2012 in Review

With the new year (and my birthday,40yrs old now, sheesh) a day away I thought I'd I share some of the things I've learned, changed and new positions I've come to.

First let me say that 2012 has probably been the most challenging, as well as learning years I've ever gone through, no complaints it was interesting. I mean from my own philosophical views to the state of our nation. From the location of our church as well as searching for employment. What a ride...here we go.

I want to thank first my God, He has never let me down (though I have Him), never left or forsaken me and I praise Him for this. I want to thank my wife who wouldn't let me stay in my own self pity and refused to allow me to feel any less than the man she holds me to be. She truly is my help whom God has given and her price is far above rubies. Also a shout out to my teenage daughter who has been a huge blessing to this family, a dad couldn't be more proud and pleased with such a awesome young lady and thank God for my younger kids as well, hey there kids what more can I say.

Next, my family at Grace Life, many people have helped through prayer as well as physical blessing, truly they aren't a "be ye warmed and filled" assembly. Thanks to my Pastor and friend who had the spine of steel to do what God had impressed upon him, simply follow Scripture and let it lead where it may.

Finally my family, Parents, sister in law, for all prayers, help (in ways that they know but wouldn't want stated publicly), encouragement that they have given. A final thanks to all those mentioned above for not judging me as I try and figure out just what is the next step God has for my family. (hopefully a great new job ASAP).

With that out, now to the things I've learned this year.
Number one and the most important......GRACE, no I'm not where I'd like to be but as the song goes "He's still workin' on me" . I've learned I don't have all the answers and I don't know everything and that's ok. Also that I can serve with, fellowship with, and just have a good time in Christ with those that hold a different philosophical view (not doctrinal) on things. I don't have to take scriptures like "contend for the faith' and treat them as the right to be contentious in the faith and go looking for a "doctrinal fight". Grace teaches us to "deny ungodliness" and that's a battle to keep me busy for the rest of my life.

Also, God's in charge. Yes I've been out of work for a year and can't seem to find anything. Yes this Nation seems to be spiraling out of control, yes there are wicked people running it all ( does the spirit of antichrist ring a bell), yes there are too many tragedy's to even mention, such as the CT shooting, but God knew it would all happen and yes He allowed it to happen, (as far as the tragedy's what did we expect we as a nation have demanded He leave and He said OK), but through it all I've come to be still and know that He is God, He's in control, all things work together for the good of those who love Him.

Positions I've had changed. Yes I mean 'had changed' scripture changed them in that when it's silent then I must be as well, and realize that when we operate outside of God's Word we venture into opinions, conjecture and preference. Now some may wonder why bring this up again, well, just to recap the year and be a blessing to others is my hope.

Position number one and maybe the most controversial the one that has cost friendships....the Bible translation issue. I am no longer a KJV only Christian, love it yes, it's God's Word, use it yes, so does our church, but it's not perfect and as with any translation has it's flaws. This doesn't mean we don't have every truth God wanted us to have, just that no translation of the perfect Originals is itself perfect in every way. And this conclusion came through much study and prayer and that's how we should reach every position we hold.

I'll lump the next few together, they are music, dress standard views, and secular entertainment. Although not worth burning at the stake for none the less in my world ( or the world I come from) they just may get you to the stake , metaphorically speaking. So let me lay out what Scripture says about each and then let it do the talking.
Dress standards "1Ti 2:9  likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire ", nothing about the type of clothing just that it's modest (as a passing point, this is in regards to behavior in the church, should it be the same outside the assembly yes, but we are dealing contextually here).

Music, "Eph 5:19  addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart," also, "Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." No type of music genre mentioned here, psalms and hymns, from what I've learned, are doctrinal songs written by those from within the church too God in order to glorify Him, spiritual songs, although there are many interpretations seem to focus on songs that lift our spirit, intended to make us feel good about our God. Now again take note that Paul says "addressing one another"i.e. the assembly, this is not a directive of what to listen to when not assembled with other believers. Although I see Scripture being clear that we should have no ungodly messages whether in music or other entertainments influencing us, this doesn't mean that everything the unsaved world creates is in itself evil or forbidden. If that were the case then cut out all sports, food, clothing movies etc. owned and created by lost men. This includes music, if the music you like isn't violating clear mandates laid out in Scripture then enjoy and give God the glory for it.

Secular entertainment. Let's just cut to the chase here and get to the Baptist no, no, i.e. movie theaters, I'll say this, if it's ok to bring the movie home and watch it on tv, why not on a big screen in public on a date with your wife or family night with the kids (if you can afford it), I mean we can go to a ball game with people drinking ( and I'll get to that firey subject in a minute), but not a theater to watch a good movie where drinking is not allowed?

Last position, but certainly one to cause quite a stir. Why touch it, because it's there, it's mentioned in Scripture and I do enjoy a bit of controversy. Let me say at the outset here that I'm not trying to be a stumbling block,and in reference to being a stumbling block, I can only be one to someone that is struggling to overcome drunkenness not to those who are struggling to overcome the interpretation of some famous IFB preachers.
 Alcohol........letting the dust settle.....Alright, so what does scripture say, does it forbid consumption of alcohol? Well can one verse be given that does so? No.... yes it says "tarry not long at the wine", but do we  realize the assumption indicated in this verse which is the tarrying at the wine isn't forbidden just staying there a long time i.e with the intention of getting drunk. What about, "Hab 2:15  Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also"? the problem is that most do not realize that that is not the whole verse (as I realized in a debate that was 8 against one last year) the rest of the verse goes like this, ".... that thou mayest look on their nakedness!", so we see it's not the giving alone of strong drink that's forbidden but the purpose of humiliating someone that is, other wise what are we to do with verses such as, "Pro 31:6  Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. 7  Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more."?

Another commonly used prohibition verse is," Eph 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; ", again the command is not to be drunk, not, do not consume. Before I go any further let me ask this question, if God is so clear on things He forbids such as fornication, lying, hatred, murder, gossip,witchcraft and things such as these, then why not just come right out, end any confusion, and say thou shalt not consume alcohol? The reason is that He gave it as a thing to be used in several ways, medicinal. as well as enjoyment, yes enjoyment," Psa 104:14  He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
Psa 104:15  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. ", now do we really think this could be grape juice? whens the last time you drank a welches and felt merry? were not talking drunk here but merry, here's what John Gill has to say about this text, " That is, by means of rain watering the earth, vines are caused to grow out of it; which produce wine, that has such a virtue in it, as to cheer the heart of man, even of a miserable, distressed, and afflicted man, as the word  is supposed to signify..." I could give more , but let me state what I am not saying. I'm not saying go out and get a bottle of wine( or whatever), but only that you let your conviction come from what scripture actually says and that the standard you set for yourself is set not on what a man may say, but on what you believe will help you  live a life more dedicated and holy towards God. And I realize alcohol can be abused, but just because someone may abuse something intended for enjoyment doesn't mean that it should be or even is forbidden, if that were true then sex (inside marriage), food, children etc. should be forbidden, you see depraved man can abuse anything, and if you know that you can't participate in a certain God given enjoyment then abstain, to bring God glory. Or in the some cases where abstaining is not possible such as food, children (if you have them), food and the marriage bed you may need to get godly counsel for help in these areas.

In conclusion and to expand on my last statement above, that's what I've learned, to set my convictions, my standards , my philosophies etc. on what the Bible actually says and what will help me to live a more godly life to His glory. And to not judge those who may see it differently, may have a different standard or philosophy (as long as it isn't unscriptural). And this is how I have learned grace, and my life the last year has been, although a bit hard and unsettling, with falls,sins and mistakes, the most enjoyable so far since I began my relationship with my Savior. And my hope is that it has been yours as well. Too God be all the Glory!!!

Taking it all in.....

Well,with a couple of days now since, (what could well be the very demise of a once great and prosperous Nation), the election, I have been thinking, reading the top Christian bloggers and famous political talking heads of our day and have come to at least one conclusion for now, God is still in control and although I may be frustrated (and down right angry) that half this Nation would actually re-elect a man that will lead to their own destruction, I find peace and comfort in His Omnipotence, "Exo 15:6  Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. "

But, the question most of us are asking is, "how could this possibly happen"? ( other than my dispensational end time eschatological theology), might I suggest, it may very well be, too a certain degree, the American Christians fault. How? I believe for too long now that we as "conservative" Christians have let the long arm of government do our job. Now I'm not saying that we shouldn't support politicians who hold certain of our values i.e. pro-life, traditional marriage, but instead we have for too long rested in our "leaders" to do our job through legislating certain actions we as believers deem unacceptable, instead of getting to the heart of the problem, which is, the heart.

How long now have we listened to the famous ( or infamous) "preachers" just rip into the sins of the nation, sodomy, abortion, fornication etc, (and rightly so) but never walked across the street to share the true gospel of Christ? How many times have we as the pew sitters put our feet and hearts in motion and imitate our Savior who ate (fellowshipped) with sinners and publicans?

This may seem as just some type of motivational "let's just go soul winning" diatribe, but I assure you it isn't. As a matter of fact I'm not a big fan of that term, I know what we mean by it and that Jesus "wins" the soul, but the term, for many, means Tuesday night door knocking. And I think it's safe to say, where that has gotten us ( as a Nation). I'm not trying to disparage door knocking, it's just not the end all many of us thought. The old "get them to pray the prayer" mantra.

So how could this have been different, how could we have stopped what has become inevitable i.e. the demise of  a Nation once know as the land of the free? Love, yes love. Love for the sinner, the baby killers, the gays, the fornicators, the drunkards. Now I know that that term at first may have stuck some as "soft", mushy, and even New Evangelical-ish, but I say that's the problem. What does ! Cor. 13 say-"
1Co 13:4-7 (ESV)  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Of course I'm not advocating tolerance for their sin, we hate their sin (as much as we should hate our own sin), but not because they themselves are the sinners, but because we as believers know the outcome of their sins, death, the separation from God, here and in eternity. The fact that Scripture says " the way of the transgressor is hard", it's love for our fellow man. This is not a social gospel, it's taking the Gospel too society.

So how could we have demonstrated the love scripture is speaking of? in what ways can we love the sinner? Endurance, love endures all things,again not that we tolerate sin, but we endure the fact that we may be maligned, ridiculed, mocked, persecuted, ignored. Think of it, our Savior spent three ans a half years and what, at the end, did He have to show for it? desertion, he was deserted by all. And when He finally gave up His life the only person that seemed to care enough and go beyond his feeling of utter loss and defeat was a secret disciple Joseph, who most of us wouldn't give two cents for his spiritual attributes because he seemed more worried about his own skin than the Saviors. So we need to remember that in sharing the gospel there are no guarantees, we may plow for years and see no fruit, but that doesn't mean that fruit will never come to bear, that's up to God.

Some ways we can accoplish this task:

1. Instead of snubbing our noses at those who are doing things we find reprehensible, we need to remember 1Co 6:11,  "And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."  We must remember that we have been washed and if that's possible for us, it's possible for other sinners as well. We must reach them,and there are many ways this can be done. Get involved somewhere where lost people are, look for ways, volunteer, have your neighbors over for cookouts, dinner, let them get to know us personally, then we have the open door to share why we are the way we are. And they will ask.

2. Reexamine the way we fit into culture, not go out of our way to blend into every culture that exists, but remember Paul said " I will be all things too all that I may win some", we don't compromise clear Biblical truth, but examine ourselves and see if any of the "standards, opinions etc. can actually hinder the ones were trying to reach instead of "winning" them.

3.Pray, pray that God will give us the courage, strength and love of the lost that He has to tackle this, even when it seems there's no hope, remember "love hopes all things" .

4.Be ready, ready to " give an answer for the hope that lies within us". That means we need to know our Bibles, speak on what it speaks on, remain silent where it remains silent, and not allow our standards to become the litmus test of whether or not some really "meant it" when they repented and received Christ.

On the fourth point I think we really need to park on, I feel that we, for too long,have examined not only the lost, but the truly regenerated of their  spiritual worth based on our man made standards , I won't name them, but if we examine them on our own I think we know what I'm driving at. There are many Kingdom workers who may not "look like us" ( and I've yet to see a mandate other than Gal. 5:22-23 as to what a believer looks like), but are being used of God in a great way to bring the lost into His Kingdom.

Lastly, we need to remember that the end game isn't the rebirth of a great Nation, getting America back to her roots, worrying if we'll ever have a "good" President again, that may not be what God has planned, the damage of this land caused by rejecting his laws may now be past undoing, but instead,  it's about building His kingdom, for His glory and for Jesus to receive the rewards for His suffering which are the lost coming to repentance!

Not a motivational pep talk, truth be told I myself am still a bit discouraged, worried about the future of my children, this, I guess you could say, was more of a venting blog post. A way to try and clear the fears and dismay from my own mind and maybe, just maybe, encourage myself by encouraging others all for His glory.

What? Me a Pharisee?

It's been a while since I've blogged, with everything I have going on (or better said what I don't have going on) I've just not been able to get the blogging juices flowing , but here goes. Some may read this and not really understand the point , but for those of us who have gone from a strong, even militant, Separatist mindset it should hit hard.

 As I've been reevaluating my Christian life over the past year or so, I have come to realize that during the last 10 yrs of my, Hardcore, Strict, Separatist Baptist worldview, I was actually a living , breathing, Pharisee. How you ask, well for one I did exactly what our Lord said was not wise, I compared myself to other believers. I walked around with the attitude of "look at me, I work in this many ministries, how about you?". I measured other brothers and sisters spiritual walk to what I felt was my superior service to Christ. And now I must say first, I'm sorry, to any whom I may have made feel that I was better than you, I'm not now nor ever have been.

 But, can you see how I was a Pharisee? I did exactly what they did. They were constantly comparing themselves to any who were not "like them", does the story of the Pharisee and the Publican in the Temple ring a bell?

 And, as well, I measured those outside of the "movement" I was a part of , ( The IFB, KJVonly, no CCM, no pants on women, no "worldly" entertainment or secular music whatsoever, and not even fellowship with those who may have not held these same "beliefs"), all the while not even considering the fact that there are MILLIONS of believers out there that , although may have different likes and tastes, are my brothers and sisters in Christ and I was the one in the wrong, I was the Pharisee.

 Now this is not to say that we shouldn't separate over false doctrine or anyone who in any way would try to water down the Gospel, we should, and we should be militant about it, we should "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered".... but the faith is not founded on whatever moralistic standards I or some hardcore "Fundamentalist" (which I am not) pontificates, it's built on Christ!

 With that said, let me move on to what views I once held, views that aided me in my Phariseism, have changed (disclaimer, I'm not saying that those who may  hold to the KJV as the only reliable translation or those who may be against CCM or have different dress standards are Pharisees in any way, but what I'm dealing with is the attitude that any who may hold a different view are in some way inferior):

1. I'm no longer KJVonly. Is the KJV the Word of  God? yes. but so also is the NKJV, the ESV, the NASB and a few other conservative translations for a lot of good reading on this subject go Here
2. I love a lot of different types of music , some CCM, as well as...wait for it..... Some reformed Gospel rap, there I said it. For some good reading on the subject of music read Here
3. As for "worldly" entertainment, well as long as it doesn't contradict the mandates of Scripture and the Holy Spirit's leading within me, and I find it enjoyable, then I'm for it, whether it's the movie theater a ball game, or a concert (secular or Christian).
4. Dress standards. Well what does Scripture say, "modestly" well as long as it's modest (and this has just as much to do with high cost and flashy as it does form fitting , and it's for men and women, sorry men no skinny jeans), then wear it if you like it and you get a good deal.

Some other things I'm also researching is the whole "Body of Christ", Universal church" thing as well as some of our " Baptist Forefathers" that are supposedly in our "Lineage" (the Montanists for one), I care about truth, not about someones movement or agenda, and where ever the light of truth takes me, whether in history or positions once held, then I will follow. What does that have to do with Pharisee-ism? The attitude that if you don't accept my view then your an inferior Christian.

In conclusion, my earnest desire is to fight the ever present Pharisee within me, always looking for the opportunity to rise up and take control.

P.S. Here's a new book I found on this subject, and it's only $3.99 on Kindle Here , and watch the short video on the book at the bottom of the page just linked!

Chik-fil-a

Now with Chik-fil-a appreciation day passed, and a new world record in one day sales met (in the respective market), what should we as Christians have learned from this( as well as the anti-christian LGBT community for that matter)?

1. That you should never underestimate the power of one people group to demonstrate their influence once rallied to a call, which btw, we as Christians would do well to participate in more often.

2. That toleration comes from both sides, to be intolerant of ones disagreement to a particular "lifestyle", or for that matter any opinion one may hold, is hypocritical if you call yourself a tolerant person.

3. That this whole thing was a demonstration not against what the LGBT community believes, but support for one individual to express his or her beliefs openly and publicly without threat of harm from the opposing party.

Also I can't help but sense the blatant hypocrisy of the so called "leaders" of cites et.al. against those with Biblical values when they in fact go out of their way (and force us to as well) to coddle and comfort those who hold the same anti-gay "marriage" belief  i.e. Muslims! Why is it that we never hear an out cry over the advocating of the killing of gays as the Muslim religion clearly does hmmmmm? No true Christian would ever advocate such an act towards those with different "values".

 In conclusion what I'm trying to say is that we as believers should first never back down from a fight against our freedoms that we have been granted by God, but that also means that we don't try and use unjust means to force people to live according to our standards, that's the job of the Gospel not of the government.

I will also say this, as I have said before, that the whole problem with the gay "marriage" issue is( apart from a depraved sinful heart) that the government is involved, and since that's the case we must, for the rights of the innocent that will be violated, stand against the legalization of those so called "marriages".

Apologetics

Just in case anyone's interested (after last Sundays, Sunday school's lesson on the subject) in getting a grasp on the discipline of Apologetics, here's an entire Seminary level (don't let that scare you) course you can watch at your own convenience, enjoy.... And BTW it's posted on my blog, if anyone has any ideas or subjects that you would be interested in exploring please let me know by posting them .....thanks!
 
Apologetics

What is Gluttony?

Ever wondered just what gluttony is, is it eating more than one serving at dinner, more that one piece of desert, just how big is to big of a bowl of ice cream? Read HERE

The history of Covenant Theology

Did you ever wonder how covenant theology came into being, what is Covenant Theology? In short, it's a theology that believes that all the promises to Israel have been passed to the church, that infants of believers should be sprinkled or poured (notice I didn't say Baptized) and admitted to membership of their "church".

And that as such they receive some of the benefits of the "church" as members (not the Lord's supper for instance), they also deny the rapture and the tribulation, believing instead that the church will eventually take over the world, and usher in the kingdom of Christ, and some even go so far that we as Christians should invoke old testament laws and penalties on all that brake any of God's laws. Although there is much wrong with this view I thought I would post a link that gave a short history of this view- READ HERE