ABA meeting in St. Louis this week. "Bro. Moderator I'd like to say a thing or two concerning the motion in question..."
Business has to be taken care of. Missionaries have to be supported. Hovering clouds of questions concerning the Bookstore, the KJV, church sovereignty, church camps, etc., etc. must be settled. And oh yes, preachers need a vacation too.
Perhaps I should be more involved. I just can't help but think that the business will be taken care of in an atmosphere of Godly wisdom and decorum. So, once again, I'll stay home. I have met some dear people at these meetings. At both state and national meetings, I have also encountered groups and cliques that have obviously existed for decades and I have found entrance into their sacred realms impregnable. Talk about man-made fortresses.
One of the joys of ABA meetings is visiting with missionaries. What a great opportunity to visit with those who are on the front lines of evangelism.
Maybe I'll go next year. Maybe I'll even line up at the microphone to repeat for the 11th time that "the motion in question is a violation of church sovereignty!!!"
Or maybe I'll just stay home again and pray God's blessing on the affair and on my somewhat cynical attitude concerning some people's motives at the meetings. Seriously, God bless the ABA & may His will be accomplished.
Romans 3:23 ?
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"
Quoted it. Preached it. Referenced it. But wait a minute.
I do not want to dissect this verse like a lab experiment that will have to die in the process. But is Romans 3:23 two descriptions of the same concept (sin)?
Or is this a bit of a distinction between two similar concepts?
"all have sinned" = miss the mark, transgress, violate
"come short of the glory of God" = ?
In other words, can an act or condition NOT be sinful, but just fall short of the glory of God? If that's the case, this verse truly covers everything.
Quoted it. Preached it. Referenced it. But wait a minute.
I do not want to dissect this verse like a lab experiment that will have to die in the process. But is Romans 3:23 two descriptions of the same concept (sin)?
Or is this a bit of a distinction between two similar concepts?
"all have sinned" = miss the mark, transgress, violate
"come short of the glory of God" = ?
In other words, can an act or condition NOT be sinful, but just fall short of the glory of God? If that's the case, this verse truly covers everything.
Getting Older...Faster???
I think I'm getting older...faster.
Meagan graduated this year, Logan enters High School, and Landon goes into 6th grade.
At 44, it seems that I'm getting older...faster. I'm beginning to think about things that I might want to do or accomplish before I get very much older. Hopefully, this condition is not fertile grounds for a "mid-life crisis."
I look forward to climbing Mt. Elbert in Colorado in July with Rabbi Reese.
Mt. Elbert is the highest mountain in Colorado (14,433 ft.) and the 2nd highest in the 48 contiguous states. Mount Whitney in California is at 14,494. For me, this isn't a battle against a mountain. It's a battle against myself and against the mundane. There is something to just "seeing how you will do" in tough situations.
(Mt. Massive is near where we will be camping. 12 feet shorter and much harder from all accounts)
I also look forward to the ministry in my 40's and 50's. I have seen pastors/preachers be very effective for the Lord during this phase of their life.
Some experience with some good health can be conducive to fruit bearing in the ministry.
I look forward to assisting my kids in new phases of their life such as college, driving, school sports, etc. I just hope I live up to the title "Great Dad."
I look forward to finishing just one of the many books/novels I have started.
Whatever is accomplished (or not), I need to remember that a person's identity/worth/value is not rooted in nor based on "accomplishment."
I am loved by God just because I exist. Not because of anything I have accomplished.
I can be kind and compassionate to others and likely never make the newspapers as a result. There is great contentment and peace in living a quality life and not trying to live to impress others or to have others recognize and validate everything you do.
Maybe I am getting older...faster. Oh well, with God's help I'll live a quality life for as long as possible, with eternity to look forward to.
Meagan graduated this year, Logan enters High School, and Landon goes into 6th grade.
At 44, it seems that I'm getting older...faster. I'm beginning to think about things that I might want to do or accomplish before I get very much older. Hopefully, this condition is not fertile grounds for a "mid-life crisis."
I look forward to climbing Mt. Elbert in Colorado in July with Rabbi Reese.
Mt. Elbert is the highest mountain in Colorado (14,433 ft.) and the 2nd highest in the 48 contiguous states. Mount Whitney in California is at 14,494. For me, this isn't a battle against a mountain. It's a battle against myself and against the mundane. There is something to just "seeing how you will do" in tough situations.
(Mt. Massive is near where we will be camping. 12 feet shorter and much harder from all accounts)
I also look forward to the ministry in my 40's and 50's. I have seen pastors/preachers be very effective for the Lord during this phase of their life.
Some experience with some good health can be conducive to fruit bearing in the ministry.
I look forward to assisting my kids in new phases of their life such as college, driving, school sports, etc. I just hope I live up to the title "Great Dad."
I look forward to finishing just one of the many books/novels I have started.
Whatever is accomplished (or not), I need to remember that a person's identity/worth/value is not rooted in nor based on "accomplishment."
I am loved by God just because I exist. Not because of anything I have accomplished.
I can be kind and compassionate to others and likely never make the newspapers as a result. There is great contentment and peace in living a quality life and not trying to live to impress others or to have others recognize and validate everything you do.
Maybe I am getting older...faster. Oh well, with God's help I'll live a quality life for as long as possible, with eternity to look forward to.
I'll Just Join On Statement
Church membership is special. The Bible speaks of the "church which he hath purchased with his own blood." Secondly, the cooperation and fellowship in the churches of the ABA is special as well. We respect the sovereignty of individual churches, yet we should always be mindful as to how our actions as a church affect others who we are in cooperation with as well as individual Christians.
Let's get to the point. "Church A" excludes John Doe, and then John Doe goes down the road and is received by "Church B" on statement. Historically, Baptists would have recognized this as a "slight" and "insult" to "Church A." Why?
Because "Church B" has effectively negated the church discipline of "Church A" by receiving the offending member. Historically, this has also been a major test of fellowship between churches. What would then prevent the offending member to go down the road and blow up another church, steal from someone else, insult and lie about someone else, and each time just say, "Well, I can't get a letter. I'll just join on statement."
From my limited understanding, joining on statement is reserved for special situation such as:
1)church closed the doors (can't get a letter)
2)church lost records (can't get a letter)
3)baptized by a Baptist chaplain in the military or
in prison (can't get a letter)
4)some other reason which I have not thought of :)
(can't get a letter)
*These reasons are different than "owes some people or churches an
apology" (wouldn't be granted a letter until there is at
least an attempt to make things right)
I pastor Ora MBC. If I were excluded for any reason, and another ABA church
received me on statement, (without any investigation) that church just
strategically dismissed the effectiveness and scriptural strength of Ora's discipline. They have also elevated the offender's wishes/rights above that of church authority.
I have used no names in this post and if there are any comments, I'd
appreciate it if no names or actual situations are used. There is no question that affiliating/cooperating churches should respect the discipline of other churches and at least investigate before someone is accepted on statement. The pastor should be the leader and at least question as to why the person wants to join on statement and then investigate accordingly. This process aligns with scripture and with common sense.
I realize that there are likely more important issues to dwell on, such as the salvation of souls and encouraging our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith.
If anyone disagrees with the above statements, fine. But save your time and mine
by trying to convince me otherwise. Our Baptist forefathers believed this way concerning "joining on statement," and I agree with them.
Let's get to the point. "Church A" excludes John Doe, and then John Doe goes down the road and is received by "Church B" on statement. Historically, Baptists would have recognized this as a "slight" and "insult" to "Church A." Why?
Because "Church B" has effectively negated the church discipline of "Church A" by receiving the offending member. Historically, this has also been a major test of fellowship between churches. What would then prevent the offending member to go down the road and blow up another church, steal from someone else, insult and lie about someone else, and each time just say, "Well, I can't get a letter. I'll just join on statement."
From my limited understanding, joining on statement is reserved for special situation such as:
1)church closed the doors (can't get a letter)
2)church lost records (can't get a letter)
3)baptized by a Baptist chaplain in the military or
in prison (can't get a letter)
4)some other reason which I have not thought of :)
(can't get a letter)
*These reasons are different than "owes some people or churches an
apology" (wouldn't be granted a letter until there is at
least an attempt to make things right)
I pastor Ora MBC. If I were excluded for any reason, and another ABA church
received me on statement, (without any investigation) that church just
strategically dismissed the effectiveness and scriptural strength of Ora's discipline. They have also elevated the offender's wishes/rights above that of church authority.
I have used no names in this post and if there are any comments, I'd
appreciate it if no names or actual situations are used. There is no question that affiliating/cooperating churches should respect the discipline of other churches and at least investigate before someone is accepted on statement. The pastor should be the leader and at least question as to why the person wants to join on statement and then investigate accordingly. This process aligns with scripture and with common sense.
I realize that there are likely more important issues to dwell on, such as the salvation of souls and encouraging our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith.
If anyone disagrees with the above statements, fine. But save your time and mine
by trying to convince me otherwise. Our Baptist forefathers believed this way concerning "joining on statement," and I agree with them.
Golb Snairda
Golb Snairda is which of the following:
a)chess prodigy from Moldova
b)revised existentialist philosophy
c)new type of lizard discovered in Madagascar
d)none of the above
Answer to be provided soon.
a)chess prodigy from Moldova
b)revised existentialist philosophy
c)new type of lizard discovered in Madagascar
d)none of the above
Answer to be provided soon.
Preacher Titles
The funeral home called because they had previously noted that I didn't prefer the title "reverend." I told them it wasn't that big of a deal, but that I did prefer "Pastor" or "Brother" for an obituary. The Psalm stating "holy and reverend is his name" (Psalm 111:9) influences me on this.
Of course, I could use "Bishop" and that would be a scriptural term, right?
Of course, I could use "Bishop" and that would be a scriptural term, right?
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