.

*******

I add my congratulations to Peter Lumpkins and Brewton-Parker College. Expect to hear more good things about BPC in the days ahead.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, January 23, AD 2014.

 

Gleanings on Damaging Effects of Marijuana

For those seeking reference material about marijuana, following are gleanings from several articles on marijuana, mostly from Baptist Press (bpnews.net): 

Gateway Drug
 Our country has outlawed marijuana use for good reason. Marijuana is a multiple gateways drug. For starters, it is a gateway to addiction and other drug abuse. There are many pathways to addiction, and marijuana is one of them. Users can become addicted to marijuana itself, more often psychologically, but physical addiction also can occur. For others, marijuana is a gateway to harder drugs. Some will decide to experiment with harder drugs as they chase stronger highs. Peer pressure also is a significant problem. Marijuana introduces users to a subculture where drug abuse is common. The pressure to participate more fully in this culture is simply irresistible for some. Addiction is sure to follow for many. -Barrett Duke, ERLC, BP; 9-4-2012

Marijuana and Crime
 “In a 2002 Department of Justice survey of convicted inmates in jail, 29 percent reported using illegal drugs at the time of their offense. Marijuana was used most commonly, more than cocaine/crack (14 percent to 11 percent). Crimes of robbery and theft were committed most often to obtain money for drugs. Clearly, not all marijuana users will commit other crimes, but the relationship between drug use (including marijuana) and crime is undeniable.” -Barrett Duke, BP; 9-4-2012

Penalties 
 “But by keeping marijuana illegal, we can better develop ways to discourage its use. A system of increasing fines, penalties and requirements, like substance-abuse counseling, can be developed. Penalties even could include the loss of one's driver's license. Jail could be a last resort for habitual offenders.” -Barrett Duke, BP; Sep 4, 2012

Drop in I.Q.
 “Individuals who use marijuana during their teenage years have an average drop in I.Q. of eight points and are vulnerable to mental health problems, according to a study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) released in August…

Eight points lowers a person from an average I.Q. rate of 100 to 92, dropping him from the 50th percentile to the 29th percentile of intelligence… Users who quit smoking marijuana cannot fully reverse the neurological damage, according to the study.” -BP; 10-22-2012

Legal Marijuana and Driving
“Drivers in Washington and Colorado now not only have to be aware of drunk drivers, but they also have to be concerned about drivers who are stoned. States don't need more impaired drivers behind the wheel.” -Kelly Boggs, editor of Baptist Message BP; 12-7,-2012

Effects of Marijuana
 "Impaired memory for recent events, difficulty concentrating, dreamlike states, impaired motor coordination, impaired driving and other psychomotor skills, slowed reaction time, impaired goal-directed mental activity, and altered peripheral vision are common associated effects." -A Fact Sheet of the Effects of Marijuana, Partnership for a Drug Free America, Kelly Boggs, BP; 12-7-2012

Acutely Impair Driving Skills
"Cannabis [marijuana] and alcohol acutely impair several driving-related skills...." -from a 2009 study by Veterans Administration Healthcare/Yale University School of Medicine, Kelly Boggs, BP; 12-7-2012

Medical Marijuana
 “Don't be taken in. Marijuana is a dangerous drug with countless negative effects. The rush to decriminalization in the name of pain control or mental health cannot be justified.
Most people who use marijuana to relieve severe pain combine it with stronger pain relievers because marijuana is not effective enough by itself. Furthermore, marijuana's pain-relieving ingredient has been available by prescription for years. A person can purchase Marinol -- right now -- with a doctor's prescription…

“The plain fact of the matter is that there are better and safer drugs [for pain]. Marijuana is not the solution. It merely adds more problems.” -Barrett Duke, BP; 8-6-2012

Toxic Chemicals
 “Marijuana introduces multiple toxic chemicals into the systems of people…”
“Medical marijuana puts the user at higher risk for cancer, psychosis, strokes, respiratory damage and heart attack.” -Barrett Duke, BP; 8-6-2012

Trojan Horse
 “Part of the reason we have not had more success ending rampant illicit drug abuse in our nation is the fact that so many states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Such counterproductive policies are the equivalent of drilling holes in the bottom of your boat while you are frantically trying to bail water.
In fact, if you take a closer look, you will see that most states currently debating legalizing the use of marijuana for recreation first legalized it for medicinal use. Medical marijuana is the Trojan horse of recreational marijuana.” -Barrett Duke, BP; 8-6-2012

Parents & Teens
 “The National Institute on Drug Abuse says about one in 10 people who try marijuana get addicted and younger users are more vulnerable. To help parents guide their teenagers away from the drug, USA Today offered this advice:
- Talk to teenagers early and often about the risks of drugs, including addiction, learning problems and impaired driving.
- Stop smoking marijuana or doing drugs in order to be a proper role model for teenagers.
- Get over the feeling that because you used drugs you can't tell your teenager not to use them.
"Have an honest conversation about decisions you made then, why you think your teen should make different ones, and how today's marijuana is far stronger and more addictive," USA Today said.
- Acknowledge the urge to experiment but underscore that trying marijuana even once can lead to trouble.
- Watch teenagers closely enough to know if they have access to marijuana, and make clear that drinking and drugs at parties are unacceptable.
- Communicate with teenagers, staying informed of the happenings in their lives and making sure they can talk to you about problems.
- Ensure that teenagers are busy with after school activities that help them feel successful and supported.
- Intervene quickly if you learn your teenager has started using drugs.”
-BP, 11-4-2011

Drivers and Drugs
 “Drivers who test positive for marijuana within three hours of using the drug are more than twice as likely as other drivers to be involved in crashes, according to a report from Columbia University…
The analysis found that 28 percent of people killed in accidents and more than 11 percent of the general driver population tested positive for non-alcohol drugs, with marijuana being the most commonly detected substance, the newspaper said.” -BP, 11-4-2011

Trouble in Amsterdam 
“Acknowledging that marijuana decriminalization has led to an increase in crime and societal problems, the new Netherlands conservative-leaning government wants to crack down on drug tourism by limiting marijuana sales in so-called ‘coffee shops’ to Dutch residents.” -BP, 11-19-2010

Disagrees With President
 “I adamantly disagree with the President. According to a 2012 Drug Use and Health survey, marijuana is the number one drug that citizens over the age of 12 are addicted to or abuse. The negative effects of marijuana use on a developing brain can be permanent, and our President is recklessly giving what amounts to parental permission to our most impressionable citizens to break the law. Marijuana is creating deadly situations right here in Harris County. I welcome the President to come to Houston to review the same Capital Murder cases I did just last week that were the result of marijuana drug deals. Maybe then he will see that the most effective way to keep our law-abiding citizens safe is to obey all laws that our legislators put on the books at our State Capitol.” 
-Harris County, Texas District Attorney Devon Anderson, in reply to presidential comments about marijuana; KHOU.com; January 20, 2014

Freedom
 Those who use their freedom to engage in self-destructive behaviors are letting themselves down, depriving society of their very best contribution to its well-being, and dishonoring the God who made them. Rather than encouraging such negative consequences by legalizing marijuana, we should be helping people to focus on the best of what they can be.
-Barrett Duke, ERLC, BP, 9-4-2012

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor; January 21, AD 2014.

Why Marijuana Should Remain Illegal
 

Why Marijuana Should Remain Illegal

Arguments and Answers to legalizing marijuana: 

1. Marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol, and alcohol is legal. 
Alcohol is America’s number one drug problem. Why should we now unleash another harmful drug on America? When marijuana has been legalized, it has led to an increase in crime and societal problems

Alcohol and marijuana have been recognized as “gateway drugs.” In other words, many began their downhill slide with one or both. Then this leads them to other drugs. We already have one gateway drug, alcohol, that is legal, accepted by many, and causing havoc across our country. Do we now want to legalize another such devastating drug that will cause further destruction?  

2. We have not won the war against drugs, including marijuana. So why not legalize it? 
We haven’t won the war against murder either. Should we therefore legalize murder? Should we just tax murder? Of course not.

Passing a law against a harmful practice does not eliminate the practice. But it does limit it, stigmatize it, and punish the abusers.

Legalize marijuana, and you will get more users of marijuana. People who have never smoked it before, will try it, simply because it is now legal.  

3. Medical marijuana should be legalized.
The argument for medical marijuana seems to just be a way of opening the door to the recreational use of marijuana. We already have better, legal, prescription drugs to fight pain.

For the Christian, we should even be concerned with the proper, limited use of prescription drugs. They are dangerous and should be used cautiously with the advice of a good, reliable medical doctor. Even otherwise helpful drugs can be addictive and misused. 

4. People have a right to smoke marijuana if they choose. 
Our rights must sometimes end when a practice or substance becomes too harmful to ourselves and others. I know there is a fine line that sometimes has to be drawn, but dangerous drugs that harm the user and innocent others should be severely limited.

Marijuana has been shown to cause many traffic accidents, and harm the health and mental ability of users. Isn’t it strange that just as society is turning against smoking tobacco, it is now moving toward sanctioning smoking marijuana? 

5. We can get taxes from the legal sales of marijuana. 
We could also get taxes from legalizing other harmful practices. Invariably, when we allow and tax a practice that is harmful to society, we end up paying more to control it and deal with its consequences, than we receive in taxes.

Government would do better to get their taxes up front and honestly, not by legalizing destructive behavior. On the other hand, frankly for the destructive behaviors already legalized, if there is no other alternative, let’s do limit them with “sin taxes,” and raise those taxes every chance we get. 

6. You can’t legislate morality.
Yes you can. Our laws against murder legislate morality. Laws against theft legislate morality. Some things need to be criminalized, limited, and stigmatized. 

7. Penalties for marijuana should change
Perhaps this is true. Barrett Duke has suggested, “A system of increasing fines, penalties and requirements, like substance-abuse counseling, can be developed. Penalties even could include the loss of one's driver's license. Jail could be a last resort for habitual offenders” (bpnews.net; 8-6-2012). 

8. Marijuana is not that bad. 
Rather, when marijuana has been legalized, it has led to an increase in crime, health, and societal problems. It magnifies an existing problem. 

Marijuana has multiple toxic chemicals and gives a higher risk for cancer, psychosis, strokes, respiratory damage and heart attack. It causes impaired memory, difficulty concentrating, impairs driving and reaction time. It lowers the I.Q. of teenage smokers.

Acceptance of another mind-altering recreational drug always changes things for the worse. 

Biblical Reasons to Oppose Marijuana
Every biblical injunction against alcohol is also a condemnation of marijuana and other recreational drugs.

1. Scripture describes in detail the dangerous effects of alcoholic wine and says not to even look at it (Proverbs 23:29-35). It’s not much of a leap to take the same low view of other dangerous drugs.

2. Scripture directly says wine is a mocker (Proverbs 20:1).

3. Scripture commands us to be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8; 1 Peter 5:8; etc.).

4. Kings are commanded not to drink wine lest they pervert justice (Proverbs 31:4-5). Believers are called kings and priests (Revelation 1:6; 5:10) and neither should we take drugs that would cause us to do things we’d never do in our right minds.

5. A Christian is to honor God with his mind and body (Matthew 22:37; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Both are adversely affected by alcohol and other drugs.

6. Drinking hurts your Christian influence and leads others astray (1 Corinthians 8:9; 10:23).

One very big problem Christian social drinkers have is if they are justified in taking one mind-altering recreational drug (alcohol), then they have no legitimate argument against another legal mind-altering recreational drug (marijuana). The wise thing for Christians is to have nothing to do with either drug.

It should also be remembered that legal and moral are not synonymous. Whether alcohol, marijuana, or other harmful drugs are legal, a Christian answers to a higher standard.

Let’s not legalize another destructive drug.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, January 20, AD 2014.


Gleanings on Damaging Effects of Marijuana
Ancient Wine and the Bible - the Book; update

 

Duck Dynasty, Wine, and Homosexuality

Duck Dynasty has become a huge success story on TV. 
Some of the reasons for Duck Dynasty’s success:

Even though they get a little edgy, they are still a refreshing change from the filth and immorality regularly shown on TV.

They emphasize Faith, Family, Fun, Facial Hair.

They often show men acting like men, and women acting like women. Of course, they play to an audience and act a little crazy. Some of the rest of us on occasion do so in real life.

They’re like a lot of country folk I grew up with. Take away the money, the beards, and the wine, and they’re like some of my family, myself included.

Some appreciate educated, intelligent people that do not necessarily have to “act like” they are important, educated, or intelligent.

Again, while we will disagree with some of their theology and practices, it sure is nice to see their emphasis on faith, family, and a Christian sense of morality.

I obviously disagree with some of their theology and their vineyard. Not that I have a problem with a vineyard. I just have a problem taking the fresh, un-intoxicating fruit of the vine, and turning it into a dangerous, addictive drug. Maybe they could check out Draper Valley Vineyard, a vineyard that produces nonalcoholic wine/ grape juice from wine grapes (their Pinot Noir is outstanding).

While I enjoy Duck Dynasty, I agree with the stand Free Will Baptists recently took against the Robertson’s promotion of alcohol. They were right that it would send a mixed message to the kids in their Children’s Home. For a good article on this see:

http://www.brnow.org/Opinions/Guest-Columns/November-2013/Free-Will-Baptists-cancel-Duck-Dynasty-event


While I criticize them on the issue of alcohol, I agree with them on the issue of homosexuality. I would not have put the issue quite as crudely, but Phil Robertson was biblically correct in this opinion. We are to love all people, but God makes it perfectly clear that a homosexual lifestyle is sinful.

Hollywood and the Media one day will have a stark surprise at how a holy God views their creative work:

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. -Romans 1:26-27

While a little less crude, Holy Scripture bears a striking resemblance to Phil Robertson’s words.

For more on this most recent issue, see Baptist Press:

http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=41702


This is not just an issue of Free Speech. It is also an issue of Religious Liberty. Do America and our Media now only have room for one view? Just this morning national news labeled Phil Robertson’s view against homosexual acts as “homophobic.” Yet this is what the Bible and Christianity have taught for 2,000 years.

We also note their hypocrisy in ignoring these issues when it involves one of their own.

May America continue to be the land of the free. May Christians continue to have the freedom to speak the truth of the Bible. And may we strive to “speak the truth in love.”

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, December 20, AD 2013. 

News Media's Unbalanced Reporting of Same-Sex Marriage
Jesus Christ on Same-Sex Marriage
That Night, A Christmas Poem



  

Conservative United Methodists

Those who know me and have read much of Gulf Coast Pastor know that I am a Christian and a conservative Southern Baptist. I have strong Baptist convictions. 

I have great respect, however, for those who stand for the fundamental or basic Christian doctrines, whether they are Baptist or not. I know there are many godly, Bible believing Christians of other denominations.

Some of the great preachers of the last 300 years or so have been of the Methodist persuasion. The United Methodists of today, though, are engaged in a struggle over the basics of the Christian faith. This has been seen recently in a Methodist Church trial concerning a minister who officiated in a homosexual wedding.

Many do not know there is an active, conservative Methodist organization that is making a heroic stand against theological liberalism. That group is the Good News Fellowship. If you are interested in what is going on in the Methodist Church, check out the following website and subscribe to their Good News Magazine:

http://goodnewsmag.org/

If you know any Methodists, let them know about this magazine and this conservative Methodist organization. They deserve more support.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, December 11, AD 2013.
 

Nelson Mandela Quotes; and Comments About Mandela

Nelson Mandela (AD 1918-2013) was an outstanding South African and world leader. I’m sure I would not agree with him on every detail of religion and politics, but there is no doubt he accomplished great things. 

A few significant quotes by and about Mandela:

"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
-Nelson Mandela. Spoken in 1964, he lived out the truth of this statement. 

Baptist Press noted Mandela rarely discussed religion outside the arena of religious freedom, but gave this quote of Mandela from a 2000 Christian Science Monitor interview:
"Religion has had a tremendous influence on my own life. You must remember that during our time - right from Grade 1 up to university - our education was provided by religious institutions. I was in [Christian] missionary schools. The government [of the day] had no interest whatsoever in our education and, therefore, religion became a force which was responsible for our development.
I appreciate the importance of religion. You have to have been in a South African jail under apartheid where you could see the cruelty of human beings to each other in its naked form. Again, religious institutions and their leaders gave us hope that one day we would return.”

Comments on Mandela from Gordon Fort: 
"While tackling the daunting task of dismantling institutionalized racism, poverty and inequality, [Mandela] gave a clarion call to national unity and religious freedom. This atmosphere led to a season of opportunity for the church and its missionary representatives to advance the Gospel, engage new people groups, and play a part in the healing of the deep rifts within the nation.
President Mandela was among the first to invite and welcome the role of the church in the new nation he was seeking to build. After retirement from the presidency, he continued to provide leadership and an example of statesmanship that allowed the church to flourish.”
-Gordon Fort, SBC International Mission Board Senior Vice-President, and former IMB missionary in Africa.

Adeniya Ojutiku on Mandela: 
Nelson Mandela was “an epitome of forgiveness, kindness and love" who had "a dogged resolve for the pursuit of peace and justice."
"His extraordinary life story, witty sense of humor and lack of bitterness toward his former oppressors has ensured global appeal for his type of charismatic leadership.
Mandela has no antecedence, parallel or equal in the contemporary history of harmonious race relations.
He rekindled hope in the humaneness and greatness of the black, colored and white races, as he soared above the petty confines of party politics and prejudice.”
-Nigeria native Adeniya Ojutiku, a Southern Baptist in the U.S. who fights for Christians and their livelihood in his homeland; from Baptist Press.

“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.” -Nelson Mandela

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.” -Nelson Mandela

“Appearances matter - and remember to smile.” -Nelson Mandela

“A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.” -Nelson Mandela

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, December 7, AD 2013.

10 Commandments For Christmas

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