Pure Church

Today, I'm settling back into the routine at FBC Grand Cayman after a simply glorious time of fellowship over the weekend with the saints at CHBC and dear friends from NC. As I do, I'm benefitting from much of what has gone on around the blog this past week. So, I thought I'd post a few links:

Many people often look at me with a grin and nod when they learn I'm a pastor in the beautiful Cayman Islands. They imagine it's all sun and surf. They have no idea that the underwater beauties of Cayman (and there are many, I'm told) are all lost on me. And, they have no idea that the thing that induces them to that knowing nod and grin is a tacit admission that life in an earthly paradise dangerously dulls the senses and lulls an unwatchful man to a complacent, often slothful sleep. That's why my soul rejoiced this morning in this sermon, Boiling for Christ, from John Piper.

I also appreciated this call from Michael Haykin for churches in Ontario to rise up for Christ! It's a call that needs heeding everywhere Christ's people gathers. Here's his concluding paragraph:

Soldiers of Christ in truth arrayed, rise up and have done with lesser things and labour for the Master in this province. We must be assured that if we do not do it, God’s kingdom will come but He will use others to bring it in and pass us by. He is no man’s debtor, and simply because we are the heirs of a great past, does not mean he is obliged to use us. There are churches in this province with rich heritages but today they are living in those pasts, stuck in the ruts of their traditionalism. Look to Christ and break free from such bondages! Be again his free people–the glory of what it means to be Baptist (oh the vast diference between tradition and traditionalism). Be assured that if we do not, God can and will raise up others and other causes and they shall know his presence and have the joy of seeing sinners saved and the saints edified.

My brother Lance Lewis over at Blaque Tulip has been announcing the end of blackness for a couple weeks now. In his most recent post, he's loading the body of the Black Church into the hearse. You can also read parts one, two, and three.

Spurgeon says know what you're preaching about or sit down (HT: Debtor to Mercy via Justin Buzzard).

There are a number of reasons. Chief among them are the scantily clad women airbrushed on slick magazine covers. But then there is the non-stop blaring of CNN or some other news station. And then there is what passes as "news." I found this item--not in the airport news stand--but while surfing the net waiting on my plane to board.

This week I'm between trips to Toronto and Washington, DC. So, I've not had much time to write and blog. But in the time the Lord has given me, for which I am thankful, I've had the privilege of doing an interview on transracial adoption with Dan Cruver and Carolina Hope Christian Adoption Agency.

Also, the brothers at NA gave me the privilege of reflecting a little bit on how to humbly approach orthodoxy as well as humbly represent it.

Also, Boundless extended an invitation to reflect on the blessing of God-ordained parental authority in our lives and how to honor it when we're "grown."

These are just the things I've been able to contribute elsewhere. Check out the ton of good work going on at these and related blogs. While things are a little slower here, I hope these are useful.

From Richard Baxter's The Reformed Pastor:

"How horrible to be a preacher of the gospel and yet to be unconverted! Let each man here whisper to his own inmost soul, 'What a dreadful thing it will be for me if I should be ignorant of the power of the truth which I am preparing to proclaim!' Unconverted ministry involves the most unnatural relationships. A graceless pastor is a blind man elected to a professorship of optics, philosophising upon light and vision, discoursing upn and distinguishing to others the nice shads and delicate blendings of the prismatic colours, while he himself is absolutely in the dark! He is a dumb man elevated to the chair of music; a deaf man fluent upon symphonies and harmonies! He is a mole professing to educate eaglets; a limpet elected to preside over angels. ... It is a dreadful position for a man to be in, for he has undertaken a work for which he is totally, wholly, and altogether unqualified, but from the responsibilities of which this unfitness will not screen him, because he willfully incurred them. Whatever his natural gifts, whatever his mental powers may be, he is utterly out of court for spiritual work if he has no spiritual life; and it is his duty to cease the ministerial office til he has received this first and simplest of qualifications for it."

The blogosphere's recent roil over baaptism, membership and the Lord's supper has cooled a bit. That's probably good. It's the kind of conversation that requires reflection, not speed. But my wife passed along this personal situation involving baptism and membership. Obviously this situation is exceptional, but it's worth the read, prayer and counsel for our brother. For my money, make the local church's practice of baptism a higher priority than that of the parachurch organization.

"The greatest sin that was ever committed in the history of the world... was planned by God, namely the death of His Son."

My man Lance Lewis is angry about the silence of African American churches and church leaders in the wake of recent domestic abuse scandal involving Juanita Bynum and Thomas Weeks. He's angry at the abuse of women, and he's angry at the Black churches silent acceptance of the false "gospel" of prosperity preachers. He writes over at Blaque Tulip:

From R.C. Sproul's The truth of the Cross:

Upcoming Conference

It's the land of really nice people, a quarter of my congregation, and Tim Horton's!

Today, I have the privilege of heading off to Toronto, Canada to participate in the Sola Scriptura Ministries conference "Christianity--Islam: Two Faiths! Two Worldviews! One God?" It should be a great time of fellowship and study. I'm looking forward to hearing both Dr. Michael Haykin and Dr. James White open the word and guid us through the history of Islam and some apologetics. I have the privilege of sharing on the popular Islamic worldview, jihad, and basics of evangelism. If you can't join us, pray for us as we gather and reflect on this important topic.

What Seminaries Need
Speaking of Dr. Haykin, you mght enjoy this post (The Top Ten Needs of a Theological School) over at his blog. Haykin is well-equipped to offer these reflections. He led Toronto Baptist Seminar for some time and is a gifted educator.

Debating the Crucifixion

If you're in the Seattle, WA area on Friday, Oct. 19th, you might check out a debate on the crucifixion of Christ between James White and Muslim apologist Shabir Ally.



New Attitude Blog

The brothers at New Attitude are opening their blogging doors to a number of characters who themselves need new attitudes! Justin Taylor (Between Two Worlds), Justin Buzzard (Buzzard Blog), Josh Harris (JoshHarris.com), Eric Simmons, Doug Hayes (Covenant Mercies), Issac Hydoski (ONE), Joe Stigora, and Ricky Alcantar, and the chief of sinners needing an atttitude adjustment, me, join to reflect on humble orthodoxy and the call to follow Jesus. I'm looking forward to a fun time of blogging with a cast of characters who are humble, funny, insightful, and passionate about the truth.

One of my weaknesses is that I have a hard time letting people care for me. I move between pride, on the one hand, and a kind of concern for inconveniencing others, on the other. Actually, as I think about it, pride is probably at the root of both responses. Man! Pride is subtle.


It's a little difficult for me to be easy with the apostle's reaction here. People express a renewed concern for him and he "rejoices greatly." To my proud ears it sounds as though the apostle is taking advantage of someone or overly concerned with his needs above others. After all, isn't he the one who wrote think more highly of others than you do yourself? That's my head blabbing.

All of the world seems aimed at the pursuit of possession. When we're children we want toys. When we're teenagers we want the coolest clothes and a car. Soon we're off to college, hopefully one of the "better" institutions for our selected major. Not long after college we want the dream job and, of course, a better car to suit our "status." Then we purchase our first home. That "starter" home gives way to the "upgrade" or the "dream home." We fill that box with all kinds of furnishings and things to make it suit our tastes. Sea-Doos, boats, plasma TVs and the like become the grown-up version of the toys we played with as kids. A "mid-life crisis" may change everything. Time for the sportier car, the trendier clothes, and sometimes a new "trophy" spouse.

The latest edition of 9News ejournal is available. It's an issue focusing on the thorny issue of race and the church. There are a number of provocative pieces in the issue, and Jonathan Leeman is to be commended for working so hard (as usual) on giving us much to think about. And personally, it's been fun to have the privilege to contribute to this issue. I pray it's edifying for the Lord's Church.

Contents

IS THERE A RACE PROBLEM?
Starting the Conversation with Earth, Wind, and Fire
An exchange between Thabiti Anyabwile and Jonathan Leeman

Pastors’ and Theologians’ Forum on Race

Nine Lessons I Learned From Yellow (And One More) By Sam Lam

Did Moses Marry a Black Woman? By John Piper

REFLECTIONS ON THE PROBLEM
Book Review: On Being Black and Reformed By Anthony J. Carter
Reviewed By Rickey Armstrong

Book Review: From Every People and Nation By J. Daniel Hays
Reviewed by Anthony J. Carter

Book Review: The Faithful Preacher By Thabiti Anyabwile
Reviewed by Ken Jones

Book Review: Reconciliation Blues By Edward Gilbreath
Reviewed by Eric C. Redmond

Book Review: Being Latino in Christ By Orlando Crespo
Reviewed by Juan R. Sanchez Jr.

Book Reviews: Growing Healthy Asian American Churches Edited by Peter Cha, S. Steve Kang, and Helen Lee
Reviews by Jeremy Yong & Geoffrey Chang

Five Steps for Racial Reconciliation on Sunday at 11 a.m.
By D. A. Carson

OVERCOMING THE PROBLEM
Pastoring a Multi-Ethnic Church By John Folmar

Many Ethnicities, One Race By Thabiti Anyabwile

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

First, they are to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. They are to continue on in obedience, as they started in Paul's presence and now in his absence. The basis for continuing in obedience to Christ is the realization that it is actually God working on their wills and their actions in accord with His good pleasure (2:13; see Carson, Basics for Believers, 62-63). The option of resting on their laurels is removed; their wills and actions must be exercised. But also removed is the notion that it all depends on them, on their heroic effort and energy. For it is God working on their wills and actions. Human responsibility and divine sovereignty meet in the outworking of their redemption. Christian growth is not by osmosis but by work--God's and ours.

It was once a rising trend. It's now a model for ministry for significant numbers of churches and pastors. It simultaneously offers itself as an example of deep partnership between husbands and wives, and dismisses biblical instruction. What am I talking about? The widespread approach to pastoral ministry where a husband and a wife "co-pastor" a local church.

Among that branch of "evangelicalism" (I'm using the term loosely) typically associated with Word of Faith, prosperity "gospel," charismatic believers, this approach to ministry appears to be dominant.

The trend grew slowly. Generally a man pastoring a church would achieve a certain status. After a few years, his wife, typically called the "first lady" of the church, would be noted for some teaching gifts and call to ministry. She would make occasional appearances in the pulpit to improve her gift, but not too many appearances to upset those discerning some problem with the practice. Over time, she'd appear more and more in the pulpit, relieving the husband while he was away and shepherding the people as a "pastor."

It's been a silent revolution. Not many shots have been fired at all really. It has occurred like so many other errors in that camp of contemporary Christianity--while auditoriums are filled with people, Bibles open, taking notes, and swallowing the camel.

Kenneth, then Gloria, Copeland. Creflo, then Taffy, Dollar. Randy, then Paula, White. To a lesser extent, T.D., then Serita, Jakes. These high-profile preachers have spawned a practice of ministry that now replicates itself in strip malls and megachurches around the country.

Recently, one couple, Paula and Randy White, announced before their 23,000 member church in Florida that they are seeking a divorce (HT: Sharper Iron). Paula and Randy have pastored the church since its founding. Understandably, the news of their divorce shocked and hurt a lot of the church's members.But in recent years, Paula has well eclipsed her husband in popularity and ministry. She is a frequent conference speaker and hosts regular shows on BET and TBN. Emulating in many respects the ethos of black women preachers, and preaching "health and wealth," Paula is something of a rock star in some circles.

The sad announcement of their divorce prompts a number of questions about the nature of gender roles in the church and marriage, and the effect of such ministry models on the local church.

1. Can such a practice be consistent with complementarian gender roles at church and home? Most everyone I know who thinks this is not only an acceptable but a good model would say "yes." In other words, most of the folks I know in this camp and ministers who adopt this practice intend to be complementarians. They preach a great deal on the home and family, the necessity of male headship, and female submission in the home. They would argue that a woman should only have a ministry of this sort with her husband "as her covering," exercising headship by granting approval/support; otherwise, a wife should not have such a ministry. Leaving aside for a moment the myriad of theological difficulties with the position, can it even work practically? I have my doubts. In the case of the Whites, Paula is continuing on with her ministries, establishing a home in another city, and with her husband dissolving the marriage. It would seem that at essence the model is egalitarian and models a "partnership" model of marriage that distorts biblical gender roles. And the families of the church have, whether knowingly or not, been imbibing from their "pastors" a model for family life ill-fitted to the biblical design and their joy.

2. Can such a practice be consistent with a high view of biblical authority in the church and the home? Again, most people in these camps would say "yes." They would appeal to examples of women prophets in the Scriptures and reason that Paul's prohibition against women in authority was cultural, time and circumstance-bound. It was a woman who brought news of Jesus resurrection to men and so women ought be able to preach, especially under the "covering" of their husbands. But that clearly contradicts Paul's instructions in 1 Tim. 2. And the attempt to justify the practice is little more than setting aside the authority of Scripture. And not surprisingly, the church suffers great confusion.

3. Can there be any genuine biblical accountability of such couples? Given that the authority of the scriptures is set aside on so basic a matter as who God appoints to lead in the home and the church, it's difficult to imagine that there can be any real accountability for "co-pastors" in these situations. Most of these churches are set up like corporations, not like NT churches. So, typically, husband and wife are founding board members along with a couple other trusted friends. Nothing appears to be governed in either a congregational or a connectional manner. So, there is no higher "court" than the co-pastors themselves. When trouble hits, appeal is made to "life coaches" and trusted friends as accountability partners. It's really an unloving, unscriptural and dangerous position for the "pastors" and the church. Paula will continue with her ministry pursuits. Randy will continue as pastor of Without Walls. This is the second divorce for them both, a divorce proceeding without any biblical grounds according to the article. The model appears closed to any loving, biblical accountability that would help the couple fight for their marriage, submit to the counsel and discipline of the church, and model grace during real difficulty for the congregation.

This approach to ministry is bankrupt because it's so consistently contrary to God's blueprint. The couples approaching the ministry this way are placing themselves in spiritually precarious situations, and the churches they "pastor" are toeing a cliff as well. It's obvious, but it bears stating: we desperately need churches reformed according to the word of God.

Okay... that's an anachronistic title for this post. But reading through Calvin's sermons on the beatitudes, I came across this section which seemed so prophetically to apply to our day. It's a long quote, but worth it.

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (Phil. 2:1-2).

Theology is tremendously practical. Never let anyone drive a wedge between good theology and "practical" information. The Apostle Paul (one of the writers of Scripture) never falls into that trap. He never writes as though some lofty statement about God is really merely a frill, a lace doily on an otherwise useless idea. He writes in such a way as to maintain profound and necessary connections between theology and practice. And sometimes surprising things emerge.


For example, in Phil. 2:1-2, the Apostle begins as he often does with good theology... reminders really of astounding truths:


1. Christians are united with Christ; our lives are joined with His through faith. We are accepted in Him; He is our Head and we His body. We are one new man in Christ.

2. Christians draw comfort from Christ's love. And who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Can anything in this life or the next, in this world or the one to come? What comfort is offered by the knowledge of God's unchanging, unshakeable love in Christ!

3. Christians "fellowship with the Spirit." We commune together with the Third Person of the Godhead, the Spirit through whom the love of God is poured into our hearts, by Whom the Father and the Son come to us and take up residence, and by Whom we cry out, "Abba, Father!"

4. Christians have new hearts. Where a stone once filled the cavity of our souls, now there beats a heart of flesh, a heart of Christlike compassion and tenderness. Christians are now free and empowered to love like God loves as the new heart of the new covenant throbs in our breasts.

That's all theology. And then the Apostle shows the practical implications of that theology. Christians, then:

1. Should be like-minded. With Christ as head, with the same mind or attitude of Christ (v. 5), Christians can and should experience a great deal of unity of thought and sentiment.

2. Have the same love. No longer are there variations in our love according to natural affiliations (ethnicity, class, etc), but now Christians love their brethren as Christ has loved them, not regarding one another according to the flesh but according to the shared life and love of Christ in us all.

3. Should be one in spirit and purpose. Where does unity in the church come from? It springs, it seems, from the application of good theology. Right thoughts about God lead to right living. Properly understanding our fellowship with the Spirit of God leads to oneness in spirit and purpose with His people.

Paul beseeches the Christians to remember the truth about God they've been taught and then to live that truth out in their relationship with one another.

And this, he tells us, will "make [his] joy complete." Whatever is lacking in the Apostle's joy is supplied by the Philippian Christians walking in the knowledge of God. The Apostle John says the same thing: "It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 John 3-4).

Seeing his people walk in the truth was for Paul a complete joy, and for John the greatest joy. And so it is with the pastor and his people. Perhaps there is no sweeter joy than to see your people lay hold to the truth, imbibe it, make it apart of themselves, and walk it out.

I don't know that I've been more encouraged than when I've seen Christians take some teaching of God's word and really accept it as truth (which is in itself a declaration that truth exists and matters), walk in it, and rejoice in it. A pastor may rightfully be surprised by the joy he finds in ministry when amidst difficult situations (the loss of loved ones, persecution, the threat of divorce, debilitating disease, and so on) his people stand and walk in the truth.

And if a pastor frequently and consistently comes close to the sheep, he may not only smell the sheepiness of sheep but also rejoice that they hear the Shepherd's voice and follow Him. And what undershepherd is not pleased that the flock follow the Chief Shepherd? Unique among the joys of ministry is to see the truth of God seep into the hearts of His people and overflow in like-mindedness, mutual love, common cause, humility and service.

This joy, when it's observed, surpasses even the joy the preacher-pastor receives as he studies and prepares to teach. What sweet fellowship with the Spirit and Christ study and preparation is. And how much sweeter to see the fruit of that study in the lives of your people, to see the Spirit at work in the word and the walk. Pastors have no greater joy, no more complete joy, than to see their people walk in the truth.

To experience this joy more fully, we have only to do two things:
1. Keep teaching the truth with patience, clarity, gentleness and joy; and
2. Develop skill at looking for evidence of the truth working itself out in our people, to see them walking in it.

Therein is complete joy in pastoral ministry.

When is penultimate pleasure a better choice than ultimate pleasure? If given the choice between something far superior and a relatively inferior alternative, when is it good to choose the inferior?

Not many things come to mind for me. It seems we’re wired to always choose the superior thing. After all, it’s “superior.”
The Apostle Paul faced a choice of this nature, a choice between something “better by far” and what might be called an inferior but good alternative. He writes in Philippians 2:18:26—

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

After telling his readers that he rejoiced whether Christ was preached out of false motives or true as long as Christ was preached, the Apostle then writes that he will continue to rejoice because of the deliverance he expects. Shackled and imprisoned, the Apostle faces the future with confidence that Christ will be exalted whether he lives or dies and that he will not be ashamed. “For to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

And there is the dilemma. Here is where the Apostle is torn and pulled between two poles, one superior and the other a good inferior. Departing to be with Christ “is better by far.”

I wonder how often we meditate on that truth. How often do we consider the “better by far” wonder of being with Christ? Is that Day consistently before us? Is that expectation strong and compelling, or is it stacked in a corner with other Christmas goodies we played with for a day only to abandon and forget when the next toy was unwrapped?

The Apostle finds Christ far better than anything on this earth. And so should we. And yet, he goes on to write that it was necessary for others that he should remain for their “progress and joy in the faith.” Paul expected that his being with the Philippians again would lead to their overflowing joy in Christ Jesus.

Here, then, might be the only time where a good inferior alternative may be desired over the far better, superior choice—when others also will enter into the far better life with Christ.

It’s quite likely that the Apostle found great happiness in seeing the Philippians’ progress and joy in Christ. This is one of the surprising sources of joy in the pastoral ministry—recognizing that the hardships, if we don’t faint, lead to the blessing of God’s people. By God’s grace, we may live through tumultuous and difficult times to see the glorious goodness of it all worked by the hand of God. We have the privilege of working for our people’s joy and growth in Christ, an overflowing joy “on account of” the pastor. That God is pleased to use vessels of dust to work such treasure is a great privilege. And though it would be far better to be with Christ, how tremendous a reunion will it be when we all get to heaven and the pastor and his people acknowledge before Christ that the pastor was used to fit them for that Day.

Are we facing hardships? Imprisonment? Opposition from within and without?

Are we tempted to think it would be better by far if we were to lay down this earthly tabernacle and be clothed with the heavenly one? Without doubt we are correct to think that the heavenly dress is better than the earthly.

And yet, in God’s kindness to his ministers, the good inferior choice of laboring for the joy and progress of His people is rewarded with joy in this life as we see Christian maturity unfold and rewarded eternally when stand with our people before our King and really rejoice!

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops (James 5:16-18)