What a sad day.
It may seem radical to some and the tactics of some of the protesters were crude, but Christians need to stand up and defend against abortion rights even if it means being labeled radical or being sent to jail.
A tough choice.
Frankly, I am proud of the fact that Victor Saenz respects the authority of the Church enough to not only follow its lead but proclaim it to others.
Nearly 40 Protesters Arrested at Notre Dame - Presidential Politics Political News - FOXNews.com
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Monday, May 18, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Choosing Leaders in the Church
Churches use many different criteria for choosing elders and deacons for ministry. Some are biblical and some are not. Most will look to 1 Tim 3 and Titus 1 for guidance, which is great. Some look to the activity of the person being considered and simply ask, "Is he serving" and assume that if he is serving then he must be growing or at least fairly mature in his faith. Sadly, some go on the principle of "He's a great guy, I really like him, He has such a genuine heart." Others allow themselves to be coerced or bullied into giving a person the authority of an elder or deacon.
My question is how many pastors/elders or church leaders consider 1 Tim 5:22? Paul tells Timothy to not "lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others...." Now let me say I think he is referring to making a person an elder or deacon by the laying on of hands, which is ordination. If that is the case it seems that he is saying that the ordaining body holds some responsibility before God for the conduct of the one they ordain. In other words, if a pastor/elder ordains an individual and that individual sins there is some culpability owned by the pastor/elder simply by his association with that man's ordination.
I'm not sure how far it goes, but it is a sobering thought. Churches need to be gracious when dealing with the weaknesses of others. But when it comes to ordaining elders and deacons churches should be gracious and discerning. More is at stake than just bad leadership. The very purity of our souls is impacted by our rash decisions.
My question is how many pastors/elders or church leaders consider 1 Tim 5:22? Paul tells Timothy to not "lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others...." Now let me say I think he is referring to making a person an elder or deacon by the laying on of hands, which is ordination. If that is the case it seems that he is saying that the ordaining body holds some responsibility before God for the conduct of the one they ordain. In other words, if a pastor/elder ordains an individual and that individual sins there is some culpability owned by the pastor/elder simply by his association with that man's ordination.
I'm not sure how far it goes, but it is a sobering thought. Churches need to be gracious when dealing with the weaknesses of others. But when it comes to ordaining elders and deacons churches should be gracious and discerning. More is at stake than just bad leadership. The very purity of our souls is impacted by our rash decisions.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Why We Still Preach
The Church today is under assualt from many regions, but one area that concerns me greatly is the assualt on the role of preaching and teaching in the Church. There are many who look at the preaching ministry with some embarrasement. They think that it is somehow an outdated mode of ministry and that it should somehow be replaced with more modern modes of communication; modes more suited to our attention deficit, entertainment addicted culture. What these individuals fail to grasp is that the preaching/teaching ministry in the church is not a form of minsitry it is a function of ministry.
We see in Eph 4:11-16 that God has a specific goal for the Church. I will sum it up this way. God wants and has determined that the church will be unified in its faith in Christ and in its intimate knowledge of Christ. He has determined that, when all is said and done, the Church will have a perfect unity rooted in the truth of who Christ is and what our relationship with him consists of.
With this goal in mind, God gave the Church offices of ministry. The apostles and prophets were given to bring God's special revelation to the Church. That done we are left with Evangelists and Pastor/Teachers. Both have the responsibility to proclaim or preach the good news. Evangelists preach to the lost and Pastor/Teachers preach to the Church. In practical terms the roles can overlap but the end result is that they preach or speak the truth in love so that the Church will grow into maturity and Christ-likeness.
The preaching ministry is God's means to accomplish his will for the Church. Until the Church is made perfect we will always need the proclamation of the gospel. Without it, how can the lost be saved and the Saints be equipped?
They can't.
We see in Eph 4:11-16 that God has a specific goal for the Church. I will sum it up this way. God wants and has determined that the church will be unified in its faith in Christ and in its intimate knowledge of Christ. He has determined that, when all is said and done, the Church will have a perfect unity rooted in the truth of who Christ is and what our relationship with him consists of.
With this goal in mind, God gave the Church offices of ministry. The apostles and prophets were given to bring God's special revelation to the Church. That done we are left with Evangelists and Pastor/Teachers. Both have the responsibility to proclaim or preach the good news. Evangelists preach to the lost and Pastor/Teachers preach to the Church. In practical terms the roles can overlap but the end result is that they preach or speak the truth in love so that the Church will grow into maturity and Christ-likeness.
The preaching ministry is God's means to accomplish his will for the Church. Until the Church is made perfect we will always need the proclamation of the gospel. Without it, how can the lost be saved and the Saints be equipped?
They can't.
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