See Ed and Betty for details.

I don’t know if you spend much time reading blogs (if you don’t know what that is – don’t worry about it) but I read a few. I blog is a web-based journal of sorts. People write their thoughts for the world to read and comment upon. Sometimes the most interesting part is to read the comments and witness the give and take going on in response to a written piece. Among Southern Baptist bloggers there is a great debate about the Southern Baptist Convention and its future. Does it have a future? Will it look anything like what it does now? Why are we connected in the first place? How connected ought we to be? A related discussion has to do with what it means to live out the Gospel in our cultural context. How should we respond to the culture? Where is the line that marks compromise with the world? All seem to agree we should be “missional.” That is we are to be on mission and bring a missionary mindset to the task of evangelism.

To be missional is to recognize that American culture has changed in recent years and it is no longer the “Christian-conditioned” culture of the past. A few years ago American culture was dominated by a Judeo-Christian worldview. That is no longer the case. We have become an increasingly secular culture driven by a secular agenda and shaped by a secular worldview. That means some things have to change if we are to reach the people of this new culture. The trick is we must do this without changing our message or compromising the truth. So while some things must change others must not change. I must admit at this juncture I have more questions than answers. I’m still wading through the issues but let me share some things I’m certain have not and must not change.

As we seek to reach our culture we must view all men as people for whom Christ died. We must be eager to take the Gospel to people of every economic level, every ethnic group and every lifestyle. We must not view any group as “outside” the love of God. Second, we must believe that God has a people in every nation on earth. People from every tribe, nation, kindred and tongue will gather with us before the Father’s throne. Then it is essential that we understand that our confidence in reaching the culture and transforming lives lies in the Gospel itself and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. It is not our intelligence, wisdom or powers of persuasion but rather the power of God.

It’s worth thinking about. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

July 13-17 - Vacation Bible School at Carbondale Baptist Church - 6:00-8:30pm daily.

I had a conversation with a friend last week. He is a pastor from another denomination. One very different from ours in some respects but nonetheless a brother in Christ whom I love greatly. We had not seen each other in awhile so I made a point to go by and see him and we sat in his office and had a great visit. We talked about the church in general, about family, about our churches in particular. It was nice. We were not trying to solve the problems of the church or the world. We just talked. I did notice something after I left. I noticed that I did not have to fight or resist the urge to “defend” my turf. I didn’t need to explain why certain things were as they are, justify what we do or argue for why we don’t do certain things. My first thought was of how great it was to have a friend who did not judge me or gaze at me with a critical eye. Just a friend who loves and accepts me as I am. But then I realized that while that was true – that wasn’t really it.

I think it has more to do with me and my views. Views that are changing due, in no small part, to our study of Revelation on Sunday mornings. I’m seeing the church differently. The church is not an enterprise to be marketed or a cause to be defended. Nor is it an idea to be championed. The church is a body to be loved, cherished, and nurtured. The church is a group of flawed individuals covenanted together clinging to the grace of God and seeking to live out their faith together. As such the church is not perfect. There are often inconsistencies and we usually say more than we live. While we must seek to correct one another and spur one another on to love and good deeds – that’s not to be done in anger or with an air of superiority. It is to be done in humility through tears.

I guess one of the things I’m learning is that the church is worth weeping over. If I’ve learned nothing else it’s pretty clear the Lord of the church will not be patient forever with His church. He says things like, “I will remove your lamp stand” or “I will come and war against you.” He expects repentance and faithfulness. Now when I notice things that are not “right” in the church (meaning the church at large) I no longer get angry, I hurt. My heart breaks. But I have to admit…it hurts pretty good! Maybe I’m starting to resemble my Father.

I’m going to be gone this Sunday, July 20th. Vance Wiley will be preaching in my place but I’ll be back on the 27th. I’ll see you then.

Rod

July 18 - VBS (Vacation Bible School) Family Night at Carbondale.

Bearing Fruit to the Glory of God, from Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23. By Rev. Vance Wiley on Sunday morning, July 20, 2008.

Keeping Ourselves in the Love of God, from Jude 20-23, by guest preacher, Rev. Vance Wiley, on Sunday evening, July 20, 2008

It’s more than a little embarrassing. I was listening to a program on the internet a while back and they were talking about a new book called “Rapture Ready! Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture.” The book is written by a Jewish man who is a freelance author who writes for The New Yorker Magazine as well as other publications. He spent a year traveling around the country interviewing people and taking a look at the church from an outsider’s perspective. Amazingly he was not overly critical! He actually had some positive things to say. But some of what he reported was well…disturbing.

Yes there were the ridiculously silly things that we sometimes refer to as “Jesus Junk” that one finds in too many “Christian” bookstores but more disturbing to me was the attitude or mindset that drives the whole Christian subculture. He talked about an ad that he saw for “Christian” golf balls. These were golf balls with a Christian message printed on them. One pastor said, “It was the best golf evangelistic tool he had seen.” I of course wondered how many golf evangelistic tools there were! What disturbs me is not that someone might use a gold ball with a Bible verse on it – I’m just curious about the idea of it being an effective witnessing tool when someone finds it in the weeds or at the bottom of a pond. I guess what really bothers me is that I could see how I would be much more willing to use that method than to walk across the street and talk to my neighbor. That might involve me sharing my life with them…could get messy. Maybe I’ll just give them a “testamint” fresh breath is important.

The problem with all this silliness is that we cheapen the Gospel in the process. Why should they take our message seriously when we present it in such a way? It’s worth thinking about. See you Sunday.

Rod

“But it looked good on paper.” Have you ever been in a situation where that was your response to something that didn’t go according to plan? I was thinking about that a lot this past Sunday (Not I’m not referring to the mix-up in the service with the offering/special music). I mean I thought about it while teaching the Sunday School lesson and then during both messages. I guess I should let you know that – contrary to common perception I actually do “think” during the message! During Sunday School I thought about that debate during the Jerusalem Council. These were genuine brothers in Christ hammering out a serious doctrinal matter (the nature of the Gospel itself was at stake). Both sides were passionate and convinced they were right. It is one thing to “go to war” with an enemy – it is something else to do battle with a brother. It’s easy on paper to stand for truth…it is something else to look a brother in the eye and say, “You’re destroying the Gospel.”

During the morning message I couldn’t help but think, “It is easy to stand in this pulpit and boldly declare the truth. But what if the doors were to burst open and I was called upon to change my message or forfeit my life?” It looks good on paper but I have to wonder if my courage would fail. Sunday evening I wondered if I could have said to those who threatened my life, “My life is in your hands, do with me what you consider to be good and right.” Do I really believe in the Sovereignty of God or not? It looks good on paper but…

As I’ve reflected on it this evening I’ve come to this conclusion – it’s not a bad thing to think during a message! And it is great to be part of a family that will challenge and encourage you in your walk of faith. We as disciples of Christ are called to live out our faith together. To spur one another on to good works and to encourage one another all the more as the Day of the Lord approaches.

It’s worth giving it some thought. I see you this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod

July 28 - August 2 - Youth Camp. See Danny or Tina for Details.