All the right people have been criticizing a message that was preached at the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship southern regional meeting recently. Some of the articles written against it were downright hostile. After reading them I knew I needed to listen with a discerning ear. I have, and you should too. It is called The Young and the Restless and it was presented by Dr. Dan Sweatt, Pastor of the Berean Baptist Church in Lilburn, Georgia.
There is a growing distinction (even division) among ‘old style’, traditional fundamentalism, and Calvinist, sometimes Reformed ‘neo-fundamentalism’. Unimportant theological mumbo-jumbo? Absolutely not. These are serious issues that ought to be examined thoroughly by men of God. So…devote an hour to listen and let me know what you think afterward.
This is our most recent newsletter to family, friends, our church, and other long-time supporters in the ministry.
Many will remember from our last correspondence that we were considering a potential opportunity for service with Baptist Mid-Missions in England. It has been well over a year since we took the first steps in a serious examination. You can imagine a lot has happened since then, and we have neither time nor words to express it all.
We can say that we have spent many hours in prayer, had many discussions with friends and family, as well as the BMM-England Field Council and BMM Administration. Unable to move forward with an arrangement for service there, and believing God may have a different path, we resigned from Baptist Mid-Missions effective February 23, 2009.
Thank you for praying and waiting for this decision to be made. It has been a long road, but we are blessed to have clear direction from the Lord, and are thankful to Baptist Mid-Missions for allowing us to travel it. We are also looking forward with excitement to what the future holds.
It has been our desire for several years now to be serving in a full-time preaching ministry. Therefore today we are seeking a pastoral position somewhere within the United States. While we are open to anything the Lord may provide, we would prefer a situation in which I could serve under a more experienced Pastor, or within a context that would allow me to obtain further theological education.
Our Pastor and church family have been wonderfully supportive over the past several years. They have encouraged us in our desire to serve the Lord and provided every possible support and help. We are grateful for every kindness they have shared.
We are also thankful for your support. You have been prayerful and patient companions as we have sought the Lord’s will, providing for us financially and in many other ways in the past nine years. Yes…it’s been that long!
If you know of potential opportunities in Pastoral ministry that you would like to pass along, please contact us and we would be happy to receive them. Thank you again for all you have done and been in our lives.
If you would like to speak with us about anything mentioned here, just leave a comment or send an e-mail. We will have more on this subject soon.
I was privileged to listen to a message today that successfully explains several scriptural principles of New Testament Church polity. It comes at exactly the right time in the history of fundamentalism, as our movement becomes more fragmented and confused by the day. Reformed theology is gaining acceptance, lines are being blurred on the role of Elders and Deacons and an ever-broadening spectrum of belief on the local assembly is commonplace.
We are desperately in need of clarity in the muddy waters of modern Christianity. Thank God we are finding it somewhere! In this case it’s on the campus of Maranatha Baptist Bible College, as Dr. Charles Phelps addresses the role of the Elder. If you have any time at all to commit to the study, I would encourage you to play or download it below.
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Download The Place of Elders in Baptist Church Polity
The Bob Jones University and Maranatha Baptist Bible College chapel messages arrive in my feed reader every few days. Inevitably I listen to one or two and mark a few more for later. These six are marked for listening this weekend:
If you get a chance to listen before I do, please let me know what you think.
“And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.” When we struggle against the evil forces of our day we are sometimes left shaking our heads. We are confused by their lack of understanding, bewildered by their lies and deception, and dismayed by their lack of care for that which is Godly. If we would allow ourselves a moment to reflect on the state of their souls, we might begin to see with more clarity their position. The vast majority of our elected officials and government leaders could give the same answer Pharaoh gave. They do not know, and are not persuaded to obey Jehovah. Moses and Aaron were asking this Egyptian to do something totally foreign. How could a man that had no respect for God, suddenly choose to endanger the social and economic health of his nation to obey His word? From a worldly and political point of view, this was folly. Only the direct action of God could change Egypt’s policy on the release of slaves. All the petitions, political action committees, and concerned citizens in the world would have failed miserably. God has provided a means for radical, nation-altering change in the truth of the gospel. If men come to know Christ, they will also be compelled to obey His word.
After reading articles and having conversations with Christians that are overwrought about the potential dangers or opportunities of the upcoming election I am becoming weary. Time and time again I hear how terrible it will be if a certain candidates are elected or not elected, ballot measures are defeated or not defeated and issues are brought to the forefront or not brought to the forefront. Can a believer in Christ really be in total reliance upon Him and at the same time have such anxiety over the political process?
After leafing through a piece of material that was particularly melodramatic a few evenings ago, I began to develop an outline in my mind. I wondered why so much time and effort had been spent in printing brochures, developing massive public relations campaigns and organizing people of faith to advance a political agenda, when I was seeing little of the same passion in reaching the lost for Christ. Here are a few of my hastily written thoughts on the subject:
Never, never rely upon politics. Always, always preach the gospel.
- God’s word never returns void. Political talking points always return void.
- The gospel appeals to men’s souls, which are ever-present. Political ideas appeal to logic, which is rarely present.
- Witnesses deal with individuals. Politicians address the masses.
- Salvation is absolute and complete. Legislation is compromised consensus.
- The Bible stands the test of time. Men’s ideas fade and change.
- Ministries rely on the power of God. Political movements rely on the momentum and initiative of men.
- Truth cuts to the heart. Political speech lingers on the surface.
There is no hope for our nation or our neighbors in political leadership or legislation. We must never place our trust in the movements of our day! Christ is the hope of mankind and no person, no society, no creature will be changed for good without Him. As we have been left in trust with the gospel, let us labor most fervently to proclaim it. Our political zeal should be miniscule in comparison to our zeal for the ministry of the word. May God help us all to fulfill our part of His great commission.
“So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” These verses are often quoted separately, even though their content is inextricably linked. One’s readiness to preach the gospel is always connected with their commitment to Christ. A person that is ashamed demonstrates, in that shame, a failure of commitment. Paul was ready to preach with everything he had, revealing his love, devotion, and obvious lack of shame. All followers of Christ should be ready to proclaim the message, but those who falter should examine their hearts, rather than simply hoping to pluck up the courage. It is a heart of grateful obedience to the Savior, and genuine concern for the lost that speaks up when it could just as easily remain silent. I wonder how many of us can boldly assert our readiness along with Paul? If you are wondering too, it’s probably time for an examination of our commitment to the One that endured the cross to purchase our redemption.
“And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” There are few better tactics for Christian witness than giving our own, personal testimony. We see Paul endeavor to do so on a number of occasions in this book. Certainly he had a dramatic salvation experience, that lent itself to the telling perhaps more than our own; but God gives to every man the same glorious salvation. The how of its happening is not nearly as important as the reality of its effect. People want to know that Christ has transformed your life and changed your heart. We know that in the end it is only the word of God, in the power of the Holy Spirit that will move a man to faith. Yet it is the testimony of God’s saints that first reveals the efficacy of Bible truth. Every man that believes is a new creature, whether born again in old age or young. This fact alone is affirmation of God’s promise, and your personal revelation of that new life can have amazing impact on the hearer. Don’t be a person afraid to tell your story because it is not like Paul’s. Shout it out with confidence, focusing on the Christ of the Bible and His magnificent saving power!
“Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.” The next few verses in this chapter are more often quoted. In them, a man comes to Paul by night and asks that he come to Macedonia and help. Paul gathers most certainly that God has called him to preach the gospel in that city. I have highlighted these verses to remind us we cannot apply one passage and ignore the other. Paul’s plan is to minister in Asia and Bithynia, but God does not allow it. We don’t know why the Holy Spirit prevented preaching in those areas, but we can be certain God did not lead Paul astray. Desire to preach the gospel is a wonderful thing. We must be willing to go anywhere the Lord leads, but not be so enthusiastic that we go “just anywhere”. Preach the word at all times, but remember to seek the Lord regarding, how, when and where. The fact that an opportunity for preaching exists is not absolute proof it should be seized upon. This does not mean we hesitate to open our mouths, it merely means we are deliberate, and prayerful in both method and location.
“And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Paul was urging the Ephesian church to, as part of the armor of God, pray. Here he makes a specific request for himself as he ministers for the Lord. If only every believer made this request today. What the lost world needs is a few men and women willing to open their mouths boldly. Paul did not make this request simply because he was an Apostle and preacher. He believed and taught that all Christians should proclaim the gospel. Indeed, every one of us “ought to speak” boldly. Why is it then that we are so often ruled by fear? I think the key lies in the overall topic of the passage, which is prayer. We need to both pray for strength and commitment for ourselves, as well as asking others for prayer. If anything is lacking on church request lists today it is our urgent need for powerful and courageous gospel preaching. Let’s not forget it the next time we meet together to seek our Lord!
Suggestions | Chris | 
May 18, 2009 7:00 am | 
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