Venture in to any Christian or secular bookstore and you will find multitudes of books dealing with leadership. We live in a world that craves true leaders and suffers due to a lack of them. The church is no different. Throughout the visible body of Christ many churches have adopted a corporate, board of directors, mentality that has muddled God's plan for how His church is to be structured. Throughout the Old and New Testament we see God's plan for leadership clearly displayed. We find an excellent example of this in Joshua chapter 3.
In this chapter of God's holy word we see the children of Israel entering the promised land. It's happening 40 years late because God's people had not followed God's plan for leadership when delivered from bondage in Egypt. God had given the land of Canaan to the Israelites. Moses was God's anointed leader and had led this deliverance by listening to and following God. The people, sometimes with much murmuring and complaining, had followed Moses, that is, until faced with the choice of entering a land God had already given them. When faced with this final act of obedience, God's people listened to the murmurers and refused to enter the land. They were judged for this.
Joshua is the God anointed leader who followed Moses. At this point in history God's people numbered about 3.5 million people. But Joshua, one man, was the clear leader. He is the one God communicated with and gave His message for the people to. Joshua didn't lead alone however. In verse 2 we see that Joshua had officers who he delegated authority to. These leaders were accountable and submissive to Joshua as he was God's chosen man. In verse 6 however we see that God's anointed leader also was a follower. Joshua instructs the priests that the ark of the covenant will lead the whole nation across the Jordan. The ark, of course, is a picture of Christ.
The ark is the vessel upon which rested the mercy seat. On the day of atonement the high priest would enter the holy of holies in the tabernacle and offer the sacrifice of blood for the nations forgiveness of sin. Inside of the ark we find the law, the ten commandments, representing His holy word and the guide which we are to follow. We find the jar of manna representing His provision for His people. And we find Aaron's rod that budded, representing our hope of future resurrection, of which Christ was the firstfruits.
We see here God's plan for leadership. In the church, Christ is the head, He is the true leader. Represented in Joshua by the ark. He communicates His instruction to us through His word. God has anointed a leader for His people, to shepherd them here on earth. This is the pastor who is represented by Joshua. He is Christ's undershepherd held accountable for leading God's people. The pastor is accountable to Christ for how he leads the people, as Joshua was to Jehovah God. The pastor has men who assist him in leading the people. In the church today these men would be the deacons. These men are most surely accountable to God, but also to the pastor, as the officers were to Joshua. The congregation is to submit to and follow the Godly leadership of these men. God's leadership model is clear. Christ is the head and true shepherd. The pastor the undershepherd, the deacons the servants and ministers to the congregation and the congregation is to follow the Godly leadership.
Moses had also adopted this leadership structure(Exodus 18). His father in law Jethro had advised Moses to select men to help him in judging the ever growing nation of Israel. These men were leaders, they had authority, yet they were accountable to Moses, who was ultimately the one whom God had chosen and accountable personally to God. God was the true leader, Moses was His chosen man, Moses delegated to other leaders and the nation of Israel, the congregation, followed.
We see this structure in Acts chapter 6 as well. The apostles, who pastored the church at Jerusalem, could not minister to the congregation and tend to their duties as teachers and preachers of the word effectively. So they called for the congregation to "choose from among" them 7 men full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit to assist them in leading and ministering to the congregation. The congregation embraced this structure and followed the God anointed leadership. But Christ was always the true leader.
When Paul, or Timothy, or John pastored the church at Ephesus, their is no doubt they were the leaders of the church. But we also know from Acts 20:17-38 that these God anointed leaders had other leaders that assisted them and had authority in the local body. When Paul wrote to Titus is his pastoral letter to the young pastor at the church in Crete, he instructed Titus to choose elders to assist him in the ministry there. God has a structure for His people he wishes us to follow.
We must understand that in scripture, their are different positions in leadership. In the bible, the words translated as pastor, elder, bishop and overseer are all interchangeable. These were the chosen leaders of the local assemblies. We also know their is a biblical office of deacon. These men were leaders in the ministry, servants of the people, but they were accountable to the chosen leaders who were accountable to God. Hebrews 13:17 tells us, "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not grief, for that would be unprofitable to you." Those who will give account to God for their handling of the flock are the shepherds, which is literally what the word pastor means. The shepherd leads the flock, cares for the flock, corrects the flock and nurtures the flock. In the church, God leads the pastor through His word who delegates authority to other leaders so that the flock is cared for as God intended. Sadly though, many pastors do so with more grief than joy.
In times past God's people numbered in the millions, yet one man, be it Moses, or Joshua, or David, or Solomon was the leader of the people. Today, most local churches have multiple leaders of equal or misplaced authority to lead even small congregations. Friends, God has not changed. We have. By embracing a corporate model and a board of directors mentality that can be found no where in the bible, we have usurped God's plan for leadership. Christ, the head of the church, has called out men to shepherd His flock and preach and teach His word. This is the pastor. The pastor needs help in leading the flock, so deacons are identified by the congregation to assist the pastor with his shepherding and leadership of the flock. A congregation submitted to God will submit to His leaders and follow. This structure is present all throughout the bible.
God's leadership plan is not about power, or control, or influence, it is about obedience to Him. Christ is the leader and we all are to submit to Him, but he has given us the structure of the church. He has called pastors as His shepherds and has asked His people to identify those who are to assist the pastors as servants to the people, deacons. A church that exercises this leadership structure is most surely going to be blessed by God. God's way is always the right way. Yet few of our churches today are being blessed openly by God, in fact, most are dying. Could it be by abandoning God's plan for leadership, we taken away the authority from the only one who truly has it, Jesus Himself. The church is not a business, it's a body. A body, where if the head, shoulders, waist and legs are not in the correct order, is a mutated body. God's plan for leadership is one of the first places we need to begin for the church to thrive as Christ intends. Until we recognize the way God wants things done, we will never get done to the fullest of our potential what Christ has intended for us.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Southern Baptist Convention and Evangelism
Recently as I've traveled in my car I've found myself listening again to sermons delivered at the 1965 South Carolina State Evangelism Conference. Our Director of Missions, Robert Dickard, transferred copies of old reel-to-reel tapes to CD for us pastors as our Christmas gift this past year. I must say it is a gift that keeps on giving. What I am struck by is the difference in emphasis regarding evangelism in 1965 and what we see today. These messages delivered by giants from our SBC past; Vance Havner, R.G. Lee and W.A. Criswell strike a decidedly different tone in what is needed to effectively evangelize the world than what we are hearing from our leadership today. I was particularly taken by Vance Havner's first message, "The Sequence of Evangelism." A few quotes from this message:
"The last words of our Lord to the church were not the "Great Commission," the last words of our Lord to the church were "repent." This is about the last thing the average church is willing to do."
"We're not ready to evangelize until we are right with God, and right with men, and that is revival."
"Our Lord said in the sermon on the mount, that if you bring your offering to the altar, and remember that your brother is at odds with you, don't make your offering until you are right with your brother. Now that might wreck alot of offerings on Sunday mornings, but it's what the Lord said to do. I do not believe that any church member is ready to do church visiting, or teach Sunday school, or sing in the choir, until they get right with God and right with people. It's just as simple as that. Evangelism, my brother, is not revival. Evangelism is the preaching of the gospel in order to win the lost, but revival is a work of the Spirit of God among God's own people whereby they get right with God, and with each other. What would you think of an orchestra that spent all it's time trying to recruit new members when the crowd it had wouldn't come out to practice. And those who did come wouldn't tune their instruments."
"D.L. Moody once said, I believe it may be time we gave up preaching to the ungodly and began to preach to professing Christians. I'd rather wake up a slumbering church than arouse a sleeping world."
"Gypsy Smith said I'm here to help the church get right with God. That would be revival and conversions will be the fruit of revival. He also said the world knows the condition of the church and listens to the man who is frank and honest about it. He wins the outsider by preaching to the church."
"I'd rather wake up 500 church members than 500 sinners. Because if you wake up 500 church members they will go after 500 sinners. We must begin at Jerusalem."
"'I heard of a woman who was running for office in politics who came home one day, and the house had been sort of neglected, and turned to her husband and said we're going to sweep the state! He said good, why don't you start in the living room.' I believe in the gospel sweeping the world, I believe in it sweeping the state, but I think we oughta start in the living room. It's an inside job."
"R.A. Torrey once said I've preached in many a church that says it is praying for a revival, but it really does not want a revival. For to many revival means an increase in membership, an increase in income, and an increase in reputation among the churches. But if they knew what a real revival meant, what a searching of hearts on behalf of professing Christians would be involved, what a radical transformation of individual, domestic and social life would be brought about, and many other things that would come to pass if the Spirit of God was poured out in reality and power, if all this were known, the real cry of that church would be 'Oh Lord keep us from having revival'"
"When the church membership grows but the church members don't grow, you may have a statistical but not a spiritual growth. And unless the extensive is matched by the intensive, and unless while we lengthen our chords we strengthen our stakes, and unless while we increase the size we improve the sort, we are going to discover that we've stretched the tent pegs out so far in every direction that the center pole wobbles."
"Revival is not mentioned in the New Testament, it is an Old Testament word. The message of the New Testament is repent. But it is repentance that brings about revival."
"Joseph Parker said, the man whose sermon is repent, sets himself against the age and will be battered mercilessly by the age of the moral tone he challenges. Their is but one end for such a man, off with his head. You had better not preach repentance until you have pledged your head to heaven. That's good advice from a great preacher."
"Before we can evangelize we must confess and repent of our sin, we must follow the Lord, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit, our worship and our preaching should aim therefore at revival."
"David prayed restore unto me the joy of thou salvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit, and then will I teach transgressors thou ways and sinners will be converted to You. There I believe you have the proper sequence of revival and evangelism, and they are literally distinct, one from the other."
"I have done my best and I must confess that I get a little discouraged sometimes that we have a blind spot in our eye generally among our people today, we somehow do not see, that the proper sequence of evangelism is after revival."
"The greatest hindrance to a real work of God in America today is Sunday morning Christianity."
Believe me, Havner goes on, and on, and on. As do Dr. Lee and Dr. Criswell. The message is the same. Revival must precede effective evangelism, as the only effective evangelism is done in the power and the Spirit of God. Yet today, and for most of the recent past, we hear of the need to reach the world, which is a genuine need. Yet we live in Jerusalem where 80% of the people in South Carolina are nowhere near a church on any given Sunday. Jerusalem is dying and going to hell more than ever before, but our whole convention's focus is now the "Great Commission Resurgence," to change our methods in taking the gospel more effectively to the whole world.
But if we are to believe, I believe, the very sound biblical preaching of these giants from our denominations past, we can never effectively take the gospel to the whole world until we are first right in Jerusalem. I've been saying for a year now that we as Southern Baptists will never fulfil the "Great Commission" until we first recover the "Greatest Commandment."
If we practice the "Greatest Commandment," that is essentially the genesis of revival. What would our denomination look like if instead of squabbling about our methods, the cooperative program, styles of worship, what we wear? What if instead of chasing non-essentials, we instead dwelt upon the most essential; Loving God with all that we are and our neighbors as ourselves? What if we as a denomination resolved that in our pulpits we would preach repentance, holiness, being a living sacrifice? What if our message resounded week after week that we must deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him, and in doing so we regain our "first love" above all else?
If this were to happen, if this would be our heart, our denomination would surely shrink in number as Jesus pruned the vine for real growth. The casual Christian would want no part of convicting preaching or the expectation of Godly living. We'd lose political influence. But how would our fruit, our influence with the lost be transformed, if we became a true "holy priesthood." As I write this according to our own statistics, 87% of Southern Baptist Churches are plateaued(stagnant) or in decline. Of the 13% that are adding members only 3% are doing so through winning the lost rather than swapping sheep. Where should our focus be, on the church, or on the lost, first and foremost?
As Havner said, "Jesus said you will know mine by their fruit. If their is something wrong with your fruitfulness, their is something wrong with your faith. If their is something wrong with your faithfulness, their is something wrong with your fellowship. If their's something wrong with your fellowship you'd better even check your faith. Worship maintains the faith, and the fellowship, and the faithfulness, and the fruitfulness is the consequence. As we abide, we abound...for he that abideth in Me and I in him bringeth forth much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing. Beloved, this is the note that has been uppermost on my heart for these 25 years on the road and 50 years in the ministry, that before we can see the evangelism that needs to occur, their must be a revival within the church."
For those who have an ear, let them hear! Sadly though, I'm reminded of the words of the prophet, "Who has believed our report?" As long as the cart is before the horse, the wagon will never steer straight. Luke 24:47 says the spreading of the gospel across the world will begin in Jerusalem. If we want the GCR, or any plan, to work; revival must occur among God's people first. Reaching the world will supernaturally flow from a Jerusalem on fire for God.
"The last words of our Lord to the church were not the "Great Commission," the last words of our Lord to the church were "repent." This is about the last thing the average church is willing to do."
"We're not ready to evangelize until we are right with God, and right with men, and that is revival."
"Our Lord said in the sermon on the mount, that if you bring your offering to the altar, and remember that your brother is at odds with you, don't make your offering until you are right with your brother. Now that might wreck alot of offerings on Sunday mornings, but it's what the Lord said to do. I do not believe that any church member is ready to do church visiting, or teach Sunday school, or sing in the choir, until they get right with God and right with people. It's just as simple as that. Evangelism, my brother, is not revival. Evangelism is the preaching of the gospel in order to win the lost, but revival is a work of the Spirit of God among God's own people whereby they get right with God, and with each other. What would you think of an orchestra that spent all it's time trying to recruit new members when the crowd it had wouldn't come out to practice. And those who did come wouldn't tune their instruments."
"D.L. Moody once said, I believe it may be time we gave up preaching to the ungodly and began to preach to professing Christians. I'd rather wake up a slumbering church than arouse a sleeping world."
"Gypsy Smith said I'm here to help the church get right with God. That would be revival and conversions will be the fruit of revival. He also said the world knows the condition of the church and listens to the man who is frank and honest about it. He wins the outsider by preaching to the church."
"I'd rather wake up 500 church members than 500 sinners. Because if you wake up 500 church members they will go after 500 sinners. We must begin at Jerusalem."
"'I heard of a woman who was running for office in politics who came home one day, and the house had been sort of neglected, and turned to her husband and said we're going to sweep the state! He said good, why don't you start in the living room.' I believe in the gospel sweeping the world, I believe in it sweeping the state, but I think we oughta start in the living room. It's an inside job."
"R.A. Torrey once said I've preached in many a church that says it is praying for a revival, but it really does not want a revival. For to many revival means an increase in membership, an increase in income, and an increase in reputation among the churches. But if they knew what a real revival meant, what a searching of hearts on behalf of professing Christians would be involved, what a radical transformation of individual, domestic and social life would be brought about, and many other things that would come to pass if the Spirit of God was poured out in reality and power, if all this were known, the real cry of that church would be 'Oh Lord keep us from having revival'"
"When the church membership grows but the church members don't grow, you may have a statistical but not a spiritual growth. And unless the extensive is matched by the intensive, and unless while we lengthen our chords we strengthen our stakes, and unless while we increase the size we improve the sort, we are going to discover that we've stretched the tent pegs out so far in every direction that the center pole wobbles."
"Revival is not mentioned in the New Testament, it is an Old Testament word. The message of the New Testament is repent. But it is repentance that brings about revival."
"Joseph Parker said, the man whose sermon is repent, sets himself against the age and will be battered mercilessly by the age of the moral tone he challenges. Their is but one end for such a man, off with his head. You had better not preach repentance until you have pledged your head to heaven. That's good advice from a great preacher."
"Before we can evangelize we must confess and repent of our sin, we must follow the Lord, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit, our worship and our preaching should aim therefore at revival."
"David prayed restore unto me the joy of thou salvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit, and then will I teach transgressors thou ways and sinners will be converted to You. There I believe you have the proper sequence of revival and evangelism, and they are literally distinct, one from the other."
"I have done my best and I must confess that I get a little discouraged sometimes that we have a blind spot in our eye generally among our people today, we somehow do not see, that the proper sequence of evangelism is after revival."
"The greatest hindrance to a real work of God in America today is Sunday morning Christianity."
Believe me, Havner goes on, and on, and on. As do Dr. Lee and Dr. Criswell. The message is the same. Revival must precede effective evangelism, as the only effective evangelism is done in the power and the Spirit of God. Yet today, and for most of the recent past, we hear of the need to reach the world, which is a genuine need. Yet we live in Jerusalem where 80% of the people in South Carolina are nowhere near a church on any given Sunday. Jerusalem is dying and going to hell more than ever before, but our whole convention's focus is now the "Great Commission Resurgence," to change our methods in taking the gospel more effectively to the whole world.
But if we are to believe, I believe, the very sound biblical preaching of these giants from our denominations past, we can never effectively take the gospel to the whole world until we are first right in Jerusalem. I've been saying for a year now that we as Southern Baptists will never fulfil the "Great Commission" until we first recover the "Greatest Commandment."
If we practice the "Greatest Commandment," that is essentially the genesis of revival. What would our denomination look like if instead of squabbling about our methods, the cooperative program, styles of worship, what we wear? What if instead of chasing non-essentials, we instead dwelt upon the most essential; Loving God with all that we are and our neighbors as ourselves? What if we as a denomination resolved that in our pulpits we would preach repentance, holiness, being a living sacrifice? What if our message resounded week after week that we must deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him, and in doing so we regain our "first love" above all else?
If this were to happen, if this would be our heart, our denomination would surely shrink in number as Jesus pruned the vine for real growth. The casual Christian would want no part of convicting preaching or the expectation of Godly living. We'd lose political influence. But how would our fruit, our influence with the lost be transformed, if we became a true "holy priesthood." As I write this according to our own statistics, 87% of Southern Baptist Churches are plateaued(stagnant) or in decline. Of the 13% that are adding members only 3% are doing so through winning the lost rather than swapping sheep. Where should our focus be, on the church, or on the lost, first and foremost?
As Havner said, "Jesus said you will know mine by their fruit. If their is something wrong with your fruitfulness, their is something wrong with your faith. If their is something wrong with your faithfulness, their is something wrong with your fellowship. If their's something wrong with your fellowship you'd better even check your faith. Worship maintains the faith, and the fellowship, and the faithfulness, and the fruitfulness is the consequence. As we abide, we abound...for he that abideth in Me and I in him bringeth forth much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing. Beloved, this is the note that has been uppermost on my heart for these 25 years on the road and 50 years in the ministry, that before we can see the evangelism that needs to occur, their must be a revival within the church."
For those who have an ear, let them hear! Sadly though, I'm reminded of the words of the prophet, "Who has believed our report?" As long as the cart is before the horse, the wagon will never steer straight. Luke 24:47 says the spreading of the gospel across the world will begin in Jerusalem. If we want the GCR, or any plan, to work; revival must occur among God's people first. Reaching the world will supernaturally flow from a Jerusalem on fire for God.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Dog Day Afternoon
Yesterday as news choppers circled overhead of our little town of Chesterfield many of us were wondering what was going on. Had a prisoner escaped? A tragic wreck on a local road? A fire? What had happened is the local animal control center had put to death in a very disturbing way over 20 dogs and had dumped them at the local landfill. This was certainly an unfortunate incident that should have been handled far better. Their is much outrage in our small town. This was a main story on the Charlotte news broadcasts Friday evening. Their is no defense of what happened. But a little perspective is required.
The late baptist preacher R.G. Lee once said this; "One day Christians will be more affected by the death of a dog that is run over than by the death of Christ on the cross." Now I state very clearly here I believe the mistreatment of animals is evil. Me and my wife have 5 pets, 3 dogs and 2 cats, and they are valued and loved parts of our lives. They bring us much joy. I do not say this in a condescending manner, but this is the truth. They are just animals. This does not mean that the death of one is not felt. It does not mean we cannot have strong affection for them. They are most definitely part of God's creation and deserving of our respect and kindness. But it is man who was made in God's image, not nature. However, is our outrage at the mistreatment and cruel death of animals more important than our regard for human life?
Since 1973 nearly 60 million unborn babies have had their lives terminated by abortion. This shelter that put to death these dogs is county government operated and funded. But every day our nations government funds the abortion of thousands of unborn babies and hardly a peep is heard anymore. After 37 years of the massacre of the unborn, apparently we have become numb to the destruction of lives the bible says are known by God, formed by God, and in the image of God.
A friend on Facebook rightly said while tragic, the death of these animals is not the Holocaust. It is not genocide like we are seeing in Africa, and have seen repeatedly across the world throughout history. It is not terrorism. It is not mass murder. It is evil, but how much more so is the unrighteous death of the one's Christ died for, mankind?
At our courthouse today many are gathered to show there anger and to protest the death of these innocent animals. I have absolutely no problem with this. But my prayer is that one day, among the Christians that are in this nation, we will truly unite and say enough is enough when it comes to the unrighteous death of the unborn. I can without hesitation say I love my pets. But the bible says I am to love God and my neighbors more, with all of my heart. While I was "still a sinner," Christ died for me.
Have we reached the point where we regard "creation" more than the "creator?" This does not mean we cannot be upset at the cruel treatment of animals. But when will we regard each other more? I hope the guilty are identified and equitable punishment is handed out regarding the death of these dogs. But I pray, one day, our nation that was founded upon the principles of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" will recognize these rights have been denied to the unborn for nearly 4 decades now. This will only happen when our view of Christ on the cross is more important than anything else.
The late baptist preacher R.G. Lee once said this; "One day Christians will be more affected by the death of a dog that is run over than by the death of Christ on the cross." Now I state very clearly here I believe the mistreatment of animals is evil. Me and my wife have 5 pets, 3 dogs and 2 cats, and they are valued and loved parts of our lives. They bring us much joy. I do not say this in a condescending manner, but this is the truth. They are just animals. This does not mean that the death of one is not felt. It does not mean we cannot have strong affection for them. They are most definitely part of God's creation and deserving of our respect and kindness. But it is man who was made in God's image, not nature. However, is our outrage at the mistreatment and cruel death of animals more important than our regard for human life?
Since 1973 nearly 60 million unborn babies have had their lives terminated by abortion. This shelter that put to death these dogs is county government operated and funded. But every day our nations government funds the abortion of thousands of unborn babies and hardly a peep is heard anymore. After 37 years of the massacre of the unborn, apparently we have become numb to the destruction of lives the bible says are known by God, formed by God, and in the image of God.
A friend on Facebook rightly said while tragic, the death of these animals is not the Holocaust. It is not genocide like we are seeing in Africa, and have seen repeatedly across the world throughout history. It is not terrorism. It is not mass murder. It is evil, but how much more so is the unrighteous death of the one's Christ died for, mankind?
At our courthouse today many are gathered to show there anger and to protest the death of these innocent animals. I have absolutely no problem with this. But my prayer is that one day, among the Christians that are in this nation, we will truly unite and say enough is enough when it comes to the unrighteous death of the unborn. I can without hesitation say I love my pets. But the bible says I am to love God and my neighbors more, with all of my heart. While I was "still a sinner," Christ died for me.
Have we reached the point where we regard "creation" more than the "creator?" This does not mean we cannot be upset at the cruel treatment of animals. But when will we regard each other more? I hope the guilty are identified and equitable punishment is handed out regarding the death of these dogs. But I pray, one day, our nation that was founded upon the principles of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" will recognize these rights have been denied to the unborn for nearly 4 decades now. This will only happen when our view of Christ on the cross is more important than anything else.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
SBC and the GCR: Direction Chosen, Course Still Uncharted
Recently a pastor friend of mine signed me up for a group on Facebook called Pastor-To-Pastor. It's a group for Southern Baptist pastors in South Carolina to discuss issues affecting our churches and denomination and to encourage each other in the faith. I've seen many topics discussed yet their is still one hot-button topic that is permeating much of the talk: GCR-The Great Commission Resurgence that passed at last years annual Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando.
This new initiative will result in a complete restructuring of our convention over the next 5 years or so. The restructuring has already begun with NAMB(North American Mission Board) laying off many long time employees and many missionaries here in the United States having their funding cut to the point where they can no longer serve in their mission fields. The focus in our nation is to move as swiftly as possible in planting churches in or around 10 major cities from the northeast to the northwest where our convention has a negligible presence and large segments of the population are lost.
Monetary redistribution is a large part of the GCR. The stated goal is to view our mission strategy from a new angle, targeting where most of the lost people live. While as a Southern Baptist I am taking a wait and see attitude to find out how these major changes will affect our convention, as with any huge undertaking, their are always unintended consequences which I warned about in blogs last spring concerning the GCR. The concern of most who are wary of these changes is how they will affect the Cooperative Program, for 86 years how Southern Baptist churches have pulled together to fund missions both locally and across the world.
At our state convention this past November we voted to have a committee review the demands of the GCR and recommend a strategy for how we will deal with them in our state. Through the requirements of the GCR funds that were reallocated back to the state from the Cooperative Program will be cut substantially over the next few years. This will drastically affect missions organizations and church planting here in South Carolina in deference to the goal of spreading the gospel in these "less churched" areas of our nation. Our next national convention is fast approaching and their is still no concise plan for implementing much of what GCR will demand of us.
We are in perilous times as Southern Baptists. Some feel we have made a terrible mistake with this new direction. Others feel without radical change our denomination is dying a slow death. Is their a middle ground or have we drawn a line in the sand that is going to lead to imminent division? While I am willing to "wait and see," I still have the same questions I had last year, and no answers have been provided.
Recently through this new Facebook forum and from personal friendships I've seen firsthand missionaries with fruitful ministries forced to return home as they no longer had support for their ministries. While their is a dire need to reach the major metropolitan areas of our nation where we are not prominent, is the best way to do that to eliminate ministries that are currently and effectively leading people to Christ? The change argument holds plenty of truth when it states that we have plenty of churches and plenty of people already present in these areas where Southern Baptists are prevalent that can fund and reinforce through manpower these local missions. The million dollar question is....still: Will this happen? Are souls in one part of the country more important than souls in another part?
Over the next 6 months to a year we will get the recommendations of our state and national denominational leaders on just how we will begin to implement the changes that GCR mandates. Some will follow and some won't. This is an unavoidable truth. Can a house divided still stand? Not according to scripture. Those who follow will do so with zeal and we will see an increase in our presence in the northern spheres of our nation. Those who won't will decrease Cooperative Program giving in favor of funding fruitful, local ministries either through direct contribution or through local associations. What will be the end result? Hard logic dictates while we'll see an increase in church plants in the north, their will not be enough to make a significant impact, while in more established areas which while they are in areas we should have great influence in due to numbers. we'll see a decrease in our effectiveness. So what is the solution?
Last year I proposed that our focus as a denomination was putting the cart before the horse. While I know of no church or pastor that in word does not support the Great Commission, what is truly necessary in order for us to fulfil the command of Jesus to "Go" into all of the world, and our home areas? The only biblical answer is true, heaven sent revival in our churches and denomination. And in order for that to occur, we must first recover the "Greatest Commandment" in order to fulfil the "Great Commission." How can we take the gospel throughout the world unless we first love God with all of our heart, soul mind and strength? How can we influence those around us both locally and throughout the world, unless we first love our neighbors as ourselves?
While methods are useful they will not bring about revival. While strategies are needed, they will not pierce peoples hearts. If GCR or any plan to further the gospel is going to work, it is our hearts, not our plan, that needs changing. In short, will we love God to the point that we obey without question as Jesus has commanded us(John 14:15,23). The only way that we will ever see the gospel truly go where we all want it to go is for our love of God to be the greatest motivation in our lives. When we love each other as Jesus loved us; when we practice holiness in our personal lives; when faithfulness is the norm; when prayer is continually practiced; when Godly repentance occurs; when God's people return to Him, and He sends revival; only then will we see God move in a mighty way.
Sounds simple doesn't it? So why do we not see these things occurring in the body of Christ? Why are 87% of Southern Baptist churches plateaued(stagnant) or in decline? Why do we not see Christ's church, in spite of exponentially greater numbers than the first century church, impacting the world as they did? Our love of God has waxed cold. Sadly, we must admit, we worship God with our lips but our hearts are far from Him. Unless we change, our world will not. Friends it begins with me, and with you. Unless we are revived, no plan will work. It really is quite simple. We cannot make revival happen. We cannot effectively go to them, until we first, with all of our hearts, return to Him. If we truly want to see the GCR or any other future plan work, we need a new heart. A heart that comes only from God, for God.
If GCR is to work, it must be God that does it. If we are to fulfil this vision, God must do it through us. How can He do this, unless our love for Him is the most important thing in our lives? God says to His people, "Be holy, for I am holy." "If you Love Me, obey My commands." "Pray without ceasing." "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." A simple answer to a complex question.
This new initiative will result in a complete restructuring of our convention over the next 5 years or so. The restructuring has already begun with NAMB(North American Mission Board) laying off many long time employees and many missionaries here in the United States having their funding cut to the point where they can no longer serve in their mission fields. The focus in our nation is to move as swiftly as possible in planting churches in or around 10 major cities from the northeast to the northwest where our convention has a negligible presence and large segments of the population are lost.
Monetary redistribution is a large part of the GCR. The stated goal is to view our mission strategy from a new angle, targeting where most of the lost people live. While as a Southern Baptist I am taking a wait and see attitude to find out how these major changes will affect our convention, as with any huge undertaking, their are always unintended consequences which I warned about in blogs last spring concerning the GCR. The concern of most who are wary of these changes is how they will affect the Cooperative Program, for 86 years how Southern Baptist churches have pulled together to fund missions both locally and across the world.
At our state convention this past November we voted to have a committee review the demands of the GCR and recommend a strategy for how we will deal with them in our state. Through the requirements of the GCR funds that were reallocated back to the state from the Cooperative Program will be cut substantially over the next few years. This will drastically affect missions organizations and church planting here in South Carolina in deference to the goal of spreading the gospel in these "less churched" areas of our nation. Our next national convention is fast approaching and their is still no concise plan for implementing much of what GCR will demand of us.
We are in perilous times as Southern Baptists. Some feel we have made a terrible mistake with this new direction. Others feel without radical change our denomination is dying a slow death. Is their a middle ground or have we drawn a line in the sand that is going to lead to imminent division? While I am willing to "wait and see," I still have the same questions I had last year, and no answers have been provided.
Recently through this new Facebook forum and from personal friendships I've seen firsthand missionaries with fruitful ministries forced to return home as they no longer had support for their ministries. While their is a dire need to reach the major metropolitan areas of our nation where we are not prominent, is the best way to do that to eliminate ministries that are currently and effectively leading people to Christ? The change argument holds plenty of truth when it states that we have plenty of churches and plenty of people already present in these areas where Southern Baptists are prevalent that can fund and reinforce through manpower these local missions. The million dollar question is....still: Will this happen? Are souls in one part of the country more important than souls in another part?
Over the next 6 months to a year we will get the recommendations of our state and national denominational leaders on just how we will begin to implement the changes that GCR mandates. Some will follow and some won't. This is an unavoidable truth. Can a house divided still stand? Not according to scripture. Those who follow will do so with zeal and we will see an increase in our presence in the northern spheres of our nation. Those who won't will decrease Cooperative Program giving in favor of funding fruitful, local ministries either through direct contribution or through local associations. What will be the end result? Hard logic dictates while we'll see an increase in church plants in the north, their will not be enough to make a significant impact, while in more established areas which while they are in areas we should have great influence in due to numbers. we'll see a decrease in our effectiveness. So what is the solution?
Last year I proposed that our focus as a denomination was putting the cart before the horse. While I know of no church or pastor that in word does not support the Great Commission, what is truly necessary in order for us to fulfil the command of Jesus to "Go" into all of the world, and our home areas? The only biblical answer is true, heaven sent revival in our churches and denomination. And in order for that to occur, we must first recover the "Greatest Commandment" in order to fulfil the "Great Commission." How can we take the gospel throughout the world unless we first love God with all of our heart, soul mind and strength? How can we influence those around us both locally and throughout the world, unless we first love our neighbors as ourselves?
While methods are useful they will not bring about revival. While strategies are needed, they will not pierce peoples hearts. If GCR or any plan to further the gospel is going to work, it is our hearts, not our plan, that needs changing. In short, will we love God to the point that we obey without question as Jesus has commanded us(John 14:15,23). The only way that we will ever see the gospel truly go where we all want it to go is for our love of God to be the greatest motivation in our lives. When we love each other as Jesus loved us; when we practice holiness in our personal lives; when faithfulness is the norm; when prayer is continually practiced; when Godly repentance occurs; when God's people return to Him, and He sends revival; only then will we see God move in a mighty way.
Sounds simple doesn't it? So why do we not see these things occurring in the body of Christ? Why are 87% of Southern Baptist churches plateaued(stagnant) or in decline? Why do we not see Christ's church, in spite of exponentially greater numbers than the first century church, impacting the world as they did? Our love of God has waxed cold. Sadly, we must admit, we worship God with our lips but our hearts are far from Him. Unless we change, our world will not. Friends it begins with me, and with you. Unless we are revived, no plan will work. It really is quite simple. We cannot make revival happen. We cannot effectively go to them, until we first, with all of our hearts, return to Him. If we truly want to see the GCR or any other future plan work, we need a new heart. A heart that comes only from God, for God.
If GCR is to work, it must be God that does it. If we are to fulfil this vision, God must do it through us. How can He do this, unless our love for Him is the most important thing in our lives? God says to His people, "Be holy, for I am holy." "If you Love Me, obey My commands." "Pray without ceasing." "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." A simple answer to a complex question.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Evangelist Ken Carter Now In Glory
I met Dr. Ken Carter for the first time in 2003. Ken received an honorary doctorate from Southeastern Baptist Seminary. Ken was an evangelist with ministries across the world and also here at home in the United States. He came to the church where I was called into the ministry, Peniel Baptist Church in Timmonsville, SC, to lead our congregation to seek a deeper prayer life. This was one of Ken's passions as he knew the church first and foremost needed to seek the power of God through sincere prayer. Ken's instruction was wonderful and greatly influenced my view of ministry.
Ken returned to Peniel a year later to preach a revival. It was at this point in my life I was feeling the call into ministry but struggling mightily to surrender and obey. Ken was planning a trip to Cuba the following fall and I signed up for this mission trip. Even though I had never preached a sermon Ken said he would allow me to do so on the trip. He embraced my calling and took me under his wing, teaching me many things in the process. Among them were:
1) THE POWER OF PRAYER: Everything Ken did began and ended with prayer. Prayer was a burden that God had placed upon his heart and he preached the message of the power of prayer everywhere he went. He led churches to seek God's face and never wavered in his commitment to taking everything to God's throne of grace.
2) THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: It's rare a person's first public message is through an interpreter, but that was the case for me. Before I preached, as I watched others precede me, I wondered to myself how God could use such an awkward forum. You don't even know if the interpreter is communicating what God has laid upon your heart. But as I watched and actually preached myself I realized an essential lesson. The power of preaching does not rest in the preacher, but rather in the Holy Spirit. God's word will not return to Him void. I was simply amazed at the power of God's word to change lives and save people. And I realized that it was all about Him, and not me.
3) STREET EVANGELISM WORKS: In our crusade in Cuba we saw many accept Christ as their Savior. But we saw far more come to Christ through one-on-one witnessing in the streets of the small Cuban villages we witnessed in. Though their were army guards that should have stopped us per government law, they did not. The people were eager to hear the truth and embrace it. Of the nearly 500 people who prayed to receive Christ, 90% or more were won one-on-one or in small groups on the streets. It is still a burden to me as to why we are so eager to practice this method in foreign countries yet when we return home we seem to put it away. Show me a church that is out and about telling people of Christ, and I will show you one that is seeing God save people.
4) DIFFERING DENOMINATIONS SHOULD WORK TOGETHER: On this trip we had Baptists, Pentacostals, Presbyterians and non-denominational church members. While we disagreed on some theology, were were united around the person of Christ and that only He can save. We put aside the minor things to focus upon the most important thing; Jesus. And God provided fruit for these efforts.
Over the years I kept in touch with Ken. I had lunch with him a few times and would run into him at different conferences. He always remembered me and encouraged me. While I'm saddened by the earthly loss of him, I am rejoicing that he is now with his blessed Savior whom he loved so much. I'll always remember Ken Carter, and the things he taught me. He embraced a confused young preacher and without hesitation gave me the opportunity to fully enter the ministry. Thanks brother Ken, and our most heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
Ken returned to Peniel a year later to preach a revival. It was at this point in my life I was feeling the call into ministry but struggling mightily to surrender and obey. Ken was planning a trip to Cuba the following fall and I signed up for this mission trip. Even though I had never preached a sermon Ken said he would allow me to do so on the trip. He embraced my calling and took me under his wing, teaching me many things in the process. Among them were:
1) THE POWER OF PRAYER: Everything Ken did began and ended with prayer. Prayer was a burden that God had placed upon his heart and he preached the message of the power of prayer everywhere he went. He led churches to seek God's face and never wavered in his commitment to taking everything to God's throne of grace.
2) THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: It's rare a person's first public message is through an interpreter, but that was the case for me. Before I preached, as I watched others precede me, I wondered to myself how God could use such an awkward forum. You don't even know if the interpreter is communicating what God has laid upon your heart. But as I watched and actually preached myself I realized an essential lesson. The power of preaching does not rest in the preacher, but rather in the Holy Spirit. God's word will not return to Him void. I was simply amazed at the power of God's word to change lives and save people. And I realized that it was all about Him, and not me.
3) STREET EVANGELISM WORKS: In our crusade in Cuba we saw many accept Christ as their Savior. But we saw far more come to Christ through one-on-one witnessing in the streets of the small Cuban villages we witnessed in. Though their were army guards that should have stopped us per government law, they did not. The people were eager to hear the truth and embrace it. Of the nearly 500 people who prayed to receive Christ, 90% or more were won one-on-one or in small groups on the streets. It is still a burden to me as to why we are so eager to practice this method in foreign countries yet when we return home we seem to put it away. Show me a church that is out and about telling people of Christ, and I will show you one that is seeing God save people.
4) DIFFERING DENOMINATIONS SHOULD WORK TOGETHER: On this trip we had Baptists, Pentacostals, Presbyterians and non-denominational church members. While we disagreed on some theology, were were united around the person of Christ and that only He can save. We put aside the minor things to focus upon the most important thing; Jesus. And God provided fruit for these efforts.
Over the years I kept in touch with Ken. I had lunch with him a few times and would run into him at different conferences. He always remembered me and encouraged me. While I'm saddened by the earthly loss of him, I am rejoicing that he is now with his blessed Savior whom he loved so much. I'll always remember Ken Carter, and the things he taught me. He embraced a confused young preacher and without hesitation gave me the opportunity to fully enter the ministry. Thanks brother Ken, and our most heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Observations from a Sunday Morning at Home
While still sweating as my fever recurs and breaks, at least the nausea is gone and I can eat. I'm thankful for all the prayers that have been ushered to God on my behalf the last few days, and the Lord is surely healing, but I was unable to preach this morning. This has only happened a few times in my 6+ years of preaching, and every time it has it feels so weird not to be proclaiming God's word. Because I love God, I love to preach His word. I miss it when I cannot do so. Even on weeks where Ashley and I are on vacation we are in church somewhere, so a Sunday morning at home is a rare thing indeed.
I love to listen to and watch preaching. Part of my normal Sunday morning routine before I head to church for prayer is to watch Jonathan Falwell, Jack Graham and James Merritt. This morning in addition to those I also caught some of Charles Stanley, David Jeremiah and D. James Kennedy. All of these men of God feed my desire to learn and grow in God's word.
However, as we all know, most of religious television is dominated by questionable if not heretical teachers that pollute our airwaves. This morning out of curiosity I also caught part of Creflo Dollar, Gregory Dickow, Kenneth Hagin, Jr., Kenneth Copeland, Ron Carpenter(of Greenville's Redemption World Outreach), Joel O'Steen, Frederick Price and, gulp, Robert Schuler. My goodness the heresy that passes for the gospel these days.
It is sad and disturbing to me that so many have been deceived by these wolves in sheep's clothing. They are men who preach to itching ears and felt needs, propagating "name it and claim it" and that material wealth is a part of the Christian faith. I've never felt as though God owed me anything, but rather, I owed God everything. But to listen to this rabble you'd think the Almighty was in our debt, and subject to our command, rather than what the bible teaches that we are to be under his control and to be obedient to Him.
I must say most of them started out soundly, but after about 5 minutes of decent biblical exegesis, they all drifted into a "what's in it for me" mentality. Worshipping God in not about me, it is about Him, but vast numbers of churches today have made church about man's needs, instead of God's desires. Name it and claim it; prosperity now; be a better you; you are pleasing to God just as you are. So this is why Jesus died?
Through my faith in Jesus Christ God is not required to give me anything other than eternal life as He has promised. And that is by His grace and mercy, and by nothing on my account. His word tells me my "treasures are in heaven," not here on earth. I should want nothing in my life that is not the will of God; whether it be riches, or health, or comfort, or peace. His word tells me I will suffer, be persecuted, hated by the world. It does not say I will show Myself, God Almighty, by how wealthy or prosperous I will make you. But you'd find that hard to tell by watching TV this morning.
Also, as I know in my heart, there is a reason for everything. Why did I get sick this week. Well, early this morning, a young couple in our church suffered a terrible tragedy. They suffered a miscarriage. I found this out on Facebook when I normally would not have been home. They did not call as they thought I'd be at church. Though unable to be with them due to illness, I was able to minister with them over the phone, and will surely be with them when I'm no longer contagious. Pray for the Riggan's as they undergo this trail. I'm very proud of Brian and Lauren and with the faith in which they are dealing with this.
What else this Sunday holds I do not know. But Adrian Rogers is on in 10 minutes. While I did not have the privilege of feeding the sheep this morning, this sheep still wants to be fed. Thankfully interspersed between the false teachers and money grabbers, we do find gems from time to time. Everyone have a blessed day! For this is the day "the Lord has made."
I love to listen to and watch preaching. Part of my normal Sunday morning routine before I head to church for prayer is to watch Jonathan Falwell, Jack Graham and James Merritt. This morning in addition to those I also caught some of Charles Stanley, David Jeremiah and D. James Kennedy. All of these men of God feed my desire to learn and grow in God's word.
However, as we all know, most of religious television is dominated by questionable if not heretical teachers that pollute our airwaves. This morning out of curiosity I also caught part of Creflo Dollar, Gregory Dickow, Kenneth Hagin, Jr., Kenneth Copeland, Ron Carpenter(of Greenville's Redemption World Outreach), Joel O'Steen, Frederick Price and, gulp, Robert Schuler. My goodness the heresy that passes for the gospel these days.
It is sad and disturbing to me that so many have been deceived by these wolves in sheep's clothing. They are men who preach to itching ears and felt needs, propagating "name it and claim it" and that material wealth is a part of the Christian faith. I've never felt as though God owed me anything, but rather, I owed God everything. But to listen to this rabble you'd think the Almighty was in our debt, and subject to our command, rather than what the bible teaches that we are to be under his control and to be obedient to Him.
I must say most of them started out soundly, but after about 5 minutes of decent biblical exegesis, they all drifted into a "what's in it for me" mentality. Worshipping God in not about me, it is about Him, but vast numbers of churches today have made church about man's needs, instead of God's desires. Name it and claim it; prosperity now; be a better you; you are pleasing to God just as you are. So this is why Jesus died?
Through my faith in Jesus Christ God is not required to give me anything other than eternal life as He has promised. And that is by His grace and mercy, and by nothing on my account. His word tells me my "treasures are in heaven," not here on earth. I should want nothing in my life that is not the will of God; whether it be riches, or health, or comfort, or peace. His word tells me I will suffer, be persecuted, hated by the world. It does not say I will show Myself, God Almighty, by how wealthy or prosperous I will make you. But you'd find that hard to tell by watching TV this morning.
Also, as I know in my heart, there is a reason for everything. Why did I get sick this week. Well, early this morning, a young couple in our church suffered a terrible tragedy. They suffered a miscarriage. I found this out on Facebook when I normally would not have been home. They did not call as they thought I'd be at church. Though unable to be with them due to illness, I was able to minister with them over the phone, and will surely be with them when I'm no longer contagious. Pray for the Riggan's as they undergo this trail. I'm very proud of Brian and Lauren and with the faith in which they are dealing with this.
What else this Sunday holds I do not know. But Adrian Rogers is on in 10 minutes. While I did not have the privilege of feeding the sheep this morning, this sheep still wants to be fed. Thankfully interspersed between the false teachers and money grabbers, we do find gems from time to time. Everyone have a blessed day! For this is the day "the Lord has made."
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Implications of a Democratic Middle East
Genesis 3:6, "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of it's fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate."
As the news footage of the uprising in Egypt and all across the middle east continues to roll in, a fundamental question has arisen regarding the future of this most unstable of all regions of the earth: Do not all people have the right to self determination? It is a question that goes to the heart of the human condition. Should we all not have the right to the free will God gave us as creatures made in His image? As a matter of public policy since the United States military involvement in the region escalated to full fledged war after 9/11, the official government position has been we are aiming to stoke the fires of democracy across this region known for totalitarian governments and despots as rulers. Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East, even Iraq has not made that transition fully. So what are the ramifications of self determination, of freedom of choice, in a region ruled by extremist points of view?
In theory, democracy is the most noble form of human government. The people hold the power to install the type of leadership they desire. But whether it be a representative democratic republic, like the United States, or a true democracy where the people make the decisions for themselves, this form of government rule is wholly dependent upon the belief that mankind is basically good; and will choose what is best for himself and his kindred. Is this faith in our fellow man well placed however?
Genesis 3:6 clearly teaches us man will not always, and in many cases, almost never choose what is best for himself, no matter how clear the choice seems to be. Adam and Eve were the most fortunate people ever to walk the earth. Other than Christ, they were the only one's who ever managed to live a portion of their lives in the perfect will of God. They lived in the paradise the bible calls Eden. They "walked and talked" with God Himself. They had been given clear instruction that both understood completely regarding the eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Yet when confronted with the devious devices of evil, they rejected all that was good, and chose evil. They chose disobedience and sin. As a result of their choice, all of mankind since has been born into sin. We pay the price for their rebellion, and are sinners from the moment of our first breath.
You do not have to teach a child to lie, it comes naturally. You do not have to teach a child to rebel, it is instinctive. You do not have to teach a child to become angry, or lust, or covet. These things are born into them as part of the sin nature. When faced with the choice between good and evil, the natural man, quite naturally, chooses evil. So what should we expect from all of this chaos in the middle east?
The United States is supposed to be the model. A bastion of liberty on which we hope the whole world will model itself. But liberty is a two-edged sword. While the desire for freedom is also a an inalienable, God given right. The consequences of liberty are both good and bad. The United States claims to recognize the rights of all of it's citizens, but bloody wars and civil uprising had to occur to insure this for blacks and minorities. These rights have been taken away from the most vulnerable among us, the unborn child, and nearly 60 million abortions/murders have occurred since 1973 in the name of freedom of choice. We have the liberty to serve God and others, or to serve ourselves and our desire for pleasure. Which occurs more frequently today? We have the liberty to choose our own representatives, yet most Americans vote blindly, failing to educate themselves on even the smallest of details regarding whom they cast their votes for. So why should we expect those in the middle east to choose any more wisely than we have?
On Monday I opined in my blog that the United States is in a no win situation with what is occurring in the middle east today. Oppose the desire for self determination and support despots who rule as though they were God and oppress individual liberty, and we turn our backs on our own self declared beliefs. Support the protesters and the right of self determination, and we risk most assuredly the rise of radical elements that most surely will be more evil and dangerous than those who currently rule. Once again God has shown us, only He is sovereign. And only in choosing Him can we insure personal liberty is a positive force, and not one that brings both great good but potentially even greater evil.
What is happening in the middle east today is the same thing that happened in the garden at Eden years and years ago. Mankind is faced with a choice. A choice, most assuredly, that God has given them, but nonetheless, a choice. Is our faith in mankind and our desire for personal liberty, bringing both the pros and cons of those decisions, well placed? Not if the history of man is any indication.
You see, it is only faith in God, in Jesus Christ, that brings about wisdom and wise decisions. And even then, as Adam and Eve proved, the reality of being deceived and choosing evil is ever present. God's word indicated the strife now occurring in the middle east is a continuation of God's eternal plan. Israel, Jerusalem and the middle east region are ground zero for the battle between good and evil. Everything that is happening will serve God's already written story for the fate of His most beloved creation, us.
If Egypt, and the other nations now or soon to be embroiled in this battle for personal freedom choose wisely and choose God's way, the region could enjoy a new found peace. Not only in terms of human rights and bondage, but in the open door that personal freedom would provide for the spread of the gospel, religious freedom, and the peace only Christ can provide. If as Adam and Eve, the devil deceives, and the wrong choices are made, all forms of peace, both between nations and with God, will disintegrate before our very eyes.
The bible tells us that the "heart of man is deceitfully wicked."(Jeremiah 17:9) The word of God declares that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."(Romans 3:23) Their is only one path to true liberty and freedom, Jesus Christ. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."(John 8:36) Unless His way is chosen, mankind's record of self determination is filled with the choice of evil over good, even in it's best intentions, like the United States. The implications of a democratic middle east are self evident in the economy of God. Choose Him, or "the wages of sin is death."(Romans 6:23) Faith in mankind is a misplaced hope. Only faith in God can bring about true freedom. Do we really believe this is the choice that will be made?
As the news footage of the uprising in Egypt and all across the middle east continues to roll in, a fundamental question has arisen regarding the future of this most unstable of all regions of the earth: Do not all people have the right to self determination? It is a question that goes to the heart of the human condition. Should we all not have the right to the free will God gave us as creatures made in His image? As a matter of public policy since the United States military involvement in the region escalated to full fledged war after 9/11, the official government position has been we are aiming to stoke the fires of democracy across this region known for totalitarian governments and despots as rulers. Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East, even Iraq has not made that transition fully. So what are the ramifications of self determination, of freedom of choice, in a region ruled by extremist points of view?
In theory, democracy is the most noble form of human government. The people hold the power to install the type of leadership they desire. But whether it be a representative democratic republic, like the United States, or a true democracy where the people make the decisions for themselves, this form of government rule is wholly dependent upon the belief that mankind is basically good; and will choose what is best for himself and his kindred. Is this faith in our fellow man well placed however?
Genesis 3:6 clearly teaches us man will not always, and in many cases, almost never choose what is best for himself, no matter how clear the choice seems to be. Adam and Eve were the most fortunate people ever to walk the earth. Other than Christ, they were the only one's who ever managed to live a portion of their lives in the perfect will of God. They lived in the paradise the bible calls Eden. They "walked and talked" with God Himself. They had been given clear instruction that both understood completely regarding the eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Yet when confronted with the devious devices of evil, they rejected all that was good, and chose evil. They chose disobedience and sin. As a result of their choice, all of mankind since has been born into sin. We pay the price for their rebellion, and are sinners from the moment of our first breath.
You do not have to teach a child to lie, it comes naturally. You do not have to teach a child to rebel, it is instinctive. You do not have to teach a child to become angry, or lust, or covet. These things are born into them as part of the sin nature. When faced with the choice between good and evil, the natural man, quite naturally, chooses evil. So what should we expect from all of this chaos in the middle east?
The United States is supposed to be the model. A bastion of liberty on which we hope the whole world will model itself. But liberty is a two-edged sword. While the desire for freedom is also a an inalienable, God given right. The consequences of liberty are both good and bad. The United States claims to recognize the rights of all of it's citizens, but bloody wars and civil uprising had to occur to insure this for blacks and minorities. These rights have been taken away from the most vulnerable among us, the unborn child, and nearly 60 million abortions/murders have occurred since 1973 in the name of freedom of choice. We have the liberty to serve God and others, or to serve ourselves and our desire for pleasure. Which occurs more frequently today? We have the liberty to choose our own representatives, yet most Americans vote blindly, failing to educate themselves on even the smallest of details regarding whom they cast their votes for. So why should we expect those in the middle east to choose any more wisely than we have?
On Monday I opined in my blog that the United States is in a no win situation with what is occurring in the middle east today. Oppose the desire for self determination and support despots who rule as though they were God and oppress individual liberty, and we turn our backs on our own self declared beliefs. Support the protesters and the right of self determination, and we risk most assuredly the rise of radical elements that most surely will be more evil and dangerous than those who currently rule. Once again God has shown us, only He is sovereign. And only in choosing Him can we insure personal liberty is a positive force, and not one that brings both great good but potentially even greater evil.
What is happening in the middle east today is the same thing that happened in the garden at Eden years and years ago. Mankind is faced with a choice. A choice, most assuredly, that God has given them, but nonetheless, a choice. Is our faith in mankind and our desire for personal liberty, bringing both the pros and cons of those decisions, well placed? Not if the history of man is any indication.
You see, it is only faith in God, in Jesus Christ, that brings about wisdom and wise decisions. And even then, as Adam and Eve proved, the reality of being deceived and choosing evil is ever present. God's word indicated the strife now occurring in the middle east is a continuation of God's eternal plan. Israel, Jerusalem and the middle east region are ground zero for the battle between good and evil. Everything that is happening will serve God's already written story for the fate of His most beloved creation, us.
If Egypt, and the other nations now or soon to be embroiled in this battle for personal freedom choose wisely and choose God's way, the region could enjoy a new found peace. Not only in terms of human rights and bondage, but in the open door that personal freedom would provide for the spread of the gospel, religious freedom, and the peace only Christ can provide. If as Adam and Eve, the devil deceives, and the wrong choices are made, all forms of peace, both between nations and with God, will disintegrate before our very eyes.
The bible tells us that the "heart of man is deceitfully wicked."(Jeremiah 17:9) The word of God declares that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."(Romans 3:23) Their is only one path to true liberty and freedom, Jesus Christ. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."(John 8:36) Unless His way is chosen, mankind's record of self determination is filled with the choice of evil over good, even in it's best intentions, like the United States. The implications of a democratic middle east are self evident in the economy of God. Choose Him, or "the wages of sin is death."(Romans 6:23) Faith in mankind is a misplaced hope. Only faith in God can bring about true freedom. Do we really believe this is the choice that will be made?
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